NEW YORK, USA Prime Minister Bruce Golding's apology over his handling of the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition and Manatt, Phelps and Philips affairs has done little to ease the concerns among nationals here in their country's Government.

Representatives from 15 Jamaican organisations in the Tri-State area -- New Jersey, Connecticut and New York -- who met here Tuesday, concluded that "the prime minister's apology" on Monday night "had raised more questions than it answered".

Incensed that Golding had failed to address what the group sees as the fundamental problems caused by his handling of the matters, representatives at the meeting said it will be difficult to work with their nation's Government on Diaspora and other matters.

Patrick Beckford, who heads the Diaspora Board for the Eastern United States, told the Observer that his and other groups at the meeting were disappointed that the prime minister had left unanswered the question of who paid the US Law Firm, Manatt, Phelps and Philips, the real roles played by Solicitor General Douglas Leys and Junior Foreign Minister Dr Ronald Robinson in the matter.

He said that given the prime minister's earlier stance that the evidence used to indict Coke was illegally obtained and violated Jamaica's Laws, he should have indicated if the United States Government had provided new evidence on the matter.

Several of those attending Tuesday's meeting said the prime minister had not addressed the question of the motion brought by the attorney general seeking a declaration by the courts on her rights in handling extradition requests, and what impact the pending court ruling might have on his decision to proceed with the extradition request.

But not everyone here was being critical of the Jamaican prime minister and Government.

Beckford's Diaspora Board was also criticised "for not speaking on matters affecting nationals here more forcefully."

And prominent Jamaican Attorney Donald P Vernon told the Observer that while Golding's handling of the matters before his Monday apology showed poor judgment, his latest action shows that he was prepared to put the country above one individual.

But in an interview before Tuesday's meeting, and since reiterated, Horace Thomas -- who runs the Jamaica National Movement here -- said "the prime minister ought to resign for misleading the Jamaican people and for creating an atmosphere of mistrust, arrogance and for not being transparent."