The Jamaica Council of Churches says it is disturbed by the circumstances surrounding the Trafigura scandal and has urged political parties to declare both local and foreign funds they receive for political campaigns.

"The council further calls for the establishment of policy guidelines for campaign financing and offers its assistance in developing such guidelines," said a statement issued yesterday by the Council of Churches.

The council noted that this would help to create a culture of transparency and accountability.

Last week, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding divulged information that Trafigura Beheer, a Dutch oil company with business arrangements with the Jamaican Government, made a $31 million deposit to an account called CCOC Associates, which bears the signature of former Information and Development Minister, Colin Campbell.

The Trafigura debacle has so far resulted in the resignation of Mr. Campbell.

The money received by the party, which Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller promised to return to the company, was initially said to be a 'gift' from Trafigura, but in a statement on the issue, the company said the money represented a commercial transaction with CCOC Associates, an account linked to the PNP and Mr. Campbell.

The council said it supports the decision to have the funds returned, if it was gift.

Breach of confidentiality

Meanwhile, the Council of Churches said it was appalled at the breach of confidentiality in the client/banker relationship, and has urged the bank, FirstCaribbean International, to state publicly the sanction against the culpable staff.

"The council believes that the implications go far beyond this particular incident. This could have a negative impact on our relationships as people, especially in this period of impending elections ...," the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Al Miller, pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle, said it was unethical for the People's National Party to have accepted the 'gift' from the Dutch oil trading company.

"It is unethical, certainly inappropriate and therefore it smacks of the whole issue of that which forms the basis of corrupt practices, and it has unfortunately been our history," Rev. Miller said.