Garth Rattray

When Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding suddenly exposed the Government's injudiciousness in the Nigerian oil trading deal with Trafigura Beheer regarding that company's $31-million 'contribution' to the People's National Party (PNP), party chairman Robert Pickersgill accused Mr. Golding of "deliberately staging the events that unfolded in Parliament in an attempt to shift focus from the censure motion," in other words, of deploying a weapon of mass distraction.

Only in the bizarre world of politics could a motion to censure JLP Member of Parliament (MP) for North Central St. Andrew, Karl Samuda (for maintaining that the Public Administrator, Mr. Noel Hylton had submitted a report on the contentious Sandals Whitehouse hotel project) end up with the ruling PNP in a political pickle.

Campaign contribution

Since then this weapon of mass distraction has dwarfed murders, crime, road deaths, health sector crises, threats to our vital tourism sector and a number of other, heretofore, important matters. The PNP alleges that the $31-million was a campaign contribution. At first, Trafigura said that the money was part of an agreement for the development of its business in Jamaica, but now they seem to be recanting. The private sector entered the fray and fall guy Colin Campbell resigned from his posts of Minister of Information and Development and general secretary of the PNP, but Bruce Golding wants the entire government to follow suit. The PNP decided to return the Trafigura 'donation', 'gift', 'business agreement funds' - whatever; bank investigations have begun and the saga continues.

Other weapons of mass distraction include the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for South East St. Andrew Joan Gordon-Webley's allegation that the PNP president's speech caused the flare-up in political violence in the tremendously volatile Mountain View area and that the PNP has a communist wing - an attempt at resurrecting the ghost of elections past. And, deputy JLP leader and Shadow Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, not only agreed with Mrs. Gordon-Webley but also likened the Most Honourable PM to a leopard that never changes its spots. He intoned ominously, "I say, madam PM, we remember you very well. Those of us who have been in politics for over 20 years, Most Honourable Prime Minister, we remember you very well" - thus harking back to the days when Mrs. Simpson Miller controlled a politically hot garrison constituency.

Let's face it; neither the JLP nor the PNP can lay claim to being squeaky clean - there are things about the financing of elections (including those in the distant past) that no one dares reveal. This particular political party just happens to get caught red-handed this time. Next year's general election is vital to both political parties. The PNP wants to maintain its hold on power and madam Prime Minister wants her own mandate. The JLP has been in the wilderness for a long time and Bruce Golding has dreamed of becoming prime minister since time immemorial.

Endemic corruption

The salacious Trafigura affair has consumed our attention and although it only serves to highlight a small part of the endemic corruption that we all know already exists, it risks miring us in flurries of accusations, recriminations and more probes/investigations (other weapons of mass distraction).

The government will never resign over this affair and (in this atmosphere) elections cannot be called any time soon. We therefore need to fast-track legislation for campaign financing and refocus politicians onto other serious matters like the struggling economy, education, poverty, illicit drugs, illegal weapons, crime, murder, sustainable health resources, transport, energy and pollution issues.

Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.