THE EDITOR, Sir:

The problem with accepting a gift of money is that it engenders devotion to the giver. With devotion to the giver comes the potential for the clouding of judgement. The circumstances under which a particular gift of money is given could change its nature to that of a bribe.

The monies from Trafigura combined these elements: Quantum: many millions; Timing: just about the time for the renewal of the contract with PCJ; Recipient: the governing party which had the authority/discretion regarding the renewal of the contract; and Secrecy: the gift was not general knowledge.

All these elements gave the gift the potential of operating as a bribe, even assuming the best of intentions on the part of all parties involved. Because a government must at all times act in the best interest of the people it ought to ensure that it does not allow itself to be in a position where its judgement could be compromised. It ought therefore to be extremely vigilant about whom it accepts gifts from.

In matters as these it would be best for a governing party to exercise a healthy distrust of its ability to resist the corrupting influence of money. To my mind then it was terribly wrong for the governing party to have accepted the gift from Trafigura. The party ought to give up the money not to Trafigura, but to the people of Jamaica by paying the same to the Consolidated Fund.

I am, etc.,

S. RICHARDS

Kingston 10