Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Nicholson and Tufton

OPPOSITION SENATOR, Dr. Christopher Tufton, yesterday called on Senator A.J. Nicholson to resign as either Attorney-General or legal adviser to the governing People's National Party (PNP), or both, in light of the Trafigura scandal.

Dr. Tufton made the call while making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate.

He said having both positions amounts to a conflict of interest, especially now that the possibility exists that the Trafigura matter may end up in court.

"How can you, Minister, hold a brief for the people of Jamaica as the Attorney-General for Jamaica and at the same time, hold a brief for the People's National Party on an issue where the interest of that party and the interest of the Jamaican people seem to coincide?" Tufton asked of Mr. Nicholson, who had temporarily excused himself from the Parliament's chambers.

Mr. Nicholson retracted his famous hanky-panky pronouncement made at a PNP press conference, after former PNP general secretary Colin Campbell said he had withheld information from party members about the controversial $31-million alleged donation from the Dutch oil company, Trafigura, to the PNP. Trafigura said the money was part of a commercial deal.

campbell remains senator

Mr. Campbell later resigned as PNP general secretary and Minister of Information and Development but has remained a senator despite numerous calls for him to go. In fact, Mr. Campbell offered prayers at the start of the nation's business in the Senate yesterday.

Yesterday, Dr. Tufton said an apology will not suffice, and Mr. Nicholson should resign in the public interest.

Dr. Tufton had almost completed his presentation, which also chastised the PNP for not delivering its promise of free education by 2005, among other educational shortcomings, when Mr. Nicholson returned to the chamber. In the process of noting the criticisms on education, an Opposition senator shouted that Mr. Nicholson had missed the first part (the call for his resignation). Seemingly informed about Dr. Tufton's pronouncements, Mr. Nicholson interjected: "Oh, I will will answer that. I will answer that in due course."