Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator A.J. Nicholson, on Friday rebuffed calls made by Opposition Senator Dr. Christopher Tufton for his resignation.

Dr. Tufton, three weeks ago had called for 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.

Responding to the call in the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate, Senator Nicholson said the call was politically motivated and that there is no conflict of interest in him holding both posts as Attorney-General and legal adviser.

He said under the Westminster- style democracy, the greatest danger for a possible conflict of interest lies in the situation in which a person, who is leader of a political party, to also be leader of the Opposition or Prime Minister.

"In the Westminster system, therefore, it is the integrity of the holder of the office and his/her willingness to adhere to certain principles that provide the anchor for how the system is meant to work," he said.