Campbell

Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

In defence of the controversial Trafigura transaction which rocked her administration a month ago, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, called her political opponents two-faced, and suggested that the manner in which the People's National Party (PNP) accepted the donation from the Dutch oil trading company was par for the course.

"You know that politicians are very hypocritical ... every political party in Jamaica takes money from business people, and they cannot give the political (party's account number) because people say that they not giving any money unless you give us an account," she said, while addressing a meeting of workers from the ministries and state agencies under her portfolio two weeks ago.

Because of the country's political climate, she argued, political parties have to devise ingenious ways to secure funding.

"Some send the money through lawyers and the lawyers reissue the money to the political parties. Some open up foundations (and) trusts to get money because the people do not want their business to be associated with (any one political party)."

Political climate

The Trafigura Beheer scandal was first uncovered by the Opposition in October, when it revealed information that the Dutch oil trading company had deposited $31 million into a PNP account belonging to Colin Campbell, the then Minister of Information and Development. The scandal resulted in the resignation of Mr. Campbell, who was also the PNP's general secretary.

At that time PNP officials claimed the money was a contribution to the party, but Trafigura denied the claims and said the transaction was purely commercial. This is in apparent reference to a dummy arrangement, to pay the Colin Campbell-affiliated company for contracted professional services. However, the Dutch company later reneged and said that the transaction was actually a donation.

Mrs. Simpson Miller, who had earlier ordered that the $31 million be returned, argued Friday that corporate Jamaica are forced to operate in this manner because they are unsure which party will win any given election and are afraid of being "victimised for life" if the party they did not support won the election.

Possible backlash

Beverley Lopez, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), confirmed that members of corporate Jamaica are concerned about donating to political parties because of possible backlash.

"There is always an actual fear in Jamaica of reprisals, that is peculiar to Jamaica. because of the state of politics in Jamaica people are concerned," she told The Sunday Gleaner on Wednesday.

Ms. Lopez said that the PSOJ has no protocol in place that governs how its members donate to political parties. However, one is in its embryonic stage. "We have started discussions, but we have not moved forward," she said.

The PSOJ president argued that not even trusts and foundations are secure, as not many things are kept secret in Jamaica. "If you donate to a trust fund there is still a paper trail because it is still linked to the politician."

Ms. Lopez suggested that the recently installed Electoral Commission should be responsible for collecting all political donations and then passing it on to the relevant party.

While he admitted that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) does set up trusts and foundations to accept donations, Bruce Golding, Leader of the Opposition, said that the Prime Minister's attempt to justify the Trafigura scandal is disappointing.

"There is no way that it can be powered up and made to legitimate. It is wrong and it is corrupt," he said.

Mrs. Simpson Miller also told the gathering that she was restraining herself from spilling the beans on political opponents who are taking money from sources that are outlawed.

"And I hear this big hullabaloo about Trafigura. I don't want talk enuh, but I don't want them provoke me because a lot of people take money from coffers that they shouldn't take money from and all of us as politicians should be careful."

She continued: "The fact is that the best you do is to ensure we look at how political parties are funded and that they be transparent and ensure that they are not taking drug money, so that they are held accountable to drug dons when they get into power."

Prime Minister Simpson Miller added that she refused to solicit funding for her party from anyone because she refused to put her government in a compromising position.

"If I have to go out there with a glass and put it dung and the people come and throw one, one cent that's fine, but I am not begging because I am not putting the government into anyone's pocket."

She added: "That's why I don't know how to beg. I tell my team already and Danny (Buchanan) having a serious problem with me but sorry Minister Buchanan I not begging nobody nothing."