BUCHANAN

A fresh row over the controversial Trafigura Beheer donation to the People's National Party (PNP) has emerged following radio reports yesterday that the Dutch-based company had not received the money which the party's general secretary had reported was returned.

Opposition Spokesman on Energy, Clive Mullings, has warned that if the Government did not return the $31 million, its moral credibility would be erased and this would also signal a complete lack of confidence in the current Minister of Information, Donald Buchanan.

In a release yesterday, Mr. Mullings said documented evidence should be "publicly furnished in order to validate" Mr. Buchanan's statement.

Report rejected

But in a sharp response, Mr. Buchanan stoutly rejected reports that Trafigura had not received the money.

The party's general secretary insisted that the money was lodged in a Trafigura account on Monday.

"I know as a fact thatTrafigura has received the money. There is a person in Trafigura with whom members of the party have been in contact and they have confirmed that the money has been returned," Buchanan maintained.

Mr. Buchanan further said he was prepared to present documentary evidence to support his position.

"We had put a team together to raise this money and to return this money; they have done so. So if and when the team presents me with the documentary evidence, I will share it with the people of Jamaica," he told The Gleaner/Power 106 News.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Labour Party has called an emergency press conference for this morning to discuss the issue.