Delroy Chuck

The governing PNP is uncomfortable with the truth. It finds it difficult, extremely difficult, to come clean and to be open, honest and transparent. No one except its diehard supporters trust and have any confidence in it.

If the Trafigura money has been returned - it is so simple, just show the evidence and explain the circumstances of the receipt and return of the money. By keeping and doing everything in secret, the public is left to speculate and believe the worst has occurred.

Two weeks ago, the PNP General Secretary, Donald Buchanan, informed the country that the Trafigura money had been returned. On Wednesday, 28th February, on the CVM programme, Direct, on which I appeared with him, he confirmed that an emissary had delivered the money directly to an agent of Trafigura in London, England. He did not say whether it was in a brown paper bag, or by cheque, or money order, but the parties had met and the transaction occurred. Alas, a week later, Trafigura claimed it had not received the money. Then, mysteriously, on Friday, 9th March, Trafigura emailed the news media to inform that it had received the money through the usual banking system.

Someone lying

Well, either the PNP or Trafigura is lying. On the programme with Donald Buchanan, he was at pains to point out that the money was not returned through the normal banking system, perhaps to avoid a paper trail, but was delivered by an emissary. Yet, Trafigura's spokesman in London, by email, stated: "We can now confirm receipt of the monies, which were sent by wire in the appropriate manner via the international banking system. No further comments will be made on this matter." This statement is contemptuous. In fact, both the PNP and Trafigura have shown utter contempt for the Jamaican people. Neither the PNP nor Trafigura thinks it owes the Jamaican people any explanation or detail. Take our word, it has been sent back and don't ask any more questions. Well, Trafigura has long been discredited and its word cannot be taken at face value.

In fact, the Trafigura saga deepens. The whole affair demands an official inquiry, as proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, Bruce Golding. At the beginning, Trafigura stated that the donation/payment was for a commercial contract but the PNP said nothing of the sort. In it was a most appropriate gift and the Prime Minister said in Parliament there was nothing inappropriate about it. So, if it was a commercial transaction or an appropriate gift, why is the money being returned, why did Colin Campbell resign as minister and general secretary, and why did the Attorney General, A.J. Nicholson, retract, having said earlier there was no hanky-panky. Something is amiss. No political party in government and seeking re-election should be allowed to remain silent on such an unseemly affair.

Not fair to speculate

Any reason for the money to go to London and not to Holland? Was it to avoid the Dutch authorities? More importantly, how much was returned? The sum donated/paid was ?466,000, which at the time was equivalent to just over J$38 million. To be sure, the Leader of the Opposition only showed cheques amounting to J$31 million paid to SW Services from the CCOC account that received the money. Was the remaining seven or so million dollars spent? And, was the full amount returned, in U.S. dollars, pounds or euro? It is just not fair for us to speculate on these questions.

It is time the PNP come clean and provide Jamaica with answers and evidence, at least to start restoring some trust and confidence in governance. Understandably, a party that has misled the people for nearly two decades cannot become forthright overnight. By now, it expects a long suffering people to believe anything it says and, sadly, far too many do.