JCC scolds PNP
The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) yesterday chided the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) for accepting a $31-million campaign donation from international oil trading firm Trafigura, saying that while it was not illegal it contributed to the perception of a culture of corruption.
At the same time, the JCC said it strongly supports the call for campaign financing reform, as this incident has clearly shown that the need for such reform has now surpassed being urgent.
“There will always be occasions when a gift to a political party is inappropriate and should be refused by the party. In our view, this is one such occasion,” newly elected JCC president Mark Myers said in a statement.
The PNP has been receiving heavy public flak since Tuesday when Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding disclosed that between September 6 and 12, just prior to the PNP’s annual conference, Trafigura, a Holland-based oil dealer, donated £460,000 – over J$31 million – to the PNP.
Trafigura has a yearly contract to lift and sell Nigerian crude on the international market for Jamaica.
But the PNP, while admitting that it received the money, has insisted that the transaction is proper and above board, adding that it was the oil dealer that made the offer to contribute to the party’s election campaign.
The PNP also said that none of the funds were due to the state and that the payment was not a kickback for favours.
The issue has revived an intermittent debate on the need for campaign financing reform which both major political parties are more or less committed to but have been unable to discuss fully.
Yesterday, the JCC called on the political parties to agree to a code of conduct and a format for public disclosure to govern contributions to political parties towards the next general election.
“In the national interest, the JCC offers its good offices to facilitate the consummation of such an agreement,” the chamber said.
“Trafigura has a direct trading relationship with the Government and, therefore, is likely to negotiate with the Government, at some time in the future,” said the chamber. “Clearly there is a potential for conflict of interest in a case such as this.
“That potential for conflict is at the heart of the need for legislation governing campaign financing. Conflicts of interest imply poor governance and it is critical that, as a matter of the greatest urgency, legislation be agreed and passed to govern the contributions to political parties and their affiliates, by foreign and local donors.”
Arguing that good governance and transparency are the real issues, the chamber suggested that the red herrings in the current controversy be put aside.
“Where people have acted in an apparent conflict of interest or inappropriate manner, they should be held accountable,” the chamber said.