Government senators attack JCC
THE ruling People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday fired back with a two-pronged attack against the Jamaica Chamber of Chamber (JCC) for suggesting the party had contributed to the perception of a culture of corruption, by accepting the $31-million payment from Dutch oil trader Trafigura.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Anthony Hylton led an onslaught by PNP members of the Senate, who claimed that the JCC was biased in criticising the PNP for accepting the funds, while ignoring the implications of the unauthorised public disclosure of the cheques.
But, the Opposition defended the chamber’s criticism. Leader of Opposition Business Anthony Johnson said the chamber’s remarks were necessary because the PNP had acted against the interest of the state. His colleague, Senator Shirley Williams, called
for the intervention of the auditor-general.
At the same time, PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill, in a harsh statement yesterday evening, accused the chamber’s president, Mark Myers, of bringing
the neutrality of the organisation into “sharp question”, by ignoring the confidentiality issue.
Hylton and Pickersgill were responding to Thursday’s statement by the chamber criticising the PNP for accepting the payment and stating that while it was not illegal, it contributed to the perception of a culture
of corruption.
During the Senate sitting, Government member Trevor Munroe also tabled a motion calling for a debate on campaign financing of political parties.
Hylton told the Senate that he felt that there was “more than a tinge of hypocrisy” in the JCC’s statement.
“I find it very unfortunate that the JCC should seek to scold the PNP for what it perceives to be unethical,” the minister said.
He said that the truth was that it was foreseeable, and it was simply a matter of time before one or the other of the political parties would seek to gain a political advantage by accusing the other.
“What is sad about this situation, is that the JCC should seek to attribute blame to any party and not to the current system. Neither of the parties want to unilaterally disarm and this is understandable. The system can only be fixed if both parties are supported in this action by the private sector and by civil society at large,” Senator Hylton said.
He also accused the private sector of creating obstacles to an agreement on campaign financing.