Trafigura revisited

Recently, Greg Christie, contractor general, referred Colin Campbell to the director of public prosecutions for obstructing justice in the Trafigura case. Therefore, this development merits the Trafigura scandal to be revisited.

Trafigura Beheer, a Dutch Company which trades in oil and did/does business with Jamaica, was involved with a political party, the People's National Party (PNP). In 2006, it came to light that this company gave $31 million to an account operated by Colin Campbell, then general secretary of the PNP and minister of government of the Portia Simpson Miller administration. In the aftermath, Colin Campbell did the right thing and resigned as general secretary and as Cabinet minister. And Portia Simpson Miller ordered the money to be returned to Trafigura.

There are still some unanswered questions and lessons not learnt. The PNP has not displayed any evidence that the money was returned, and if returned, that Trafigura accepted it. I doubt that Trafigura could have accepted it because they said the money was for commercial transactions. If they accepted, it would appear as though it was a political donation, which would have made the company transgress its country's laws. The PNP should demonstrate that the money was sent and if it was not accepted, then give the money to charity, but at least tell us what happened!

The PNP could also ask its newly established Integrity Commission chaired by Bishop Wellesley Blair to investigate the Trafigura scandal to determine what happened to the money and who knew what and when about this donation/transaction, just in case other higher PNP officials were involved. In any case, since Colin Campbell apparently still has representational politics ambitions, he would have to appear before the PNP's Integrity Commission to establish his suitability to be a candidate. Therefore, allow the commission to do an investigation of the Trafigura scandal.

Wrong impression

Furthermore, there was a settlement by a bank with Colin Campbell, in which he was awarded a large sum. I understand that an employee infringed his rights. However, this award gives the impression that Colin Campbell has been able to enrich himself from a scandal. This should not be, and sends the wrong signal. And if the intention of Colin Campbell was to make the point that he was mistreated in the manner of the exposé, then that is all well and good. But he should donate the money to a charity or a set of charities.

And furthermore, there were no local police investigations (at least that I am aware of). Too often, there are happenings in the partisan political sphere and no investigation is undertaken to ascertain if there was any wrongdoing. We have not changed.

What has also not changed is how political campaigns are financed. There is still nothing barring or limiting donations from foreign organisations or companies. We still do not know the source or sums of funds for political parties. Until the PNP made a recent announcement to present audited statements to its membership, no political party informed its delegates of how money was acquired and spent. And every government since Independence requires companies to present audited statements. The political class is above the law.

There is no system in place to prevent money acquired from gun smuggling and narcotic activities from funding political operations and campaigns. Nothing to prevent resources from ponzi schemes and money laundering from ending up in the coffers of political parties.

Until the PNP shows that the money was sent back to Trafigura, and the source and sums of funds for political parties are declared, then the Trafigura scandal has not been adequately dealt with.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica - Identity, Ministry and Legacy'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.