Gordon Robinson | If a macca, mek it jook ‘you’!

So Our Candidate says it’s normal for political donations to be made secretly.

Really? Seriously? In which Democracy? In whose concept of governance? Where is it okay to keep a THIRTY-ONE-MILLION DOLLAR political contribution from a government contractor, whose contract is expiring, secret?

Our Candidate told the court SW Services provided cover-up benefits to political donors. According to RJR, “He said SW Services bank account was created to conceal the identity of donors…[and] that most donors wouldn’t want their contributions to be publicly known…hence, the accounts were created so they would feel comfortable donating.”

Paulwell testified the only reason Trafigura’s CEO Claude Dauphin met with Portia on August 23, 2006, was for hugs, kisses and photo op because he was a fan. After that, according to Our Candidate, Dauphin was referred to him, as PNP general secretary, when Dauphin offered the “donation” in a “one-and-one meeting lasting no more than five minutes”. Dauphin arrived in Jamaica August 23 and left August 24.

Why?

What’s the usual purpose of “one-and-one-meetings” between people who have never met? How many Jamaican donors enjoyed such circumlocution with their contributions? Did PNP know it was against Dutch law for Trafigura to make foreign political donations? Was the donation intended to influence future contract awards, or simply made due to Portia’s star power?

The first Trafigura transfer was September 6, 2006 (less than two weeks after Dauphin’s visit). Trafigura’s ‘contract’ was to expire in December.

Well, kiss my red rungus kungus mi nungus! Are these fiscal gymnastics ‘normal’? Let’s examine some of the reasons why that question should be answered yea or nay.

• Trafigura said it was a commercial arrangement. Our Candidate testified Trafigura had no business connections with CCOC;

• PNP President Portia at least thought it was inappropriate, because she ordered the donation returned. Yet Chicken Feed testified he couldn’t prove the refund was made;

• Jamaica’s Laws were subsequently bolstered by adding a requirement for government contractors’ political contributions to be declared to Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) within 14 days.

• ECJ wrote about that 2016 Amendment: “It will … help to reduce the perception of corruption in elections and campaign expenditure”.

• In 2006, Chicken Feed stated, “...all contributions received by PNP are above board” and that PNP was willing to disclose this information if JLP gave a commitment to do the same. Then PNP fought bitterly FOR SIXTEEN YEARS to avoid having to answer questions about Trafigura’s contribution in open court.

• Political contributions of this nature are illegal in Holland, where Trafigura is incorporated.

Some important findings from a 2010 Contractor General’s (OCG) Report on its investigation (also stonewalled by relevant PNP Officials):

(1) When Trafigura transferred J$31 million to CCOC (September 6 and 12, 2006), it was still lifting oil on behalf of PCJ without a formal, written contract in place;

(2) Trafigura’s original annual contracts (revived in 2000) were awarded in breach of procurement procedures.

The Dunce has a message for Our Candidate and Chicken Feed: “if a macca, mek it jook yu!”

INSIPID AND HYPOCRITICAL

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Julian based his response to Nigel’s opening salvo on an utterly nonsensical argument that inflation is a tax. Well, maybe it is, BUT inflation has been a constant Jamaican ‘tax’ for decades. Nauseatingly high inflation/interest rates were featured macro-economic tools by PNP Governments, which also frequently imposed massive new taxes. So the ARGUMENT that inflation somehow makes Nigel’s No-New-Taxes announcement fake is insipid and hypocritical. Government’s policy to rely on indirect taxation is unanswerably sound and practical. Feeble Opposition attempts to discredit it are absurd. Government is winning this ‘debate’ by street, lane and village.

I’m flattered. Nigel used my signature closing as one of his themes and Julian tried to adapt the Dunce’s mantra when he joked, “whether is macca or crickle (sic), it will jook you”.

But the Dunce says to tell Julian, “if a macca, mek it jook YOU”

Peace and Love!

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.