Trafigura ghost
Published:Sunday | July 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
BBC News recently reported that Trafigura had been found criminally responsible by a Dutch court for dumping toxic waste near Abidjan, the former capital of the Ivory Coast. In this matter, Trafigura has been charged £1million.
Details of the case indicate that Trafigura, sometime in 2006, first attempted to treat the waste in Holland before finding it cheaper to dump it outside of Africa. That action made thousands of Ivoreans sick, while creating pressure on their medical systems. Trafigura, a Swiss commodities firm, has already paid some 31,000 Ivoreans £30 million for treatment of mostly flu-like symptoms.
This is the same Trafigura that was suspected of making an unapproved donation to the last People's National Party (PNP) administration. Perhaps then there was far more wheeling and dealing than most of us could ever imagine, since this latest trial shows a more cynical side to Trafigura than was previously understood.
Indeed, Trafigura's crime, according to the judge, is for "exporting harmful material to the Third World".
By implication, what does that say about the last PNP administration?
Over the last week, Information Minister Daryl Vaz has raised the question of the PNP's moral status. It means there are several issues to be cleared up if Gordon House is to be the effective seat of governance that it ought to be. This is one more reason for a truth and reconciliation commission. I renew my call for it.
I am, etc.,
CLIVE STEWART
Boscobel, St Mary