PNP peeved at Trafigura revelations

The People's National Party (PNP) has accused the Golding administration of "habitually and improperly" compromising the independence of state entities.

The claim came yesterday as PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting raised questions about how Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Deputy Leader Audley Shaw was able to make an announcement, at his party's annual conference on Sunday, regarding the Dutch authorities' investigation of the Trafigura affair.

In a release, Bunting asked: "How is it that Shaw came to have knowledge of this matter? Why did he find it necessary to disclose the information in that partisan setting? Why did he not make it clear that the relevant PNP members are being requested to assist in an investigation and are not themselves under suspicion of any wrongdoing?"

During the conference at the National Arena, Shaw told Labourites that the PNP would be made to participate in the Trafigura investigations by the court.

Dutch authorities are currently investi-gating a multimillion-dollar donation to the PNP by Dutch oil-trading company Trafigura Beheer. Trafigura has come under scrutiny in The Netherlands, as such donations to political parties are against the law there.

In yesterday's Gleaner, it was revealed that an order had been granted by the Supreme Court instructing members of the PNP to answer questions outlined by the Dutch investigators. The article also noted that the PNP officials had not yet been served with the order.

Inside information

In his release, Bunting, noting that the matter was being conducted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that office "should indicate whether it was a party to providing information to Mr Shaw or anyone else within the JLP".

He also claimed the report carried by The Gleaner suggested the newspaper had received "inside" information.

"The PNP is further forced to ask whether there has been political interference in, or manipulation of, the process. The timing seems too coincidental," Bunting declared.

"There is a clear pattern emerging of the Golding administration habitually and improperly compromising the independence of institutions of government which have traditionally been insulated from partisan intrusion."

The PNP general secretary said the relevant party members were consulting their legal representatives and would provide updates whenever appropriate.

Meanwhile, Generation 2000, the young professional affiliate of the JLP, called for the PNP and its president, Portia Simpson Miller, to cooperate fully with the investigators from The Netherlands.