Trafigura
probe - Dutch Government launches investigation
into $31m transaction
By Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
Jamaica Gleanner
Kingston
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 19 06
Dutch authorities have now launched a full investigation
into the $31 million transaction between Trafigura
Beheer and the ruling People's National Party (PNP).
"We
got a further response yesterday (Friday) that they
were satisfied that the matter warrants investigation
and they would be launching (one) into the matter,"
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Bruce Golding
told hundreds of cheering supporters yesterday.
He was speaking at the delegate's session of the
63rd Jamaica Labour Party Annual Conference, at
the National Arena in Kingston.
Controversial
transaction
Golding,
the parliamentary Opposition Leader, said he had
received confirmation from the Dutch authorities
on Friday following a report made to the Dutch National
Investigation Unit and another state agency to have
the controversial transaction investigated.
The
Trafigura Beheer scandal was first uncovered by
the Opposition in October, when it received information
that the Dutch oil trading company had deposited
$31 million into a PNP account belonging to the
former Information Minister and party General Secretary
Colin Campbell. PNP officials claimed the money
was a contribution to the party, but Trafigura denied
the claims and said the transaction was purely commercial.
This is in, apparent reference to a dummy arrangement,
to pay the Colin Campbell-affiliated company for
contracted professional services.
Political
contribution
But
the Opposition alleges the money was a political
contribution to the PNP, which could constitute
a breach of Duth regulations.
The
scandal soon led to Campbell's resignation from
the Portia Simpson Miller Cabinet, as well as tremendous
fallout in public support for her administration,
as reflected in public opinion surveys.
Trafigura
Beeher trades oil bought from Nigeria on Jamaica's
behalf.
Jamaica
Gleanner
Sunday
| November 19, 2006
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©2006 Jamaica Gleanner . All Rights Reserved.
