The Trafigura Beheer saga intensified yesterday with chairman of the People's National Party (PNP), Robert Pickersgill, labelling Jamaica Chamber of Commerce president, Mark Myers, as "genetically" connected to the Jamaica Labour Party, following remarks by Myers that the PNP should not have accepted the $31 million from the Dutch-based firm.
Mr. Myers chided the PNP for accepting the money, saying it was inappropriate and helped to reinforce the "perception of a culture of corruption in Jamaica."
In a statement yesterday, the PNP chairman suggested that another representative from the JCC should have responded to the issue and not Mr. Myers who, he said, is linked to the JLP.
According to him, the JCC ignored the confidentiality breaches at FirstCaribbean bank, indicating that a violation of fiduciary responsibility between bank and client was not an issue that the Chamber concerns itself with.
He added that by sidestepping the banker/client infringement, the newly-elected JCC president has "brought the neutrality of the organisation into sharp question."
Mr. Pickersgill asked whether Mr. Myers had canvassed the views of the JCC membership before issuing a "biased and incomplete statement."
The PNP chairman stressed that the party broke no law by accepting the corporate contribution from Trafigura.
Meanwhile, 'Jamaicans for Justice' is demanding answers to a number of questions relating to the Trafigura Beheer affair:
Why is the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the Government of Jamaica doing business with a firm which has been convicted and fined millions in the 'Oil For Food Scandal', and some of whose executives have been charged with manslaughter following the dumping of toxic waste in Abijan?
Who was/is looking for Jamaica's interests in its dealings with this firm?
What are the terms and conditions of that contract?
How was it awarded?
Why have no external audits been done over the last five years?
How much money did Trafigura make on the contract vis-a-vis how much money Jamaica made?
Why was the contract renewed annually and without tender for the last five years?