- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Newly-appointed Information and Development Minister, Donald Buchanan, signs the Instrument of Office at King's House yesterday, after he was sworn in by Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall. Prime Minister Portia Simspon Miller looks on.

Edmond Campbell and Ross Sheil, Staff Reporters

Government will break its silence on the Trafigura Beheer saga on Tuesday in Parliament, when the Opposition's no-confidence motion against the Portia Simpson Miller administration will be debated.

Yesterday, at the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Buchanan as Minister of Information and Development at King's House to replace Colin Campbell who resigned after misleading the People's National Party (PNP) over Trafigura's $31 million 'donation', ministers remained tight-lipped. "I would expect closure," said Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Water, Housing, Transport and Works, looking ahead to Tuesday.

No honeymoon

In her speech, the Prime Minister told Mr. Buchanan that "he will not have the luxury of any honeymoon". But, with journalists hoping that this would mean answers to their questions about Trafigura, they were soon disappointed.

However Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, told The Gleaner that he would be going ahead with his threat to sue Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding, following his revelation in Gordon House about Trafigura's donation last week Tuesday.

"Yes, by the end of the day ... and some media houses," said the minister.

Mr. Golding had alleged that Mr. Paulwell was a signatory to an account to which sums totalling $31 million were paid by Trafigura. Mr. Paulwell has denied the claim.

Mr. Golding maintains that he has irrefutable evidence to back his claim. Speaking on Thursday, he said that after some delay, the JLP's dossier on the affair would yesterday be sent to Dutch prosecutors. The Dutch government, in whose country Trafigura is based, has said that it has not yet commenced an investigation, but is currently "checking facts."

'Genetically-connected'

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Mr. Pickersgill stood firm on his previous remarks that Mark Myers was "genetically-connected" to the JLP after the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce President criticised the PNP for accepting the 'gift.'

"I do not intentionally make unfair comments," said Mr. Pickersgill, while declining to qualify whether his remark was 'fair,' or not.

Outside of Trafigura, he acknowledged that the PNP was considering making Mr. Buchanan party general secretary, the other position from which Mr. Campbell resigned while remaining a senator, although he failed to attend yesterday's sitting of the Senate.

Meanwhile, following their board meeting yesterday, the Petroleum Corporation announced that no decision has been taken as to whether or not to retain the services of Trafigura to trade Nigerian oil on its behalf, but that the deal remains under review.