( L - R ) Golding and Miller

Parliamentarians spent much time on Tuesday discussing the controversial $31 million so-called donation from Trafigura Beheer to the People's National Party.

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, in a question-and-answer session, sought answers from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on the Trafigura issue.

After responding to queries from Mr. Golding, the Prime Minister faced a volley of follow-up questions from Opposition MPs who were unrelenting in their quest to extract details about the ongoing saga.

The following are excerpts from the question-and-answer segment in Parliament on Tuesday:

GOLDING: Does the Prime Minister recall a statement issued by Trafigura Beheer on October 6, 2006 that as part of the development of its business in Jamaica, it had 'a commercial agreement with CCOC Associates' of which Mr. Colin Campbell, then a member of her Cabinet, was a principal and that payments by Trafigura to 'CCOC Association' were made under that agreement?

SIMPSON MILLER: I recall the statement made.

GOLDING: Was this commercial agreement signed by Mr. Campbell?

SIMPSON MILLER: I am advised by Senator Campbell that he did not sign any document relative to Trafigura Beheer.

GOLDING: Has the Prime Minister seen any document establishing this commercial agreement?

SIMPSON MILLER: No.

GOLDING: Has the Prime Minister ascertained the nature of this agreement and will she provide details thereof to this Honourable House?

SIMPSON MILLER: Trafigura Beheer made a contribution to the People's National Party in September 2006. The contribution was paid into an account in the name of CCOC Association and was facilitated by a document signed by the donors and a representative of CCOC Association. The document was described as a Service Agreement, the subject of which was ostensibly a Consultancy Agreement, whereby CCOC undertook to do a study of the Bauxite Industry.

GOLDING: Has the Prime Minister determined whether this agreement constitutes a genuine contract expected by both parties to be performed or was it merely a contrivance to facilitate a donation to the People's National Party and to conceal it from regulatory authorities?

SIMPSON MILLER: The transaction is detailed in my answer to question 4.

GOLDING: Has the Government sought to have any discussions with Trafigura since the issue became public, to resolve the conflict between the claim by various members of the Government that the payment to CCOC Association was a donation to the PNP, and the contention of Trafigura that it was in pursuance of a commercial agreement between itself and CCOC Association?

SIMPSON MILLER: The Government has had no discussion with Trafigura, as the Government is not involved in any aspect of this matter.

GOLDING: Does the Prime Minister recall stating publicly that she had instructed that the payment to CCOC Association be returned to Trafigura?

SIMPSON MILLER: Yes

GOLDING: What is the basis on which these instructions were issued?

SIMPSON MILLER: These instructions were given in my capacity as President of the People's National Party, in view of the controversy that has attended this donation.

GOLDING: Have the Prime Minister's instructions been carried out? If so, when? If not, why not?

SIMPSON MILLER: Yes, my instructions were carried out on March 5. In fact, the return of the funds was confirmed by Trafigura Beheer in a press release published by the Daily Observer on Monday, March 12.

KARL SAMUDA: The document we are seeking (the agreement) speaks to work via a consultancy. Was that consultancy undertaken?

SIMPSON MILLER: My advice is that the money was a contribution to the People's National Party and so there was no consultancy.

SAMUDA: The former General Secretary (Colin Campbell) in your view Madam Prime Minister did nothing wrong in the handling of this matter.

SIMPSON MILLER: Don't even go there with me. We all are aware of it in here (how political parties get contributions) and we must stop the hypocrisy and face the facts; there is a reality here and that's why we need to deal with this issue.

SAMUDA: Prime Minister you have confirmed that in your opinion he (Colin Campbell) did nothing wrong.

SIMPSON MILLER: My response Mr. Speaker is that we inside here need to correct it collectively that no one will be able to collect any contribution for any of the political parties without disclosure of source.

ANDREW GALLIMORE: When will the public of Jamaica see evidence that is consistent with business practice to show beyond the shadow of a doubt that Trafigura has received the money from the PNP and or from CCOC?

SIMPSON MILLER: Mr. Speaker, I am sure the people of Jamaica heard that the money was returned and that it was confirmed by the people that donated the money. I think we should stop playing politics with a very serious matter.