KINGSTON, Jamaica – Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell has chided Opposition Spokesman on Energy, Robert Montague for suggesting that the recent ‘bad gas saga’ in Jamaica may be linked to petrol being sourced from international terrorists including ISIS.

Montague had questioned the source of the bad gas during a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting in Gayle, St Mary Tuesday evening.

The assertions that the fuel was sourced from terrorists “is nothing short of a ‘scorched earth’ attempt by the Opposition to destroy the very heart of the country’s development, its aviation industry, international trade and tourism as well as creating fear and panic among the travelling publics at home and abroad,” Paulwell said in a release late Wednesday.

He added: “This egregious, irresponsible and dangerous speculation speaks to the national security of Jamaica as well as that of those nations with whom we share fraternal, diplomatic and trade relations and deserves national and international condemnation”.

The Minister further implored Montague to share any such information with the government.

“If Senator Montague has any such information, even the mere suggestion of its possibility, then he has a duty as a legislator, former Minister of Government and responsible political representative to share the information or suspicion with the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the Minister of National Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police,” Paulwell said.

He also invited Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness as well as the political ombudsman to intervene in the matter “to ensure that this dangerous and irresponsible conduct is appropriately dealt with and to provide the nation and its international partners with the assurance that this type of conduct is neither condoned nor allowed in this country”.