The Government yesterday kept silent on the Trafigura affair, even as its image continued to take a battering, the island’s association of business leaders demanded answers, and the tourism industry joined calls for urgent campaign financing reform.

Foreign Minister Senator Anthony Hylton told journalists at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news briefing that the issue was not discussed by the executive.

The only reference to the affair, which has cost Information and Development Minister Senator Colin Campbell his job, was about Campbell’s contribution to public service, Hylton said.

“We noted the work of former minister Colin Campbell, his contribution to the Cabinet, to the party and to the country, and that was the extent of anything expressing our concerns about Trafigura,” Hylton explained.

Campbell, who normally hosted the post-Cabinet press briefings, also resigned as general secretary of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) effective yesterday after a roller-coaster week of revelations that placed him at the centre of the controversy over a $31-million donation to the PNP by Dutch firm Trafigura.

Trafigura lifts and sells Nigerian crude oil on the world market for the Government of Jamaica.

Its hefty donation to the PNP, which the party insisted was for electioneering and which was not solicited, has been heavily criticised as “inappropriate” by the Opposition, the private sector and the public.

But last Friday, CVM-TV reported that Trafigura turned the tables on the PNP, saying that the money was part of a commercial agreement.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who is also president of the PNP, instructed the party to return the money, in an obvious effort to limit the damage already done to her seven-month-old administration.

Yesterday, Hylton said that he was not concerned about the effect that the Trafigura affair had on the country’s image abroad, “because Jamaica is a robust democracy and, as in any other democracy, these issues come up from time-to-time and we address them internally”.

But in a second statement on the issue yesterday, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce said that while it welcomed the “more reasoned approach” shown by the PNP over the weekend, it believes that there are still unanswered questions which need to be addressed swiftly, “so that some degree of normalcy can be returned to the country”.

“Among the questions we believe need to be addressed are those that relate to the total nature of the relationship with Trafigura Baheer, given the fact that the information that the company has provided has evolved somewhat since its financial backing was first described as a ‘donation’,” the chamber said.

“The bottom-line for us, as a nation, is that the situation needs to be resolved swiftly, as Jamaica can ill-afford for its business-operating climate or its profile in tourism and other markets overseas to be placed at prolonged risk by this type of dispute,” the chamber said.

“We therefore call on everyone involved – at both the Government and Opposition levels – to accept that the fundamental issue of campaign financing must be resolved quickly. We do not believe that either party would wish to have the country remain for too long in this unsettled state, but should move forward towards finding solutions that make it clear that Jamaica is the intended beneficiary.”

The chamber said that it was still willing to facilitate a meeting of the parties to bring some semblance of order to the issue of political campaign contributions and transparency in the governance to the country. It also said that it plans to write to the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to make a formal offer.

The chamber’s position received support from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), which called for legislation governing contributions to political parties.

“Such legislation should be an immediate priority if we are to preserve Jamaica’s democratic traditions,” JHTA president Horace Peterkin said in a statement.

“Jamaica’s hard-won status as a sovereign nation is under threat because of the perception that our political parties receive and accept improper donations,” the JHTA said.

“Our political parties owe it to the people of Jamaica to take the high ground, to operate above board and to conduct their affairs in a way that is transparent and can stand public scrutiny. This will contribute to our stability in Jamaica”.

Yesterday, Hylton said that while there were differences within the PNP on the issue of campaign financing, his position was that political parties in the region should not accept contributions from wealthy multinational companies.

“I chair the party commission on this issue. There are differing views about it and it is a matter that will have to be resolved,” Hylton said. “But my personal opinion is no.

“It has been very clear to me, from the time I entered politics, that this is an area of profound weakness throughout the Caribbean. I welcome the discussions, frankly. If one thing that comes out of it is the legislation to reform the thing, I will be one of the happiest persons,” he added.