Dutch authorities are to proceed with their own investigation into the scandal triggered by the $31-million donation oil trader Trafigura Beheer made to the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) in September, Bruce Golding announced yesterday.

Golding told the private session of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP’s) 63rd annual conference inside the National Arena in Kingston that the Dutch authorities confirmed Friday that there was sufficient information to support an investigation, which is likely to be conducted by their National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) and their financial crimes unit MOT/BLOM.

The JLP leader said that following a meeting on November 10 between the heads of the bureau and the chief prosecutor, a decision was taken to probe the issue.

“I got a response from them yesterday, advising me that they are satisfied that the matter warrants investigation and the Dutch authorities will be launching an investigation into the matter,” Golding said.

The scandal surrounds the donation made to the PNP just prior to that party’s annual conference in September. The donation sparked controversy, given that Trafigura is contracted by the Government to lift and sell Nigerian crude for Jamaica on the international oil market.

The JLP had asked the Dutch Government to investigate possible breaches of Dutch provisions regarding contributions by private firms to foreign political parties, as well as Trafigura’s relationship with the PNP.

Former minister of information and development, Senator Colin Campbell, resigned from the Government last month after Golding revealed the transaction.

The PNP had said that the donation was for electioneering, but Trafigura later claimed that it was a commercial payment.

The Trafigura Affair has damaged the image of the Portia Simpson Miller administration, with the latest Stone Polls published by the Observer showing that more Jamaicans have lost confidence in the ruling party.

Yesterday, Golding warned the delegates that, if elected to government at the next polls, his party would discontinue the corrupt practices which have been linked to the current Government.

He said that the JLP has been the fiercest critic of the wrongdoings of the Government, singling out its spokesmen Audley Shaw and Karl Samuda as the main standard bearers of the exposures.

Therefore, he said, the JLP could not continue in the same direction.

“If there is anybody, any of you who believe that when our time come, it means your time come, so that the same bandooloo contracts that the PNP used to give to their people, we must give you bandooloo contracts, you not going get it,” Golding warned.

He reiterated that a special prosecutor with constitutional authority would be appointed by his government to investigate corrupt activities, and to send to prison anyone found guilty of corrupt practices.

“I am telling you from now that, if when the special prosecutor do that and buck up a Labourite at any time, that’s the one time don’t call me at Jamaica House, because I am not taking your call,” he said. “We can’t preach anti-corruption unless we are determined and committed that when we become the government we are going to run a government of anti-corruption.

The opposition leader described yesterday’s delegates’ session of the conference as “productive and useful” and advised them that the party was on the “threshold of a great victory”.

During his charge, Golding also responded to a number of issues raised by the delegates during a special forum.

The forum required shadow ministers to report to the conference on their activities, then respond to questions raised by the delegates. A majority of the questions were linked to educational matters but they were, generally, varied questioning the availability of local beaches to Jamaicans; accountability on the part of MPs for the constituency budgets the JLP has promised to introduce on assuming office; and the role of the party in the policy directions of the government.

The session was chaired by Kingston Mayor Councillor Desmond McKenzie.

The conference continues this morning at 10 o’clock with the public session.