THE Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) is demanding full disclosure on the Trafigura matter after the Supreme Court ordered several People’s National Party (PNP) representatives to testify in the matter being investigated by Dutch authorities.

“The JCC holds firmly to the view that trust and transparency in governance must always apply to both of the island’s major political parties — the party which is in power, as well as the “government in waiting”, which is how the major opposition party may also be termed,” president Milton Samuda said in a statement this afternoon.

“In essence, we believe that political organisations which call for transparency from their opposite numbers must demonstrate their willingness to do likewise if and when they find themselves facing situations which bring their own transparency into question.”

The JCC said that from the time that the Trafigura affair first surfaced, it has been consistent in looking at the matter from all sides — inclusive of speaking to issues of bank confidentiality — while always emphasising the need for a thorough investigation of the entire issue and for clarity and truthfulness in reporting to the country on the matter.

“We have taken a similar stance on the Manatt Phelps Phillips matter which is facing the current government. Therefore, in the wake of reports of the granting of the Supreme Court order for PNP officials to answer questions on Trafigura, the JCC has been concerned about the manner in which questions put directly to some members of the PNP hierarchy are being treated,” Samuda said.

The JCC said it expects elected officials on both sides of the political divide to make a demonstrable, ongoing commitment to transparency in governance and, when it becomes necessary, to cooperate fully with the judicial process if it must be engaged to deal with some issues.

“Finally, we suggest that it appears unseemly for the people of Jamaica to be made aware of new developments regarding such controversial matters, only because of the investigations of foreign governments. It is our belief that citizens of this country deserve to hear about these matters from their own elected officials,” the JCC said.