THE People’s National Party (PNP) has acknowledged that it received US$1,000,000 from Olint, which was spent in the party’s 2007 election campaign.

“Upon becoming aware of the publication of a confiscation order issued by the Supreme Court of the Turks & Caicos Island, the PNP undertook to investigate what sums it received for the 2007 election campaign from Olint/David Smith,” party chairman Robert Pickersgill said in a statement this morning.

“The investigation has established that the sum of US$1,000,000 was received in an account on its behalf and spent in the party’s 2007 election campaign.”

Pickersgill said though the party has not yet received documentary evidence as to the source of this sum, its information is that it came from Olint.

Pickersgill said a thorough examination of all available records has been pursued with urgency.

“The facts gleaned by the party’s investigators confirm the truth and accuracy of the statement previously released by former Prime Minister PJ Patterson. This was an account of which the former party president had no knowledge or control. Our enquiries confirm that he neither obtained nor received this amount or any portion of it in cash or kind. All the available evidence reveals that at no time was he told or made aware of the deposit or any disbursements made from it.”

The party said in view of these findings, it will be advising the authorities in the Turks & Caicos, so that the recipient of the funds is not wrongly identified.

“However, as regards the confiscation order’s reference to a gift of US$2,000,000 to the Jamaica PNP Party, the party’s investigations so far have not identified any such amount, or any other amount save for the US$1,000,000 referred to above, as having been received on its behalf from Olint/David Smith,” Pickersgill said.

The PNP’s attorneys-at-law have written to the authorities in the Turks & Caicos to further request that they provide the party with any relevant information that may assist in these investigations, he added.