Norman Horne, the treasurer of the People’s National Party (PNP), has stated in a report leaked to the media that, during the last election campaign, not only were there multiple campaign headquarters, but also quite a few senior party members and officials who received money did not turn it in. In other words, funds intended for the central party machinery were used for personal campaign purposes — or otherwise — during the most critical time.

Unfortunately — but not surprising nor newsworthy — most Jamaicans are of the view that politicians are crooked. What is newsworthy, however, is that the missing money could have been the difference between another term in Government and their current status as Opposition, and more importantly that the party members have regards for nothing or anyone, be it the average Jamaican citizen or PNP member.

The PNP was formed in 1938 by leading intellectuals, scholars, social activists, and political agitators for the benefit of the people. The party was seen as being accountable to the people as a whole. The party gained a reputation of both social upliftment and walking the straight and narrow, even to it’s detriment — as seen in the referendum and the subsequent pre-Independence election and the brutal dismissal of the four H’s, despite there immense popularity within the party. Even during those mad decades of the 70s-80s, the PNP retained the respect of the populace, even if many did not like its politics, because they were honourable people who had a vision for the country, and that cemented Jamaica as PNP country.

That public goodwill and affection is gone, frittered away by corrupt politicians and their greed. This is no longer PNP country, nor is it Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) country; this is a country at a crossroads, and time is running short. The public does not trust politicians, any of them, and this scandal, though borne out of the PNP, reflects badly on all politicians and aspiring politicians.

And while the JLP may want to, and probably should gloat, it shouldn’t gloat for long because, while people are willing to give Andrew Holness a chance, they are not sold, for all the love he has, no citizen is willing to give any politician the kind of leeway that Michael Manley through to P J Patterson enjoyed. In the event that he does blunder — knock on wood — Jamaica could very well implode and become the next Haiti, a fear that many people, including a former national security minister, share.

The party needs to implement a probe, and fast. The party must be held accountable. It is heartening to hear Portia Simpson Miller finally call for a probe — even if it is days late. And that the investigators can call on outside help will add a lot to the transparency and likelihood that this will not be a whitewash.

However, a probe is not enough. When complete, the party leader and its hierarchy must resign, or at least make public there timetable. That a party goes from seemingly running smoothly for 18 and a half years (strictly electorally speaking) to then imploding in the span of three elections is insane. That the party twice got caught up in corruption allegations is unimaginable, and blame must be laid squarely at the feet of the party leader and all of the officer corps who are either complicit to the corruption or have totally abdicated any responsibility in party matters. That may, I repeat, may save the party from total destruction.

However, more than a report is the need for the report, at all stages, to be made public.

The party needs to have full public disclosure and an independent auditor — now the Office of the Contractor General — must have a look at their donation books because this is no longer a PNP matter. This stopped being a PNP matter the second PNP General Secretary Paul Burke made allegations of bribery when contracts were being finalised; and lest we forget, bribery is still a crime, no matter how commonplace it is.

The fact of the matter is one of our largest lenders, China, is highly embarrassed by this, because Jamaica is at the centre of their Caribbean push, and any negative noises here will affect them regionally. More importantly, however, the world will be watching. The world will be watching to see if we have the stomach to make our people pay if they break the law, and they will be watching us closely.

It is clear that the PNP in its current state is rotten to the core and riddled with internal conflict; it makes the JLP of the 90s look like a sound and functioning machine. It is clear that Trafigura was no accident now, and the party has some serious questions to answer from both the public and their party members who have been made to look like fools and burkes (pun intended) by association.

Renewal is no longer a maybe, it is a must, and it will begin one way or another, starting with this. The PNP will face quite a backlash, and possibly a long exile. They should use this as a tool to change from within, because if they don’t, they will become more than the joke they currently are: they will become irrelevant.

Alexander Scott is a political and social commentator as well as a proud graduate of St George’s College, sports enthusiast and former rugby player. Send comments to the Observer or alexanderwj.scott@gmail.com.