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Thursday, November 15, 2007
There is a huge lesson to be learnt in the disclosure by Prime Minister Bruce Golding that the Dutch authorities had been seeking permission from the Jamaican government to undertake "official legal investigations" into the Trafigura affair.
On the basis of the record, we don't expect that it is an easy lesson to be learnt. However, it is one that leaders better learn. And it is simply that dirt swept under the carpet will come back, like ghosts, to haunt.
The popular nursery rhyme says it better than we could: "Speak the truth and speak it ever, cause it what it will; he who hides the wrong he/she does, does the wrong thing still".
The now Opposition People's National Party (PNP) had more than ample opportunity to put the Trafigura matter to rest, by coming clean and explaining to the nation what had happened, even if it would hurt, while it was in government.
Perhaps it was the arrogance of thinking that it would be in power forever, or the belief that it was enough to throw Colin Campbell to the proverbial wolves, but the party set up itself for what is now about to play out.
Mr Golding told the House of Representatives in a statement this Tuesday that on October 31 he was advised by the Dutch authorities that "Trafigura Beheer is believed to be guilty of having bribed public officials of a foreign state, namely Jamaica".
"Such an offence," the prime minister informed the nation, "is punishable under Sections 177 and 178 (a) of the Dutch Criminal Code." He revealed further that from February this year, the Dutch authorities had been seeking permission from the Jamaican government to undertake the investigations here into the allegations of bribery against Trafigura Beheer.
Having been the person, then in opposition, to reveal the deal under which the PNP received $31 million from Trafigura, Mr Golding's name was daubed with dirt. It will surprise no one, therefore, that now in government, he would be minded to allow the Dutch to carry out their investigations here.
One should not assume, of course, that those investigations will find any one guilty of bribing or of being bribed. In fact, this might just be the opportunity that the PNP deprived the Jamaican country and people of: an opportunity to get to the facts as they are.
The request for the investigation was denied by the former government, on the grounds that it did not fall under the necessary legislative arrangements, the prime minister said.
That the new government has found a way of co-operating with the Dutch police suggests that the Portia Simpson Miller administration was not on the level with the country.
It is difficult not to think that the PNP had something to hide as the real reason behind its decision to deny the Dutch.
Of course, it is tempting to try to cover up embarrassment, and governments do it all the time. However, the perception is that the PNP government did it once too often.
Hence, despite being in opposition, the party has found itself on the back foot, fending off the double whammy of the Cuban light bulb scandal and the return of the Trafigura ghost.
We hope that this brutal lesson being learnt by the PNP will serve as a warning to our current and future leaders.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...HE_DOES___.asp
There is a huge lesson to be learnt in the disclosure by Prime Minister Bruce Golding that the Dutch authorities had been seeking permission from the Jamaican government to undertake "official legal investigations" into the Trafigura affair.
On the basis of the record, we don't expect that it is an easy lesson to be learnt. However, it is one that leaders better learn. And it is simply that dirt swept under the carpet will come back, like ghosts, to haunt.
The popular nursery rhyme says it better than we could: "Speak the truth and speak it ever, cause it what it will; he who hides the wrong he/she does, does the wrong thing still".
The now Opposition People's National Party (PNP) had more than ample opportunity to put the Trafigura matter to rest, by coming clean and explaining to the nation what had happened, even if it would hurt, while it was in government.
Perhaps it was the arrogance of thinking that it would be in power forever, or the belief that it was enough to throw Colin Campbell to the proverbial wolves, but the party set up itself for what is now about to play out.
Mr Golding told the House of Representatives in a statement this Tuesday that on October 31 he was advised by the Dutch authorities that "Trafigura Beheer is believed to be guilty of having bribed public officials of a foreign state, namely Jamaica".
"Such an offence," the prime minister informed the nation, "is punishable under Sections 177 and 178 (a) of the Dutch Criminal Code." He revealed further that from February this year, the Dutch authorities had been seeking permission from the Jamaican government to undertake the investigations here into the allegations of bribery against Trafigura Beheer.
Having been the person, then in opposition, to reveal the deal under which the PNP received $31 million from Trafigura, Mr Golding's name was daubed with dirt. It will surprise no one, therefore, that now in government, he would be minded to allow the Dutch to carry out their investigations here.
One should not assume, of course, that those investigations will find any one guilty of bribing or of being bribed. In fact, this might just be the opportunity that the PNP deprived the Jamaican country and people of: an opportunity to get to the facts as they are.
The request for the investigation was denied by the former government, on the grounds that it did not fall under the necessary legislative arrangements, the prime minister said.
That the new government has found a way of co-operating with the Dutch police suggests that the Portia Simpson Miller administration was not on the level with the country.
It is difficult not to think that the PNP had something to hide as the real reason behind its decision to deny the Dutch.
Of course, it is tempting to try to cover up embarrassment, and governments do it all the time. However, the perception is that the PNP government did it once too often.
Hence, despite being in opposition, the party has found itself on the back foot, fending off the double whammy of the Cuban light bulb scandal and the return of the Trafigura ghost.
We hope that this brutal lesson being learnt by the PNP will serve as a warning to our current and future leaders.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...HE_DOES___.asp
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