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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news_byline>PNP Chairman denies allegations of kickbacks and general corruption</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 9px"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_summary><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellPadding=0 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_imagecaption><SPAN style="WIDTH: 160px">PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill. (Photo: Sasha Henriques)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN class=news_summary>The People's National Party (PNP) is rushing to clear its name in the aftermath of damning allegations by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding that it is receiving kickbacks from a company that does business with the state. </SPAN>
<SPAN class=news_body>In a statement, issued more than three hours after Tuesday's ill-fated Parliamentary sitting, PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill admitted that the party received a big contribution from a multi-national company three weeks ago.
If Bruce Golding's attack on the PNP, following the Opposition's walk-out of Parliament was strident, Mr. Pickersgill's characterization of the Opposition Leader was vitriolic.
Mr. Golding claimed that millions of dollars were channelled from a foreign company with oil links in Nigeria to local companies of which senior Government Ministers and other political functionaries were signatories.
For Mr. Golding, if the recent PNP conference was the Mother of All Conferences, then his allegations constituted the Mother of All Scandals.
But Mr. Pickersgill dismissed Mr. Golding's claim as an outrageous and shameful attempt to scandalize the party.
He declared that the party has received no contribution of funds which were due to the state and absolutely denies that it or its members referred to, received any kickbacks.
However, Mr. Pickersgill conceded that the allegations must be viewed seriously.
But he added that the party is left to wonder if the entire episode was not designed to divert the public's attention from the seriousness of the debate on the censure motion against Opposition member Karl Samuda.
Mr. Pickersgill said the party's fundraising team has been at work to procure financing for the upcoming general elections.
In contrast, to a comment from Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller that the PNP was soliciting funds from poor donors, Mr. Pickersgill said contributions are being received from both the local and international private sectors.
According to Mr. Pickersgill, in the case mentioned by Mr. Golding, a corporate contribution was received three weeks ago from Trafigura Baheer, a large multi-national company operating in 55 countries including Jamaica.
The PNP Chairman said those funds, as well as all other contributions collected, remain in the National Campaign Fundraising Account.
Mr. Pickersgill argued that both the PNP and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) receive private sector contributions and any attempt to represent the Trafigura corporate contribution as a kickback is not only without merit, but unworthy.
He said the two officers mentioned in Mr. Golding’s statement have issued instructions to their lawyers to pursue the matter.
Both the PNP and the JLP say they will be convening press conferences on the issue on Wednesday.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_imagecaption><SPAN style="WIDTH: 160px">PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill. (Photo: Sasha Henriques)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN class=news_summary>The People's National Party (PNP) is rushing to clear its name in the aftermath of damning allegations by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding that it is receiving kickbacks from a company that does business with the state. </SPAN><SPAN class=news_body>In a statement, issued more than three hours after Tuesday's ill-fated Parliamentary sitting, PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill admitted that the party received a big contribution from a multi-national company three weeks ago.
If Bruce Golding's attack on the PNP, following the Opposition's walk-out of Parliament was strident, Mr. Pickersgill's characterization of the Opposition Leader was vitriolic.
Mr. Golding claimed that millions of dollars were channelled from a foreign company with oil links in Nigeria to local companies of which senior Government Ministers and other political functionaries were signatories.
For Mr. Golding, if the recent PNP conference was the Mother of All Conferences, then his allegations constituted the Mother of All Scandals.
But Mr. Pickersgill dismissed Mr. Golding's claim as an outrageous and shameful attempt to scandalize the party.
He declared that the party has received no contribution of funds which were due to the state and absolutely denies that it or its members referred to, received any kickbacks.
However, Mr. Pickersgill conceded that the allegations must be viewed seriously.
But he added that the party is left to wonder if the entire episode was not designed to divert the public's attention from the seriousness of the debate on the censure motion against Opposition member Karl Samuda.
Mr. Pickersgill said the party's fundraising team has been at work to procure financing for the upcoming general elections.
In contrast, to a comment from Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller that the PNP was soliciting funds from poor donors, Mr. Pickersgill said contributions are being received from both the local and international private sectors.
According to Mr. Pickersgill, in the case mentioned by Mr. Golding, a corporate contribution was received three weeks ago from Trafigura Baheer, a large multi-national company operating in 55 countries including Jamaica.
The PNP Chairman said those funds, as well as all other contributions collected, remain in the National Campaign Fundraising Account.
Mr. Pickersgill argued that both the PNP and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) receive private sector contributions and any attempt to represent the Trafigura corporate contribution as a kickback is not only without merit, but unworthy.
He said the two officers mentioned in Mr. Golding’s statement have issued instructions to their lawyers to pursue the matter.
Both the PNP and the JLP say they will be convening press conferences on the issue on Wednesday.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_imagecaption><SPAN style="WIDTH: 160px">Commerce Minister, Phillip Paulwell</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN class=news_summary>Commerce Minister Phillip Paulwell is heading to court to defend his name following allegations that he was one of two Cabinet members involved in shady financial dealings. </SPAN>
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