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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>The minefield between controversial reporting and costly defamation suits</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Claude Robinson
Sunday, October 08, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>The threat of law suits by two ministers of the government against Opposition Leader Bruce Golding over allegations of improper conduct in connection with 'the Trafigura Affair' has highlighted the legal minefield that the media will have to navigate as we get closer to what is shaping up to be a bitter struggle for state power at the next election.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=90 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Claude Robinson</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Minister of Information and Development Colin Campbell and Phillip Paulwell, minister of industry, technology, energy and commerce confirmed Wednesday that they have given instructions for their lawyers to take legal action for defamation said to be contained in statements made by Mr Golding at a press conference Tuesday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The statements have been the subject of widespread reporting and commentary in the media and Mr Paulwell has indicated that some media houses would be joined in the suits but they were not named. It is noticeable that some sections of the media have been more cautious than others in characterising the allegations.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the time of writing (Thursday afternoon) the suits had not been filed but Mr Golding, in a radio interview, seemed to relish the prospect of a day in court adding that it would be the 27th time that he has been threatened with libel suit and, as with previous threats, he had nothing to fear. "Make my day", he remarked dryly in response to a question about the threat.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The drama began when the opposition leader revealed that the Dutch-based company Trafigura Beheer, which trades Nigerian-supplied crude oil on Jamaica's behalf, transferred ?466,000 or more than J$31 million from their account in Amsterdam to an account in Jamaica known as "CCOC Association".<P class=StoryText align=justify>The transfer was made "in early September (between the 6 and 12 - just prior to the PNP conference)". Shortly after these funds were received into the account, two cheques totalling J$30 million were issued payable to "SW Services (Team Jamaica)", he disclosed.
The opposition leader linked the funds to the annual conference of the ruling People's National Party late September, calling the revelation "the mother of all scandals" and demanded the immediate resignation of the entire Portia Simpson Miller administration and the calling of new elections.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=130 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>GOLDING.make my day! </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>What was felt to be a political bombshell immediately gripped the media and senior people in government circles huddled as they sought to digest the implications of the fortunes not only of persons named by the opposition leader but the government itself.
But within 24 hours the story began to change character. 'PNP Hits Back' was the headline in the Daily Gleaner Thursday reporting party chairman Robert Pickersgill and other officers denying that the PNP had spent state funds. The transfer was nothing more than a campaign contribution that wa
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Claude Robinson
Sunday, October 08, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>The threat of law suits by two ministers of the government against Opposition Leader Bruce Golding over allegations of improper conduct in connection with 'the Trafigura Affair' has highlighted the legal minefield that the media will have to navigate as we get closer to what is shaping up to be a bitter struggle for state power at the next election.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=90 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Claude Robinson</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Minister of Information and Development Colin Campbell and Phillip Paulwell, minister of industry, technology, energy and commerce confirmed Wednesday that they have given instructions for their lawyers to take legal action for defamation said to be contained in statements made by Mr Golding at a press conference Tuesday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The statements have been the subject of widespread reporting and commentary in the media and Mr Paulwell has indicated that some media houses would be joined in the suits but they were not named. It is noticeable that some sections of the media have been more cautious than others in characterising the allegations.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the time of writing (Thursday afternoon) the suits had not been filed but Mr Golding, in a radio interview, seemed to relish the prospect of a day in court adding that it would be the 27th time that he has been threatened with libel suit and, as with previous threats, he had nothing to fear. "Make my day", he remarked dryly in response to a question about the threat.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The drama began when the opposition leader revealed that the Dutch-based company Trafigura Beheer, which trades Nigerian-supplied crude oil on Jamaica's behalf, transferred ?466,000 or more than J$31 million from their account in Amsterdam to an account in Jamaica known as "CCOC Association".<P class=StoryText align=justify>The transfer was made "in early September (between the 6 and 12 - just prior to the PNP conference)". Shortly after these funds were received into the account, two cheques totalling J$30 million were issued payable to "SW Services (Team Jamaica)", he disclosed. The opposition leader linked the funds to the annual conference of the ruling People's National Party late September, calling the revelation "the mother of all scandals" and demanded the immediate resignation of the entire Portia Simpson Miller administration and the calling of new elections.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=130 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>GOLDING.make my day! </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>What was felt to be a political bombshell immediately gripped the media and senior people in government circles huddled as they sought to digest the implications of the fortunes not only of persons named by the opposition leader but the government itself.But within 24 hours the story began to change character. 'PNP Hits Back' was the headline in the Daily Gleaner Thursday reporting party chairman Robert Pickersgill and other officers denying that the PNP had spent state funds. The transfer was nothing more than a campaign contribution that wa