A bribe by any other name

… is still a bribe.

[cont.] The money given by Trafigura Beheer B.V. to the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) was originally described by both parties as a donation. Since then, Trafigura realized that it was illegal in Jamaica for a company with a contract with the government to give contributions to that same government. That is why they now claim the money is part of a commercial transaction. This of course leaves the PNP in an even worse position, since the money went into an account intended for party fundraising, and more specifically an account in the name of the minister of information.

I think this is only the beginning. If an independent audit was done of PNP financial activities (including cut-price land sales to high-ranking officials), the Jamaican people would kick out the government without a second thought.

On the other hand, maybe Jamaicans are inured to this kind of abuse of their trust.

I hope not. They deserve better.

Related posts:

1. Diggin’ deeper
2. Tis the season to be silly
3. Jamaican chutzpah
4. Crossing the floor
5. Postlapsarian PNP: After the fall from grace