’Toxic ship’ firm in Jamaica row

Mercredi 11 octobre 2006 — Dernier ajout lundi 28 mai 2007

’Toxic ship’ firm in Jamaica row

The Dutch company involved in a toxic waste scandal in Ivory Coast has been linked to the resignation of a Jamaican minister, admit corruption allegations.

Information Minister Colin Campbell resigned on Sunday after reports of a donation made to the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) by Trafigura.

The company has handled the Jamaican oil contract for more than a decade.

Eight people died in Abidjan after a ship chartered by Trafigura dumped its toxic cargo in the city last month.

The Dutch oil trading company is reported to have paid 31 million Jamaican dollars (467,000 US dollars) into an account in the name of CCOC - Colin Campbell Our Candidate.

Mr Campbell said it was a donation to the party’s election expenses.

The leader of the opposition Jamaica Labour Party, Bruce Golding has now submitted a motion of no confidence against the government of Portia Simpson Miller.

An inquiry into the payment has been initiated by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica.

The PNP has said the donations were above board, while Trafigura said in a statement that it regretted « any misunderstanding that may have been caused » by its contributions.

Cargo inspection

In a separate development, the ship that offloaded the waste in Ivory Coast, the Probo Koala, could be released shortly from the Estonian port of Talin, where it has been held while investigators looked at its cargo and the ship’s log.

The Ivorian inspection team have now completed their work and returned home.

« The Probo Koala ship can leave Estonian waters as soon as it has ceased to be a piece of evidence for us, which could happen this week, » Piret Seeman, spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, said shortly after a team of investigators from Ivory Coast had left the Baltic state.

Trafigura is still pressing for the release of two of its senior executives, who are being held by the Ivorian authorities.

Trafigura believes that the men - Claude Dauphin and Jean Paul Valentini - have no case to answer, as the slops were discharged under supervision of the port authorities into the road tankers of a certified Abidjan disposal agent, Compagnie Tommy.

Story from BBC NEWS.

Published : 2006/10/11 21:36:18 GMT

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