Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn - file photo
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DPP Paula Llewellyn
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has said her office will be writing to the registrar of the Supreme Court to get a date for the continuation of the hearing into the Trafigura matter.
This follows Monday's Privy Council ruling that five members of the People's National Party (PNP) be questioned in open court.
They are former Prime Minister and PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, former party chairman Robert Pickersgill, current chairman Phillip Paulwell, Colin Campbell and Norton Hinds.
The DPP said she was not surprised by the Privy Council ruling because her office "had done our research at that level and we believe as a matter of law that the appellants would not have been able to mount a successful appeal in relation to the grounds that they had filed."
The case stems from the request by authorities in The Netherlands for the five individuals to answer questions about a $31 million donation to the party in 2006 by Dutch firm Trafigura Beheer.
Dutch firms are prohibited from making donations to foreign governments.
In 2011, Mr. Hinds began answering questions in the Supreme Court when the case was halted as the PNP members challenged a decision by the judge that they give testimony in open court.
In light of the ruling, the DPP said the court will have to re-issue summons for the appellants so they may testify in court.
Golding welcomes decision
People's National Party president Mark Golding has welcomed the decision of the Privy Council, saying it provides an opportunity for the matter to be disposed of.
In a media release, Mr. Golding said the information requested by the Dutch authorities should now be provided without delay.
He reiterated that corruption will not be tolerated within the PNP under his leadership.
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