Portia orders probe into PNP campaign financing scandal

The president of the People's National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller has asked the party’s Integrity Commission to investigate the campaign financing issues first raised by party treasurer, Norman Horne.

Horne in a report, alleged that senior members of the party collected millions of dollars in donations for the February general elections, but failed to pay them over to the party’s coffers.

The report has not been accepted by the PNP's National Executive Council because Horne was not available for a July meeting to answer related questions.

This afternoon, a release from the PNP said during a meeting of the PNP Officer Corps today, Simpson Miller requested that the Integrity Commission probes the matter.

The PNP says the Terms of Reference for the investigation will be completed by Monday, September 5.

The party says the Integrity Commission will be asked to provide a preliminary report to the Officer Corps by October 3, 2016.

The PNP also says the Commission will be free to draft additional expertise as required to complete its investigation.