The One Bermuda Alliance has said no donation was ever received from US developer Nathan Landow, and that the party would be conducting a “full fledged” internal investigation into the allegations against Premier Craig Cannonier and other senior party members.

According to unnamed sources quoted in an article on the Think Media news website last week, Mr Landow donated $300,000 to the OBA after being approached by the Premier, allegedly as part of a quid pro quo in exchange for a casino development contract.

Opposition Progressive Labour Party leader Marc Bean has called on the Premier to “just tell the truth” about his relationship with Mr Landow.

“I will advise all of you now and the people of Bermuda that the party never received any funds from Mr Landow or any of his known associates,” party Chairman Thad Hollis said earlier today.

“We are now conducting an internal investigation into these allegations to get the facts, look at the evidence we can gather, and once we know that we will be making a full disclosure on what we’ve been able to uncover.”

Mr Hollis stated that the OBA is a party about “responsibility and fairness” and that as a result of the Think Media story, he and “the rest of the executive” felt the allegations needed to be examined for their validity.

“I felt that we needed to have a full-fledged investigation into that internally, and over the next few weeks we will be making our findings known as a result.”

Mr Hollis added that calls for those involved in the Jetgate scandal to step down were “premature”.

“The Premier is the leader of the party. If there is any truth in the allegations, and it is an active investigation, once we have found the facts, looked at the evidence, we will then make that determination.

“As it is right now, we have a story that appears to have some validity to it. I don’t believe in rumours or character assassination by rumour, so what I would prefer is to allow us to have an internal investigation into what happened in Jetgate. As it stands now, I’m not sure [what happened], and neither are the rest of the executive.”

This afternoon Progressive Labour Party leader Marc Bean said the launch of an investigation by OBA officials was in stark contrast to earlier comments by the Premier, who had described the allegations as “foolishness”.

“Earlier today, instead of calling the serious allegations ‘foolishness’, OBA chairman Thad Hollis said ‘we have a story, that appears to have some validity to it’,” Mr Bean said.

“What is even more shocking is that the chairman admitted that the Premier of the Country did not tell the truth to the chairman of his own party when asked about Mr. Stephen DeCosta’s participation in the trip now known as Jetgate.”

Mr Bean added that his party would “await to see how transparent the OBA will be”, but added: “To date, their transparency has made a mockery of their election pledges and good government. However, for the first time, it seems that some members of the OBA are saying enough is enough.

“It is imperative that the Attorney General, Mark Pettingill, and the Minister of Tourism, Shawn Crockwell also come clean to the people about the details of this Washington trip. It is my hope that the OBA MPs who have defended or remained silent while the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues make a mockery of good governance will now have the courage to speak up for what is right. Those that choose to remain silent will be just as complicit as the Premier if any wrongdoing is found.

“I once again ask for the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues to do the right thing and just tell the truth.”