Deputy Premier Michael Dunkley said today that the community would get answers on the Jetgate controversy which has plunged the One Bermuda Alliance into crisis and led to calls for Premier Craig Cannonier to resign.

Mr Dunkley was asked at a press conference this morning if he knew what had happened to a donation of some $300,000 made to the party by a group of US businessmen, including Nathan Landow.

Mr Dunkley didn’t answer the question directly, but said: “I think it would be premature for me to say anything, other than to say that over the weekend we had a couple of meetings which were covered in the media. We had some good discussions. The internal review of that continues and I would expect that the party chair [Thad Hollis] would be making a statement, perhaps in about a week.

“I can’t speak for the party chair but I do believe people will be comfortable knowing the information that comes out at the time. The party chair has been very forthright about it all — he would look into it and then reply back, so I think people will be fully aware of what took place at that time.”

Mr Landow confirmed to the Bermuda Sun last week that he and other businessmen had contributed $300,000 to the OBA’s 2012 election campaign after meeting with Mr Cannonier.

In March, 2013, three months after winning that election, Mr Cannonier, along with Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell and Attorney General Mark Pettingill, flew to Washington on Mr Landow’s private jet to meet with the millionaire to discuss potential hotel development on the Island.

Mr Landow insisted that no deal was struck during the meeting and said he received nothing from the OBA Government in return for his financial contribution to the party. But Opposition MPs have repeatedly accused Government of covering up details of the junket.

And last week, Mr Hollis announced that the OBA had launched an internal inquiry into the donation, a move which Mr Cannonier said he welcomed.

Mr Dunkley said today that the Premier still had his full support and he would continue to do the work of the Government for the people of Bermuda.

Asked if Mr Cannonier had been “thrown under the bus” by Mr Hollis, the National Security Minister said: “In politics, things happen from time to time and we describe them in different ways. Obviously, the party chair was doing what he thought was appropriate and we move on from there and will give the community answers. That’s what it’s important to do as politicians.”

Mr Dunkley wouldn’t comment on whether he still had aspirations to be Premier should Mr Cannonier resign, describing it as an “inappropriate question at this time”.

He said he was aware of the reaction in the community to Jetgate, adding: “That’s why the party and the Government is taking it very seriously and that’s why we were locked in meetings for a great deal of Saturday and Sunday. We made some real significant progress.”