(Jamaica Observer) The one-day trip to Cuba last Thursday that ended in a swirl of controversy involving former prime minister P J Patterson was a proactive attempt by telecoms giant Digicel to secure a phone service carrier contract between Jamaica and Cuba, the Sunday Observer has learnt.

At the same time, the storm triggered by media reports that local authorities had reason to search the aircraft chartered for the trip has left the public wondering what information the authorities had and the credibility of the intelligence they received.

“The police would not have gone to the airport unless they had information which they thought was worth verifying,” said a source close to the authorities but who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

However, both police and customs officials confirmed Friday that the aircraft and its passengers were searched on arrival and that nothing illegal was found.

“The plane came in, was searched and no contraband was found. The passengers were also searched and nothing was found on them,” the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s director of communication Karl Angell told the Sunday Observer.

Customs Department spokeswoman Anneke Rousseau gave a similar response when the Sunday Observer asked whether it was true that the authorities were told that a large amount of US dollars was on the plane.

Digicel, in a statement Friday, expressed surprise at the reports and urged that the issue be fully investigated. The Government has since ordered a probe and promised that the results would be delivered to Prime Minister Bruce Golding when he returns to the island.