ANOTHER JLP internal squabble has revived talks about the funding of political parties. Party leader, Edward Seaga, who sparked the latest fuss, has now sought to make the issue bipartisan by inviting PNP president P.J. Patterson to discussions on campaign financing.
On the face of it, this is a sensible initiative, though Mr. Seaga's detractors may view it as a ploy to deflect the negative reactions he has provoked by the 'tainted money' allegations he later withdrew about his own internal party elections.
The matter of funding political parties is not new. In fact, Senator Trevor Munroe last March introduced a motion which the Upper House debated and passed calling for a national commission to consider regulating and funding political parties. And since then, Information Minister Burchell Whiteman has indicated that the PNP's Policy Review Commission is scheduled to examine the matter.
Mr. Seaga's invitation acknowledges the PNP's historical approach to public funding of election campaigns but suggests a broadening of the context to embrace the conduct of candidates in sourcing and spending funds. The inference here is that the focus should be not only on public funding but also other sources that can have a bearing on the character of candidates seeking to get involved in representational politics.
Specifically, the proposal is for the JLP and PNP as the major parties to seek common ground and thereafter open the debate to public participation.
Both major parties may well find common ground. Historically, they did so in formulating integrity legislation which has not been particularly effective, perhaps because there were such strict limits on transparency.
Any discussion between the major parties would presumably reach some accommodation to facilitate eventual legislation by Parliament, initially dealing with some degree of public funding. At least one political spokesman has described the need for funding as 'insatiable'; thereby indicating that private sources must be tapped.
In wealthy America, the political system depends heavily on corporate and individual resources; but their open fund-raising is in contrast to our own tradition of confidential contributions by business, civic groups or individuals.
Clearly, the most critical phase of any regulation of party funding will have to deal with a potential Pandora's box of politics in which tainted money is no stranger.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
