Dennie Quill, Contributor

Long before the Trafigura scandal blew wide open the issue of political campaign contributions I have been disturbed at the vulgar display of wealth by Jamaica's political parties during campaign time. From billboards to party paraphernalia and political ads, it has traditionally been a hugely expensive affair.

Some local commentators with similar concerns have concluded that the amount of money that gushes into election campaigns has had a corrupting influence on politics. Yet, politicians would sharply deny this - hypocritically declaring that they do not accept 'tainted money' and they are not for sale. The reality though is that money is fungible and many shady characters have been able to sanitise their ill-gotten gains and put on new garbs of respectability. They often earn prominence on political platforms.

Scandals changing culture

They say out of every bad situation comes good. And I believe that from here on, the eyes of well-thinking citizens will be trained on party conferences and electioneering. What is needed is a change in culture. And scandals often help to change culture.

The ritual of our annual party conferences requires careful analysis. They could be described as vacuous festivities for thousands of mostly unemployed activists who welcome a free trip into Kingston, some food, T-shirts, a few dollars and maybe a cellphone. And while this annual powwow is significant for its entertainment value one wonders whether it is really enlightening.

How many delegates get a sense of what is their party's platform, or even understand the highfalutin language which is belted out to them? How many delegates leave a conference with the resolve that they are going to take steps to improve their lives via education? Elections ought to be about whom we are as a people, where we are going and how we plan to get there. Elections are about changing people's lives. So if a party conference is not about shining a light on these issues then it is a meaningless ritual.

Trafigura has helped to show up political conferences for what they really are - an extravagant and unproductive festivity.

Party organisers beat their chests and revel in mounds of accolades for amassing thousands of supporters, but do they seriously feel the exercise is about civic participation in the political process? Or are these gatherings meant to send a message that delegates stand to gain tangible benefits when their party is in power? For sure, it can intimidate the other side and it also signals to those who support no party that they are truly on the periphery.

Scrap the conferences

One of the significant barriers to participation in the political process is ignorance, and if one understands that our society is becoming more illiterate (just listen to people being interviewed on radio or television) then why are these delegates mindlessly parading before television cameras?

I know this will be a hugely unpopular view, but I say scrap these annual conferences. Politicians are always bemoaning the plight of the poor and here's an opportunity to do something about it. Can you imagine if the PNP had taken some of the money from Trafigura's generous donation and bought two autoclaves for Victoria Jubilee Hospital how many poor pregnant women would have been helped? They would have scored handsomely with the people too.

If some of that money had been used to furnish a few libraries in the inner city, think of how children's lives would have been improved by an opportunity to gain access to knowledge. Well, what about using that money to improve some children's homes and old people's home? Then the PNP would have made an eloquent statement about how much it cares for the poor. But what do I know? I am a mere columnist.

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.