From left, Donald Buchanan and Christopher Bovell
Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
A significant number of Jamaicans are in support of the state funding political parties, the latest Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll shows.
The poll, which was conducted on October 28 and 29 among 1,008 people in 84 communities in all 14 parishes, found that 44 per cent of Jamaicans believed the state should provide more money to support political parties.
In addition, 47 per cent of Jamaicans are of the view that private companies and individuals who contribute to political parties should be named, although a still very significant percentage are opposing that view. Furthermore, the poll found that 35 per cent of respondents supported the idea of political parties being funded by private organisations and other individuals.
Responding to the findings of the poll, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Beverley Lopez, said because of constraints on the Government's ability to fund political parties, the public will have to assist. The PSOJ, she disclosed, is now in the embryonic stages of setting up a fund for the parties.
"We do recognise the constraints on the Government side and just how much money there is to do this. So, it is something that we are looking at positively," she said.
"There shouldn't be a problem. It depends on how it is handled. If we can get the (Electoral Advisory) Commission (established) on some structured basis and then manage the fund, then we would be more comfortable," she added.
Similar view
Political commentator and lecturer at the Northern Caribbean University, Charlene Sharpe- Pryce, has a similar view. She said due to Jamaica's political environment a system of matching grants with public funding would be best.
"The state cannot and should not take on all aspects of campaign financing. The role of the state should be limited and should lie in providing the basic enabling environment as well as regulatory functions with executable sanctions for breaches," suggested Sharpe-Pryce. She is also supportive of the setting up of a private sector fund to finance political parties parties.
Mrs. Sharpe also has made the following recommendations.
Implement campaign fund-raising and campaign-spending laws.
Registration of candidates and the listing of their donors.
Placing of restrictions on contributions from outside the island.
Expenditure limits and state regulation on use of campaign funds.
Private sector to set up funds within the legal framework for political party financing.
In the meantime, Information Minister and Acting General Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), Donald Buchanan, said the time has come for the state to play its part in funding political parties.
"We believe that the time has come for the state to play a role in ensuring that our democratic institutions and traditions are preserved for the good of the democratic process in the country," he said.
Buchanan said the government is in full support of disclosing the sources of financing. It recently moved motions both in the house of Representatives and the senate supporting state funding and public disclosure of contributors to political parties.
While the party itself has not issued a statement on the matter, treasurer of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Christopher Bovell, said he is in support of state financing of political parties.
" I know discussions are going on but I think that in principle, they (JLP) are in favour, but it is the details (that are important) as usual," he said.
