Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall (seated centre) is flanked by newly-appointed members of the Electoral Commission at King's House yesterday. Eight members of the commission received their instruments of office from the Governor-General. (From left) Selected Commissioners: Professor Errol Miller, Dorothy Pine-McLarty, Dr. Herbert Thompson and Justice Clarence Walker. Nominated Commissioners (standing from left) Karl Samuda, Donald Buchanan, Danville Walker, Director of Elections; Tom Tavares-Finson and Linton Walters.

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, declaring that the question of campaign financing would be the greatest challenge facing the newly-appointed Commissioners of the Electoral Commission, has urged the group to strike a balance in their efforts to safeguard the political system, while ensuring that the process was not starved of legitimate funding.

"In approaching that task (campaign financing reform) I urge them to do whatever is necessary to protect the political system but be mindful that you cannot afford to protect it to death, and it is a balance that has to be struck," Mr. Golding said.

A milestone

The Opposition Leader, making a presentation at the historic appointment of the Commissioners of the Electoral Commission at King's House yesterday, said the establishment of the commission was a milestone in a journey that started 27 years ago when the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) was established.

The commission, which replaces the EAC, will be responsible for establishing policy governing the registration of electors; conducting General and Local Government elections and administering electoral funding and financial disclosure requirements.

Mr. Golding pointed out that the transformation of the EAC into a commission was a partial fulfilment of a commitment made by former prime ministers Edward Seaga and the late Michael Manley in 1979, to entrench the commission in the Constitution.

The entrenchment of the commission was among a list of proposals on which both major political parties reached bipartisan agreement. In this regard, Mr. Golding emphasised the need to revisit the process of constitutional reform.

He said Mr. Seaga and former Minister of Justice, David Coore, who helped to frame the Constitution, had combed through a package of constitutional reform issues and identified those that could be implemented within the parliamentary framework, as well as those matters that would require a national referendum.

"Some of these areas of agreement are compelling in their necessity and should be addressed through legislative action where applicable, to effect the implementation of the agreement reached," he added.

Of the eight commissioners appointed yesterday, four are selected by the Governor-General in consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, while the other four are nominated by both major political parties.

Commissioners

Selected Commissioners are Dorothy Pine-McLarty, Professor Errol Miller and Dr. Herbert Thompson, who served as independent members of the EAC, and a new appointee, Justice Clarence Walker. The Nominated Commissioners are: Donald Buchanan and Linton Walters of the PNP, and Karl Samuda and Tom Tavares-Finson representing the JLP.

The commissioners will meet today to select a chairman and will make a formal recommendation to the Governor-General for the appointment of Danville Walker, Director of Elections, to the commission.