Deon P. Green, Gleaner Writer

DAVIS

London, England:

Legislation will be implemented to create restrictions and offer guidelines for the funding of Jamaican political parties.

So said Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Carlton Davis, as he addressed the Jamaica National/Gleaner Company-sponsored forum - 'Outlook for the future: Doing Business in Jamaica', held at the Kensington Town Hall in London on December 9.

He said that under the electoral reform process directly related to political party funding, a law will be enacted and governed by the Constitution.

Dr. Davis stated that Jamaica has a proud electoral record since 1944 of changing governance without major incidents.

Bogus voting

He said that despite criticism about the fairness of elections, bogus voting, among other concerns, a lot of work has been done to address those concerns. He added, "Apart from fairness of elections, what we are going to do is to ensure that the whole matter of the financing of political parties is brought under some rules of engagement."

Dr. Davis said he is aware that the problem of political party financing is not unique to Jamaica as it is evident in England, the United States, and Canada. However, he stressed, "We have to do something about public campaign financing; rules of engagement and a law will be a part of the electoral reform process."

Among other changes expected to bring about more financial transparency in Jamaica, the Cabinet Secretary said that there would be Corruption Prevention Act under which all public servants, up to a year after their retirement, will have to file financial statements and failure to do so will attract significant penalties inclusive of prison sentences.

A week ago, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony Hylton, while in London, stated that the absence of a regulation for financing of political parties in Jamaica is limited, weakly enforced and represents a danger to the country's democracy.