This follows last week’s call by the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition (JCSC) for both parties to voluntarily agree to disclose their donors.
On Saturday, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) told the Sunday Observer they were not prepared to reveal their donors although they will be signing an agreement to voluntarily comply with some of the campaign reform recommendations developed by the ECJ to regulate donations to political parties and to prevent the use of tainted funds in election campaigns.
The JLP’s representative on the ECJ Tom Tavares-Finson said there are certain aspects pertaining to disclosure within the wider framework of the ECJ’s report which his party cannot agree to at this time.
“If we were to begin to suddenly disclose our donors the source of funds would cut off significantly,” he said.
As such, Tavares-Finson said it was therefore disingenuous for the JCSC to require that this aspect of disclosure be singled out of a wider framework which is predicated on state funding.
The PNP’s Mark Golding said that aspect of the recommendation could not be agreed upon within such a short time before the general election.
“Because it is such a big leap, to have it imposed for the current election would be a major step for political parties and so it needs to be introduced where persons have an opportunity to discuss and respond to it,” he insisted.
With the legislative process for the draft proposal not expected to be completed for a December poll, the JCSC has singled out the proposal for full disclosure. The group wants the disclosures made within a year before or after an election in cases where private companies are performing a public service, pursuant to a contract with a government body or public office, or whether as principals or sub-contractors.
“In other words, there is nothing wrong with government contractors making donations and contributions, however, it is impermissible under this recommendation from the ECJ unless these are fully disclosed,” said Professor Trevor Munroe, a member of the JCSC steering committee.
But Golding argued that the campaign reform recommendations might not make it into law in their present form.
While he was unable to list all of the recommendations agreed on for voluntary compliance, Golding, who is the PNP’s treasurer, said one such is the consensus on impermissible donors.
