JA not ready for ECJ’s rules on party financing – Samuda

One senior politician is claiming that Jamaica is not ready for the recommendations presented by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) with regard to party financing.

The ECJ has proposed new rules including the disclosure of details on persons or entities who contribute in cash or kind to political parties.

However, Karl Samuda, General Secretary of the governing Jamaica Labour Party, says while he agrees with the recommendations the country is not yet sensitised to the benefits of that type of system.

He believes it would make them unpopular if introduced without the public being properly informed.

“In all of this reform, we must get the people to be supportive of the need for political activity and the way we do our politics. The public needs to be convinced and feel assured that any breaches will be subject to very harsh sanctions,” Mr. Samuda said.

Phased implementation

Meanwhile, Peter Bunting, General Secretary of the Opposition People’s National Party, is citing financial constraints as a major obstacle to some of the proposed rules.

Mr. Bunting says the country may not be able to afford to fund political parties.

He, who was speaking Thursday evening on RJR’s daily current affairs discussion programme Beyond the Headlines, said the recommended rules should therefore be implemented in phases.