The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WEEKS after State Minister for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez said no efforts have been made towards enacting campaign finance laws, Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson seemed to contradict him yesterday, saying the matter is being “continuously looked at” by the government.

Mr Gomez, who has drawn attention for his willingness to criticise the government despite being a member of Cabinet, told The Tribune on November 29 that a draft of campaign finance legislation has been languishing since 2007, with no progress made.

“Privately most members support (campaign finance laws) on both sides,” he said at the time. “The problem is when we get in the group and start looking at how to raise money to fund campaigns, all the principles start to disappear.”

When told yesterday that Mr Gomez differed with her assessment on the matter, Mrs Maynard Gibson said: “You have to ask him. Let him speak for himself.”

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is widely regarded as a key fundraiser in the Progressive Liberal Party. When asked yesterday about plans for campaign finance legislation, he said: “I don’t know anything about that.”

The responses from public officials are unlikely to assuage concerns that the issue is not a major priority for the Christie administration, despite Prime Minister Perry Christie’s stated commitment to it and his past acknowledgment that campaign financing has, in recent elections, sunken to “repugnant” and even “criminal” levels.

The Bahamas has long been behind global standards and trends on the issue, failing to act on recommendations by international groups like the Organisation of American States (OAS).

In its 2012 Electoral Observation Mission report on elections in the Bahamas, the OAS recommended that campaign finance laws be implemented here.

However, the body said the issue seemed less important to Bahamian politicians than it did to other stakeholders in the country.

“The absence of regulation has the potential to impact the accountability, transparency and equity of the democratic process,” the report said, adding that the absence of legislation and tracking mechanisms to determine sources of funding is inconsistent with “general practices around the region and world.”

With the major political parties now laying the groundwork for the next general election, it remains unclear whether Bahamians will this time get a sense of who donates to the major political parties and what role money plays in Bahamian politics.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Free National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard said the FNM and the public are interested in details about the matter from the PLP.

He added: “The leader of the FNM has set an agenda which he intends to lead the discussion with his parliamentary colleagues and party at raising at a shared view on campaign finance reform. The party is in agreement that this ought to happen. The particular details have to be ironed out. There are views broadly shared.

“One is that finance received by the organisation and individual candidates will be free and clear of criminal origin. Second, that funds that are used, regardless of legitimate concerns, are used only for legal endeavours in an effort to ensure a victory in an election. Thirdly, that careful rules of engagement should be outlined that would define how members of government interact with persons with whom the government is doing business so it does not give the appearance that persons are pursuing business from the very people about whom the government must rule, giving the impression that that person would gain a clear advantage.”

“The leadership will lead the team in a discussion about whether to accept money from domestic and international sources; whether there should be ceilings on the amount received from individuals and corporations; whether there should be a schedule of possible penalties for violation of any aspect of the campaign laws; and whether there should a definition of items for which funding should be raised and directed; and whether it is prepared to disclose all donors and the amount contributed,” Mr Pintard said.