Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Fred Mitchell deflected Michael Pintard’s challenge to disclose the PLP’s financial donors and downplayed the possibility of introducing campaign finance laws this term.
“Let me put it this way,” he told reporters, “I’m not getting into any games with the leader of the opposition over this. “There’s only one issue which is before us. The issue is, does he support the people of The Bahamas and his constituents versus the Grand Bahama Port Authority?
“The issue is not who got what donations and who got what money, because there is a system of donations in the country, and some of those donations are tied to, you don’t know, confidentiality interest. If he wants to do that, that’s his business.”
“What is before us is, if you did get money or are you singing a song for these people because you hope for a donation for the future or you’ve gotten a donation in the past, that’s the issue before us. That’s the public policy issue. So I’m not, you know, engaging in his slight hands, smoking mirrors and trying to switch the game on me. That’s an old trick.”
Mr Pintard said on Wednesday that the FNM would disclose its financial donors if the PLP does so. His comment came after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis challenged him to confirm whether the Grand Bahama Port Authority had given him money.
The matter has reignited attention toward the absence of campaign finance laws. In its Blueprint for Change, the PLP promised to introduce rules but has failed to do so, just like previous administrations.
Yesterday, Mr Mitchell said there is no appetite for campaign finance reform, saying neither side can agree on the terms of disclosure.
“As for the public policy, that’s something which my colleagues in the Cabinet will have to decide as a philosophical point,” he said. “Everybody agrees with campaign finance reform, so I can’t say I disagree with it, but the devil is always in the details.”
In January, Mr Mitchell reportedly told the Organization of American States officials that work is “ongoing” to develop a legal framework to govern campaign finance practices.
Likewise, he was among several parliamentarians in 2016 who called for campaign finance laws to be enacted. He said the lack of such laws was at the root of the Peter Nygard/Louis Bacon controversy ensnaring the major political parties at the time.
“The question is the law needs to be designed to deal with that, disclosure, sources, amounts, and public financing campaigns,” he said. “All that should be on the table I think.”
Comments
AnObserver 3 months, 3 weeks ago
There is literally no downside to this, or any reason not to support it, unless you have something to hide. You are a public official. Your records should be public, it is a simple thing.
ExposedU2C 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Bingo!
bahamianson 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Down plays, hey. I am not voting until the worst of the worst has been established and there is campaign finance laws with amounts per person donating are established in this politicians world.
bahamianson 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Fnm and plp are distracting from the rwal issue because both want millions in donation for their campaign
bahamianson 3 months, 3 weeks ago
You want to be like america let us ne like americs
zemilou 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Election campaigns should be funded by taxpayer dollars and all private money in politics should be eliminated, including that of candidates. The playing field must be leveled, allowing competitive candidates of all backgrounds to equitably participate regardless of access to personal or influencer money.
Also, as with all other government actions, transparency is vital. Robust regulations governing campaign spending must be enacted, and funding and spending must be audited by independent electoral commissions. Stiff penalties on abusers should be levied, including disqualification.
Influencer money - including access to resources such as private aircraft -- especially from foreign nationals has been a long-standing problem. In this sphere, we resemble the United States.
DiverBelow 3 months, 3 weeks ago
It certainly would be a short campaign. USA, got around this rule by making corporations equals to taxpayers... via Citizens United, totally screwing up their politics.
ExposedU2C 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This most sleasy, slimy and disgusting SOB knows full well that the leaders of both political parties, PLP and FNM alike, have been 'selling-out' the interests of the Bahamian people to the interests of highest greaser of their own personal financial interests for decades.
And for scummier than scum Fwreddy Boy to suggest that the illegal bribes paid to political leaders that have become the norm in our country are nothing more than donations impressed with confidentiality, really takes the cake!!
TalRussell 3 months, 3 weeks ago
AS PLP PARTY CHAIRMAN, -- Why wouldn't Mr. Mitchell, -- Not just recognize the truth about individual, corporate, lobbyist and special interests' donor contributions made directly/indirectly to/for the benefit of his PLP party or sitting MP or senator, constituency association, election candidate, nomination contestant for party leadership or party office. -- Public Board members and Diplomatic Appointees. -- Yes?
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