Prime Minster Davis addressing the press at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said regulating campaign finance is fraught with “difficulties”, partly because it could require that public funds be used to finance political campaigns.
“You will find the alternative to campaign financing and regulating it is a requirement that perhaps the public purse should fund election campaigns,” he told reporters when asked about his administration’s failure to advance various progressive matters outlined in the PLP’s Blueprint for Change.
“If you check and benchmark where campaign financing is the law in various countries, you’ll find that a part of the access to campaign financing is from the public purse. Should I put that on the payment people at this time? I don’t know.”
Some countries have extensive public funding for political campaigns. However, some that limit who can make political donations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, do not have a state funding system.
Mr Davis said loopholes would always exist, allowing people to get around campaign finance regulations. He suggested he would not pass a superficial law without addressing deeper challenges.
Despite past promises, he reiterated that various matters of transparency and accountability are not a priority for his administration.
“When I walk and talk to Bahamian people, meet their families, they don’t speak about the Freedom of Information Act,” he said. “They don’t speak about campaign financing laws. What they speak to me about is relief from cost of living, action on crime, access to healthcare, wanting opportunities. They want new businesses. They need to be able to understand what we are doing for those. So those have risen for my priorities.”
Mr Davis also said his administration has not abandoned its commitment to anti-corruption legislation. He noted the government passed an Ombudsman Bill, which is a part of the anti-corruption legislative regime. That law has not been implemented.
“The attorney general is now reviewing, bringing that into force, and we are also benchmarking and working with the International Law Development Association, which is assisting them in looking at benchmarking the various anti-corruption laws around the world so that we can adopt what is more suitable for us,” he said.
As opposition leader in 2020, Mr Davis said Dr Hubert Minnis’ failure to fulfil his campaign finance promise proved his election victory was built on “empty promises and political expediency”.
After Dr Minnis said he had years to introduce campaign finance legislation, Mr Davis said: “That he’s saying ‘we have seven years in which to bring the legislation’ speaks to his hypocrisy and his true ways.”
Comments
moncurcool 1 month, 4 weeks ago
This dude clearly is not what this country needs for leadership. He has got to go.
If public financing, as he claims, is needed for campaign finance reform, then why was he so bullish about it as opposition leader?
2026 cannot come soon enough
bahamianson 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Yes, politicians are disgusting , and they keep playing games. Use your own finance to get voted in. It will level the playing field and stump out corruption . People go in worth 75,000 and come out worth 5,000,000. We , the people, suffer with expensive everything wiñl these clowns get the kings service.
Sickened 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Politics in itself creates corruption. To get elected individuals have to dole out ten's of thousands in the community as well as ten's of thousands to the party. So after spending a couple of hundred thousand dollars just to get elected then you will want to see that money back in your account as quickly as possible. Then after 2 years the party starts hitting the candidate up for more money if they hope to get nominated again so they spend the next 3 years slurping up cash in the hopes of getting re-nominated. The system was created by man (hence evil) and now the system demands people to be evil in order to join.
ExposedU2C 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Name one corrupt political leader who is in favour of campaign finance reform and an effective freedom of information act! He's really flying his true colours now when it comes to protecting his own crookedness!!
Porcupine 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Couldn't have said it better!
realfreethinker 1 month, 4 weeks ago
What a despicable lying clown
TalRussell 1 month, 4 weeks ago
The premiership's decision not honour his party's put in writing pledge, -- If elected as government, -- The party would use its governing power to enact regulating campaign finance.--- Is himself -- Now fraught with 'trust difficulties'. -- Yes?
whatsup 1 month, 4 weeks ago
I wish some wealthy, successful businessmen who actually know how to run something, and not just want to go into politics for greed and money, would put themselves up for an elected office.
TalRussell 1 month, 4 weeks ago
@ComradeWhatsUp, we didn't have this much of a problem -- When foreigners were allowed to run for House seats. -- Would be a smart promotion launch --- Offering 39 chances to WIN House Seat Tourism campaign.. --Yes?
bahamianson 1 month, 4 weeks ago
You m3an like a Donald Trump.
whatsup 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Nope....a Bahamian who loves his country more than money
ExposedU2C 1 month, 3 weeks ago
They went the way of the Arawaks.
TalRussell 1 month, 4 weeks ago
So basically, it's Storytime. -- 'Your team' -- Make up a story and then you lie to voters' -- Throughout the duration of the 2021 National Election. -- Yes?
BONEFISH 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Mr.Davis has gotten it wrong. No one is talking about public financing of political campaigns.What people are asking for is the disclosure of the financiers of these parties. The public wants to kow who is donating to the political parties here. That should be as matter of public policy.
ExposedU2C 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Some of the local ones we already know quite well: The Symonette Family, Snake, King Sebas, The Greek, and other insatiably greedy vultures like them. But the really big ones are all foreign, including state actors like the ChiComs, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, etc.
TalRussell 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Meantime over at Mackey Street Headquarters; -- They, — 'namely, the UBP wing' like much the general idea of, — namely, the toxic House-seated member for the constituency of Long Island -- As they march onward, forward, united, toward -- 'Standing', -- Come National Election. - Can't make this up. -- Yes?
Porcupine 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The real question should be, "What is the real public cost of not having campaign financing reform?" Perhaps we all know too well that the country goes to those who donate the most to the PLP. Wonder why Nygard has not been charged here? Do you really need an answer? The PLP knows that if the national IQ goes above 80, they are in for some real trouble.
DiverBelow 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Where is the Pea? ...Under which Shell?? The Politically Elite will play "The Shell Game" till their called by God. Believing & Keeping the populous as dumb & ignorant by Political Shenanigans & Poor Education, has no effect on OUR INTELLIGENCE!. We know right, wrong and we know better.
ThisIsOurs 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Part of the problem is the people. And the majority of the people. It appears that people actually believe that if they campaign for an individual they're entitled to something that equates to a monetary reward. A good job that they're completely unqualified for, crown land that they have no plan or resources to develop or some diplomatic post with their only intention to eat lobster and drink wine.
On the other side, there are the criminals with mega money who buy politicians and get to sit next to the PM at public events.
Somewhere in the mix is the independent who isnt suited for politics either, has no real plan, really just wants a regular salary, and campaigns on not being on either side and being poor.
Shenandon Cartwrights statement in the house in response to allegations of misuse of lands and parks funds for undeserved contract awards, ~"come on guys, everybody does it", is truly frightening. What will he do should he become DPM?
Last is the mega donor who doles out millions like candy to buy the right to own the govt. 62 Chinese nationals with no passport? No problem, call the DPM.
We are in a giant mess.
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