A motion calling for reform in how election campaigns are financed is gaining strong and growing support from a wide cross-section of society, including the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Opposition, business sector and civil society groups. The motion comes just after President Anthony Carmona made a similar call in a powerful address at the ceremonial opening of Parliament last Friday. Yesterday, the EBC urged in a statement, “It is time to take our democracy back.”
Independent Senator Helen Drayton first filed her motion in Parliament a few years ago, but it ran out of time because other motions were given precedence. But now, the motion is expected to be debated when the Senate has its first sitting in this new session of Parliament. It calls for “full disclosure with respect to transactions involving the use of public resources by elected representatives in the process of governance” and for Parliament to appoint a joint select committee to propose a legislative framework for election campaign financing and submit recommendations within six months.
Drayton said her belief was that until alleged government corruption and white-collar crimes are dealt with, there will be problems dealing with crime. “Unquestionably, corruption in the award of government contracts is linked to election campaign financing all over the world,” she said. “My motivation for the motion is due to the effects of unbridled election monies on the elections process, unfairness to citizens, and the negative effects on the quality of governance. “I sincerely believe that robust and reasonable laws will considerably help all political parties.” Drayton explained, “The current system is unfair because it is exclusionary to individuals independently seeking office and fledgling political parties who can make a useful contribution to society. “They are no match in fund-raising for the incumbent party, which has access to both hard and soft money. Promising entrants are at a great disadvantage to entrenched political parties.” She said donors, individual and corporate, may have valid reasons why they want to support a particular political party, but others could have an ulterior, private motive. This motive is to peddle influence for lucrative business contracts, she said.
“When there is a perception among ordinary citizens that wealth can purchase influence for benefits not available to them, the credibility of leaders and government is undermined. It leads to the breakdown of institutions of democracy, and consequently it undermines democracy,” she said. “In short, if the political process is tainted by whatever means from the start. It is my belief that ultimately, the process of governance will be tainted, and individual interests will take precedence over the collective interest.” Drayton said stemming the tide of money laundering and the circulation of tainted money are other reasons why campaign financing reform is needed. Large campaign financiers, she said, peddle a lot of influence for business, board appointments and anything that enhances their pockets and status. Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal did not respond to questions e-mailed to him from the T&T Guardian, but has been reported as saying he agreed with the President’s call and supported transparency in election financing.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) says it fully endorses the sentiments on campaign financing expressed by President Anthony Carmona. In a news release, the commission said it had also made the call before and would continue fearlessly to do so. “The EBC continues to tirelessly advocate the need for such reform,” it said, “to ensure that ‘money does not equal speech,’ thereby preventing the distortion of democracy by the corrupting influence of corporate money on the political process.” It said it had previously recommended to government laws and regulations providing for: registration of political parties, public financing of parties, contribution limits for private/corporate financing of political campaigns, disclosure of contributions from all sources.
Disclosure, it said, was arguably the most important change. “While the nation’s individual voices are being subverted by corporate money, which has no morals and hence no loyalty, to any goal other than maximising profits, the commission believes that business leaders can be made to understand that honest and open government is necessary for a prosperous business climate to thrive.” The EBC said public policy decisions should not be made on the basis of who gave the biggest cheque. “It is time to take our democracy back,” it urged, “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The EBC said reform would help regenerate public confidence in state institutions.
The PNM’s position
Asked why the PNM never addressed the issue during its long years in power, Senator Faris Al-Rawi, the party’s PRO, said in its last incarnation the PNM sought to bring about public procurement legislation and to set up a Revenue Authority (TTRA), a special purpose company. The Board of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise were to be dissolved and reorganised under the TTRA, but the bill was defeated in Parliament in 2010. He said the TTRA would have dealt with all tax-collecting entities and helped the Integrity Commission in its investigations. Any campaign financing reform, he said, must include public procurement legislation and reform of the revenue system, adding the PNM fully supports Drayton’s motion.
T&T Chamber/T&T Transparency Institute
President of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Catherine Kumar said reform in campaign financing is a very important piece of legislation for this time and should have come earlier.
“We have been seeing the ill effects of not having the legislation in place from administration to administration,” Kumar said. Such legislation, she said, is important because the government is the largest purchaser of goods and services and there seems to be a strong connection between apparently big financiers and the awarding of government contracts. “We are in strong support of campaign financing reform and are saying it needs to be urgently addressed. When there is a lack of openness, transparency and accountability, the way is opened for anything to happen.” T&T Transparency Institute (TTTI) president Deryck Murray, added, “Political party and campaign financing are very important components of procurement legislation. “It should have come earlier. We certainly would like to see laws in place sooner than later, certainly before the next general election.”