BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN an effort to foster accountability and good governance, the Organisation of American States (OAS) is embarking on a comprehensive initiative to provide model legislation on political party and campaign financing within the region.
A communiqué issued by the hemispheric body informed the main purpose of the project is “to contribute to increased transparency, to strengthen the integrity of political party and electoral finance in the Caribbean, and to establish sustainable mechanisms for the regulation of political party and campaign financing in the Caribbean”.
The release further stated that the OAS intends to disseminate a working paper in July which would demand specific requirements for political party registration, increased disclosure and strengthened enforcement. The paper and the model legislation will then be presented and discussed in a series of meetings throughout the region later this year.
According to OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza, the project originated through recommendations coming from their electoral observer missions in many islands.
“This initiative is very timely, for it not only accords with provisions of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, but it comes on the heels of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which in the Declaration of Commitment of Port-of-Spain reaffirms the commitment of OAS states to “fostering credibility and public trust in democratic institutions”, in particular the legitimacy of electoral processes,” he explained.
Speaking exclusively to SKNVibes, the Federation’s OAS Representative, Starret Greene, said the issue of campaign finance reform is deserving of vigorous debate throughout the region. He asserted that while it is necessary for political parties to have money, they must ensure it is not the “be-all, end-all” of their campaigns.
“All political parties and related bodies need to have money to mount an effective political campaign in terms of getting their messages to the electorate. However, more concerted efforts should be taken, through legislation, related regulations and a regime of enforcement, to ensure the ability of political parties or individual politicians to raise or procure financing does not emerge as the ultimate force through which political office is won,” he noted.
The diplomat stressed that representative democracy was best strengthened by “permanent, transparent, ethical and responsible” participation of the citizenry in the democratic process. He also reiterated his organisation’s commitment to stimulating reforms in the financing of political campaigns.
