Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

The Electoral Commission is close to preparing a report for submission to Parliament on proposals for legislation addressing the long-debated issues related to the funding of political parties and election campaigns.

Danville Walker, director of elections and commissioner of the Electoral Commission, told The Gleaner yesterday that the commission has received all submissions on the matter and was now reviewing the proposals.

After the report is sent to Parliament, the legislature will give instructions for legislation to be drafted to, for the first time in the nation's history, regulate political party financing.

Submissions being reviewed

The governing People's National Party (PNP) made its submission to the commission last week."We have now received all of the submissions and they are now being reviewed with the hope of producing a report very quickly," Mr. Walker told The Gleaner yesterday.

However, the director of elec-tions stressed that the proposed bill on campaign financing, a longstanding source of concern within the political arena, would not be ready in time for national polls this year.

"I don't think we should proceed on the matter with our eyes on the election," Mr. Walker said.

Campaign financing

He noted that the next general election is constitutionally due by October 2007 "and if campaign financing is to be effective it cannot cover a six-month period".

Meanwhile, in the latest indication that the calling of the next general election is imminent, the PNP's National Executive Council (NEC) will be meeting at the Ebony Park HEART Academy in Clarendon where general secretary Donald Buchanan will tomorrow report on the party's organisational and electoral readiness. The PNP's Campaign Director Dr. Paul Robertson is also scheduled to update the NEC on campaign matters, while party president and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller will give the main address.

Mr. Walker maintained yesterday that the work now being undertaken on party financing was for the future and could not be implemented in time for the upcoming election.

Selected member of the Electoral Commission and general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Karl Samuda, supported the view that legislation could not be enacted in time for the election.

"It is not something that we can treat lightly, it's not something that should be rushed into, it is something that requires serious consideration and intense study," Mr. Samuda argued.

The JLP general secretary said it was critical that, in drafting legislation on campaign financing, provisions should be made for sanctions to be imposed on parties that breached the regulations and submit erroneous information.

Earlier this week, another critical element related to electoral reform was also brought to Parliament when legislation was tabled to increase the number of constituencies from 60 to 65.

The increase in the number of constituencies to an odd number would prevent any possibility of a tie in future elections.

This legislation, however, is also not expected to be implemented in time for the next general election

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com