Hon. Brantley addresses OAS-CFR with way forward

Press Release

Day 1 of this important conference ended yesterday at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, Jamaica at about 6pm. The opening ceremony was addressed by the Honourable Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Assistant Secretary of the OAS, Chairman of the Opposition Peoples National Party, and Ambassador of Spain to Jamaica.All of the speakers underscored the need for a paradigm shift in campaign financing, its reporting and control. One of the issues raised on the draft model legislation was whether the State should fund or partially fund political parties.

In the break out sessions, leading Caribbean political and academic figures were invited to address the symposium. These included the Hon. Keith Rowley, Leader of the Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago and Professors Selwyn Ryan and Trevor Munroe of the University of the West Indies.

The Honourable Mark Brantley, Leader of the Opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis, was also invited to address the symposium formally as to the suggested way forward. The thrust of his presentation was that if the cost of elections can be controlled then the need for addressing campaign finance would become less acute. Controlling costs would require a shift in how campaigns are run and how political parties are treated as a matter of law. Mr. Brantley’s suggestions resulted in wide ranging discussions between the attendees as to whether the draft model legislation was treating the symptoms or the underlying disease.

The conference continues in Kingston, Jamaica today.

Press Secretary

Mervin Hanley

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