#BTEditorial – How the money flows

It was refreshing to hear leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Ms Verla DePeiza commit, that were she to form the governing administration, legislation would be introduced to address the thorny issue of campaign financing.

But we know it is easy to make grandiose promises from the safety of the opposition corridors. This, though, is one commitment that is likely to follow Ms DePeiza for some time to come.

Her party has had the unenviable record of having a high-ranking member of its fraternity, convicted, not here, but the United States of America on money-laundering charges involving a local state entity and money from an insurance company.

As we have learned from the present Government, when it formed the loyal opposition, the matter of corruption and rooting it out, was one of its key platform issues in the lead up to the 2018 general election. Three years in, and addressing the issue frontally, it has admittedly been overtaken by equally pressing matters.

The country has seemingly wavered on some issues relating to corruption and campaign financing. Other countries have provided us with examples of how to tackle possible corruption involving the political class.

Our standing as “the least corrupt” country in the Caribbean according to the international corruption index, may have made us slightly giddy and besides ourselves. The Donville Inniss conviction has clearly demonstrated that we are not beyond reproach as we may have fooled ourselves into believing.

Yes. Our politicians and other high office holders have not been accused of robbing the treasury, as is the case in some failed states. At least our system holds against such brazen acts, but we certainly cannot be described as paragons of virtue.

It can be fairly argued that our high standards of conduct in public life have suffered some erosion over the years, as the motivations for serving at the highest levels havs evolved.

It cannot be denied that gaping holes exist, for example, when it comes to political contributions. It seems some among us are happy with the status quo of hear no evil, speak no evil.

What accountability exists when a private contractor pledges possibly tens of thousands of dollars to a political party that comes to power or retains office? What are his expectations when the party forms the new Government? Was it an altruistic contribution to the retention of democracy in the country, or is it paving the way for business opportunities from Government?

In a country, where Government’s contribution to economic activity is significant, there has to be a strong legislative framework around matters of government contracts and engaging the services of private operators.

During the DLP’s online forum on Sunday night, which also featured spokesperson for Integrity Barbados, Mr Andy Armstrong called for a meaningful legislative framework around how political parties are funded in Barbados.

We agree with his submission that it is time for political parties to be recognized as legal entities. Moreover, he made the important point that all contributions to political parties should be registered and the information publicly available.

This, of course, would mean that the long-promised Freedom of Information Act would have to be given, and not continue to sit in perpetuity in the corners of a glossy political manifesto.

We cannot continue to have a situation where there is no regulation to the limits that can be made to political parties with no disclosures.

University of the West Indies academic Cynthia Barrow-Giles, in a presentation to the VI Inter‐American Electoral Training Seminar lamented that in the Caribbean, some parties could be “easily captured” by wealthy lobbyists and the possibility existed that public policy could be “distorted from the public interest”, in exchange for campaign contributions whether by national or international concerns.

She went on to note that there was a fear that an environment of full disclosure by contributors, “may jeopardise the ability of political parties to raise much needed financial resources” and could lead to victimisation of party financiers.

While this may be true, noteworthy is the perspective of Dr Daniel Zovatto, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of International IDEA as he addressed a 2013 conference in Barbados.

He noted: “The use of financial resources is a crucial element for democratic competition. Why? Because even though democracy does not have a price, it certainly has operational costs.”

He explained: “More than a pathology of democracy – as it is frequently presented in public discussion – political financing is a normal condition and a proof of soundness of democratic life. It is precisely for this reason that it is important for the democratic system to control funding for political activities, rather than the other way around.

“In trying to control the potentially negative influences of money on politics, countries around the world have introduced various provisions limiting who can contribute, and how much can be contributed to political parties and electoral candidates; how such funds can be used; how actors are required to report on their finances; and how oversight and enforcement are to be achieved.”