Jamaica Needs Campaign Finance Reform

 https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/the-right-reforms-will-restore-confidence/

The most important part in the above article is #5.

"5)In line with enhancing fairness and equity in the political landscape, publicly funded election campaigns are a pivotal step forward. By providing all candidates with equal access to media platforms, such as press coverage, airtime, and town hall meetings, we level the playing field and promote a more substantive and issues-based campaign environment. This empowers the electorate to make informed choices based on the merits and policies put forth by candidates rather than being limited to options dictated solely by political parties.

It is now a good a time to provide the people of Jamaica with a governing system that truly serves them, one that holds leaders accountable while providing the checks and balances necessary to create an efficient Government."

Currently, Jamaicans only choice is between the two gangs in Gordon House, between who we think is less of a criminal than the other. Di one who wi tink will tief less is the one we vote for! No other group has the resources to challenge the existing order as the only other registered political party in Jamaica is the United Independent's Congress (UIC) and the corporate sector does not support them as they are a grass roots movement not beholden to the corporate sector. Refusing to participate in such a farce, the majority of Jamaicans just don't bother to vote. However, there will always be a minority of voters who will vote JLP or PNP and it is these voters who legitimize the JLP/PNP lock on government.

How do we, the majority of Jamaicans who don't vote, break the stranglehold the JLP and the PNP have on the electoral system? The focus will have to be on campaign finance reform as it has the potential to open up the Jamaican political process. Grass roots organizations are going to have to focus on the issue of campaign finance reform as outlined in #5 above. Each group will have to put aside their focus, whether it be corruption, religion or whatever to focus on and demand campaign finance reform. Instead of allowing the corporate elite to voluntarily fund the JLP/PNP, we could have a special corporate tax which would go into a campaign fund which would be distributed equally to all registered political parties Without campaign finance reform, nothing will change as the JLP and the PNP will continue to govern in the interest of the corporate elite.

Politics is about power and who controls the levers of power. We have to remove the JLP and the PNP from control of the levers of government power and replace them with people who govern for all of Jamaica - not just the corporate elite.

'Evil flourishes when good people do nothing'.

Raymond D. Grant

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