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'Taxpayers shouldn't foot election bill'
Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
OUTSPOKEN Parliamentarian Everald Warmington has vehemently objected to a proposal from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) for taxpayers to help finance political parties.
The ECJ, in its report to Parliament, proposed that the contribution by the taxpayers not exceed 40 per cent of the income of political parties.
However, Warmington said yesterday that he would vote against the report because he was not in agreement.
"I don't believe that what comes here is in the interest of the small man or the poor man of this country," said Warmington, the member of parliament for South West St Catherine.
The ECJ has proposed that political parties would have to open their books if they accept public funding. The commission has also proposed sanctions for breaches.
Addressing the House of Representatives, Warmington said taxpayers should not be burdened with additional election costs.
"We cannot expect a poor person in Jamaica, who is unable to get assistance from the PATH (Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education) to send his or her child to high school or college, to finance the campaign of members to come to this House," Warmington said.
Privilege to represent
He added: "It is a privilege of members or people who seek to be elected to Parliament, and if one wants to enjoy the privilege or the prestige or whatever it is, you must finance your own campaign. We should not call on the taxpayers of Jamaica to finance campaign, political parties or whatever. It is wrong!"
However, Maxine Henry-Wilson, the member of parliament for South East St Andrew, said the ECJ proposal should be considered by members.
"What we are trying to guard against is where some other countries have reached, which is the persons who are able to afford to be elected are not persons of character that you would want in the electoral process," Henry-Wilson said.
"The public has an interest in who should be allowed to be part of the electoral funding," she added.
Warmington, though, said that, if the Parliament is going to ask taxpayers to carry that burden, he would want a clause to allow individuals to decide against accepting the money.
"I don't want the taxpayers to be paying for any campaign that I am involved in. Taxpayers should not pay for any of us. We must find our own way here," Warmington said.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
OUTSPOKEN Parliamentarian Everald Warmington has vehemently objected to a proposal from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) for taxpayers to help finance political parties.
The ECJ, in its report to Parliament, proposed that the contribution by the taxpayers not exceed 40 per cent of the income of political parties.
However, Warmington said yesterday that he would vote against the report because he was not in agreement.
"I don't believe that what comes here is in the interest of the small man or the poor man of this country," said Warmington, the member of parliament for South West St Catherine.
The ECJ has proposed that political parties would have to open their books if they accept public funding. The commission has also proposed sanctions for breaches.
Addressing the House of Representatives, Warmington said taxpayers should not be burdened with additional election costs.
"We cannot expect a poor person in Jamaica, who is unable to get assistance from the PATH (Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education) to send his or her child to high school or college, to finance the campaign of members to come to this House," Warmington said.
Privilege to represent
He added: "It is a privilege of members or people who seek to be elected to Parliament, and if one wants to enjoy the privilege or the prestige or whatever it is, you must finance your own campaign. We should not call on the taxpayers of Jamaica to finance campaign, political parties or whatever. It is wrong!"
However, Maxine Henry-Wilson, the member of parliament for South East St Andrew, said the ECJ proposal should be considered by members.
"What we are trying to guard against is where some other countries have reached, which is the persons who are able to afford to be elected are not persons of character that you would want in the electoral process," Henry-Wilson said.
"The public has an interest in who should be allowed to be part of the electoral funding," she added.
Warmington, though, said that, if the Parliament is going to ask taxpayers to carry that burden, he would want a clause to allow individuals to decide against accepting the money.
"I don't want the taxpayers to be paying for any campaign that I am involved in. Taxpayers should not pay for any of us. We must find our own way here," Warmington said.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com