Bobby, Bruce, party funding, the Police Federation

FRANKLIN JOHNSTON

Friday, September 17, 2010

BRUCE and Bobby are old friends and giants of political parties. Bruce and Bobby, both of you entered politics for the right reasons - Jamaica first. You have done well. Manley and Seaga were joy and inspiration to you both. You hung on their every word. Are you now mentoring bright young graduates? As my long-standing friends, please explain why politics is a cruel, misanthropic space on your watch. And why good young men, as you were, now shy away from it. The leader of your mother parties in the UK is Tory PM Cameron, 46 (MP for eight years) and the front-runners for Labour leader are aged 39 (MP for five years) and 45 (MP for nine years). You were in politics before they were born. I made partner in a firm in 10 years but an MP takes 40 years to get to the top - as you did. Why? Do crabs in the barrel backbite, loot and block the path? What went wrong? When did JLP and PNP lose the plot? Will you both put things right before you leave? Please! I beg you!

The ECJ should be composed of independent people only. MP is the only job where the union (party) sets the pay and terms. We pay them but have no voice. Why not? Professor Miller wants to do what's best for Jamaica but it's not happening! His proposal on party funding is flawed. The nexus of money and politics is our problem as money from state contracts feeds corruption. The circuit, donations > contracts > more donations > more contracts needs to be broken and Bobby's call for disclosure is the way! Parliament must approve disclosure to arrest crime, corruption and get donors!

Prof defends secret donors, but is their love of secrecy more important to him than the nation's need for openness? Here is some research to help the cause:

The private donor is a broad church with many tiers. Check out these five tiers:

First: public and listed companies. They disclose to shareholders, and an NCB or a Grace will donate to protect our freedoms as they work with all parties. Shareholders and state regulators ensure they do not donate willy-nilly. They fear no disclosure!

Second: private family firms, contractors and professionals. We don't know their owners, their profit or what they do with it. We know squat about them! They donate; get contracts, waivers, permits, deposits. They fear disclosure "like puss"! Shine the light, Bobby!

Third: firms and denizens of the illegal and black market - druggists, men who extort, get "blyes" at the ports; some by delay or evasion of taxes, statutories and launder the proceeds of crime through a business. These fear the very light of day!

Fourth: small business people: They donate to build a nation. They don't fear disclosure!

Fifth: PAYE people who give their mite and expect no return. They just want good government and a safe country. They don't fear transparency. In fact, they want it!

The ECJ proposal protects corrupters in tiers two and three, who invest - not donate, "lock into" one party and expect a big ROI. Their donations are larger than big tier-one firms as they pay for protection, contracts and to launder money. We need transparency! The proposal can't help our feral, fearful nation. No black nation has solved this problem. When Nigeria does, it will be a model, but we can't wait that long! The US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia have no template to fit our generational corruption, poverty, illiteracy or murders. Prof must innovate, dig deep - do not use a percentage for state funding; a foreign state, entity or person must not donate to our politics. Full disclosure should be a basic rule. We live in "bad man" land! So here is a compromise:

Phase 1: Disclosure to the OCG and tax department - not the public. These bodies monitor the link between donations and contracts, informal income and taxes. The ECJ option means we don't know whose pocket an MP is in and it denies the state data to manage the economy and national security. We need joined-up thinking! This ECJ regime may produce a "Manchurian candidate", and we would become a rogue state!

Phase 2: All data to be available under the FOI Act after 2020. Support Bobby's call for "open books"! Prof, don't fret, family firms will comply to get contracts - money is king. Is there a principle of state funding? Yes! We give parties a cent or a million and the quid pro quo must be disclosure! Can Cabinet tell our security allies, US and UK we don't check if a party gets funds from terrorists or criminals? Get real! If you get taxes, open your books - a fundamental principle in public administration. The ECJ supports secrecy, comforts criminals and sends the wrong signal. Here's my idea:

* A poll by Anderson or Stone will tell them citizens' views. Do one now!

* A group wants secrecy? Prof is not their puppet so let them make their own case!

* The proposal discriminates against listed and public companies and favours private firms and criminal enterprises. The PSOJ must protest, demand a level playing field or live with regrets. For now, let the OCG and taxman get the lists and be our proxies.

* How much private funds a party gets is not the ECJ's concern. If they make their party acceptable to decent people as young Bruce and Bobby, donations will flow. Still, we waste money on voice campaigns as our people can't read - more later!

Bruce's comments are useful. Audit is no problem, but it must include the donor list. If the OCG and taxman get the donor lists, verify your income and source and you give half to your party - your business doesn't bother me! Give tithe to your gods! Bruce's enforcement should start with the ECJ and end with the police if fraud, etc, are suspected. Sir, please do not go with the flow. Give us rules we can live up to!

Sgt Wilson of the Police Federation may be rash or exuberant as he voiced a widely held opinion on corruption to his union. JLP Senator Meadows chose to call his indiscretion "political bias". This remark has no patina of credibility. Why not a "police bias" or union bias? A political bully tries to silence dissent, influence a JCF disciplinary process and score points off a man who can't reply. Silly coward!

Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.

franklinjohnston@hotmail.com

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Bobby, Bruce, party funding, the Police Federation