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10 million spent per constituency per candidate!!!!!
<span style="font-weight: bold">New candidates welcome $7m hike in campaign spending cap</span>
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter [email protected]
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
FRESH-faced parliamentary candidates on both sides of the fence say they support the Electoral Commission of Jamaica's (ECJ's) campaign finance reform recommendation which requires them to spend no more than $10 million to fund campaigning in their constituencies.
The $10-million cap is a $7-million hike on the spending limit per candidate that has been in place since 1996. The increase was recently approved by the House of Representatives via changes to the Representation of the People Act.
Leonard Green, People's National Party (PNP) candidate for West St Thomas, said although campaigns are very costly, a $10-million maximum is a workable outlay for campaign expenditure.
"Being a new candidate, I would accede to the wisdom of the parties that came up with that limit and I think we must manage the resources available to us as best as we can," he told reporters and editors at this week's Observer Monday Exchange held at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.
Green explained that candidates are often faced with the task of funding their own campaigns as their political parties tend to offer financial support for only a few things.
"There are some things the party will do as it gets closer to election because there are some standards that all candidates have to abide by, like the posters and the standards relating to images, and they will do something in that regard. But in respect of the campaign, very few constituencies are alike, and you have to appeal to the electorate in different ways," he said.
"The party does not get into the micro-management at that level. You will have to fund it based on your support," he added.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for South East St Catherine, Keith Blake, said elections can rack up a considerable amount of money for candidates who usually have to personally fund the cost of paraphernalia and advertising.
"There is a cost for T-shirts, advertisement, lunches for the persons canvassing. Buttons, armbands and all these things are very expensive, so to move from $3 million to $10 million is somewhat reasonable," Blake said.
He added further, "I am not saying to put a cap on it, but at least you should be able to control the level of spending, especially when we have to spend enormously".
Blake cited his own first-hand knowledge of the expense, as he was forced to sell two motor vehicles to cover the cost of his campaign when he contested the 2003 local government elections.
Camile Buchanan, the JLP candidate for the newly established East Central St Catherine constituency, also acknowledged that election campaigns are very expensive affairs that force candidates to spend a good deal of their personal resources.
"When you are being interviewed that is one of the questions you are asked for candidacy, "would you be able to fund your campaign, and how would you get financial support to assist in your campaign activities?" she explained.
"There is always the need for more money, so the increase from $3 million is something we appreciate, because you have to get yourself out there, you have to tell people why they should choose you as the representative ," she said.
The PNP's candidate for South East St Mary, Dr Winston Green, said he fully supports candidates staying within the $10-million maximum.
"What happens on many occasions is we tend to go beyond things that really should be done in an election campaign because we need buttons, T-shirts, transportation costs, and other things that money goes into. That shouldn't be the case," he said.
He also noted that although the party assists candidates in some respects, all individuals are expected to shoulder a significant portion of the cost.
"The party might assist us sometimes with T-shirts and sometimes they might receive from manufacturers a discounted rate on certain things and we benefit from it," he said.
"I believe that $10 million can suffice, if it is that we are only covering the cost of paraphernalia and PR (public relations) and if it is not going into buying elections, then that is sufficient," said Dr Green
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/New-...3#ixzz1fCLwRqx0
<span style="font-weight: bold">New candidates welcome $7m hike in campaign spending cap</span>
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter [email protected]
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
FRESH-faced parliamentary candidates on both sides of the fence say they support the Electoral Commission of Jamaica's (ECJ's) campaign finance reform recommendation which requires them to spend no more than $10 million to fund campaigning in their constituencies.
The $10-million cap is a $7-million hike on the spending limit per candidate that has been in place since 1996. The increase was recently approved by the House of Representatives via changes to the Representation of the People Act.
Leonard Green, People's National Party (PNP) candidate for West St Thomas, said although campaigns are very costly, a $10-million maximum is a workable outlay for campaign expenditure.
"Being a new candidate, I would accede to the wisdom of the parties that came up with that limit and I think we must manage the resources available to us as best as we can," he told reporters and editors at this week's Observer Monday Exchange held at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.
Green explained that candidates are often faced with the task of funding their own campaigns as their political parties tend to offer financial support for only a few things.
"There are some things the party will do as it gets closer to election because there are some standards that all candidates have to abide by, like the posters and the standards relating to images, and they will do something in that regard. But in respect of the campaign, very few constituencies are alike, and you have to appeal to the electorate in different ways," he said.
"The party does not get into the micro-management at that level. You will have to fund it based on your support," he added.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for South East St Catherine, Keith Blake, said elections can rack up a considerable amount of money for candidates who usually have to personally fund the cost of paraphernalia and advertising.
"There is a cost for T-shirts, advertisement, lunches for the persons canvassing. Buttons, armbands and all these things are very expensive, so to move from $3 million to $10 million is somewhat reasonable," Blake said.
He added further, "I am not saying to put a cap on it, but at least you should be able to control the level of spending, especially when we have to spend enormously".
Blake cited his own first-hand knowledge of the expense, as he was forced to sell two motor vehicles to cover the cost of his campaign when he contested the 2003 local government elections.
Camile Buchanan, the JLP candidate for the newly established East Central St Catherine constituency, also acknowledged that election campaigns are very expensive affairs that force candidates to spend a good deal of their personal resources.
"When you are being interviewed that is one of the questions you are asked for candidacy, "would you be able to fund your campaign, and how would you get financial support to assist in your campaign activities?" she explained.
"There is always the need for more money, so the increase from $3 million is something we appreciate, because you have to get yourself out there, you have to tell people why they should choose you as the representative ," she said.
The PNP's candidate for South East St Mary, Dr Winston Green, said he fully supports candidates staying within the $10-million maximum.
"What happens on many occasions is we tend to go beyond things that really should be done in an election campaign because we need buttons, T-shirts, transportation costs, and other things that money goes into. That shouldn't be the case," he said.
He also noted that although the party assists candidates in some respects, all individuals are expected to shoulder a significant portion of the cost.
"The party might assist us sometimes with T-shirts and sometimes they might receive from manufacturers a discounted rate on certain things and we benefit from it," he said.
"I believe that $10 million can suffice, if it is that we are only covering the cost of paraphernalia and PR (public relations) and if it is not going into buying elections, then that is sufficient," said Dr Green
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/New-...3#ixzz1fCLwRqx0
ra-zz, its brilliant! 
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