Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

A significant percentage of the electorate say they are willing to sell their votes if an offer was made. This is according to the findings of a study on the financing of political parties, carried out by Market Research Services Ltd., on behalf of the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ). Besides money, a large number of those interviewed admitted that they would be prepared to accept gifts or some other benefit in return for their vote.

The breakdown speaksfor itself: "25 per cent would accept a direct monetary reward, 17 per cent gifts and 15 per cent something else," the report said.

Meanwhile, the study has identified corruption as the single largest problem facing political parties in Jamaica today.

It showed that 54 per cent of persons interviewed cited corruption as the number one problem facing the parties.

Other 'worrisome' issues confronting political parties, according to the survey, include the lack of effective leadership - 14 per cent; 10 per cent citing the absence of public confidence; seven per cent mentioning financial shortcomings; six per cent naming internal conflicts, and a similar number highlighting public apathy as the biggest problem.

The survey was carried out in 14 parishes with a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.

A lot of corruption

According to the findings of the study, a higher percentage of respondents believe that there is a lot of corruption in the People's National Party (PNP), compared with 44 per cent of those who feel this way about the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

And, 28 per cent of the sample feels that there is quite a bit of corruption in the JLP, with another 29 per cent of respondents expressing a similar view about the PNP.

"Taken together then, the corruption incidence with the PNP is 77 per cent compared to 73 per cent for the JLP," the survey noted.

Meanwhile, 82 per cent of persons polled say they have never been promised money or any other gifts to vote for specific candidates or parties, while 11 per cent of respondents say this does take place.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com