Many politicians have conceded that campaigning for public office costs big money.

According to Michael Williams, general secretary of the National Democratic Movement, this has caused many who enter representational politics to fall prey to wealthy, self-seeking persons.

Williams suggests: "There are well-known persons of shady character, who by one way or another, have found their way into Parliament."

"They have enormous influence over the members of parliament whom they own," Williams says. He asserts that by virtue of supporting particular candidates, persons of ill-repute are able to influence certain decisions and get favours in return.

In October 2006, three months after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) launched its campaign for government, Christopher Tufton, who would eventually win the South West St Elizabeth seat for the party, said that campaigning could cost anywhere from $5-$10 million from the time an election is announced to the election date.

No recovery of funds

Tufton tells The Sunday Gleaner that funds spent on campaigning can never be recovered.

"It cannot be approached with any intention for the money to be recovered. If you were to do that, it would be unlikely that you would be able to achieve that legitimately," Tufton says.

"You can't recover it on your salary, unless you go there with the intention of misappropriation of funds, which clearly is not advisable," he adds.

The first-time MP says one's political base is secured through lobbying ministers to support constituency projects. He says also that MPs sometimes have to depend on donors and friends to help with funding their projects because of the huge void between desired funding and actual funding.

Because of this void, Tufton believes some representatives may be tempted to go an ill-advised route for funding in order to maintain their political base.

Little public contribution

Currently, MPs receive approximately $3.5 million per year in Social and Economic Support Programme funding for constituency projects. Additionally, MPs receive $20,500 per month to cover office expenses. But aside from that, there is very little contribution from the public purse to the running of constituencies.

The JLP, in its election manifesto, had promised to allocate two per cent of the Budget to be shared among the 60 constituencies. This would mean an approximate allocation of $7.2 billion to be shared among all constituencies.

Meanwhile, Williams says Parliament should hasten and pass legislation that requires public disclosure of persons or entities that contribute to political parties.

"All contributions above $10,000 by anybody should be declared," Williams says.

- D.L.