PETER BUNTING, the Opposition spokesman on national security who has responsibility for electoral matters, wants Government to set aside funds in next year's Budget for campaign-finance reform.

Bunting, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Tuesday, said it was important to insulate political parties from questionable funding sources.

"I am, therefore, calling on the Government, as we work towards a more perfect electoral system, to establish the principle of State funding for political parties in Jamaica in the 2010-11 fiscal budget, even if initially on a modest basis," he said.

Campaign-finance reform, which involves the registration of political parties, has been the subject of reviews by the Electoral Office of Jamaica for the last five years.

Fiscal constraints

"It is tempting for the Government to say that it cannot deal with the matter at this time because of fiscal constraints. The more cynical may say that it would suit a governing party to keep an opposition party starved of resources. Such a conclusion, we all know, of course, would be totally unfounded," Bunting said.

The opposition spokesman, who is also member of Parliament for Central Manchester, told the House that State financing of political parties would help to preserve the country's democracy.

"All the hearings, surveys, and symposia conducted on this issue over the last five years have concluded that State funding is justified in helping to address the deficit between available resources, and the demands and needs of representation," Bunting said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com