Espeut: All Political Donations Should be Declared

Sociologist and development scientist, Peter Espeut, says all donors should be made to declare their election campaign contributions.

This follows an advisory from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, ECJ, reminding donors to declare their contributions to political parties and candidates.

The requirement applies to any individual or entity donating $250,000 or more to a political party or candidate.

In its advisory, the ECJ says contributions to each candidate must not exceed $1.5 million. It also says contributions to political parties must not exceed $3.5 million.

This also applies to individual candidates of a political party.

Furthermore, donors must also declare any award of government contracts at or above $500,000 in existence for up to two years prior to making the contribution. This must be declared within 14 days.

Espeut says while there’s the fear that people will be branded as supporters of a political party if they’re mandated to declare their contributions, transparency must be prioritised.

The ECJ says any person who knowingly makes false statements in any report, declaration or other document is liable to pay a fine of up to $3 million or face 12-months in prison.

And Mr Espeut says his call for all political campaign donors to declare their contributions, is motivated by a desire to keep so called ‘dirty-money’ out of the politics.

Peter Espeut, sociologist and development scientist, speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Tuesday.