Campaign Finance Reform, is it a Possibility?

Kareem Musa

The issue of campaign financing, as well as the absence of laws to regulate donations to political parties and their candidates, has resurfaced in light of the Lev Dermen scandal.  While it cannot as yet be confirmed which so-called U.D.P. ministers received the twenty-five thousand-dollar bribes from Dermen, PM Barrow painted a picture that receipt of the monies can easily be passed off as campaign contributions.  Without a cap or a declaration of source of funding, it is easy to infuse dirty money into any vote seeking activity.  Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa says he supports the introduction and passage of new legislation relating to campaign financing.

Kareem Musa, P.U.P. Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“That is certainly something that is on the table and I fully agree, I support that.  I am in full support of campaign financing laws in our country for this very reason.  Lev Dermen… is not the first of his kind in Belize, there are many, including one that has been convicted of taking off somebody’s head in this country, who has financed politicians in this country, and so what else do we need?  What else are we waiting for?  The most evil thing has happened in our country because of people who donate to these ministers.  The most heinous crime, you could imagine, has happened and I thought it would have stopped there, but now more and more it is coming out and it is high time that we get campaign financing laws in this country.”