Comprehensive, Practical Campaign Finance Laws Needed in Belize
Darrell Bradley
The John Saldivar Scandal has brought sharp focus to the issue of campaign financing. With everyone talking about this, President of the Senate, Darrell Bradley says he has produced draft legislation to the issue. Bradley provided an outline and says it is critical to clean up the dirtiness in the matter of funds given to politicians during campaign.
Darrell Bradley, Attorney-at-law
“One of the first things that we need is we need comprehensive, practical campaign finance laws in Belize because if you track where monies are coming in and where monies are being paid out to, you will have a balance playing field. This is something that many countries in the world struggle with; this is something that individual politicians struggle with. And I think if we can put forward legislation about that, then we can have a fundamental change. One of the things that I did over this weekend is sat down, read laws in other countries and I drafted a law that deals with campaign finance. And it deals with not only with specific prohibitions, but it deals with ethics in campaign finance. It requires the registration of political parties; it requires the monthly reporting of all campaign contributions received by political parties and you have to account for how you are spending that. Every month, as a business owner, I have to file social security, I have to file income tax; I have to file GST. Every month I have to do that. Why is it that any political party is any different? If we put in place very specific and very comprehensive legislation, I think that we can have a change. And I think that we can use this moment, when people are very angry, when people are very frustrated, to birth something positive.”
Marleni Cuellar
“Will political parties be interested in passing a legislation that will probably make it harder for them to win an election?”
Darrell Bradley
“No, because they want not to pass the legislation. This piece of legislation is very difficult [to pass] all over the world. I remember when I was reading articles about this over this weekend, you have governments which have been bogged down in debates and so forth. They want that. They want a system where they are not regulated. They want a system where you, Marleni and Gavin, are frustrated and you say would think, you know what, let me just leave it to the politicians because then they would have a sphere that they can rule and deal with all to themselves. If you say that you are really frustrated, then speak out about a particular situation, lobby for a change. I am not saying this is the answer, but at least this starts a conversation that can move it in the right direction; that can move it into a situation of change. This is not something that is very difficult and if somebody who would say you know what I want integrity in government, I want accountability and transparency, then let’s talk about this. Let’s have that conversation about what we can put in place now.”
Marleni Cuellar
“But you are a part of the United Democratic Party. Have you taken this very same passionate plea, this legislation that you’ve drafted, and taken it to your party and said: “If you are serious, if you are paying attention to the people, this is what we have to do?”
Darrell Bradley
“Well I finished this this morning, so that is exactly what I intend to do.”
