Chamber Takes on Campaign Financing Reform

The urgent need for campaign financing reform is an issue of national importance that continues to be treated as a political football.  Both major parties have raised the subject and the People’s United Party even went as far as including it in the Plan Belize manifesto ahead of the general elections in 2020.  Most recently, however, the Briceño administration unveiled its medium-term development strategy for 2022-2026 which draws heavily from the party’s declaration of principles.  Interestingly, campaign financing reform has once again been pushed back in its long list of priorities, all the way beyond the P.U.P.’s existing term of office.  This morning, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry sat with the media to discuss the very topic, as well as the formulation of draft legislation to address the issue of campaign financing reform.

Marcelo Blake

Marcelo Blake, President, B.C.C.I.

“It’s part of our commitment that we made to the media to actually have a conversation, more of an informational session, to advise and update on ongoing matters and the most recent one for us is campaign financing.  As you would know, the government launched their medium-term development strategy on Monday.  We actually met with our members last week Thursday to actually make a presentation and to get the feedback from our members as to how we move forward with campaign financing reform.  Happily to say that our members gave us a resounding nod of approval for us to move ahead with this.  So today’s session was to inform the media of the intricate elements of what campaign finance is, looking at a draft bill that we’ve put together and sharing what could be put into law and of course and of course we will then see how we can work with the government in order to ensure that this is passed.”