Electoral Commission to consider new proposals on campaign financing

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) will meet on Wednesday to consider a proposal to increase the amount of funds individuals and donors can contribute to candidates and political parties, as part of draft legislation for campaign financing.
ECJ Chairman Dr Herbert Thompson told The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that the commission's original recommendation two years ago that no person should give a candidate more than one million (One Jamaica Dollar = US$0.01 cents) had been adjusted to two million as a result of the devaluation of the local currency.
He said a similar percentage adjustment has been made in relation to a donor who, under the ECJ's original proposal, was restricted to a contribution of J$10 million to a political party. The ECJ is now recommending that the ceiling be set at J$20 million.