'Wait for the law'

• JCC urges Government to stay put until recommendations are legal

Martin Baxter, Gleaner Writer

THE JAMAICA Council of Churches (JCC) on Wednesday said the Government should not call a general election until the recommendations on campaign financing, made by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), become law.

The warning came in a statement from JCC president the Rev Dr Paul Gardner during the council's biennial general meeting at the Covenant Moravian Church in Kingston.

Gardner addressed more than 50 delegates from 13 denominations islandwide, insisting that legislation had to be passed on the disclosure of funding to political parties by their donors to protect Jamaica's democratic process and promote transparency.

"We wouldn't want Jamaica to go to another election without the issue of campaign financing being passed through Parliament. That will set the basis on which we will move into a next general election that is due next year," he said in an interview with The Gleaner.

"I think it's important so that we don't have any appearance that our political process is being hijacked by big money and hijacked by undesirable characters, so we have to protect the process."

Gardner added: "We're speaking to all the parliamentarians on this matter and our views are known, but we speak particularly to this Government, because it's only the Government can fast-track that process."

Gardner, who was handing over his presidency to newly elected Archbishop Donald Reese at the conference, also called for Jamaica to enter into an age of integrity, truthfulness, transparency and accountability, and challenged the Government to bring an end to corruption, 'dancehall-don culture', and corporate entities that sponsor the deterioration of society.

"It is important for the Church to be involved in every effort towards good governance, and we will push for the politicians to continue to advocate for them," he said.