After a year of The Barbados Free Press hammering away at the theme of transparency, election financing rules and the like, Albert Brandford of The Nation News has finally written a piece on election financing that focuses almost exclusively on the US Presidential campaign – that mentions the word “transparency” and election financing in the context of “The American system is falling apart, what do you think?”
Nothing specific about Barbados campaign financing. No in depth analysis of who supports which political party in Barbados. No examples of any of the many conflicts of interest that any Bajan school-child can list.
For the “better half a loaf than nothing” crowd, we offer the opinion that there are not even a few crumbs on the floor for the dogs to lick up. By the way – we don’t fault Mr. Brandford at all, and we can imagine what he had to go through just to publish the bland piece he did.
To The Nation News, we say “Not good enough by half”
Judge for yourself…
JUST AS SOME OF US were trying to revive the debate on election campaign financing here, the “world’s greatest experiment in democracy” may be about to scuttle a system designed to “rid politics of the corrupting influence of money”.
Two of the most influential newspapers in the United States reported this week that the public financing system for presidential campaigns, introduced in the wake of the Watergate scandal, may be in its death throes following the formal announcement of the candidacy of leading Democratic contender, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Both the New York Times and the Washington Post reported that Clinton had become the first candidate since the programme began in 1976 to forego public financing for the primary and general election campaigns, thereby avoiding having to abide by strict spending limits imposed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
… continue reading the full article at The Nation News (link here).
It is not about how much the campaign costs – it is all about who provides the money and for what purpose.
Again, we call upon both the DLP and the governing BLP…
We call upon the ruling majority party – the Barbados Labour Party – to immediately introduce Election Financing and Disclosure Legislation – and to also immediately introduce Conflict of Interest and Integrity legislation. The BLP has a majority – they could make it happen tomorrow.
We also call upon the DLP – Democratic Labour Party to support the immediate introduction of Election Financing and Disclosure Legislation – and Conflict of Interest and Integrity Legislation.
Ladies and gentlemen of the BLP and DLP: do that and you can criticize anyone you want about unethical behaviour. Otherwise, sit down and shut up.
We citizens have had enough.
8 Comments
January 29, 2007 at 4:23 am
Well Albert Brandford, the new campaign manager for Clyde ‘ the betrayer ‘ Mascoll needs to get Clyde to introduce Integrity Legislation !!
The political sommersaults he displayed last year has implications for the body politic in Barbados….
But so intent is Albert Brandford on promoting his candidate ( Mascoll or is it MASCOT ??), that in a feeble attempt under the guise of a Mavis Beckles – Sun on Saturday of 2007-01-27 – that Albert Brandford ( writing as Mavis Beckles ) states in the last sentences of the article that Errol Barrow switched parties …SO WHAT WRONG WITH CLYDE SWITCHING…??
The point you missed Brandford, Barrow switched parties to improve the lot of all Barbadians – a job the BLP could not and still do not know how to do….!! BUT Mascoll sold his soul to the BLP for 30 pieces of Arthur’s coat tail…… A pimp he is…!!!
Brandford, get your analogy RIGHT next time !!!
Do not mix up the contribution of a statesman in Errol Barrow with a mongrel like Clyde Mascoll…!!
January 29, 2007 at 5:48 am
Jerome—tell us how you really feel?
all this article tells me, is that most politicians in Barbados are for sale, principles, soul and all. Mascoll has spoken loud and clear by his actions.
A leader with integrity is one who comes out verbally and in writing on how he stands on a number of issues ( esssential details included ) not just before or at election time.
These are issues of basic human rights for all Barbadian citizens and need to be seen in actions all year round by every department in government not simply for photo-ops.
The measure of a true leader is to be seen speaking out at every abuse of power and demonstrate exactly how he or she would change things going forward. We are waiting and hopefully before an election call.
January 29, 2007 at 7:15 am
That is why,despite how you feel about him,David Commissiong more than anyone else connects with the issues and speaks out at every opportunity he gets.
Hopefully David Thompson will do more of the same in the future with passion and conviction,as well as his shadow ministers.
January 29, 2007 at 9:57 am
Funny things happen in politics where leaders are concerned, particularly when there is a National crisis.
Churchill was viewed with skepticism by all parties just before he became PM. Gallipoli in the First World War and the failed operation in Norway just before he was made PM rendered him an uncomfortable, perhaps even unpalatable, option for all parties.
Yet Chamberlain fell, just before the Battle of France and the King sent for Churchill.
Churchill became PM the day of or the day before the German attack through the Low Countries and the Ardennes which led to the fall of France.
Churchill had spoken out for years about the Nazi threat and against appeasement. There was no mistaking his position. That more than anything was the deciding factor in his favour.
When it came to the crunch, it was his steadfastness in his beliefs and principles that handed him the opportunity.
We are in crisis whether we like it or not. Perhaps the crunch is yet to come but come it will.
The question is, do we have any Churchills?
January 29, 2007 at 10:06 am
Let me add my voice to those who condemn Clyde Mascoll for his lack of Integrity. I have not read Mavis Beckles but to there is much wrong with what Mascoll did. Let no one compare him to Errol Walton Barrow that is an insult to Mr Barrow. He was a man of integrity he displayed accountability in his work and we so transparency in his administration. People I say again we must lobby our government to introduce integrity legislation.
January 29, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Talking politics did anyone attend and see the sea of people who attended the meeting last night in Nelson Square or Heroes Square last evening it was a revelation, and all the speakers were excellent.
Got a lot of time for this young man Mr Sealy he is a solid performer
January 29, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Yes Fred, the people overwhelmed Heroes Square!!!!
An indication that the momentum is swinging. It really warmed up on Sunday 21st Jan 2007 in the walk to Independence Square.
Now one week later that BIGOT Owen Arthur gets up in St. George South and attempts to chide David Thompson and the DLP members for the applause they gave to Thompson. He also claims that the DLP treated its elders ‘ BADLY ‘
Well, Well, Well …. If it it is anyone who stands accused of such got to be the BIGOT Owen Arthur himself……
1. Who called the DLP members a party of Driftwood AND A GOON SQUAD???? Arthur the PIMP….!
2. Who on the floor of Parliament referred to the DLP elders of Mr. Philip Greaves and Sir Frederick Smith as ‘ OLD MEN IN A HURRY ???’ You got it RIGHT……Arthur the PIMP…!!!!
3. Who again on the floor of Parliament used Parliamentary Privelege to launch a Broadside in Ms. Irene Sandiford ??? RIGHT again the PIMP, Arthur…..!!
Also worth mentioning the distasteful BROADSIDE Rommel Marshall launched in Clyde Mascoll about his ailing/ now departed mother…!!!
I GUESS CLYDE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE THE BLP BARRAGE ……WAS TO JOIN THE BLP HOODLUMS AND BEHAVE LIKE THEM…..ET AL BRASSTACKS PROGRAMME…LATE LAST YEAR!!!!!
So Far the record shows CLEARLY that it is OWEN and his other BLP hoodlums that do not know how to behave towards the DLP members……
But he need NOT fear about the show of support for the DLP by the right thinking people of Barbados……!!!!
He need to get himself and Ministers of Government COMMITTED to the TASK of working HONESTLY on BEHALF of ALL Barbadians…..!!!!
If THEY CANNOT do that then it is time for your TAILS to GO…….!!!!
February 4, 2007 at 11:55 am
Albert Branford…..sorry…meant Mavis Beckles, writes in the Saturday Sun of 3 Feb 2007, that Barrow’s name going up on everything in Barbados and mentions parks, $ 50 bill, statue and the likes….
Under this same column last week the same writer praised the ” SWITCHING ” qualities as demonstrated by Clyde Mascoll. Now that is this writer’s RIGHT…..if that is their view….
Now for the sake of BALANCE of what is GOOD and what is BAD , I am asking Mavis Beckles…..using the pen and mind of Albert Brandford !!!! To dedicate next week’s column to highlight the EXTRAVAGANCE and WASTAGE of public funds by Owen Arthur….example ??? GREENLAND !!!!
And advise Owen Arthur that should he continue on such a path…..it would not be too long before the new facility going up at Dodds…….will have a statue bearing his Name and Likeness…..in HONOUR of it’s newest…..INMATE !!!