Bizzy Williams wants to ban private support to political parties

“Campaign Donation” deposited to Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s personal bank account. Barbados political elites break laws without fear.

Bizzy Williams probably tired of being shaken down every election

by James M.

First off, who knows what Bizzy really told The Nation? I don’t trust Barbados journalists to deliver the truth any more than I trust anyone. Whatever Bizzy said about political campaign funding has been reduced to four paragraphs with no video as proof.

“I’m not in favour of Bizzy’s solutions, but he’s right about one thing: Bajan politics is a corrupt, unregulated mess that has to be cleaned up.”

If Bizzy wants to put his ideas forward about cleaning up politics, enhancing governance and reforming the election process, it would be better if he wrote an article or recorded a video and posted it on the internet instead of relying upon reporters and news organisations that have proven histories of misreporting and censoring news and ideas to fulfill agenda-driven journalism. I’m sure BFP or Barbados Underground would print Bizzy’s article.

Former Prime Minister Thompson money-laundered $3 million + dollars for pal Leroy Parris

Nevermind that though, I’ll comment upon what Bizzy Williams is reported to have said.  

Bizzy Williams is supposed to have said that political parties should be banned from begging for political donations from companies and individuals, and that the state should foot the bill of parties to carry their political messages to the public.

While I understand his concern that political parties buy and trade favours for donations, why should the public pay for any political party, let alone any ‘party’ that can’t garner its own public support?

“In my opinion the way to go is to implement a four-pronged solution: 1/ Transparency and 2/ Regulations limiting who and how much can be given. 3/ Mandatory Voting 4/ Prosecution.”

Transparency: Let’s require that all political donations be listed and accounted for, backed up by audits of political parties spending and accounts.

Regulations: Let’s require that only Bajan citizens can fund political parties. NO CORPORATE DONATIONS and no foreign donations. Let’s also limit the amount of each donation, say BDS$10,000 per person or less, maybe BDS$5,000.

Mandatory Voting: Let’s make it mandatory for citizens to show up to vote. You can refuse to vote but you have to show up at the voting place.

Prosecution: When we find politicians breaking the law, like Prime Minister Owen Arthur putting political donations into his personal bank account, or Prime Minister David Thompson money-laundering for his pal Leroy Parris, let’s have a fair investigation, a fair trial and a fair hanging (well, maybe just jail).

I’m not in favour of Bizzy’s solutions, but he’s right about one thing: Bajan politics is a corrupt, unregulated mess that has to be cleaned up. (See BFP’s Two cheques prove it doesn’t matter if DLP or BLP win Barbados election)

James M.