EDMOND CAMPBELL, Senior News Coordinator
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leader Audley Shaw (right) embraces party leader Bruce Golding during the JLP's mass rally in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on Sunday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Beaming
from what it says was its successful five-day campaign tour across sections
of the island, the hierarchy of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says the party's
well-lubricated election machinery is able to sustain a vibrant momentum for
as long as the Portia Simpson Miller-led administration takes to send Jamaicans
to the polls.
General election is constitutionally due by 2007. Disclosing Monday that the inflow of funds into the party has begun to improve, Chairman of the JLP, Dr. Ken Baugh said he was confident money rolling into the party's coffers was not tainted.
Jamaicans
anticipating change
Dr. Baugh said the JLP has set up checks and balances and no dirty money would be accepted as donations. He told journalists that there are many Jamaicans who were anticipating a change of government, including members of the private sector. "When they see that the possibility really exist that is the time that they are going to give financial support and we have no doubt that the financial support exist in legitimate sources in Jamaica."
The Gleaner recently reported that there was growing consensus between the two major political parties on issues of campaign financing.
Director of Elections, Danville Walker, told The Gleaner that political representatives and other members of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) were expected to sign off on a number of recommendations dealing with how political parties were financed.
He said that once agreement was reached the EAC would submit a report, which would be examined by Cabinet. Following Cabinet's approval the document will then be drafted into a bill and taken to the House for debate.
Meanwhile, commenting on its five-day tour, which ended at Munamar Square in Spanish Town, on Sunday, Dr. Baugh said the party held a total of 45 meetings, including five public, 10 major and 30 spot meetings.
The JLP is preparing to cruise into the second of its five-day tour expected to begin this month. Commending the police for carrying out what he said was an excellent job, Dr. Baugh said that throughout the exercise there were no negative incidents linked to the campaign.
The JLP says all its candidates are in place for local or general elections.
