The Editor, Sir:

Professor Trevor Munroe has been championing the cause of state funding for political parties and since the Trafigura fiasco the idea has taken on some new vigour. I say no to state funding of political parties.

I am all for stricter regulations governing political financing and particularly donations from foreign governments and corporations.

Senator Delano Franklyn has reminded us that major parties are already subsidised by the state allowing duty-free entry for up to 200 cars. The state should go no further while seeking to remove this facility.

I have no problem with people rich or poor financing the party of their choice, and that is an important part of a vibrant participatory democracy that must be retained.

Can you imagine as a taxpayer seeing your money used to finance party conferences, advertisements, flyers, flags, T-shirts, white rum, graffiti, beer, party gimmicks and, God forbid, bullets and related armaments.

Only the very naive would believe that the idea being recommended by the professor would stamp out corruption in party financing as the same persons will always find loopholes to outfox their opponents.

As a matter a fact, state party funding would entrench the corrupt and add another burden on the taxpayer, while creating more work for the already burdened Auditor General's Department.

Why should the taxpayer throw away good money when schools, hospitals, clinics, the courts, police stations, roads, water supplies, etc., need this financing?

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL SPENCE

P.O. Box 630

Liguanea, Kingston 6