Subhas: Laws needed on campaign financing

San Fernando attorney and former government minister Subhas Panday has described the two major political parties of being “the comic characters Bimsee and Bams--,” saying their respective responses to the critical issues facing the nation lacked any deep analysis.

He said legislation on financing political parties and campaign financing should be on the legislative agenda before any election.

At a media conference at his Gordon Street, San Fernando offices yesterday, Panday, a minister in the ministry of national security in the previous administration, criticised both the Prime Minister‘s address to the nation and the Opposition’s response.

He said both parties had failed to deal with political corruption, which he described as the most devastating problem confronting the nation.

“The Prime Minister in his address never proffered one single solution to deal with this dangerous and severe cancer of corruption by politicians,” he charged. “All they have done so far is an attempt to name and shame their opponents.

“This is the fourth year of government and not a single politician or his accomplice has had his assets traced, frozen or confiscated. This is the fourth year of government and no legislation has been passed to strengthen the Integrity in Public Life Act. These politicians are adept in circumventing the act.”

Panday said whistleblower legislation as well as the revamping of the law on the freezing and seizure of assets of “corrupt politicians and their accomplices” should also be laid in Parliament.

He said there were also questions over the source of the funding for the rebuilding of Balisier House as the draw date for the fundraising car raffle has been extended to January 19. “Citizens want to know who are the party financiers, if any, who are contributing to the building. They want to know if money from the sale of the fake oil is contributing to that project.”