BUILDING THE SECOND REPUBLIC

The MSJ beleives that the entire system of government Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is in need of fundamental change - guided by the principles of social justice. We beleive that the time has come to build The Second Republic. The requires restructuring the national through key priorities for long-term change: consitutional reform, campaign finance regulation, and economic planning.

Implement Political Party Funding and Campaign Finance Legislation

 The process of constitutional reform must include the reforming of political parties, in particular the implementation of Political Party Funding and Campaign Finance Legislation. This reform has become absolutely necessary given that political financiers have caused our electoral process to be subverted, and therefore our democracy to become distorted. Our politicians are not driven by the demands of the populace, but rather have as their main objective in most cases, to respond to the calls of those who contribute to their party’s coffers – and so deforming the democracy. This legislation should identify an upper limit for party spending on political campaigns. Additionally, provisions should be made for a specific amount of public funds to be made available for political parties. In this way the need for private party financiers could be reduced, and ultimately eliminated.

Implement spending limits of political campaigns

This legislation should identify an upper limit for party spending on political campaigns. Additionally, provisions should be made for a specific amount of public funds to be made available for political parties. In this way the need for private party financiers could be reduced, and ultimately eliminated. The distortions which have resulted from private party financing could therefore be eliminated. Private funding from external organisations or groups could be allowed, but within a specified limit, such as 5 per cent of the total amount of expenditure allowed for individual candidates.

Parties must be required to identify these external bodies, including the names of their principals. In the case of donations from companies, a company donating more than TT$500,000 to any one party would not be able to bid for contracts from a Government of which the said party is a part for at least one year following this donation. Diaspora contributions should also be allowed from individuals as well as companies, within the same limit.

Public Funding for all political parities

Additionally, provisions should be made for a specific amount of public funds to be made available for political parties. In this way the need for private party financiers could be reduced, and ultimately eliminated.