PNP president urges gov't to enact new campaign finance law

Leader of the Opposition and re-elected president of the People's National Party (PNP), Portia Simpson Miller, has called for the Government to bring into effect new campaign finance legislation before it calls local government elections.

Local government elections are due by December this year.

Addressing delegates and supporters at the public session of the PNP's 78th annual conference this afternoon at Jamaica College in St Andrew, she outlined that her party was moving to establish a centralised system for campaign donations.

The effort comes against the background of allegations that portions of donations to the party's treasury were not turned over to the PNP by some party representatives. The allegations are being investigated by the Office of the Contractor-General.

Simpson Miller says the new centralised system will ensure funds donated to the party are properly accounted for and used for the intended purpose.

She says transparency in campaign financing must apply to all political parties.