Caribbean Times 55th Issue - Tuesday 13th December 2016

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Tuesday 13th December 2016
Parties agree on campaign finance reform
By Everton Barnes
The leaders of the two
main political parties have
arrived at common ground on
the need for elections campaign
finance reform.
Prime Minister, Gaston
Browne said there are weaknesses
in the current laws that
need strengthening and he is
willing to have the changes
made.
“There is a requirement
for disclosure, the issue is
that the requirements only
take effect after the writ (of
elections) is issued. This is an
area that I think we need to
remedy,” he explained.
He added that it an issue
that he raised whilst the Antigua
and Barbuda Labour
Party was in opposition and
he was told that this was an
area that needed the participation
of all as it requirement
a consensus by all members
on both sides to come together
to change the law.
United Progressive Party
Political leader, Harold
Lovell, said he is willing to
work with the government to
effect the necessary changes
on the issue of elections campaign
finance reform.
Lovell admits that the
UPP failed to address the
matter during its 10-year
time in office but it can be
addressed going forward.
“That is an area that I accept
more could have been
done and we are willing to
work in a bipartisan way to
ensure that we strengthen the
necessary legislation as far
as campaign reform is concerned,”
he stated.
Head of the Free and Fair
Elections League, George
Rick James whose group
has been championing the
issue for several years, said
they wanted a commitment
that the parties will follow-through
and make the
required changes.
He said this is not the first
time that politicians have
agreed on the need to reform,
but when left up to them the
law that is enacted is often
watered down.
He said there should be
a role for the elections commission
to oversee the reform
and enforcement procedures
if the law is to really be effective.
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cont’d from pg 1
leaders of the government.
The video has made the rounds via social
media and according to reliable sources it has
caught the attention of international law enforcement
agencies as well.
Whenner was questioned extensively at
the St John’s Station and later a contingent of
police officers conducted a search of his home
where electronic items such as computers, iPads,
cell phones, etc. were confiscated.
After being questioned at the St John’s Station,
Whenner was transferred to the Police
Headquarters where he was kept overnight.
A group of UPP supporters held an allnight
vigil outside police headquarters on the
American Road.
Since the release of the video and its wide
circulation, the House of Representatives at
its meeting last Thursday adopted a resolution
condemning it as ‘a dastardly act of terrorism’.
Following the public uproar, Whenner has
publicly stated that his intentions were not to
physically harm anyone.
Part 4 of the Electronic Crime Act under
the heading Sending offensive messages
through communication services, etc. states;
(1) A person shall not intentionally, without
lawful excuse or justification send by
means of an electronic system – (a) information
that is offensive or threatening; (b) information
which is false, causing annoyance,
inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult,
injury, intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will,
persistently by making use of such electronic
system or an electronic device; or (c) electronic
mail or an electronic message for the purpose
of causing annoyance or inconvenience,
or to deceive or mislead the recipient as to the
origin of such message. (2) For the purpose
of this section, the term “electronic mail” or
“electronic message” means a message or information
created or transmitted or received
on an electronic system or electronic device
including attachments in text, images, audio,
video and any other electronic record which
may be transmitted with the message. (3) A
person who contravenes subsection (1) commits
an offence and is liable on- (i) summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred
thousand dollars or to imprisonment for
a term not exceeding three years, or to both;
or (ii) conviction on indictment to a fine not
exceeding five hundred thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven
years, or to both.