A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) remains tight-lipped on how it will secure its Gy$1.2B budget for the upcoming elections campaign, despite questions being raised as to where a coalition in its infancy can secure such huge sums for the elections. When asked at a media conference yesterday how the movement will secure such a huge budget, Chief Whip of the PNCR, now APNU, Mr. Lance Carberry declined, saying “No I will not tell where the money is coming from”.
But his comment has raised eye-brows, as many are asking how such a young movement can secure such huge sums for its elections campaign, especially with it not being very known among the populace.
One critic is also asking if the party is so stern on transparency, why is it so skeptical to reveal how its elections campaign funds will be raised, adding that the laws are clear regarding campaign financing.
Meanwhile, when asked about the glaring absence of the PNCR now APNU’S representatives on the Special Select Committee of the Parliament that dealt with Campaign Financing, Carberry claimed that it was only close to the parliamentary recess that the PNCR now APNU members did not attend the meetings.
“In fact, when the meetings of the committee were called prior to the recess, it was dealt with,” Carberry claimed.
However, based on the report of the special select committee, it was revealed that the PNCR now APNU members were absenting from the meetings long before the recess.
The movement was represented on the committee by Deborah Backer, Basil Williams and Dr John Austin.
And of the seven meetings of the Committee between June 2, 2011 and September 6, 2011, Backer did not attend any of the meetings, while Williams and Dr Austin attended just three of the seven meetings.
Presidential advisor on governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira, in an invited comment last week, said the PNCR now APNU has missed so many opportunities to raise their concerns regarding the campaign financing, whether deliberate or not, during the meetings of the special select committee.
The report also shows that both Williams and Dr Austin were scheduled to make presentations on campaign financing models used in other parts of the world. However, they were no shows on the day of presentation.