The head of the Electoral Experts Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) Nestor Mendez, has urged Grenada to seriously consider campaign financing as a means of ensuring “the equity of the democratic process” in future general elections.

Mendez, the OAS Assistant Secretary General told a news conference that there are no regulations that directly address the issue of campaign financing, funding for political parties or candidates, resulting in electoral campaigns being privately funded.

“The origin of private funds is not regulated and there are no prohibitions on foreign or anonymous sources. Grenada has established no links on campaign spending and political parties are not required to disclose their financing.”

He said while the stakeholders recognise that access to financial resources or lack thereof “plays an undisputable role in any election and can render the playing field unequal, most persons with whom the mission spoke were uncertain about the origins of resources for Grenada’s election and whether or to what extent this might have influenced the outcome of the elections”.

The ruling New National Party (NNP) headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell swept all 15 seats at stake in the polls, making it the third time the party has achieved such a feat since 1999. Tuesday’s victory was the second consecutive occasion.

Taiwan National Day Celebration

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