CHURCH LEADER SPEAKS OUT ON THE NEED FOR CAMPAIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001675

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: BF PGOV PREL KCOR
SUBJECT: CHURCH LEADER SPEAKS OUT ON THE NEED FOR CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM


Classified By: DCM D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In wide-ranging remarks on October 24,
Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez criticized the role of money
in Bahamian politics, lamented corruption in government, and
called for a stronger focus on character in selection of
political leaders. The remarks, witnessed by Gomez special
guest Prime Minister Christie, show a renewed focus on
transparency issues leading up to elections that could mean
bad news for the ruling Progressive Liberal Party. Scandals
have become a problem for the PLP and church criticism is a
sign of vulnerability in coming elections. The remarks also
put a spotlight on an election process that continues to
include open provision of gifts to voters and political
parties in the search for influence. End Summary.

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Church Remarks Target PM
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2. (SBU) Archbishop Drexel Gomez, who heads up the largest
religious congregation in The Bahamas, took a surprisingly
sharp aim at the current PLP government in a high-profile
annual opening of the Anglican Synod October 24. Gomez,
having intervened personally to ensure the Prime Minister
would be present, launched a stern rebuke of corruption and
poor ethical standards in politics as Christie looked on from
the front pew. Gomez took aim at the role of private money in
politics, explicitly calling for campaign finance reform
while implicitly criticizing politicians on the take after
being elected. Said Gomez, influence peddlers "ought not to
be permitted to purchase favors at the expense of others who
cannot pay for the same" noting that the grant of such favors
"is tainted with a preference not having to do with the
public good."


3. (SBU) Gomez also blasted the government's handling of a
recent fight between Members of Parliament in the Cabinet
Room that he said symbolized the lax standards of conduct
that had become the norm in Bahamian politics. With the PM
squirming, Gomez called government use of the cat o' nine
tails "barbaric", noted lack of economic development on Grand
Bahama island and railed against the "lack of urgency" in the
Ministry of Education over problems in Bahamian public
schools. The PM later remarked to a visiting American
businessman that he had been "invited to listen to criticism
of my government."


4. (C) The remarks clearly targeted Christie, whose 2002
election platform called for campaign finance reform and
higher ethical standards for parliamentarians -- this in part
to distance his Progressive Liberal Party from the corrupt
PLP administration under former PM Lynden Pindling. In
office, however, the PLP has failed to act on its reform
promises. Despite holding an overwhelming majority in
Parliament, the PLP has yet to introduce a single piece of
legislation to regulate the financing of political campaigns
or enforce ethical standards among MPs. In fact, Gomez'
comments come as the PLP government responds to a series of
scandals, including the MP fistfight that damaged windows and
a table in the Cabinet Office, allegations of self-dealing in
government contracts, and the withholding of government
information from the public.

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'Tis the Season for Giving
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5. (C) Gomez' calls for campaign finance reform are timely,
not only because of allegations of corruption against the PLP
and its unfulfilled promises of reform, but because of
approaching elections. Politicians traditionally spend
hundreds of thousands of dollars to gain a parliamentary seat
in a country of 300,000 persons. Much of the money is used
to purchase gifts for voters, from Christmas hams to
household appliances. To finance these gifts, politicians
turn to outside support, with an understanding that help
financing a successful campaign results in the award of
government contracts. As one Cabinet Minister observed,
there are no controls or limits other than the conscience of
the politician. In addition, money can come from any source,

including international donors. Millions of dollars were
allegedly obtained from questionable sources in the 2002
campaign. It has been widely reported that at least two
current ministers received funding from recently extradited
drug "kingpin" Samuel "Ninety" Knowles, and it is widely
accepted that the government's extradition of Knowles will
lead to withdrawal of an important source of election
funding.

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Comment: PLP Losing the High Ground?
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6. (C) Corruption in politics is a serious but largely
ignored problem in The Bahamas. This corruption is a product
of: a lack of transparency about the government's
decisionmaking and financial dealings, a lack of any campaign
finance rules regarding the origin of donations, the pressure
to spend heavily -- and become heavily indebted to financial
supporters -- during campaign season, and a culture of
secrecy in Bahamian government and politics. Gomez' comments
garnered attention in part because Church support of the PLP
has generally been strong and contributed to Christie's 2002
election victory. Christie has remained close to the
politically influential Christian Council, but until now, the
Council has been generally silent on PLP ethical scandals.
Gomez' remarks represent a clear shot across the bow to the
government that at least some religious leaders remember
Christie's unfulfilled promises to clean up politics and want
this issue to be part of the upcoming election campaign. END
COMMENT.
ROOD