Politicians have a task ahead in trying to convince the country that tax dollars should be used to finance political campaigns.

There is little doubt that the present dependence on private sponsorship to finance election campaigns leaves the political process open to the danger of corruption. But implementing a reform programme will take some delicacy.

"Every weekend there has been a lot of activity, and it all costs money," said general secretary of the Peoples National Party (PNP) senator Maxine Henry-Wilson. Speaking about the present campaign in a recent interview she said, "Invariably, every candidate ends up indebted after the elections."

The ruling PNP expects to spend a minimum of $250 million on the campaign, most of this from corporate sponsorship. But many donors prefer to fund the central organisation rather than individual candidates, she said.

"While the central party spends a certain amount, but a lot of money is spent in the constituencies," Jamaica Labour Party treasurer Chris Bovell said. "We will give some assistance where we can, but each constituency has its fund.

The JLP expects to spend about half of the PNP's outlay on the election, and as with the PNP, sponsors are more generous to the central organisation than the individual candidates.

Party activities are financed from dues, fund-raising activities and private contributions from individuals and companies. With stringent financial controls and relatively generous corporate sponsorship, both parties speak confidently about the standards maintained at the central level, unlike the situation in the constituencies.

"We don't take any money that is in any way tainted," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said of the central party organisation. Then she added, "We try not to take any money that is any way tainted."

When interest groups are making donations to the party, Mr. Bovell said, "We have always made it clear to people that if they are giving, they give for democracy and the two party system and they can't expect any kind of special treatment."

The two parties may be resolved to avoid any taint of corruption at the central level, but some say even that resolution has not proved adequate. Campaigning without a budget, United People's Party (UPP) president Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas said, unlike the two main parties "we do not have 500 people who owe us favours or who hope we will do something for them and will give us money."

Both the JLP and PNP are getting "big money," said New Jamaica Alliance (NJA) general secretary Mike Williams. "But it is not just from corporate sponsors that they get the money."

There are not more than 100 major corporate sponsors in Jamaica and, "we know them," Mr. Williams said. "Little money is flowing from them as their businesses are under pressure."

Independent Senator Trevor Munroe has stated that the public perception of growing corruption in politics, arising from the funding of political parties, could erode the island's democracy and weaken the state. ``Ways in which campaign finance has been effected include paying for advertising, grants to legislators, tax relief to contributors, free broadcasting and other kinds of subsidies.

In many jurisdictions private contributions have to be disclosed and limits placed on the amount that can be given.

Professor Munroe's brought a resolution to the Senate calling for the establishment of a national commission to examine and make recommendations for registering political parties and providing them with public funding to counter the threat of corruption. That resolution was passed by the Senate earlier this year and now awaits a decision by government.

And both main political parties agree on the need for reform. "I am strongly in favour of state funding," Mr. Bovell said when asked his stance on campaign finance.

"One of the things we have to look at seriously is the whole question of public funding of elections," said general secretary Maxine Henry-Wilson when she was asked the question. The problem is that "People see it as politics and there are questions whether taxpayers' money should be used for these things," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said. "But I think there is also an argument to be made for the preservation of democracy and ensuring that money does not become the basis of decision making."

It is important to inform the public about what is happening, and provide the necessary accountability and control, the PNP executive said. It has to be done in a manner which will benefit the public.

"But that is for the next government," Mr. Bovell said. "Right now we have to use the same methods