By the Caribbean Journal staff

In something of a first for the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos Governor Ric Todd has signed into law a Political Activities Ordinance in the territory.

The ordinance will come into effect Aug. 28, ahead of the Turks and Caicos’ scheduled Nov. 9 elections.

“This ordinance marks a big step in making TCI politics open and transparent,” Todd said. “It will be key in avoiding the abuses that occurred in the past. I am sure it will be widely welcomed — TCI is leading the way in the region.”

The ordinance sets out how parties finance themselves, along with requiring an accounting of the money parties raise.

It also covers who can donate and in what amount, along with regulating how parties spend the money they raise during campaigning.

Campaign finance reform has long been more of a hope than a reality in the Caribbean.

The Organization of American States has repeatedly called for the need for transparency and regulation with regard to campaign financing, something to which it has called attention in a number of elections in the last calendar year, from St Lucia to Jamaica.

“There needs to be established a mechanism or institution to control money coming in and out of campaigns, wider access to information for citizens on the use of funds, and requirements for political parties to disclose such information,” the OAS said earlier this year following its electoral observation mission in St Lucia.