The Integrity Commission has announced it has prepared and issued guidance notes for registered political parties and candidates taking part in the by-election on the 22nd of March for Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Electoral District 7. The guidance notes cover donation and expenditure limits permitted during the by-election period and the reporting requirements following the election.
The guidance notes also cover the requirements for notices to be submitted to the Commission by nominated candidates – and the subsequent declarations which will need to be filed by the successful candidate thereafter. The reporting requirements are designed not to place any significant additional burden on the parties or individual candidates. Political parties already have to record daily donation and expenditure information throughout the financial year. The guidance notes have already been sent to the political parties. They are available on the Commission’s page of the government website: www.gov.tc. Hard-copies can also be obtained at the Commissions office in Grand Turk.
Eugene Otuonye QC, Director of the Integrity Commission told RTC News the Commission was conscious of the relatively short timeframe available to the parties. It was with this in mind that it was trying to minimize the burden placed on parties and candidates and also to ensure transparency and consistency in the process.
