?Congress of the People (COP) is looking for $12 million to finance its 2010 election campaign.That's if the party is contesting all 41 seats alone. If they join forces with the United National Congress (UNC), COP's chairman of elections Dr Navi Muradali say they will need a little more than $6 million, which would have to be generated by its candidates. Muradali could not say how much each candidate would have to raise, stating that it depended on the area they are contesting. The limit each candidate can spend on campaigning is $50,000 Muradali said. "People have committed to fund the candidates when the time is ready. Our candidates will have everything they need to go out there and campaign. We are ready," Muradali assured.
The COP received 148,000 votes in the last general election. Having spent $12 million in campaigning in the last general election, COP was unsuccessful in capturing one seat. Last year, deputy political leader Prakash Ramadhar admitted the party had owed $2 million in debts incurred during campaigning, which they intended to repay by raising funds. Of the $2 million, COP had owed the party's director of mobilisation, Sadiq Baksh, $1 million, which he injected. Asked on Friday if the party had settled its outstanding debts, Muradali said he was in no position to say.
?UNC spent over $100M last year
After capturing 16 of the 41 seats in the 2007 general election, the UNC in tallying its campaign figures exceeded $100 million, a source said yesterday.
The source said $70 million was spent by Fifa vice president Jack Warner, with the remaining $30 million donated by the generosity of financiers, businessmen and party supporters.
Flashback
?Weeks after the November 5, 2007 general election, COP's leader Winston Dookeran had claimed that approximately $480 million was reportedly spent by the PNM and UNC to campaign.