Jamaica parties agree to 3 debates before election

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (l), Portia Simpson-Miller(r)

(Jamaica Gleaner) -After weeks of negotiation, through the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC), the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) have now agreed to participate in three national debates before the next election.

The JDC says the first debate will be a team debate consisting of three candidates, from each party, debating socio-economic issues from the youth perspective for 90 minutes.

The second debate will be a 60-minute debate between the minister of finance and the opposition spokesman on finance on the country’s economic growth and other development issues.

The final debate will be a 60-minute leadership debate between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

The JDC thanked both parties for their engagement and the agreement reached which it says exhibited goodwill and concessions on both sides.

“The public should know that all over the world political debates are the product of negotiations and do not result from unilateral action by a Commission or a party and that while the parties expressed initial preferences based on the limitations associated with a short campaign period, at no point did either party refuse to participate in the debates or in any of the formats explored,” the JDC said.

The Commission says while there remains much more to be done, the agreement has facilitated the finalization of discussions with sponsors and service providers, and removes any uncertainty on the part of the electorate.

Meanwhile, the head of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Milton Samuda, says the Chamber is pleased the parties have been able to reach a consensus on the format of the political debates.

He says the Chamber, which is a partner in staging the debates, is looking forward to robust discussion of the issues by the political parties.

He says he believes the three debates should give Jamaicans sufficient opportunity to see where both parties stand on the major issues.