Trinidad & Tobago: First debate between PM Persad-Bissessar and Keith Rowley postponed

A debate between the incumbent Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and opposition leader Keith Rowley, has been postponed.

In a letter dated July 3, Lorraine O’Connor, a member of the Trinidad & Tobago Debates Commission wrote to attorney Larry Lalla, stating that the July 30 debate was not possible.

Lalla noted that the date was fixed following meetings with the negotiators for the prime minister and Rowley. He also stated that this news was deeply disappointing .

“Given that the debates commission is not now able to fulfil its commitment to hold a debate on the date fixed, it is surely now time for the debate to be set-up by other organizations.”

He said the public deserves the opportunity to hear the prime minister and “the only other contender” (Rowley) debate their policies in a transparent and timely way.

The commission’s Chief Executive Officer Catherine Kumar told reporters on Saturday that the July 30 date was designated prior to the announcement by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) of August 17 as Nomination Day, ahead of the September 7 general election.

She said the commission still plans to have 2 debates but cannot do that before Nomination Day, and if the events were to take place, “they probably may be closer to each other”.

Kumar said discussions are continuing with the two parties with a view to working out the possibility of having the debates come off. -(CMC)