Role, Functions and Qualifications of Debates Commissioners

The Jamaican Debates Commission is a joint venture between Media Association Jamaica Ltd. (MAJ) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC). The JDC is responsible for staging and widely distributing national political debates between the political parties, on the issues of national importance, ahead of national elections. At its inception in 2002, the Commission noted that its purposes were:

• To assist in the strengthening and growth of the democratic process by encouraging and supporting national political debates, to help wih the dissemination and discussion of political views in an open and unbiased manner in the same forum, so as to enable the Jamaican electorate to make informed voting decisions.
• To create an environment in which the political parties and their representatives can debate fairly and focus on issues during a General Election campaign
• To lift the level of public discussion, educate and inform the public about the real and important issues that should guide electors in casting their votes.

The activities/operations of the JDC are managed by a team of six voting Commissioners (3 chosen by the MAJ and 3 chosen by the JCC), assisted by a number of non-voting resource persons. Chairmanship of the Commission alternates between both organizations after each election cycle. The Commissioners:

• Engage in discussions and enter into agreements with representatives of the political parties about conditions and rules for their participation in the national debates;
• Obtain financial sponsors for the debates;
• Procure and contract goods and services necessary for the production of the debates;
• Ensure the debates are broadcast and distributed widely and free of charge to the public;
• Establish rules and guidelines for all persons/entities participating in the debate process;
• Establish criteria for political party participation in the debates;
• Engage with political parties and ensure that the criteria for their participation in the debates are applied fairly and in full transparency;
• Are all volunteers;
• Abide by the JDC’s Code of Conduct;
• Ensure that the highest standards of governance are applied to all aspects of the Commission’s operations;
• Represent the JDC locally and overseas;
• Are responsible for the prudent fiscal and administrative management of the Commission’s affairs.

Qualifications:

• Commissioners must be of high integrity and display high moral standards
• Commissioners must be independent and non-partisan