FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JLP AND PNP AGREE TO THREE DEBATES BEFORE ELECTIONS

 

Kingston, Jamaica. November 29, 2011. The Jamaica Debates Commission, JDC is pleased to advise that the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP and the People’s National Party, PNP, have agreed to participate in three National Debates before the next election. The debates will be organized and staged under the auspices of the JDC.

The first debate will be a team debate consisting of three (3) 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 development issues.  The final debate will be a 60 minute leadership debate between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The JDC wishes to thank both parties for their engagement and the agreement reached which 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 Commission thanks all those who have made it possible to get to this point and wishes to point out that 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.

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Contact:                               Jamaica Debates Commission     -              908-4955