PRESS RELEASE
National Debates for Political Leaders!
July 21, 2002 The Media Association of Jamaica, MAJ, and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, JCC, have organized a series of four national debates in the run-up to the country’s next general election.
Three of the four debates will see the political leaders staking out their positions on:
- The Economy, Industry, Investment and Job Creation
- Governance, Infrastructure & Rural Development
- Crime & Violence, Drugs, Inner-city Development and Education.
The fourth and final national debate will see the leaders of the political parties facing each other on a wide range of issues.
Four political parties--the PNP, the JLP, the NDM and the UPP--have been invited to participate in the debates.
The criteria used to invite the four political parties are:
- They should have published policy documents that outline their beliefs, vision and positions on a range of national issues.
- Conducted valid internal democratic elections for officers.
- Established national organizational structures with registered offices.
- Register a showing in the two nationally recognized public opinion polls.
- Must be actively campaigning with a recognized election team.
To qualify for the final national leadership debate, the parties must demonstrate the potential to form the next government by nominating at least 30 candidates to contest the general election.
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The national debates will be broadcast live on the CVM, Love and TVJ television stations and on radio stations Hot 102, KLAS FM, Love Radio, Power 106 and RJR Supreme 94.
The objective of the MAJ-JCC-led initiative is to create an environment where political parties and their representatives can focus on issues during the upcoming election campaign. This initiative will seek to lift the level of public discussion, educate and inform the public about the real issues which should guide electors in casting their votes.
Moderators and panelists will be drawn from the working press corps and noted public commentators.
A national commission is organizing the debates. Noted Chartered Accountant Philmore Ogle chairs it. The members of the commission include representatives of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the Media Association of Jamaica and the Press Association of Jamaica.
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