PRESS RELEASE
NDM rues exclusion from National Political Debates
The National Democratic Movement (NDM) has expressed disappointment at its exclusion from the National Political Debates which are slated for early next month.
In a media release, the NDM pointed to a statement it said was made by the chairman of the National Debating Committee about the reasons why the movement has been excluded from the debates, which have been restricted to the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
The NDM release over the signature of general secretary Michael Williams, said, “In his reason, the (Debate Commission) chairman said it was because the NDM could not form the government. However, the NDM nominated 34 candidates in the 2002 general elections and was excluded then from the debate.
No specific reason was given then, but the impression was conveyed that it was a sponsorship issue.
The NDM said it has been announced that about $10 million has been raised for this debate, “so sponsorship could not be used as the issue this time”.
The movement also expressed concerned that “with the election campaigns of the two older parties going stale, with nothing new being presented by the two leaders except charges and counter-charges, the public deserves to hear from the NDM as to the real solutions we are proposing to end political violence and the rule of gangs, guns and garrisons. How the NDM will address the vexed issues of education, health, justice and crime prevention are also major issues that are not being properly debated by the JLP or the PNP.
“The public also aught to hear why the NDM is not being funded by big business, as we have proposed far-reaching and a fully transparent approach to campaign financing that many influential individuals wish to suppress for their personal gain and control of political favours.”
The NDM said it “will not relent on the correct approach to governance and will continue to articulate our ideals, principled positions and excellent proposals for transforming the Jamaican society into one that we, our children and grandchildren can be proud to grow up and live in. Today in Jamaica, this generation has been a real disappointment.”
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