NEWS RELEASE 

Jamaica Debates Commission is Ready to stage Election Debates. 

For Immediate Release 

Kingston. Tuesday August 11, 2020: The Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) has now moved into its most active period of preparation for the staging of national political debates. 

The Commission said that it has already held consultations with representatives of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) and an MOU was signed on October 16, 2019 with both parties agreeing to debate. 

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ministry of Health’s guidelines preventing large public gatherings, it is anticipated that there will be no mass political rallies. As a result, the political debates will play an even more significant role in educating the public on the issues and how the political parties plan to govern. The Jamaica Debates Commission website, traditional media and social media platforms will play an increased role in the Commission’s communication activities, leading up to and during the staging of the debates. 

The Commission says that it has been actively engaged in securing financial support to underwrite the staging of the debates. 

The JDC, a charitable organization, is a partnership between the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), and has been responsible for staging the 2002, 2007, and 2011 general election (Parliamentary) debates and Local Government debates in 2012 and 2016. The Commission comprises Noel daCosta (Chairman), Brian Schmidt (Vice Chairman), Anthony Chang, Jennifer Grant, Christopher Barnes and Chantal Bennett. Resource persons supporting the Commission include Dr. Eleanor Henry, Brian St, Juste, Dr. Lloyd Barnett, Gary Allen and Trevor Fearon. 

 

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