The Jamaica Debates Commission (“the Commission”) will invite political parties to participate in national debates pertaining to general elections of Mayors and Councillors of Municipal Corporations organized by the Commission, only if the following conditions are satisfied. The political party –

a. must be a registered political party under section 52M of the Representation of the People Act; and

b. must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

(i) at the last general elections of the Mayors and Councillors of Municipal Corporations had at least two (2) candidates who were returned as Mayors or Councillors; OR

(ii) at the last general elections of the Mayors and Councillors of Municipal Corporations, the total number of votes cast for candidates publicly described as candidates for that political party was 8% or more of the total of valid votes which were cast  in the said elections; OR

(iii) the political party has been shown by at least one (1) national poll of persons, included as electors on the official list of electors, which is to be used in the pending local government election of Mayors and Councillors of Municipal Corporations, to have the support of not less than 8% of the persons so polled in at least four (4) different parishes. The poll must have been conducted by an entity or person who is recognized by the Commission as having experience in the conduct of national polls and the said poll must not have been commissioned or conducted by a political party or an affiliate, member or agent of a political party.  The poll must have been conducted between the date that the abovementioned official list of electors (voters list) is published, and the date when the election is announced.