PNP, JLP gearing up for national debates

 

Jamaica's two main political parties say preparations are in high gear for the national debates ahead of the September 3 parliamentary general election. 

 

The first debate is set for Saturday, August 23, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., where social issues will be on the agenda. 

 

Political representatives will be given an opportunity to outline their plans and programmes for the country. 

 

The debate will continue on Tuesday, August 26, and will surround issues pertaining to the economy. 

 

It will culminate with the leadership debate between Prime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party leader Dr. Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader and People's National Party president Mark Golding on Thursday, August 28. 

 

PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell believes the PNP has a superior team going into the debate.

 

"We are prepared. I don't know about them putting up a strong team. Raymond Pryce is probably the best debater in the political space. Damion Crawford is obviously an intellectual savant that can handle himself, and Sophia Fraser-Binns is a steady-hand, very intellectual, calm and composed. And so we think we have a superior team. We didn't have to get help for finance. We could have sent Julian Robinson alone, but it's because the Debates Commission said it has to be a team debate. But Julian Robinson alone could go because unlike the JLP that has to send help for Minister Fayval Williams, we did not have to send help with Julia Robinson," he asserted. 

 

The debates will be aired on Radio Jamaica 94 FM and Power 106 FM, TVJ, TVJ International, TVJ YouTube channel, and JNN. 

 

The Jamaica Labour Party has said it will be highlighting its achievements and plans for the future during the debate. 

 

Marlon Morgan, a member of the JLP's Communication Task Force, said the team is equipped to connect with the electorate.

 

"Our preparations are on in earnest. Preparations have been going on over the past few days. We are fielding a strong team. We are on top of the issues in terms of having been the ones at the wicket doing the work. And so, we have a vision for Jamaica. We will be sharing that vision with the viewers of the debate come Saturday. We will do so again for the finance and economy version, and the party leader will cap it all off and put the icing on the cake, as it were, come next Thursday. 

 

He maintained that the party will be riding on its achievements and how it will continue to improve the lives of Jamaicans.  

 

The JLP's representatives for the social issues debate will be Pearnel Charles Jr., Kamina Johnson Smith, and Matthew Samuda. They will face off against the PNP's Damion Crawford, Raymond Pryce and Sophia Fraser-Binns. 

 

For the economy debate, the JLP will be represented by Fayval Williams, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, while the PNP's representatives will be Julian Robinson, Peter Bunting, and Kisha Anderson.