Political debate on youth issues could attract young voters, says Barrett

 

Political commentator Germaine Barrett says he would support the addition of a youth debate to the categories for future national political discourse.

 

Chairman of the National Youth Council of Jamaica Andrew Johnson had made the proposal, arguing that the policies of political parties that pertain to youth would be better received through a debate format. 

 

Mr. Barrett says a youth debate could attract more young voters. 

 

"I think that the idea for a youth debate is an excellent idea. The fact is that the youth demographic has been identified as largely unengaged and disaffectionate. And I think that's because amongst the melee of ideas and conversations out there in the political domain, young people are of the view that not enough is being said about their issues and their priorities. And so a youth debate would see both parties demonstrating a sort of concern and consideration for the interests of young people. I think it would may very well galvanize young persons to pay more attention to political matters," he suggested. 

 

Both the Jamaica Labour Party (PNP) and People's National Party (PNP) have named their teams who will go head to head on major issues, including social issues and the economy, in three rounds of national debates ahead of the September 3 parliamentary election. 

 

The action will round off with a leaders debate where Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding will match up in a high stakes exchange. 

 

The first debate is set for August 23.

 

Jamaica Labour Party representatives for the social issues debate will be Pearnel Charles Jr., Kamina Johnson Smith, and Matthew Samuda. 

 

With respect to the economy debate on August 26, the JLP will be represented by Fayval Williams, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Dr. Dana Morris Dixon. 

 

The People's National Party's social policy debaters are Damion Crawford, Raymond Pryce and Sophia Fraser-Binns, while the team debaters on the economy are Julian Robinson, Peter Bunting, and Kisha Anderson.