Political leaders square off in final political debate

The leaders of the island’s two main political parties squared off in the final political debate of the season as they pushed to win the favour of the voters ahead of the September 3 general election.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness and People's National Party President Dr Peter Phillips defended their plans and vision for the country during the final political debate put on by the Jamaica Debates Commission.

During the intense debate, Prime Minister Holness defended his stewarship of the economy; crime and management of the coronavirus outbreak, while Dr Phillips insisted that the country's economy is in shambles with many Jamaicans enduring undue hardship.

Holness rejected claims that he has put the lives of the electorate at risk by calling the election while there's a surge in the coronavirus.

”We would never do anything to place the lives of the Jamaican people at risk,” said the prime minister. “The pandemic will only end when there is a vaccine. This may be a year and a half to two years, according to some experts, [and] this would be well outside the constitutional limits to call an election. Jamaica is still considered to be one of the countries that has managed the pandemic extremely well, and in fact we have one of the lowest mortality rates [per capita],” said Holness.

 He argued that with a pandemic there will be spikes and Jamaica has to go on with normal activities.

Meanwhile leader of the main opposition People’s National Part, Dr. Peter Phillips accused the Prime Minister of mishandling the crisis by ignoring the scientific advice of medical experts.

“In the period of the 'Emancipendence' celebrations the recommendation was made that there should be a tightening of the curfew arrangements and the other arrangements and that was ignored. The consequences have been devastating on the people of Jamaica,” said Phillips as he argued that there was no reason to ignore common-sense advice from the medical personnel.

The leaders were participating in the debate, which was the final in a series of three debates in the lead up to the September 3 general election.