Pressure mounting on major political parties to sign off on

[Skeng DX]

The two main political parties are facing pressure to sign off on proposals for the staging of the national debates, based on indication that Jamaicans will be going to the polls in a matter of weeks.

The Jamaica Debates Commission has now written to the parties requesting that they sign off on the debates Tuesday.

The Jamaica Debates Commission has asked the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP) to confirm by midday Tuesday [November 22] that they will be participating.

In a letter sent to the general secretaries of both parties Monday, the Gary Allen-led Commission said the debates will involve a face-off between JLP Leader Andrew Holness and PNP President Portia Simpson-Miller.

There will also be a finance and economic growth debate involving the Finance Minister and the Opposition Spokesman as well as one on socio-economic issues with the National Security Minister and his Opposition counterpart.

A debate establishing a youth agenda is also on the cards. It will involve the parties' choice of a team of three youth candidates or the Minister of Youth versus the Shadow Minister.

In order to address the issue of timing, the Debates Commission says it is willing to amend its practice and begin the debates before Nomination Day.

Last Friday the Commission indicated its readiness to stage the first debate within the next two weeks.

[Reggaedoc]

Thats good. Hope they come prepared and polished. PSM will need a few seolid weeks of prepping. She will have to convince the voters that she has moved away from the intemperate personailty that has come to define her character. She will also have to appear to be well informed. I saw her delivering a prepared speech recently and it was quite disappointing. Maybe she can go through some archival videos of US presidential debates featuring masters like Ronald Regan, Obama, the old Kennedy-Nixon debate etc. I am afraid that she will come off sounding like an Eddward Seaga, which is what Jamaica really "needs" in these modern times.