Opposition Leader Bruce Golding wants the National Debates Commission (NDC) to organise and arrange political debates more regularly, and has promised to make the party’s shadow cabinet ministers, available for debates against their counterparts in government.

Golding, who has emerged in the just published Stone Polls as a better public speaker than Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has challenged her to debate him.

His calls, however, have been dismissed by the Information Minister Colin Campbell, who said the prime minister was busy conducting business on behalf of the nation.

But, Golding, hoping to woo the public with his debating ability, has told his supporters that the general elections should be, and will be debated on issues.

Speaking to journalists Friday during a tour by members of the party’s top brass of sections of the Eastern St Andrew constituency, he said the debates commission should not wait for the last moment to organise and execute the debates.

“The JLP did not request weekly debates, but I do not see why we should wait for the announcement of elections before the debates are scheduled. I’m suggesting that the debates should be regular, and I am prepared to make the Opposition’s shadow cabinet ministers available for such debates,” the JLP leader said.

The constituency, declared a marginal seat by electoral polls, is represented by the JLP’s Dr St. Aubyn Bartlett.

According to the Opposition Leader, the tour was in part to “energise the party’s core support in the constituency”, but also to see at first hand some of the issues affecting the people.

The Opposition Leader visited several residents in the constituency and at times trekked to some residences that were constructed on high terrain. He said the tour was continuing the party’s readiness for general elections.

During one of his many ‘stops’, a man who declared himself a die-hearted PNP, asked the JLP leader what he could do for him.Golding replied that, “I will speak to Portia.”

And despite the light rain which forced the JLP to shelter at a nearby shop piazza, the tour went on to several other communities in the constituency.