KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Debates Commission says it has been advised by the People’s National Party (PNP) that it is “not prepared to participate in any debate with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) unless and until the Leader of the Opposition satisfactorily addresses the integrity related and other issues which we have raised publicly and published in the media.”

JDC said PNP General Secretary Paul Burke noted in an email last night:

“Reference is made to your letters dated February 12, 2016 and February 14, 2016.

“We have given further consideration to the matter of our participation in the proposed debates and advise that our position remains that we are not prepared to participate in any debate with the Jamaica Labour Party unless and until the Leader of the Opposition satisfactorily addresses the integrity related and other issues which we have raised publicly and published in the media. As a courtesy, we enclose a copy of the statement published by the PNP.

“We strongly maintain that the issues we have raised have a bearing on questions of leadership and good governance. It is our view that any person who offers himself or herself for leadership must address legitimate questions about his or her integrity before an election and certainly before being accorded the privilege of participating in a national debate organised by you.

“We note that one objective of the national debate is to communicate the policies and programmes of the political parties and we assure you that our campaign programme includes events which will accomplish that objective, including the launch of the Party’s Manifesto tomorrow.”

The JDC has described the decision as a “regrettable and unfortunate”. It noted that notwithstanding all the hiccups in a negotiating process that began early in 2015, and which resulted in a signed agreement to debate in the then-imminent Local Government elections, and a November MOU signifying agreement to participate in three pre-general election debates provided issues raised by the PNP regarding the format for the Leaders’ Debate were resolved, it was “very disappointing” that issues unrelated to the debate format had subsequently been introduced.

The Commission noted that in an interview with a local media house published on Monday February 15, the PNP General Secretary had stated that “the PNP is now willing to accept the format that was proposed by the debates commission”. This being the case, the JDC is of the view that the resolution of any differences between the parties should not get in the way of debates.

“It is our view that the debate forum provides a fair and impartial platform that allows all of our citizens whatever their political persuasions or those undecided, an opportunity to assess the competing visions, policies and programmes and thus make better-informed electoral decisions” the JDC said.

“After both the 2007 and 2011 General Elections, the JDC commissioned polling to determine the utility of debates as far as the electorate is concerned, and in both we cases there was overwhelming support for the debates as a forum to clarify the position of the respective parties on critical issues, and indeed in helping the electorate to determine which party to support in the general elections.”

According to the debate schedule initially discussed with both parties, the first of three debates – a team debate on Social Issues –should have taken place tonight. This would have been followed by a debate on Economic Issues on Thursday night with the culminating event, a Leaders’ debate between Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, taking place on Saturday night.

On Sunday 14 February the JDC asked the parties to consider a new debate schedule of Friday 19-Sunday 21. In its response, the JLP agreed to Friday and Saturday for the first two debates and indicated that while Sunday was not suitable, it was open to another date ahead of the General Elections for the Leaders’ Debate. These potential dates would be February 22nd or 23rd.

Commenting on next steps, the Commission said there was still a narrow window of opportunity for the debates to go ahead, but that prospect was outside of the hands of the Commission. It further noted that the JDC would neither stage a so-called “empty chair” debate nor a debate with one of the major parties and one or more of the smaller parties. “Our current rules of engagement do not permit us to do either. Political parties that meet our criteria for participation are invited to take part in the debates we organize. That invitation was accepted by both the PNP and the JLP over three general election cycles and ahead of the last local government elections”.