THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has indicated that it will be rolling out a bunch of heavy hitters, while the People’s National Party (PNP) will be going for mainly new faces for two national debates which will be staged in the lead-up to the February 26 Local Government Election.

Addressing a media briefing on Friday to announce the debates which Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) plans to host, JLP representative Sharon Hay-Webster indicated that her party’s plan, which is subject to change, should see local government veterans Senator Charles Sinclair, Mayor Richard Creary, and former PNP Councillor Venesha Phillips, lining up for the first debate.

According to Hay-Webster, the JLP could select Kingston Mayor Senator Delroy Williams, deputy mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon, and a female councillor in the second debate.

Representing the PNP, Colin Campbell told the media briefing that his party will finalise its teams on Monday but that it will be concentrating on mainly fresh faces.

Jamaica Debates Commission Vice-Chairman Brian Schmidt (centre) shares a moment with JLP representative Sharon Hay-Webster and the PNP’s Colin Campbell at a media briefing on Friday to announce that two national debates will be held in the lead-up to the February 26 Local Government Election. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

“Our pool is a pool that has placed great emphasis on young candidates, so you will see a few of the existing players but, widely speaking, it will be a showcase of the new and special talents that will be available to the local government system,” said Campbell as the two political representatives welcomed the debates being staged by JDC for the past 21 years.

“We are happy to participate; we have done so over the years and this particular local government election seems to be holding the interest of the nation, perhaps a little higher than normal, so we hope to be able to expose ideas and to engage the population as best as possible,” added Campbell.

For her part, Hay-Webster said the JLP is also looking forward to the debates.

“It is good to have the conversations, and we look forward to the engagements,” declared Hay-Webster.

The comments from the political representatives came after JDC Vice-Chairman Brian Schmidt said the first debate will be held on Thursday, February 15 and will focus on local government policy and how it affects Jamaicans.

“We will be talking about the relevance of Jamaica’s local government system and how it affects you,” said Schmidt as he underscored that JDC will have no input in the questions to be asked, although it has suggested the parameters for that debate.

“So we have suggested for the first debate that they consider the following as parameters: Is Jamaica’s local government system fit for purpose or does it need significant re-engineering? For example, is there a clear enough demarcation between the roles and responsibilities of municipal administrations and those of central government?” suggested Schmidt.

He noted that the second debate on Saturday, February 17 will look at local government at work and how it impacts Jamaica’s citizens.

“This time the parameters are very, very interesting. We are expecting discussions, maybe, on tourism — inclusive of housing, planning, and [the] development that goes with it. There is urban development and town planning; there is the environment, sewage, sanitation, garbage collection; enforcement of NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) guidelines… there is access to and protection of our beaches; [among others]” added Schmidt.

He noted that a journalist has been selected to moderate each debate, with two journalists set to ask questions and a social media editor also on hand for each debate.

Based on the toss of a coin, the JLP team will sit right of the stage for the first debate and deliver the closing statement while the PNP will sit right of the stage for debate two and deliver the closing statement.

The JDC will also host viewing parties for the debates, with polls conducted afterwards to judge how Jamaicans viewed each debate as opposed to a contest wherein loss or victory is declared.

The JDC has budgeted $24 million for the two debates which will be staged at the Creative Production and Training Centre in the Corporate Area and will be broadcast live via several media.

Each debate is slated to start at 9:00 pm and end at 10:30 pm, with commercial breaks included.