Press release - April 13, 2007

For some time, the Jamaica Debates Commission has been in dialogue with the two major political parties to agree the terms and conditions of participation in the planned political debates leading up to the next general elections.

The Commission is happy to announce that we have reached consensus with the parties on all points and is also pleased to announce that today at a Press Conference hosted by the Commission, both major political parties signed an agreement indicating their participation in the debates. The parties also signed the documentation which describes and defines the roles and responsibilities as well as the processes for staging the debates.

The plan is for three debates which will be held within seven days after Nomination Day. The first debate will examine issues relating to the economy, the second will examine social issues, and the third debate will be a leadership debate between the heads of the two main political parties. Documents signed today:

• Letter committing each political party to participate
• Debates Format – outlines the processes to be followed
• Guidelines for the moderator and questioners – outlines the role and function of the moderator and the questioners
• Debates Production Guidelines – outlines the technical aspect of the process
• Debate speakers sequence – identifies the order in which the speakers will speak

The Jamaica Debates Commission is a partnership of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Media Association Jamaica Ltd. The Commission is made up of three representatives from each of the Media Association and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce with an additional two resource persons one from each of the two organizations.

Today’s signing is significant as it bears testimony to the resolve of both parties to engage with the public in meaningful dialogue. It is also a manifestation that business organizations can collaborate to assist the political process without such engagement being partisan.
—Philmore Ogle, Chairman