PNP accuses JLP of stalling plans for election debates; JLP blames miscommunication for missed meeting

The People’s National Party (PNP) is accusing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of delaying efforts to finalise arrangements for the upcoming national debates, set to begin next week.

In a media release Thursday afternoon, the PNP said despite repeated confirmations, the JLP has missed two critical planning meetings with the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC), including one rescheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the JLP's request.

The PNP said, when contacted Thursday, the JLP’s designated negotiator, Delroy Williams, indicated he was in May Pen and unavailable, despite having confirmed the meeting in advance.

"These delays are unacceptable. The debates are a vital part of Jamaica’s democratic process, giving citizens an opportunity to hear from all parties on issues that matter most. With the first debate set for Tuesday, the JLP’s repeated no-shows are severely limiting the time available for finalising important details and show a troubling disregard for the public, the process, and the work of the independent commissioners who facilitate these events," the PNP said in a statement from its general secretary Dr Dayton Campbell.

The PNP said it was calling on the JLP to "stop the political gamesmanship, respect the Commission’s schedule, and commit in good faith to completing the debate arrangements without further delay."

However, Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party's Communication Taskforce, Abka Fitz-Henley, has responded, saying "there was some miscommunication concerning scheduling" and that a meeting involving the JDC has been set for Friday morning and the JLP will be represented.

Fitz-Henley said the JLP representative had an emergency and was unable to attend while other members of the party's team were participating in a media conference.

"Dayton appears to be digging for a story where there is none. He appears to be searching for a political bounce, perhaps because his Party has launched a rushed 'copy and paste' manifesto with about eight glaring spelling errors and over 20 instances of grammatical misadventure and the document has received a lukewarm response from the public," Fitz-Henley stated.

The JDC says the ruling JLP and the Opposition PNP have agreed to participate in three debates ahead of the September 3 general election.

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