Jamaica Debates Commission 'extremely disappointed' about confidentiality breach

The Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) has written to both major political parties expressing disappointment about public comments made regarding discussions surrounding the arrangements for the election debates.

On Saturday, the Jamaica Observer published an article which suggested that Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman Abka Fitz-Henley had issued a statement to the media concerning a meeting of the JDC and objections raised by the People's National Party (PNP) to named journalists who would form part of the panel asking party representatives questions.

The newspaper has since withdrawn the article saying "We are now satisfied that Senator Fitz-Henley did not issue a statement to the media concerning the meeting".

However, in a letter to to the parties' representatives, Colin Campbell and Delroy Williams, on Sunday the Commission's Chairman, Brian Schmidt, said the article highlighted details of the discussion which could harm the reputations of the journalists named.

"As it was specifically requested and agreed by both parties that the negotiations be held in confidence, the JDC is extremely disappointed at this breach," the letter stated.

It continued: "We owe it to the Jamaica public to proceed with the agreed programme of activities in good faith and with appropriate confidentiality."

In a statement issued in Sunday night, the JLP's General Secretary Dr Horace Chang rejected claims the party had breached protocol and issued a public statement to the media concerning discussions involving both major political parties and the Jamaica Debates Commission.

Chang said: "We issued no statement to the media on the issue. The position of the Jamaica Labour Party is that all journalists who add value to the process should be allowed to participate in the National Political Debates and this is a matter for the Debates Commission to adjudicate upon."

Meanwhile, representative for the PNP, Colin Campbell, blasted the JLP for the alleged breach of confidentiality.

He noted that the JDC had explicitly asked both parties not to comment publicly on the matter until it had completed its deliberations.

“The PNP respected that request,” he stressed. “I discussed the matter only with our Campaign Director, Dr Dayton Campbell, and neither of us made any public comment. The JLP, however, chose to breach that agreement and then misled the public through inaccurate press statements.”

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