The presidential candidate of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, has agreed to confront his counterpart in The United Force (TUF), Valerie Garrido-Lowe, and A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) David Granger in a national debate for presidential candidates organised by Merundoi Incorporated and slated to be held sometime in early November at the Theatre Guild in Kingston, Georgetown.
Several other entities will be collaborating with Merundoi in this enterprise, including the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Press Association, the Guyana Media Proprietors Association, and the Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities.
Merundoi Incorporated disclosed that the Centre for Communication Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Guyana and the Jamaica Debates Commission have promised to give technical assistance when the debate is staged.
Margaret “Maggie” Lawrence, executive director of Merundoi Incorporated, confirmed that “invitations have been sent to the political parties represented in Parliament.” She explained that the idea behind the debate is to provide a forum for the candidates to present to the public their positions on various issues, thereby enhancing citizens’ understanding of the candidates’ positions on matters of national interest. The debate will also facilitate greater public discussion on matters of national and regional importance.
The debate is expected to last for 90 minutes.
Khemraj Ramjattan
Speaking with Guyana Times Internatonal in an interview, Lawrence explained that the presidential candidates will be given the topics ahead of the debate, so that they can be adequately prepared. And while some specific topics and questions are still to be decided, the general areas will definitely form part of the list. “We expect to deal with topics and general issues, including (candidates’) proposed foreign policies, fiscal policies, and governance policies,” Lawrence disclosed.
The Merundoi executive director said the debate will take the form of questions and answers from a moderator. The audience will be given opportunity to participate in the process, and will be invited to send their questions to an email address which will be announced later.
She noted that Merundoi Incorporated decided to steer the debate because it forms part of the entity’s mandate, which deals specifically with creating awareness regarding several topical issues related to governance and social ills.
David Granger
Lawrence is a seasoned actress and a professional broadcaster. She is well versed in the arts, entertainment and theatre sectors.
She said that, by hosting the debates, Merundoi hopes to provide a forum where the candidates have equal access to the media while debating issues of national interest. This, she hopes, will contribute to a peaceful election process while encouraging increased voter participation on Election Day.
She said that Merundoi Incorporated is open to establishing alliances with other entities that are interested in working to pull off the presidential debate.
“We are open to any collaboration,” Lawrence said pointedly.
Guyana Times International understands that plans are afoot to have the debate streamed live on television, radio and the Internet. The debate will be divided into two 40-minute segments, while 10 minutes would be allotted for breaks.
The only presidential debate to have been held in Guyana was held for the 1992 elections, and was between President Desmond Hoyte and Dr Cheddi Jagan, who was then opposition leader.
