Private Sector body furious over political parties’ scuttling of presidential debate

Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Persaud has expressed disappointment at the Opposition’s scuttling of a presidential debate it had organised between President Donald Ramotar and his rival for the May 11 elections, David Granger.

In fact, he condemned what he called the immature behaviour of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for creating unnecessary ruckus over a simple debate.

Persaud recognised with great alarm, the failure of the two major political forces in Guyana to agree upon an uncomplicated issue. On that note, he related his fears for the future when these two parties will have to make collective decisions on much more pressing issues regarding the country and the welfare of its people when the 11th Parliament convenes after the May 11 polls.

In further expressing his disappointment, Persaud told this publication that he believed the two parties robbed the nation of a chance to put their future leaders under public scrutiny. “I find it very unfortunate that the electorate cannot be exposed to that… the leaders of the country should be up for public scrutiny,” Persaud lamented.

He added that the two parties were making unnecessary and unacceptable excuses to avoid the debates, ultimately robbing the public of the chance to hear them discuss and be questioned on the policies and plans they have for the country.

Nonetheless, the PSC Chairman said the door was still open if the two parties came to an agreement to have the debate. He explained that although he was not hopeful the parties would reach an agreement, the PSC was still willing to host the debate. In fact, he disclosed that the PSC made contact with officials from the APNU/AFC coalition regarding the PPP/C’s position on the situation, and the PSC was now awaiting a response.

Opposition Leader David Granger had initially agreed to debate President Donald Ramotar, but later changed his mind, demanding a Prime Ministerial Candidate Debate as well. But the PPP/C did not succumb to the demand, and issued a statement saying it would not participate in the prime ministerial debate on the grounds that the APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo has consistently been utterly “disrespectful and vile” towards the PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper.

However, the ruling party declared that the offer of a presidential debate still stood if the coalition was brave enough to accept without any new conditions. But the APNU/AFC made it clear that it would no longer agree to presidential debates unless a debate was organised for the candidates’ running mates. Only recently, General Secretary of APNU and Co-Chair of the coalition, Joseph Harmon accused the PPP/C of trying to prevent Harper from undergoing public scrutiny.