A meeting yesterday afternoon between Larry Lalla, who represented the Prime Minister, and the T&T Debates Commission (TTDC) ended 20 minutes after it started without the parties being able to agree on when the leaders’ debate should be staged.
No People’s National Movement (PNM) representative was present at the meeting.
Shortly after the meeting, the TTDC announced that “the two scheduled debates” will be on August 20 and August 27, adding it did try to accommodate a request by Lalla to hold an exclusive debate between Persad-Bissessar and Rowley.
“However, despite our efforts to find an acceptable middle ground between both parties, the TTDC has been unable to deliver a solution that is workable. As a result of this impasse, we reverted to our original rules, which included criteria for participation, which is the fairest.”
But Lalla made it clear afterwards that the Prime Minister had not agreed to participate in any debate in August. He said he went to the meeting after Persad-Bissessar issued a call to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to debate her on national issues on July 30.
“I was hoping the Debates Commission would be able to facilitate the debate on July 30 but the commission pointed out they were only able to have it after nomination day (August 17).”
Lalla said that was the date the commission decided on despite the fact that they sent him an e-mail on July 3, fixing July 30 as the date for the leaders’ debate. He said the commission wanted the debate after nomination day to see if other parties qualified.
In making a case for its final decision yesterday TTDC said it had held nine meetings over the course of the last two months with the interested parties.
“We have listened to all the views put forward and we continue to act with integrity, transparency and fairness by engaging equitably with all parties.
“We are confident that all eligible entities would benefit from the unique platform which the debates afford party leaders through this unique and broad media outreach,” it added.
Lalla said he informed the commission it was not necessary to wait until after nomination day since the public wanted to know, now, what Persad-Bissessar and Rowley’s plans for the country were.
“I said, realistically, only the Prime Minister or Rowley would be prime minister on September 7. Therefore, it was not a productive use of 90 minutes of debate time to have others included but we were unable to come to an agreement and the meeting ended,” Lalla said.
Yesterday, the Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) CEO Ken Ali said the commission had not informed them that the July 30 debate had been cancelled.
He said CNMG was now prepared to partner with other organisations to stage it on that date.
Khan mum on issues
PNM chairman Franklin Khan, who is in charge of the matter for the party, refused to comment.
“We gave a commitment to the Debates Commission that we will not comment (to the media) on any matter relating to the debate and I am sticking to that. I have no comment,” he said.
Several efforts to get a response from the Debates Commission and CEO Catherine Kumar were not successful.
Persad-Bissessar, addressing a UNC forum last Monday night at the Country Club, Maraval, waved a copy of an email from the commission which confirmed July 30 was set for the debate between she and Rowley.
She said she was ready for it and was disappointed the commission cancelled it.
Rowley, on the other hand, said he was informed the debate was to be held in August and said no July date had ever been discussed with him.