The People’s National Movement (PNM) is ready and willing to have a debate if there happens to be one.
This was the view of PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday during a walkabout in La Horquetta with the candidate for the La Horquetta/Talparo Constituency, Maxie Cuffie.
“Is there a debate? We have indicated that if the commission is able to organise a debate then we are willing to participate,” Rowley said.
Currently there is an impasse between Rowley and Prime Minster Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the date of the “Great Debate.”
Persad-Bissessar maintains the Debates Commission informed her the leaders’ debate will be held on July 30 and she subsequently cleared her schedule for the occasion.
However, Rowley’s team was adamant the debate should take place after nomination day. The commission announced the dates of the debates would be held on August 20 and August 27 but the Prime Minster said her schedule was too busy in August.
When asked if he thought the Prime Minister was unwilling to engage in a debate Rowley said: “I cannot speak for the Prime Minister. I speak for the PNM and the commission put some rules in place and we are willing to abide by those rules.
“I want to make one thing clear. All the debates that the commission has had before, the PNM has either taken part or was willing to take part in.”
Rowley said the PNM took part in the very first debate in 2010. He added that the PNM was willing to debate in both the Tobago House of Assembly and Local Government debates but “others pulled out.
“We are the ones with a record of having taken part and willing to take part, so if there is one, we are willing to take part, if there is none... well then. We did not have one in the local government election and it didn’t really change the price of cocoa did it?” Rowley asked.
Rowley said having a debate between parties was important for the population.
“I think it will be a useful thing because the population can benefit from it because you will have an incumbent government answering for its term of office and its record, and you will have an aspirant opposition being able to present its position to the population,” he said.
Camille Robinson-Regis, lady vice-chair for the PNM, said the debate could not take place until after nomination day because all parties involved must have at least 21 candidates contesting the election.
Addressing the Third Force Movement’s withdrawal from the elections, Rowley said: “Why are we talking about them? If they cease to exist, why are we talking about them?”