The upcoming national political debates have been thrown into controversy as the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) clashed over the participation of certain journalists.
According to Nationwide News Network (NNN), the PNP told the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) it will not participate in the debates if any journalist from the media outlet is included among the questioners. The first debate is scheduled for August 23.
NNN stated that the PNP singled out their reporters Ricardo Brooks and Tauna Thomas as “unwelcome additions” to the panel. The party went further, insisting that the presence of George Davis would be a deal breaker. It warned that it would boycott any debate involving Davis in any capacity.
The PNP also raised objections to RJR host Emily Shields, who is not currently listed as a moderator or questioner. The party argued that her past association with NNN was enough to justify a boycott of any debate in which she participates.
This hardline stance has highlighted the PNP’s opposition to anyone with ties to NNN being involved in the debates.
The JLP, however, entered last Friday’s meeting with the Debates Commission with no block list. The party reportedly told the Commission it had no objections to any journalist or media house, stressing that all should be free to participate. But after the PNP’s objections were aired, the JLP reportedly warned that it too would then have to object to certain individuals.
The dispute escalated further when the PNP accused the JLP of breaching protocol by issuing a press release about private deliberations of the JDC concerning panel selections. The JLP has denied this, and the Jamaica Observer has since clarified that the JLP issued no such statement.
Press Association of Jamaica condemns political interference
The controversy has prompted strong criticism from the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), which condemned what it described as political interference in the debate process.
“The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) is alarmed at the recent unprecedented public disclosures by both the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) regarding their objections to specific media professionals serving as questioners or moderators in the forthcoming national political debates,” the association said.
“This alarming development threatens to erode the independence and integrity of the press by politicising the role of journalists in a process that should remain impartial, transparent, and free from partisan interference.”
The PAJ called on the JDC to assert its authority and guarantee a fair and unbiased process, while urging political parties to refrain from actions that undermine press freedom.
Meanwhile, the JDC itself has expressed disappointment at the public airing of private discussions. Chairman Brian Schmidt, in a letter to PNP representative Colin Campbell and JLP representative Delroy Williams, noted that both parties had agreed the talks would be confidential.
“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,” Schmidt wrote.
The Commission stressed that it “owes it to the Jamaica public to proceed with the agreed programme of activities in good faith and with appropriate confidentiality.”
In a statement Sunday night, JLP General Secretary Dr. Horace Chang rejected claims that his party had breached confidentiality.
“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,” Chang said.
But PNP representative Colin Campbell accused the JLP of misleading the public.
“The PNP respected that request,” Campbell said, noting that he only discussed the matter with Campaign Director Dr. Dayton Campbell. “The JLP, however, chose to breach that agreement and then misled the public through inaccurate press statements.”
With just days to go before the first debate, the JDC is under mounting pressure to resolve the standoff and preserve confidence in the process.
