Holness, Golding to Meet in Final High Stakes Debate

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is set to face Opposition Leader Mark Golding in a high stake political showdown set to get underway at 9 tonight.

The nation’s two political leaders are meeting for their first head to head clash in the final of three national debates.

The high stakes debate comes amid escalating tensions over the parties manifesto promises, Golding’s racial heritage and Holness’ uncertified statutory declarations.

Shaloy Smikle previews the debate.

When Dr. Andrew Holness faces Mark Golding in tonight’s debate, the two men will be acutely aware that there’s everything to play for.

Holness is seeking to put to bed questions about his statutory declarations that have dogged him for nearly a year.

He’ll also be seeking to justify his bid to create political history, by becoming the first JLP leader to win three consecutive elections.

Dr. Holness is expected to lean heavily on what he says is his party’s record of achievements, while previewing what Jamaicans can expect of him if he is granted a third term as Prime Minister.

For his part, PNP President Mark Golding is attempting a political upset by overturning the JLP’s massive parliamentary majority, and return the PNP to government after nearly a decade in the opposition wilderness.

Golding has faced repeated questions about his background and heritage, his likeability and his allegiance to Jamaica.

The PNP President will be seeking to convince Jamaicans that he’s ready to assume the highest political office in the land.

Both men are facing off amid a fierce public debate about their respective party’s tax proposals and which funding model to sustain each.

The JLP says their proposal would cost between $25 and $30 billion, while the PNP is projecting their’s will cost more than $50 billion.

Independent economists have suggested both plans could cost much more.

Political commentator, Dr. Nadeen Spence, says both leaders have to pick up where the first two debates left off.

While public commentator, Germaine Barrett, says both leaders have to meet specific burdens.

Tonight’s debate is the final major clash between the parties before some 45-thousand election day workers, police and soldiers head to the polls on Friday.

The 90-minute debate will be moderated by Archibald Gordon.

The questioners will be Dionne Jackson Miller and Giovanni Dennis.

The public can send questions to #Jamaicadebates2025 and #Jamaicadecides2025.

Tonight’s debate will be carried live on Nationwide90FM, starting with the preview show at 8:30PM.