PNP, JLP Announce Teams For Political Debates

The two major political parties have announced the teams that will be participating in the 2025 political debates.

The announcements were made during a press conference hosted by the Jamaica Debates Commission earlier on Tuesday.

There will be three debates – on social issues, the economy and leadership.

The PNP represented by Colin Campbell says Damion Crawford, Raymond Pryce and Sophia Fraser-Binns will form the team for the social issues debate.

For the JLP, its representative Delroy Williams announced that they’ve selected Pearnel Charles Junior, Kamina Johnson Smith and Matthew Samuda.

The social issues debate is set for Saturday, August 23.

For the economy debate, the PNP has selected its Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson as well as Peter Bunting and PNP treasurer Kisha Anderson.

The JLP has selected Finance Minister Fayval Williams as well as Dr. Christopher Tufton and Dr. Dana Morris Dixon.

The economy debate is set for Tuesday, August 26.

The leadership debate between Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader, Mark Golding will take place on Thursday, August 28.

The Prime Minister was chosen via coin toss to receive the first question of the debate as well as the final statement.

Meanwhile, amid huge public backlash, the PNP has climbed down from its threat to boycott the debates, if Nationwide’s Deputy Executive Editor, George Davis was selected to play any role in the proceedings.

Davis is listed to serve as moderator for the debate on the economy.

The PNP’s agitator at meetings with the Jamaica Debates Commission, Colin Campbell, had insisted that the party would not show for any debate involving Davis, repeatedly saying his presence was a deal breaker.

But the PNP has abandoned Campbell’s line in the face of calls, including from the Press Association of Jamaica, PAJ, for the Debates Commission to reject attempts to manipulate press freedom.

The debate Davis is set to moderate will feature the Jamaica Observer’s Dashan Hendricks, who’s also the PAJ President, and TVJ’s Andrea Chisholm as questioners.

The social issues debate will be moderated by TVJ’s Janella Precius, with RJR’s Romardo Lyons and Irie FM’s Natalie Campbell as questioners.

The leadership debate will be moderated by Archibald Gordon and have RJR’s Dionne Jackson Miller and CVM TV’s Giovanni Dennis as questioners.