text: THE executive of the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) says the national debates are still relevant to the country's political landscape and that the upcoming debates will amp up interest in the upcoming general election, given their absence prior to the 2016 polls.
  "We were expecting when we did that poll first, maybe about four or five per cent. We were startled when we got 20 something per cent and then for the next cycle the numbers were repeated so we feel that it [the debates] does make a significant difference," daCosta told yesterday's Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange.
  Vice-chairman in charge of sponsorship, communications, and social media Brian Schmidt pointed out, too, that 78 per cent of respondents felt debates should be mandatory for elections. "So if you're looking at nearly 80 per cent of the country saying debates are mandatory, it is telling you that debates have now become an entrenched part of the political culture," he said.The JDC will be staging three debates, beginning with social issues on August 25, followed by the debate on economics and finance on August 27, and will close off with the leadership debate on August 29. DaCosta explained that third parties have not been included in the debates because they do not meet the JDC's requirements.
  DaCosta said the debates are expected to draw significant public interest owing to the fact that the political parties are not able to execute their campaigns in the usual fashion. "They have indicated to us that this debate is probably the only opportunity that they'll have to address so many people at one time," he stated.
  There is some indication, however, that sponsorship could be impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. "It's a struggle, but we will get there...the major companies and some of the multilateral organisations have supported us in the past and they are continuing to support us," he said.