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Presidential and Prime Ministerial debates…Harper ready to debate Nagamootoo – Ramotar
By Abena Rockcliffe
With less than one month remaining before General and Regional elections, incumbent President Donald Ramotar has declared that his running mate, Elisabeth Harper is pumped and ready to debate A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo.
Incumbent President, Donald Ramotar
Ramotar told Kaieteur News that it seems as if APNU+ AFC Presidential candidate, David Granger is scared to debate him and as such devised this new scheme to demand Prime Ministerial debates as a basis for the coalition’s participation in Presidential debates. Ramotar said this during a telephone interview with this newspaper.
The PPP and the APNU+AFC coalition had agreed to participate in Presidential debates organized by the Private Sector Commission (PSC). When APNU+ AFC met with the PSC, it expressed that it sees it apt to also hold Prime Ministerial debates. The coalition also stated that it would not participate in any debate unless it comes as a package as in both Presidential and Prime Ministerial debates. But the PPP refused to partake in Prime Ministerial debates. The PPP’s position was officially communicated to PSC Chairman, Ramesh Persaud, who later communicated this to the APNU+AFC. The information was conveyed to APNU+AFC on Friday.
When interviewed on Saturday, President Ramotar said that he wasn’t aware that the PPP indicated its unwillingness to participate in Prime Ministerial debates. He added that he sees no reason why this
PPP’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper
APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo
should be the case, as Harper is more that competent and equipped for any debate, in particular one
against Nagamootoo. “Nagamootoo is no match for Harper, I am sure Harper can account for herself,” said Ramotar.
The incumbent President also said that he thinks his Prime Ministerial Candidate can adequately put forward the plans of the PPP.
However, Chairman of the PSC, Ramesh Persaud, had indicated to the APNU+AFC as well as to the media that the PPP had officially backed down from Prime Ministerial debates.
Relentless efforts to contact Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Frank Anthony, with whom the PSC chairman had been in communication, proved futile.
Kaieteur News was attempting to know if the PPP has had a reviewed position on the issue and if he will now be telling the PSC that the Party is on board.
As it stands, everything is at a halt because of PPP’s apparent indecision over whether it will be involved in Prime Ministerial debates.
PSC Chairman,
Ramesh Persaud
APNU+AFC
Campaign Co-chair,
Raphael Trotman
As a result of PPP’s initial feedback to the PAC, APNU+AFC campaign co-chair, Raphael Trotman, wrote the Commission on Saturday, informing it that the APNU+AFC will not partake in any of the debates.
“I write to formally notify you (Persaud) that the APNU+AFC coalition believes that it is critical to the success of the planned debates for both the Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the two parties to be presented. In the circumstances of the PPP/C’s decision not to engage in Prime Ministerial debates, the APNU+AFC not only expresses its extreme disappointment, but is also now constrained from participating in a Presidential candidates’ debate only,” said Trotman.
He also told Persaud, “Were we to participate in one debate only, and at the level
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