Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said on Monday that she informed the Debates Commission on October 8, 2013 that she would not attend the leaders' debate for the Local Government Election on October 15.
On Sunday Persad-Bissessar announced that Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar would participate as the representative of the People's Partnership (PP) since he is a leader of the PP and also because the Commission had denied COP a voice in the debates.
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The Debates Commission response was to ask the PM to reconsider. And it also decided that it would not allow Ramadhar to take part in Tuesday's debate.
In a media release on Monday, Persad-Bissessar reiterated that she would not attend.
She stated that on October 3rd, the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission invited the main political parties to take part in two local election debates following which there was speculation in the Trinidad Express newspaper and elsewhere, that the Prime Minister would take part in the leaders' debate.
"This was incorrect. At no time did the Prime Minister give any kind of commitment to participate, as the Debates Commission are in a position to confirm," the release stated.
It added, "The People’s Partnership decided that, as both the UNC and COP are taking part in the local elections in their own right, and as one of the UNC's Deputy Political Leaders, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, was to represent his party and the People's Partnership in the first debate, it would be appropriate for Mr Prakash Ramadhar, the Leader of the Congress of the People (COP), to represent the Coalition in the second of those debates.
"The Debate Commission has apparently decided that it will not allow Mr. Ramadhar to participate on behalf of the People’s Partnership."
It added, "The People’s Partnership decided that, as both the UNC and COP are taking part in the local elections in their own right, and as one of the UNC's Deputy Political Leaders, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, was to represent his party and the People's Partnership in the first debate, it would be appropriate for Mr Prakash Ramadhar, the Leader of the Congress of the People (COP), to represent the Coalition in the second of those debates.
"The Debate Commission has apparently decided that it will not allow Mr. Ramadhar to participate on behalf of the People’s Partnership."
The Prime Minister said she regrets the decision, and believes it is wrong. She added that she hopes that the Commission will continue to work to find a solution so that the second debate can go ahead.
However, she made it clear that she has not changed her mind about participation.
Late this evening the state-owned Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG), which is supposed to carry the debate, reported that the debate has been called off.
Late this evening the state-owned Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG), which is supposed to carry the debate, reported that the debate has been called off.
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