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Will there be a Prime Ministerial Debate?

HeadlineWill there be a Prime Ministerial Debate?

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 26, 2020– The Prime Ministerial Debate in Belize has been greatly anticipated. Several weeks ago, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Galen University and RSV Media Limited announced their intention to engage in a joint collaboration to facilitate such a debate, the first of its kind, under the theme, “Achieving Sustainable Development in Belize.”

It appears, however, that not all parties have agreed to participate in the event.

The four debate participants would have been PUP leader Hon. John Briceño; UDP leader Hon. Patrick Faber; BPP leader Leader Patrick Rogers, and BPF leader Nefretery Marin.

On Monday, October 26, however, the UDP issued a release entitled, “Briceno dodges Hon. Patrick Faber in Prime Ministerial Debate.” The release ridicules Hon. Briceño’s reported decision not to participate in the debate:

“We note that Briceño … has been ridiculed by members of his own part for his inability to communicate well, but the citizens of Belize deserve to see and hear firsthand what our country’s roster of potential future Prime Ministers have to say about topics of national importance,” the statement reads.

Briceño has yet to respond; however, his Chief of Staff has gone on record to say that they have not officially declined the invitation to participate in the debate.

Further, a letter from the office of the PUP leader in which Briceño requested a meeting with the “Leadership Debate Commission” and which was addressed to Mrs. Kim Aikman of the BCCI, was sent on October 14, 2020. That letter reads:

“Best practice dictates that organizers of debates meet with representatives of potential participants to discuss the rules that will govern the debate and the format, location, management, structure, number of debates, etc.

“In this case, the PUP has not been invited to any such meeting. There are many questions that are unanswered by your letter and ‘Guidelines for debaters’.

“For the People’s United Party to seriously consider the proposal, we would wish to have a meeting with the Leadership Debate Commission.”

According to the PUP leader’s Chief of Staff, this letter has yet to be answered by the BCCI or any other organizer of the debate.

At this point, it has not been confirmed whether the leaders of the other three parties have agreed to participate.

The debate is scheduled to take place two days from today, on Wednesday, October 28.

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