PNP reaffirms refusal to participate in debate involving Andrew Holness

Jamaica's governing The People's National Party (PNP) confirmed on Tuesday that it will not participate in any national debate involving Andrew Holness, Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), until certain requirements are met.
    
PNP General Secretary Paul Burke, in a interview with RJR News on Tuesday morning,  declared that the Party is willing to consider participating in the debates, only if Mr Holness is not involved.
    
That means there would not be a leadership debate, but the ones on economic and social issues.

"I think, if the Debates Commission were to reorganize to omit Mr. Holness, that could be carefully and quickly considered; we're prepared to consider that matter," he said.

The PNP announced last week that it would not go ahead with the proposed national debates, unless Mr. Holness apologised to Mrs. Simpson for comments he recently made in reference to her, and if he answered several questions relating to the construction of his house.

Response

On Monday evening, Mr. Holness responded in detail to questions relating to his house. There has been no apology, however, in respect of the comments about Mrs. Simpson Miller.

The Jamaica Debates Commission has said that time is fast running out on the possibility of staging any of the proposed debates.

Mr Burke said, while Mr Holness has provided some responses to the questions surrounding his Beverly Hills property, the PNP has not evaluated whether this is satisfactory.

The apology to Mrs. Simpson Miller was "a non negotiable matter," he said.
    
In addition, he said there is the retraction of  a statement made by Mr. Holness in Montego Bay, St James.

When contacted Kamina Johnson Smith, JLP Campaign Spokesperson, said she was unable to comment as the Party had not received formal communication regarding the PNP's participation in the debates.