Merundoi Incorporated yesterday announced the staging of the 2011 Presidential Debate.
In a statement, it said that collaborating with it so far are the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Press Association, the Guyana Media Proprietors Association and the Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities.
There had been many calls for a presidential debate. The 90-min debate is set for early November at The Theatre Guild and plans are in the works to have it streamed live on television, radio and the internet.
Technical Assistance is being given by The Centre for Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Guyana and the Jamaica Debates Commission, the release said.
It said invitations have been sent out to the Political Parties represented in Parliament and so far confirmations have been received from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC) & The United Force (TUF).
Merundoi said that the goals of the project include providing a forum where the candidates can present their platforms to the public. It will also enable citizens to have a greater understanding of the positions of the candidates on matters of national interest and facilitate greater public discussion on national and regional issues.
Further, it will create a forum for the public to be directly involved in the process and provide a forum where the candidates have equal access to the media while debating issues of national interest.
Merundoi also sees it as contributing to a peaceful election process and encouraging increased participation on election day.
