The University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) in collaboration with Move On Guyana Inc is hosting a series of political debates between the political parties contesting the 2020 general and regional elections.
Move On Guyana Inc is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is working to create a new dispensation in Guyanese society by inspiring the youth population to use the power of their vote to engender meaningful changes and help enact a vision for development that leads to modernity and youth equality in national decision making.
According to a joint Move On Guyana Inc/UGWU release, the first debate with the parties not contesting all administrative regions will be held tomorrow, in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT), at the university’s Turkeyen Campus at 18:00 hours. All parties that have met this criterion have been invited.
A second debate is planned involving parties contesting all ten administrative regions. More details will be released when the parties fitting the criterion respond.
Those parties that have responded to the invitation for the first debate and will be participating are: A New United Guyana (ANUG); Change Guyana (CG); The Citizenship Initiative (TCI); The New Movement (TNM); United Republican Party (URP); and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP).
All participating parties will be represented by their respective Presidential Candidates.
The format will feature four rounds as follows:
Round 1: Opening statements: Each candidate will be given the opportunity to make a statement.
Round 2: In this round, candidates will be questioned on what would be their party’s three national priorities. There would also be questions covering other subject areas such as: education (with emphasis on tertiary education); health; agriculture; natural resources (with emphasis on oil & gas); unemployment, underemployment, job creation and youth development; poverty alleviation strategies; justice reforms; and Guyana’s direction.
Round 3: Closing comments: Each candidate will be given the opportunity to make a statement.
Round 4: Questions from the audience: A maximum of three questions to be directed to each candidate from the audience.
The event will be moderated and the final timings for each round are dependent on how many parties agree to participate in the forum.
The second debate is planned involving those parties contesting all ten administrative regions in the 2020 general and regional elections. More details will be released when the parties that fit the criterion respond to the invitation.
The rules that govern the conduct of the audience are as follows:
No political party merchandise or paraphernalia should be worn or brought into the venue.
There should be no heckling or booing of candidates.
Audience questions are to be submitted on entrance to the venue. All are reminded that the moderators are in control of the event and their directives should be followed. Questions may not be selected due to time limitations.
It was also emphasised that any failure to respect these rules will result in the audience member being asked to leave.
Several non-governmental organizations, youth groups and media houses have been specially invited and entry is only permitted by invitation only. The organisers regret that they cannot allow entry to the general public due to the limited capacity of the venue. However, they assure that the event will be streamed live on social media and television, the release added.
