The presidential candidates of the two major political parties contesting the March 2nd, 2020 General and Regional Elections did not participate in the presidential candidates’ debate organised by the University of Guyana unions, which was held on Thursday.
The unions, in collaboration with Move On Guyana Inc, on Thursday evening hosted a debate featuring candidates from parties contesting the 2020 polls. However, the two major parties, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) did not participate.
President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) Dr Jewel Thomas told the audience gathered at UG’s Education Lecture Theatre that if any party was not represented at the debate, it was due to their reluctance to respond to or accept the invitation. She had noted that invitations were extended to all the parties. Thomas said that they also presented an option to have another representative of the parties be present at the debate as it was understood that those presidential candidates may not be able to attend the event.
Thomas said that they decided to go ahead with the event while attempting to secure the participation of those parties that will be contesting in all 10 administrative regions for another time.
As a result of the non-participation of the two main parties, the debate featured candidates from parties not contesting all administrative regions.
The presidential candidates for Change Guyana (CG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and A New and United Guyana (ANUG) called out the two parties’ reluctance to face the heat and questions from citizens. According to ANUG leader Ralph Ramkarran, the fact that the parties were not present suggested to him that the major parties share the view that the new/third parties are achieving “a great deal of traction.”
CG’s leader Robert Badal said they were looking forward to the opportunity to have meaningful debate with the two major parties. He, too, said that he feels that the parties “ran scared of new talent” along with new measures that can be presented by the new parties. LJP Presidential Candidate Lenox Shuman told the gathering that he feels that an event like the debate is one which is long overdue. However, he wished that the major parties could have been present as he said the newer parties do not have records and policies to defend.
