We all know that Presidential Debates are an important part of the political culture in the United States. But what you might not have known is that it has also taken root in Jamaica where major political debates have been taking place since 2002. It's a major undertaking in that country where a Debate Commission has been institutionalized to steer the process. And now two Resource persons from that Commission are in Belize to try and get debates brought into Belize's political culture. They have received a grant from the National Democratic Institute and told us what it means in Belize.
Brian St. Juste - Resource Consultant, Jamaica Debates Commission
"What debates does it includes the whole population in the democratic process."
Dr. Eleanor Henry - Resource Consultant, Jamaica Debates Commission
"It is really part of the whole civic discourse to get the public as involved in how their lives are around the democratic process but now what is happening is courtesy of the debates - people are looking specifically what are the issues to be covered and how do those issues affect me, more importantly how do those issues affect the country. You find that is happening in the region because the debates - certainly the ones that we're looking at are focusing on what are the issues of what are the issues in those particular countries."
Jules Vasquez
"What are your impressions of the prospect for success of a national political debate in Belize?"
Dr. Eleanor Henry
"I think the prospect is very high. We spoke to the media and we spoke to the chamber of commerce yesterday and in both cases the entities are looking for mechanisms to get it to work here."
Jules Vasquez
"Is there one ingredient to success?"
Brian St. Juste
"A credible well respected institution managing the process."
Jules Vasquez
"Examples of such institution?"
Brian St. Juste
"Usually the chamber of commerce, media associations, and civic society, NGO's in some cases - it all depends on what kind of robust organization that might exist in a particular territory."
Jules Vasquez
"The next municipal elections is 2015 - if you are to look into a crystal ball and see will we for the upcoming municipal and national elections - will we have debates in Belize?"
Brian St. Juste
"Far beat for me to make that announcement but if I were sitting at a bar somewhere and I were having a conversation with you I would think yes. I think there's enough energy and spirit amongst both organizations or both groupings that there's a talent, the ability and the capability to pull it together to make it happen."
Dr. Eleanor Henry
"My crystal ball works better than his - I guarantee that based on my crystal ball that it will happen in time for 2015."
As you saw in the story, they met with some media houses today – who were encouraged to form a media association to lead the way towards a debate process. While here, the pair also met with the Chamber of Commerce to encourage them to get involved.
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