The Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) has received indication from TV6 that it is willing to participate in CNMG's Leaders' Debate on July 30 and is now awaiting word from CNC3, CNMG chief executive officer Ken Ali has said.
TV6 CEO Shida Bolai also confirmed yesterday that TV6 had indicated to Ali it was willing to participate once the debate was done according to full and highest journalistic principles–and received that assurance from CNMG–and knew who the moderators would be. She said, however, that she had not heard from Ali yet.
Ali spoke yesterday after United National Congress (UNC) spokesman Vasant Bharath said at a media briefing that negotiations were still ongoing regarding Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's participation in the T&T Debates Commission's (TTDC) Leaders' Debate and nothing had yet been finalised.
Bharath said there had been commitment for the TTDC's July 30 date by the PM but there was no commitment for after July 30.
He said UNC negotiator, attorney Larry Lalla, was working to have the debate on the July 30 date and further talks might be taking place. He said the situation involved ongoing negotiations and "let's see what happens."
But reached en route back home from Miami yesterday, Lalla told T&T Guardian he had no intention of speaking to the TTDC again after its statement last week that its August 20 and 27 Leaders' Debates would go on with or without the PM.
Saying it was inappropriate for the TTDC to say so, Lalla said when that was added to the different letters sent to the PM and Opposition Leader on the debate issue, "there is the reasonable inference of bias and the situation is solely their fault as they have not been able to explain it, so I have no intention of communicating with them at this time."
He said, however, that he expected the July 30 debate at CNMG would proceed once other TV stations and their representatives get on board.
Speaking on the issue, CNMG's Ali said they stepped in after the TTDC indicated it was cancelling its July 30 booking for the National Leaders' Debate.
He said the body had initially confirmed its CNMG booking in writing for that date. Ali said when the TTDC cancelled, CNMG felt the debate between the PM and contenders for the office of PM should go on and subsequently wrote the PM and Opposition Leader saying CNMG was prepared to host a debate but this was provided that the moderators be the presenters of the morning shows of TV stations and from TV6, CNC3 and CNMG.
Ali said the PM replied on July 17, "but we haven't heard from the Opposition Leader. However, we are heartened by his general statement of last weekend that he would be willing to participate in a properly constructed debate."
He said the debate would be done on highest journalistic principles, adding he had also written CNC3's MD, followed with an email and anticipated a response. He said CNM was continuing to plan and seeking to get moderators confirmed and participation of the leaders.
TTDC's Lorraine O'Connor, meanwhile, said they were getting "confirmations" for their August 27 and 29 debates but would have to wait and see who qualified.
She said the PM's representative had been "talking to the media a lot" and T&T Guardian should talk to him. Pressed further she said not much had happened since last week's TTDC statement and the body would issue another by end of week.
Vasant: Preparation key
Pressed on why the PM was unable to debate on another date besides July 30, Bharath said the TTDC's initial date had been July 30 and the PM organised her schedule around that.
He said she had screening, campaigning and other matters to deal with after that and she also needed time to prepare for debate.
"You need to prepare, you don't just show up for a debate and it was agreed that it would be earlier rather than later," he added.
On why the PM would not be able to undertake the TTDC's August date, which would give her more time to prepare than July 30, he reiterated there were constraints regarding time and that was why an early date was suggested.
On what the PM's engagements were, he said he didn't know her calendar, although there is campaigning in many constituencies.
On having other parties participate in debate, Bharath maintained there were only two contenders for leadership in the election, although many small parties would spring up between now and September 7.