From the Jamaica Debates Commission
The Jamaica Debates Commission’s mission is to assist in the strengthening and growth of the democratic process by encouraging and supporting the dissemination and discussion of political views in an open and unbiased manner so as to enable the Jamaican electorate to make informed decisions for voting. The Commission is of the view that by staging and widely distributing national political debates it will encourage political parties and the public to identify and focus on the issues of national importance.
THE COMMISSION’S OBJECTIVE — The staging of debates between Jamaican political parties is the Commission’s primary reason for being.
SINE QUA NON OF SUCCESS — Without the unreserved confidence of the contesting political parties in the Commission’s constant impartiality, the Commission would fail in the pursuit of its objective. In order to preserve this confidence, it is imperative that at all times appearances should project and reflect the reality of non-partisanship.
RULES — Accordingly each of the Commissioners and their spouses will from the date of their appointment fully observe all of the following Rules of Conduct in letter and spirit. Commissioners will, in relation to any Jamaican political party, refrain from:
- Being a member.
- Providing support (in any capacity) on a public platform for any party or candidate.
- Making, facilitating, or allowing to be made, any public statement for or against any party or candidate.
- Making personal contributions to the funding of any party or candidate.
- Attending any of its fundraising events or that of any of its candidates.
- Participating in the design of any party’s or candidate’s campaign.
- Authoring, editing, contributing to scripts of announcements, pronouncements, manifestos or policies.
- Offering, extending, promising or arranging for any preference or advantage over any other party or candidate.
- Discriminating in favour of or against any party or candidate.
- Being a candidate for election.
- Disclosing their own voting intentions or on how they voted in the past.
- Making public comment on (a) any matter likely to affect voting outcome and (b) the likely outcome of voting, after the election date has been announced.