Merundoi local government debates begin tomorrow

Residents of Georgetown will have another opportunity to familiarise themselves with the candidates seeking their votes on March 18 when Merundoi Incorporated airs the ‘Georgetown Constituency Debates 2016.’

The Debates, which will be broadcast and streamed Live on NCN television on March 13, 14 and 15, will afford voters from nine of the city’s 15 constituencies the opportunity to hear candidates debating issues pertinent to their respective constituencies, which they hope to represent on the Georgetown City Council.

20160212pictureIn a press release, Merundoi explained that the debates, which are part of its public education programme in Governance and Democracy, aim to increase voter participation and knowledge about the contesting candidates’ visions and plans at the community level.

The debates will include both members of the six contesting groups as well as independent candidates. They begin at 7 each evening and will be moderated by Merundoi’s Project/ Operations Manager Durwin Humphrey.

Members of the public are being encouraged to submit questions about problems, solutions and plans for their communities via email gydebates2016@gmail.com or call 231-4417 & 231-2588, or send as messages to ‘Merundoi Incorporated’s Facebook page.

This is the third time Merundoi has been part of such an initiative. In 2011, it organised the successful Presidential Forum and in 2015 collaborated with the GNYC to stage the Candidates Issues Forum. This year, Merundoi will receive technical support from the Jamaica Debates Commission and the Caribbean Regional Debates Network.

According to the organisation, which is known for its radio serial drama, street theatre and listening and discussion groups, the public and private sector including the Ministry of Communities, Star Party Rentals, Green Ice Cabs and Windjammer Int’l Cuisine have also collaborated in making the ‘Georgetown Constituency Debates 2016’ possible.