By Cecily Asson and Invera Arjoon
Wednesday, April 28 2010
WHILE UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night said she is willing to take part in a live national debate with Prime Minister Patrick Manning in the run up to the May 24 general election, Manning, who is the PNM’s political leader, was reluctant to participate.
“What do I have to gain, what do I have to gain from doing a debate with Mrs Persad-Bissessar?
Nothing to gain, nothing to gain by that. That is all I could say, that is all I could say,” Manning told reporters during a walkabout in Tarodale Gardens, Tarouba.
The Chamber of Industry of Commerce yesterday made an appeal to Manning and Persad-Bissessar to participate in a public debate to help electors make an informed choice. However, when questioned by reporters on this issue Manning said, “The campaign manager…that matter has been referred to him. Mr (Conrad) Enill is taking care of that.”
Enill is the PNM chairman.
Pressed further Manning said, “It is unlikely that I will participate in any such debate…very unlikely. You know, in England recently, you all need to check to see what the implications of these debates are and depending on what side of the political fence you are on, people take different views as to whether you should have them or whether you should not have them.” (The United Kingdom will have its general election on May 6.)
Full Article : newsday.co.tt
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Manning on debate with Kamla: ‘I have nothing to gain’
Prime Minister Patrick Manning has no intention of entering into any debate with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar before the May 24 general election.
T&T Chamber sets up commission
Chamber head: Public will benefit
Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Angella Persad feels certain that national debates among political leaders will work in Trinidad and Tobago (TT), as they have in the United States and recently Jamaica.
Not so fast, Mr Prime Minister
We respectfully invite Prime Minister Patrick Manning to review his remarks about bias involving this newspaper in the coverage of the current general election.
Simply put – IS FRAID HE FRAID!!! What Mr Manning does not understand is that a debate is not meant to benefit him or Mrs Persad-Bissessar…it is to discuss the issues so the voting public can make an educated decision. A public debate is COMMONPLACE in DEVELOPED nations in the run up to elections. It is a forum in which candidates debate the issues and there is nobody to help them. It shows who is best fit to run the country. If the debate was to take place, I am sure he would lose as his “yes men” and bullies are not there to intimidate the voting public. His backing down from a debate shows that he chooses to keep people of T&T in the dark. What a coward!!!
it is natural for a man to be afraid of woman’s mouth.
I think a debate will let the general public decide who is best canidate to run the country.It is a common practice in the U.S of A for politicians to debate so why is the Prime Minister afraid.I think he has more to lose than gain that is why?
A DEBATE IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY POWERFULL WHERE AS THE WORLD
WOULD LIKE TO SEE.WE ALL KNOW THAT KAMLA COULD TALK AND I WILL LOVE TO SEE A BEBATE BETWEEN BOTH KAMLA AND MANNING RIGHT NOW
THE MAN IS FADING AND FAILING, HE CAN NOT SPEAK THAT IS THE REASON
HE DON’T WANT TO CHALENGE KAMLA, HE WOULD BE SO ASHAME OF HIM SELF
WHEN HE FALL APART.
I have tried to play the devil’s advocate and defend the man, but what am I to do now? After the mistakes made by the PNM over the past few years, I knew that it would be an uphill battle.
It just continues to get worse and worse.
And people still require proof that he is intellectually shallow? What is most informative is his saying that “I” have nothing to gain by debating; so this indeed appears to be about him. I could never have thought that I’d be listening far less concurring with Dr Morgan Job but the Emperor of Whitehall and his legions of yes people do indeed validate the man time and again.
Refusing de bait
Thursday, April 29 2010
We are quite sure that the offer of the Chamber of Commerce to host political debates was sincere and non-partisan. But from the moment the initiative was announced, we were absolutely certain that Patrick Manning would refuse to take part.
However, what we could not conceive were the contortions which Manning put himself through to refuse to rise to the challenge — becoming probably the only political leader in the western world to run from such an opportunity.
Televised political debates began in the United States in the 1960 Presidential election, with John Kennedy and Richard Nixon publicly discussing their positions. These remained a feature in American politics for decades, before being adopted by other western democracies. And most recently, in the UK, a series of debates was held, featuring the leaders of the three principal political parties.
One would have thought that a political leader like Patrick Manning, so consumed with giving his country the trappings of “developed country status”, would have embraced the opportunity to be part of a structured debate on the issues facing the country in this election campaign. But Manning, as we all expected, has declined to rise to the bait.
Full Article : newsday.co.tt
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Come on, let’s debate
POLITICAL leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to rethink his position on engaging her in a national debate saying such a debate is not about his personal gain but rather to allow issues to be ventilated on a national forum.
Kamla: Electorate will gain
Kamla to PM: Reconsider debate
United National Congress leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, last night called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to reconsider his decision not to participate in a public political debate.
…Not necessary, says Enill
Enill: We don’t do debates ‘PNM will meet everyone by going on the ground’
People’s National Movement (PNM) chairman and Energy Minister Conrad Enill says PNM members will not engage in any debate with any Opposition member.
Country would gain, Mr PM
If “not now” for a prime ministerial debate, before the electorate chooses the person and his/her party best suited and equipped to govern, can incumbent Prime Minister Patrick Manning tell the country when would be the most appropriate time for such a debate.
Step up to the podium, Mr PM
‘I have nothing to gain by that,’ said PNM leader Patrick Manning, in what was perhaps his most nakedly political admission on the campaign trail so far. Mr Manning was responding to a question from reporters on whether he would take part in a public debate with UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Calls for such an event have come from the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, a UWI student group, and the general public.
Kaiso Election Clash
WITH DISSATISFACTION over the failure of public affairs issues to take centre stage in the 2010 general election campaign, the most compelling aspect of the race has arguably been the role played by entertainers.
yesterday i was confused all day! literally, all i could not function with this ‘I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN’.
I overcame the thought after reading The Hon Ms Kamla’s San Juan
speech.
Kamla: If not Manning, Hazel will do
UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has once again issued a challenge to Prime Minister Patrick Manning to take part in a public debate saying she would “take on anybody you send.”
PNM says ‘no’ to any debate
By Andre Bagoo
Tuesday, May 4 2010
THE PNM will not take part in any debates to be hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission, PNM chairman Conrad Enill said yesterday.
Asked by Newsday yesterday if the PNM would take part in the debate, Enill said, “the answer is no.” Asked if the issue was still under consideration, Enill replied, “the answer is no.”
The PNM chairman’s comments bring to an end hopes of a possible live debate face-off between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
On April 27, Manning had said that the matter would be decided by Enill. However, he indicated that it was unlikely that he would take part.
“What do I have to gain, what do I have to gain from doing a debate with Mrs Persad-Bissessar?
Nothing to gain, nothing to gain by that. That is all I could say, that is all I could say,” Manning told reporters during a walkabout in Tarodale Gardens, Tarouba. “The campaign manager…that matter has been referred to him. Mr (Conrad) Enill is taking care of that.” He added, “It is unlikely that I will participate in any such debate…very unlikely.”
Full Article : newsday.co.tt
Why is PNM afraid of debate?
Scratch one against the PNM for failing to take up the challenge to participate in a TV debate with the opposition alliance, which would have culminated in a face-off between Patrick Manning and Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Reconsider debate refusal, PNM
The PNM should have stuck to the position first adopted by its political leader, Patrick Manning, that he did not stand to benefit from a face-to-face debate with his opponent, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Manning is right!! What will the debate do for him. That nothing going to help hime win the elections. People already made up their minds. They cyah vote for that.
In Kamla’s interview every time she’s asked a question she distracts by first condemning the Prime Minister. She has no substantial reply so what she does is tell you that the other person did something wrong or nothing at all so that that would be an excuse for her week or non substantial answer. It’s part of psycology, but if she is aware of what she’s doing is another question or just maybe she really has no answer. It also shows in the way she leaves the answer for another time, eg when asked about the alternative for crime,she said she cannot answer that in 3 min. but she used up a lot of time bashing the PM and PNM.She will fail in a debate with Mr. Manning or even me (a humble citizen)