Flashback: Douglas "Very Open" to Debates

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 30th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - In August of this year, when Prime Minister Denzil Douglas was asked if he was open to debates he said, "I'm very open, of course." On the topic of debates Douglas expounded, "I personally would see nothing wrong at all with that. In fact, one might see it as a delight to do that."
 
Soon thereafter, PAM Leader Lindsay Grant challenged the Prime Minister to a series of debates. On 31 August, Grant said, "Today, I am openly challenging the Prime Minister to a series of debates. I suggest that each debate has an issue theme so that we can thoroughly address the most critical issues of the day."
 
Grant called for debates on issues including the crime and murder crisis, the skyrocketing public debt, land ownership and health care, among other issues.
 
In spite of saying that a debate would be a “delight”, the Prime Minister never responded to Grant's call. Yesterday, Grant reiterated his call for debates.
 
"In August, Dr. Douglas said he was ‘very open’ to debates. Was that statement true or was it more misleading trickery from the Prime Minister?" asked Grant. "I call on the Prime Minister to do something out of his character: be true to his word. Let's have a series of debates on the issues."
 
Grant continued, "Let's talk about the crime and murder crisis that's spiraled out of control under his watch. Let's talk about respect for the Constitution, the rule of law and our democracy. Let's talk about our crushing national debt that ranks up there with the likes of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.
 
"The Prime Minister said in August that he was open to debates. I challenged him then, and I reiterate my challenge now. Let's debate the issues in a fair and open forum. The people of the Federation deserve it," concluded Grant.