A debate between the leaders of the two political parties in Saint Lucia is something many Saint Lucians have dreamed of, but which may never happen because it is not culture or tradition to do so in Saint Lucia.
And by debate we mean a political debate, which is a discussion between two or more people about one or more topics, but more particular between two candidates, preferably the leaders of the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party.
Such a discussion / debate is used to settle disagreements, or, if not settle at least identify the different views, of which there are many between the two parties.
Because of these differences or disputes, we believe it is imperative that a debate between the prime minister and opposition leader of Saint Lucia take place, why? because we believe it will enhance the country’s political intelligence and provide voters with a clearer understanding of which party is best suited to govern the country.
Inspired by the American political system, where debates between presidential candidates are a crucial aspect of the campaign season, the benefit of such a debate in Saint Lucia is undeniable, more so now than before.
The idea of a prime minister-opposition leader debate is not new as it was proposed many years ago, reflecting the belief that the political landscape of Saint Lucia had matured significantly, making it crucial for citizens to discern which party could effectively govern the country. However, this idea failed to gain traction and quickly faded away, to the disappointment of many. It was strongly believed that such debates would have revealed which candidates lacked substance, spontaneity, and the ability to provide comprehensive answers to challenging questions.
In the past it was passionately argued that such debates would have offered voters a better understanding of the core values of each political party. Additionally, the debates would have provided insight into which party could adequately address challenging questions that were not explicitly addressed in the partyās manifestos. While we acknowledge that such debates may not be conclusive in influencing voter decisions, research by the Pew Research Center in the United States unequivocally suggested that debates play a crucial role in helping voters make informed choices.
We are aware of the historical significance of presidential debates in the United States, and their potential to sway undecided voters and consolidate public perception of the candidates, which all point to the undeniable power of such debates. Tradition aside, could it be that the fear of such influence might have been a significant factor in the reluctance of the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party to engage in political debates among their leaders.
We strongly believe that debates between political leaders will be viewed as a highly positive step that could irrefutably strengthen and illuminate modern Saint Lucian politics. The prospect of Prime Minister Philip J Pierre and Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet sharing a platform to discuss critical issues such as the economy, crime, education, health, and unemployment, youth unemployment, and more, in a controlled atmosphere could only be a win, win for the country.
We emphatically emphasise that this can very well fundamentally alter the perspective of Saint Lucian politics and create significant moments that could potentially reshape or influence the course of political leadership and campaigns.
Looking at the debate issue from all sides, we unequivocally believed that Saint Lucia would significantly benefit from the introduction of such debates. It would be undeniable evidence of the maturing of our democratic process.