Journalists criticize debate organizers

Members of the press are speaking out in protest over what they perceive to be ill treatment by the organizers of the upcoming prime ministerial debate. At an organizational meeting held Tuesday night journalists seeking to rekindle a press association took issue with statements allegedly made by SPEAR and the Chamber of Commerce to the effect that the press was perceived as partisan and incapable of asking pertinent questions in the debate. The friction between the press and the two N.G.O.’s arose when journalists realized that they had not been included in early planning for the event. It is understood that the Press Association will be asked to nominate two members to be part of a larger panel of people asking questions in the debate. Despite threats of a journalists’ boycott, Press Association acting president Angel Novelo said that “the Press Association stands ready to cooperate with the organizers of the debate, however, this can only be done under the conditions of mutual respect by all parties”. The debate is scheduled for the second Wednesday following the Prime Minister’s announcement of an election date. It will be carried live on television and radio. The organizers have called a press conference for Thursday afternoon to give final details.