Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding (third right) with Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Andrew, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett (second right), leads Jamaica Labour Party supporters on a tour of the constituency yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding has challenged the governing People's National Party (PNP) to face off in national debates with the full slate of Opposition shadow ministers.

Mr. Golding's latest invitation to the governing People's National Party (PNP), for national debates, came yesterday.

A recent suggestion that the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader engage in weekly debates on national issues was dismissed by Information Minister and General Secretary of the PNP, Colin Campbell.

Too busy

In a letter to the editor, Mr. Campbell argued that Mrs. Simpson Miller could not be expected to participate in weekly debates to the detriment of the nation's business.

But speaking with journalists yesterday during a tour of the Eastern St. Andrew constituency, a marginal JLP seat, held by Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, Mr. Golding said he had proposed to the National Debate Commission that debates be held at the leisure of the contenders, followed by final debates when elections are called.

He said the discussions would allow voters to get a better understanding of the choices they have and the decisions they would ultimately make.

"If the Prime Minister is too busy to have debates on national issues in order to enable the public to be informed as to the direction in which she intends to take the country then I wonder what else she is too busy to do," the Opposition Leader said.

Golding ready

Mr. Golding said whenever the debates were called he would be ready, noting that the party was not only depending on that approach to win the next election.

Meanwhile, scores of party faithful braved the moderate afternoon showers to meet and greet the Opposition Leader.

Residents of Tavern, St. Andrew, highlighted some of the problems affecting the community, including massive soil erosion near the banks of the Hope River, which has left a number of homes at risk.

Mr. Golding said the MP has made repeated representation on behalf of the residents to get the authorities to address the problems to no avail.