San Pedro is gearing up for a first ever mayoral candidate debates. The debates are scheduled for the evenings of Wednesday, January 18th with the second one scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, 2012. The location of the debate is soon to be announced.
Invited to the debates are Mrs. Conchita Flota – PUP Mayoral Candidate, Ms. Melanie Paz – Independent Mayoral Candidate and Mr. Daniel “Danny” Guerrero – UDP Mayoral Candidate.
According to organizers, Tamara Sniffin of The San Pedro Sun and Eiden Salazar of The Reef Radio, the debate will provide the ideal forum for the candidates to openly share their political platform with their constituency. This will also give the candidates a chance to explain how they plan to deal with the many challenges the island is facing as well as to reveal their visions for the future.
The questions, which will be solicited from the public prior to the event, will be presented at the time of the debate, not prior to. The debate will be broadcast live on both Reef Radio and Reef TV (Channel 20). The SPSun will also be posting live updates on our website at www.sanpedrosun.com. Candidates’ answers will be limited to a specific time. At the end of the debate, each candidate will be allotted a time for closing statements. The debates will be moderated by Reef Radio’s Eiden Salazar and the questions will be presented by San Pedro Sun’s editor, Tamara Sniffin.
The San Pedro Sun contacted all three candidates to get an idea of what is going through their minds as they gear up for the debates. Independent candidate Ms. Melanie Paz stated, “I think it is a good idea; it will give people a broader view of what my opinions are in regards to the different issues on the island. It will also give me much exposure and the chance to be able to speak to a much wider audience and share my views.”
PUP candidate Conchita Flota stated, “I am definitely for it. I am happy that you guys came up with the idea. This will give me the chance to show our plans are for the people. I am very excited. Going house to house is good, but sometimes proves difficult to reach everyone. This is perfect to get our plans across to the whole island. Further to this, not everyone knows who I am, so this will give me the opportunity to introduce myself to Ambergris Caye, let them know a little background about myself.”
UDP candidate Daniel Guerrero stated, “The debate can help all three candidates, depending on the questions and how we respond to them. I think a debate is healthy for politics and the present and opposition as well as the independent candidate. The people will be listening on radio and TV and they will be hearing the views of all three candidates. I am very happy for the opportunity to participate in the debate.”
With this said, The San Pedro Sun and Reef Radio is inviting residents of San Pedro to submit questions that they would like to have all of the three candidates respond to. Your questions may be submitted through any of the following means: they may be dropped off at The SP Sun office located on Barrier Reef Drive across from the Holiday Hotel, by mail to P.O. Box 35 in San Pedro, via e-mail to [email protected] or posted on our Facebook page online at www.facebook.com/SanPedroSun.
Authors of the questions will not be identified at the time of the debate, and similar questions will be composed as one. Libelous, slanderous and personal questions will not be entertained nor will public comment be permitted at the debate.
