RAMKALAWAN CHALLENGES MICHEL TO PUBLIC DEBATE ON TELEVISION

Wavel Ramkalawan, the alliance candidate for the presidential election contest has issued a challenge to President Michel to a televised public debate before the election on 28^th July. The challenge was issued during the press conference which following the signing of the SNP/DP electoral pact at the International Conference Centre on July 5^th.

The challenge, as well as many pertinent and relevant questions which arose during the press conference, were not broadcast by SBC.

One format which the debate may take is a live television and radio broadcast staged at the international conference centre at prime television viewing time, such as 7 pm in the evening. Each candidate would be allowed to invite an equal number of people to form an audience.

Questions could be fielded by the editors of Seychelles Weekly and The People to each candidate on their manifestoes only. Each candidate would be allowed to make an oral presentation of 5 minutes at the beginning of the debate and a three minute closing argument. The public would be asked to submit questions to the candidates but only questions relevant to the manifestoes would be allowed to be posed to the candidates. The candidates could be given all the questions in advance.

July 14, 2006