Jennifer Smith now seem to be in doubt. Or, perhaps, we are just witnessing political manoeuvering.

We see the debates as very important to Bermuda because they will allow the people to judge the party platforms for the future and the general intent of the two parties. Neither leader has fought a General Election before as leader and the people need to hear what they both offer the Country.

The United Bermuda Party continues to push for a debate as a "simple and quick process''. The challenge was first thrown out by Premier Gordon at her lunch time session at St. Paul's Centennial Hall and was quickly accepted first by officials of the PLP and then by the Opposition Leader. Everything seemed set to go once the ground rules were agreed.

Now the PLP seems to be equivocating. Ms Smith says the UBP should name the date of the General Election and then hold debates. She has been quoted as saying, "We in the Progressive Labour Party look forward to the cut and thrust of a real General Election campaign which truly addresses the issues.'' The cry is apparently "No debate without a date''.

The right to set the date is one of the most prized advantages of a Premier.

The PLP knows the UBP is unlikely to set a date for a summer election and naming as date for the fall would only lead to far too long a campaign. If in power the PLP would do exactly the same.

The truth is that General Election campaigns in Bermuda have generally been won on the doorsteps and have seldom addressed the real issues. No one ever mentions tax structure during campaigns or Independence, even if right after the last General Election the UBP moved us toward a Referendum on Independence.

It is those things the people deserve to hear about in a debate where the questions will not be set by the politicians and the answers will not be written by committees.

The proposed debate should be on the issues and on the future of Bermuda as offered by the leaders. We do not think the debates should be confused with United States presidential debates where judgments appear to be made not on the issues but on how well the candidates respond and what they look like.

Richard Nixon is reputed to have lost his debate with John F. Kennedy not by what was said but because he refused to have his five o'clock shadow covered by makeup.

Bermuda's leaders are not running for President. They are running for their own seats as their party's leader. This is not a national popularity contest like a US election because the popularity of leaders in Bermuda does not seem to translate to votes for their party in the districts.

The UBP has to deal with the issues because it has to govern. The recent history of the PLP has been to deal in criticism and emotional appeal but not to offer solutions or platforms. Therefore members of the public do not know what would be in store for them under a PLP government which has never governed and they should know in order to make an informed choice at an election.