Bad optics Bad optics Examining whether political debates matter, and what to make of the FNM’s decision to opt out of them Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) and former leader of the People’s National Party Dr. Peter Phillips at the end of their political debate. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARIBBEANNATIONALWEEKLY.COM With American politics so in our faces every four years and in between polling day, calls for our electoral system to take on more features of our neighbors to the north are often made in The Bahamas as a general election nears. One such call is for political leaders to engage in debates, to reflect a more mature approach to electioneering by making themselves available for questioning on a national platform.