Efforts by ZBM television to organise a televised debate between the three Pembroke East Central by-election candidates were up in the air as of yesterday evening and the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) candidate, Ashfield De Vent, is being blamed for his decision not to participate.

But the third candidate in the race, Dennis Bean, yesterday told The Royal Gazette that he had yet to make up his mind on whether he wanted to lock horns with his opponents on television.

Meanwhile, the broadcast station is still hoping to have a debate next week.

"I'm not interested in debate at this point in time because there's only a short time before the election and the election will be won on the doorsteps," said Mr. De Vent.

"I represent a party whose record speaks for itself."

ZBM had planned to air the debate between Mr. De Vent and Leonard Santucci, the candidate for the Opposition party, yesterday evening immediately after the news.

With the unexpected decision by independent candidate Mr. Bean to enter the race, the station is hoping to have all three debate the issues.

When contacted two hours before it was meant to start, Rev Santucci said he still had not been formally informed that the debate was off and was planning to show up at the station as arranged.

"As far as I know it's still on," he said.

"Nothing has been communicated to me or anyone in the United Bermuda hierarchy to suggest to me that it's not on.

"I have been told that it was an issue of communication from the hierarchy of the Progressive Labour Party...

"I said on the Shirley Dill show that a face to face between the two would be good for the candidates and the constituency at large."

He said he would be personally disappointed if the debate is cancelled.

"More importantly the constituency at large will be disappointed.

"They will be more disappointed at the Progressive Labour Party because I can't see why a candidate for the Government would not want to participate and present its platform.

"When you consider modern politics today, one should expect to have these types of opportunities."

Half an hour later he called to say that the station had informed him that the debate would take place "hopefully" next week.

"I can only go by appearance.

"It seems as if the challenge has come from the PLP's candidate.

"There was never an issue of preparedness from this side."

Mr. De Vent, who had plans to go on the campaign trail last night could not be contacted after he had made his initial comments.

But the ruling party's spokesman Glenn Blakeney ruled out the debate.

"The people need to meet him and he wants to meet the people.

"He wants them to get a perspective on his integrity, his demeanour, his sincerity and his commitment to work on their behalf ... he felt the time would be more wisely used working in the community."

Asked whether a television broadcast would not help with achieve the same goals he said: "UItimately that could be and that's why you see him on the evening news.

"There's no difference and you are reading about him in your newspaper and your nemesis publication.

"That's for the broader community.

"For the immediate community he wants to be there so they can see and feel what he is communicating."

Mr. Blakeney denied that the candidate was unprepared.

"It has nothing to do with preparedness.

"Ashfield is extremely cognisant of the responsibility he is going to take on when elected and as a resulted he is prioritising his endeavour to connect with as many people in the constituency, having been chosen to run and contest in his very first election.

"He realises he has very big shoes to fill in the person of the late David Allen and Stanley Morton and he's not taking anything for granted."

Said ZBM News director Jim McKey: "The latest is we have suggested two alternate dates and we are awaiting a response from one of the candidates."

He said he would have to review the regulations on political broadcasts to see whether a debate between the two other candidates could continue if Mr. De Vent maintained his stand.

But contacted last night, Mr. Bean said he was yet to decide on his own participation.