SOURCE: STATENMEDIA: UPP WITHDRAWS REMAINING CANDIDATES FROM ‘KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES’ PROGRAMME

The main opposition United Progressive Party has taken a decision to withdraw its remaining candidates from ABS TV’s ‘Know Your Candidates’ programme.

The party claims the decision was taken “following complaints from our candidates and viewers about the bias and combativeness displayed by the programme’s host and the negative slant of the news reports following their appearance.”

The party communicated its decision to the station Sunday night, ahead of the scheduled appearance of two more of its candidates, Johnathan Joseph and Malaka Parker, on Monday morning.

The party had agreed last week to the participation of its candidates on the programme.

Two of those candidates, Ashworth Azille and Kelvin Simon, were interviewed on Friday.

ABS TV rejects allegations of bias and tendentious reporting surrounding the programme.

Incumbent candidates are required to give account for their performance, while new candidates are required to provide a baseline for future reference.