Grocott’s Mail intends to host a debate about whether the name of Grahamstown should be changed or should remain as it is. The details about where and when the debate will take place were incomplete in last week’s edition of the newspaper, and we apologise for that oversight.
Grocott’s Mail intends to host a debate about whether the name of Grahamstown should be changed or should remain as it is. The details about where and when the debate will take place were incomplete in last week’s edition of the newspaper, and we apologise for that oversight.
The debate is set to take place at City Hall at 5pm on Wednesday, 14 November. It will have the following format: four panellists on the stage will each be given four minutes to make an opening statement. We hope to have two panellists from each side – in other words, two speakers will explain why they are against the name change and two will say why they are for it. They will then be given a brief opportunity to respond to any issues specifically directed at them. After this shorter second round, we will be able to take questions from the audience who will be invited to line up behind one of two microphones on the floor.
The purpose of the debate is to air opinions and ideas about why the name should, or shouldn’t, be changed. Grocott’s Mail reporters will then write up an article based on what takes place at the debate. The article will be published in the Friday edition of Grocott’s Mail.
We are not be looking for a winner or a loser in this debate – in other words we will not imitate American news organisations that always have to decide who came out on top. We are hoping that local residents will be the winners, because they will be better informed about the issues at stake.
It is important to point out that although the debate will be taking place in City Hall, it has nothing to do with whatever official processes are underway at the municipality. We believe that municipal officials will be present at the debate and we have extended an invitation to have one member of the ruling party to take a seat on the panel.
The municipality will of course go through its own processes regarding a possible name change, but the Grocott’s Mail-hosted debate has nothing at all to do with the municipality’s plans.
