Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
Another PPP/C billboard vandalised
….as party bemoans civil society’s silence
Despite previous reports to the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) there continues to be acts of vandalism being perpetrated on People’s Progressive Party/Civic election paraphernalia, specifically its billboards.
According to party spokesman Robert Persaud, the party did receive an acknowledgement from the Police and none from GECOM, but it nonetheless is concerned with the regularity with which these acts are still being perpetrated.
Persaud emphasized that what is of even more concern and noteworthy is the fact that civil society generally comes out in condemnation of displeasing activities and to date no one has condemned the attacks on the PPP/C billboards.
Persaud said that it is disheartening to witness the silence that pervades as the PPP/C election paraphernalia is being destroyed.
Another bone of contention that Persaud raised is the fact that to date there has been no one urging the Political Opposition parties to sign on to the Election Code of Conduct as a sign of commitment to a peaceful and clean campaign.
The damaged PPP/C Billboard in Diamond Housing Scheme
The PPP/C yesterday reported that sometime between Sunday night and early Monday morning a gang of individuals, reportedly being organized by the opposition, attempted to torch a PPP/C billboard at Sixth Avenue and Second Bridge, Diamond Housing Scheme.
The PPP/C in a statement to the media said that, “The party maintains that such actions are the work of a small gang of individuals being organized by the opposition which has so far refused to sign the GECOM code of conduct for elections.”
Over the past weekend the PPP/C had cause to write to GECOM over what it said were ‘assaults’ of its volunteers.
Writing on behalf of the PPP, Steve Ninvalle said that volunteers have been harassed, intimidated and threatened with violence.
The party said that it was concerned that these incidents are being treated lightly by GECOM and other stakeholders even as opposition parties ‘bluntly’ refuse to sign the Code of Conduct for political parties contesting the November 28 polls.
The PPP urged political parties to sign the code in order to convey to their supporters the need for civil and peaceful behaviour during the campaign season.
Ninvalle had earlier reported at a press conference some of the incidents of ‘assault.’
He claimed that last Wednesday, in Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, 26 PPP/C volunteers were verbally abused and threatened by a group of about ten persons while sharing out pamphlets and party literature.
The Group was led by a mature female and included several young men, Ninvalle said in a report.
Persaud had earlier written to GECOM where he had highlighted the destruction of the party’s billboards and other campaign assets.
At the time, Persaud said the situation was deteriorating with certain elements moving from destroying billboards to outright harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against the party’s activists and volunteers.
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