Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Destruction of billboards/posters…GECOM calls on political parties to rein in supporters
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has condemned the destruction of political billboards. Yesterday it called on political parties to rein in their supporters and workers to ensure a peaceful and fair election.
According to GECOM, it has received complaints from a number of political parties complaining that persons linked with opposition groups had disrupted political meetings and had damaged posters used in the campaign strategies.
“GECOM hereby notes that such acts are in contrast to the principles documented in the proposed Code of Conduct for Political Parties and unequivocally condemn such occurrences as being in opposition to the spirit of the proposed code.
“Accordingly, the Commission calls upon all political parties and their members/activists/supporters to abstain from any action which could generate discord in the pre, peri, and post-elections periods,” a GECOM statement said.
The body, which is tasked with managing the General and Local Elections set for November 28, also said that it is inviting stakeholders, especially political parties, to “recognize that peace and public order, freedom of political campaigning, and compliance with electoral laws and regulations are essential and of paramount importance to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.”
On Tuesday, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) claimed that its elections paraphernalia, specifically its billboards, were being targeted.
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.
Some time between Sunday night and early Monday morning, the PPP/C said, a gang of individuals, reportedly being organized by the opposition, attempted to torch one of its billboards at Sixth Avenue and Second Bridge, Diamond Housing Scheme.
“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 behavior during the campaign season.
The Alliance for Change has already reported that a recent meeting at Berbice came under attack by “drunken” and known supporters of the PPP/C.
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