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UK envoy calls on politicians to refrain from inciteful, provocative language on campaign trail
With politicians currently engaged in a race to garner votes and be victorious come May 11, High
UK High Commissioner, James Gregory Quinn
Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, James Gregory Quinn has expressed concern over the language that is being used in all political camps.
As he spoke to members of the media at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown residence yesterday, Quinn noted that it is imperative that voters feel that they can cast their ballot for any political party that they wish without intimidation or restrictions.
Though he refrained from pinpointing instances or calling out any particular politician, the High Commissioner opined that the rhetoric being used is not conducive to a proper elections campaign.
In this vein, he called on politicians to avoid inflammatory or provocative language. This he has highlighted as the responsibility of all stakeholders, regardless of who they represent.
The UK envoy told members of the media that it is a “fundamental thing for us is to ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent and accurately represent the views of the electorate in this country so at the end of the day people can stand up and feel that they have had the opportunity to cast their vote for the person they want to vote for, without any hindrance.”
He said “In terms of what we can actually do, I think it’s encouraging people to ensure that there is an atmosphere that our lives: you, your brother or sister or whoever can feel that they can have that free and fair vote without any intimidation or any restrictions.”
With elections around the corner, some politicians have faced accusations of using inflammatory or provocative language on the campaign trail. Of note, Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo has been the center of discussions along these lines since he is being accused of fear mongering and race-baiting constituents.
At several of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) major rallies, Jagdeo has been recorded rehashing alleged incidents of the past as he told thousands that their lives and the lives of their families would be in danger if the main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) were to gain office.
Time and time again, Jagdeo has spoken at length of the “danger” of the opposition forces.
The former President has been called out too by the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) who in its first report for the elections campaign period said that remarks he made on March 8, last at a Memorial Ceremony for Dr. Cheddi Jagan, at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice were racially divisive.
Jagdeo has since been slapped with a private criminal charge over the said delivery.
The UK envoy has said, however, that the language that is being used on all sides on the campaign trail needs to be looked at. “Everybody needs to avoid any inflammatory or any provocative language,” he said.
The UK envoy stopped short of giving specific examples but he said “there have been examples on all sides where the language used has not been conducive to a proper elections campaign.”
It was also revealed that the United Kingdom will be observing the local polls on May 11 and will have a team of 8 persons to undertake that responsibility.
Additionally, the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) has called on political parties to sign and implement the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s Political Parties’ Code of Conduct.
The mission had earlier expressed concern at the escalation of provocative language being used in the run-up to the May 11 General and Regional Elections. Similarly, it called on all stakeholders to engage in a respectful exchange of ideas during the political campaign.
After meeting with a wide range of political parties, representatives in the country during the EOM preliminary mission had said that they witnessed a general consensus among all stakeholder parties regarding the importance of a calm and civil environment during the electoral process.
The mission urged all political parties to review, sign and implement the Code of Conduct with the intention of preventing divisive and inflammatory language during the electoral campaign.
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