The elections campaign

Jul 21, 2025 Editorial, News

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Kaieteur News – The ugliness that has accompanied the start of the elections campaign season is not good for the country and more so, young undecided voters.

It is safe to say that most of the darkness has come from one direction- the PPP/C and its supporters. We have said here before that this is ironic and hypocritical as this party often complains how it suffered immensely during the Forbes Burnham era through disruption of its elections campaign and other activities. It is the PPP’s long-standing narrative that it is the victim of electoral intimidation and has, with no small measure of self-righteousness, claimed that their campaigns in PNC areas have been met with stones, jeers, and even urine. And yes, those acts too, deserve condemnation. The fact that this same PPP has quietly watched on as their supporters disrupt gatherings by other political parties and their candidates using their platforms to hurl insults at others is deeply troubling.

While we appreciate that the candidates and their partisans must distinguish themselves from each other we must keep the rivalries within the bounds of civility. The need for civility in election campaigns in Guyana as in any democratic society is critical for fostering trust, ensuring peaceful political discourse, and maintaining national unity. Given Guyana’s history of ethnic division, political polarisation, and tense electoral cycles, promoting civility is especially vital. Today there is an element of sententiousness and dogmatism creeping into public discourse, now exacerbated from the political platforms. This is especially troubling. We cannot return to the days of hurling invectives at each other even as we pursue courses of action that may be opposed to each other. We have to agree to disagree. Guyana has experienced post-election unrest in the past, often fueled by inflammatory rhetoric and partisan hostility, therefore civil political dialogue reduces the risk of violence and promotes a more stable democratic process.

Our politicians have to look at the big picture and decide on what type of Guyana they wish to create. They cannot on one hand talk about building peace and trust and then turn around and engage in activities that create just the opposite. Stridency and exaggerations must especially be abjured in the coming weeks before citizens go to the polls. In a country with a complex democratic history, marked by both progress and painful divisions, it is imperative that this election cycle be remembered not for the current rancour and hostility, but for respectful debate and constructive engagement. Civility is not a mere courtesy; it is a democratic necessity.

Guyana is no longer just a country with rich cultural heritage and untapped potential, it is now a rising economic force on the global stage. With the advent of our oil economy, we face immense opportunities, but also serious global and domestic challenges. As such, this country cannot overcome these challenges with the current division and disrespect. Our leaders must we must meet these challenges with dialogue, inclusion, and respect for differing views.

Civility in the 2025 election campaign must then start at the top, with our political leaders. They have a duty to set the tone, to elevate the conversation at their rallies and press conferences, focusing on issues over insults, and engage in fact-based discourse. They must resist and refrain from the use of language that will incite hostility or deepen ethnic and social divisions. The media also must play its part, acting responsibly, eschewing sensationalism for balanced reporting and holding all actors accountable to higher standards of public engagement.

Our often, dormant civil society, youth groups, religious institutions and the private sector also have a crucial role to play in calling for and modeling respectful political conduct. This is not to say that elections should be bland or void of passion. Democracy thrives on vigorous debate. But passion must be channeled through the lens of mutual respect. Political opponents are not enemies they are fellow citizens who share the same homeland and are entitled to their convictions. The 2025 elections offer a golden opportunity for Guyana to prove that it can grow, not just economically, but democratically and socially. Let us rise to that challenge. Let us reject the politics of division and instead build a campaign and a country defined by decency, dialogue, and dignity.

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• Editorial, Elections campaign, Guyana Elections, PPP

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