PPP/C campaigning to please voters, not Gecom

- Rohee

Although Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) Dr Steve Surujbally has voiced displeasure with the campaigns run by the two major political groupings, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee says his party’s activities are meant to please its supporters not Surujbally.

“We campaign to please the constituent not him,” Rohee said when asked for a comment on the Chairman’s statement. He stated that the Chairman was entitled to his own opinion but “in fact he remains aloof from the campaigning process,” as he is not a politician.

Surujbally recently told Stabroek News that Gecom was displeased with the campaigns of the PPP/C and APNU+AFC groupings. He stated that their behaviour was unacceptable given the fact that they recently signed the code of conduct for the polls.

The defaced APNU+AFC Coalition billboard
The defaced APNU+AFC Coalition billboard

“We have a code of conduct; they should remember that,” he said, before adding that he hopes their attitude toward campaigning would change. He stated that some of the statements made at press conferences and rallies were not acceptable.

At the signing of the code of conduct, Surujbally had noted that “statements made at news conferences and on roadside platforms should be to edify and inform not to numb, mystify and create doubt and social unrest.”

Statements made by former president Bharrat Jagdeo, in particular, have been criticised during the campaign for divisiveness.

Meanwhile, APNU+ AFC released a press statement yesterday saying that coalition national candidate Nigel Hughes condemns all acts of incitement during the elections campaign. The statement indicated that no act of harassment, intimidation or indecency will be accepted as the coalition “holds itself to a higher standard.”

It quoted Hughes as saying: “We condemn all acts of indecency and disrespect. Whether it’s urinating on someone’s flag, burning someone’s flag or any other similar act. We must hold ourselves to higher standards than we expect of others. We are better than that.”

The statement added that over the weekend the coalition had one of its billboards defaced with a liquid substance at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition makes it clear that this provocation and intimidation is intended to benefit the PPP/C and the Coalition stands to derive no benefit whatsoever from it. The Coalition will never engage in these gutter tactics, which are synonymous with the fear mongering and hate campaign being run by the PPP/C,” it added.

The code of conduct forbids the use of abusive, slanderous or threatening language, which could incite people of one group to violence against any candidate, agent or supporter. It also prohibits the publication of any pamphlet, poster, cartoon or other material with text which could offend or incite people to public disorder. It also forbids candidates, agents or supporters from engaging in personal attacks and defamatory comments relative to opposing candidates and their families.