Following their observation of Nomination Day on Friday, the heads of the British, United States and the European Union missions here have congratulated the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for a smoothly run process and called for “a peaceful and mature election campaign.”
In a joint statement, the diplomats observed that campaigning now begins in earnest. “During this election season, we encourage all Guyanese and the leaders of Guyana’s political parties, civil society organisations, business chambers, the media, religious groups, and educational institutions to embrace the essence of unity and social cohesion as enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution. We call on all parties to campaign in the spirit of hearty and respectful competition with the ultimate goal of ensuring free and fair elections which reflect the will of the majority of the people,” the statement said.
“We also urge all parties to promote and support a peaceful and mature election campaign – one where everyone, regardless of political leanings, is able to express their views openly,” UK High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, US Ambassador Sara Ann Lynch and European Union Ambassador Fernando Ponz Cantó added.
Friday’s Nomination Day saw 13 parties submitting candidates’ lists to contest the upcoming March 2nd general and regional elections. The incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and the United Republican Party (URP) are the only ones seeking to contest in all 10 regions. The elections come at a critical juncture in Guyana’s history as the country joins the ranks of oil producers with the next government poised to manage unprecedented revenues generated by the sector.
GECOM’s Secretariat has also come in for praise from the commissioners who helm the body as they also noted that the process moved smoothly and efficiently.
“Everyone seemed comfortable and so I wish to commend the Secretariat for ensuring the proceedings were conducted to a very high standard. It made the commission and citizens proud, especially now when the international community is focusing on what is happening in Guyana,” government-nominated commissioner Charles Corbin told Sunday Stabroek.
PPP/C-nominated commissioner Sase Gunraj said that he had no major issues with the process. “It’s part of the statutory process and I don’t have any major issues with its conduct. I’m anxious for the furtherance of the process which includes approval, disapproval and/or correction to lists,” he said in an invited comment.
Meanwhile, a few hours after the diplomatic community urged a “mature campaign,” the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest member of APNU, publicly condemned what it described as attacks by known PPP/C activists on the health of President David Granger.
Referencing a Facebook post made by “known PPP activist” Edward Layne, which described Granger as “a man who is terminally ill and will die in a few months,” the party, in a statement, said it was “a sinister and dangerous plan by the Opposition to divide [the] country and cause mayhem.”
The statement pointed out that opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo also referenced the president’s health when asked by reporters on Nomination Day about a fall back plan in case the PPP/C’s presidential candidate Irfaan Ali is convicted on the 19 fraud charges he currently faces.
“What’s APNU’s Plan B if Granger gets a relapse…?” Jagdeo said in response, referring to the president having been successful treated for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
According to the PNCR, these comments on the president’s health is an attack on all Guyanese living with cancer and cancer survivors.
“It is an attack on their right to equality of treatment and non-discrimination based on illness. Is there no decency left in the PPP?” they questioned.
The party called on the PPP/C to disavow the recent Facebook attacks on the president and recant the divisive statement made by its leader.
“President Granger is committed to providing a good life for all Guyanese, including persons suffering from cancer and other diseases, persons with lost opportunities, persons in underserved communities, persons in the coalition, persons in the opposition, persons on the fence and even persons incarcerated,” it concluded.
The opposition has previously alleged that their activists had come under attack from APNU activists and had called on the APNU+AFC coalition and the Guyana Police Force to respond to these. They had also complained about the alleged repeated destruction of their campaign materials in certain communities.
