Contesting parties in general, regional elections sign on to Code of Conduct
Written by Chevon Singh
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:50
Source - Guyana Chronicle
From left, PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar, AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan, and APNU’s David Granger sign the Code of Conduct at the Umana Yana.
FIVE parties contesting the upcoming 2011 general and regional elections have signed on to the much-anticipated Code of Conduct prepared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
In the presence of government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and supporters gathered at the Umana Yana yesterday, the presidential candidates for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Donald Ramotar; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger; Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan; and The United Force (TUF), Peter Persaud, all signed the Code of Conduct, thereby agreeing to adhere to the guiding principles set out therein.
And David Subnauth of the East Berbice Development Association, who will be contesting only the regional elections, also subscribed to the tenets of the code.
In his opening remarks, GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally acknowledged that the occasion will forever be viewed as a “red letter day” and a day of historic proportion, reflecting the “coming of age” of political maturity in Guyana.
PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar signs the Code of Conduct.
He explained that the Code of Conduct recognises that peace and order, compliance with electoral laws and respect for opponents are of paramount importance. The document further represents a guide to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“Sirs, I have no doubt whatsoever that you all are convinced that the objectives and tenets enshrined in this Code of Conduct for Political Parties are in fact both meritorious and virtuous. Signing on to the code elevates all concerned to a moral high ground – away from the currently deteriorating thrust and parry of political campaigning,” Dr. Surujbally said.
“GECOM must not be placed in a position of trying to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of hostility and turbulence,” he continued.
According to the GECOM Chairman, once the party representatives endorse the contents of the code, the campaign behaviour will inevitably focus on healing, rather than promoting or exacerbating any existing social fissures.
APNU’s David Granger signs the Code of Conduct
He pointed out that the code must not, in any way, be weakened by distrust, or be discarded because of petulance, vexation, petty discontent and resentment; nor must it be allowed to disappear into the “fog of political nothingness”.
“You, gentlemen, are centre stage of this memorable moment, this ground-breaking event which will make you the envy of political parties in the sometimes turbulent Caribbean. You are creating an example which others wish to follow,” he said.
He thereafter challenged the signatories to “walk the walk” and to protect the electorate, as the future of the country is in their hands.
After the Chairman’s opening remarks, the presidential candidates were all invited to affix their signatures to the document, in the presence of GECOM officials. According to some, this will forever change the country’s political landscape.
Code Significance
Several of the candidates took the opportunity to explain what the historic occasion heralded for their parties and their campaign efforts.
AFC’s Kemraj Ramjattan signs the Code of Conduct
“Elections must be a battle of ideas. It’s a contest of people’s records, programmes, a contest of their character; and we have always been advocating this. Signing the document today just coincides completely with our position,” PPP candidate Donald Ramotar asserted.
While addressing the accusation raised by APNU‘s David Granger that, as a contesting party, the PPP/C has already breached most of the codes, Ramotar maintained that it is his party which has been victim of breaches.
He said, “I do not think that Mr. Granger is correct at all, and in fact we have always been the victims of these things. It is our posters that are being chopped down and burnt all over the place. Our meetings have been broken up in Buxton.
TUF’s Peter Persaud signs the Code of Conduct
“As to the concern that supporters speaking at the party’s campaign rallies, in particular President Bharrat Jagdeo, are also guilty of breaches and are guilty of verbally abusing members of the opposition, he said, “The president has been responding to all the attacks and the misrepresentations, and I don’t think the code ties his hands from defending himself. We have been responding when we are accused of being ideological racists and when we have been accused of appointing people only because of their ethnicity. We have to respond, and we will not stop responding to those things; and I insist that this is not a violation of the code.”
Meanwhile, Granger, APNU’s candidate, expressed the hope that GECOM will use its “weight” and that the code will bring about a change.
“We have to see whether the Guyana Elections Commission has the capability to rein in the ‘tigers’ out there on the campaign trail; every day, human contestants, ordinary people, are being maligned by members of the PPP on the campaign trail,” he said.
EBDA’s David Subnauth
Presidential candidate of The United Force (TUF), Peter Persaud, reiterated that signing on to the code was indeed a very “historic occasion”, which will help to guarantee that all parties carry out a decent and civilized election campaign.
Persaud said, “As leaders, we have to show the example. We have our youth in this country and they need to follow us, and we need to show an example. If we do not, Guyana is at stake. We need peace in Guyana, and the TUF is committed to ensuring that peace is sustained in our country.”
The Code of Conduct commits parties to respect electoral laws, rules and procedures, engage in a peaceful and respectful campaign, as well as cooperate with military, police and security authorities. Also, parties have agreed to cooperate with GECOM in executing its duties, and “refrain from attacks, threats or other improper treatment of the GECOM officials during our party’s electoral campaign.”
They have also committed not to interfere in any way with the polling and counting proceedings, and to avoid all attempts at electoral rumour-mongering. They have agreed not to damage polling places, or remove, deface or damage any election materials.
Parties will also be required to instruct their polling agents about the procedure associated with the tabulation and declaration of results.
The parties have also agreed to accept the outcome of the polls.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:52 )
Written by Chevon Singh
Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:50
Source - Guyana Chronicle
From left, PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar, AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan, and APNU’s David Granger sign the Code of Conduct at the Umana Yana.FIVE parties contesting the upcoming 2011 general and regional elections have signed on to the much-anticipated Code of Conduct prepared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
In the presence of government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and supporters gathered at the Umana Yana yesterday, the presidential candidates for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Donald Ramotar; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger; Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan; and The United Force (TUF), Peter Persaud, all signed the Code of Conduct, thereby agreeing to adhere to the guiding principles set out therein.
And David Subnauth of the East Berbice Development Association, who will be contesting only the regional elections, also subscribed to the tenets of the code.
In his opening remarks, GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally acknowledged that the occasion will forever be viewed as a “red letter day” and a day of historic proportion, reflecting the “coming of age” of political maturity in Guyana.
PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar signs the Code of Conduct.He explained that the Code of Conduct recognises that peace and order, compliance with electoral laws and respect for opponents are of paramount importance. The document further represents a guide to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“Sirs, I have no doubt whatsoever that you all are convinced that the objectives and tenets enshrined in this Code of Conduct for Political Parties are in fact both meritorious and virtuous. Signing on to the code elevates all concerned to a moral high ground – away from the currently deteriorating thrust and parry of political campaigning,” Dr. Surujbally said.
“GECOM must not be placed in a position of trying to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of hostility and turbulence,” he continued.
According to the GECOM Chairman, once the party representatives endorse the contents of the code, the campaign behaviour will inevitably focus on healing, rather than promoting or exacerbating any existing social fissures.
APNU’s David Granger signs the Code of ConductHe pointed out that the code must not, in any way, be weakened by distrust, or be discarded because of petulance, vexation, petty discontent and resentment; nor must it be allowed to disappear into the “fog of political nothingness”.
“You, gentlemen, are centre stage of this memorable moment, this ground-breaking event which will make you the envy of political parties in the sometimes turbulent Caribbean. You are creating an example which others wish to follow,” he said.
He thereafter challenged the signatories to “walk the walk” and to protect the electorate, as the future of the country is in their hands.
After the Chairman’s opening remarks, the presidential candidates were all invited to affix their signatures to the document, in the presence of GECOM officials. According to some, this will forever change the country’s political landscape.
Code Significance
Several of the candidates took the opportunity to explain what the historic occasion heralded for their parties and their campaign efforts.
AFC’s Kemraj Ramjattan signs the Code of Conduct“Elections must be a battle of ideas. It’s a contest of people’s records, programmes, a contest of their character; and we have always been advocating this. Signing the document today just coincides completely with our position,” PPP candidate Donald Ramotar asserted.
While addressing the accusation raised by APNU‘s David Granger that, as a contesting party, the PPP/C has already breached most of the codes, Ramotar maintained that it is his party which has been victim of breaches.
He said, “I do not think that Mr. Granger is correct at all, and in fact we have always been the victims of these things. It is our posters that are being chopped down and burnt all over the place. Our meetings have been broken up in Buxton.
TUF’s Peter Persaud signs the Code of Conduct“As to the concern that supporters speaking at the party’s campaign rallies, in particular President Bharrat Jagdeo, are also guilty of breaches and are guilty of verbally abusing members of the opposition, he said, “The president has been responding to all the attacks and the misrepresentations, and I don’t think the code ties his hands from defending himself. We have been responding when we are accused of being ideological racists and when we have been accused of appointing people only because of their ethnicity. We have to respond, and we will not stop responding to those things; and I insist that this is not a violation of the code.”
Meanwhile, Granger, APNU’s candidate, expressed the hope that GECOM will use its “weight” and that the code will bring about a change.
“We have to see whether the Guyana Elections Commission has the capability to rein in the ‘tigers’ out there on the campaign trail; every day, human contestants, ordinary people, are being maligned by members of the PPP on the campaign trail,” he said.
EBDA’s David SubnauthPresidential candidate of The United Force (TUF), Peter Persaud, reiterated that signing on to the code was indeed a very “historic occasion”, which will help to guarantee that all parties carry out a decent and civilized election campaign.
Persaud said, “As leaders, we have to show the example. We have our youth in this country and they need to follow us, and we need to show an example. If we do not, Guyana is at stake. We need peace in Guyana, and the TUF is committed to ensuring that peace is sustained in our country.”
The Code of Conduct commits parties to respect electoral laws, rules and procedures, engage in a peaceful and respectful campaign, as well as cooperate with military, police and security authorities. Also, parties have agreed to cooperate with GECOM in executing its duties, and “refrain from attacks, threats or other improper treatment of the GECOM officials during our party’s electoral campaign.”
They have also committed not to interfere in any way with the polling and counting proceedings, and to avoid all attempts at electoral rumour-mongering. They have agreed not to damage polling places, or remove, deface or damage any election materials.
Parties will also be required to instruct their polling agents about the procedure associated with the tabulation and declaration of results.
The parties have also agreed to accept the outcome of the polls.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 November 2011 03:52 )