APNU, Forward Guyana snub ERC’s Election Code of Conduct

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), led by Aubrey Norton and the newly formed Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), headed by former APNU Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, were notably absent on Tuesday from the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) Code of Conduct signing ceremony for political parties contesting the upcoming General and Regional Elections on September 1.
This marks the second consecutive election that APNU has refused to sign the Code. In 2023, the party also abstained from signing the ERC’s Code of Conduct for the Local Government Elections held that year. Despite the absences, representatives from the remaining four parties attended the signing. The Code of Conduct was signed by representatives of the remaining four political parties which will be contesting the elections. Zulfikar Mustapha signed on behalf of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C); Khemraj Ramjattan signed for the Alliance for Change (AFC), Eon Thomas represented the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) party and Hana Dmitriyev represented the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.

Held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the signing ceremony, was attended by party representatives and several members of the diplomatic community. The ceremony is a pre-election event hosted by the ERC, aimed at securing commitments from political parties to uphold peace, avoid hate speech, and promote ethnic harmony during the election season.
Questioned about the absence of two of the six parties contesting the upcoming polls, ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeen-ul-Haq said that the ERC will remain optimistic that the remaining parties would be willing to sign the Code of Conduct at a later date and as such the ERC will keep the opportunity open for the absent parties to sign the Code at the Commission’s Georgetown office.
“We will extend the period of signing. So, the opportunity still avails for the remaining two political parties to come to the ERC and sign the code of conduct,” Moeen-ul-Haq said.
Moeen-ul-Haq noted that a firm deadline for the extended signing period has not yet been set but added that the Commission would consult internally to determine a timeframe. “I will consult with the committee as for a [deadline to sign] but yes, we will extend it. We will try to accommodate everyone, because this is important for all of Guyana and inclusion of everyone. We do not wish for anyone to be excluded for whatever reason from the process.”
In his opening address, Moeen-ul-Haq emphasised that the Code is more than a ceremonial act, and urged the political leaders to take the Code seriously,
“This code is not symbolic — it is binding in spirit and principle,” he said. “Leaders must understand and communicate to their followers that no electoral system is perfect. We are all human and imperfections exist.”
He called on political leaders to set a tone of tolerance and respect, adding, “The true strength of a democracy is not merely tested at the ballot box but by how its leaders conduct themselves before, during, and after the elections. This is a moment that requires statesmanship, not partisanship.”
Chairman Moeen-ul-Haq further urged leaders to diffuse tensions before they escalate and to act with “dignity, responsibility and decency.” He affirmed the ERC’s ongoing role in monitoring and supporting the electoral process.
Representatives of the participating parties echoed support for the ERC’s principles.
Representatives from the parties that signed the Code reiterated their support for peaceful and inclusive political engagement as they delivered remarks during the ceremony.
Mustapha noted that the values reflected in the Code align with the core principles of the ruling party.
“We should never, ever, as a political party, try to divide the nation, bully people, or impose our will on people’s freedoms. As we approach the campaign period, it is vital that political parties lead by example,” he said. He reaffirmed the PPP/C’s commitment to a campaign “that uplifts rather than divides,” focused on “ideas, development and the best interest of all Guyanese regardless of ethnicity, religion, or other background.”
Speaking for WIN Dmitriyev said, “WIN signs this Code of Conduct with full support for the ERC and the principles of peace, tolerance, and political decency they represent. We reaffirm our commitment to reject all forms of violence, hate speech, and political intimidation.”
AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan described the signing as “an affirmation of our commitment to peace, democracy, rule of law, and all that makes for the greater happiness of Guyanese.”
He acknowledged the challenges of political division but urged leaders to “prefer the good” even when “tribal instincts” arise.