Having already had to upbraid key political leaders over recent divisive actions on the campaign trail, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in a last-minute appeal ahead of Monday’s General and Regional Election said the period does not present a reason for hostility through hate, and that “elections must not be a process that divide us”.
ERC Chairman, Reverend Dr John Smith
This is according to ERC Chairman Reverend Dr John Smith, who in a clarion call at the end of the past week reiterated to stakeholders the need to “keep public actions free of intimidation and utterances free of hate, racial and all other forms of incitement.”
Reverend Smith said that during this, and the subsequent period, “let’s demonstrate to ourselves and others that while we will disagree in the process, it is not a reason for hostility through hate, and elections must not be a process that divide us.”
The ERC Chairman was adamant that “voting is a democratic right which enshrines choice” and urged that “as we exercise the right to choose, we must respect the rights of others to do so; in the process, we must also remain cognisant of the need to be tolerant and respectful of each other, now, during and after March 02.”
He said too that as the nation traverses what is historically a sensitive period, “all are urged to work in the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese and not be engaged in activities, in any shape or form, that are counterproductive to the fostering of harmony and good relations.”
To this end, Reverend Smith noted that the ERC is heartened by contesting political parties that have signed the ERC’s Code of Conduct
“The Commission urges that despite whatever challenges may confront us, the spirit and intent of what was agreed to, is respected by all…This we believe is crucial not only to the process of peace, but a vital component in being able to mitigate incidents that occurred during the campaign and which have the potential to repeat themselves.”
Parties this week also signed onto an Elections Code of Conduct that was facilitated by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
