Everyone must be able to express political views openly – diplomats

General and Regional Elections 2020

With 49 days to go before General and Regional Elections in Guyana, members of the diplomatic community are urging political parties to practice true social cohesion and tolerance for differing political views during the campaign season.
In a joint statement by United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, and European Union representative Fernando Ponz, which comes just one day after Nomination Day, the diplomatic community is urging the embracing of unity.

“Now the hard work of campaigning begins in earnest. During this election season, we encourage all Guyanese and the leaders of Guyana’s political parties, civil society organisation, business chambers, the media, religious groups and educational institutions to embrace the essence of unity and social cohesion as enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution,” they stated.

“We urge all parties to promote and support a peaceful and mature elections campaign—one where everyone, regardless of political leanings, is able to express their political views openly,” the statement said.
The diplomats noted that while parties can and should campaign, they ought to campaign in the spirit of “hearty and respectful competition”. The envoys made it clear that the ultimate objective is free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people.
Ahead of Nomination Day, there were several instances and even a Police report regarding A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporters bullying People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supporters.

There was the case of former parliamentarian Harry Gill, along with other members of the PPP/C, who were on Monday last attacked while erecting elections campaign flags at Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice.
The incident, which was captured on camera, shows persons verbally abusing and physically blocking the team as they attempted to place the flags on the utility poles. Gill, in an invited comment to Guyana Times, had stated that a formal Police report would be filed and that the international community would be informed of the incident.
This was only one instance where party members were verbally abused. Only recently, several PPP supporters were attacked and abused in Laing Avenue, Georgetown by residents as they were announcing the launch of its elections campaign.
In light of the recent attacks, the Party had written to Police Commissioner Leslie James, asking for swift actions to be taken against supporters of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition who attacked Opposition members and destroyed the party’s impedimenta.