PPP/C condemns ripping down of party flags by APNU/AFC supporters

– calls on supporters not to interfere with election materials

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in its strongest terms condemned the ripping down of party flags by suspected supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APN/AFC) in various sections of Guyana.
Speaking with Guyana Times, PPP/C Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha explained that the action is deliberate and disrespectful.

“They have been ripping down these flags and in Region Five, Georgetown, Region Three and it seems as there are activists of APNU/AFC. Places like Hope Town, Den Amstel and certain sections in Georgetown it seems as a deliberate [action] by APNU/AFC supporters to rip down our flags.”
As such, the matter was reported to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), the Guyana Police Force, and other relevant State agencies to investigate the matter and call for the ignorance to stop forthwith.
“This election should be something that is fair where every party should have a chance to display their elections materials and things like that, so I hope these bodies will take note and deal with these matters,” the PPP Executive stated.

Mustapha further added that the PPP/C believes in democracy and will ensure that their supporters do not interfere with any other political party’s elections material.
“We have informed them not to interfere with anybody’s materials. We believe in democracy; we believe in that everybody must have their fair chance and we have informed out activists not to interfere with anybody,” Mustapha cited.
The destruction of party paraphernalia is nothing new. In 2015, a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) rally was rudely interrupted by a band of supporters of the APNU/AFC – involving children in their nefarious activities, the supporters urinated on and burned PPP flags, and hurled missiles at the rally speakers, including party stalwart, Dr Roger Luncheon.
The person reported to have urinated on the PPP flag and subsequently setting it ablaze was Child Welfare Officer Abigail Baveghems, who is also the daughter of an APNU member.
That incident has been widely criticised, given that it occurred on the same day that political parties had signed on to a Code of Conduct aimed at guiding the manner in which campaigning is conducted.