“Think about what you say on the campaign trail” – UK envoy

Provocative utterances

…notes importance of credible, peaceful elections

While elections tend to bring out the emotional side of persons on the campaign trail, British High Commissioner to Guyana Gregory Quinn has reminded that persons wishing free and fair elections have fundamental responsibilities to be careful about what they say.

Quinn expressed this view during an interview with this publication on Saturday. He noted that everyone fundamentally wants free and fair elections and as such, everyone’s actions should be reflective of this.
“What we all want is free, fair and elections that ultimately represent the will of the people. So, everybody needs to think about what they do to ensure that happens. So, my fundamental wish is that they think about what everyone wants. Everyone wants free and fair elections, of course, so everything should be in that context,” Quinn said.
“Elections always bring out emotions and emotive comments from people. So, all of us sort of have to sit back and if we’re in a situation which might be a bit tense or emotive, always think about what you’re saying and how that might be perceived,” he added.

Provocative utterances
It was only recently that the utterances of several APNU/AFC executives on the campaign trail were formally raised with GECOM via a letter written by former Attorney General and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) candidate, Anil Nandlall.
In his letter, Nandlall outlined that the PPP/C is gravely disturbed at the utterances of several of the candidates on the coalition Government’s list. He explained that they have been utilising their political platforms to encourage the assembly of their supporters at polling places after the polls close.
He singled out a number of candidates who have been encouraging supporters to “protect their ballot”, and among those names are People’s National Congress (PNC) Chairperson Volda Lawrence, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Attorney General Basil Williams and former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Gary Best.
The PNC Chairperson, at a public meeting in Kitty, Georgetown, on January 19, told supporters: “When 6 o’clock hit, comrades, you supposed to already have your bath and put on your nightshift clothing…You understand what I am saying, comrades? This is not a time for sleeping…They must not catch us sleeping on the job. Comrades, at 6 o’clock, you return to work at the places of polling and you will remain out there and let our staff inside know that you’re out there…And then our nice strong men will be mobilised to follow that ballot box until it goes into that container and the APNU/AFC padlock and chain is placed on that container…”
In his letter, Nandlall reminded that violence and riotous behaviours are commonly associated with the conduct of elections of Guyana. He reminded Justice Singh of such instances during the conduct of the 2015 General and Regional Elections when the car of PPP/C candidate Joseph Hamilton was torched, as well as a polling place in Sophia.
“Even senior APNU/AFC leaders who appeared on the scene could not quell this assembly of coalition supporters which was quickly transformed into a mob. Statements of the type, which reference is made above, are, therefore, a sure recipe for disaster. GECOM and the security forces are quite competent to secure and convey the ballots to its requisite locations and no political party ought to be involved in this process, except as authorised by the Representation of the People’s Act,” Nandlall had outlined in his letter to Justice Singh.
He reminded that Section 78 (A) of the Representation of the People’s Act Cap 1:03 makes it a criminal offence for any unauthorised person to obstruct or interfere with the conveyance of election materials, ballot boxes, and ballot papers.
Only last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had called out the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) over the delayed code of conduct, which should have been in place for the elections season to govern the manner in which political parties conduct their campaigns.