A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has launched a petition for a full disclosure of campaign financing as well as to have an equal number of male and female candidates on party slates, among other reforms for the upcoming polls.
The petition is in the form of a signature campaign that has been launched by the Facing the Future (FtF) initiative, as part of a programme of activities aimed at ensuring a more inclusive future for Guyana.
In addition to transparent campaign financing and gender equality on the party lists, the campaign is also seeking support for the names and photographs of candidates to be on the ballot papers, a clear indication of the candidates that will occupy seats, and a statement of principles from them.
“The campaign will serve to stimulate discussion about elections which go beyond personalities and help people to develop informed opinions about how elections currently serve to divide rather than unite Guyanese,” FtF said in a statement. It added that the activity aims to create a more citizen-responsive and citizen-accountable electoral system through a multi-layered signature campaign, which all Guyanese will be invited to support.
All Guyanese over 16 are being invited to sign either electronically, on the FtF website facingthefuture. com.gy, or physically at a venue where signature sheets will be available.
The website is expected to be up and running in a few days, the group said.
FtF, which was launched earlier this year to address issues preventing citizens from realising their potential in Guyana, is taking advantage of the electoral season to encourage citizens to develop proposals to strengthen inclusivity in the society, according to the statement.
A year-long programme of activities by organisations and communities will aim to secure modest improvements in the electoral system, it noted, saying this would lay the foundation for substantial electoral reforms in the post-election period.
In addition to promoting reforms inspired by the constitutional provision that “people should know as closely as possible for whom they are voting,” FtF activities will include a public lecture series, in which distinguished Caribbean experts will be invited to discuss electoral arrangements in their societies; and a community challenge programme, aimed at providing young people with opportunities to work towards creating more inclusive communities.
FtF’s sponsoring organisations are: the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Church Women United (CWU), Commonground, Community-Based Rehabilitation-EBD, Guyana Council of Churches (GCC), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Society for the Blind, the Guyana Workers Union, the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Rights of Children (ROC), Red Thread, and the Vilvoorden Women’s Organisation.
The convenor is Mike McCormack.
