Anglican Bishop of Guyana, the Right Reverend Cornell Moss has called on members of the church to vote according to their conscience at the upcoming May 11th elections, while appealing for all to do their part to ensure a quiet and peaceful process.
“On election day, go out early and exercise your God-given right and vote your conscience and for what is best for Guyana,” Bishop Moss writes in a Pastoral Letter to the Churches in the Diocese Of Guyana.
He says each citizen and resident of Guyana, along with visitors and persons of goodwill, should be concerned about its wellbeing and they should pray and work for its safety and development.
“We should strive for its perseverance against anarchy, and we must be undying in our efforts to see that it spiritual, moral, ethical and social traditions remain intact. The Diocese of Guyana is committed to this understanding of political engagement, and through the ministry of our Church, we seek to shape and fashion the lives of our membership to be responsible, decent and exemplary citizens,” he adds, while noting that it offers daily prayers for the country, its leaders and it welfare.
Bishop Moss, in his letter, also laments the rhetoric that has attacked personalities rather than address pertinent issues during the political campaigning in recent weeks as well as the destruction of campaign material. “In instances where individuals alleged that they were in physical danger, we were also disappointed because the process was never intended to bring bodily harm to anyone,” he further says.
According to Bishop Moss, following election day, once the results have been made official, whomever the majority of the duly registered voters repose their confidence in as the new government deserves the full support of all. “In this way, we demonstrate that the welfare of Guyana, and what is best for all Guyanese supersedes what may be the personal desires of each individual, as divergent as this may be,” he writes.
He calls on all candidates involved in the election process and their supporters to remember that after election day, “we all must live here, we all must unite to build Guyana, and we are all our brothers and sisters keepers.”
He also calls for them to refrain from personal attacks and disorderly campaigning. “Respect each other and embrace your entitlement to respect,” he says, while urging that they be driven by conscience, conviction and what in the short and long term will be best for all Guyanese. Bishop Moss also urges all voters to do their part in enabling a quiet and peaceful election, while saying nearly 50 years of independence and a long tradition of democracy have equipped the country to deliver on this. “Election day 2015 is one of the days that Guyanese can show the world how mature its citizens are in the determination of who they will entrust the responsibility of governance to in a manner that is decent, just, peaceful and civilized,” he says.
He advises voters to remain at home and avoid conflict and altercations after casting their ballots. Usually on election day, he notes, tempers flare and rationality dissipates easily. “Await the results, and accept them in a good spirit whether they are what you expected or not,” he adds.
