Expressing confidence about a win at Monday’s general elections, the APNU+AFC coalition yesterday said there would be peaceful acceptance of the results once supporters believe they reflect the will of the electorate.
“As much as we have been telling people about our willingness to accept the results we do have to say that a lot of it will depend on exactly how the day goes,” coalition candidate Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said at a press conference yesterday.
Roopnaraine said the coalition has been reminding supporters of the importance of remaining calm throughout the electoral process. “At every rally… we have been very careful to stress to people that we want, in fact, a peaceful election and post-election period.
But I can tell you that there is such a surge of hope among the people that if they detect themselves that there are deliberate attempts to frustrate the will of the electorate, then I fear that people will be very difficult to restrain,” he said.
“We will do everything in our power to restrain people from excessive display of energies in relation to the results of the election. A lot of that will depend on the course of the election day itself,” he added.
He stated that while the coalition has been lobbying for peace, the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic has been trying to push “unwanted toxic matter into the campaign and we have done our best to control the rage of some people based on what [former President Bharrat] Jagdeo has been saying since he returned on the scene.”
Nevertheless, “barring flagrant violations of the electoral laws and best practices on Election day,” there was no reason why there would not be an acceptance of the results, he added.
The coalition’s presidential candidate David Granger said he was confident that supporters possess the necessary characteristics to ensure smooth and peaceful pre- and post-elections.
He said his position was grounded in the fact that for three months protests were held outside the Office of the President without incident. He also pointed to the killing of activist Courtney Crum-Ewing and said that while there was outrage at the wanton execution the coalition ensured that there was restraint among its supporters. “We feel our supporters are capable and willing to behave in an orderly fashion,” he stated.
Nonetheless, Granger believes Guyana’s post-election atmosphere will be one of jubilation, reflecting the celebrations of a coalition win.
So confident is he, that he predicts the coalition will gain an average of about 58% to 62% of the overall votes.
Granger’s prediction comes against the background of declining voter support for the PPP/C in the last three general and regional elections, from 220,667 in 1997 to 182,156 in 2006 and to 166,340 in 2011. He also noted the clamour for change, the numerous persons in villages who have been lobbied and eligible voters who did not vote at the last election but will this time around.
