With Local Government Elections (LGE) set for June 12, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) for the first time in the history of the LGE yesterday, facilitated the signing of a Code of Conduct (CoC) for parties and individuals contesting the elections.
The CoC is a document prepared by the ERC with clear guidelines to those contesting on how to function in a manner which speaks to unity and fairness among all despite differing political views.
The code commits signatories to reject the use of violence and intimidation or plans of that nature during the campaign, on election day and after the results are announced, and in doing so:-
“Forbids the use of threats, harassment or tendency to violence that might cause disruption whether at political rallies, meetings, gatherings or elsewhere, or any other form of intimidation, including the use of violence and intimidation while the undersigned political parties/groups/individuals are announcing their activities, holding their meetings, gatherings and rallies.
“Forbids the use of threatening language, or language which incites people of one group to violence against any Candidate, Agent, member or supporter of any other contesting political parties/groups/individuals.
“Forbids all actions aimed at removing, defacing, besmirching, obscuring, destroying, damaging or altering any flag, banner, poster, notice or other campaign materials of other contestants.
“Forbid the use of intimidating behavior or violence on Election Day to frighten people from going to the polls to vote, or whilst they are in the polling stations or leaving the polling stations”.
The signatories have also committed to respect the rights of political parties/groups/individuals, their candidates, agents, members and supporters to express and demonstrate their political views and to conduct lawful, non-violent activities in support of their objectives.
They have also agreed to oppose and reject any intimidation of media personnel while at the same time maintaining their right to respond, in a factual manner, to any obvious and evident media misinformation.
These guidelines are created with guidance from the laws of Guyana and articles of the Constitution. Those are: 38G – for the public service to be free from political influence; 146 – the protection of the freedom of expression; 147 – the protection of freedom of assembly, association and demonstration; 149 – the protections from discrimination on the grounds of race; 160A – political parties being prohibited from creating ethnic division; the principles of the racial hostility act and representation of the people act; section 5(2) of the public order act, chapter 16:03 and section 306 of the criminal law offence act, chapter 8:01.
With the guidelines clearly laid out, some 46 parties contesting the elections were contacted to sign the document however, only 18 signatures materialised at the event.
The signatures belonged to: Yenchandra Rambarran – Destiny to Oneness Group; Edward Persaud – Independent Candidate; Ewin Nurse – Greenwich Park/Vergenoegen Community Enhancement Group; Oral Semple – Guyana National Service Party; Mark France – Guyanese United Going Ahead group; Dr Hubert Maloney – Horizon and Star group; Independent Candidate – Juliet Williams; Aaron Blackman – Movement for Better Communities; Denzil St Hill – Movement for Unity and Democracy; Independent Candidate – Onix Duncan; Zulfikar Mustapha – People’s Progressive Party/Civic; Mark Isaac – RISE; Independent Candidate – Robert Bostwick; Shazam Ally – Citizenship Initiative; Krishna Subrian – Village Voices; Independent Candidate – Daniel Josh Kanhai; Avis Isaacs – New Horizon Movement, and Michael Carrington of the People’s National Movement.
With such a low number, the ERC says that the body will extend the time for signatures into the coming week.
Breaching of the code of conduct can result in parties and individuals being sanctioned, charged, or even barred from contesting.
The ERC said that there will be ten media monitors overlooking the process and they will be at each campaign taking place in the region.
Chairman of the ERC, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, who spoke at the signing ceremony, said that the event is a result of the unanimous support from contesting parties, diplomatic missions, and civil society.
According to Hack, this signals the intention of the parties to help to advance the best interest of Guyana and its people, which remains a critical component in promotion of harmony and good relations, among other responsibilities.
The Chairman added that with the signing of the CoC, it is expected that all will work towards the spirit of the document signed.
“It is in that context, we urge as a Commission that the efforts invested by all to participate in this process, be reflected through adherence to the spirit and intent of this Code of Conduct. We can all agree that the promotion of harmony takes a collective effort including all those who hold and those who aspire to hold public offices. There is tremendous influence within that grouping; influence that can become a potently positive force to aid in the realization of the desirous change in the manner of thinking and the conduct of public discourse. Our country and its people would expect and deserve no less,” Hack said.
Sensitive period
He acknowledged that the ERC is aware that election time remains a very sensitive period and all are expected to have their ‘hands on deck’ to ensure that the tension is lessened.
“As we traverse this sensitive period, there is that need for a multipronged approach to help lessen tension as historical lessons would remind.”
The ERC, he added, reiterates its earlier call for peaceful and free and fair elections.
Over the years, the commission has been flagged for the way in which it carries out its mandate. Parties have complained in the past that the ERC remains blind to certain infringements by parties.
Notably absent yesterday was Opposition Leader and head of APNU, Aubrey Norton, whose party did not sign the CoC yesterday.
The reason, Norton said, is that the ERC is biased and the signing of the documents only acts as a formality.
“You cannot have a CoC as a formality; it has to be in which all parties face the law,” Norton told the Sunday Stabroek.
He charged that pro-government activists are going to their rallies causing a disturbance, and then eventually the APNU Candidates and supporters are arrested.
This, he posited, is carried out with the full support of the Guyana Police Force.
Norton also insisted that the ERC only springs into action selectively.
“Not only during the elections, generally, there is a lot of ethnic conflict in this country. The ERC only springs into action for the formalities. There is supposed to be under the law an ethnic relations tribunal to be able to deal with ethnic problems, you hear nothing from the ERC and I have no confidence in the ERC, as presently constituted to deal with the problem. I think there are 20 pieces of legislation that are not implemented. The ERC cannot be an institution that is just used in a selective way; it has to live by its mandate.”
However, although he has not signed the CoC, Norton has promised that even with the documents not being signed, his party will not violate the law.
Zulfikar Mustapha, on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, noted that it is very unfortunate that some major parties have not signed the CoC, but assured that his party will continue to maintain the law during election.
“Generally as a party, I think this is good activity from the ERC. As a party, we normally promote good relations and good conduct and its very unfortunate that we haven’t seen some major parties who are contesting the LGE here but as a party, we have been promoting good campaigning, we have been promoting good conduct, harmony and peace over the years and we will continue to do that.”
Mustapha, also the Minister of Agriculture, maintained that although his party is in Government, it will not interfere with the ERC’s execution of its mandate.
