Georgetown: Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally has announced that the commission is working on revising the Code of Conduct for all political parties contesting the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
According to Dr Surujbally, this is a necessary move since the language and actions of some of the parties are very ‘unbecoming.’
“As Chairman of GECOM, I don’t like the idea of political parties going on a campaign and creating an uproar. In fact, at GECOM, we will be producing again, a Code of Conduct for all of the political parties.”
He explained that a draft Code was first done before it was further revised. He, however, disclosed that the parties would be furnished with a copy after Nomination Day which is set for April 7. The parties will subsequently be invited to make recommendations on how the commission could improve the document.
The Code of Conduct for political parties is a guide of expected behaviours in the lead up to the May 11 elections. Once political parties sign onto the Code of Conduct, it is expected that the parties will abide by the protocols documented in the code, all in the interest of free and fair General and Regional Elections. The advantage of having such an agreement in place, according to GECOM, relates to being able to guard against confrontational and vitriolic election campaign meetings or rallies and statements.
Contesting parties signing the code are viewed as demonstrating their willingness to implement their respective election campaign strategies in ways that contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquility throughout and beyond the elections.
Rallies and public meetings, hosted by the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition are in full swing. The two major political parties are expected to hit the campaign trail with greater intensity closer to Nomination Day.
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