| …PPP/C accused of breach hours laterPull Quote: “…the code recognizes, as do you,Jerseys From China, who will sign it that peace and order, compliance with electoral laws, respect for opponents and the electorate are of paramount importance,” Dr SurujballyAfter being guilty of committing several mudslinging campaigns in the lead up to the Regional and General Election all of the political parties contesting, have signed on to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Code of Conduct.The signing took place at what was referred to as a neutral venue (Umana Yana). A few short hours after the ceremony A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) lodged a complaint that the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic has breached the Code of Conduct.According to APNU, “The ink had not dried yet on Donald Ramotar’s signature on the Code of Conduct when the PPP/C Campaign Director, Robert Persaud; Regional Chairman, Ali Baksh; and Officers of the Lands and Survey proceeded to Charity where, from three tents, Persaud and his team have been distributing leases for land to residents of the Essequibo Coast.”This activity, according to APNU, is in flagrant violation of Section I,Cheap NFL Jerseys Supply, Paragraph 3, of the Code of Conduct that commits the signatory parties to “avoid all illegal and corrupt practices, including inducement and election bribery.”The political rivals who signed on to GECOM’s Code of ConductAPNU says that it brought “this unsavoury behaviour” to the attention of GECOM and expects that in keeping with its obligations under the Code, namely, “to publicize each and every violation of the Code by any and all political parties,Cheap Jerseys,” the Commission will pronounce on the first violation of the Code of Conduct solemnly signed by the Presidential Candidates.At the Signing Ceremony GECOM’s Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally described the occasion as a truly red letter day of historic proportions which should be remembered in the political annals of the country.He added too that the commitment reflects the coming of age of political maturity in Guyana. “This is the day when political differences are consciously cast aside so that these noble visionary patriots by placing their signatures on that document are in effect placing out nation first and are demonstrating their willingness, their preparedness,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, their commitment to adhering to the rules of a code of conduct.”The GECOM Chairman warned that the Code and its objectives are not an illusion, pointing out that “this code is here to stay but only if you make it that way…I have no doubt whatsoever that you all are convinced of the objectives and tenets enshrined in this Code of Conduct for political parties contesting.”Dr Surujbally urged and warned that “signing onto to the Code of Conduct is simply the right and decent thing to do.”He said that adherence to the Code represents taking the moral high ground outside of the deteriorating campaign that has been going on.Dr Surujbally warned that the Code itself cannot be faulted. Given that it is not a punitive Code “the essence of this Code is self-regulatory…it is neither a complex code, nor a complicated code, it is very straightforward.”He said, “The code recognizes, as do you, who will sign it that peace and order, compliance with electoral laws, respect for opponents and the electorate are of paramount importance.”The Elections Commission Chairman said, too,Jerseys Wholesale, that the code recognizes a commitment to free and fair elections and warned that GECOM must not be placed to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of hostility and turbulence.“You cannot ask us to do this…the atmosphere must be one of purity.”He said that as long as the signatories share the conviction that the code is all encompassing, “then campaign behaviour will inevitably result in the singular focus of healing.”Dr Surujbally cautioned that the code must not be weakened by mistrust or discarded adding that it represents more than a guideline, “it is that holy grail for practicising campaigners.”This code must not be allowed to disappear into the “fog of political nothingness,Cheap Basketball Jerseys,” Dr Surujbally asserted.Among those who witnessed the signing ceremony yesterday were members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of various international organizations, and party members and supporters. |
