GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken is urging people not to get involved in any form of violence as the campaign for the September 1 general and regional elections winds down.
“This is an important moment for our country, and it is time for all of us to show the world that Guyana is a peaceful, respectful, and united nation,” he said, adding that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is fully prepared for the elections.
He said the police will have a presence throughout the country on polling day, “not to interfere but to protect your constitutional rights to participate peacefully and safely.
“Let it be clearly understood that any attempt to create disorder, intimidate others, or break the law will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. We have confidence in the people of Guyana. In recent years, we have made significant strides as a nation in building a safer and more orderly society. Let us protect that progress.
“Treat each other with courtesy, speak with care, respect your fellow citizen. Carry yourself with pride as a Guyanese, the top cop said in the broadcast, adding “together let’s safeguard the peace, before, during and after the elections”.
On Tuesday night, the main opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), stated that it needs a turnout increase of less than 10 percent at the polls on Monday to win the general election.
“I urge you to work with everyone to ensure we get maximum turnout. Suppose we increase our turnout by 5 percent. In that case, the PPPC (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) is beaten hands down, and so let us work to win these elections,” APNU leader, Aubrey Norton, told a public meeting at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara..
At stake in the general elections are the presidency, 65 parliamentary seats, and seats on the 10 regional councils.
Six candidates are contesting the position of President during the elections. They are the incumbent, President Irfaan Ali of the PPP/C, Norton of the APNU, attorney Nigel Hughes of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement, and the leader of the Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity (ALP) movement, Dr. Simona Broomes.
Seven political parties are contesting the elections, but political observers say that the race will be a contest mainly between the PPP/C and the APNU.
The polls are being monitored by regional and international groups, including the US-based Carter Center, the Organization of American States (OAS and the Commonwealth.
Norton told supporters that they should not be complacent and should turnout in large numbers to vote in the coalition.
“On election day, we must go and bring out everyone to vote. Your vote matters,” Norton said, recalling that the APNU had lost in an area named Kumaka by one vote.
“If you think your vote does not matter, you are making a mistake,” he said.
While the ruling PPP/C has not publicly stated the number of votes that are needed to win the September 1 general elections, it has publicly been talking about winning by a two-thirds majority as well as winning seats that are historically controlled by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which is the main party within the APNU.
Speaking at a rally of his ruling party, President Ali on Tuesday night condemned what he described as “hurtful and dangerous” attacks on Afro-Guyanese and religious leaders who support his party.
He told supporters at Flambouyant Square, Eccles, that there is a campaign of insults targeting Afro-Guyanese who are supportive of the party.
“Why must Afro-Guyanese be called derogatory names just because they support the PPP? Why must a religious leader be attacked because of his faith and his choice? This has no place in our Guyana,” Ali said, adding that had it been a PPP/C supporter making the.
Ali insisted that if any PPP supporter had threatened a religious leader, it would have been splashed across headlines.
“Why the double standard? Why the silence from those who claim to be moral voices of society?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall stated that he has written to international observers and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), expressing concerns about potential violence when the election results are announced.
“Mr Norton has said more than once that if APNU does not win, he will not accept the results,” Nandlall said, referring also to Azruddin Mohamed, the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
“Mr Mohamed has made similar declarations. That is dangerous. Those are not just slip-of-the-tongue remarks, they are threats to our democracy,” Nandlall said that these concerns have been formally conveyed to international observers, as well as to the Police Commissioner.
“I have reported these statements and requested that swift action be taken where necessary. The rule of law must prevail,” the Attorney General said, dismissing the opposition’s claims of election rigging.
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