APNU no show at ERC Code of Conduct signing ahead of local gov’t elections

Several parties and candidates on Saturday signed onto a Code of Conduct crafted by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) ahead of the June 12 Local Government Elections.

The country’s main political opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), did not attend Saturday’s event to sign the document but APNU representatives claim they have consented to signing the document.

Based on documents shared by the ERC, 18 persons, including independent candidates and representatives of political groups, signed the Code of Conduct at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.

This is the first time the body is inviting candidates to sign this document for Local Government Elections.

Chairperson of the ERC, Sheik Moeen Ul Hack, in brief remarks, said this Code of Conduct is meant to guarantee peace before, during and after the elections.

It calls on parties and candidates to refrain from any harmful rhetoric, in keeping with Guyana’s laws.

The 18 signatures include: Yenchandra Rambarran of the Destiny to Oneness Group; Independent Candidate Edward Persaud; Ewin Nurse of the Greenwich Park/ Vergenoegen Community Enhancement Group; Oral Semple of the Guyana National Service Party; Mark France of the Guyanese United Going Ahead group; Dr. Hubert Maloney of the Horizon and Star group; Independent Candidate Juliet Williams; Aaron Blackman of the Movement for Better Communities; Denzil St. Hill of the Movement for Unity and Democracy; Independent Candidate, Onix Duncan; Zulfikar Mustapha of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic; Mark Isaac of RISE; Independent Candidate, Robert Bostwick; Shazam Ally of the Citizenship Initiative; Krishna Subrian of Village Voices; Independent Candidate, Daniel Josh Kanhai; Avis Isaacs of the New Horizon Movement and Michael Carrington of the People’s National Movement.

After the event, the Chairperson told reporters that the ERC will accommodate the remaining groups and candidates so they can sign the document in the coming week.

“Every effort was made to contact the 46 parties (and) individuals who are contesting the Local Government Elections 2023 and consideration was also given to those who are in the far, outlying areas.

“We’ve indicated to them that the signing will continue in the coming week and we will facilitate and make everything possible for those who wish to sign the Code of Conduct,” he said.

Outside of the individuals who signed on Saturday, 21 groups and candidates including APNU, consented to signing onto the Code of Conduct but were either unable to attend Saturday’s event nor did they indicate when they will sign.

Two groups, the CWC Moleson Creek Action Group and the Development for People, and one candidate, Malcolm De Freitas did not consent to signing onto the Code of Conduct.