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– only one party has signed on In light of several controversial statements made by politicians on the campaign trail, the PrivatePPP/C general secretary, Clement RoheeSector Commission (PSC) has issued a statement calling for the urgent implementation of the Political Parties’ code of conduct.The code of conduct was prepared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) since April 14 and the draft circulated among the political parties contesting the elections, with the intention of preventing politicians from making divisive and inflammatory speeches while campaigning.According to Chairman of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally, the drafts were prepared and sent out to the candidates,Ronnie Lott College Jersey, with the intention that the respective parties would review it, make recommendations or alterations to any parts that they disagreed with, and then resubmit them to GECOM.In the press release,Troy Polamalu USC Jersey, the PSC commended GECOM for formulating the code and urged all contesting political parties to sign on and demonstrate ‘good faith and respect for the citizenry.’ It also called for the parties to place the well being of the nation before all other commitments.Eight parties – Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC), Independent Party (IP), Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP),Kevin Love UCLA Jersey, National Independent Party (NIP), The United Force (TUF), United Republican Party (URP) and Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP) – have been sent the document, with the intention that they would provide feedback to GECOM.Kaieteur News has so far been able to ascertain that only one party, the URP, has signed on to the code of conduct.TUF Presidential candidate, Marissa NadirWhen this publication made contact with the General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee,Zach LaVine College Jersey, he denied seeing a copy of the code of conduct,General Secretary of the AFC,Kemba Walker Uconn Jersey, David Patterson, meanwhile confirmed that the party had received the draft, but owing to both presidential and prime ministerial candidates being out of the country ( in Canada, meeting with the Diaspora), the draft could not have been reviewed.He however stated that the candidates would peruse the draft, and affix their signatures as soon as possible.Leader of the TUF Marissa Nadir, also confirmed receipt of the draft, stating that though there were a couple minor kinks she would raise with GECOM,Josh Rosen College Jersey, she did not have much of a problem with it and would sign on by the end of the week.She also mentioned one aspect of the draft in particular, which called for candidates to exercise restraint over their supporters, stating that though she had no issues with it, “other parties should take note of that stipulation”.Presidential candidate for the Independent Party, Mark Benschop, also stated that he had received the draft and confirmed that he will sign on.He also expressed the hope that the two major parties would assent and adhere to the code of conduct. Pointing to the PPP/C’s statements on the campaign trail, he called for a cessation of such language, stating that “long gone are those days”.Most recently, former President Bharrat Jagdeo was cited by the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) for making ‘racially charged’ comments at Babu Jaan. A private court action filed by Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram,Kareem Abdul-Jabbar College Jersey, was subsequently brought against him following the release of the MMU’s report.He was slated to appear at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday last (April 20), on the charge of using ‘racially divisive’ language. However Jagdeo never showed, instead having his lawyers appear on his behalf.The former president, along with other PPP/C candidates, has also been reported in sections of the media, as having made more divisive statements at other subsequent campaign rallies. |
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