UNFORTUNATE goings-on in the political arena have caused ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to adopt a posture of enhanced alertness as they look out for campaign saboteurs in the run-up to regional and general elections, which are to be held on May 11.

Crime Chief Leslie James made this disclosure to the Chronicle in an interview on Friday, and assured that all divisions of the GPF have been put on alert for campaign saboteurs in response to official complaints from at least three political parties.

“Any report that we receive that campaign paraphernalia are damaged will be taken seriously. This is a position adopted by all the divisions, something all the divisions are alerted to,” he told the Chronicle.

He added that increased police patrols are part of the GPF response.

“Patrols are part of our response; and if, during the patrols, anyone is caught in the act, [he/she] will be dealt with according to law — taken into custody and charges will follow,” the Crime Chief assured.

POLICE REPORTS

Most vocal of the affected political parties is the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which, in the last week alone, has lost a number of campaign billboards, had its posters defaced, and had its party flags torn down and thrown away.

For instance, late into the night on Monday last, activists aligned with the political Opposition were seen on the West Coast of Demerara, between Cornelia Ida and Blankenburg, removing flags of the ruling PPP/C in less than 24 hours of their being put up. The PPP/C flags were being replaced with those of the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

The PPP/C Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) representative, Mr Irfaan Ali, told the Chronicle that, on the night in question, four campaign billboards and 60 per cent of the flags mounted by that party were lost.

Up to that point, four reports had been made to the police station within the district.

DARK AGE POLITICS

PPP/C Executive and Former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has denounced the act as “Dark Age” politics.

At a recent news conference, Dr Jagdeo said, “I think it is an act of desperation…I say to our comrades, ‘leave them alone!’ It is a kind of intimidation…they [the perpetrators] are doing this around the country. They are intimidating people.”

Dr Jagdeo said all political parties ought to be free to campaign in their bid for the country’s leadership ahead of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

“These campaign people should be free to post their campaign paraphernalia and not have them destroyed. People should be able to campaign in every village, whether they get support in that village or not, and not be intimidated like our people were in Sophia.”

An earlier statement from the coalesced APNU+AFC also condemned such actions.

“APNU+AFC condemn such behaviour, conduct and threats…We urge our supporters to remain calm and focused on the task at hand,” the party said.

The United Republic Party (URP), one of the smaller political contenders, has also complained of suffering acts of sabotage of its paraphernalia.

URP leader Vishnu Bandhu, in an invited comment, bemoaned the act, and stressed that each political party ought to enjoy space in Guyana’s democratic system to be able to make its bid as effectively as possible at the upcoming polls.

Bandhu said the most recent incident was reported in the vicinity of the Demerara Habour Bridge. “Our posters were completely covered by APNU+AFC posters,” he said.

Bandhu has strongly condemned such actions. “Each party must be able to conduct its campaign without having to deal with these kinds of actions,” he said.

WARNING
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has, via public advertisements, repeated its warning against such transgressions. The law regarding activities such as removing, damaging, or defacing any election campaign material is clear: those acts are criminal.

One of the advertisements states: “Any person found removing, damaging or defacing any electoral notice or election campaign material will be prosecuted; and if found guilty, may go to prison or pay a fine, or both.”

For some offences, a person may, for some time, also be disqualified from voting in subsequent elections.

“Elections offences are actions and practices that are prohibited by law for the purpose of achieving free and fair elections. Certain actions committed before, during, or after the election could be deemed as election offences,” GECOM has warned.
Written By Vanessa Narine