– for 2011 elections
CHAIRMAN of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr. Steve Surujbally and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Bishop Juan Edghill have met to consider areas in which the two organisations could work together towards the maintenance of an electoral environment that is free from violence. This initial exploratory meeting between Dr. Surujbally and Bishop Edghill took place on Wednesday last at the Office of the GECOM Chairman.

During the discussions at the meeting, specific focus was placed by Dr. Surujbally and Bishop Edghill on activities associated with the upcoming elections which could lead to racial/ethnic strife, such as political campaigning and media reportage.

In this regard, Bishop Edghill informed Dr. Surujbally that the ERC was in the process of establishing the organizational capacity to monitor political campaigns and rallies across Guyana with a view to preventing the utterance of racial/ethnic innuendos which could generate racial/ethnic problems, and with the potential to cause violent confrontations.

Pointing out that GECOM had already initiated steps towards resuscitating the GECOM Media Monitoring Unit, Dr. Surujbally updated Bishop Edghill on the status of preparations for the conduct of General and Regional Elections later this year.

He emphasized that, as a matter of policy, GECOM’s work is done without bias for or against any of the contesting Political Parties or their respective constituents.

With respect to the ERC’s intention to monitor political campaigns and rallies across Guyana, Dr. Surujbally assured the ERC’s Chairman that GECOM would remain open to providing any possible form of assistance which would contribute to the maintenance of a violence free environment during the pre-, peri-, and post-election periods.

Mr. Vishnu Persaud, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that Dr. Surujbally and Bishop Edghill affirmed their commitment to work in a collaborative effort within the mandates of their respective Constitutional Commissions towards the holding of free, fair and transparent elections in observance of international best practice.
In this regard, Persaud said they undertook to engage each other in a consultative and mutually supportive approach insofar as the maintenance of national peace and tranquility is concerned.