ALMOST ON the eve of an official announcement by President Bharrat Jagdeo of the date for the coming general election, has come the report on apparent, politically-motivated vandalism of billboards and posters belonging to the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and even as chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr Steve Surujbally,  was urging the media to help create an atmosphere conducive to peaceful elections.
Since the police have not apprehended anyone in connection with the cowardly acts of vandalism that occurred within the vicinity of the Kitty Police Station, it is difficult to lay blame on any party, organization or group of individuals behind such a provocative development.
Nevertheless, if the apparent intention of the perpetrators was to send a negative, if not exactly hostile and criminal message ahead of  the official launch of the 2011 election campaign season, then it is reasonable to expect that the opposition parties would be forthcoming in their unequivocal denunciations of the unprovoked vandalism to which the PPP/C has fallen victim.
This is simply an  issue over which the opposition parties cannot afford to waffle, to engage in double-speak or, worse, remain silent. The business community and civil society organizations should also consider the usefulness of condemning that act of vandalism and make clear their concerns that the elections campaign be free from all forms of recklessness that could affect a peaceful environment.
At this stage, when contesting parties are yet to present their lists of parliamentary candidates and identify presidential running-mates, it is simply perplexing to think that any serious political party or its leader would want to engage in inspiring such cowardly, destructive behavior; even if such a party or leader is already succumbing to negative vibes about electoral chances next month.
The GECOM chairman’s plea for  “peaceful elections”, as articulated on Friday during a two-day media workshop organized by the University of Guyana Centre for Communications Studies and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), should be embraced by ALL parties planning to contest the coming presidential and parliamentary elections.
Those currently fanning distortions  over the very unfortunate circumstances that have resulted in the unanticipated four-month suspension of broadcasting by CNS television (Channel Six ) that could negatively impact on the station’s workers, should also pay some attention to the disclosure on Friday by Dr Roger Luncheon in relation to failed efforts by leader of the PNCR, Robert Corbin, that, had he succeeded, would have rendered ineffective the functioning of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB).
Indeed, Dr Luncheon’s disclosure also of the manoevres also by the current PNCR leader to have his party’s representatives replaced on both the ACB and GECOM deserve to be critically assessed by those claiming to be supportive of  independence of the Elections Commission and at the same time deliberately distorting the FACTS that led to the temporary suspension of Channel Six.
The role played by the ACB as a statutory body, created on the basis of an agreement between President Jagdeo and then Opposition Leader, the now late Desmond Hoyte,  cannot be divorced from the final outcome on the temporary suspension to which the owners and management of Channel Six were participants.
While the government continues to sensitise the public to the relevant circumstances of the temporary suspension of Channel Six, perhaps consideration could be given on how some form of relief assistance may be provided to the affected workers of the TV station.