RESPONDING to the move by the Alliance for Change (AFC) to develop their own code of conduct, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally made it clear that the Commission has from the inception invited feedback from the political parties interested in contesting the general and regional elections. During a press briefing at Cara Lodge on Thursday, Dr Surujbally stated that he was pleased about this move and pointed out that GECOM’s Code of Conduct is a draft document.
The AFC has since written to GECOM in a letter dated October 21 proposing several additions and changes to the document.
“The Code of Conduct for political parties is a stand-alone document, which is not contaminated or diluted. It is an absolute document that must not include extraneous features,” Dr Surujbally asserted.
According to him, the GECOM’s current Code of Conduct will be improved upon following  feedbacks from political parties and urged that all political parties sign on to the document.
The GECOM Chairman noted that copies of the Code were circulated to some 19 political parties and feedbacks should have come by September 26, 2011. However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is the only major political player to give written endorsement.
“GECOM has received oral endorsement from others,” he said.
To date, not only the AFC, but another major political party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has also declined to sign the document.
“GECOM has developed a draft Code of Conduct for political parties with the primary objective of encouraging an atmosphere of open, free and fair political competition…the Code sends out a clear moral message,” Surujbally stressed.

Self-Regulatory
The GECOM Chairman made it clear that the Code, like the Media Code of Conduct signed by several media houses, is self-regulatory.
“While the Code of Conduct is not incorporated by law and can therefore not be enforced by GECOM or any other organisation, it sets out the standards of behaviour expected from each political party and its members,” Surujbally said.
He observed that stakeholders, in particular political parties, must recognise that peace and public order, freedom of political campaigning and compliance with electoral laws and regulations are essential for a free and fair competition – an atmosphere encouraged by the Code of Conduct.
According to him, political parties would open themselves to public criticism if they, having signed on to the Code of Conduct, disregard the standards which they subscribed to.

Conducive atmosphere
The GECOM Chairman called for players in the elections race to respect the different elections campaigns, so as to ensure that the elections are conducted in an atmosphere devoid of fear and intimidation.
Citing recent complaints from political parties of disrupted meetings and vandalized campaign materials, as well as complaints of persons being vilified at political meetings and rallies, Surujbally said these are in contrast to what the Code of Conduct promotes.
He called for stakeholders to refrain from actions that could generate discord in the pre, and post-elections periods.
Surujbally expressed the hope that there would be a change in opinions by those opposing the Code of Conduct for political parties – in the interest of the staging of a free,  fair and credible electoral process.