THE GENERAL reluctance, if not outright public silence by the two opposition parties—APNU and AFC—to make specific appeals for a peaceful presidential, parliamentary and regional elections tomorrow, sharply contrasts with the overwhelming calls from the incumbent PPP/C , as well as the pleas from the private sector, organised labour, religious bodies and other civil society organisations. But we prefer to believe that, for all the hysteria and falsehoods propagated from platforms and in the media, the contesting parties would understand the importance of ensuring a peaceful electoral process tomorrow as being essential to the safeguarding of democracy, and serving the best interest of ALL Guyanese.
It is only natural to expect the contesting parties to seek to score political advantages in wooing voters. That’s part of the democratic process. But NOT the spreading of outright lies, or in engaging in strategies that could provoke ethnic hostilities, or worse, criminal violence.
Such strategies must be exposed and resisted, since they would be a sad throwback to the past. Now, more than ever, having overcome the social and economic decadence of a different period, when free and fair elections were placed on hold, Guyana must go forward — not backwards.
This nation’s remarkable achievements, against all odds, have been confirmed by the international financial institutions: It is no longer the object of ridicule, within CARICOM or else. Rather, Guyana is now a frequently referenced example of expanding productivity and a unique pattern of real growth, and an enviasble attraction of foreign investments.
Little wonder that the opposition had such difficulties in preparing their manifestos.
The credit belongs to the Guyanese people, across the ethnic and political divides, whose resourcefulness have proved so useful in enabling the realisation of the government’s policies and programmes for sustained economic growth, and a virtual transformation in the provision of social services in key areas of health and education, water and housing.
The pleas for peaceful voting and acceptance of the official results have come from the disciplined forces (police and army) themselves; from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM);the Ethnic Relations Commission; observer missions; women and other organisations, all quite conscious of why Guyana must NOT return to a political culture of the past, rooted in “party paramountcy”, but to keep moving forward — together.
The best way to ensure an even better future for all, by reaching for a peace with unity, is to let the contesting parties behave with maturity on voting day, and be prepared to abide by the decision of the electorate. It has been a long and strenuous campaign. Tomorrow has been declared a national holiday. All eligible voters must put aside excuses, and go cast their ballots with peace, national unity, and progress foremost in mind.