“IT is the intent of GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) to resurrect the 2011 political parties Code of Conduct,” the body’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally has assured.Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview, he explained that a draft Code is expected to be circulated to political parties, which will be invited to make recommendations to improve the document.

Queries on an update were made in light of the fact that public meetings, hosted by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the Alliance of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), are in full swing.
Additionally, the parties are expected to hit the campaign trail with greater intensity closer to Nomination Day, April 7.
According to Dr. Surujbally the draft code is completed.
The code of conduct for political parties is a guide of expected behaviours in the lead up to the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
Once political parties sign onto the Code of Conduct it is expected that the parties abide by the protocols documented in the code, all in the interest of free and fair General and Regional elections.
The General Secretaries of the Coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, and the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson, were unavailable for comment when contacted by this newspaper.
The advantage of having such an agreement in place, according to GECOM, relates to being able to guard against confrontational and vitriolic election campaign meetings/rallies and statements.
Contesting parties signing the code are viewed as demonstrating their willingness to implement their respective election campaign strategies in ways that contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquility throughout and beyond the elections. (Vanessa Narine)