ONE OF the very shocking developments during the campaign for tomorrow’s Regional and National Elections was the refusal, not just a failure, by the APNU/AFC anti-PPP/C decision-makers to participate in even a single live television/radio broadcast on the way forward for Guyana beyond the official election results  to be declared.                   Whether it was out of incompetence, fear of losing the debate, or else, the Guyanese people have now been left to recall, perhaps with a blend of anger and shame, that the “leaders” of the Opposition coalition have created a new and shameful political precedent by their refusal to expose themselves to the public for even a single live broadcast debate on the way forward for this nation ahead of tomorrow’s elections.
There is no known precedent for such a refusal, such a cowardly political display by major Opposition parties in a multi-party democracy where this exercise in political education is quite relevant—not just for the Caribbean—to benefit an informed electorate.
What’s the fear of the APNU/AFC Presidential leader (David Granger) and his new-found Prime Ministerial “comrade”, Moses Nagamootoo— renegade PPP/C defector– that caused them to cowardly refuse participation in a single live broadcast debate of benefit to Guyanese in general for tomorrow’s elections?
The coalition’s refusal also coincided with their surprisingly late public release of their manifesto for the elections. They were quite active in stirring up troubles—including telling outright lies– during sessions of the last 10th Parliament where outright political falsehoods became the norm.
So why the failure to cut excuses and avail themselves for the proposed live presidential debate ahead of tomorrow’s elections?
For that matter, why the late distribution also of their manifesto to give citizens, across the political divide, reasonable time to read and consider the relevance of their policies and programmes in comparison to what the incumbent PPP/C has offered?
Meanwhile, we consider it quite relevant to note that deep concerns have been publicly expressed by representatives of some of the overseas-based missions motoring the conduct of tomorrow’s elections over the more emotional, provocative rhetoric and political posturings.
In the circumstances, it is reassuring to learn, as earlier reported in the media, that the security forces are currently on full alert against those planning to engage in political mischief, and worse.
We urge all eligible electors to go out from early tomorrow and peacefully participate in the process of casting their ballots, the results of which should be officially known by Tuesday evening, if not earlier.