TODAY Guyanese go to the polls to decide what kind of government our country would have over the next five years. It is the sort of civic duty that is overladen with far-reaching consequences. And this election is by far one of the most significant. Here is hoping that Guyanese understand the responsibility that is placed on them to ensure that today’s

exercise bears the kind of fruit that would reflect the better side of us.
No election result will satisfy all the contestants; there will be victors, and those who will not quite make the mark. But in the end, all Guyana should be winners. The burden of democracy commands us to respect the rules we agree to, and fall in line when the majority prevails. Towards this end, we call on our top leadership to ensure that we emerge from today as a more mature nation that our children can be proud of. Against that background, our message today is one of peace and maturity.

There is always the temptation by political parties to push the envelope, even on Election Day, as they search for advantage over their opponents. How many times have we not heard of instances where parties are swayed to tamper with the electoral process? We urge our leaders to help GECOM deliver the cleanest elections possible. The integrity of the process matters, especially in an environment that is as tense as ours. There must be pressure on those who would like to engage in muddying the waters to cease and desist.

We call on the political parties to ensure that citizens are allowed to cast their votes free from harassment and intimidation by those who often appoint themselves as guardians and enforcers of communities. In areas where some voters may be deemed a minority, representatives of the majority sometimes use that status to intimidate the perceived minority. Such actions are a far cry from the democracy to which we aspire. Let every citizen in all communities go to the polls and cast their vote, free from undue pressure and threats from partisan enforcers. Today must be a day when freedom of association must be upheld in its entirety.

We are aware that in certain communities there are those who are well-practiced in the art of electoral manipulation. One practice is to try to bully election workers. This publication calls for very strict policing of such actions. Polling Day workers, whether they are from GECOM or from the respective political parties, must be left to do their jobs with the kind of impartiality that would yield outcomes that all parties and all sides can accept. No doubt, our armed forces are called upon to be as vigilant as possible to thwart any attempts to sully the process. Today must be a day when we can look the world in its face and demonstrate our maturity as a nation. Parties must move beyond rhetoric, and ensure that their supporters adhere to the code of conduct to which they agreed.

There is always the threat of violence on Election Day; it is a day when tempers are bound to flare. But the watchwords of peace and tranquility must roam the country. We want peaceful elections. There has been much talk of the role of citizens on this day. The first duty is to vote. Then, as we await the results, let there be calm. An election that is riveted with violence or the threat of violence is not to the benefit of our country. We have come too far as a civilisation to let violent instincts rule our hearts and minds on this crucial day. Today must be a day when we resolutely turn our faces away from violence.
The world is watching Guyana; the new status as a potentially oil-rich country has set the gaze of the international community upon us. Apart from the local, international and regional observer groups,

these elections are being covered by several international and regional media. It is a testimony to the importance of this day that others have shown an avid interest in what happens here. The rest of the world must see the face of a Guyana that recognises its new status as a place of global importance.