FOUR political parties contesting the September 1 General and Regional Elections, on Tuesday, took a necessary and commendable step toward fostering peace and democratic integrity in Guyana.

By signing the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) Code of Conduct, these parties have pledged not just adherence to the letter of the law, but to the spirit of unity, tolerance, and responsible leadership during what is often a highly charged election season.

The code, championed by the ERC and endorsed by its Chairman, Shaikh Moeen-ul-Hack, is more than a ceremonial gesture. It is a moral contract—a public declaration of commitment to conducting political campaigns free of hate speech, ethnic division, and incitement.

It calls on parties and their leaders to put country above partisan rhetoric, and to appeal to their supporters not with inflammatory slogans, but with ideas, solutions, and a vision for Guyana’s future.

As rightly noted by Chairman Hack, the code of conduct is not symbolic, it is binding in spirit and principle. It draws its legitimacy from existing legislation, including the Representation of the People Act, the Discrimination Prevention Act, and the Cybercrime Act.

These laws already prohibit the types of behaviour the code seeks to address; the code simply amplifies the expectation that political actors will observe them with greater vigilance during the electoral process.

Guyana’s history offers enough cautionary tales of what can happen when political contestation crosses the line into ethnic posturing and incitement.
The ERC’s proactive engagement, therefore, must be applauded—not only as a safeguard against electoral instability, but as an affirmation of the kind of political culture we must all work to build.

It is disappointing, then, that some major parties, including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) — the main opposition party– and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)—chose not to participate in the signing.

Whatever their reasons, their absence raises questions about their willingness to publicly commit to peaceful, inclusive, and law-abiding campaigns.
In a plural society like Guyana, where political allegiance too often follows ethnic lines, public commitments to civility and non-discrimination are not optional, they are essential.
To those who did sign: Zulfikar Mustapha on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Hana Dmitriyev for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Khemraj Ramjattan for the Alliance For Change (AFC), and Eon Thomas for the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), this is just the beginning.

The real test lies in action: in how candidates speak at rallies, how party surrogates behave on social media, and how leaders respond when tensions rise.
Chairman Hack’s reminder that “no electoral system is perfect” is both timely and wise. Democracy is, by nature, an imperfect and evolving exercise. It is through political maturity and restraint, not outrage and opportunism, that electoral flaws must be addressed.

As the campaign season intensifies, we urge all political actors—those who have signed the code and those who have not—to demonstrate that they are worthy of the public trust. The stakes are too high, and the people of Guyana deserve a peaceful, respectful, and constructive election.

Politics should be a true contest of ideas, guided by law, honour, and a commitment to nation-building.