– amidst emerging post-elections fears, tension
THE leaders of the four major contesting political parties have appealed for peace, stating that it is vital for Guyana not to descend into a state of anarchy and for the elections results to be accepted by all Guyanese. Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally, in whose presence they made the appeal, expressed the hope that their calls translate into positive actions by the people.
He called for political leaders and all Guyanese to exercise restraint throughout the post-elections process to ensure that it is carried out in a secure and peaceful environment.
“Please do not involve yourself, nor contribute or promote anything that could generate strife in our normally peaceful society…,” Surujbally said.
He insisted that Guyana, not now or ever, should be taken into a state of anarchy.

DONALD RAMOTAR
Presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Mr. Donald Ramotar, emphasised that democracy is indispensable to Guyana’s advance, adding that the general and regional elections are a celebration of that democracy.
According to him, the PPP/C is advocating peace and notes that the anxiety of the Guyanese people is understood.
“It is very important for us to accept the results of the elections when GECOM has completed their process….this is the acceptable way for us to renew our democracy,” he said.
Ramotar said the PPP/C is confident in the GECOM process, and reiterated that peace is vital to Guyana’s continued development.
“Democracy is indispensable for the development of our country. I want to condemn those that incite by wrong information and by fuelling the anxiety of our people…these are not patriotic utterances that I have been hearing,” he stated.

DAVID GRANGER
Presidential candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), retired Brigadier David Granger, expressed the opinion that a security crisis is impending, and called for peace.
“The security crisis is being engineered by certain provocative acts,” he said.
Granger pointed out that APNU is in the process of compiling a dossier of breaches that have fueled the tension.
“The Statements of Polls are the sole legal basis for the declaration of results. We are, therefore, fully committed to accepting results arriving from the legal basis,” he said.
The APNU leader said his party has called on all its supporters to desist from any act that may incite actions that would affect Guyana’s security situation.
”It is our view in A Partnership for National Unity that a security crisis is being engineered and certain provocative acts has been documented… we feel that a crisis in security is impending and we have called on our supporters who contact us day and night, who have called for information on the results, and we call on the intellectual authors of the crisis to desist from any act which could affect the security situation in Guyana,” Granger said.

KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN
Alliance for Change (AFC) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan said his party wants peace and that no confrontations are foreseen.
He called for political leaders to speak out against provocations to diffuse tense situations that may arise.
“It is in the interest of all political parties to desist from any provocations that can cause or realise violence in Guyana today,” the AFC leader said.
According to him, Guyana is too dear to afford any sort of post-elections violence.
He stated that it will only be Guyana’s destruction if provocations are encouraged.
Ramjattan pledged that AFC will be respectful in accepting the final results announced by GECOM.
He lauded GECOM’s efforts and noted that, in AFC’s view, the elections have been free and fair and there have not been any untoward activities.
However, Ramjattan stated that, if any such activities are found out, then recourse via legal means will be sought.

PETER PERSAUD
The United Force (TUF) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Persaud said Guyana must move forward and peace is the only way to do so.
“We do not need violence. Our country must go forward, regardless of which political party wins,” he said.
Persaud said Guyanese must resist all efforts at rumour mongering, as Guyana cannot afford to jeopardise its economic and social progress.
He noted, too, that TUF will respect GECOM’s decision, reiterating that Guyana cannot afford to go backwards.

SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS
Immediately prior to introducing the political leaders during their peace appeal, Dr. Surujbally made it adamantly clear that the elections’ results have not been compromised in any way.
“At the outset, please allow me to state categorically that the elections’ results have not been compromised in any way, shape or form whatsoever,” Surujbally declared.
“This GECOM A-Team of seasoned and battle tested professionals have carried out a successful Elections,” he boasted.
Accordingly, I call on all concerned to accept the Official results of the Elections, when they are declared by the Chief Election Officer, as the accurate reflection of how the electorate voted.”
He said, too, that such a declaration will not be done surreptitiously and ‘in camera’, rather in the open view of the public and media lenses.
“Having made that absolutely clear, it is essential that I call on the Leaders of all of the political parties which contested the elections, as well as the people of Guyana, to exercise restraint throughout the post-election processes to ensure that they are carried out in a peaceful and secure environment,” Surujbally said.
He also called on all the leaders of civil society, as well as political leaders and the Guyanese people, to appeal to their respective constituents to desist from engaging in any acts of incitement or reacting to any such acts that might confront them.
“We cannot and must not do anything, not now or ever, to take our country into a state of anarchy, chaos and mayhem. Guyana cannot afford that. Perhaps our nation as we now know it may not withstand that,” Surujbally said.