APNU was one of two political parties that abstained from signing the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) Code of Conduct to uphold ethical campaigning and peaceful engagement throughout the electoral period. In a statement issued Thursday, APNU gave its reasons for doing so.
The Forward Guyana Movement, led by former PNC/R member Amanza Walton-Desir, was also absent from the signing on Wednesday.
See below the full release from APNU:
The APNU Coalition would like to enter into the record its reasons for not signing the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Code of Conduct. Let us be abundantly clear that while we believe in the value of a Code of Conduct on peaceful, respectful, and lawful campaigning, we have no confidence in the impartiality and independence of the Ethnic Relations Commission. Under the PPP government, the ERC has become merely a political stooge. Not surprisingly, it has accordingly failed to perform its many constitutional functions.
The ERC is therefore unfit to serve as the sponsor of a Code of Conduct on peaceful election campaigning. Thus, we see the signing ceremony as a political gimmick, one that will do little to promote free and fair elections and to serve the interests of the Guyanese people.
The APNU Coalition hereby pledges to the nation that we will conduct our campaign in a peaceful, lawful, respectful manner – as we already are. We embrace the fact that Guyanese have the constitutional freedom of expression, association and assembly. We embrace the fact that Guyanese must be able to freely vote for the party of their choice.
As the next government, we will create the conditions for the ERC to transform itself in line with its constitutional mandate.
Four parties sign ERC’s code of conduct, commit to ethical campaigning and peaceful 2025 elections
The post APNU gives reason for not signing ERC’s code of conduct appeared first on News Room Guyana.
