Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally, and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Bishop Juan Edghill, have met to consider areas in which the two organisations can work collaboratively towards maintenance of an electoral environment that is free from violence.
This initial exploratory meeting between Surujbally and Edghill took place on Wednesday, February 2nd at the GECOM Office, a release from the entity stated.
During the discussions, specific focus was placed by Dr Surujbally and Bishop Edghill on activities associated with the upcoming elections which could lead to racial/ethnic strife, such as political campaigning and media reportage.
In this regard, Bishop Edghill informed Dr Surujbally that the ERC was in the process of establishing the organisational capacity to monitor political campaigns and rallies across Guyana with a view to preventing the utterances of racial/ethnic innuendos which could generate racial/ethnic problems and cause violent confrontations. Pointing out that GECOM had already initiated steps towards resuscitating the GECOM Media Monitoring Unit, Dr Surujbally updated Bishop Edghill on the status of preparations for the conduct of General and Regional Elections later this year.
He emphasised that, as a matter of policy, GECOM’s work is done without bias for or against any of the contesting
Dr Steve Surujbally
political parties or their respective constituents.
With respect to the ERC’s intention to monitor political campaigns and rallies across Guyana, Dr Surujbally assured the ERC chairman that GECOM would remain open to providing any possible form of assistance which would contribute to the maintenance of a violence-free environment during the pre- and post-election periods.
Surujbally and Edghill also affirmed their commitment to work in a collaborative effort within the mandates of their respective constitutional commissions towards the holding of free, fair and transparent elections in observance of international best practices.
In this regard, they undertook to engage each other in a consultative and mutually supportive approach insofar as the maintenance of national peace and tranquility is concerned.
