Freedom House - The People’s Progressive Party/Civic wishes to bring to the public’s attention a very disturbing incident and expresses our strongest condemnation against what seems to be a new trend as we proceed closer to the upcoming Election Day, 2011.

Throughout the country with permission, volunteers have been erecting our billboards, posters and scrolls and other forms of public advertisements as it relates to the elections.

These forms of advertisements have all been conveying positive messages in keeping with the theme of our campaign and the qualities of our presidential candidate. This is a normal and expected form of campaigning and complements our other forms of advertising via the print and electronic media or the internet including social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

The party has received reports of a gang of about 3 to 4 persons who were in the Kitty area yesterday defacing billboards, removing posters and scrolls between the hours of 18:30 and 19:00 hrs. They further proceeded to a certain part of the East Bank of Demerara where similar acts were conducted. The group seems very organized, limited in number but centrally directed in terms of targeting PPP/C campaign materials.

What is also strange is the fact that apart from the timing of these brazen acts, such actions in Kitty took place a short distance from the Kitty Police station.

The party considers this an act of hooliganism and not befitting the standards that Guyanese deserve and want during this elections period.

The PPP/C was the first party to indicate to the Guyana Elections Commission our willingness to sign the Elections code of conduct and is disappointed that APNU and the AFC are hesitant to sign the document.

Their objection will not help to foster an environment of peaceful, free and fair elections

In fact, it certainly suggests lack of commitment on their part that is short of free, fair and very civil elections.

The PPP/C will continue to bring this type of behavior to the attention of GECOM, the Election Observers and all others concerned.

The party will be dispatching a formal letter to the Chairman of GECOM Mr. Steve Surujballi of this development which will be copied to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C finds of interest that this development comes on the heels of efforts to intimidate, antagonize and to seek confrontation with our supporters at several of our public meetings, one of which was at Enterprise; whereby persons were given alcohol, bussed to the area by known executives of the opposition to create tension.

The PPP/C reaffirms that it will not condone or tolerate any of our supporter’s engaging in such behavior.

In fact, at our Albion rally there were known opposition executives who were present there and no one in the crowd sought to intimidate them as they went about collecting and distributing their anti PPP/C propaganda.

The party at all times has indicated that it intends to instill a level of disciple, civility and respect for other parties especially during this period and we expect other parties will do the same. We urge our supporters not to react and to remain calm and to ignore these provocations by the opposition whom having failed to garner public support is now resorting to dirty and uncivil electoral conduct.

We also call on Guyana Police Force to step up its vigilance as these acts were being carried out during the evening, where our supporters were told not to confront these very provocative acts.

These incidents in fact has seen hundreds of new volunteers turning up at our offices countrywide to render support to the campaign but also to ensure a climate of peace, civility and proper conduct is maintained.

The party has already moved to restore the materials which were damaged.