GCCI urges political parties to refrain from inciteful election claims

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday urged political parties to desist from making inflammatory statements that could undermine Guyana’s electoral process.

The Chamber in a statement said it “strongly rejects” contrived efforts to destabilise the electoral process, cautioning that early declarations of victory and claims of interference risk plunging the country into uncertainty.

“The Chamber stands firmly in its position that any self-serving attempt to usurp the electoral process must be met with strong condemnation and legal action, where necessary,” the statement said.

GCCI, which is an accredited local observer, noted that some parties have claimed victory in specific regions before votes are fully tabulated, including those of the Joint Services. It also criticised assertions by some candidates that opponents intend to interfere with results or support extreme actions if outcomes are disputed.

Calling free and fair elections a cornerstone of democracy, the Chamber said it will continue to monitor the situation and repeated calls for a transparent process accompanied by timely results.