Political parties should concentrate on cultivating doves
-Surujbally tells Commonwealth envoy
Stabroek News
August 31, 2002

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Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally has told visiting Commonwealth envoy, Sir Paul Reeves that he should advise the "leading politicos" to cultivate doves instead of hawks.

Sir Paul is here to speak to political parties and others on how to help restart the dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Desmond Hoyte.

A press release from the Elections Commission yesterday said that Surujbally told Sir Paul on Thursday that he and his team should look at the major players on the political scene with a view to understanding the historical and current structures of their respective political parties and to suggest that they purge themselves of intransigent and hate-filled elements.

"In other words, we are suggesting that you advise the leading politicos to concentrate on cultivating doves instead of hawks. Leaders of political parties should ensure that messages of a peaceful and collaborative nature are projected to their political opponents", the release said.

It said that Surujbally "ominously declared that the nation seemed to be `five minutes to midnight' and that GECOM's role in perpetuating and preserving democratic processes was being threatened".

Surujbally advised Sir Paul that any activity which could lead to societal disorder and distress be identified and corrective initiatives taken. In this context, Surujbally suggested among other things that since sections of the media have time and again been accused of allowing themselves to be conduits of malice and "agitators of discontent", the Commonwealth Secretariat should focus on providing guidance for the developing and enacting of legislation which would guarantee that the media operate within the ambit of such legislation.

"One recognises the perpetual arguments between unbridled freedom for the media to operate and accusations of media muzzling. But it should be preferred at this time in our history and development, to consider the advocating "of appropriate restrictions so that the anarchical tendencies could be nipped in the bud", Surujbally said in the release.