Lets us vote in peace

Being in public office and running a campaign carries with it the implicit responsibility that one will act in a way that does not endanger anyone, whether political supporter or foe.

It has been reported that highly- inflammatory, anonymous threats, and an air-rifle shooting have infiltrated the local government election campaign. But make no mistake, these matters – if indeed they are politically motivated (it is for the police to determine the source of the threats as well as the circumstances of the assault of music truck driver Rooplal Rampersad, 37) affect all of us, not just PNM supporters.

It is in nobody’s interest for our election cycle to become dogged with violence. Political parties hold rallies in public spaces where persons of all walks of life congregate.

The use of violence therefore threatens anybody caught in the fire. We call on the police to investigate threats made against a PNM candidate but cannot help but note the irony of a warning from PNM public relations officer Stuart Young who urged the national community to join the PNM in “full condemnation of this type of language and behaviour.” If only the politicians, too, obeyed the call for more temperate language.

Even smaller parties seem to be feeling the pressures of an increasingly divisive electoral race with the Movement for Justice claiming their posters have been vandalized, itself a frequent complaint made by all parties at all elections. Historically, the more fraught the election race the greater the level of animus around the poll and, perhaps, the lower the turnout. The highly acrimonious US election was a good example of how negative campaigning, including the throwing of mud and the making of allegations and counter-allegations does not tend to inspire voters to come out and exercise their rights.

The fallout is often that only the most extreme or die-hard supporters vote, itself potentially skewing the result. Time will tell when it comes to the upcoming election and the voter turnout.

The reports, if linked to political motives, raise the prospect of an entirely new dimension to our campaigns for local government that have been relatively staid.

Such a development would not bode well for our democratic landscape which has struggled in the past to deal with high-profile instances of violence. The murky circumstances surrounding the fire-bombing and murder of a family with persons tied to the UNC in 2010 have not been subject to judicial determination.

Still, we should remember that we have set a good example of peaceful democratic processes.

Whatever is behind the reports, the authorities must stamp out any elements of malice. Any entity trying to impede the process of voting has to be roundly condemned.

Caution must also be taken not to come to make nebulous charges of violence at large against political foes in relation to matters being probed — that itself is a form of reckless incitement. We strongly condemn anyone who would seek to incite violence and call on the authorities to swiftly nip any nefarious conduct in the bud. Let us vote in peace.