Dr. Friday denounces defacing of Political poster at Campden Park

By Admin. Updated 12:30 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2020, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Kingstown, St. Vincent (One News SVG) – Political Leader and President of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Godwin Friday, denounced the defacing of a political poster that displayed the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (ULP), Dr. Mineva Glasgow.

Dr. Glasgow is expected to be nominated to contest the November 5 poll in the South Leeward in the constituency against the incumbent, Nigel Stephenson.

At today’s (October 16) signing of the Political Ethical Code of Conduct for the November 5th General elections at the Methodist Church Hall, Dr. The Hon Godwin Friday said “this should be an election of ideas, a contest on the judgment of our practices and our proposals and the way we have conducted ourselves”.

Political Poster at Campden Park that was destroyed

Dr. Friday also said that his party discourages the painting and defacing of public property and to desist from provocative behavior that may incite violence.

Supporter of the ULP who was reportedly beaten at a whistle stop in Campden Park

These statements came after the General Secretary of the Unity Labour Party Hon. Julian Francis, who signed the agreement for the 5th consecutive time on behalf of the party, highlighted activities that are already occurring in the campaigning period that go against the ethical code of conduct.

With the signing of the agreement, both parties have pledged to act by the guidelines stipulated within the Ethical Code of Conduct and appeal to their supporters to promote non-violent and clean elections.

The Political Ethical Code of Conduct is governed by the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism (NMCM) which was formed on May 4th 2000 through the Grand Beach Accord. The members are as followed; SVG Chamber of Industry & Commerce, SVG Bar Association, National council of Women, the Association of Evangelical Churches, the Spiritual Baptiste, Seventh Day Adventist, New Democratic Party, Unity Labour Party, SVG Green Party and the Christian council which serves as chair and convener.

The NMCM is intended to foster democracy, promote respect for human rights, encourage participation in the electoral process and to promote an election process free of violence. They have monitored the last four elections (2001,2005,2010,2015) and the 2009 constitutional referendum.