The Carter Center is calling on all political parties to sign the Code of Conduct formulated by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).
On August 5, 2025, political parties gathered to sign the code in which they committed to peaceful campaigns, the avoidance of hate speech, ethnically divisive rhetoric, and the prioritization of the nation over any political party.
The Carter Center in its preelection statement noted that two political parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), did not sign the code of conduct, and issued a call on all contenders of the September 1, 2025, poll.
“The Center calls on all parties to sign the code and to commit to its principles, which reflect the laws of Guyana and recognized international standards for democratic elections. The Carter Center further calls on all political parties to abide by Guyanese law and international standards for democratic elections in avoiding hate speech and encouraging peaceful political participation of all party supporters,” the statement from the center read.
APNU and the FGM have both defended their decisions to boycott the signing of the Code of Conduct.
FGM said it declined due to unresolved concerns with the ERC, noting that its leader, Amanza Walton-Desir, had submitted recommendations on the draft Code that were never addressed. While welcoming the initiative, the party insisted the Code must be credible, enforceable, and equitable.
APNU, led by Aubrey Norton, also refused to sign, citing a lack of confidence in the ERC’s impartiality. Both parties, however, pledged to campaign peacefully and lawfully.
The four other parties approved to contest the September 1 elections signed onto the Code: Zulfikar Mustapha for the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Hana Dmitriyev for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Khemraj Ramjattan for the Alliance for Change (AFC), and Eon Thomas for the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), led by former APNU+AFC minister Simona Broomes.
