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The two main political parties here have signed a Code of Ethical Political Conduct ahead of the November 27 general elections.

The ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) signed the code developed by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council’s National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism(NMCM).

The NMCM said that the code is intended to achieve several objectives, including fostering of democracy ‘through peaceful, free and fair elections conducted when they are constitutionally due in which voters are allowed to cast their ballots freely, without interference, fear, intimidation or bribery’

It is also intended for the promotion of respect for human rights, the pursuit of civil and political liberties, the tolerance of divergent opinions, full and active participation of all in the political process as well as encouraging participation in the electoral process by the people and to uphold their right to make political choices.

The code is also to ensure ‘the election process is free from fear, intimidation and violence’ with the NMCM also urging the political parties and other stakeholders to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Representation of the People Act.

‘Although this Code is not a legislative instrument it is expected that all signatories, candidates and the parties they represent shall scrupulously adhere to it since political leaders have signed. The public is invited to register objections to any breach of the Code and report to the Council and the NMCM accordingly.’.

NMCM coordinator, Godfrey E. Samuel, speaking with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) at Tuesday’s signing ceremony, said that the body had not received any reports of election violence from individuals or political parties.

‘No. I think what we saw is like on social media, but in terms of a direct complaint, we have not yet received that,’ Samuel said.

One local media had reported that 19 vehicles had been damaged in an alleged missile-throwing incident in North Windward with the police later issuing a statement against political violence but making no mention of any incidents or reports of violence linked to the campaign.

But Augustine Ferdinand, who signed the code on behalf of the ULP, said that his party’s campaign billboards had been vandalised.

‘. we have seen some of our billboards defaced, or they’re being destroyed, to an extent,’ he said, adding that a ULP campaign billboard in Bequia was burnt while another outside Windsor Primary School, in Montrose, was ripped.

‘There’s another one before the Lowmans Cemetery, where the bottom part of that is also ripped. So those are what we are seeing evidently, in the public, there’s usual banter, but for the most part of it, most of our billboard properties in those three areas, I know, were defaced’.

NDP chairman, Daniel Cummings, who signed the code on behalf of the opposition party, said the NDP had not received any direct report of physical or other violence but was aware of an allegation posted on social media.

‘I think most people have seen an incident where a lady claimed that she sustained a wound somewhere on her forehead as a consequence of her having switched her political allegiance. That’s the extent to which I have seen, certainly, ‘ said Cummings, adding that he is pleased that the parties are generally not defacing the country.

‘For too many elections, we see in the streets littered with ugly signs that take years to go away; walls looking like some parts of Harlem.’

He said that generally, the political parties are using material that can be easily removed after the election and not deface the country.

‘And that, for me, is a significant improvement. And I think the National Monitoring and Consulting Mechanism over the years has had an influence on this,’ he said.

The code of conduct states that political parties and their representatives shall not deface public buildings, walls, streets and structures. It said also that the rights of private property owners shall be respected.

The lone electricity company, VINLEC, has asked political parties not to cover pole numbers with their election paraphernalia.

On Tuesday night, the police issues a statement appealing to all citizens to uphold peace, tolerance, and respect as the country moves toward general elections.

‘The Force has also observed rising political tension and urges everyone to prevent disagreements from turning hostile. All reports of threats, intimidation, or violence will be investigated swiftly and impartially, and offenders prosecuted according to law.’

The ULP under Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is seeking an unprecedented sixth consecutive term in officce, while the NDP headed by Dr. Godwin Friday, is seeking to deny that feat.

In the last general election, the ULP won by a 9-6 margin.

The two main political parties here have signed a Code of Ethical Political Conduct ahead of the November 27 general elections.

The ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) signed the code developed by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council’s National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism(NMCM).

The NMCM said that the code is intended to achieve several objectives, including fostering of democracy ‘through peaceful, free and fair elections conducted when they are constitutionally due in which voters are allowed to cast their ballots freely, without interference, fear, intimidation or bribery’

It is also intended for the promotion of respect for human rights, the pursuit of civil and political liberties, the tolerance of divergent opinions, full and active participation of all in the political process as well as encouraging participation in the electoral process by the people and to uphold their right to make political choices.

The code is also to ensure ‘the election process is free from fear, intimidation and violence’ with the NMCM also urging the political parties and other stakeholders to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Representation of the People Act.

The Guyana government has announced plans to embark upon the largest investment in drainage and irrigation in the country’s history as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

President Irfaan Ali, meeting with members of the LCDS Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) said the works will upgrade more than 1,500 kilometres of drainage canals, over 300 kokers, and 180 pumps nationwide.

‘This work will transform the coastal plains, protecting more than 130 square kilometres of urban land and 1,270 square kilometres of agricultural land’, President Ali said, adding ‘it will enhance the resilience of 320,000 people against more intense rainstorms and rising sea levels’.

Ali explained that new high-level relief canals, including the Hope-like systems, are being designed and built and that these canals will allow water to drain even when tides are high, a critical safeguard for communities along the coast.

‘These are real investments, not just words, in our land, our people, and our future’, he said, noting that the project is a key component of the LCDS 2030, which is fully integrated into every aspect of Guyana’s development agenda.

‘Every development plan we pursue has the LCDS and the ideals of the LCDS built into those plans’, he said, outlining several complementary investments under the LCDS that are also transforming lives, including mangrove restoration, clean energy expansion, and community-led development projects.

‘Our mangroves are a living shield, storing carbon, supporting fisheries, and protecting against the sea,’ Ali said, adding that, ‘over the past decade, Guyana has restored more than 140 hectares of mangroves and planted over half a million seedlings, while investing nearly one billion Guyana dollars since 2020 in their protection and rehabilitation’.

Ali has also floated the possibility of covering a number of drains for use as paid parking by selected categories of persons.

‘In some of the main drainage areas, we can design covered drains that corporations, companies who are now utilising the parapets can pay a fee and use for parking so we’re looking at an entire ecosystem in a holistic way so that we can have optimal solutions,’ he said.

The Georgetown City Council’s parking meter project was scrapped in 2017 and Ali said there would be a rapid assessment of all existing surveys and studies aimed at crafting a drainage development plan and implementation schedule.

‘The city has outgrown the capacity of those tunnel systems,’ he said, adding that the government has information on the design capability and condition survey of all drains, outfalls, and pump stations.

Chief executive officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth said condition assessments of the 12 main canals, 12 main sluices and 14 pumps serving the city had been already completed, while the Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Enrique Monize said it has obtained high-resolution images and ‘we will be able to produce digital terrain models, elevation models to assist this process.’

President Ali said the sewage system would be modernised and would include the construction of a treatment plant. The raw sewage is discharged into the Demerara River near the Coast Guard outpost. Currently, the sewage system is overflowing or seeping into a number of areas of Georgetown such as on Robb Street and around the Guyana Post Office Corporation headquarters.

We are asking dwellers of the City to cooperate with the team as they seek to implement the first phase and that is clearing and cleaning of the parapets across the city,’ he said.

Caribbean Democratic legislators in New York easily won re-election in Tuesday’s general elections, riding on an unusually large voter-turn out as Democratic Socialist, Zohran Mamdani, swept into the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York.

With 90 per cent of the ballots counted, New York City Democratic Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, received 1,362,196 votes, or 72.9 per cent; Republican Gonzalo Duran received 465,113 votes, or 24.9 per cent; and Independent Martin Dolan obtained 42,314 votes, or 2.3 per cent.

Jumaane Williams

‘I’m grateful to the over two million New Yorkers who made their voices heard at the polls today, setting a new direction for our city,’ Williams told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), adding ‘I am ready and eager to be a steward of it.

‘Even as we face constant challenges and threats, many from our own federal government, I find hope and even optimism in the people of our city and the leadership they have chosen today.

‘This is an opportunity to admit that many of the systems of government and styles of politics in our city have failed the people we are meant to serve. It is a moment to honestly confront the way ‘things are done’ and create something new – not sheer idealism, but progress rooted in and driven by our ideals.

‘New Yorkers voted their values today, and we must govern guided by those values. As Public Advocate, my role and responsibility are to hold the powerful to account, to serve as the voice of people navigating our city, to stand with New Yorkers in need. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly in a moment when too many feel unheard or are being silenced.’

Williams said he was ‘honoured and humbled that so many New Yorkers have continued to place their trust’ in him ‘to fill that role in this moment of change.

Mercedes Narcisse

In District 46 in Brooklyn, with 88 per cent of the ballots counted, Haitian-born, New York City Democratic Council Membe, and incumbent, received 24,622 votes, or 67.9 per cent; Republican Athena Clarke received 10,012 votes, or 27.6 per cent; and Guyanese-born Dimple Willabus, running as a Conservative, received 1,643 votes, or 4.5 per cent.

Narcisse, a registered nurse by training, said she was also ‘deeply humbled and grateful to the people of the 46th District for once again placing their trust in me to serve as their council member.

‘This victory is not mine alone, it belongs to every resident, volunteer, and supporter who stood with me, who believed in our message, and who knows that hard work and compassion still matter in public service,’ she told CMC.

Narcisse acknowledged that it was ‘not an easy campaign,’ stating that there were ‘challenges, there was politics as usual, and there was negativity.

‘But we never lost focus. We stayed true to our values and kept delivering our message of progress, work, and community. As a nurse, I’ve spent my life caring for others, and that same spirit guides how I serve,’ Narcisse added.

‘I’m honored to have another four years to continue this work, to keep fighting for fairness, equity, and opportunity for all. Together, we’ve proven that, when you stay grounded in community, work hard and are committed to results, the people will always stand with you.’

Farah Louis

In District 45 in Brooklyn, with 88 per cent of the ballots counted, New York City Democratic Council Member and incumbent Farah Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, garnered 31,611 votes, or 84.7 per cent; Republican Joshua received 4,248 votes, or 11.4 per cent; and Hatem El-Gamasy, running as the ‘Other’ candidate, received 1,464 votes, or 3.9 per cent.

Louis told CMC that she was ‘deeply grateful to the residents of the 45th Council District for entrusting me with another term to continue our fight for affordability, public safety, and quality of life.

‘I look forward to working tirelessly on their behalf over the next four years. It has been the honour of my life to serve the people of Council District 45.

‘As I seek my final term, I am more energized than ever to continue delivering real results for our neighbors. The work we’ve accomplished together is just the beginning, and I will not stop until we’ve built a foundation for lasting change in our district,’ Louis said.

‘Throughout my tenure, I have been a tireless champion for the most vulnerable members of our community and New York City, while fighting relentlessly to improve quality of life for all District 45 residents.’

With 88 per cent of the ballots counted in District 35 in Brooklyn, Democratic New York City Council Member incumbent Crystal Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, received 53,011 votes, or 93.0 per cent; Conservative Benny Rosenberger received 3,056 votes, or 5.4 per cent; and Hector Robertson, running as ‘Other’ candidate, received 933 votes, or 1.6 per cent.

In District 42, also in Brooklyn, incumbent New York City Democratic Council Member Chris Banks, whose mother is from Trinidad and Tobago, received 22,277 votes, or 95.8 per cent; and Davon Phillips, running as ‘Other’, received 975 votes, or 4.2 per cent.

Rita Joseph, the Haitian-born born representative for the 40th District in Brooklyn, said she did not have a challenger in the general elections.

She, however, thanked voters again for trusting in her to be their representative at City Hall.

‘It is an honour and a responsibility that I do not take lightly and one that I will continue to work tirelessly to fulfill so that we can have a district where everyone thrives,’ Joseph told CMC.

‘Alongside the new administration and Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, I know we have a lot more work to do to make our district, our borough, and our city more livable for everyone,’ added Joseph.

The Bureau of Standards Wednesday issued a mandatory national recall for the product ‘Milonga – Cannabis Infused Tea: Yerba Mate’ (ALL FLAVOURS), saying it has not been approved for trade or distribution in the twin island Federation.

‘The presence of this unauthorised cannabis-infused beverage in public traded spaces such as supermarkets and bars pose a significant risk to public health and safety, especially to children,’ the Bureau said in a statement.

It said ‘this product was found for sale in local retail stores’ and that consumers are warned that the product label states it contains 10mg of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).

‘THC is classified as a Class A Controlled Drug under the nation’s Drugs Act, making the sale of this product illegal,’ the Bureau said, adding that the recall is being enforced under the Bureau of Standards Regulations as well as the Drugs (Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs) Act, and the Customs and Excise Act.

‘Consumers are urged to NOT consume this product and to dispose of it immediately. All retailers and distributors are legally required to remove this product from their shelves and stop all sales within 48 hours,’ the Bureau said, warning ‘failure to comply with this recall order will result in enforcement action’.