A minibus carrying Gecom staff, polling agents from the various parties and ballots from the Disciplined Services votes, turned over several times injuring some of its occupants after a car slammed into it at the corner of King and Robb streets last night. However, Gecom officials have since vouched for the integrity of the ballots, which were subsequently transferred to a car and taken to its office.
According to eyewitnesses on the scene, the car was proceeding east when it slammed into the bus which was proceeding north under police escort.
Up to press time last night, the driver of the bus, PJJ 9158, was listed in serious condition and was receiving treatment for his injuries. The other persons were said to have sustained minor injuries.
The bus was on its way to Gecom from Brickdam where members of the joint services cast their ballots. Shortly after the accident, which occurred just before 20:00 hrs, a large contingent of police arrived on the scene in an effort to secure the contents of the bus, which was badly damaged.
Officials from Gecom, in the presence of polling staff and party agents loaded a quantity of documents from the bus into a car, PJJ 9318, which then sped off to Gecom. Representatives of the various parties also got into this vehicle as it left the scene of the accident.
Eyewitnesses who were working in the area at the time said the bus was crossing Robb Street when the car slammed it. “The whole bus pitch,” one witness said.
Another witness said that the driver of the car, PKK 6376, was the lone occupant of that vehicle. The eyewitness said that the driver of the car later disappeared.
Speaking to Stabroek News at the scene of the accident, Assistant Chief Elections Officer of Gecom, Keith Lowenfield, said: “Gecom’s vehicle, returning from Brickdam with two ballot boxes, was hit by this car. The four persons [were taken to] hospital. We just removed the ballot boxes to get them to Gecom,” he said.
Asked about the integrity of the ballots, Lowenfield said that he could not speak to the integrity thereof, since it was an accident. “We have collected all there were and we are taking them back to Gecom to do the counting,” he said.
According to Public Relations Officer of Gecom, Vishnu Persaud, the integrity of the ballots and other elections material have not been compromised as a result of the accident.
However, supporters of A Partnership for National Unity were doubtful that the event was one of pure happenstance. They made statements indicating that the crash might have been a deliberate attempt to derail the election process and rig votes.
