Dozens of heavily armed ranks including riot police converged on the Tucville area after at least one man allegedly attempted to take possession of ballot boxes.
Stabroek News was unable to contact senior police officers but several observers on the ground said that reports suggested that persons were up to mischief.
Police just after 6 pm blocked off the head of the street leading up to Tucville Primary School and instructed the large crowd that had gathered to disperse. Later, more armed ranks arrived on the scene in an open back pick up. Stabroek News later learnt that two men were picked up by police but it is unclear for what reason.
The residents this newspaper spoke with could not provide further details. Meanwhile, the area around the Turning Point Snackette, two corners away, was turned into a police hotspot. Many curious persons gathered, resulting in backed-up traffic in the area.
An observer who did not want to have her name mentioned told reporters that “what we have been told is that a man was sitting out there (in front of the snackette) all afternoon and when the time came he made a bid to remove the ballot box”.
From all indications, the man presented a document to the Polling Staff and this immediately raised red flags.
The official stated that “vigilant citizens apprehended the man and called the police”. The officials expressed concern as to who was guarding the ballot boxes as the GECOM staff were standing outside of the locked gates of the polling station. “You have to ask yourself what is going on because the same thing that is going on now is going on in other places”, she noted singling out Tucville Secondary.
Stabroek News was told a similar attempt was made in at least two other areas. The official said that the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) was contacted immediately and it was that body which informed the international observers of the situation at the Turning Point Snackette.
Meanwhile, a resident who was on the scene, said that the man who was arrested there was not known to the community. He said that the man had also stated who sent him to uplift ballot boxes.
