The Guyana Elections Commission is set to start releasing live preliminary results at 11pm tonight even as Chairman of the commission Dr Steve Surujbally appealed to the citizenry and political leaders to let peace and tranquility prevail.
Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield told the media this evening that the polls closed at 6 pm and except for a few glitches, which are being investigated by the police, voting went smoothly.
“Allow me to make an appeal to the citizenry, to the political parties that are contesting these elections that peace and tranquility must prevail. This peace and tranquility cannot prevail within an environment of turbulence,” Dr Surujbally told reporters this evening during the press conference at the commission’s Kingston command centre.
The chairman also called for persons to desist from milling around polling stations pointing out that the contents of the ballot boxes that they want to protect are merely of historical value after the ballots are counted and the statements of poll are posted outside of the polling stations.
Asked about reports that at least four persons claimed that when they turned up to vote they were told that they had voted already both the chairman and the CEO said that it was virtually impossible for this to happen because of the great lengths the commission went to to ensure that this system is fool- proof.
Earlier in the day, Lowenfield today said that except for a few glitches such as the malfunctioning of some of the official six-digit stamps and some polling stations not opening at the 6am scheduled time, the country’s national and regional elections commenced smoothly.
Lowenfield, speaking at the first press conference of the day just after midday and first as CEO on elections day at the commission’s Kingston command centre, said that the issue with the malfunctioning of the stamp was quickly rectified. This occurred at the Central High School, where some voters protested, and it also occurred in Districts Six and Two. The stamp has to be used on ballot papers before being given to voters.
The CEO also announced that there was an “unfortunate situation” in District Three (West Demerara and Essequibo Islands) where the polling staff issued tendered ballots for voting but he said corrective actions were taken and an investigation has been launched. Tendered ballots are issued in cases where there is a doubt about the eligibility of voters.
Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Surujbally said that he was particularly disturbed by the failure of the stamps since the commission paid “good money” for same. He named Code International as the company which provided the stamps and said discussions would have to be had with the company since it sold the commission substandard equipment. Surujbally did point out that the commission has had a long history with the company and that this is the first time such issues have arisen.
The Chairman also raised the issue of some persons turning up to vote with their old, decommissioned identification cards which he said would not be accepted by the polling staff. Persons, he said would either have to return home for the current identification card or an oath would be administered to them before they would be able to vote.
A report of polling staff being disrespectful in Region 3 is also being investigated and according to Surujbally there were complaints of police officers being inside the polling stations which should not be. They are to be outside.
Asked about the process that should be observed when photographs of government officials-such as President Donald Ramotar and Education Minister Priya Manickchand are in classrooms that are being used as polling stations, Lowenfield said staff are aware that they should be removed or covered. Surujbally doubted this newspaper’s report that there was one such incident in one of the polling stations at the St Gabriel’s Primary School which saw APNU candidate Keith Scott having to bring the issue to the attention of officials who then removed the photographs. This was witnessed by this newspaper’s reporter.
Meantime, Lowenfield said the commission up to 12 today has been in contact with the political parties and there has been no major incident although he confirmed that they had received reports that the police may have arrested a man for attempting to snatch a ballot box in South Georgetown. However, he made it clear that it was alleged as there was no confirmation of this report.
This photo shows voters lined up at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.
