Ballot papers and statements of polls for the March 2nd general and regional elections arrived in Guyana just after 6 am yesterday on an Atlas Air (747-400) N475MC cargo aircraft.
The cargo was subsequently transported under heavy guard to the High Street, Kingston headquarters of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Under the watchful eyes of commission members, party agents and foreign observers, GECOM staff extracted ballot papers to be dispatched to balloting stations across the country and to Guyana’s foreign missions.
Speaking with reporters, Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield said he was happy that “the ballots – both ordinary and tendered – and the Statements of Poll are all here.”
He explained that yesterday’s exercise included the extraction of those ballots intended for voting by the Disciplined Services and for non-resident electors, such as ambassadors and staff of overseas missions. For the latter voters, 83 ballots will be extracted from the relevant regions where they are registered, with the largest number, 71, being extracted from Region Four. Two will be extracted from Region Two, four from Region Three, three from Region Five, one from Region Six and one each from regions Nine and Ten.
These ballots are to be sealed in envelopes and mailed to the various missions on Tuesday. Once received, each non-resident voter is expected to vote and return the ballots to the specified balloting officer no later than five days before March 2, 2020.
Additionally, a total of 10,226 ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) are scheduled to vote on February 21st, 2020.
These ranks—3,036 from the GDF, 6,702 from the GPF and 488 from the GPS—will vote at identified polling places after which the duly appointed balloting officers will ensure that their ballots are added to the appropriate boxes on March 2.
Meanwhile, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) noted that its runway capacity was tested when the Atlas Air plane landed. A statement from the CJIA said that the 747-400, considered a very large cargo aircraft, was the first aircraft to utilise the newly constructed Apron at the CJIA for Code D and E sized aircrafts.
“All hands were on deck to ensure a seamless landing and take-off process, when this aircraft arrived with its sensitive and delicate government cargo,” the release said. It added that through the successful operations, Guyana has shown its growing capacity to handle the demands that will come from its emerging economy.
The Boeing 747-400 at its maximum take-off weight of 800,000 lbs. would usually require an expansive runway capacity for landing or take-off and CJIA was able to meet this requirement.
The airport management has said that it was “very happy” that it was able to execute the operation “without any major challenges, despite limitations.”
“It was a historic experience that has highlighted the efficiency of our services, such as, ground
handling, Air Traffic Control Services and the CJIAC team, among others to collectively demonstrate the importance of teamwork to execute this operation,” the statement added.
