Members of Guyana’s disciplined services yesterday showed up in large numbers to vote early for the general and regional polls but up to late last night the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was unable to give a figure on the turnout.
With 10,226 ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service registered to cast their ballot by 6 pm yesterday, stakeholders were heartened by both the early turnout and the smooth process.
The balloting, which took place at a total of 62 polling stations across Guyana, was keenly observed by members of various observer teams, including the Carter Center and the European Union, as well as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, along with other elections commissioners and secretariat staff.
“It’s been smooth, very smooth, with no problems, no concerns at all the stations we visited so far. GECOM has done everything to put things in order so we can have a smooth flow of activities,” Singh told reporters at the Brickdam Police Station.
Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, who also spoke with the media at Brickdam, said the process was slow at that polling station, with a low turnout as of 10 am.
He, however, noted that at other stations he visited, such as the Police Officers’ Mess and the Officers’ Training Complex, it had been better and problems encountered had been handled.
“I have not been informed that there are problems relative to not finding names on lists but at each station visited, there were instances where persons did not have their identification card. That was admirably sorted out because as you are aware there is a process for that,” he shared.
Guyana’s laws provide for every citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen living in Guyana to vote at an election if they are 18 years or older and registered.
There is no requirement that any person present an ID card at the polling place. If you don’t have an ID card but are registered to vote, you can present yourself at your assigned polling station and identify yourself to the polling clerk. You will be referred to the Presiding Officer who will compare your face with your photograph contained in the folio of registered electors. Once this officer is satisfied of your identity, you will be asked to take an oath of affirmation of identity and be allowed to vote.
‘Just a colour’
Also speaking with the media yesterday were the presidential candidates of the two major political parties.
Less than an hour after the start of poll, the incumbent, President David Granger arrived at the GDF’s Camp Ayanganna to observe the process.
Granger, a retired Brigadier, was accompanied by the Chief Polling Agent of A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Joseph Harmon, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel.
Granger said that after interacting with the staff and observers, he had been informed that polling started on time and that about three dozen voters had been able to cast their ballot with no hitches.
“I am satisfied that things are going smoothly and will continue to go smoothly,” he said of the process.
Clad in a green shirt, Granger dismissed concerns that wearing his party colours can be seen as a violation of Guyana’s electoral regulations, which prohibit campaign material within 200 feet of a polling place. “I have a lot of green shirts…it’s just a colour,” he said in response to questions from the media.
While traversing the compound, he briefly met with PPP/C representative Robeson Benn. During their short exchange, Benn was overheard saying to the president, in reference to his green shirt, that it appeared as though he was campaigning. Granger quickly responded to Benn, saying, “When you wearing the khaki all the time I don’t complain.” As he walked off, he was heard saying that it is just a colour.
Later, at the Police Officers’ Mess at Eve Leary, Granger said that he hoped that on March 2, the national process will be equally satisfactorily executed by the elections commission, which has responsibility for that function.
“I am very satisfied with the turnout and I think the people of Guyana can be assured that the disciplined forces are performing their civic duty. They are not being obstructed by the administration in any way and the administration of the elections commission seems to be functioning efficiently,” Granger said.
Similarly, PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali indicated that everything is moving “smoothly.”
“There is no big buildup of voters in lines,” he told reporters at the Brickdam Police Station.
Ali, however, indicated that his party was concerned that one of its polling agents, who was expected to observe polling in the Upper Mazaruni area, had not been allowed on the flight. “She transported from GECOM head office to Ogle to be placed on the flight. A commissioner was placed on the flight and she was put off the flight,” he explained.
Turnout
A few hours after polling passed the halfway mark, Harmon told a press conference that there had been a “very strong turn out very early.”
“Figures acquired [at noon] show that turnout is between 65% to 70% of the 10,226 ranks who are registered to vote,” he said, while appealing to those who had not voted to do so before the close of polls.
Harmon noted that based on his observation, polling places were opened on time and staff were present generally around the country. He stressed that this augurs well for elections day.
“This is a good test so that GECOM can fine-tune their arrangements for March 2,” he noted.
When Stabroek News visited polling stations around 6 pm, there were no lines and party agents indicated that persons had mostly shown up between 6 am and 10 am.
“They were here at about .:30 am,” an agent for the APNU+AFC shared, adding that the ranks appeared excited to vote and there were no disturbances.
“It was nice. It was a wonderful day. We had about a 90% turnout,” she explained.
An agent for the PPP/C shared similar sentiments noting that at his place of poll, a majority of those registered had already cast a ballot by lunch time.
He too saw a turnout of above 90%.
Small Parties
Meanwhile, small parties were unable to effectively observe the voting process, citing limited human resources.
Only two of the parties yesterday said they were able to visit polling stations and observed the process.
Staff at various polling places visited by Stabroek News said that they had not seen persons from the small parties visiting polling stations.
Chandra Sohan of the Federal United Party (FED-UP) yesterday told Stabroek News that from his observations, the voting process was transparent. He, however, expressed surprised that polling stations in Berbice were not busy and overflowing with officers waiting to vote.
“Well I was there around 10.30 this morning [yesterday] but there wasn’t much to observe because ranks were not really present. I think what happened is that most person rushed to the polls early morning and voted,” he explained.
Presidential Candidate of The New Movement Dr Asha Kissoon related to this publication that supporters visited and observed the process at some polling stations throughout central Georgetown. Her party, too, concluded that the events of the day were incident-free and appeared to be fair.
She, as well as Sohan and Timothy Jonas of A New and United Guyana raised concerns about Granger wearing a green shirt, to observe the voting process at Camp Ayanganna.
Sohan said the president’s decision to do so is “unethical” and violates the elections code of conduct and the Representation of the Peoples Act. He stated that no campaigning should be done on election day.
Kissoon added that her party is of the opinion that the president could have set a better example by not wearing the shirt.
Jonas said that the president’s decision to wear a green shirt is identical to former President Donald Ramotar’s move in 2015 when he wore a red shirt to observe the army voting. He stated the repeat of such was uncalled for.
Asked if his party had the opportunity to observe the process, Jonas said, “We have done the best that we can.”
Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party Lenox Shuman said that his party had observers in Georgetown but he was not in a position to say how much polling stations they were able to visit and observe the events of the day.
The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) and Change Guyana, when contacted by Stabroek News, said that they were unable to visit any polling station to observe the proceedings due to limited human resources and their focus on campaigning.
TCI’s Ruel Johnson said that they did not have anyone to visit the places of poll but were confident that the process hadn’t any hiccups.
Dr Ally of Change Guyana related that all of their party supporters and campaigners were in the fields working to win new supporters. He explained that they are working to put systems in place to have agents observe the voting on March 2, when the entire civilian population votes.
This publication reached out to the People’s Republic Party and United Republican Party for comments on the day’s proceedings but these efforts were futile. (Additional reporting by David Papannah)
