The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed today that some political parties failed to provide official accreditation letters to their agents during the Joint Services early voting exercise, though officials stressed that the issue did not hamper the opening of polls.
Deputy Chief Election Officer Aneal Giddings explained that while agents’ names appeared on a master list, ballot attendants were trained to request letters of appointment. “Unfortunately, they didn’t have their letters. So our ballot attendants… asked for these letters of appointment. We have been working with the parties and the attendants to ensure that the agents are participating in the process,” he said.
Giddings added that all polling stations opened as scheduled and reported no major disruptions, with aircraft movements carrying election materials to hinterland regions proceeding as planned.
President Irfaan Ali also addressed the matter, noting that the responsibility lay with the parties themselves. “Some parties did not give the certificate to their agents… their names were on a master list, but the party did not fulfill the responsibility of giving them that appointment,” he said. The President stressed that the People’s Progressive Party faced no such issues, calling it “a tested and oiled machinery” with strong internal checks and balances.
On security, Ali assured that the Joint Services were fully prepared for any eventuality. He said joint mechanisms had been activated weeks in advance, with the necessary manpower, equipment, and systems in place. While he did not anticipate disturbances, the President said security forces were ready to respond.
The Joint Services vote precedes the General and Regional Elections, giving soldiers, police, and other service members the opportunity to cast their ballots before they are deployed on Election Day.
