Presidential Candidates Observe Discipline Services Voting; Concerns Raised Over Police Presence
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Presidential candidates contesting the 2025 General and Regional Elections were on the ground Friday as members of the Disciplined Services cast their ballots at polling stations nationwide. At the Eve Leary drill square, candidates including President Irfaan Ali (PPPC), Aubrey Norton (APNU), Nigel Hughes (AFC), Amanza Walton-Desir (FGM), and Azruddin Mohamed (WIN) were present to observe the process.
President Ali said the exercise was proceeding smoothly with polling officials and observers carrying out their duties efficiently.
“The opening of polls went smoothly, and we expect it to continue this way,” Ali remarked.
Walton-Desir, of the Forward Guyana Movement, described the process as “relatively quiet,” noting no major issues had been reported.
Meanwhile, APNU Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton raised concerns about the presence of the Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken at polling stations, saying it may contravene electoral principles and amount to intimidation.
“You can’t have the Commissioner of Police and the head of the army walking around polling stations. That could be seen as pressure on voters in uniform,” Norton said.
Despite his concerns, Norton expressed confidence in victory and insisted that service members must be allowed to vote without undue influence.
According to GECOM, more than 10,000 members of the Disciplined Services were eligible to cast their votes in Friday’s exercise, ahead of the national polls on September 1, 2025.
