​Disciplined Forces ‘ink’ off LGE voting

Last Updated on Tuesday, 8 March 2016, 8:53 by Denis Chabrol

Guyana’s Disciplined Services on Tuesday morning commenced voting for Local Government Elections, with a majority of them voting for the first time.

The voting by the members of the joint services ahead of civilians on March 18, 2016 is expected to last throughout the day with voting starting from 6:00hrs and concluding at 18:00hrs.

At the Guyana Police Force’s Sports Club, Barrack Street, Eve Leary, policemen emerged, saying that in some instances it took as much as 20 minutes for them to find their names on the voters’ list. However, once that was done the voting process was smooth.

Speaking to Demerara Waves, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken at the Divisional Headquarters, Brickdam, he  said that it was his first first time voting.

The Commander said that the process was simple and he is excited to take part in the management of his community.

Asked of other ranks sharing his enthusiasm, Hicken said that meetings were held prior to the elections to inform ranks of the importance of LGE.

He said that most of the ranks would have cast their ballots since 6:00hrs and then they would have headed out to work.

Over at the Camp Street Prison, Prison Warden Abigail Cummings also said that it was her first time voting for LGE.

She said “it was a first time opportunity for me it was the best and as far as the development of my country goes coming out here and voting is a good effort.”

At the Police Officers Mess Hall, Eve Leary, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud cast his ballot at exactly 7:33hrs.

Also a first time voter in Local Government polls, the Commissioner stated that he had no feelings about the process.

“I’m not emotional. I have no feeling about it I am happy that I contributed to the process,” said Persaud.

When asked what message he has for his ranks still contemplating whether or not to vote, Seelall said it was “their choice.”

Across at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the army’s Force Sergeant Major Warrant Officer William Richmond said the process was “pretty good” and the monitors there advised and directed soldiers what they had to do. He said the LGE would mean a lot for him and his community. “As someone from a community, you want to see development and if you don’t have proper systems in place you would not have those developments and so with this in place, having not had it for a while, it will be good for our community and it will be good for persons serving within the military.”

GDF Woman Corporal Alana Fraser, a first-time LGE voter, said the
process was smooth and she was looking forward to her representatives improving her community. “The process was very easy.. It wasn’t that hard. It was a very good feeling because it was my first time and I wanted to get the feeling. I feel proud that I put my X  so I just hope that they would have to do for my area, for my community,” said  GDF Corporal Alana Fraser.

Meanwhile, one observer for the LGE US Charge d Affaires Bryan Hunt observed the opening of E-Day at the Brickdam Police Station.

Hunt stated that from what he has observed thus far, the process is proceeding smoothly. Local Government Elections are being held for the first time since 1994.

Almost 7,000 members of the Disciplined Forces -police, soldiers and prison service personnel- are eligible to vote Tuesday.

(Jomo Brusheildon Paul)