Ranks and other officers engaging on the hosting of LGEs
As the day draws near for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is preparing and strategising for a smooth process.
Region 10 Police Divisional Commander, Hugh Winter, held a Study Divisional Headquarters, Mackenzie Police Station, to highlight the posture and plans that would be taken leading up to, and on the day of, the elections.
Those in attendance included members of the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Fire Service, members of the Supernumerary arm, and subordinate officers within Region 10. “All counterparts involved made presentations based on their strength state, ability, response time, and partnership in event of an emergency,” the Force said.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had set Monday, June 12, 2023 as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long overdue LGE in Guyana. Section 35 (1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, empowers the Local Government Minister to appoint a day for the elections.
This is the first election that the electoral body will hold since the highly controversial March 2020 General and Regional Elections, which ended up in a five-month deadlock after there were blatant attempts to rig the elections. Throughout that time, there was unrest and a series of incidents which required a strong Police presence.
Last Monday, Nomination Day, saw a variety of independent groups and smaller parties submitting candidate lists for Local Government Elections.
LGE, constitutionally due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the November 2018 local polls, the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 LAAs. This followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs.
