Police conduct election preparedness training across regions

…urged to report all unusual activities, enforce phone ban in polling stations

On Wednesday, senior officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) conducted a series of inspection and training sessions across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), preparing ranks for the upcoming General and Regional Elections scheduled for Monday.
In Region Two, Regional Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, along with Deputy Commander DSP Duncan and other senior officers, led an inspection and instruction class at the Regional Police Division No. 2 Headquarters. The session brought together ranks from Aurora, Suddie, Anna Regina, and Charity Police Stations, and the Onderneeming Sand Pit and Lima Police Outposts, as well as personnel from the Regional Headquarters and Special Constabulary.

Unusual activities
During the session, ranks were instructed to report all unusual activities in accordance with the Rights of the People Act and were reminded of their responsibilities to ensure a transparent electoral process. Officers were urged to work closely with Deputy Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, and Balloting Officers to maintain safe and secure polling environments. Key directives emphasised that every registered voter must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights and that election offences should be detected and prevented in line with the Representation of the People Act, Elections Observers Act, Public Order Act, Racial and Hostility Act, Police Act, Criminal Law Offences Act, and Summary Jurisdiction Act.
Meanwhile, in Region Seven, Assistant Commissioner Dion Moore, Commander of Regional Police Division No. 7, conducted a strategic training session at the Kamarang Admin Office conference room. The session covered election operational procedures, chain-of-command reporting, and maintaining law and order during the elections.
Directives shared included the distribution points for ballot boxes at the Kamarang GECOM Office and Bartica Police Headquarters. Officers were instructed to remain on high alert, promptly report incidents, enforce election laws, and uphold a secure environment at polling stations. Specific instructions highlighted the hours of voting from 06:00h to 18:00h, restrictions on unauthorised persons within 200 yards of polling sites, prohibition of alcohol sales during polling, prevention of racial or ethnic incitement, and the ban on electronic devices capable of photography inside polling stations.

Professionalism, impartiality, and vigilance
Additionally, an ‘Elections Preparation Training’ session for Bartica Police Station ranks was held at the Zara Computer Centre (Bartica branch) on the same day. Led by Deputy Commander W/Supt D Handy, O/C Crime Supt R Nedd, and C/Insp K Gordon, the session educated personnel on their roles and responsibilities during the elections. Discussions focused on police functions at polling stations, voter rights, prohibited activities, the role of presiding officers, effective communication, and the importance of remaining unarmed while on duty. Operational scenarios were presented, allowing ranks to practise decision-making under supervision.
Assistant Commissioner Moore emphasised the critical role of the Police Force in safeguarding democracy. All ranks were reminded to uphold professionalism, impartiality, and vigilance to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.