Members of the Joint Services in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) came out in their numbers to exercise their voting franchise on Friday. Regional Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter was the second person to cast his ballot at the Mackenzie Police Station Headquarters in Linden.
Winter, earlier in the day, outlined that the process across the region was a very smooth one with no reported hiccups.
This was reiterated by the Regional Commander following the close of polls at 18:00h.
To facilitate the voting process for ranks, there were six Polling Stations set up across the region, which include the Regional Headquarters at Mackenzie, the Wismar Police Station and stations at Mabura, Ituni, Kwakwani and Aroaima.
This publication visited the two major Polling Stations at Mackenzie and Wismar and ranks were observed in lines waiting to exercise their democratic right to vote.
The Regional Commander said six ballot boxes were dispatched to the region.
A total of 249 members attached to the Joint Services in the region were expected to vote. At the close of polls, it was reported that 227 votes were cast by ranks.
At the Wismar Police Station, the Officer in Charge noted that the process was a smooth one and arrangements were put in place to allow all eligible ranks an opportunity to vote. The same was reported by the Regional Commander at Mackenzie.
“I think we should give an A Grade in terms of professionalism for the whole process within the region. The police turned up and everything was very organised and orderly. The same feedback I would have received from the outlying stations”, Winter told this publication following the close of polls on Friday.
Based on information received, it was noted, however, that some ranks would have abstained from the voting process due to their religious beliefs.
Overall, the process was deemed very smooth within the region.
Region Six
There were no reported instances of major hiccups at the opening of poll in Region Six, (East Berbice-Corentyne) where four polling places are located and in the neighbouring Region, Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), the voter turnout was slightly lower.
In fact, the turnout in Region Five was 73 per cent as compared with 95 per cent in Region Six, where 787 members of the Joint Services were listed to vote.
In Region Five, 299 police officers were scheduled to vote and 221 did while in Region Six, 692 members of the Joint Services took advantage to the privilege of voting a few days before the rest of the country.
In Region Five, 33 police officers were listed to vote at Mahaicony and 32 did while at Fort Wellington, 236 police officers were listed and when the poll closed at 18:00h, 189 of them had voted.
The first to cast a ballot was Regional Commander, Superintendent Yonette Stephens.
In Region Six, at Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, 298 police officers and 42 soldiers were listed. At the close of poll, 257 police officers and 42 soldiers had voted.
At Whim Police Station, 206 police officers were listed to vote. At the close of poll on Friday, 174 police officers had voted.
At the Springlands Police Station, 110 officers and 18 soldiers were listed to vote.
At the close of poll, 102 police office officers had voted and all 18 solders.
Meanwhile, 113 prison officers were listed to vote at the New Amsterdam Prisons. At the close of poll at the Prisons on Friday, 99 officers had voted.
Officer in charge of the New Amsterdam Prisons, Udistmir Holligan was the first to cast a ballot there. He explained that it took them a few extra minutes to get the first batch of officers ready and he headed the crew of prison officers.
However, after that, there was a steady flow in and out of that Polling Station and by midday, 83 persons had cast ballots.
At the Whim and Springlands Police Stations, voting went smoothly.
Deputy Commander, Superintendent Timothy Williams was the first to cast a ballot at Central Police Station.
However, several police officers complained of having to go to polling places which are not in the area where they work or live.
Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus said arrangements were put in place to take those ranks to their place of poll and get them back.
Brutus cast his ballot at Central Police Station. Meanwhile, just like in the capital city, International Observers were in the other locations to observe. The general population will vote on March 2. (Utamu Belle and Andrew Carmichael)
