GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The first round of voting in Guyana’s November 28 regional and general elections was taking place on Monday with an estimated 6, 187 members of the country’s discipline forces casting ballots ahead of the general population.
The members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and members of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) will cast their votes for a new president, after the incumbent Bharrat Jagdeo was barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term in office.
The ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), has named its general secretary Donald Ramotar as its presidential candidate, while A Partnership for National unity (APNU) and amalgam of opposition groupings that include the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is being represented by retired army Brigadier David Granger.
The Alliance for Change, another opposition party has named Khemraj Ramjattan as its candidate.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said that voting would take place over a 12 hour period beginning at 7.00 am (local time) at 70 polling stations across the country.
On Sunday, all three major parties were engaged in last minute campaigning to woe members of the discipline forces.