GEORGETOWN – United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, says the United States stands ready to work with the next democratically elected administration of Guyana.
“After the people of Guyana have spoken, the United States stands ready to work with the next democratically elected administration, and I encourage all parties to respect the outcome,” said Lynch in a statement late Saturday.
The Ambassador who just returned from the worldwide US Ambassador’s conference in Washington, said: “I encourage all registered voters to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner and to allow others to do the same.”
The election is being held today.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said there are 661 378 registered voters, all of whom are eligible to cast their ballots at 2 339 polling stations across the country.
Final election results are not expected before Friday, although the commission is allowed 15 days to do so.
The elections appear to be a straight fight between 74-year old David Granger’s A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change and the People’s Progressive Party whose presidential candidate is 39-year old Irfaan Ali.
Meanwhile – GECOM has cut ties with a Presiding Officer for the Elections after it received information and evidence of her campaigning for the main opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic ( PPP/ Civic).
GECOM says that Jenny Shaw, was slated to work as a Presiding Officer today, but based on evidence of her campaigning for a political party, she was dismissed.
GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, confirmed that the Presiding Officer had been “removed”.
(CMC)