BOTH the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition have recommended that the use of private residences as polling stations be reduced as much as possible.

This was according to PPP/C stalwart, Ms. Gail Teixeira during a press conference last Friday at Freedom House.
Ms. Teixeira recalled an incident involving a resident of Middle Road, La Penitence, whose house has been used as a Polling Station since 1997, and who was constantly threatened by various groups of men and women, who said to him that no one will vote there.
Therefore, she added that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) needs to make the decision on whether to change the location of the polling station or not.
That brought up the question of whether or not polling stations should be publicised and in response to that, Ms Teixeira disclosed that “the polling stations should be advertised because we need to know where to put polling agents [and] because the number of polling stations have increased from 2006 to 2011, and has increased again from 2011-2015, as we need to find over 2000 polling agents.”
Meanwhile, apart from that when asked about the public vetting of polling day staff, she stated that the PPP/C has spoken on that issue before, but she believes that there is some representation of the citizens of Guyana. She further explained that “We’re asking for fairness, balance [and] neutrality of the polling day staffers come May 11.”
Ms. Teixeira also highlighted the fact that during the 2011 elections, there were some instances of presiding officers wearing green ribbons, and the rule is that any candidate of either political party is not allowed to go into any polling station with the party’s colours, and this is a matter that ought to be looked into for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
In closing,M.Teixeira noted, “If Polling Agents are being intimidated, it can only be a tactic of the Opposition to intimidate and frighten people.” She said “Whilst that might be a concern, it is a matter for GECOM, as we are calling for elections that are‘Free and Fair and Free from fear’ come May 11.”