WITH the May 11, general and regional elections looming, it is the hope of Commander-in-Chief President Donald Ramotar, that persons will be able to exercise their franchise at polling stations where they are registered within an enabling environment of peace and stability.President Donald Ramotar was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference held at the Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary. The President’s main concern about this year’s elections is that the citizens of Guyana are safe during this period, noting too that: “It is important for the country to have a peaceful, enabling environment before and after general and regional elections.”

The Head of State explained to the officers: “I know that the focus of attention over the next few weeks would be to ensure that citizens can exercise their right to listen to political parties on the campaign trail without being subjected to threats, intimidation or physical abuse, and that come May 11th, they will be able to exercise their franchise at polling stations where they are registered within an enabling environment of peace and stability.”
The President emphasised the importance of a strong and professional GPF for the maintenance of social order, for the protection of people from crime and to act as a visible deterrent to crimes and disorder and “to also lay out the reforms that I believe are necessary to bring [the] GPF in line with the needs of all Guyanese.”
Making reference to recent developments, such as the joint opposition voting down the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, the President said: “I also want to take the opportunity to also appeal to everyone, whether they are in Government or the Opposition to strengthen our security in this country,” President Ramotar said.
“We cannot continue to have [the] Opposition for the sake of having Opposition. How else can we explain the voting down on two occasions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill? How else can we explain that when the citizens and the country are put in danger and at the same time creating the perception that you want to turn this country into a haven for international criminal activities. That is unacceptable,” the Head of State stressed.
Further explaining some grievances that had occurred, The Head of State stressed: “This cannot be politics as usual; this is creating a terrible situation for the people of our country.” He added, “Secondly how can you explain the attempt by the Opposition to publicly call on the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) to prevent money for the Citizen Security Strengthening Project from coming to the security forces to strengthen their capacity.”
During his remarks, the President noted that some US$15M is threatened and this is to strengthen the Guyana Police Force, the Prison Service and community- based initiatives to deal with the root cause of crime. “This cannot be politics and we must do our best to ensure that our security forces have both the laws and the wherewithal to fight crimes both internal and trans-border. I appeal for good sense,” he said.
In closing, the Head of State not only appealed for good sense to prevail, but also for maturity and patriotism. “Equally, I want to ensure that on election night and after the results of the General and Regional Elections are known, that the environment must be sustained and all political parties contesting the elections must pledge their support for the Guyana Police Force and the Joint Services. They must appeal to their constituencies and their staff to display maturity and patriotism to demonstrate to the world that we are a progressive and responsible people.”
Briefly speaking on the period of elections, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud said the force recognises its security responsibilities for the upcoming elections. He explained to the officers and in response to the questions posed by the Head of State, “While a lot of internal work is being done by the force in this regard, the issue of elections is also being addressed at the level of the Joint Services where International Inter-Agency collaboration at this particular time is at its highest.”
The commissioner during his remarks noted that the police will deliver adequate security for the conduct of the current campaign period ahead of the elections, on elections day itself and the period after.