HUNDREDS of military personnel on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara voted early in the morning in a smooth and rapid process on Friday.
Members of the Disciplined Services usually vote ahead of the national elections, as civilians are schedule to vote on March 2.

According to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), 10,226 military personnel from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) cast their ballots at 86 polling stations countrywide.
The military personnel were restricted from speaking to the media after casting their ballots.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, said everything went smoothly as ranks came out early and voted.
Deputy Commissioner, Paul Williams, said after ranks met for muster at 05:00hrs, they were briefed to walk with their ID cards and move to the polling places early.
He said many persons may be new voters in the Joint Services, and in the military, discipline is essential in all aspects of its operations.

The deputy commissioner said approximately 2,400 persons would have voted at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, as 6,700 policemen and women were expected to cast their votes countrywide.

At the Timehri Police Station, PPP Prime Ministerial candidate, Mark Phillips, who was visiting polling stations, met with divisional commander, Kurleigh Simon, to observe the process.

The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has affirmed itself as the best party from which there is a fit commander-in-chief to manage the security of the country and the wellbeing of the Disciplined Services.
While the opposition has promised a return of the annual one-month bonus, APNU had said that such would rob the law enforcement officials of a larger pension when one considers the government’s strategic move to raise their salaries.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Security and APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, urged the Joint Services to vote for the David Granger-led coalition which is the only party equipped to take care of the country’s national interest and sovereignty.
He said the Disciplined Services has every good reason to vote the government back into office as they now have increased access to training, the advancement of gender equality and the removal of officers compromised by corruption.

The minister said over the past four and a half years, the current administration has also worked to incorporate the use of technology in fighting crime; collaborated with international organisations for improved management; increased salaries by 20 per cent for the police force and army; and rehabilitated police stations.
One of the main plans of the government moving forward is to ensure that each member of the Disciplined Services can own their own home.

Meanwhile, Ramjattan said he has pushed for the Marine Unit of the Police Force to get the additional boats they require in the 2020 budget.
Similar plans are being put in place for the GDF’s Aviation Unit.

“With all that has been done over the years that we have been in government, you make the comparison, you make the contrast. Our administration has been far superior,” he said, adding that “colleagues, cadet officers, members of the Disciplined Force, this is what we have done over the four years; this is what we’ll continue to do.”

GECOM had informed members of the Disciplined Services that at an appointed day before March 2, 2020, all Disciplined Services’ ballots will be sorted accordingly in the presence of party agents. In order to protect the secrecy of the votes cast, the ballot papers will not be stamped with the official six-digit stamp until Election Day and intermixed with the votes of others for counting.