AS over 10,000 members of Guyana’s Joint Services cast their votes today, they face one of the most important electoral decisions in the nation’s recent history.

This special voting day for the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, and Guyana Prison Service is not just an administrative convenience. It is a crucial moment that will help shape Guyana’s future as the country stands at a pivotal point of significant oil wealth and transformative possibilities.

The electoral landscape offers voters different visions for Guyana’s future. The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has introduced an ambitious manifesto. They promise 40,000 new homes, 100 new schools, and 12 new hospitals with specialised facilities.

They also plan a digital transformation initiative. Their record includes restoring the one-month tax-free Christmas bonus for Joint Services that the previous APNU+AFC administration eliminated. They have implemented salary increases of 46 per cent since 2020 and launched many infrastructure projects.

President Irfaan Ali’s administration has shown a solid commitment to the Disciplined Services through expanded scholarship opportunities, housing support, and healthcare improvements.

The main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), led by Aubrey Norton, offers an approach centered on what they call their “People-Centred Development Strategy.”

Their promises include significant salary increases, raising the old-age pension to $100,000, providing $120,000 annually per child, and increasing the tax-free threshold to $400,000. While these commitments are attractive, they resemble similar pledges made during their 2015-2020 term when they actually reduced benefits for Joint Services personnel and enacted austerity measures that left many families struggling.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), now running independently after their coalition split with APNU, emphasises governance reform and economic diversification. However, their performance during the coalition years raises doubts about their ability to fulfill new promises.

The three smaller parties, Forward Guyana Movement, Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity, and We Invest in Nationhood, provide other perspectives but seem to lack the capabilities to implement significant policy changes.

WIN, for example, promises house lots, salary increases and other financial benefits for which the feasibility is yet to be assessed.

For Joint Services personnel weighing their options, this election offers a choice between proven results and untested promises. The current administration has shown concrete support for Disciplined Services through policy actions and budget allocations.

Restoring the Christmas bonus alone provided $1.6 billion in direct benefits to Joint Services members by 2024. Establishing a minimum wage of $130,000, investing in training programmes, and expanding access to homeownership represent real improvements in quality of life.

However, voters need to look beyond short-term benefits to consider national stability and development in the long run. Guyana’s oil wealth offers extraordinary opportunities. It also demands careful management to avoid the resource curse that has affected many oil-rich countries.

The governing party’s focus on economic diversification, education investment, and infrastructure development looks more aligned with sustainable wealth management than the opposition’s emphasis on immediate cash distributions.

The Disciplined Services play a vital role in national security and public safety, making their electoral choice especially important.

Their decision should reflect not only personal economic concerns but also a professional assessment of which leadership can best handle the complex challenges facing Guyana—from the border controversy to managing oil revenue responsibly and maintaining social cohesion in an increasingly prosperous but diverse society.

As Joint Services members exercise their democratic right today, they should carefully consider each party’s record, realistic capacity for implementation, and long-term vision for Guyana.

The evidence suggests that sticking with the current administration offers the most reliable path toward ongoing progress for both the disciplined services and the nation. While change may seem attractive, the stakes are too high for untested leadership during this critical time in Guyana’s growth.

The choice is yours, but make it wisely by examining actions rather than just listening to promises.