–GECOM PRO, police confirm; staff, party agents, police officer injured 

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has confirmed that it has securely returned three ballot boxes to its Kingston headquarters after a contingent transporting elections materials was involved in an accident at La Bonne Intention (LBI), on Friday evening.

GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward confirmed that the incident occurred while a contingent, comprising staff of the commission, party agents and police, was transporting the election materials from Georgetown to Berbice.

Based on information from the Guyana Police Force, the accident, which occurred around 20:55 hrs, involved Minibus #BAB 6899; Motor Car #PXX 7899 and Minibus #BAL 2180.

“Enquiries disclosed that Minibus #BAB 6899 was proceeding west on LBI Public Road, ECD, with Ballot Box #DF048 from Central Police Station under escort, behind that was Motorcar #PXX 7898, which was carrying Ballot Box #DF047 from Central Police Station, and Minibus #BAL2180 contained Ballot Box #DF050 from Whim Police Station.

“All of the vehicles were being escorted by Force Motorcar #PAB 8212, when an unknown motorcar drove north-west out of LBI Access Road into the pathway of the escort, causing the Police vehicle to apply brakes. In doing so, Minibus #BAB 6899 applied brakes, which led to Minibus #PXX 7898 colliding with the rear of Minibus #BAB6899, and then Minibus #BAL 2180 collided with the rear of Minibus #PXX 7899,” the police said.

Due to the collision, several passengers received injuries and were immediately escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by the Police, and each respective Ballot Box was escorted to GECOM headquarters, safe and secured, the Guyana Police Force added.

Ward, during a telephone interview, also confirmed that all of the ballot boxes are intact, and are stored safely at the commission’s headquarters.