President Irfaan Ali has assured the public that the joint services are fully prepared to handle any potential unrest during the upcoming election period. His comments came after visiting the polling station at the Police Headquarters in Eve Leary, where members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) voted ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
When questioned by the media regarding the joint services’ preparedness, especially in light of the unrest following the death of Adriana Younge in April, President Ali responded, “We have activated their mechanisms in a number of weeks now. They are having their joint meetings and have assured me that they have every system in place. They assured me that they have the equipment, the manpower, and a well-laid-out system to deal with any issues if they arise.”
While the president expressed optimism that no incidents are expected, he emphasized the importance of being prepared for any eventuality.
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, speaking after casting his vote, echoed the president’s sentiments. He noted that the police force has been collaborating with other members of the joint services, particularly in training efforts leading up to the elections.
“In addition to that, we have had our units prepared, and the training is ongoing. We are adequately prepared. Remember, nomination day was quiet, and we expect this day to be quiet as well, similarly for the general and regional elections,” Hicken stated.
The Commissioner highlighted that there has been an increased number of ranks voting this year who will be deployed across the country, reinforcing the police’s readiness. “We have Guyanese that are good people, and so we don’t expect anything to happen,” he added.
On Friday, over 10,000 members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, and Guyana Defence Force cast their votes nationwide in preparation for the elections.
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