Guyana Elections 2020

Following a day of high emotion and smooth voting, Guyanese are anxiously awaiting the results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections (GRE) and based on a small number of polling statements collected by this newspaper it was a straight fight between the incumbent APNU+AFC and the opposition PPP/C with a smattering of votes for some of the new parties.

An allegation of attempted voter fraud sparked a standoff last evening at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, where riot police were summoned to keep the peace.

Police were yesterday called to respond to a protest outside the Goed Intent/ Patentia Neighbour-hood Dem-ocratic Council (NDC) sparked by the allegation that forged national identification (ID) cards were being distributed for persons to vote.

A number of persons were last evening arrested after they were allegedly found in possession of illegal firearms close to polling stations at St.

Voters turned out in their numbers across Region Six yesterday to cast their votes to select the country’s next government in a process that saw early balloting and few issues.

By Nigel Westmaas Nigel Westmaas is Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Hamilton College, New York  “The issue of the General Election is a matter of some uncertainty.

GECOM Chair, Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh and Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield held a press conference this evening to discuss how general elections went today.

Stabroek News will provide General Elections 2020 results from the Statements of Poll posted up outside of polling stations around Guyana as they become available. 

Unrest was continuing this evening at the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast after allegations by APNU+AFC that fake IDs were being distributed.

The police in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) were summoned to a polling station on the West Bank of Demerara where residents staged a protest after it was alleged that persons attempted to vote with fake ID cards.

Head of the European Union (EU) Observation Mission, Urmas Paet today said that the electoral process was “very smooth” as of midday with no complains/concerns.

With only two minor hiccups reported, the Guyana Elections Commission says that voting today got off to a smooth start and Chairperson Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh anticipates an “incident-free day”.

Former Prime Minister of Senegal Aminata Toure, who is co-head of the Carter Center’s observer mission for these elections, today called on Guyanese to be patient as they go out to cast their votes.

Voting got underway at 6 am in the Guyana 2020 general and regional elections.

“Guyana is a land of many promises…broken promises,” a resident of Plastic City at Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast Demerara lamented even as residents prepare to go out in their numbers and vote today with the hope that the winning party remembers that they exist.

Despite repeated requests, GECOM has not responded to queries over the process for joining the votes of three of the smaller parties, according to ANUG’s presidential candidate Ralph Ramkarran.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton has called on all Guyanese to be “respectful and courteous” as they cast their votes in today’s general elections.

This is the time for all stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to democratic principles, processes and institutions and not lose sight of the fact that legitimate elections represent the voice and will of the people.

With the stakes for Elections 2020 being as high as they are, it is important that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) discharge their myriad obligations today competently and efficiently.