Guyana Elections 2020

Although convinced that Change Guyana could have benefitted from an earlier start to its electoral campaign, its leader Robert Badal is optimistic that enough voters will give the party an opportunity to represent their interests in the National Assembly.

The Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission, former Barbadian Prime Minister, Owen Arthur yesterday called on all stakeholders to “demonstrate commitment to a peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive election”.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) today expressed grave concern that a unilateral change in the location of polling places could disenfranchise voters and it called on GECOM to promptly reverse the last-minute alterations.

Opposition-appointed members of GECOM yesterday charged  that late changes were made to the list of polling places by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) without their knowledge, adding to concerns raised by the PPP that its supporters could be disadvantaged on polling day.

The opposition PPP has written the Guyana Elections Commission over allegations of inducement by Minister of Communities Annette Ferguson, who it said on the eve of voting by the disciplined services held a secret meeting with some members where she promised house lots if they voted her government back into office.

Members of Guyana’s disciplined services yesterday showed up in large numbers to vote early for the general and regional polls but up to late last night the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was unable to give a figure on the turnout.

As members of the disciplined services across the country cast their ballots yesterday in early voting for the upcoming March 2nd general and regional elections, no major issues were reported.

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh has defended the decision to reduce the amount of private residences used as polling stations and to rely more on public buildings.

According to Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander, GECOM has received a request to approve proxy votes for the hundreds of Guyanese currently working on ExxonMobil’s  offshore oil platform.

The incumbent A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has promised to optimise the sugar industry to ensure job retention if re-elected.

At least seven of the nine political parties contesting the March 2nd general and regional elections have agreed to participate in a non-partisan candidates’ forum being held by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) in collaboration with the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC).

Seeking re-election after almost five years in office, the governing APNU+AFC yesterday presented its 2020 elections manifesto, which President David Granger called a “contract” with the people for the next five years and beyond.

Assuring voters that they would never join APNU+AFC or the PPP/C  for government positions but will work for unity, the three small parties which have joined their lists in a ground-breaking move yesterday set out how they would share any seats won at the March 2nd general elections.

Co-Chair of the APNU+AFC campaign Joseph Harmon yesterday denied that the incumbent is using state resources as part of its re-election efforts.

Nearly two years after it was first proposed by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a system of Direct Cash Transfers has found favour with the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). 

Dear Editor,  When we launched The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), one of the first things we called for was for there to be debates among the presidential candidates vying for elections. 

Dear Editor, Once we Guyanese have turned our hostile, tense society for a more accommodating culture, particularly during the ‘silly seasons’, there will be room for more give and take politics, more room for cordial exchanges.

The 11 political parties, which have been approved to contest the March 2, 2020 elections, yesterday signed a Code of Conduct under the auspices of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

Another call has been made for the legal framework to be put place to ensure persons with disabilities (PWDs) can independently exercise their right to vote if that is their choice.

Aiming to change the quality of life for Guyanese, newcomer to the political arena, Change Guyana presidential candidate, Robert Badal, on Tuesday unveiled his party’s manifesto, which he said focuses heavily on “putting more money in your pockets.”