Voting for GDF ranks smooth, says Chief of Defence

Voting began without incident for ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as members of the Disciplined Services this morning cast their ballots ahead of the country’s General and Regional Elections, set for September 1.

Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, was the first to vote at Base Camp Ayanganna and described the process as “organised and smooth,” expressing confidence that the rest of the day would proceed just as efficiently.

“My experience just now was very organised and smooth, and I want to thank all those who ensured this was done successfully,” Brigadier Khan said. He added: “I do not anticipate any issues because all soldiers are simply exercising their democratic right to participate in this important process.”

Across Guyana, a total of 3,106 GDF ranks are expected to vote at 24 designated polling stations. The early voting tradition for joint services personnel allows them to cast their ballots ahead of the general public.

“Throughout the day, soldiers will vote without coercion. Each one of them has the right to make their choice freely, and I expect no issues as the process continues,” the Defence Chief added.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) affirmed its readiness to accommodate more than 10,000 members of the Disciplined Services voting ahead of the national elections.

According to the commission, ballots had already been sent to Regions Two, Three, Five, and Six by Thursday, with ballots for Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine dispatched by air on Friday morning.

The early voting initiative is a key part of ensuring that service personnel are able to fulfil their civic duties while remaining available for national duties during the election period.