Summary:
- The APNU Coalition would advise voters in general that, to avoid suspicion, they should avoid any handling of their cell phones in the polling booth.
- Our vision of Putting People First extends to every Guyanese, including those who serve in the disciplined forces.
We share the position of GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander that GECOM must totally prohibit electors from carrying their phones into the polling booth, that is, in the compartment where the actual marking of the ballot will occur.
These elections are likely to see the biggest effort in our history to buy votes. Such a scheme is severely undermined when an elector is unable to provide a photograph of his or her marked ballot to the vote buyer. An election in which votes are bought will not reflect the will of the people.
Guyanese must, therefore, be suspicious of the PPP, whose GECOM Commissioners voted to allow cellphones in the polling booth. The APNU Coalition would advise voters in general that, to avoid suspicion, they should avoid any handling of their cell phones in the polling booth.
In this regard, Guyanese must also take note that the following violations of the law carry fines of up to sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) and imprisonment of up to two years: (i) directly or indirectly inducing an elector to display his or her ballot after he or she has marked it; (ii) displaying your marked ballot paper for others to see; (iii) unduly influencing an elector (by, for example, threats) or bribing an elector (by money, gift, and other valuables) to vote or not to vote; (iv) accepting such bribes (in other words, selling your vote); and (v) voter impersonation.
The risks are not worth it. We urge citizens to avoid such temptations and freely vote their conscience.
THE APNU GOVERNMENT WILL INCREASE JOB BENEFITS, SAFETY, AND SATISFACTION FOR POLICE AND SOLDIERS
The APNU Coalition has always regarded and will continue to regard Guyana’s military as essential for the protection of our territorial integrity, the safeguarding of our national security, the cultivation of patriotism and national pride, and the development of skills, especially among our young ranks. We will train and prepare our soldiers for life after military service.
We likewise view our police force as essential for the maintenance of law and order, the minimization of crime of all types, the development of safe communities, and the protection of the vulnerable in our society.
Both our military and police forces deserve all the benefits they have recently received. The PPP, of course, likes to pretend that these benefits are overly generous when, in fact, they under-compensate the military and police for their dedicated service under challenging and often dangerous conditions.
We have listened to the concerns and demands of our soldiers and police. We understand their plight and problems. As the next government, the APNU Coalition will respond by:
- Increasing their salary by up to 35%, with yearly bonuses.
- Raising the tax-free threshold to $400,000 a month – in our first year in office.
- Paying out a cash transfer of $100,000 each year, in our first year in office.
- Increasing the minimum wage and starting salary to at least $200,000 a month – in our first year in office.
- Ensuring the police and soldiers enjoy all the other benefits we plan to implement for all citizens, such as rent-to-own housing, water and electricity subsidy, and child allowances for children up to 18 years.
- Ensuring promotions and training scholarships are based on merit and transparent rules, not on politics or favoritism.
- Expanding bursary awards for their children.
- Giving them priority for house-lot allocation and housing.
- Establishing an expert commission to review the conditions of service and to make recommendations on living conditions in camps and compounds, benefits and compensation, job satisfaction, personal safety, etc.
For our soldiers, especially, we will:
- provide better barrack conditions, especially those in the infantry units and those serving on border locations.
- better equip the army with modern military equipment and armament, especially for those units protecting our borders and ensuring national security.
- upgrade the technical skills of soldiers in such areas as computer technology, construction, agriculture, and vehicle repairs and maintenance.
For our policemen and women, especially, we will:
- ensure all appointments and other benefits are implemented without violating the Constitution.
- replace the Commissioner of Police with an officer who has integrity and competence and who has the respect of the entire GPF.
- increase the ability of the police to do their job by introducing and providing training in advanced policing technology to deter, detect, and solve crimes — such as drones, smarter police vehicles, Automatic License Plate Recognition technology, and digital forensic software to find, recover, and preserve digital evidence.
- ensure the personal safety of police men and women by equipping them with the right protective gear and providing comprehensive training on de-escalation techniques and self-defense.
Our vision of Putting People First extends to every Guyanese, including those who serve in the disciplined forces.
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