Ballot Boxes Safely Delivered After ECD Accident-Police

The Guyana Police Force has confirmed that three ballot boxes en route from Berbice to Georgetown were successfully delivered to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters on Friday night, despite being involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road.

The accident occurred around 20:55 hrs and involved three vehicles transporting ballots—Minibus #BAB 6899, Motor Car #PXX 7899, and Minibus #BAL 2180.

According to police, Minibus #BAB 6899 was traveling west on the LBI Public Road carrying Ballot Box #DF048 from the Central Police Station. Behind it was Motor Car #PXX 7899 with Ballot Box #DF047, also from Central Police Station, followed by Minibus #BAL 2180 with Ballot Box #DF050 from the Whim Police Station. All three vehicles were under escort by Force Motorcar #PAB 8212.

The incident reportedly occurred when an unidentified vehicle suddenly exited the LBI Access Road into the path of the convoy, forcing the escort vehicle to brake abruptly. This resulted in a chain-reaction collision—Minibus #BAB 6899 braked sharply, causing Motor Car #PXX 7899 to collide with its rear, and Minibus #BAL 2180 then crashed into the rear of the car.

Several individuals sustained injuries in the crash and were immediately transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by police ranks.

GECOM later confirmed that polling agents, officials, and other electoral personnel were present in the vehicles during the collision. Crucially, however, all three ballot boxes remained secure and were successfully handed over to GECOM headquarters without compromise.

Yet, the incident has stirred broader concerns beyond the physical safety of the ballots.

Given Guyana’s historically contentious elections and persistent allegations that the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) engages in vote-buying and demands loyalty in exchange for rewards, the incident has intensified public scrutiny over the electoral process.

Many are now demanding that the Opposition, particularly the three opposition-appointed GECOM Commissioners, begin formally inquiring into the ownership of the vehicles used to transport ballot boxes.

“Knowing who owns these vehicles isn’t just about accountability—it’s essential for political analysis,” one political commentator noted. “We have to ask: Who’s supplying the transport? Who’s getting these contracts?”

Concerns are growing over the perceived lack of transparency in how GECOM selects transport providers. With the Commission split 4-3 in favour of the government-aligned side, critics argue that GECOM has the power to hire any service provider it chooses, without opposition oversight.

“There’s nothing stopping GECOM, with its majority, from using whichever vehicles or contractors it wants. But the public deserves to know who they are,” another observer said.

As calls grow louder for transparency and answers, the responsibility may now fall squarely on the shoulders of the opposition commissioners to press for details—particularly in a political climate already marked by mistrust and questions about electoral integrity.