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GDF Chief of Staff assures soldiers of right to vote freely.
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol
Monday, 14 November 2011 17:57

The Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Commodore Gary Best on Monday again assured soldiers that they can cast their ballots freely.

Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ) was told that Best gave the reassurance voluntarily and not on the basis of any concerns that might have been raised by any officer or other rank.

Best’s position came one day after Executive Member of the governing Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo openly appealed to the military to vote for his party during an address at a campaign rally at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

Demwaves.com was told that the persons in the military hierarchy have noted that this is the first time that a Guyanese leader and Commander-in-Chief has openly called on the military to vote for his party. “This is an unprecedented statement,” an officer told demwaves.com.

Predominantly of African Guyanese membership; the army, police, fire and prison services have largely voted for the main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR).

That party is now the single largest and influential member of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) whose presidential candidate is former GDF Brigadier, David Granger.

The ruling party aligned Guyana Times newspaper quoted Jagdeo as referring to Granger and saying “I want to ask the soldiers tonight to think about this, that he is only friendly to the army now because he believes that people will vote for him simply because he was there,” Jagdeo noted, urging the armed forces to “examine him on his record”.

“How can you support a man that does not believe in the constitution of Guyana, does not believe in the defence act, and that Guyana alone is more important than a party?” the head of state asked again. “You can’t support him and I ask you tonight not to support him,” he appealed.
Granger has consistently rejected allegations that he played a role in the removal of ballot boxes from Corentyne during the 1973 general election and the killing of two PPP activists who that party called the Ballot Box Martyrs.

Best has previously told the military in the GDF’s newsletter that they are being allowed to cast their ballots without influence or interference.

Members of the Joint Services would vote on November 21, one week ahead of the civilian population, in what is expected to be a keenly contested poll.

Major issues are corruption, drug trafficking, national security, discrimination, bad governance, economic performance, infrastructural development, job-creation and investments in health, education and housing.

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COMMENTS..+3 #7 F. A. Stephenson 2011-11-14 21:17

Bharrat Jagdeo, Commander in Chief of the Guyana Defence Force, by openly calling on members of the Guyana Defence Force to vote for his party has crossd the line here, and in so doing he has compromised both his integrity and that of of the members of the force, although some may argue as to whether his excellency possesses any integrity.
He alleges that Granger "does not believe in the constitution" and that he "does not believe in the defence act"; and he urged members to "examine him on his record".
Small wonder that unnamed senior military sources have observed that "this is an unprecedented statement".
I choose to believe that Bharrat Jagdeo may not be aware of it, but by making this request of the military he has shown himself to an unscrupulous and unprincipled political hack willing to sacrifice the integrity and professionalism the nation's military on the altar of rank political expediency.
Further, he asks the military to "examine him (Granger) on his record",
apparently woefully ignorant of the fact that absent formal charge/s against Granger for criminal or civil acts, Granger's records are off limits.
Finally, Granger was Commander of the GDF from 1979 to 1990, and in that capacity he had full access to significant intelligence data on the PPP and certain of its members, and were he cut from the same cloth as Jagdeo, some of this data could have been leaked with considerable advantage to the press.
Jagdeo should know that it is because Granger believes in the constitution and the defence act; and that it is because he is someone of impeccable integrity that certain guyanese known to Mr Jagdeo are free to walk the streets of Guyana.
Tola
What is all the fuss about?
Soldiers are part of the electorate and will vote.
President Jagdeo has simply appealed to soldiers to vote for the PPP/C.
Unlike PNC presidents Burnham and Hoyte, President Jagdeo has not commanded the army to swear loyalty to himself and the PPP/C.
He has not ordered the PPP/C flag to be flown at Camp Ayanganna and other army bases as the PNC flag used to be flown in times past.
What is really unprecedented is the fact that a top ex-army officer is contesting general elections in Guyana as presidential candidate of a political party.
B
quote:
Originally posted by Bookman:
What is all the fuss about?
Soldiers are part of the electorate and will vote.
President Jagdeo has simply appealed to soldiers to vote for the PPP/C.
Unlike PNC presidents Burnham and Hoyte, President Jagdeo has not commanded the army to swear loyalty to himself and the PPP/C.
He has not ordered the PPP/C flag to be flown at Camp Ayanganna and other army bases as the PNC flag used to be flown in times past.
What is really unprecedented is the fact that a top ex-army officer is contesting general elections in Guyana as presidential candidate of a political party.

Still using BURNHAM as your standard . . . I see.

Sooo, all 1992 meant for you is 'abee pan tap now' . . . eh bai??
FM
I am now sending letters to Obama and Harper, asking them to instruct their security forces to vote for Obama/Harper political parties.
If they tell me to take a flying leap into an empty lake, I will inform that our master brain, champion of the dirt,commander in chief, president of Guyana, has instructed his security forces to do the same and he is far smarter then both of them put together..
Tola
quote:
Originally posted by TI:
At least the military actually voting this time. Nobody voting for them Big Grin

Joint services not forced to vote by proxy

Written by CHITRANJAN SINGH
Toronto, Canada
Wednesday, 16 November 2011

THIS Government must be complimented for allowing its joint services to cast their ballots of their own free will.

This did not happen in 1973 when I served in the Guyana Police Force. Then, ranks were forced to sign proxy forms which were retrieved by their subordinate officers.

I, for one, did not fall for this type of bullyism and there might have been others too. I questioned why should I sign a proxy form when I live in the same district as the Police Station?

I refused and I voted at the rightful place and because of that I started to feel the political pressure.
Source: Guyana Chronicle
B
quote:
Best’s position came one day after Executive Member of the governing Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)[COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF] Bharrat Jagdeo openly appealed to the military to vote for his party during an address at a campaign rally at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

So, Bookman, you defend THIS . . . and actually believe that it is right and proper
FM
Ordinary Guyanese vote to elect their President: The military votes to elect their Boss that will most likely give them a raise and respect their duties as professionals and not to make them ballot boxes hijackers.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Matrix:
Ordinary Guyanese vote to elect their President: The military votes to elect their Boss that will most likely give them a raise and respect their duties as professionals and not to make them ballot boxes hijackers.

And this piece of 'wisdom' is apropos of . . . ??

Retard!
FM

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