Joint Services condemn Facebook post by APNU+AFC candidate

Attorney – at – Law and APNU Member, James Bond

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Candidate for the APNU+AFC Coalition, James Bond has defended his Facebook posts, which stated that 94% of Disciplinary Forces have voted in favour of the coalition, even though their ballots are yet to be stamped or counted.

His defence follows condemnation from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), who expressed concern at the posts, describing it as distasteful and extremely irresponsible.

However, Bond in a statement to iNews maintained that he has done nothing illegal or unethical since he conducted an “exit poll.”

“The exit poll I published on my Facebook yesterday has generated a storm in a tea cup as all right thinking Guyanese know that it is impossible given the checks and balances at Gecom for anyone to know the number of votes cast for the individual parties at yesterday’s polling of the Disciplined Services. It is impossible also for someone reading my poll to be persuaded to incite mayhem or cause mayhem,” the Attorney – at – Law said in his statement.

He further noted, “In previous electoral cycles the Disciplined Forces has voted for the opposition and this exit poll showed no change in that pattern. It is a known pattern of voting by that section of our society.

“The poll of itself could not be therefore unethical or unlawful or illegal and ought not cause Gecom to even bat an eyelid. It is what obtains in every modern democracy. However if the said poll causes the Disciplined Forces uneasiness I APOLOGIZE to the members of the Disciplined Forces.”

He then went on to chastise the PPP/C for “wrongfully” accusing the Disciplined Forces of many things and starving them of a decent wage and better working conditions.

The PPP/C has since stated that it intends to file an official complaint to GECOM and the police, citing Bond’s posts as an abuse of the election laws.