By Jomo Paul

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally. [iNews’ Photo]

Dr Surujbally’s statement comes after numerous reports of unrest have circulated on social media and in local online media in areas such as South Sophia, and other parts of Georgetown.

Dr Surjubally at a GECOM press conference on Monday evening demanded that “peace and tranquility must prevail” as he urged persons gathered at polling stations across the country to remain calm.

“I have asked that the persons who are milling around polling stations to disperse and go home,” said the Chairman.

He said that the ballot boxes that the persons gathered say they are safe guarding is of lesser importance than the Statement of Poll which will be posted outside the polling station.

The Statement of Poll will show which political Party has managed to attract the most votes at the polls. The Statements are usually posted after poll would have closed.

“Once that statement of poll is posted outside the polling station, then the ballot boxes and the contents of the ballots boxes are just for history,” said the GECOM Chairman.

Surujbally is also calling on the Presidential Candidates of the two major political parties to urge their supporters to respect the calm and let peace prevail.

“There is no sense exciting yourself over nothing really at this point in time…they have to address the citizenry of this country…we cannot allow a beautifully run elections let us not have a situation in which that which we have achieved is undermined,” he stated.

He retorted that seeing instances of what he has experienced as a youth come to past under his tenure as GECOM Chairman is somewhat depressing.

By Tracey Khan – Drakes

APNU+AFC Candidates, Raphael Trotman (center) and Joe Harmon. [iNews’ Photo]

During a media conference at the coalition’s head office in Queenstown, Georgetown on Monday evening, General Secretary of the APNU, Joseph Harmon noted that the hiccups that took place were intentional to provoke the APNU+AFC supporters; however he noted that as a result of interventions made by the coalition’s leaders the situations were quelled and normalcy was returned to those polling places.

The coalition, Harmon said, based on the turn out by voters at certain polling station feels “comfortable” with its chances at winning the 2015 general and regional elections, but stressed that it has to await an official word after the tabulation process is completed.

Harmon reiterated for the coalition’s supporters to remain calm and not to play into the hands of the provocateurs.

APNU+AFC Co-Chair, Raphael Trotman also spoke of the unrest which took place in ‘C’ Field Sophia over allegations of elections discrepancies at the private residence of a supporter of one of the main political parties.

Trotman noted that after receiving word of the problem, he visited the house and was allowed to somewhat conduct a search but which did not lead to anything illegal, but investigations are ongoing into that incident.

He was unable to give an update on the situation with the underage girl from West Coast who reportedly voted at a polling station in that district, but noted that the teen was in police after the matter was uncovered. It is unclear if the teen remains in police custody and her exact age is still unknown.

By Jomo Paul

Residents storm the home of the man. [iNews’ Photo]

Hundreds of residents of Sophia took to the streets in front the man’s home, angrily shouting for the man to refrain from what he has done. iNews is still trying to verify the allegations made by the residents with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Despite appeals from APNU+AFC’s Raphael Trotman, Supriya Singh-Bodden and several other activists the crowd thrived on and surged the home of the man.

APNU+AFC, Raphael Trotman and others try to calm the residents. [iNews’ Photo]

Police arrived on the scene moments later but did nothing to quell the crowd and instead went to investigate their allegations but turned up empty handed.

This did nothing but to stir more anger in the crowd as they again attempted to storm the man’s house.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield. [iNews’ Photo]

Reporting on the process to the media this evening, the CEO said the process went smoothly across the country. He said the few incidents of alleged irregularities are being investigated by the police.

At the moment, counting of the ballots is underway and according to the CEO, Statement of Polls (SOP) will start coming in to the GECOM command centre, tonight.

Once the SOPs are verified, preliminary results will be published, beginning tonight, around 23:00 hours. SOPs will continue to arrive at GECOM’s command centre throughout tonight and into tomorrow from the far flung regions.

Balloting was done at a total of 2099 places of poll and according to Lowenfield, results should be published, at least, every two hours. [Radha Motielall]

This is although polling closed at 18:00 hrs on May 11 – more than 15 hours ago.

GECOM says it is currently in the process of the unhindered receipt of Statements of Polls from the 2,299 Polling Stations across Guyana.

The elections body was slated to announce preliminary results since 23:00hrs on May 11; however reports indicate that the delay has to do with the fact that its agents were unable to access the ballot boxes and Statement of polls at some polling stations.

The Statement of Poll will indicate which political Party has managed to attract the most votes at the polls. The Statements are usually posted after polls would have closed.

Stakeholders have urged that the electorate remain calm and allow GECOM to finalize the results of the elections.

By Jomo Paul

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) says it has received over 1500 Statement of Polls and ballot boxes from some 2,299 polling stations across the country, but it is unable to provide any results given that they are still being processed.

GECOM’s Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally told a news conference that while more than half of the Statement of Polls was received, there are some delays.

“We were stymied a bit yesterday after the close of poll, there was an environment that precluded the healthy transmission of ballot boxes and statements of poll,” explained Dr Surujbally.

He reminded that GECOM is the only legally authorized entity that can release the results and is urging patience from the Guyanese public for the election results some sixteen hours after polling would have closed on Monday, May 11.

“I want to remind you as I have before, only GECOM can make that legitimate announcement relative to who has won….it seems not to be getting over to certain people….seems like they don’t read it or they don’t understand what we have said,” said Surujbally.

“We will not work outside the ambit of the law and if it takes time to get the law, the nation has to have patience,” the Chairman added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield explained that thus far GECOM has received all of the results from District Four (Region Four – Demerara Mahaica).

He also pointed out that other areas that results have been received from include Regions Six, Three and Five.

All of the statements for Region Five have been received and Region three is almost complete with the exception of the Essequibo islands.

The Commission is expected to update the public with some preliminary results at 18:00hrs this evening.

The results thus far as released by the Guyana Elections Commission

[www.inewsguyana.com] –

The Guyana Elections Commission moments ago released the preliminary results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections which shows that the APNU+AFC is leading the People’s Progressive Party/Civic by some 6797 votes in the General election.

The coalition also led the incumbent Party by some 4059 votes in the regional elections.

iNews Guyana will provide more details as it becomes available, see the table above for more information relative to the preliminary results.