With General and Regional Elections approaching later this year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has urged the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to remain alert against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process. Speaking at the GDF’s Annual Officers’ Conference, President Ali emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, “While we do not anticipate unrest or anything that is contrary to the rule of law, we must remain vigilant against any attempt to unsettle internal order. The Defence Force will be on standby, prepared to act if necessary to uphold stability and protect the democratic process.”

The President underscored the importance of conducting free and fair elections as a cornerstone of Guyana’s democracy. “Elections are a fundamental pillar of our democracy and we must ensure that the process unfolds in an environment free from intimidation, violence, and disruption. It did not go unnoticed that some comments made by political leaders…” he noted.

He further asserted, “Our duty is to the nation, to its security, and the preservation of law and order, not to any political interest. Guyana’s democracy depends on free, fair, and peaceful elections, and we will ensure that no force, internal or external, will disrupt the will of the people.”

Despite these calls for vigilance, President Ali assured GDF ranks that they are free to express their political preferences. He stated, “Let me be clear, we’re not asking anyone to take a partisan stand. We ask every day for the members of the Joint Services to take a professional and national stance. Every member of the Force has a right to vote according to the dictates of their conscience and as long as I am Commander-in-Chief, their right will be respected. The professionalism of the military will always be upheld.”

While no official date has been announced, the 2025 elections are anticipated to occur in November, following the tumultuous March 2020 elections which were marked by significant controversy due to attempts by the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration to manipulate the outcome. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) eventually took office five months after the elections.

In light of the upcoming elections, the government is also enhancing the training of law enforcement personnel. Recently, it was reported that plans are in place to train 2,039 police officers and 762 detectives in preparation for the elections.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn highlighted the allocation of $250 million for human resource development within the Guyana Police Force (GPF), noting that the training will cover specialized areas such as criminal investigations, intelligence gathering, and community policing. “The type and quality and footprint related to the training, and the facilities which we now have upgraded, are much better, so the quality and delivery in terms of number per training cohort is more efficient now…” he explained.

Benn acknowledged that the upcoming election year necessitates a different focus in training. He stated, “It’s an election year, so that for that very reason, the type of training may be significantly different. The amount…is a proportion here similar to last year, but with different focus.”

The GPF has already begun preparations for the elections, and the Commissioners of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) have recently engaged with Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken to discuss collaborative efforts. During this meeting, ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeen-ul Hack expressed appreciation for the GPF’s training provisions for ERC staff on the Cybercrime Act and CID Induction Training.

Commissioner Hicken reaffirmed the GPF’s commitment to further training support for the ERC, expressing enthusiasm for GPF officers to participate in ERC-led training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The two organizations have previously collaborated on cases related to the Racial Hostility Act and the Cybercrime Act, recognizing the need for enhanced cooperation as the elections approach. To formalize this partnership, they plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at streamlining the handling of cases referred by the ERC.

Both the ERC and GPF have reiterated their commitment to upholding the rule of law, fostering ethnic harmony, and ensuring security and positive relations across Guyana as the nation gears up for the elections.