Cops in Region Nine educated on elections offences

Police Superintendent and Attorney-at-Law Delon Fraser last week conducted a training session with ranks in Police Regional Division Nine at the Lethem Police Station on Election Offences and Preparedness.

The training focused on the legal framework governing elections in Guyana, emphasising the various election offences as outlined in the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Chapter 1:04.

Key offences discussed included:

1. Bribery (Section 128, Chapter 1:03) – Offering money or other inducements to influence a voter’s decision.

2. Treating (Section 129, Chapter 1:03) – Providing food, drink, or gifts to influence votes.

3. Undue Influence (Section 130, Chapter 1:03) – Using threats, intimidation, or coercion to alter a voter’s decision.

4. Personation (Section 131, Chapter 1:03) – Voting in another person’s name or assuming a false identity to vote.

5. Multiple Voting (Section 132, Chapter 1:03) – Voting more than once in the same election.

6. Illegal Practices (Section 133, Chapter 1:03) – Breaches such as tampering with ballot papers, obstructing voters, and false declarations.

7. Secrecy Violations (Section 134, Chapter 1:03) – Unauthorized disclosure of how a person voted or interfering with the secrecy of voting.

8. Fraudulent Device or Contrivance (Section 135, Chapter 1:03) – Any fraudulent method used to alter election results.

9. Misconduct at Polling Stations (Section 136, Chapter 1:03) – Disorderly conduct or disruption at polling stations.

The training emphasised the responsibilities of law enforcement and community policing groups in ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, as well as protocols for handling election-related offences.