Officers from the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service will be voting on Friday, 10 days ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections. Ahead of those polls, political parties have shared some bold promises.The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) promised a suite of benefits.“In the next five years, our joint services can look forward to higher wages and salaries, support in owning their own homes, expanded scholarship opportunities, childcare facilities, greater opportunities for promotion, expanded access to healthcare, recreational facilities, and a healthier working environment,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said in a letter to members of the Disciplined Services.President Ali and Prime Minister Phillips are both seeking re-election with the PPP/C. And they urged the ranks to vote for the party, leaning on their track record over the past five years.“Over the past five years, we have restored dignity, improved conditions, and provided the tools you need to serve our beloved Guyana with pride,” they wrote, noting that the one-month tax-free bonus for ranks was restored under this administration.When the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government assumed office in 2015, it stopped the one-month tax-free Christmas bonus for the Joint Services, leaving thousands of families in distress. Immediately after assuming office, President Ali moved to restore the bonus.APNU, as noted before, removed that bonus but now promises to give members of the disciplined services an annual, one-month bonus. The promise was made in a message shared on Thursday.The party also promised salary increases of 35% and the elimination of income tax for all servicemen and women earning less than $400,000 monthly. The party also promised to make their work more technologically advanced and focus heavily on training.Like APNU, the AFC has embraced an initiative it once shot down. It said it would give two months’ tax-free salary to all disciplined services members, and one month’s tax-free salary to the civilian GDF workers. Party leader Nigel Hughes also promised to fully cater to the officers, even after injury.In a video message, Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, vowed to reduce the cost of house lots and give officers the “highest priority” in houselot applications. He also promised the officers that his party would significantly increase allowances for the officers.As is customary, the ranks of the Disciplined Members vote ahead of the elections.The post Parties make bold promises in bid to secure disciplined services vote appeared first on News Room Guyana.