Candidates lead voter turnout

May 12, 2015 News

On the eve of the May 11 election, the city seemed desolate.  But it was a different thing at 5 am yesterday. Many residents around the city were awakened by loud horns, ringing bells and piercing Bob Marley anthems as a clear early-morning signal for residents to get out and vote.
Based on the turnout of voters, the 2015 election saw a larger attendance than in 2011. Most of the political leaders headed out to the polling stations early which were already packed with alert voters.
Presidential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger and his wife Sandra, voted in Durban Backlands. He and his spouse cast their vote at approximately 6: 20 am.
As he entered the polling station at Enterprise Primary, many punctual voters were heard shouting, “Yes my Leader, you are here,” “We love you Granger,” “It is time for justice”, “Freedom!!”
The Presidential hopeful hugged and exchanged many warm wishes with most of them.
Many residents were at the time, still pouring into the Enterprise Primary to cast their votes.
A first time voter said, “I am really excited to be voting. I was not inspired to vote the last time around but there is something so powerful that is moving me right now. I am not happy with life in Guyana. For the first time I feel like my vote can make a difference and I will have a brighter future with my choice. I am prepared to wait all day.”
The lines were long in that area and it was no different in polling stations along Durban Street, Mandela Avenue, Norton Street, East and West La Penitence and Queenstown.
Presidential Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Donald Ramotar, and his wife, Deolatchmee, voted at St. John’s College around 9: 30 am.
Both were immediately flooded by the media for photographs and several questions. After casting their votes, a confident Ramotar said that he had not received reports at the time of any disturbances and was hoping for a peaceful election period.
The incumbent President said that he is absolutely certain that his party will be reelected to serve the people for another five years. His wife also appealed to listeners not to procrastinate and to get out and vote.
By that time, the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper and her husband had voted as well as APNU+AFC’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Sita.
But the tranquility yesterday saw several disruptions and protests at polling stations at Central High School, Guyhoc, Tucville, Stewartville and later in the evening at Sophia.
Passions flared in those areas at the slightest indication that the electoral process and its protocols were being breached. But officials tried their hardest to calm the growing tensions.
Despite the hiccups, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) reported that the voting process went quite smoothly and it will soon be announcing the results as they are counted.
Observer Missions such as those from the Private Sector Commission, the Carter Center and the Organization of American States visited several of the polling stations starting as early as 6:00 am.
There were a few areas in Kitty, Georgetown which saw some sporadic voter turnout but generally, the area was characterized by long lines leading out to the end of many streets from the respective stations.
An 86-year-old great grandfather was eager to speak to this newspaper yesterday about his eagerness to vote.
“I have voted for some time and I must say that I have never felt emotion before like this. It is a different energy. Everybody wants to vote now and it was really overwhelming. It is a season that is bringing people together.
“Look, my neighbour who always cussing me out for some nonsense when the day come, was the one to help me out the house this morning. I feel a change coming. I pray to the almighty that it is here soon,” he expressed with his head raised to the sky.
Another voter of La Penitence said, “I just voted and to me, everything was very easy and fair. The officers were courteous and I didn’t have to wait long.
“I am happy that I got it done early but I am just worried about the next few days. I hope the leaders continue to be around and engage the electorate because the tension is high and people are nervous.”