Essequibo pensioner not on voters’ list sheds tears
SEVERAL Essequibo Coast residents were disappointed on Elections Day when they turned up at polling places with their old identification (ID) cards and were not allowed to vote because their names were not on the list.

One such person, elderly Harry Bacchus, who is 90 years old, said his name was not included as he does not have a birth certificate.

According to the pensioner, he felt ‘left out’ and denied of his democratic right to vote for the party of his choice.

Bacchus said he always voted on elections day and this is the first time he could not mark his ‘X’ on a ballot paper.
Another pensioner, who suffered the same fate, Sattie, of Devonshire Castle, said she felt sad as a Guyanese.

The widow said she had that feeling when she saw so many people going to polling stations and she could not, as her name was not on the list.
“As a Guyanese, I felt sad that I can’t vote for the party of my choice,” she reiterated.

Another pensioner of Devonshire Castle, Bharrat (only name as well) said he searched the list several times but could not find his name and burst into tears, crying uncontrollably because he could not get to vote.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere across Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) was one of peace and quietness after thousands of Essequibians voted on Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon on Monday.

Reports said all polling stations were opened on time and many voters took the opportunity to cast their ballots while others waited until late afternoon, but before 18:00hrs.
The Coast and Pomeroon areas were exceptionally quiet on polling day as liquor bars and shops remained closed and there was no loud music.
Many young people who exercised their franchise for the first time were very excited after exercising their democratic right to choose a government of their choice.
Yesterday, Essequibians were going about their business in the usual manner while waiting on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to announce the results of the polls.