…first-time voters urge all Guyanese to exercise their franchise

By Alisa Lashley
ELECTION season is known to be one of the most frenzied and anxious periods for Guyanese citizens. However, with the upcoming polls being referred to as “the mother of all elections,” it is without a doubt that there may have never been a more challenging time for first-time voters.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, several persons who will be voting for the first time were prompt in sharing their views on the pre-elections campaigning season and expectations for the much anticipated polling day.

Law student of the University of Guyana, Sherlyn Semple, in her commentaries, stated, “This election is indeed the mother of all elections, reason being because Guyana is at a pivotal stage of its economic development and whoever is elected to office will have the duty of managing the economy at such a crucial time. As a first-time voter I expect for the elections to be held as smoothly as possible, but I have observed the racial tension between Guyanese, persons are stopping political parties from campaigning in some areas, while some political parties are only reaching out to specific areas,” she said. In encouraging other first-time voters, Semple said that voting is a constitutional right and the choice as to where the “X” should be placed, is solely that of the voters. She added that no one should be subjected to undue pressures by anyone to vote for any political party.
However, second-year International Relations student Kristoff Shepperd related that it is his expectation as a first-time voter that the elections be free and fair. “No matter who goes into power, they should do what is best for the country and not work for their own personal gains,” he said.

It is Kristoff’s belief that oil can change the country’s economy really quickly. “Whoever is given the opportunity to govern will be in total control of the first set of income from oil production, which could either make Guyana great or break her.

Another student shared similar views to that of the aforementioned, citing his agreement with this year’s elections being referred to as the “mother of all elections.” “Being a first-time voter I expect the process to go smooth [sic] despite some recent and past hiccups that I’ve read or heard about. I have observed that the integrity of politicians is being exposed and some have leaned towards the ethnic rhetoric which isn’t good for our beloved country,” Myron Phillips stated.

Phillips explained that he has also noticed the illegal use of rhythms by political parties, which conveyed a bad message to music lovers and producers in and around Guyana. He further shone a positive light on the elections season by mentioning that it has also invoked a sense of patriotism and observance of all individuals who may want the best for Guyana. Myron further implored his fellow first-time voters to break the traditional ethnic voting patterns that have been said to plague Guyana and to vote for ideologies, policies and agendas, instead of race.

More interestingly, the Guyana Chronicle interviewed a fourth student, Deborah Baird, who vividly related her philosophies to this newspaper. Baird said that she has been taught that for a long time Guyana has been pursuing forestry, sugar and rice as lucrative means of revenue, notwithstanding the gold and diamond industries over the past decades. But she however mentioned the discovery of oil which as she described is predicted to cause Guyana’s wealth to skyrocket to heights never before seen.

“The country is at the brink of the greatest economic breakthrough it will ever experience and therefore, this year’s election is certainly the “mother of all elections.”
She further mentioned that young people are now understanding the essence of politics and elaborated on her enthusiasm to have her voice be heard in this election. “Whether my choices are based on development or other improvements seen, I consider myself the one vote that is needed for the party of my choice to win and to have the privilege of doing that is exciting. In essence, I expect to make a difference with my one “x”, because who knows, that may be the last x needed to elect the new government,” Baird said.
Baird further urged other first-time voters to ensure that their voices are heard, since in elections talking is as she explained “futile” if you don’t vote.”