– Presidential Candidate says party drawing more cross-over votes, confident of victory
THE leaders of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) yesterday cast their votes early; and Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar contends that the incumbent party is drawing more cross-over votes.
“I think we will capture a lot of the non-traditional votes. The election has been showing that more and more the PPP/C has been getting more and more cross-over votes,” he said in an invited comment at Plaisance Secondary School, where he cast his vote.

He added that the incumbent party has been fair in their policies and has ensured that the resources of the country have been distributed evenly in every region, to advance development and improve livelihoods for all Guyanese.
Ramotar said, “I think the PPP/C will win the elections in a big way…we have done a lot of work.”

DEMOCRACY A MUST

Ramotar noted that Guyana has seen the importance of a democracy, referring to the lost decades prior to the restoration of democracy here in 1992.
“We cannot lose our democracy, something that is essential for our development…we saw what happened when you don’t have a democratic system in place, even if your intentions are good,” he said.
October 5, 1992, is referred to as the people’s triumph, when the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan took his place as the democratically elected President of Guyana in the first free and fair elections Guyana had seen after decades of rigged elections.
Ramotar stressed that the importance of the 2011 general and regional elections cannot be overstated.
He contends that political democracy ensures both that the government remains accountable to the society, and that the government delivers equitable progress across the nation.
Prime Ministerial Candidate Samuel Hinds cast his vote at Christ Church Secondary School, and told the media that the process was progressing smoothly, expressing the hope that this trend continues.

GOOD POLLS 

President Bharrat Jagdeo, after casting his vote at the Christ Church Secondary School yesterday morning, noted that polling was going well.
“I gather polling is going quite well…I am extremely pleased. I understand there were a few hiccups in a few places, but I think those will be resolved easily. On the whole, things are going well,” he said.
The Head of State, who voted with his passport, stated that he is pleased that the processes are being followed as per protocols.
According to him, he is happy with the peaceful and sometimes heated campaigning that had been competitive, and added that he is looking forward to peaceful elections that will see the country getting back to work.
“I think I would have done my job over the past 12 years to ensure that the people have an opportunity to choose a government in a free environment,” he said.
The president noted that he has no sense of sadness or nostalgia over leaving the presidency; rather, he has been preparing for his exit and is happy that he has lived up to the Constitution.
He noted that Guyana is the fastest-growing economy in the Caribbean, adding that Guyana has big plans for the future.
“Our country today is viable. It is solvent. We can pay our way, compared to when we started when that was not the case. Our people are more united than ever, and we are looking forward to a future that we can get rid of the past that has haunted us, and where all of our people can live together, work together, build this country together and achieve…we are on the right track,” he said.

YOUNG VOTES

The president expressed optimism in the party’s ability to attract a majority of the young voters.
The majority of the voting population are young people –persons below 40 account for some 56 per cent of the electorate, while persons below 25 account for between 21 and 22 per cent.
“I think young people have a great role to play in this country, and will not shirk their responsibility, but will come out and choose who they want to lead them,” the President said.
Jagdeo predicted a win for the PPP/C, adding that the party has put in much work.