YESTERDAY, Monday May 11, 2015, was a historic day for all Guyana. It was the day that everyone was awaiting with bated breath: Elections Day. This is a day when eligible Guyanese would exercise their franchise and carefully vote for the government of their choosing that would rule the affairs of the country for the next five years.Throughout the country, as Guyanese headed to the polls, the response was overwhelming, with numbers ranging from hundreds to thousands of electors turning out at various polling stations to cast their votes.
At Lamaha Park, in East La Penitence, it was no different, and residents there and at Lamaha Springs turned out in their numbers to take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime that was afforded them.
Voting commenced promptly at 06:00 hrs, but as early as 04:30hrs, scores of residents had already turned up and were waiting with great expectation at the community’s two polling stations: One just outside the God’s Cathedral of Praise, and the other being Walter Charles’ residence.
The activity was conducted peacefully and quietly throughout the day without interruption, and the electorate, many of whom were first-time voters, demonstrated patience, tolerance and indeed an appreciable level of preparedness for the task at hand, which went a long way towards expediting the process.
The first person to vote at the Cathedral of Praise was a pregnant woman, and the pastor of the Church, Rev. Timothy Norton was the fourth. Across at Walter Charles’ residence, among the first ten persons to vote was an 82-year-old ‘grannie’, and possibly the oldest person voting in that zone.
By 11:30hrs, most of the voter population had already cast their ballots, and many, having already done so, were out in the streets rounding up those yet to come out and exercise their franchise.
It needs to be noted here that so conscious were Lamaha Park residents of the importance of these elections, that by 03:30 hours yesterday morning, those who own motorcycles and cars sounded their horns in the streets as a timely reminder to those still asleep that the ‘big day’ had finally arrived, and that it was time to be up and about their business.
The day having been declared a national holiday, residents, after casting their ballots, returned home and spent the remainder of the day in either prayers or savouring the peace and quiet. Out in the streets, it was not business as usual, and relatively few vehicles were on the run.
But in those communities between Lamaha Park and the city, communities such as Lodge and Guyhoc Park, many were the queues still outside polling stations as persons voted solidly but quietly, then left for home. What immediately caught the eye, however, was the sense of responsibility and camaraderie that existed throughout the entire process.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), just hours prior, had announced that it was “fully prepared and ready” to conduct a free, fair and credible elections in Guyana.
Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally announced, “I give you the assurance that the preparations for the General and Regional Elections of 2015 have been thorough and all encompassing.”
And with the Commonwealth observer team on hand to oversee the conducting of the elections here, all Guyana now looks forward to the announcing of the results, as we continue to pray for the same peace and calm to prevail, as witnessed during the casting of polls.

By Shirley Thomas