…demand better management, accountability

THE process of voting in Monday’s Local Government Elections (LGEs) was dubbed “smooth and simple” by voters in the Municipality of Georgetown, but the turnout was less than desirable.

Across the 15 constituencies, polling stations opened at precisely at 06:00hrs but many were empty, and in some cases only a handful of persons turned up to exercise their democratic right to elect their local leaders.

At the JE Burnham Primary School at William Street, Kitty, 81-year-old U.S.- based Guyanese Viola Skraker, said she had “no problem.” She explained that though she spends most of her days in the U.S., it was important to exercise her democratic right to elect the local leaders.

Fifty-eight-year-old Derrick Bailey said that voting at the JE Burnham Primary School was hassle-free. He, however, contended that the low turnout of voters at the time was due to lack of awareness.

Over at the FE Pollard Primary School only a few voters were spotted. For them, it was

important to exercise their franchise to vote. Kenneth Brown, who voted for the first time in the mixed system of Proportional Representation and First-Past-The-Post, said the process was simple.

“It was simple. I got through alright,” he told the Guyana Chronicle. As a resident of Pike Street, Kitty, Brown, however, expressed disappointment that many issues were not addressed at the local level following the 2016 LGEs.
It was therefore important for him to go out and vote. Brown is optimistic that his vote would be counted, and that leaders’ with the people’s interest at heart would be voted into council.

Frederick Sparrock, his wife, Debra, and son, Michael, were also among the first set of voters to cast their ballots at the FE Pollard Primary School at David Street, Kitty.
Mr. Sparrock said “the process went very smoothly,” noting that there were no complaints.
He said it is important for Guyanese to elect their local leaders to manage the affairs of the towns and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). His son, Michael, echoed similar sentiments.

“Everyone has a say in how their communities are going to be,” Michael posited, noting, that this time around he expects the local leaders to be more accountable.
Michael, like other voters, complained about the failure of the outing-going Georgetown Mayor and City Council to complete the rehabilitation of the Kitty Market. “Kitty Market, it was a big thing when it started, and up to now it ain’t finish,” he said.

At the Rama Krisha Primary School, Somwaru Rampersaud told the Guyana Chronicle that he went out to vote with the expectation that “things will get better.”
Lynette Rampershad, who also cast her ballot at the Rama Krishna Primary School, dubbed the process as “smooth.” Like Rampersaud, she is hoping that things will get better.

For 58-year-old Sahodra Geer, and her 79-year-old mother, Hubarjre Geer, voting was done with ease. Sahodra said changes must come, as she too complained bitterly about the incomplete Kitty Municipal Market.

“Look how long Kitty Market stalled up there. Up to now they can’t open the market, and people who deh deh for years ain’t get back they stand in the market. You understand, people selling on the road for years, and can’t get a space in the market,” she complained.
At the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, 68-year-old Ramdial Persaud told reporters that he voted with ease. Ramdial said that the Local Government Elections (LGEs) present an excellent opportunity for many of the issues affecting residents of the city to be addressed, and he was more than happy to participate in process of electing new leaders.

Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employee Andrew Nurse, said work kept him from voting early. He had voted minutes before the close of poll at St. Pius Primary School in West La Penitence.
At the St. Pius Primary School in West La Penitence, APNU Proportional Representation Candidate, John Vanveen, said “everything went smoothly.” Vanveen said if duly elected, he has a lot to offer.

“I have a lot to offer in terms of infrastructure, in terms of drainage and irrigation for my constituency, lighting facility, security and education and so much more,” Vanveen said.
Waveney Campbell, 69, was the very last person to vote at the South Ruimveldt Secondary School. Campbell said she was babysitting during the day but she had vowed to vote.

Campbell said she was disappointed for two reasons, firstly, that the candidate she had voted for that won the constituency in 2016 never returned following the elections, and secondly, the person who she had intended to vote for this time around was not on the list. According to her, she did not recognise any other person and opted to only vote in the Proportional Representation aspect of the elections.

She is, however, hopeful that councillors would do more for the people of the city.
“Well, the councillors, I would like them to pay attention to the drainage, because you find when it rains all the water comes into the yard, and the flooding occurs due to clogged drains, and this needs to be addressed,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile at the Selman Fraser Nursery in Albouystown, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, was seen observing the operations at that polling station just before the close of polls. He was one of the Private Section Commission (PSC) observers that were spread out across the country.

Like many of the voters that spoke to the Guyana Chronicle in the city, Indar said the process went well. He visited approximately 23 polling stations in Regions Three and Four.
“So far we have not seen anything that was glaring or anything that we believe that is not within the guidance of voting. Most of the stations were relatively quiet,” the GCCI president explained. He noted that voters’ turnout was lower than expected.

The Guyana Chronicle also caught up with former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, in the vicinity of the St. Pius Primary School at West La Penitence. Green said that Monday’s elections did not have the kind of voters’ turn out that was anticipated, but he is optimistic that the next round of Local Government Elections (LGEs) would be better, and with an increase level of awareness among all sections of society.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm still left and what we need to do in the next round is to develop that enthusiasm, get our young people on board so that we can develop the city and the country as a whole,” he said.

He also made a case for the major political parties, like the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), to give individual candidates and civil groups a chance to work for the good of their communities.
“It is something that I expect the main parties will re-examine, so Local Government becomes what it was years ago with people in the respective communities identify workers, people who are genuine, who they see every day, and prepare to make efforts to get them better organize the drainage, the streets, social services,” Green explained.