–but party agents say turnout poor

WITH Essequibo having approximately 30,100 registered voters, persons turned up early at the nine Local Authority Areas (LAA) in the 120 constituencies and confidently cast their votes at this year’s Local Government Elections (LGEs).
Polling in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), like everywhere else, opened at the mandatory 06:00hrs, and young voters in particular showed a keen interest in casting their ballot.

Ballot boxes were seen being transported from as early as 03:00 and distributed to various polling stations, where police officers were already stationed to overlook the process.
Agents belonging to the various political parties were also seen closely checking for persons names on the various lists.
A drive from Supenaam to Charity revealed that while the process was slow, persons were constantly on the move, coming out to either cast their vote or going about their business otherwise.

In the Annandale-Riverstown LAA area, voters were very seemingly optimistic of a positive outcome, and at various public schools, the lines, though short, were steady.
Many persons opted to cast their votes early in the morning, then report to work since it was not a national holiday.

In the Aberdeen-Zorg-en-Vlygt LAA, persons were seen walking and riding towards the various polling stations there.  That’s where the Guyana Chronicle caught up with 59-year-old Surjunandanie Singh of Perseverance, who said it was her fourth time voting at LGEs, and that she was eager to cast her vote to see some changes in her community.
Baby Loaknauth, of Golden Fleece said that though she was not feeling so well, she couldn’t let this chance slip away.

“I want to see a change in my community,” the 84-year-old pensioner said. “I want to exercise my constitutional right, so even though I was not feeling well, I made it my duty to vote. It was an easy process.”
At Anna Regina, persons were seen going to vote at their own convenience, while at Good Hope-Pomona, it was evident that persons had come out very early, and gotten over with it.

Many of the older folks reportedly went down to the polling stations as early as 06:00hrs, but as the day progressed, the process started to noticeably slow down.
At Charity-Urasara and Evergreen-Paradise, the atmosphere was no different, whereby it was calm and orderly, with many taking to their bicycles to enjoy a leisurely ride to the polling areas.

Reports coming in from the Pomeroon areas of Moruka-Phoenix Park and Nile-Cozier indicate that turnout was understandably poor, as most persons were in the interior and could not come out in time to vote.

FIRST-TIME VOTERS
First-time voters were in the main very optimistic, saying that although they were new to it, they voted for positive change.

According to Ashti Kandie from the Evergreen-Paradise LAA, she was very eager to cast her vote, and found it to be surprisingly smooth and straightforward. Joining her was another first-time voter, Nirvanie Persaud from Cotton Field, who said that though she was somewhat nervous, with correct guidance of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) staff, she was able to ovecome the jitters.

Another young voter from Supenaam said she was at her polling station from as early as 06:00hrs, as she didn’t want to miss the boat. Annie Ragunauth said that she joined the lines after making sure her name was on the list and then cast her vote.

Further down the district, some voters at Adventure-Airy Hall were disappointed to learn that their names weren’t on the list. But with the help of Party officials, they were encouraged to try elsewhere to see if their names were there.

Parbattie Jaggernauth, who’s 89, said she couldn’t wait to go out and vote, and with the help of her daughter, Rita, and her walking stick, she ensured she made it to the polling station. She said she was happy to be able to exercise her democratic right.
Another pensioner, Jagmohan from Suddie wheeled his way to the station. He was assisted by his son. He said he’d voted at the last LGEs and was eager to do so again this time around.

Asked about some of the changes he would like to see happen in the Suddie area, he listed improved drainage and irrigation, less garbage, and the installation of street lights in the housing area.
Up to Midday on Monday, the process was very smooth and calm, with no hiccups. The turnout, however was described by various political party agents as poor.