— many first-time voters happy to cast their ballots

By Gabriella Chapman
THE township of Bartica and its neighbouring communities saw a very quiet and peaceful Election Day.

The residents came out in their numbers and placed their mark for the party of their choice. Guyana Chronicle visited several polling stations accessible by road, and there were no complaints from any of the voters.

In fact, everyone engaged said the voting was a simple and smooth process.

The two major parties had their representatives touting at each polling station, engaging residents as they come. Transportation and meals were even provided for those persons who had to travel far distances to meet their polling stations.

The regional authorities said they flexed every muscle to ensure that every resident eligible to vote, got the opportunity to do so, regardless of who they supported.

Many of the residents echoed sentiments that, regardless of their political alignment, the people of the township lived as one and they anticipated that peace would prevail among them.

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, said the same thing.

“We believe all of Bartica will accept the results of the elections and together we will move forward to develop this beautiful country of ours. The residents of Bartica would have set the tone for the rest of the country in what elections ought to be like and also serves as a representation of how peaceful we are as a people and what we need to be as a country at large,” Marshall said.

VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
He said too that the people were very enthusiastic about voting but there were a few who were disappointed.

“Today is a good day for our democracy and we are very pleased with the enthusiasm from the residents to go to the polls and elect a government of their choice. Unfortunately, there are some persons who were unable to cast their vote for a number of reasons. A lot of them are still in the interior and were unable to travel because the water is extremely low.

We’re going through an extreme dry season and persons are, basically stranded or stuck in some parts of the interior. And also some of our agents had some difficulties getting to some of those polling stations to cast their votes in the Middle and Upper Mazaruni. But with that aside, we have had a peaceful day and we also anticipate early results, let’s say at least within 48 hours after polls,” Marshall said.

At Byderabo, a small community bordering Bartica, the residents said that regardless of who wins, Bartica will remain a beautiful town.

Ramdial who came out with his entire family said that “We vote all time, and each time it has always been a peaceful one for us and our community. I think the entire country should take a page out of Bartica’s book, because regardless of who wins, we all live as one people here.”

Meanwhile, among the many voters in Bartica were many first-time voters and they were happy to cast their ballots.

Reseda Hack, 18, who is currently a sixth form student at Queen’s College, said she travelled home to vote.

FEELS IMPORTANT
She said that she feels important now that she has an actual, tangible say in who runs the country.

When asked about her expectations of the government that follows this election, Hack vehemently, said “Firstly, I expect free tertiary education to be provided to citizens who attain the required qualifications to pursue such. I expect initiatives which seek to promote a green clean Guyana to be continued and new ones to be implemented.

Additionally, I do hope to see the issue of unemployment being tackled in a strategic, all-inclusive manner, meaning that all unemployed citizens regardless of their educational status would be given the opportunity to earn an honest living. Lastly, being of mixed ethnicity, I do hope that the next government promotes the idea of social cohesion, strengthening the bonds between all Guyanese and promoting the concept that is stated in our motto ‘One People, One Nation, One destiny’.”

She Reminded all Guyanese that, despite colour of their skin, their religious persuasion or their political belief, all must work towards one goal — the development of themselves and the country as a whole.

Twin brothers, Kevin and Kevon Stephen, who are 21, said they moved from Bartica when they were in secondary school for access to better schooling. Now that they have completed high school, they returned to their hometown.

However, it is their hope that the government can enhance the schooling in Bartica, so persons would not have to migrate from Bartica to attend a higher school.

The Drepaul siblings, Damien, Simeon and Merisha, from the Potaro Road, who are all now eligible to vote for the first time, said they were not quite enthusiastic about voting. However, with the encouragement of their mother, they decided to come out and play a part in the decision-making of the country.

While many may think first-time voters will only include those who now reached the age eligible to vote, that was not so in the township of Bartica.

There were many aged voters who never voted before in their life.

Celeste Gomes, 48, said that she spent all her adult life in the interior, working to provide for herself and family. During elections she was never able to travel out to vote. With her voting on Monday, she said she feels overjoyed, not only because she has a job in Bartica and does not have to work away from her family, but because she can now have a say in who leads the nation.