…says first-time voters

By Alisa Lashley

THE East Coast Demerara came alive at the wee hours of Monday morning as the ‘mother of all elections’ emerged in all her glory, with varying villages experiencing a parade of collaboration between the young and the old who anxiously sounded their horns while chanting well-known proverbs and also reminding fellow residents to cast their votes and to do so correctly.

However, although thousands of elderly Guyanese turned out Monday to elect a new government of their choice, it was the young people who took the forefront, in large numbers to exercise their democratic right. The Guyana Chronicle caught up with a few of those young people along the East Coast of Demerara who were eager to share their experiences during the voting process and the reasons they deemed their votes pivotal.

Ahmad Ishmael Parkes , a 20-year-old, first-time voter from Victoria, expressed that his experience at the polling station was a hassle-free and a great one. He stated: “My experience this morning was great. The voting process was made easy by the GECOM officers who ensured that I followed the correct process.” Parkes ended by stating his hopes for the electoral process to continue smoothly.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old youth leader, Anthony Samuels, noted “the voting process was very efficient, fast and basically smooth. The staff were very courteous and the entire experience was fantastic . People were up since 4:00 am this morning preparing to vote . I am very pleased with the turnout overall in regards to the youths”. Samuels pointed out that in his view, this election is indeed the mother of all elections due to the recent oil finds and that it was vital for him to play a part in deciding who manages the aforementioned resource.

Another first-time voter, 22-year-old Jamala Benjamin, stated that at first she had no interest in voting. She said her mother and other family members, however, encouraged her to turn out to vote.

“Voting this morning was simpler than I had expected and all the officers were very helpful. It was my first time voting. I chose to vote because I have learnt that it is my right to vote” Benjamin further stated.

Zoe Frank recalled her experience voting as an amazing one. She was excited as she was exercising her democratic right as a citizen. She said “the fact that I cast that ballot just gave me an entitlement to what’s happening in my country. Guyana is on the rise and I like where we are currently as a country. It is really not about race for me, but about the development and trust in a political party“.

“It was my first experience voting and it was a great one, the voting process was very easy because presiding officers made sure they helped me throughout the process”, first-time voter, 20-year-old Queenie Garraway posited. Garraway also made note of the amazing turn out of her peers.

Second-time voter, Tricia Rogers detailed: “ The voting process was very smooth and not a difficult one. Voting is my constitutional right and It is my voice, it is me deciding who I want to make decisions at state level for myself and family at large.” Rogers further expressed that she hopes every other young voter like herself voted, “because Guyana’s future is in our hands and we’re offered the opportunity during elections to set the pace for the future of our nation.”