– says voting is highest civic responsibility a citizen could exercise
– urges supporters to stay calm
MOMENTS after casting his own ballot at the Enterprise Primary School, D’Urban Backlands, early yesterday morning, Ret’d Brigadier David Granger said voting is the highest of civic responsibility a citizen could exercise.

The presidential candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) told reporters that his vote as a member of that community was to elect a regional administration that will improve the standard of living there.

“And nationally, I look forward to establishing a government which could represent all the interest of the people of this nation,” he added.

According to him, he is still committed to the establishment of a government of national unity after the election, a concept that Guyanese understand and love.

“There has been tremendous momentum on the part of the population, and people have turned out at our rallies in thousands; and there’s a wave of expectation that life will be better for Guyanese people,” Granger said in an expression of confidence.

The former army general and his wife Sandra were among the first set of persons to vote in the community.

His running mate, Rupert Roopnaraine, cast his ballot in his home town, Mahaica, just before 07:00hrs. He described yesterday’s voting as one of the most important in the country’s history, noting that its effects will be “far-reaching.”

“I’ve seen a genuine sense of optimism among the voters,” he declared. ‘I am heartened to see so many young voters, and so early.”

Dr Roopnaraine believes that Guyanese are ready for the kind of change as advocated by the APNU.

However, he is perturbed at what he termed “provocative” efforts by the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic. He told the Guyana Chronicle that there have been reports of Civic member Odinga Lumumba and others stirring up trouble at a polling station in Lodge.

“I’ve urged our supporters to keep their eyes open and their lips shut,” he explained, stating that  the APNU is trying to “keep a lid on things” by urging its supporters to stay calm.  

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, Robert Corbin, also voted as soon as the polling stations were opened at the Eccles Nursery School on the East Bank Demerara.