In Berbice, one of the crucial battlegrounds in this year’s polls, voters turned out in their numbers and early to ensure they were counted.
Although some problems were reported by some, many were satisfied with the process and were done casting their ballots by mid-morning.
At the official opening of the polls at New Amsterdam and East Canje, Berbice, almost all of the polling stations had long lines of people waiting to vote. Three hours later, most persons in the East Canje area had gotten through and had already proceeded to go about their daily activities. It took another two hours for the lines in New Amsterdam to dwindle, but by midday there was only a trickle of voters going into the polling stations.
Minor problems erupted at some of the polling stations, when persons showed up to vote but could not locate their names on the list of electors. At the Fort Ordnance Primary School, where two polling stations were set up, close to two dozen persons were sent away, including a family of six, after their names could not be located anywhere on the list or on the Guyana Election Commission’s website. Some could only produce their old identification cards, others had their new ID cards but their names could not be found on the list, while some could not even remember if they had registered.
Two siblings, Malinda and Leroy Lampkin, spent the entire day going back and forth between at least three different polling locations in East Canje in futile efforts to locate their names on the list of electors. Eventually, they gave up and went home, but not before expressing their frustration at the system and disappointment at not being able to exercise their franchise. “Very early we came out to vote but they can’t find us in the system, so now we can’t vote,” the female Lampkin explained. “This is ridiculous,” her brother chimed in. When asked if they had checked to see if their names were on the list prior to Election Day, the pair said they didn’t feel the need to do so, since persons went around the village, moving from house to house to confirm that residents’ names were on the list and they had seen theirs. However, the Lampkins could not ascertain if the persons were Gecom employees or party agents.
Two young men were among those sent away, after they were reportedly told they could not vote without their identification cards. This misconception was later cleared up, and persons were allowed to vote without their identification cards.
Meanwhile, in New Amsterdam, voters expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of the electoral process. “My predictions were correct,” huffed one voter, who kept glancing at his watch. He explained that he “came here (to the polling station) at 06:39hrs, it’s now 09:23hrs and I am still in the line.” Counting the number of persons that still remained ahead of him in the line, he estimated that “with about 10 persons in front of me at this rate I’ll be home for lunch.”
Differently-abled persons and the elderly were seen being given assistance so they too could exercise their franchise and vote. Large numbers of youths were noticed in the lines at the various polling stations and as one youth put it, “I made sure I voted like a boss because I didn’t vote in 2011 and I haven’t been able to find work, so maybe now I stand a chance.”
Corentyne
Villages along the Corentyne also saw early voting. Voters were afterward mostly satisfied with the process although some complained about long waits in lines and others encountered difficulties while trying to use old ID cards.
At two polling places at Hampshire, Corentyne, there were long lines of persons waiting to vote early. Some persons sat on the grass outside one centre to wait their turn as they were sheltered from the morning sun by their fellow voters. Some complained that they left home without having breakfast and others said they felt dehydrated.
At Chesney, the voting was moving at a faster pace. An elderly woman who could not walk on her own was aided by residents in the area. In areas, such as Rose Hall, Auchlyne, Black Bush Polder, Alness and Number 64 Village, many elderly and differently-abled individuals were also assisted.
At Manchester, voters said the process was quick and they did not encounter any problems. Two voters who were outside a polling station said the station was flocked between 6 am and 9 am.
Meanwhile, at Mibicuri and Johanna there were crowds. The seniors who travelled there were given seats as the younger ones stood in line and waited their turn. Persons at that polling station stated that they were in line for more than an hour.
An information clerk noted that persons were unable to vote at the Johanna station because their names were not on the list. She explained that those persons had moved into the area and applied for transfers but their names were not on the list. As a result, they had to return to their former polling places to cast their votes.
At Lesbeholden and Yakasari polders, voters also conducted their business with ease.
On the Upper Corentyne, a woman using a walker said “the process was alright… I didn’t have to wait long like last time” as she made her way out of the polling station.
Many first time voters also had positive experiences. A young woman who was exiting the New Market Primary polling station in the Upper Corentyne said her experience was great.
When Stabroek News journeyed to Corriverton and Crabwood Creek after midday, many polling stations were practically empty. Persons were simply walking into the stations, casting their votes and walking out afterward.
By 3 pm, most polling stations were only occupied by polling staff.
