By Shaquawn Gill
With the results of the March 2 polls still in limbo after almost three months, some first-time voters are starting to lose faith in the process that they were once excited to participate in.
Nygil Drepaul, 19, is conflicted about the recount, although he describes himself as “neutral.” “Part of me is saying that it shouldn’t happen and another part is saying that it should, since all votes should be accounted for so that we can be able to move on with our country,” Drepaul told Stabroek Weekend.
Drepaul also highlighted that even though the recount may be necessary, the process seems to be an utterly frustrating one for him and the rest of the nation.
With the tabulation of the votes for Region Four mired in controversy, as the Returning Officer has been accused of using fictitious numbers to engineer a victory for the incumbent APNU+AFC, a recount was eventually agreed to. The initial attempt to recount the votes from the elections had been aborted after a candidate of the incumbent APNU+AFC went to court to block it and succeeded in obtaining an injunction and scuttling a CARICOM mission that was invited to overlook the process. CARICOM Chairperson Mia Mottley subsequently warned that there were forces here trying to prevent the counting of all of the ballots from the elections. The recount now underway was due to last 25 days – after a May 6 start – but the Guyana Elections Commission has since agreed to extend the process, which it expects to conclude on June 13.
Drepaul voiced his fear about what may happen after the recount if the losing side refuses to accept the results. “I’m afraid that after this recount, there may be members of the public that would not be pleased with the results and [if that is to happen] this process would have to be prolonged and go to another step, causing us to wait even longer for the formation of a new government,” he said.
Drepaul also acknowledged the ethnic divisions that become intensified during the elections period and said they have helped him to see people for who they really are. “It has not positively or negatively affected my view on elections in any way, but it has rather shown me the true colours of people and their true personality,” he added.
Briana Rai, a Communications major of the University of Guyana, recalled her voting experience to be a smooth exercise of her right as a citizen. However, she has since become indifferent towards the prolonged post-electoral process. “I personally stopped following up the recounting process mainly because it’s been months now and we still cannot get past this stage in our elections,” she noted.
The Cummings Lodge resident stated that she expects her vote to still make a difference, but is disheartened by the prolonged process. “[I am] not afraid that my vote won’t be counted, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t disappointed,” she lamented. “I’m disappointed because as a first time voter, this wasn’t how I expected things to turn out,” she went on to say.
Rai further said that her impressions have been coloured by the ethnic divides she has witnessed since the polls. “…As Guyanese we are supposed to be one people…whoever you’re supporting shouldn’t affect how you treat others,” she noted.
Some others remain hopeful.
Nareema Khan, a Youth Ambassador for the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), gave credit to the Guyana Elections Commission for helping her to understand the electoral process through the efficient use of advertisements. “The voting process on E-day was smooth, there weren’t any hiccups or disturbances. I was knowledgable on what I had to do due to the many GECOM ads, so I was in and out in no time,” she explained.
Khan expressed confidence in the recount process, hoping that it will, at the end of it all, allow her voice to be heard through her vote. “I feel that the recount process [is] necessary [because] it would help to clear all doubts and give transparency to the process,” she said.
The Youth Ambassador also stated that in spite of the extremely lengthy process, she will be voting again. “I believe in the saying ‘decisions are made by those who show up’ [and] I want to be a part of the decision,” she added.
‘Left to question’
Dominique Clarke, a third year law student of the University of London said she had high expectations for the growth and development of her country since March 2, but opined that this has been stunted because of the prolonged post-electoral process. “I expected change. However, change cannot be executed without a formally elected and sworn in government,” she argued.
The 21-year-old, like many other Guyanese, believes that the entire recount process could’ve been avoided. “However, it seems necessary to ensure no bias or partiality has taken place during the work of the elections commission on [E-day],” she asserted.
Clarke also said that before, during and after elections day, ethnic tensions have increased tremendously, as she has been on the receiving end of racial remarks at times. “Being mixed, even though I’m mostly Amerindian and African, the hints of Indian are visible at times and I’ve [noticed] that [some] market vendors can be quite callous when racism is at its peak during [the] elections season. The tension is even felt at work [through] daily interactions with members of the public as well as colleagues,” she explained.
Clarke indicated that these experiences do not affect her desire to vote, since she understands where the tensions usually come from. “Most persons are regurgitating information from generations ago and are oblivious to the reasons behind racial segregation,” she said, before adding, “Others only play along because it’s what is considered the ‘correct’ or ‘common’ thing to do during this season.”
Clarke, when asked about the possibility of electoral fraud taking place in her first election, called the idea of electoral fraud a mind boggling one. “It’s an unhinging feeling because despite my political preference, corruption seems inevitable from all ends of the spectrum. It [seems to be] just a matter of who can do it better and I’m left to question why I voted initially,” she said.
Mark Wong expressed disgust at the extended period of time that the country has gone without a newly sworn in government after the dissolution of Parliament. “It is ridiculous”, Wong maintained, “Months have passed without us…having an [actual] President,” he said.
Because of this experience, the 19 year-old fashion designer is not too positive about ever voting again. “I don’t think I want to ever go through this ridiculousness again”, he said, while citing the ethnic tensions in Guyana during the elections period as one of the contributing factors. “It affected me in a negative way [so] I wish to never vote again”, he stated.
Aniyah Jardine, a recent graduate of the Betram Collins College of Public Service, has expressed the strain the prolonged recount process has put on her as a member of the public sector. “Personally, I feel as if the recount process is taking way too much time and because of this it is slowing up the progress of the country. I am a public servant and I have not been able to complete my duties ever since the recount began”, she explained.
Jardine, however, expressed her view that a situation like this should never take away a person’s will to be a part of the electoral process. “There will never be a time when I will not vote because that is my right and I feel like I should support whoever I see fit to run the country,” she commented.