Monday’s sunrise was accompanied by scores of voters from across the country exercising their franchise, as the much-awaited General and Regional Elections got underway.
With the purpose of electing a new Government, the communities were awakened early and many were at their polling places sharply at 06:00h – the time when Polling Stations would be unlocked.
There, many ventured out to their houses and lined up at their respective stations, awaiting their turn to mark their ballots.
Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali went to the Leonora Technical and Vocational Centre in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) where he would exercise his franchise. There, Ali expressed total confidence that his party would emerge victorious in the electoral race. This is prophesied, he noted, because of the significant voter turnout recorded across the country.
PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Mark Phillips with his family
“Well the process was a very simple process and it went very smoothly. I was able to cast my ballot. The report from around the country is that the day started with a good turnout early in the morning…We’re very confident,” he told media operatives.
He urged Guyanese to trust the process and be respectful of the results. According to Ali, cooperation is needed to lift the country in an upward trajectory.
Ali is contesting the polls alongside retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips. He was among the first to show up at the Diamond Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara to exercise his franchise.
APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger at the polling station
Phillips, who was with his family, dubbed the process as a smooth one after exiting his respective Polling Station.
Credible elections
Meanwhile, incumbent President David Granger cast his vote, as he expressed confidence in the process and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for delivering credible elections.
Granger, who was the first to cast his vote at the Pearl Nursery School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), was accompanied by First Lady, Sandra Granger, and one of his daughters.
After exiting the Polling Station, he told reporters that the process was very efficient.
APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan
The President went on to iterate his confidence in not only his party – the APNU/AFC coalition – winning the polls but also of the electoral process.
During that interaction with media operatives, it was pointed out that these elections are being viewed outside of Guyana as important given the country’s new lucrative oil and gas sector. However, President Granger explained that economic issues have no bearings on the democratic process, something which his coalition Administration has been committed to since taking office in 2015.
Throughout the day, both Ali and Granger visited several areas on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara as well as along the West Coast of Demerara to monitor the voting process.
His prime ministerial counterpart from the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan cast his ballot at the Rama Krishna Primary School in Campbellville, Georgetown. Brandishing his ‘ink-stained’ index finger after voting – as he indicated for APNU/AFC – the prime ministerial hopeful qualified his magnanimous projection by pointing to what he called an energised voter base, as was evident by the size demonstrated at the various rallies.
The Prime Ministerial Candidate told media operatives he did not anticipate any upheavals, saying “people now appreciate the fact that it must be peaceful and that the political will of the people is going to be heard…so I don’t see any security issues whatsoever.”
This contradicted several disturbances on the East Coast and West Bank of Demerara where the Guyana Police Force was summoned to quell the situation.
