As early as sunrise, Upper East Bank Demerara residents turned out in their numbers to exercise their democratic right at 84 polling stations within that district for Guyana’s General and Regional Elections on March 2, 2020.
A total of 34,594 persons were eligible to vote in the Upper East Bank District starting from Diamond Primary up to Silver Hill on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. According to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) over 600,000 Guyanese were eligible to vote across the country. Whether it was by a bus, car, and bicycle or on foot voters turned up at their respective polling stations some as early as 04:30 hrs and waited outside until the official opening of polls at 06:00 hrs. With shops closed, for the most part, the roads were partially empty too. There was a heavy police presence and also community policing groups at the different polling stations in the district. Local and international observers were also indicating smooth polls with voters in the district. The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Chairman, Dr. John Oswald Smith, and prominent businessman Roshan Khan visited several polling places along the East Bank corridor as well as local observers. The Guyana Chronicle first caught up with People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate Brigadier Mark Phillip, who voted at the Diamond Secondary School at the opening of polls. The first person to vote at the school was 94-year-old Cornelius Jacobus. “The process was smooth this morning, I think the GECOM staff was well organised and I hope that it remains like that throughout the day. As you noticed a lot of people came out very early to vote, I myself had set the example.” Phillips said.
Meanwhile, at the St. Mary’s Primary School, Noel Archer at the age 68 said it was the first time he was voting. The block-maker of Den Heuvel, EBD explained that he was unable to vote in the previous elections due to him working in the interior, however, he came out and exercised his franchise and stressed the process was “fast and smooth”
He was followed by a 73-year-old man who suffered a stroke to the left side of his body and can walk today with the assistance of a cane. However, the East Bank Demerara resident was able to make his way to the St. Mary’s School polling place to cast his ballot. Additionally, a visually impaired woman was accompanied into the polling station by her relative and voted by proxy. Meanwhile with the aid of a presiding officer, Wilton Edwards, 55, and Bertie Marques, 88, cast their ballots at the Supply Primary School. Both men suffer from a disability. According to Edwards, the process was fair and easy. At the Timehri Primary School, a pensioner had to be carried into the polling station since her wheelchair was unable to get up the stairs. Despite dusty roads and blistering sun, a 50-year-old Timehri housewife came out and voted at the Prisons Staff Club in her neighborhood. The woman explained that with the interest of her family at heart and her community she found it necessary to do her civic duty. By midday, at Red Ground Pavilion, Timehri, 61-year-old Ovrial Johnson voted. She stressed that the process was quick since most people came out at the opening of polls and voted.
A Kuru- Kururu Secondary, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway Fitzroy January voted in the afternoon, which he explained would be a quicker process. By late afternoon most of the polling stations were empty since more persons had voted earlier in the day. The Guyana Chronicle also caught up with assistant election agent for the People Progressives Party/ Civic (PPP), Region 4, Manzoor Nadir, at the Diamond Primary School, who explained that the first two hours of the opening of polls was a bit chaotic. He noted that there was a problem with the stamps at polling stations. His party had managed to set up tents, outside of polling locations in the district which had helped persons to verify that their names were on the list.
Commissioner of the GECOM, Desmond Trotman, and while on a routine visit to Diamond was able to confirm that there was an issue with the stamps, which are supposed to be placed on the ballot paper. “What I gather from the presiding officer is that the stamps have not been working as well as it should…the presiding officer will have to include that in the E-day report when they submit,” Trotman said as he explained that that matter will be handled by GECOM.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_03_03_2020