First-time voters disappointed at current political climate

THE March 2, 2020 elections had built excitement in many of Guyana’s youths who were anxious to finally have the opportunity to play a role in the electoral process .

However, after over three months of waiting for the results to be declared, and all the fiascos that occurred, this excitement has slowly dwindled to disappointment.
Many first-time voters have expressed by way of their social media platforms, how disappointed and heart-broken they are with the 2020 elections. Some even went as far as concluding that they will never be voting again.

This publication spoke with a few of those first-time voters to ascertain their honest perspective on all that has been happening.

A young woman who wishes to leave her identity unknown, said, “As a first time voter, I was very excited to exercise my constitutional right to vote. I especially looked forward to dipping my finger in the ink. After E-Day, I followed the electoral process for about a week because I really wanted to see if my vote would’ve played an integral part in deciding who takes governance of our country. But after all the disruptions and blatant attempts to delay the process, I got fed up and just didn’t pay it any mind after that.

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Omaiah Hall

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Maliklya Blair

It is honestly very disappointing that after three months we still cannot swear in a president and even more disappointing that so many injunctions are being served, even though GECOM is supposed to be able to operate as an independent body. Looking at all that has played out with the inflated and deflated numbers, rigging accusations and so forth, I really don’t feel as though my vote really matters, because I guess at the end of it all, it’s still going to be a dirty game, and whoever plays dirtier wins, with or without my vote.”

Maliklya Blair, of East Bank Demerara said that disappointed is the word that best describes how she feels about the 2020 elections.

“As a first- time voter this isn’t how I expected everything to turn out and I find it very discouraging. They say by voting we’re exercising our democratic right, but how can we do that when there’s no democracy? Apart from that, the part that sickens me the most is the racial tension this whole process has stirred up in our country,” the young woman expressed.

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Jelina DaSilva

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Danella Thompson

She said that with everything that is happening, she feels as though this is not something that she would ever want to play a role in again.

Ashanti Horsham too, said she is disappointed that she has been waiting for three plus months to get the results of the elections.

“I feel like our political leaders are only concerned about obtaining power rather than serving us the people. But in all of this I’m happy that citizens of this country are using the institutions in place to protect our rights (the court). I am also pleased that my fellow Guyanese are exercising patience and composure in this trying time,” Horsham said.
A young Bartican, Jelina DaSilva said she was so happy to vote on March 2, but then got tired of waiting for the results and is heartbroken at the prevailing racial tension.

“But then I usually think to myself, it’s like only two parties fighting for power. Why? You know I think Guyana has been split in two, because things have been crazy since then and it’s sad to see so many [sic] racial discrimination between the Guyanese people because of that. Also, knowing that one people, one nation and one destiny means nothing to some is also so sad. For we are a country of six races and to see what’s going on is not nice.

The fighting between the East Indians and Africans because of this thing called politics and the putting down of the indigenous people because of their way of life and the choices that they make are all so sickening. I am a proud daughter of Guyana’s soil. Neither am I East Indian, African, Amerindian or any single race in Guyana, but I’m mixed with majority. And I feel it for those races because my family is a combination of all.

And not because our political choices are different we have to be at war. We are all special. We are all important, and we all need to stand as one to build a new Guyana, because she’s truly broken. And now I just waiting on the results today to see wuh gon happen,” she said vehemently.
Omaiah Hall said she too was super excited to vote on elections day.

“I woke up bright and early because I was ready to make a change and do my part as a citizen. Then all things went south after the back and forth with the major parties. I lost sight of what I wanted. I no longer cared about change, I no longer wanted to make a difference, and I just want any party in power now because all this madness and chaos just needs to stop. I’m no longer motivated to vote in any other elections or take part in anything because of how unfit our system is. My first great experience turned into a nightmare, I just want a president and for the days to go by without the drama,” the young lady said.

“I’m still kind of confused by the process and how long it’s taking them to actually just announce the party that won,” Danella Thompson said.

“However, if I were to do it again I don’t think that it’s something that I’d wanna get in a long line to fulfil. Also, I understand that they need credible votes, etc. But if that’s what you need and the other party doesn’t have it, then shouldn’t that mean that the other part automatically won? Like I really cannot think about the nonsense going on right now because it makes me feel sick to see how people are turning on one another instead of just facing the facts. That’s how I feel,” Thompson said.

Reflecting a more positive and hopeful view, Reon Miller, a final= year law student of the University of Guyana said that one should not opt out of the electoral process because of this 2020 experience. However, he pointed to the need for constitutional reform to avoid a recurrence.

“I would definitely vote again. I think for the foreseeable future I will always exercise the penultimate [sic] democratic right to participate in who makes the decisions in our country. However, there needs to be reform to the Representation of the People’s Act and Guyana needs to heal. Indeed, this election was marred with an abundance of tomfoolery.

However, most importantly, we need to work on a mechanism of inclusivity that will end the feeling of polarisation in the supporters of the losing side. If history had established any lesson it is that the winner take-all system is not conducive to racial harmony, democratic inclusivity nor political calm,” Miller posited.