Slow and smooth.
These were the consistent responses at polling stations in the Quinam/Morne Diablo Local Government By-election yesterday.
When the polls opened at 6 am, there were no long lines and this trend appeared to be constant at the six polling stations throughout the day.
Nevertheless, voters of varying ages, including first-time voters and the elderly, made their way to polling stations to exercise their constitutional rights.
Guardian Media understands no major hiccups or incidents were reported. However, there was a heavy presence of police officers ensuring that the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) rules were followed.
Proudly displaying her stained finger, first-time voter Angie Dhanraj declared, “Change needs to be done. We need a lil change in the community so I decided to come out. One vote could make a difference.”
Accompanied by her mother Savitri, Dhanraj, 25, voted at the Morne Diablo RC School.
“I thought it would have been different. But, it was good. It was calm and everything went good.”
Despite a brief downpour yesterday morning, several voters, including elderly couple Denase, 83, and Dulari Maharaj, 81, were undeterred.
Single father Jadoonath Nandlal, who rode his bike to the polling station, said he encountered no problems.
“I feel nice. I can’t complain,” he said, adding that he wanted the elected representative to uplift children and focus on their education. PNM candidate Anderson Nanan and UNC candidate Sarah Sookdeo voted at the Kubairsingh Penal Rock Road Hindu School. As the doors opened at 6 am, Nanan was the first to vote.
Showing his red-stained finger, Nanan declared it was his lucky finger, and that he was confident he would win.
Surrounded by his family, Nanan said, “A large turnout. I say PNM 2,500, UNC 18 (hundred). That is my prediction for this.”
Nanan also took time away from the election to attend the Eid Al Adha, also known as Bakra Eid, service at the Rock Road Asja Masjid in Penal.
Sookdeo, who voted almost two hours later, was confident that she would return to the seat to the UNC.
“I am confident because we did all the necessary groundwork. I think the electorate is aware of what needs to be done, in terms of the issues they are facing and they will come out and make the right decision.”
She was accompanied by the UNC-controlled Penal Debe Regional Corporation chairman Gowtam Maharaj, who assured they would work with Nanan if he wins.
“We are very amicable. We are very peaceful and loving as you can see,” he said.
The by-election was triggered following the death of UNC councillor Diptee Ramnath in December. The seat, one of ten electoral districts in Penal Debe Regional Corporation, is regarded as a safe UNC seat, but in 2003 the PNM took control after councillor Ramnath switched allegiance and then crossed back to the UNC.
While there are 8,369 eligible voters in the Quinam/Morne Diablo district, representatives from both sides monitoring the elections estimated that the turnout may have been lower than 30 per cent.