SASCHA WILSON
The large crowds and hype during the Local Government campaign was not reflected in the voter turnout in the polling stations within the Mayaro-Rio Claro area. There were intervals during the day where people were not even entering the polling stations while other times there was just a trickle of voters.
Mayaro MP Rushton Paray confirmed the slow flow of voters within the six electoral districts. Paray said while there were no major irregularities, there were minor hiccups where people could not find their names on the list. However, that was resolved. He was optimistic that later today there would be an increase in the number of voters at the polling stations. "Because of the speed and pace of the campaign it was expected that people will be lined up at the polling stations from 6 pm." The Mayaro-Rio Claro seat is one of the corporations that could either go to the United National Congress or the People's National Movement. In the 2016 elections, the UNC won four seats while the PNM held two.
Enayeg Yathali, 64, said it took him about a minute to cast his vote at the Mafeking Government Primary School in the marginal seat of Cocal/Mafeking. He saw only a few people waiting to vote, but as far as he was aware, there were no hiccups.
Across at St Therese RC School, in the marginal seat of Rio Claro South/Catshill, Michelle Rampersad cast her vote for the first time. Rampersad, 19, said it was easier than she expected. “It was pretty easy, it was nice, it was fun.”
Leander Ramlal had no one to look after her two children, ages seven years and eight months, so she took them with her to vote at the St Michael’s AC School. However, Rio Claro resident Paltoo Aaron, said neither he nor any of his eight other family members had any interest in staining their finger in this election. Aaron said he might not even vote in the general election. “One of the reasons I not really voting is because you don’t see the councillors and them, it's only election time you does see them, once or twice you might see them.”
At Princes Town Presbyterian #2 Primary, Isabella Persad said she had no problems casting her vote. "It was good. I just went in and gave the guy the paper. He check out everything, he mark out everything and make me sign my name. Then I make the x and throw the thing in the ballot box and then I come out." The police said there were no reports of any incidents in these electoral districts.