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Former Member

Eccles residents to vote in cow pasture

February 25, 2020

GECOM voting place snafu

…2000 voters to use 1 cramped Health Centre

With the removal of private residences in Eccles, East Bank Demerara, as polling places, concern is being expressed that large numbers of voters will be inconvenienced on Election Day by the use of tents in compounds and even a field used to graze cows.

This pasture, which is used by residents to graze cows, has been designated by GECOM as a site for a polling place

The prevailing concern is that instead of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) facilitating a smooth and easy process, the Secretariat’s decisions will make voting so difficult for voters in Eccles, that they will stay home.
At Eccles Health Centre, which is being used as a polling place, almost 2000 persons are scheduled to vote. When this publication examined the building itself, the interior appeared somewhat cramped to accommodate polling day staff and a crowd of voters.
There is only one entrance and exit into the yard. In addition, voting is a process that can take five to ten minutes for individual voters. In cases where a voter does not have an ID card, they have to be interviewed by the Presiding Officer, who has to compare the voter’s face to the registered voter in the folio.

It is only after the officer is satisfied regarding the voter’s identity and an oath is taken, that they are allowed to vote. This newscast was informed that a tent will be erected in the yard, but even this appeared to be a challenge. Former parliamentarian and Eccles resident, Neil Kumar spoke of the logistical challenges should GECOM go ahead with this plan.

GECOM’s sign on the privately-owned Windsor Estates gate

“This polling place has six polling stations. At this polling place, we have 1955 persons registered to vote. Our concern is that when we went into the building and spoke to the doctor, there’s not a single room in the building that can accommodate a Polling Station. Why?”
“A Polling Station will have to have a desk for the Presiding Officer, the Deputy Presiding Officer, the Ballot Clerk, plus they must have a desk for at least nine Polling Agents. None of the rooms can accommodate that. Even if you put them out here, there isn’t room to accommodate six Polling Stations.”

Unsuitable
This publication was pointed to a spot in the compound which is the expected location for a tent. Kumar contended that the yard is an unsuitable location. He noted that in the past, several private residences were used in Eccles without incident.

“Right over there, for all the years, we used to use Flamboyant [supermarket] and we use to have four Polling Stations there. We use to use the Singh residence, with two Polling Stations there. They also started using Basil’s shop. So, the area would have been accommodated adequately without any difficulties.”

Recipe for confusion
Former Education Minister Shaik Baksh, another resident, called the arrangement a recipe for confusion. He pointed out that the area, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stronghold, usually has a high voter turnout and questioned whether this was the agenda behind cutting down on polling places in the area.
“It is puzzling that up to January, we knew what the Polling Stations were. We were using the private residences. We had seven Polling Stations in this area. So, it’s quite puzzling what is the agenda behind it.”
“We went out there and told the electors in January, February that their Polling Stations remain the same. To suddenly change it to a totally inadequate place, is a recipe for confusion. Because Polling Stations cannot be held in there. And the grounds, if rain fall, oh my. This area is predominantly PPP/C supporters. So that might be the reason behind these moves.”

Cow pasture
Nor is that all. This publication also visited a site opposite the Windsor Forest Estates, that has been earmarked by GECOM, complete with a sign, for a polling place that will service 162 voters.
When this publication arrived, however, we were greeted by a large plot of unprepared land which residents informed is used for grazing cows. There is no direct passageway from the road to the intended site, since it is separated by a trench devoid of any bridge.
To access the site, one must either jump the weed-choked trench or walk some distance around, down a red loam pathway.

Frustrate voters
Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Hafeez Hack was adamant in his belief that the intent is to frustrate voters.
“Of course, of course! If you’re going to place a tent there, you have to go till to that end and come back all the way here. It’s to frustrate people so they say, they not able with this they will go home. That’s the logic behind it.”
When contacted, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward referred this publication to the Representation of the People’s Act. Asked whether the cost was a consideration in replacing private residences with tents, she could not say.
On the use of tents, she noted that tents will be used if no other appropriate building is available in the division. Asked specifically about the rationale of 1955 persons voting at the Eccles Health Centre, Ward noted that she would have to check on that.
The issue of the reduction of polling places was brought to the fore by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) last week.
The party’s GECOM Commissioners – Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn – have rejected the unilateral changes made by the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield and his Secretariat. The party made the discovery while working out the logistics of ensuring that voters are facilitated to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed sovereign franchise, from the list of Polling Stations submitted by GECOM.
PPP/C Chief Scrutineer Zulfikar Mustapha has since said that the decision by GECOM to reduce the polling places will now displace persons and cause chaos.

https://guyanatimesgy.com/eccl...vote-in-cow-pasture/

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Former Member

This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.

The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.

Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.

2/25/203:38 PM

Billy Ram BalgobinBilly

Fraud!!

2/25/203:44 PM

Former Member

It is saddening how quickly the PNC returned Guyana to third world status.

2/25/203:55 PM

Bibi HaniffaGNI Queen

2020 will be the mother of all rigged elections. No wonder PNC already celebrating.

2/25/204:07 PM

Former Member

It is quite evident that there will be massive rigging. PNC will brush aside observers and do anything to stay in power. A third dictatorship in the making in Guyana in my lifetime.

2/25/204:30 PM

Former Member

Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.

Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.

2/25/204:43 PM

cainTired old hippie

The way I heard it, BJ did that damage when he placed Irfart on the pedestal, had he not done so and stayed da frig out, many would have jumped ship and gone with PPP.

2/25/207:00 PM

Former Member

Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.

Like you hate for Bharrat messed up your brain. PPP will still win this. Lowedfield buckled under pressure and PPP was able to great the required polling stations. It would have been a cake walk if Jagdeo wasn’t there so shut you rass.

2/25/207:57 PM

DjangoAdmin

Sean posted:
Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.
Like you hate for Bharrat messed up your brain. PPP will still win this. Lowedfield buckled under pressure and PPP was able to great the required polling stations. It would have been a cake walk if Jagdeo wasn’t there so shut you rass.

Torturous for you next week ,recall the 2015 predictions. Plenty Berbicians giving the Coalition another chance , info gotten from someone who was on the campaign trail in the area. AFC alive and kicking.

2/25/208:19 PM

Former Member

Sean posted:
Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.
Like you hate for Bharrat messed up your brain. PPP will still win this. Lowedfield buckled under pressure and PPP was able to great the required polling stations. It would have been a cake walk if Jagdeo wasn’t there so shut you rass.

In truth, while Jagdeo is not without sin, without him the PPP would be a party without any clout. That is why those who support the Coalition are so against him. They would be happy with Ramotar or someone like him because they feel that the PNC would be able to trample on the PPP and their supporters. Jagdeo is their biggest nightmare because he has the balls to look the PNC in their face and tell them "I am not afraid of (any of) you". Jagdeo should not be blamed for the PPP being out of government. That blame falls squarely on those Indians who allowed themselves to forget how racist the PNC and their supporters are and back stabbed the PPP and the vast majority of Guyanese Indians as they helped the PNC and its racist history sneaked into government. Once those back stabbing Indians helped the racist PNC to get their hands on the keys to the government, Granger began his racist move to marginalize Indians just as his PNC predecessors did. And by that time, even those back stabbing Indians saw themselves being kicked in their puss. In a nut shell, the PNC is on the course of again destroying Guyana wasting all those years of PPP effort to bring it back from the dead.

2/25/209:10 PM

Former Member

Django posted:
Sean posted:
Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.
Like you hate for Bharrat messed up your brain. PPP will still win this. Lowedfield buckled under pressure and PPP was able to great the required polling stations. It would have been a cake walk if Jagdeo wasn’t there so shut you rass.
Torturous for you next week ,recall the 2015 predictions. Plenty Berbicians giving the Coalition another chance , info gotten from someone who was on the campaign trail in the area. AFC alive and kicking.

GECOM digital technology will be alive and kicking.

Is Funny you say Berbicians voting for AFC .. and the LGE - PPP win Nagaaaa home village for three consecutive time.

2/25/2010:05 PM

AmralSenior Member

In Africa they vote in tents also, some parts.

2/25/2010:25 PM

Former Member

Sean posted:
Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.
Like you hate for Bharrat messed up your brain. PPP will still win this. Lowedfield buckled under pressure and PPP was able to great the required polling stations. It would have been a cake walk if Jagdeo wasn’t there so shut you rass.

I hate no one because hate corrodes the container carrying it. I am apolitical. I have learned to separate Bharrat the human being from Bharrat and his actions. It is his actions that has resulted in backstabbing his party. Indians have to open their eyes and hold their leader accountable. Let me say this. The biggest mistake Bharrat made was to resign as President of Guyana.

2/25/2010:26 PM

MitwahSenior Member

Dondadda posted:
Sean posted:
This election is rigged worse than Hoyte who was a bigger rigger than Burnham. Whats with these Afro dictators ? Granger now joins the list of riggers.
The country will never progress with PNC dictatorship and rigging.
Patterson appointed Lowenfield just to create Voter Suppression.
Jagdeo and the PPP gave Lowenfield their blessings with a “no objections “ even when I wrote that Lowenfield was a known PNC election rigger. Now it is coming back to bite the PPPs ass. Same thing with Claudette Sing, a known PNC corruptor whom he nominated for the GECOM Commissioner after Granger told him to do so. Bharrat Jagdeo has done permanent and untold damage to the PPP which will lead the APNU to remain in power.

Well said Dadda.

2/26/207:11 AM

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Topics

Eccles residents to vote in cow pasture

GECOM voting place snafu

…2000 voters to use 1 cramped Health Centre

With the removal of private residences in Eccles, East Bank Demerara, as polling places, concern is being expressed that large numbers of voters will be inconvenienced on Election Day by the use of tents in compounds and even a field used to graze cows.

UnsuitableThis publication was pointed to a spot in the compound which is the expected location for a tent. Kumar contended that the yard is an unsuitable location. He noted that in the past, several private residences were used in Eccles without incident.

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Unsuitable
This publication was pointed to a spot in the compound which is the expected location for a tent. Kumar contended that the yard is an unsuitable location. He noted that in the past, several private residences were used in Eccles without incident.