Region Six records smooth process, but lagged in voter turnout

Sep 01, 2025 News

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By Shermon Hawker

Kaieteur News – Countrywide voting got underway on Monday, September 1, and residents of New Amsterdam and adjoining villages, as well as communities along the Corentyne coast turned out at their respective polling stations to exercise their franchise.

For the most part, the process was smooth and hassle-free, as admitted by many voters who engaged this publication from the early hours of voting, well into the winding down period.

By some observations, voter turnout was a tad below expectations. In some areas, many caught the immediate opening session at 6:00am and left quickly. By 8:00am, many polling places from the East Bank-Berbice strip right along the Corentyne corridors experienced a slothful pace in voter turnout.

This reality was highlighted by New Amsterdam Mayor and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) candidate, Wainwright McIntosh, who commended the general stream of activities. He did bring to light a potential threat to the stable course at the New Amsterdam Secondary School where he voted. “Some of our polling agents, they were refused (entry) in the polling stations at first, even though as a party, they would’ve been issued with letters.”

He said the issue arouse due to those letters not having a GECOM stamp. He further condemned, what he said was the indifference displayed, as agents were opening ballot boxes at the exclusion of his party reps.

“As soon as this issue was brought to our attention, we contacted the necessary persons responsible, and our agents, they were able to get into the polling stations,” the NA Mayor told this newspaper.

Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) candidate and regional representative, Antacia Thomas also summed up the day’s process as positive. The FGM as a new party, did not have polling agents for all polling stations within the region, Thomas and other party members have weaved a network through coordinated movements and communication for the purpose of staying updated on behalf of the FGM led by Amanza Walton-Desir.

“Besides the regular discrepancies….where they had spoiled ballots, where they (voters) made a mistake, they would’ve had to reissue ballots and so on, but generally it has been a smooth process. I haven’t heard or received any information that is worrying from the areas that I would’ve visited,” Thomas confirmed.

She also disclosed that the voter energy in the Fort Ordnance area was impressive. From a pool of 290 eligible voters, already the number of individuals who cast their ballots stood beyond 180.

22-year-old Beena (only name stated), who exercised her franchise for the first time, shared that she was eager to reach the age to vote. She cast her ballot at the Rose Hall Primary School in Corentyne.

Former Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) president Mark Lyte, appearing now as a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) candidate endorsed the “smooth process” as shared by many from the region. Hailing the efficiency of the polling arrangements, he said, “It took less than three minutes to complete the process. And I went early of course, so there wasn’t a very long queue, but so far everything has been going well,” he stated, in his capacity also as candidate of poll for East Bank Berbice (Edinburg to Mara). He commended the presence of all party polling agents as a “good sign,” as it adds to credibility and transparency.

Further up at Lightown Village, East Bank Berbice, another first-time elector enjoyed the hassle-free activity. Brandon, 22, arrived at the primary school in the village and observed that “everything was smooth…I see my vote as important,” the first-timer declared.

Experienced voter, 29-year-old Ezekiel also joined in on praising the ease at which voting was facilitated. A Rose Hall, Corentyne resident told this publication that “the voting experience for today was quite fast and not like the usual time like before…when I went into the polling station just now, it was fast.”

All the way to Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, 66-year-old Mr. Isaacs (only name given) returned to Guyana mainly to participate in the election. He gave the process a perfect ten rating.

No reports of major disturbances were received. At the same time, there was a lingering hint of foreboding in some sections of the region, the most compelling evidence of which was seen by the closure of almost all Chinese-operated supermarkets in communities visited by this newspaper..

Most business establishments closed their doors in harmony to accommodate the national holiday declared for the holding of the general and regional elections. However, it was rather unusual for the owners of Chinese businesses to close shop, since they almost never close their doors, even on national holidays.

Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ of Police Errol Watts had sounded a caution last week, that any form of unrest or illegal engagements in Region Six would be dealt with accordingly by the Guyana Police Force.

East Berbice-Corentyne (District Six) retains 435 polling stations, and an overall 111,554 eligible voters. It is spilt into three Sub-Districts:

Sub-District 1 – East Bank-Berbice/Canje, which has 149 polling stations and 36,384 electors.

Sub-District 2 – Upper Corentyne, with 140 polling stations and 36,025 electors.

Sub-District 3 – Lower Corentyne, with 146 polling stations and 39,145 electors.

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• Elections Result, Kortbradt Village, Rose Hall Primary School, Tutorial Academy Secondary School, Wainwright McIntosh

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