Slow but steady was the pace of voting at the Chaguanas Roman Catholic Primary School, where electors cast their votes for the Chaguanas West constituency on Monday.
TTT News spoke with several voters who said the process was one without any challenges and very smooth. They also noted that this was possibly due to the slow inflow of voters, although as time progressed, the turnout increased noticeably.
The People’s National Movement candidate for Chaguanas East, Richie Sookhai, and his family were among those casting their votes at the Chaguanas Roman Catholic Primary School on Monday morning.
On the process, he said, “We’ve had good feedback; maybe there is one station in particular that has raised a little concern with one of the clerks, but I think more or less it has been smooth sailing so far, and the process here on voting was on point.”
Mr. Sookhai, who resides in the Chaguanas West constituency but is vying for the Chaguanas East seat, said he knows the different communities well and can give constituents the strong representation they need.
“I’ve went to school in Chaguanas East, lessons in Chaguanas East, my friends in Chaguanas East, went to school in Chaguanas West at the same time in Presentation. So I think once you’re a Chaguanas boy everybody knows you. I mean I’ve been welcomed in every single community. I’ve walked never felt any sort of hate, from Endeavour to Rodney Road to Lange Park to Montrose to Enterprise, straight down to Warrenville, Cunupia. I felt good vibes.”
Mr. Sookhai said he is satisfied with his campaign and the amount of work they were able to complete in the lead-up to the General Election.
“We did our work, we touched every single person in the constituency, we visited every road, every nook and cranny, we went through all our polling districts and we met with our people, we heard their concerns, and we understand what needs to be done.”
The People’s National Movement last won the Chaguanas East seat in 2007.
Apart from Mr. Sookhai, there are four other candidates contesting the Chaguanas East seat in this election: Independent candidate Ernesto Singh, the NTA’s Norman Dindial, the Patriotic Front’s Afifah Mohammed, and former MP, the UNC’s candidate, Vandana Mohit.