Early on the morning of December 6, I went with two friends to our constituency’s polling station. I do not like politics (especially the "gutter" variety) and, since moving to Tobago in 2012, have never voted.
In fact, having never been impressed by options for electoral candidates, I have barely ever voted in Trinidad either.
However, after the Tobago House of Assembly elections of January 2021 resulted in a six-six PDP/PNM deadlock, I made sure to go and register, in the event that Tobago should go back to the polls. Never before had I felt the pull to ensure that I would be eligible to contribute to an island’s future by voting.
As I joined the polling station line outdoors, a rainbow appeared, followed by a sudden light shower of rain. A pleasant elderly gent, whom I often see around the community, was walking out, smiling, obviously having just "stained his finger."
[caption id="attachment_929152" align="alignnone" width="1024"] People wait their turn to vote in the THA elections outside the Montgomery Government Primary School on December 6. - Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
“The good Lord is showering blessings upon us!” he cried out, joyously raising his arms as if to embrace the rain.
Clearly, he meant that the good Lord was raining blessings on the candidate for whom he had just voted. Who that was, I did not know. Traditionally speaking, while his age might have hinted at allegiance to "the oldest party," one can never be sure.
A short moment later I heard a gentle voice behind me say: “Elspeth.” I turned to see Joel "Nuttsy" Sampson, the PDP’s representative for Crown Point/Bon Accord.
What a fortuitous moment. “Wow!” I said. “A sign of victory.”
I first met Nuttsy at the end of January 2021, soon after the THA elections. He had just missed winning his seat, having come in a few votes behind the PNM's candidate – a result that spurred my decision to get registered.
Back then, as we conversed at length, I was struck by Nuttsy’s accessible, down-to-earth nature, clear love for the community and obvious willingness to speak with, listen to and work with people. Everyone I had ever heard mention his name knew him as a humble, genuine, hardworking and honest son of the soil. He was worth giving a chance.
[caption id="attachment_929154" align="alignnone" width="541"] -[/caption]
The atmosphere at the polling station was peaceful. People stood in orderly lines, quiet, except for the odd light chatter and random greetings to people they recognised. While most of the voters present seemed to fall into the 30’s to 70’s age group, I noticed quite a number of elderly men and women shuffling slowly, but with great determination, aided by walking sticks or human support systems.
Upon receiving the ballot paper, I felt that I was holding something sacred. Making sure that I was aiming for the right space, I slowly and surely stamped the X. Slipping the folded paper into the box and dipping my finger into the ink was like participating in a life-changing ritual.
Voting (the few times that I had)
