Batten Down The Hatches...

Election fever has hit Guyana.

Just a brief post to let you know of what is going down in 'the hood' of Skeldon, Guyana. Tomorrow is election day here in Guyana, which is a very big deal. There are three main parties, all of whom are signified (for the illiterati) by different symbols: the cup, the hand and the key. Currently ruling are the cup, but they do so amidst a lot of accusations of defrauding and misappropriation of funds. Making no comment at all... apart from that the only party that has managed to run a successful ad campaign - with posters, trucks playing music and dance parties - is the said party in control of the purse strings...mmm.

Election day and the succeeding days can be a little turbulent in Guyana, we are led to believe. In the capital there has already been a bit of violence and in previous years people have been killed and attacked in the street, for professing a certain allegiance. Due to this, we have been advised to take the Blitz approach and stock up on food and drink and stay indoors for at least a day or two! Eeeek. This led us to a mad panic yesterday buying all the lemonade, cookie mix, flour, dairy milk and rum that we could get our hands on/afford.

Our plan for tomorrow is to meet up at DC and Sarah's for a brunch and then bed down for the day with movies, games and lots and lots of bad food to eat and cocktails to consume. We are secretly wishing that we need to do this on Tuesday too, as most of us have our time for the month and are crying out for an excuse to stay in bed.

Message to the mother - I will be fine. We should be okay really, as we are mostly regarded as neutral parties, so as long as we do not venture out onto the main road where people congregate and will be travelling to and from the polling stations, the whole thing should pass without incident. The only time bad things will happen is if the popular party lose and then people are know to get a bit aggressive. I will keep you posted!

On a nice note, we had our monthly sign language meeting today at a hall about an hour away - 45 in attendance, on whom 26 were deaf. Not a bad average!

Well, off to lock the gates and plump the cushions and get ready for the joys that tomorrow will bring.

Ciao for now.x