DESPITE what appeared to be a low voter turnout in St Mary South Eastern, several young people, including first time voters and the elderly, cast their ballots Thursday to have their say in determining who leads the country.

The constituency was won in the 2011 election by the People’s National Party candidate Dr Winston Green, who defeated Richard Creary by 424 votes and is now up against Dr Norman Dunn.

“ I need a change, in the constituency. Dr Green not doing anything,” complained 24-year-old Sabrina Kelly, who hails from Friendship Gap within the Castleton Division.

Similar views were expressed in the community of Clonmel in the Richmond Division.

“We want a change. Dr Dunn is a people person. I know him personally and he is a hard worker and I know he will do well here,” said 21-year-old Lajaye, another first-time voter.

She and her friend, Keneish Leamy, were of the view that no growth was occurring in the constituency and that the incumbent candidate was mostly absent.

Eighteen-year-old Oshane Wedderman, who spoke with the Jamaica Observer while waiting in line at a polling station at Annotto Bay High School, was also voting for a change.

“I want someone better to represent my country and to help build Jamaica and my community. We need better roads and we need work,” he said.

However, while there were several youth who had clearly put some thought into voting, there were others who did the exercise blindly.

At the Annotto Bay Health Centre, a 22-year-old young man who gave his name only as Peter, was one example.

“Dem nuh really a help me still but me just a run some votes, even though a dem gimme work,” he told the Observer.

His friend Anthony, 26, said: “Mi jus a vote cause somebody ask me. Is the second time mi a vote and mi never vote off a my own mind yet.”

By contrast, the senior citizens, who turned out in their numbers despite their disabilities and ailments, seemed to take great pride in voting, notwithstanding their issues with the incumbent Dr Green.

Eulalee Plunkett, 73, who was seen limping into the polling station, said she has always voted.

“I think it is important for me to vote because I want better,” she said.

“Mi nuh get nothing from no party and if they don’t waa give me nothing mi nuh care. Mi just want them gimme good roads and clean the trench down a mi house dat full a water and mosquitoes, “ she added.

Carmen Coleman, 79, who could barely walk said, “I am voting because I can’t take the condition anymore. From me reach voting age mi a vote and mi have two sons and none out of the two of them not working because them can’t get no job.”

For Mavis Coombs, 68, Dr Green has not done enough to help people like her in the community.

“I didn’t want to vote. My house mash down in Hurricane Sandy and wants to be repaired and nobody nuh help me,” she said. “Dem promise to help me but all now!”

“Me ongle see him [Dr Green] inna him big car and me want house fi live inna,” she complained.

Voting in the constituency started promptly at seven and according to most of the indoor agents, several voters arrived before the start of the voting process which, for the most part, was smooth even in spite of some complaints about the slow speed of operations.

The turnout, however, was very low but steady. At several of the polling stations the Jamaica Observer visited in the divisions of Bellfield, Castleton, Annotto Bay and Richmond, there were hardly any long lines and the outdoor agents in many instances outnumbered the voters who were present.

Things seemed to have picked up in the late afternoon, but not significantly.

Both Drs Green and Dunn, meanwhile, listed road repairs, addressing water problems and instituting skills programmes among the priorities if they were to be victorious.