One may ask oneself: where are we, as an island nation, in our economic and social development and what and who brought us here in the first place? And then, are the guarantees offered by one’s past record matched by the reneging of the past, the promise of change and the newly found vision of another? And if they do, do they deserve our trust in risking what’s in one hand for the promise in the bush?

Different persons of different beliefs argue in a different way, but one denominator is undisputable. And this is how we compare with our peers, with our European partners, ‘players’ in the same field and under the same rules. Some will look at this less objectively than others and end up with biased conclusions. Many others will still make an honest and educated assessment and even then come up with diverse views. The fact remains that these are the considerations one should put to oneself at election time, not personal grievances, not opportunist hopes, not tribal instincts.

As for the contestants, they should focus on the true, present day, issues and strive to educate the electorate rather than entice them with rewards and extravagancies we could ill-afford. Otherwise the danger is that promises will blind our judgement and put us in the comfort zone, only to face the grim realities of the future to our cost.