Now that the Long expected waiting time is over – with last Sunday’s announcement of the General Election date as the 8th July, 2008 – the 1995 to 2008 question begs itself, for an anxiously awaited answer. Will it be (L.T.P.C.) “Let The Progress Continue”, or (L.D.I.H.) “Liberation Day Is Here?” In the absence of some un-foreseen up-heaval or a quite un-expected “first” for Grenada – and goodness knows we are world famous for “firsts” in these parts – we should have the answer by midnight on Tuesday eighth July, god willing. But I hasten to add for the benefit or guidance of all and sundry; nothing is certain, no one knows the outcome for sure, and whatever we the people wish or want to happen – nothing can truly happen, unless we as a people make it happen. Whatever we may do, or fail to do – during the next four and a half weeks of intense campaigning by those seeking to achieve the much-coveted seats of power – at the end of the race only we the people, by our votes, can get them there. I am stressing this aspect of maximum people participation, because there is no magic number to ensure victory in our system of the highest number of votes to determine the winner. In the Elections in 1972, one of the seats in St. Patrick’s was won by one or two votes, and in the last election the Carriacou and Petite Martinique seat was won by six votes by Nimrod. So no one should be saying that the party I support is in good standing so it does not need my vote - every vote is needed and could be the deciding factor. The mad rush that took place on the Monday (the next day) after the Election date was announced by the Prime Minister on the Sunday – showed clearly that a whole lot of people were careless about getting their names registered to be able to vote; and I would not be surprised that many got fed up and abandoned the long waiting queues on that night. As for the parties hoping or planning to contest the polls – very clearly there are only two serious contenders in the NNP and NDC, with any real hope of winning seats. And while it is the right of any party, and any individual for that matter who wishes to offer him or herself as a competing candidate on Nomination day (8th July) – I sincerely hope that those of that trend of thought, and who truly see the need for change in the interest of our people and country – they would postpone their ambitions to serve until the next time around, and thereby avoid the possibility of disrupting a straight one versus one contest. I do accept and appreciate, that there are some persons in the other parties who do have the talent and experience our country truly needs at this time of change. But I also hope and urge that all concerned seriously see the need to hold back the collective party ambitions – that have very slim chances of making any mark at this time, except to disrupt the outcome in a straight two-party fight for power. Now is the time, in the interest of turning over a new page and giving our people some hope and better chances of a brighter future – for those who have those talents to be brought into the fold in a broad based Administration, after the first hurdle of bringing about the needed change has been accomplished. Put the assurances in place in whatever form, and live up to them when the time comes around. As for the contenders themselves – all the old talk and piccong days are now over, and it should be a straight case of convincing the voters that the progress should be continued, or that Liberation day is just around the corner. All the ugly name calling and insulting remarks and character assassination – with no credible evidence or reasonable justification for so doing – should be things of the past and the serious issues tackled. The happenings over the years have been very well documented and discussed on the Radio and TV for those interested to have seen, heard, or read. The media coverage of issues of national interest – whether coming from the government in power, the official parliamentary opposition, the other opposition parties, and individuals involved in all those groups, have all had their day in the news. Many persons have responded to publications by out right denials or faint-hearted excuses, and others have tried to cloud the issues with half-truths and brango. But in the very many cases at home and abroad, where the facts and or the allegations of wrong-doing and reckless judgment by those in authority, have been taken to the court or higher authorities for deliberation and eventual Judgment – excuses and denials without more cannot hold water. The millions upon millions of dollars that have gone down the drain in the last five years or so – because of bad judgment, greed to gain personal enrichment by some of those in authority, and sheer reckless decisions in attempts to glorify the images of the powers-that-be – have all been well documented and supported by the necessary evidential records from home or abroad. All this is not to say, that those seeking a fourth term in office have done nothing of value or benefit to our people and Tri-Island State. Of course they have. But the 2008 question (after 13 years) that must be answered – is whether they have done enough positive things, as against the many negative performances, to permit them to continue for a fourth term in office? And bearing in mind, that over the past five years the performances of those in control have become progressively worse, and much worse – the second question begs itself, can they be trusted to remain in office for yet another term, to let THAT KIND of Progress continue? The answer must very surely be a resounding “no, we need a change”. After all is said and done, the country and its assets and valuable legacies do not belong to any one group of persons. And when any group had been elected by the people, to serve the people for the good and welfare of the people, and that group have failed the people – not once or twice or three times, but on numerous and very well documented occasions, that have wasted millions of the people’s very scarce funds in the process, with many more Billions in national debt to be repaid by generations yet un-born – then the time has surely come to say, by a great majority of votes at the polls, that enough is very much more than enough, and it is over-time for a change. If we take a look at our Bajan Caricom friends; ex-Prime minister Owen Arthur had not even began to do anything to even attempt to follow the squandamania of the Keith Mitchell NNP here at home – but after a considerable time in control, the people felt and decided it was time to make a change and bring in new blood, and new thinking for a new beginning. A good example to follow. The situation here at home is far more critical, and urgent, and desperate, than it was in Barbados. Some of the hush-hush deals made by the NNP with foreign Investors over the years, are nothing more than scandal rip-offs for the great benefits of those so-called Investors, and to a lesser extent for kick-backs to some of those holding the reins of power. The latest one, who at least made a start, the Port St. Louis Project and Mr. De Savry; the concessions given and part of it already sold at huge profits, with so-called investments all over the island – the terms and conditions for (25 yrs.) Twenty five years are clearly un-reasonable and un-warranted, and in the event of the expected change they will have to be re-visited and revised. And make no mistake, or allow yourself to be fooled by the hand-outs and latest food vouchers and small parcels – and the jerseys or other garments that will come with the $100.00 U.S. or other sums neatly folded within – these are all being supplied by those rip-off Investors to protect their interests, and that is the progress they want to continue. If you the people fall for that scandal, then you are doing so at your own penil, and the future damage of any prospects for your children and grand children, and those yet un-born. The team heading the main opposition, with the brightest chances of bringing about the needed change to turn our Tri-island State fully around - and herald a new beginning for our people and country – that team is headed by a Statesman of impeccable courage, and dignity, and honesty, that have stood the test of time and trials and tribulations. He may not be the greatest orator on the public platform or in parliament – but when it boils down to integrity, and decency, and in-corruptibility, he is second to none. To the extent that if anyone around him tries any hanky-panky, or any so-called Investor attempt any short cut to win favours, that will be first and last such attempt. So that when you hear those vying to keep you in bondage, come up with the leadership deception theory – that the ex-PRG Bright boys in NDC are just waiting to remove Tillman and install whoever in his place – you can respond with the greatest confidence, that the day they try that – is the beginning of the end of their days in power. Any change that our people make possible by their votes will have to honoured, or else; and your humble servant will always insist – that the right alone is right and the wrong is always wrong – regardless of who is doing wrong. With the election date breaking news and all it entails, everything else seems to be on the back page and almost forgotten – but that is not quite so. The inevitable victory by Barack Obama, as the Democratic nominee for the November 2008 presidential Election in the U.S.A. cannot ever be over-looked. And coming out of America, with its history of colour prejudice that has been second perhaps only to South Africa and its Apartheid system – that in itself is a magnificent victory for people of colour worldwide, and people generally who have always treated their fellow human beings as equals – since we all have been created in the image and likeness of the one and only superior Almighty Creator. And irrespective of who says what, and how much power and wealth some may control – when He is on your side, and decides that the hour has come, not even the “Super-delegates” in the U.S. can resist that reality. The next hurdle centers around the decision of whom should be chosen to partner Obama as his Vice-President – in the fight against Mc Cain for the White House. I had a lot of regard and respect for Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I truly admired her performances even before the battle for the top position in the U.S.A. But so much dirty water has passed under the bridge, since about January this year when Obama began to come forward as a very serious Contender for that position – that I now have some second thoughts about the dream team of “Obama and Clinton” to bring about the needed change. Nevertheless, Senator Clinton was very gracious in her suspension speech last Saturday, when she endorsed Obama and promised him her fullest support – as well as urged her own very vast followers to throw in their support behind him. It is the people’s interest that matters. I trust that the team put together by Obama, to deliberate on the issue of who should be “Vice President”, would come up with a wise decision, and if it is “Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton” then so be it and onward towards that November date with fate. The need for change in the U.S.A. is as critical as it is here at home, and even more so-because whatever happens at the “White House and Capitol Hill” in Washington D.C., will most certainly have Global effects in most areas of our lives in this Hemisphere. Barack Obama is like a breath of fresh air blowing throughout the U.S.A., and having a rippling effect across the Universe that will impact generations yet unborn. My very best wishes and God speed go with him, and whoever is chosen as his running mate. As all stops are pulled out and the race gets more tense here at home – there may be a tendency to forget, or put on the back burner the very burning issues that are ever present and will not go away by wishful thinking. And uppermost among them is the CAP Bank fiasco, and the hundreds of little folks that are left holding the remnants from the unlawful decision made by the minister of Finance – Dr. Keith Mitchell – and some of his cronies in very lofty positions in the current administration – for whom liberation day is due to touch base on the 8th July, 2008. Very true to form – that drowning men will grasp at straw to save their skins, when the end is insight – those responsible and their stooges have taken in front and arrested the Bank’s CEO and long standing Lawyer – De Bourg and Reynold Benjamin; but no one should be fooled by that face-saving attempt to further dis-colour the already murky financial waters. Some big names have been involved in that Banking Scandal, and in the fullness of time the truth will prevail – because only the truth can ever set us free, and as we all must know by now – Liberation is all about freedom. Hovering in the background, or just beneath the surface, is the whole question of the role to be played by those in the Electoral Offices – and more particularly the Supervisor of Elections. The OAS people are expected in Grenada this week and it is also expected that they will be around in various numbers up to Election Day. But those contesting at the polls have to be eternally vigilant and leave nothing to chance – because the stakes in this Election have never been higher, and the prices that will be paid for survival would be unlimited, because money is no problem this time around. The trend of using Calypsonians, or gospel singers, or other popular performers to entice the crowds to Rallies and public meetings are continuing un-abated. But the attendances can be very mis-leading – because the bigger crowds follow the most popular singers, regardless of which party is paying for their attendance. But at the end of the day, at the fishing line when the Polls are closed on the night of 8th July, 2008, only the votes of the Electorates will be counted. The NDC’s Gospel Rally at Gouyave on Sunday evening was a sight to behold, and the songs of praise and glory to the Almighty were all very fitting and suited the occasion. The messages from the speakers were to the point and very well received; and as Political leader – “Uncle Tilly” – put it in his closing remarks – we have no problem with any progress, what we want to do is to stop the “political madness”. May the best team go on to victory – to bring about the change for our future destiny. By Lloyd Noel Inside Grenada Columnist