History shows that much too many of our citizens fail to participate in the voting process. They generally take things for granted. They look upon their voting privilege as a petty, political exercise to be participated in if and when it’s personally gratifying or convenient. The mindset is: “the government did this or that for him or her and did nothing for me.” This kind of attitude is not only unfortunate it is down-right selfish if not ignorant. It is especially so, in a situation when their non-involvement directly impact on our livelihood and the future development of this “Blessed” country. By any stretch of the imagination or practical application, no government is able to satisfy the personal needs of each and every citizen. It is just not possible. The right to vote is the basis upon which all democratic forms of government are established. Absenteeism in our general elections is a concern. If there was ever a time when our full participation was needed it is now. It is prudent for Grenadians to realize and appreciate the years of struggle and dedication it took in order to broaden our own voting base and holistic development to the extent it is today. It is of critical importance that we understand the value of “suffrage.” Unfortunately, too many of us tend to overlook how important it is to be equipped with prior knowledge in order to exercise good judgment at election time. We go to great depth in our inquiry before deciding what model of car to buy. But the reality is that the outcome of our election has a far more vital impact on our daily lives than the car we choose to drive. The general development of Grenada that includes infrastructure, health and social services, education, employment opportunities, legal protection, law enforcement, utilities, sporting and public facilities, safety standards – the list of our concerns is almost endless – but must be sustained. It should be apparent, therefore, that voting judgment deserves and requires far more knowledgeable effort than that devoted to selecting a car. Then, doesn’t it make good sense that far more care and inquiry must be taken when exercising one’s voting rights? There are many ways to check out political salesperson’s pitch: the candidate’s and/ or parties’ qualifications, past performance, campaign promises, relationship with the general public, and so forth. Today, we face critical options of human values such as the lines of demarcation between the good guy and the bad guy, between the right and wrong, and between good governance and a government-in-waiting. Furthermore, one is often faced with immediate self-interest verses the long-range, general good in making a decision. We owe it to our children and those who paved the way, that we must overcome the political obstacles of misinformation, misrepresentation, disillusionment, disappointment, dissatisfaction and character assassination. It could significantly affect all that we have worked so hard to achieve as a progressive people. The worst thing that can happen is to abstain from participating in the voting process. We must be part of the “picture” in order to see the picture. For much too long we have allowed our unchecked emotions to influence our thinking. It is silly to assume that all politicians are either corrupt or incompetent especially when there is no “smoking gun” to such a claim. This kind of attitude leads to an even more negative one: why bother to vote? This negativistic fatalism may very well lead to our undoing. How well our government functions depends on the caliber of officials elected to office. Qualities such as: Education, experience, competency, commitment, honesty, and health should be the primary concern of the voting public. Since we, the private citizen, are responsible for the selection of our government, we must be certain that we do all within our God-given abilities to make the right choices. Our government is ours. If we select a bad government that would be because of how little Grenadians take an active interest in their affairs, and how misinformed they are. When designing a psychological profile of a candidate, we ought not to merely rely on trivial behavioral data. Sure, a political candidate must be held to higher standards than that of a private citizen. But the human element is still part of their make-up, and mistakes will be part of their human intercourse. We must be mature enough to set-aside (particularly during this process) our penchant for labeling one another - a behavior that came to be from our childhood prankishness. Measure a candidate by the degree of success “you” determine them to have in addressing the people’s socioeconomic needs. A basic rule to the electorate: Never appraise an incumbent government on the basis of rumors and baseless propaganda. Armed with some rudimentary knowledge and, above all, zeal rather than apathy, Grenadians should make their vote an affirmation. The voting public must recognize its power. With a coordinated effort the electorate can form voting blocs – where the candidate and/or party feels obligated to fulfill their promises. If working through groups is a mode of political participation and satisfaction, then groups can also be relevant to the turnout decision. To those who harbour baseless resentment, non-involvement, particularly in the electoral process, does not resolve the problem. It is fool’s logic to think so. It is also very disheartening, if not scary to hear executive members of the Opposition state openly that if the results went against them then the election would have been stolen by the Incumbent. This is an affront to our Democracy, peace and stability. It is setting the tone for unrest – be guarded. As concerned and caring Grenadians, we must develop a more elaborate “political belief system.” Positive results are evident when the respective Parties come clean, voters are informed, organized and committed. This formidable technique leads to informed decision-making and fewer “wayward” votes. It delivers the type of “strong government” the Spice Isle deserves. May God continue to Bless us. The civic duty of Ronald “Pappy” Charles