Watch your words!

RENOWNED local academic Dr Neelesh Gounder believes political party leaders must be more responsible in the lead up to the 2022 polls. We note the points he raised during an interview with us a few days ago.

He spoke about the impact the words leaders used could have on business and investor confidence. This will attract attention.

He spoke about the choice of words, and the messages they were trying to get across to the masses.

The University of the South Pacific senior economics lecturer said as we get closer to the election date next month, it was important for leaders to be responsible, especially “now that we are very close to the election in terms of the discourse that emerges and the kind of political rhetoric around political competition”.

Political stability, business confidence and investor confidence, he pointed out, were also very important in terms of economic recovery or the path towards economic recovery.

We have already said the battle lines are drawn, and parties are now focused on challenging the masses, and attracting attention.

While we appreciate the language of political discourse out there, there obviously will be interest on topics and lines of attack by political parties and their leaders.

In the face of that, we are reminded about the need for us to be aware of what each party brings to the table.

That should embrace their manifestos, what they stand for, their hopes and aspirations, and what is in that for us.

For parties, the road to parliament is long, expensive, and for some, very tiring.

The reality is that some may not make it!

It will involve hours of discussions around the country, meeting people from all walks of life, understanding their challenges, and offering hope, and solutions.

What is at the centre of their campaigns!

Then there are the questions that will linger over the five per cent threshold, and how parties are expected to fare on December 14!

These are important considerations!

We intend to raise issues of interest to the masses, to empower them to make well informed decisions, whether it is through the news pages, open columns, opinions, and on our digital platforms.

We know there will be interest on percentages in terms of voter representation and this will extend to divisions as parties work on their battle plans leading up to the 2022 General Election.

Aside from traditional key issues such as employment, education, poverty, health care, the economy and infrastructure development, there will also be reflections on the past four years.

What will matter for some may not be on the top shelf for others. However, a positive vision for the future, and how people benefit in the end, will hold up for many. Do they want the status quo to remain?

Do they want change?

What is important now is acknowledging the fact that the voter will decide what unfolds! Your vote matters!

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