The saddest part in all this of course, is that most these ads are either slanderous, scandalous or just plain unimaginative and boring. Which then begs the question: are they really effective and do people really cast their votes for the party that spends the most money or for the candidate who slings the most mud? If we are to judge by the results of the last general election, then it would seem, that the answer would seem to be no.

In the 1993 general elections, the PUP obviously pulled no punches and without question, had the heftier war chest. Yet with a few key last minute strategic moves, the UDP was able to pull out the victory and the PUP was left to wait for ’98. It is now 98 of course, and this time around while it seems that the UDP were a little slower getting out of the gate, their campaign has definitely picked up steam and they now seem intent on matching every dollar that the PUP has been spending. Funny how money neva seem fu deh, during a party’s first four years in office but it seems that money jus can’t dun, when election time comes around.

All that aside however, I have a couple of suggestions. Considering the fact that most streets in BELIZE have no names on them, how about instead of placing political placards, these candidates would put up the name of a street. If a PUP does it, then it could be painted in blue and white and likewise if a UDP does it, paint it in red and white. And instead of the hundreds of plywood signs telling us who to vote for, how about finding an open space and using this plywood as a backboard. We can then attach a rim and this way our children would have something to do especially during the summer months and on the weekends when there’s no school. Again, they can make it red or make it blue, this way we’ll know who to thank with our votes.

As for the megabucks being spent on television and radio ads, how about candidates using the airtime instead to debate. And speaking of debates, seems the much talked about political debates proposed by SPEAR and the BELIZE Chamber of Commerce have reached an impasse with both the Times and the Pulse this week printing articles blaming each other for the break down. Funny but few people seem very surprised at this outcome and it seems that this was an idea which from the very start, sounded just too good to be true.

Nevertheless, the next forty-one days promise to be some very interesting ones and as we near E day, even the most cognitive political analysts seem hesitant to try and predict this one. If you haven’t registered yet of course, you are too late but if you did register, then please vote and vote wisely. Weigh the facts for yourself and let no one buy your vote. It is a priceless privilege and as close as this one is looking, your vote just might be the one to decide the outcome.