We note with interest the five individuals who are vying to replace Member of Parliament Kern Spencer as the People’s National Party’s (PNP) representative for North East St Elizabeth in the next general elections.

They are: Messrs Wensworth Skeffery, the chairman of the PNP’s Region 5; Basil Waite, the Opposition spokesman on education; Winston Samuels, leader of the Bybrooks Togetherness PNP Group of the Braes River Division; Dr Lynden Rose, Santa Cruz dentist and businessman Nigel Pagon.

Time will tell what the individual who wins this particular race will being to the national table. However, we would like, as a matter of caution, to urge the delegates who will make the pick to choose on merit, as opposed to popularity.

According to the June 15 edition of this newspaper as well as today’s edition of our sister title, the Observer West, Messrs Skeffery and Waite are the top contenders in the race. With all due respect to both gentlemen, we wonder if it is the quality of leadership that they are deemed to be offering that is fuelling their popularity.

Do they really exhibit the qualities that are required of parliamentarians that we are relying on to usher the country into a new age of prosperity and decency? Are they any more honest, efficient and competent than their fellow contenders? What about their connections, business and otherwise?

Can they stand scrutiny?

It is the answers to these questions that we hope would inform the delegates’ choice come Sunday.

For we are living in rocky times where barefacedness threatens to make a mockery of all that is decent.

And the last thing we need is a parliament that has too many dubious characters who are not ashamed of appearing to be championing the cause of evil, another parliamentarian who cannot say and do the right things.

The last thing we need is another parliamentarian who thinks that it is okay to vascillate between private and public roles when it is politically expedient to do so.

The last thing we need is another parliamentarian who cannot or will not provide the answers to questions concerning issues which relate to the integrity of the democracy which our forefathers fought so hard for.

Whether we want to admit it or not, our democracy is in danger of being overrun in the name of technicalities and semantics by those who have no qualms about engaging the most inappropriate means available to further their own selfish ends.

Until and unless those with access to the certain types of information begin to act in the best interest of the country, our Parliament will never be able to acquit itself, or us. We hope the delegates are listening.

Of course, they can ask who are we to be advising them. But they must not forget that ultimately, they will be coming to the electorate to seek our support.

At that point, it is us who will be asking who are they to be seeking our votes.