Tomorrow the country goes to the polls to elect the persons to govern the country for the next five years. Elections of any kind always come with some excitement, no doubt because of the promise and the uncertainty that they hold.

The five weeks that have preceded this day have, perhaps, been unprecedented in political rivalry – a blessing that has come by way of advances in communication technology.

The campaign that precedes a General Election in Trinidad and Tobago is unique, bearing the mark of the colourful and vibrant culture of the people. While we have commented about the tendency of candidates to sink into unjustified and undignified attacks on fellow candidates from the platforms, and an insufficient focus on the issues that matter, we can still be grateful for the humour of our people and their disinclination to resort to violence in the campaigning.

It is unclear to what extent, if any, the death of the UNC activist Shawn Douglas and the attack on COP candidate David Sinclair were related to the election campaign.

Certainly, there is much that many other nations can admire in the way in which the vast majority of citizens have conducted themselves in the run-up to the elections.

Elections provide an opportunity. They invite the people to make an appraisal of the stewardship of those who are in charge of governing the land and then to move beyond complaining.

They allow the electorate who, having weighed the promises of one party over another, to have a say about who will run the business of the nation for another five years. The seriousness of the questions to be considered in making a decision should not be underestimated.

Which party will best protect the rights of the individual, including that of the unborn? Which one will serve best the needs of the poor and disadvantaged? Which party will best contribute to strong family life?

The questions may be as varied as voters are varied. But, in a way, all seems to come down to two questions: What makes one party fit to run affairs of the State at this time and which one is in the best position to do so?

Elections are good. They make every citizen a representative of the public interest. They allow for democracy. But, to exercise the franchise on November 5 is not the end of the matter as far as democracy goes. Democracy will not perpetuate itself automatically after polling day.

All citizens have the responsibility of living in ways that respect the rights of each individual and this must be done every day. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated in 2002: “The life of a democracy could not be productive without the active, responsible and generous involvement of everyone, ‘albeit in a diversity and complementarity of forms, levels, tasks and responsibilities’ ”.

No matter which party wins the election, the improvement in the quality of life for which everyone longs will only occur as each person plays his or her part as a responsible citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.

Approach tomorrow’s voting prayerfully

Elections are a space for God. They say that God, for whom “the whole world is like a grain of dust”, is willing to use men and women to do his work.

They ought to remind us that although for all practical purposes he may be forgotten, left outside of the fray of election campaigning and all the planning for the future, he continues his mission among us through those who serve. Elections say that through the electoral process God continues to seek us out.

In today’s Gospel, the wealthy Zacchaeus who tries to get a glimpse of Jesus in the least intrusive way he could think of – by climbing a sycamore tree – finds that Jesus already has a plan to seek him out and through him, many other people.

It may be that candidates do not usually see themselves as instruments for God and as persons through whom God reveals himself, but that indeed places the highest value on the political roles they seek to fill.

We urge everyone to approach tomorrow’s voting prayerfully. Fortuitously, this weekend has coincided with First Friday and First Saturday devotions and in many communities and parishes all night vigils would have been conducted, with particular prayer for a government that will respect the human person and adhere to Gospel values.

Today, at all Masses and religious services throughout the nation, prayers will be offered for the fair conduct of the polls.  Let us trust in God’s guidance.