Is this election also going to be about who spends the most money and strikes the best bargain for a vote? Voters must decide why their vote matters, and it should not be based on cash.

Independent candidate and Independent Together (IT) chairman, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, has summed it up well. He said Samoa's general elections have been reduced to a contest of money and voting to a transactional exchange, rather than a genuine choice based on policies and integrity. It is good to hear a candidate speaking out about practices that have been going on for decades, and now it has become a culture, an accepted norm, that even voters are squeezing candidates. A candidate has even said that he did not know that he would be spending so much money.

“Today, we must address a pressing issue that threatens the very fabric of our nation: corruption and craft. These insidious practices can devour a significant portion of our national budget, diverting funds meant for our development, our healthcare, our education, and our future,” Leiataualesa said.

“It creates a dangerous cycle where future generations come to believe that success can only be achieved through dishonest means. This mindset undermines integrity, discourages talented and hardworking individuals from serving in government, and rewards those who manipulate the system for personal gain.”

It is so true that elections are becoming a contest of money, where the party that offers the most financial incentives often wins. This practice reduces voting to a transactional exchange, rather than a genuine choice based on policies and integrity.

A government is a true reflection of the people’s choice. If voters sell their votes, the next set of parliamentarians will come in to serve their needs and collect on the costs they incurred in securing that seat. They have paid for that vote, and they do not see the need to look after the constituents. The seeds of corruption are sown during the election. This leads to more corrupt practices. Voters should realise that if they say no to the money from candidates, they are saying no to corruption and if they take the money, it goes to show that we will have a hard time fighting corruption.

This is quite similar in politics, when you vote for a candidate who is true to the course, the benefits flow to the people he or she represents. Politicians should strive to improve life for the communities. A good measure of how good the last parliamentarian has been would be the use of the district grants. The parliamentarian had at his disposal a million tala. Voters should ask themselves, ‘How was that used to improve lives?’ Did your last mandarin or politician leave behind a sour taste? Then, maybe it is time to choose another.

At the end of the day, if voters keep acting the same way they do every five years and not vote for the person best suited for the role, the nation will keep ending up with parliamentarians who will grow themselves and not the people they represent.

Do not vote for gifts and rewards, vote for someone who not only changes your life but also that of your children and their children. Your vote counts, and you have the right to choose who to vote for. It is time to open our eyes beyond the short-term gain and vote for those who will work for you and carry your voice in parliament, and not make their voice yours.

The power to make the change is yours; do it for a better Samoa.