Usually, our emphasis as a people would be on the independence celebrations, but this year, as has occurred before, our attention is distracted by preparations and campaigning of both political parties for the upcoming general elections. On the other hand, the Opposition NDP is desperately trying to wipe out its dismal record of five successive defeats in general elections. In such circumstances, even significant occasions like national independence celebrations are bound to suffer, to one degree or the other. During October, political parties can be forgiven for placing their partisan campaigns ahead of independence celebrations. After all, the thinking would go, when we win there will be many other independence celebrations.