In North Leeward, the air is thick with the sounds of heavy machinery and the sight of sudden activity. Long-neglected roads are being graded, hardcourts are under construction, and materials are being dumped at various sites. Students are being called in groups to receive laptops and scholarships, while arrowroot farmers, who have been struggling since the 2001 volcanic eruption, are finally receiving relief. Amidst all this, there is talk of hotel development, even though similar projects announced years ago in other parts of the country have yet to materialize. What ties all these developments together? It’s the ULP government’s frantic efforts to prepare for the upcoming general elections, a phenomenon akin to a student cramming for a national exam. Just as the education policy promotes students to secondary school regardless of their mastery of the required knowledge, the government seems to be adopting a similar approach—hoping to scrape through by making last-minute efforts. However, this strategy raises questions about the government’s ability to implement a holistic development policy that benefits everyone consistently over time, rather than in the final weeks of its political life. The analogy extends further: just as students who cram often fail to master the subject matter, a government that relies on last-minute efforts may not be equipped to perform at the required level. The closer these developments are to the election, the more they are expected to leave a lasting impression on voters. Yet, this short-term political strategy may not be enough to bridge the development gap with other countries in the region. As Independence Day approaches, more announcements of such initiatives are widely anticipated.