BYisrael: Team of lawyers on standby

Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) member Dr Faith BYisrael said the party has a team of lawyers standing by to represent Tobagonians whom, she claimed, are being threatened with their Cepep and URP jobs if they do not vote for the People's National Movement (PNM) in next year's general election.

Addressing supporters at the launch of the PDP's campaign for the general and Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections on Sunday at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands, BYisrael said the party intends to address the issue frontally.

She said, "Let me tell all of the other people in Tobago, the people who they have been meeting and threatening and telling them 'if yuh only vote for the PDP yuh go loss yuh wuk. If they only see yuh in a black jersey yuh go loss yuh wuk.'

"We are citizens of this wonderful Republic called Trinidad and Tobago and no matter what any of them say, we have the right to vote in and more importantly, vote out whoever we wish.

"So, doh let them tell allyuh nothing. If they tell you all anything like that, whoever it is, let me know. We have some lawyers standing up, ready and waiting for them. Nonsense."

The PNM has denied threatening to fire Cepep and URP workers if they do not vote for the party in next year's general election.

In a statement last Thursday, the party's Tobago Council chairman Stanford Callender dismissed the claims as a "bold-faced lie" and an election campaign ploy to "gain relevance."

In her address on Sunday, BYisrael gave supporters an idea of some of the party's plans if it comes into office.

She said the PDP wants to create an island where Tobagonians "could stay right here and study," through the University of Tobago.

"And, if heaven forbid, if they get sick they can be taken care of right here."

The Minority councillor added: "If they want to have big whatever jobs they have, they could stay here because we could ensure they have internet system, so that even if they are working for a company in China they could stay right here and do it. This is the vision we have for Tobago."

BYisrael said the party's theme for the elections, People before Politics, was created with this in mind.

"We are pledging to always put you first so that you can be able to live comfortably in this capital of paradise. That is why we are here."

She urged supporters to come out in their numbers to vote.

"We need you to take the message. Talk to everybody you know, every family member. Let them come out and vote because we have to make sure that for every single seat, Tobago East and Tobago West, for the 12 seats of the THA, that we bring out every single person to vote."

The PDP, led by Watson Duke, controls two seats in the THA – Roxborough/Delaford and Speyside/L'Anse Fourmi/Parlatuvier.