Tobago parties to campaign within covid19 guidelines

Tobago political parties contesting the upcoming general election are still debating strategies for campaigning given the existing physical distancing protocols in place to combat the spread of covid19.

People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council chairman Stanford Callender said although the party has begun to put its election machinery in place, they are yet to decide on how it intends to campaign throughout communities.

“Given what is happening now with covid19, we can’t be out there in any big way. But the broad operation system is in place,” he told Sunday Newsday.

Last week, the party approved incumbents, Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Shamfa Cudjoe and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy to contest the Tobago West and East seats, respectively.

Cudjoe was the sole nominee to be screened for the seat while Webster-Roy came up against veterinarian Dr Kern Johnson.

Callender said Cudjoe and Webster-Roy were supposed to have selected their campaign managers.

He added the party has also set up its main campaign election office at Pump Mill Junction, Scarborough, while other offices have been established at Moriah and Goodwood.

The former Tobago West MP said two meetings have been planned for this week with the party’s executive and the campaign management team to iron out issues relating to the campaign.

“So, we have begun to fashion our roll out in terms of different areas of training for different electoral election operatives.

“We are beginning to pull the operations together to deal with the ground troops.”

The Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), meanwhile, said its campaign will be guided by the covid19 restrictions.

“Well, the Government is lifting restrictions so we will continue following the guidelines,” said the party’s deputy political leader Dr Faith BYisrael.

The Prime Minister on Saturday announced that hairdressers, barbers and domestic workers will be allowed to resume work from Monday and public transport capacity will be increased to 75 per cent by Monday.

He also announced that churches and other places of worship can resume services from June 12.

The PDP, like the PNM, has selected its candidates for the election.

Political leader Watson Duke, who is currently the representative for the Roxborough/Delaford electoral district, is contesting the Tobago East seat while political newcomer Tashia Grace Burris is contesting Tobago West.

BYisrael said the party’s campaign will embody its philosophy of putting people before politics.

“That has always been our strategy and will continue to be our strategy.”