'Good friends' in THA election battle

Two "good friends" on opposite sides of the political fence are battling to win the Goodwood/Belle Garden West electoral district in the upcoming THA election.

Progressive Democratic Patriots' Faith BYisrael and PNM's Boxhil Bailey hope a fierce election battle does not affect their relationship.

Both candidates told Newsday they are confident and have been receiving a warm welcome from the people they hope to represent for the next four years. In interviews with Newsday recently, both signalled intentions to put up a good fight for the seat. Although the date of the election is yet to be announced, PDP deputy leader BYisrael said she is already having a very hectic campaign. In the 2017 THA election, BYisrael captured 42 per cent of the votes with 948; six votes away from winning the seat. Her opponent Hayden Spencer won with 953 votes. Although she lost, BYisrael was proud she and the PDP were able to make an impact in a short time. PDP, founded in 2016, won two of the 12 electoral districts while the PNM won ten.

"I think we did a very good job. Of course, being young, there were many lessons that we needed to learn about the process of electioneering, about what needs to happen on election day and so forth. And as you can see, coming out of the general election in August 2020, we went from having over 3,000 votes to now having over 10,000 votes for the entire party for the last general election."

What do these numbers in the general election mean for BYisreal in the upcoming THA election?

BYisrael said, “It means we have been growing significantly. It means that the Tobago public is growing in their confidence of us as a party. And the lessons that we need to learn, I think we are we have been learning them and we are working assiduously on ensuring that we execute it way better than we did in 2017."

She said it’s a challenge persuading Tobagonians who have grown frustrated and lost trust in Tobago politicians over undelivered promises within the last 20 years.

BYIsrael revealed the PDP is struggling with financing to run a full campaign, but she is confident because of the ground work she has been doing over the last four years in the area.

About her opponent, she said, "I have nothing bad to say about him personally. The fact remains that even though seeing this wonderful person, he is still representing an organisation that has kept Tobago in modern-day slavery over the last 20 years. And I am not convinced that even with a goodwill or with his personality he has enough strength or enough weight or enough power to change the culture of the organisation that he represents.”For Bailey, this is his second time entering Tobago’s political area. He made his debut at the age of 24. He told Newsday he was selected previously as the PNM candidate for the Goodwood/Belle Garden West seat but lost.Now he is more confident, taking the lesson he learned from his first race 20 years ago.From interacting with Goodwood/ Belle Garden residents, Bailey said the area is in dire need of initiatives to promote business activity.

"They are concerned about the pandemic we are in and lost revenue. We must find ways to help them or to stimulate them for some time. They are also concerned about proper roads, issues with lights and land tenure. I think I would be the ideal person because this is my life. I'm always on the ground dealing with people, they are familiar with me," he said.

Bailey, an employee at the Water and Sewerage Authority for 20 years, a member of the Belle Garden Village Council and a part-time farmer, has lived in Belle Garden all his life.

He said he isn't worried that BYisrael came within single-digit votes of winning in 2017. He doesn't anticipate another close fight this time around.

“I really wouldn’t be intimidated. If it's five-plus votes she needed to (win), I think she lost the election because based on what I’m seeing on the ground... me being the candidate, people are gaining confidence in me as their representative."

He added, "I wouldn't call the victory I anticipate as a landslide victory but I expect a great victory, an early victory and a competent victory."

He plans to maintain the friendship he shares with his "good friend" BYisrael, whatever the outcome.