Davidson-Celestine: 'Absentee' Duke can't be trusted

People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council political leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine claimed Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke has been an absentee representative in the THA.

Duke is contesting the Roxborough/Delaford seat again in the January 25 THA election. He is being challenged by the PNM’s Neil Beckles.

Addressing a political meeting on Tuesday night at the Roxborough Secondary School, Davidson-Celestine said since she re-entered the assembly as a councillor, months ago, she observed Duke has been absent from many of its sittings.

“Since the time I was there, I could count the number of times on my finger that he was present in the House to represent you, the people of Roxborough/Delaford,” she said. “The thing about that sitting is that it is held once a month and you sit in the House by virtue of the fact that you would have won office to represent a particular electoral district.

“And so, if that is what he is paid to do, and cannot attend once per month, can you be guaranteed good representation from him?”

Davidson-Celestine added: “We have to pay very close attention to the information that is around us and we have to use that information to make decisions in terms of who will be the best candidate to represent you in the electoral district of Roxborough/Delaford going forward.”

She also noted Duke did not attend the opening of the Roxborough Hospital earlier that evening.

“Today, we had an opening of a spanking new facility, approximately $100 million invested for the people of Roxborough, and your immediate area representative was absent from that ceremony.”

Davidson-Celestine said Beckles, on the other hand, has always been in touch with residents.

“I can attest that I see Neil Beckles more in Roxborough/Delaford than the immediate former representative.”

Davidson-Celestine, who is contesting the Lambeau/Signal Hill seat, also told supporters Duke cannot be trusted.

She also ridiculed the PDP for putting deputy leader Farley Augustine in charge of the THA campaign after the party’s defeat in the August 10 general election. The PDP has said Augustine is the party's choice for chief secretary if the party wins the THA election.

Davidson-Celestine said, “The convention in Trinidad and Tobago, the convention in the Caribbean, the convention in the world, is for a political leader to lead a party into the election.

“And so what are they saying to us? They have a chief secretary candidate to take you through this election. What does that really mean?”

Davidson-Celestine recalled Duke had also said he would step down as Public Services Association president “to give way to younger blood.

“But what has happened? To date, he is still the president of the PSA. He still has not given way to any young blood.

“So do we have that assurance, based on how that leader has been operating over the years, that the one who claims to now be chief secretary candidate will, in fact, be the chief secretary, if we put God out of our thoughts and allow them to win the election?”

Davidson-Celestine told supporters to not be fooled by the posturings of the PDP.

She added the PNM is the only stable party on the island.