Melville-Jack to 'beat and teach' THA rivals

Scarborough/Calder Hall PNM candidate Marslyn Melville-Jack smiles during a virtual political meeting in Calder Hall on Sunday evening.  - PNM
Scarborough/Calder Hall PNM candidate Marslyn Melville-Jack smiles during a virtual political meeting in Calder Hall on Sunday evening. - PNM

Claiming she has been the victim of “unwarranted attacks” over the past few months, People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Scarborough/Calder Hall Marslyn Melville Jack declared on Sunday she will beat her contenders in the January 25 THA election.

Addressing a political meeting at the Eric Hovel Recreation Ground, Calder Hall, Melville-Jack did not refer to Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus by name but stressed, "No individual is bigger than the PNM.

“I will beat and teach that the PNM is alive and well and no individual is bigger or mightier than the organisation that we call the PNM.”

Melville-Jack, the outgoing Secretary in the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour, and Tsoiafatt Angus were both screened for the Scarborough/Calder Hall seat on October 26. Melville-Jack got the nod.

Tsoiafatt Angus, chairman of the Tobago Festivals Commission, subsequently filed nomination papers to contest the district as an independent candidate. The PNM has since expelled her from the party, in keeping with its constitution. But she maintains she is still a member.

Melville-Jack, alluding to her background as a teacher, declared she will give her contenders a sound beating at the polls.

“I want you to know that once a teacher, always a teacher and I am determined on Monday, January 25, 2021, I will beat and teach.”

She added: “I will beat and teach, that when they go low, I will stay high. I will beat and teach that no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

“I will beat and teach that when Jesus says yes, nobody can say no.”

The Progressive Democratic Patriots' candidate for the seat is Trevor James.

Melville-Jack predicted the PNM will win all 12 seats in the election by wide margins.

In his address, Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis said while Melville-Jack declared she will “beat and teach” her challengers, he believes that as a retired teacher, she should have no business teaching.

“I might be wrong but that is just my advice. And the reality is that there are some persons, no matter how much you teach, they will never learn,” he said. “And there is a candidate in this election, an independent candidate, who after ten years in this party, has not learned discipline.

“And therefore, I want to advise the candidate for Scarborough/Calder Hall: doh worry to teach, just beat.”

Dennis, who is seeking to win the Buccoo/Mt Pleasant seat for a third consecutive term, said the PNM is a disciplined party.

“This party is 65 years of age, older than most of us. And therefore there is a reason why the People’s National Movement has been able to serve this country with distinction over the last 65 years.”

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"Melville-Jack to ‘beat and teach’ THA rivals"

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