Callender: Tsoiafatt Angus no longer PNM

PNM Tobago Council chairman Stanford Callender has confirmed that Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus has been expelled from the party.

On October 26, Tsoiafatt Angus and outgoing Secretary for Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour Marslyn Melville-Jack were both screened to contest the Scarborough/Calder Hall seat in the January 25 THA election.

Melville-Jack, who represented the electoral district over the past four years, got the nod.

Tsoiafatt Angus, who is the chairman of the Tobago Festivals Commission, subsequently filed nomination papers to contest the seat as an independent candidate, in violation of the party’s constitution.

Tsoaiaftt Angus, who said she has been a member of the PNM since 2008, has maintained she is still a member of the party.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Callender said her decision to contest the election as an independent candidate “is one of the most serious violations of the party’s constitution.”

He said Article 22, which addresses the discipline of members, says “any member of the movement, who shall, in rivalry or opposition to any party candidate or nominee, or otherwise in defence of, or contrary to any party directive or declared policy or principle or announcement….shall thereupon cease to be a member of the movement.”

Callender said it is unfortunate Tsoiafatt Angus has decided to contest the election against a PNM candidate.

“By her actions, she is no longer a member of the PNM. There is nothing in the party’s constitution that speaks to an ‘independent PNM.'"