TPP holds marathon screening but candidates yet to be selected

AFTER an eight-hour interview process, which began on February 6, the Tobago People’s Party’s (TPP's) screening committee did not immediately select candidates to contest the Tobago East and West seats in the upcoming general election.

The exercise, which took place at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, began shortly after 5 pm and ended at around 1 am on February 7. TPP political leader Farley Augustine chairs the party’s screening committee.

There were two hopefuls for the Tobago West seat: Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James and public servant Barry Nelson.

Six nominees appeared before the committee hoping to be chosen for the Tobago East seat, currently held by the People’s National Movement’s (PNM’s) Ayanna Webster-Roy.

They were retired ACP William Nurse; retired deputy chief fire officer David Thomas; former assemblyman Max James; technical adviser, Division of Finance, Trade and the Economy Anslem Richards; tour guide William Trim; and TPP chairman Ann Natasha Second.

James, assemblyman for Scarborough/Mt Grace, was the first nominee to be interviewed. He faced questions from the committee for almost two hours.

Speaking afterwards, he told reporters, “I think it is a necessary process to identify the right candidate to win the seat and I am happy to be a part of the process. I am hopeful that I am chosen as the candidate.”

James, who was accompanied by a small group of supporters, said he was confident.

“I have done the best that I can in the process. I have been nominated. I went through the screening. It is now up to the executive and head of the party to make a determination as to who should be the candidate.”

He added he would support any nominee who was selected.

Nelson said he wanted to bring proper representation to the people of Tobago West.

“We have a THA that is responsible for fifth schedule matters and the government is responsible for sixth schedule matters, Registrar Generals’ Office, Immigration, Magistrate’s Court, High Court. These matters affect the people of Tobago and if you don’t strengthen these matters, the whole assembly will be affected to carry out their function and the people.”

Nelson said he would also push for greater efficiency on the air and sea bridge.

Six vie for Tobago East nod

Nurse, making his political debut, described his interview as gruelling.

“It was soul-searching. In fact, the only thing they didn’t ask me was the colour of the vest I am wearing.

“But it was thorough. It was the type of interview that is designed to select only the best and whoever emerges as the candidate for Tobago East, I will conclude that if they beat William Nurse to it, they were really good.”

Thomas, too, regarded the interview as probing.

“The interview tested all of you, where you were, where you have been and where you intend to go,” he said.

“It spoke to your character now and your character then. It spoke to the genuine nature of you in the Tobago space.”

Thomas, who had a large contingent of supporters, said he was able to present to the committee a package “to leave them totally impressed.”

Max James, brother of the infrastructure secretary, said he gave the panel an account of his stewardship in Tobago over the last 30 years.

“I believe I was able to convince them that I am on record of having defended persons who don’t support the PNM,” he said, adding he continues be very active in the media “defending that cause.”

James, a businessman, added, “My record speaks for itself. There have been times I have been, on many occasions the lone person in Tobago defending that cause when others have not. And therefore, that speaks for itself.”

Richards told reporters “Tobago’s issues are affecting Tobago, including Tobago East.

“I think the issue that is affecting Tobago currently is the lack of autonomy. Because without autonomy you cannot transform the economy, the island or its people. And therefore, that will be a priority item for me when I go to the Parliament to represent."

Richards said he also intended to push for a much larger budget allocation for Tobago.

“We need the necessary funding to do the public works, provide goods and services for the residents of Tobago.”

On the issue of autonomy, Richards reasoned that for it to be granted, the culture of the Parliament must change.

“We have to go into the Parliament and institute a new system of representation.”

Trim, another first-timer in the election race, said he was grateful for the opportunity and looked forward to the outcome.

He said he would bring to his candidacy a wealth of skills and experiences pertaining to the many jobs he had done, including his volunteer work with Environment Tobago, two village councils, the Yahweh Foundation among others.

Trim said he had also done projects with the United Nations, the Forestry Department and primary and secondary school students.

He said he would be a servant leader if selected as the candidate for Tobago East.

As the only female nominee in the line-up, Second said, if selected, she would look at the prevailing “socio-economic gaps” which were affecting Tobagonians.

“I want to also reflect a policy-maker who cares about the people, advancing the actual grassroots’ vision and desire to improve. I want to connect with the people and help them to get closer to delivery on policies.”

Second said she loved politics.

“I love the balance of power, power relations, helping persons to understand their own individual power positions and I am a relentless pursuer of justice.”