TPP closes screening for THA elections

A SMALL motorcade, music trucks, flag-waving supporters and a Dame Lorraine heralded Trevor James’ arrival for the final day of the Tobago People’s Party’s (TPP’s) screening exercise at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Tobago, on November 17.

The party’s screening of nominees began on November 13, a day after Chief Secretary Farley Augustine dissolved the assembly, paving the way for fresh THA elections. The elections must be held between January 12 and February 12.

On November 17, the screening committee, headed by Augustine, interviewed its last batch of nominees for the electoral districts of Scarborough/Mt Grace, Mt St George/Goodwood and Signal Hill/Patience Hill. The nominees were accompanied by their supporters, some more than others.

James, Arnel Keron Des Vignes and Gerad Sebro are vying to contest the Scarborough/Mt Grace area.

James, Secretary of the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development, was accompanied by his wife Sherra Carrington-James and children.

At one point he even danced with his wife before being screened.

He told reporters afterwards that his stewardship was beyond reproach.

“I don’t rank myself. I think the people have spoken and the people feel I am ten or plus-ten,” James said, adding he was confident of being re-selected.

He said sport will be among his main priorities.

“Our goal in the district is to build out a new sporting ecosystem. We have more or less completed Mt Grace and we move to Calder Hall and we will build a pavilion there and develop the field better, make sure the lights are repositioned and working properly and create an environment in Calder Hall for more training to take place and hopefully use Mt Grace as a game-day field.

“Calder Hall is not a standard size – Mt Grace is. And so we could centralise games into Mt Grace and use Calder Hall for what it really should be, a training field where several teams can come and train and when game-day comes, teams play the game at Mt Grace.”

James said he also intends to do more work on the Scarborough Development Plan.

“I think that remains the project that will move the island and the nation of Tobago forward. But there is an absolute need for us to find the necessary projects that would transform the island, that would create employment and development in the future. And I think the plan for Scarborough is perfect to do that.

“It allows us to import direct, to export, bring more tourists into Tobago. It allows us to move in and out of Scarborough faster. It allows us to present a capital that is more friendly, visual and inspires a new set of people coming to the island. I think that’s the project we should focus on.”

Earlier, Megan Morrison, who is hoping to retain the Goodwood/Mt St George seat, said she gave the committee a good account of her stewardship.

Morrison, one of six people vying to win the seat, said, “I was in my element. I think I did my best with what I had available to me. I spent most of my own resources in this period because, as a THA, we have not had the best of allocations to fund all the projects that we wanted to accomplish in our various districts and, as a result, I had to resort to writing to the private sector to support me in most of my initiatives, which were grand ones and they came off successfully.

“So as a result of that me putting myself and resources into this, I think I deserve another opportunity to represent the people of Mt St George/Goodwood.”

Morrison said her focus will be to complete the Goodwood Pavilion, widen Mt St George Village Street and repair the village’s community centre and playing field, among other initiatives.

Marlon Radgman promised to be an accessible representative. The heavy equipment operator vowed to tackle coastal erosion among his priorities.

Al Duke said sport will be his focus.

“There is a rich sporting heritage there. We await the completion of the (Goodwood) pavilion. Because of that, there are a lot of sporting disciplines that usually take place there that no longer takes place,” he said.

Duke believes the pavilion, when completed, can promote entrepreneurship and help in eradicating crime.

He claimed the area is crying out for proper representation.

Retired policeman Picton Henry plans to bridge the gap between the old and young.

“In so doing, there will be less fear from the elders about the youths getting into their space,” he said.

Henry, who claims to be the first person of Islamic faith in Tobago to enter politics, said he was grilled about his religion.

But he said his faith is rooted in service.

“Our motto (Islam) is Justice for All and I think I can deliver, especially in the social space.”

Henry said the area is plagued by unemployment and a lack of community activities.

“But I am sure I can fix that because I have been doing a lot of social work covertly since I retired eight years ago.”

Baptist Minister Brian Patrick vowed to keep quarterly meetings with residents.

“It is a bit large because of the geographical expanse but every two to three months we can have meetings with the different districts. It requires some sacrifice but we need to put in the hard work to represent persons and their needs,” he said.

Khrystal Lashley said she plans to tackle unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youths.

“I want to be have some sort of mentorship programme to assist these young people in doing something better for themselves and the community,” she said.

Lashley said “youth power” will be her focus, if chosen.

The list of the 15 successful nominees is expected to be revealed by the end of the week.