[Updated] Dennis: Talk to 'independent' THA reps ahead of launch of new party

PNM Tobago Council political leader Ancil Dennis is calling on the Farley Augustine-led independents, running the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), to do the the right thing, ahead of Tuesday's launch of a new political party.

Dennis urged Tobagonians to talk to their "independent" THA representatives, whom he claimed are acting without consultation.

A Facebook post on Monday said the Farley Augustine-led THA is set to launch a new political party on April 4 at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex from 5pm.

Secretary of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development Nathisha Charles-Pantin confirmed the launch at an event on Tuesday.

At a news conference on Wednesday at the PNM’s headquarters in Scarborough, Dennis reiterated his position that the upcoming launch, though not illegal, was undemocratic.

He noted since the Progressive Democratic Patriots' (PDP) landslide win over the PNM in the December 6, 2021, THA election, there will soon be a third administration leading the assembly without an election.

“So I want to make an appeal to the people of Tobago, whichever electoral district you may find yourself in, go out there and talk to your area representatives, because we have a way in Tobago where we like to keep quiet. We tend to wait for elections to let our voices be heard. And I am saying now is the time because this is unprecedented. This has never happened in the Tobago space before.”

Dennis said he is still researching whether such a development has occurred in any other part of the region to determine “where, without an election, three administrations pass through.

“One election held in December (2021) and the Tobago House of Assembly is on its third administration – PDP administration, independent administration and maybe by next month you might wake up to a new administration with a new name, a new symbol and a new colour.”

He said Tobagonians did not vote for this arrangement and as such, “must not be put through this kind of embarrassment, this kind of botching of our governance on this island for any much longer.”

Dennis said the development represents “a crisis on the island, a hodgepodge of our governmental arrangements.

“It represents a botching of this Tobago House of Assembly that all of us as Tobagonians have grown to respect and cherish, and this situation should not be allowed to continue.”

He continued, “I am saying to the people of Tobago and I am calling now even on the so-called independents, as they continue to be independents for now, to do the right thing by the people of Tobago because you know this is not right. You know it is undemocratic.”

Dennis also wondered if there was any consultation with Tobagonians about the issue.

“Because the Chief Secretary did indicate that their next move following their resignation from the PDP would have been to talk to the Tobago people and hear from the people of Tobago whether they want a political party or not.

“I have not seen or heard anything about any consultation. But the next time we hear from this team, as they call themselves, is that they are going to meet at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex to possibly launch a new political party.”

He urged Tobagonians to not be fooled by a new party name, symbol and colour.
Minority Leader Kelvon Morris and Minority councillor Petal Daniel-Benoit also spoke.