Tobago People's Party to interview election nominees on February 6

The Tobago People’s Party (TPP) is expected to choose its candidates for the Tobago East and West seats in this year’s general election, on February 6 at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.

On the Tobago Updates morning show on January 31, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine revealed that eight nominees had offered themselves as potential candidates to represent the constituencies.

He said Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James and retired public servant Barry Nelson were the only two nominees that came forward seeking to represent Tobago West.

Augustine added the nominees for Tobago East were TPP chairman Ann Natasha Second; retired Assistant Commissioner of Police William Nurse; retired deputy chief fire officer David Thomas; former THA assemblyman Max James; technical adviser, Division of Finance, Trade and the Economy Anslem Richards; and veteran tour guide William Trim.

Speaking to reporters on February 4 after addressing the launch of the Scotia RISE TT initiative for vulnerable communities at Blue Waters Inn, Speyside, Augustine said the process to select candidates for the upcoming general election was well on stream.

“Action groups have been meeting, action groups have been submitting their reports. I got the last of the reports today. It’s part of the screening process where we allow every action group from every electoral district to submit their preference and to also indicate even their rejections,” he said.

“On Thursday at 5pm, we go through the interview phase of the screening process, which is the final phase. That is happening at the Shaw Park Complex. That is where we will be housing our screening and thereafter an announcement will be made by me in terms of who the successful candidates are or if the decision was taken to send the action groups back to provide other options as candidates.”

Augustine, who is also the THA Chief Secretary and assemblyman for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside, said the screening committee has the power to reject one or all of the nominees.

“So it is not a given that because you were duly nominated that you or one of those nominated will become the candidate.”

The TPP, which was formally launched in Scarborough on August 13, 2023, has also signalled its intention to contest all 15 electoral districts in the THA elections, which is also constitutionally due this year.

The fledgling party held its maiden internal election on June 9 and Augustine was elected political leader.

The party was formed by members of the THA executive council after a public feud between Augustine and their former Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke in August 2022.

The feud occurred eight months after the PDP enjoyed an overwhelming 14-1 victory over the PNM in the December 2021 THA elections.