History was created in Tobago this past week when the five-year-old Progressive Democratic Patriots trounced the country’s oldest party, the People’s National Movement, 14-1 in the Tobago House of Assembly elections.
No doubt, the PNM hierarchy would have been in shock at the result, but it put in perspective the mood in Tobago that the people wanted change and used their fingers to send a clear and resounding message they had had enough.
According to the EBC, there was a voter turnout of 57% as 29,273 votes were cast from an electorate of 51,383. Of the votes cast, the PDP got 16,932 to the PNM’s 11,943.
President Paula-Mae Weekes told the newly-installed Farley Augustine-led THA the vote meant they had an awesome responsibility to the people of Tobago, since they were “unequivocal, resolute and confident in deciding to whom they wish to give stewardship of their affair.” The President said this meant the people “have every right to expect that those stewards would be competent, trustworthy and ready, willing and able to put your shoulders to the plough.”
Many promises were made on the platform and President Weekes reminded Augustine’s Executive Council the people expect they will be kept. She noted too, the infrastructural, economical and health challenges that have severely hit the tourism industry and small businesses, adding to Tobagonians’ hardships.
It is indeed a huge responsibility for the new THA to steer the island out of the current rut and from tomorrow, they will be called upon to perform. A duly-elected THA has been installed, the key people appointed to divisions and all that’s left is for them to put their proverbial noses to the grindstone and work on the people’s business.
Her Excellency noted she had seen an “eagerness, hope and commitment,” in the new Assemblymen’s eyes during the inauguration, which she interpreted to be “an intention to enrich the lives of those who live and work in Tobago.”
In his victory speech, Augustine promised leadership different to that of the PNM. He has also indicated he intends to continue good programmes started by the PNM-led council, noting continuity contributes to better growth and development. This was a refreshing prospect, given that every time political power changes hands at the national level, projects of predecessors are stopped, with financial and other resources expended on them going to complete waste in some instances.
However, one of the first things Augustine, as Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy, will be doing is auditing the THA coffers. Once they get a true picture of the Assembly’s financial state, a clear way forward can be determined. We hope that if it’s required, the Central Government will ensure the THA gets additional financial assistance.
There is much to be done in Tobago. People are looking for the new THA to chart their course, not to secede but to give them new hope and greater autonomy - a key issue on the PDP platform. The PDP talked a good talk, now they need to walk the talk. Still, only time will tell if they had a genuine template for development and are truly committed to transparent, open and fair leadership for all Tobagonians.