Loyse Vincent
Deputy political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) Farley Augustine said he was unphased by rumours that members of the hierarchy of the People’s National Movement (PNM) are currently in Tobago attempting to entice one of the six successful PDP candidates to cross the floor and join the PNM.
He was speaking with Guardian Media exclusively after a news conference at the PDP’s Scarborough office on Milford Road.
“We have heard the rumours that the PNM in Trinidad is sending over bag men and women to Tobago to offer our candidates money to cross the floor, but we are not bothered by that.”
He did not say who specifically was being targeted but said he had confidence in the people selected.
“Human beings are human beings and people are people but I have confidence in my team notwithstanding that I go with faith that the team that was selected carefully by our screening committee were the best candidates for the job.”
He said he met with his representatives who have all agreed to put Tobago’s best interest first and he is confident that none of the people on his team will accept any offers.
“We have already began looking at a candidate for the position of Presiding Officer, somebody who the entire island will respect, and we will select our three councillors because we are ready for governance from day one and today is day one and we are already off the ground running with preparation for Thursday (swearing-in).”
In 1997 the PNM’s Dr Rupert Griffith and Dr Vincent Lasse, the elected representatives for Arima and La Brea respectively, crossed the floor to the United National Congress.
The PNM Tobago Council political leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine was unavailable for comment.