As a Trinidadian resident in Tobago and who is ready to apply for Tobago citizenship if so required, I wish to sincerely congratulate the people of Tobago on their clear and unequivocal statement that Tobago is not for sale.
Much more than a Tobago PNM victory, Monday's election victory was a Tobago people victory. It was a clear and emphatic rejection by Tobago people of Trinidad UNC-style politics and governance. (The irrelevance of the COP is now as palpable as it is pathetic. It is disappointing and disheartening.)
The UNC spent millions and millions in Tobago and on national media in an attempt to buy the THA election. The UNC used state institutions, including the Parliament, government ministries, state enterprises and state agencies in an attempt to influence the outcome of the THA election. But the people of Tobago stood strong in defence of this other side of paradise.
We will now wait to see if the UNC-led coalition Government in Trinidad will continue to treat the THA, the duly elected Government in Tobago, with disrespect.
We will now wait to see if Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will continue to blatantly ignore the law of the land as contained in the 1996 THA Act, Section 31 of which states, "The Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary shall hold regular discussions with a view to formulating administrative and legislative mechanisms for the promotion of harmony in the affairs of Trinidad and Tobago."
In the meantime, my own prediction is that the UNC-led coalition Government will begin to use the minister of Tobago development as their new point man in Tobago now that the former minority leader no longer has any locus stand in Tobago politics, and that the UNC, in typical UNC-style politics, will push for the said minister to be made leader of the TOP.
JH Charles
Concordia
Tobago