Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack suffered an embarrassing moment on Thursday night in front of thousands in a television viewing audience when he was accused of bringing prepared notes to the election debate. Platform of the Truth leader Hochoy Charles shocked viewers when, in the middle of the historic Tobago House of Assembly debate at the Magdalena Grand Hotel, Lambeau, Tobago, he accused Jack of having notes right from the start of the event.
He said Jack should have been disqualified. Jack later told the media he was only jotting notes during the debate and pointed out that they were given pens and paper. He admitted it was "sour thing." Asked if it was a violation and if there was a penalty, Catherine Kumar, president of the T&T Chamber of Commerce, told the media, "You were not supposed to bring written notes.
"You could have taken notes during the debate. We will ensure this gets into writing." The debate was a project of the chamber and was organised by the T&T Debates Commission. The idea behind it was to get politicians away from the bacchanal and picong of the campaign trail, a fixed part of T&T's political culture, into a controlled environment where they can speak on the issues affecting citizens.
The PNM's Orville London, chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Jack and Charles, the three main political leaders participating in the Tobago House of Assembly election on January 21, were invited to the debate. "I certainly think it was a successful start in our attempts to change the political culture," Kumar said.
She noted the political leaders were given only 60 seconds for rebuttals. "This did not allow the candidates to get into mauvais langue and picong," she said. There were questions on inflation, the environment, land ownership, infrastructural development, transparency in public life, tourism, housing and diversification.
Kumar said, "The population will have a clearer idea how the political leaders intend to deal with these various issues if they get into office."
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Andrew Sabga, of the Debates Commission, felt the debate was a total success. "I am very pleased with the outcome...I am very happy with the manner in which the candidates stayed within the time limit and allowed each other to make their points," he said. Sabga said it was the start of a great future in T&T's politics. "I expect many more great debates to come," he said.
Questioner Hayden Blades was equally delighted with the outcome. "I thought it went great. A precedent was set here tonight in strengthening our democracy. "We really have to do more of this as part of our political process. "It brings clarity to the relevant issues and provides the electorate with more informed choices to make better decisions."
Chief economist Ronald Ramkissoon controlled the timing of the debate with unbending precision. On several occasions, political leaders were cut off in the middle of statements when their allotted speaking time was up. Fr Clyde Harvey, one of those guests, said it was a very good start. "It showed people could be serious," he said.