Youth, crime, food high on TOP’s agenda

The PNM has mounted a campaign of racism and victimisation against those who do not support the party, Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) candidate Dr Anselm Richards said. Richards is contesting the Roxborough/Delaford seat held by Tobago House of Assembly (THA) assemblyman Hilton Sandy in the January 21 THA elections. Sandy shot into the political limelight for saying there is a ship anchored in Calcutta waiting to come to Tobago and take over the island.

Richards told party supporters at a TOP political meeting in Glamorgan in Tobago East on Saturday night that the PNM’s racist campaign in Tobago began 12 years ago. He said he is not afraid of Sandy. “There is a God, eh. This morning I read Psalm 49.” A supporter shouted, “Read it upside down.”

Richards continued: “The God I serve is a living God. Me ain’t ‘fraid Hilton “Calcutta” Sandy. He has exposed himself as the most racist politician to walk Tobago. “We must never allow racism to take root in our politics,” Richards said. Sandy reportedly threatened to sue Richards over criticisms of his Calcutta statement.

Rechristening Sandy as “Hilton ‘SS Calcutta’ Sandy”, Richards said the statement had branded the THA assemblyman for life. Clearing the air on the contents of the Government’s billon self-government plan for Tobago, Richards said there will be three main areas. “There will be a Tobago list, a concurrence list and a national list.

“The national list will be the domain of the national government, which will have full responsibility for matters that affect Tobago and Trinidad. “The concurrence list will have matters in which there will be concurrence between the two islands. “And the Tobago list will have matters for which the assembly will have full executive powers.”

Richards said last Thursday night’s THA election debate involving the political leaders of the three main parties contesting the election, was won by TOP leader Ashworth Jack. “They say we Americanising we politics. “Our leader went down to Magdalena and destroy Orville and Hochoy one go.” TOP Glamorgan candidate Steve Jack claimed a supporter was fired last week for wearing a yellow jersey to work.

“The PNM is victimising left, right and centre. Don’t let the PNM scare you.” More than half of the island’s working force is reportedly employed by the THA. Jack accused the THA of more than $1 billion in cost overruns on several projects on the island, some still incomplete. They include the Scarborough Hospital, the Financial Complex, the Scarborough Library and the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.

TOP Bacolet/Mt St George candidate Glasgow Solomon said the TOP’s major plans for Tobago as outlined in its manifesto include:

• A youth policy. Its aim is to make the whole of Tobago a youth-friendly space
• A crime policy
• A food security policy
• A land distribution policy tied in to the food security plan
• A housing policy enabling Tobagonians to access land and build their own houses
• A policy to develop the fishing industry on the island