Jack: My name, party sullied

Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack is warning his detractors that no weapon formed against him shall prosper. He said every tongue that rises against him shall be condemned. Jack was speaking at the TOP’s final rally at Market Square to party supporters in Tobago on Friday. In the last few days, Jack said, his name and that of his party had been sullied.

“They say I am not to be trusted because I ain’t file my Integrity in Public Life Act. I want to put that to rest.” Holding it in his hand, Jack waved a receipt from the Integrity Commission as proof that his integrity form was received by the commission which “they can do with it what they please.”

As the election drew closer, Jack said, Cepep workers were forced to wear red jersies or lose their jobs. Jack accused the PNM of using taxpayers’ money to fund their campaign. He said a magazine of the PNM’s achievements was being distributed by supporters in red jersies and not to THA members.

He noted that several hotels in Tobago were now up for sale due to financial constraints. Jack said Jamaica has boasted that they are poised to attract 1.3 million visitors this year, while the figure for Tobago was just 30,000. In a bid to boost tourism , Jack said, TOP asked the Government for a fund of $250 million to bail out hoteliers.

Jack said young men in Trinidad were building not $2 million but $15 million houses. “We making noise in Tobago if a house costing $2 million.” Jack promised to develop housing, education, infrastructure, tourism, and attract investment if TOP is elected. Meanwhile, a TOP master of ceremonies had to publicly apologise in front of the PM and Jack for making racist statements against the PNM on the platform.