Leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Ashworth Jack is denying he sold out Tobago for $15 million.
Speaking on a joint unity platform in Fyzabad on Wednesday night, Jack said because of the fear of success of the coalition, allegations were being made to discredit his party. "What foolishness, who could sell Tobago for $15 million," he said, explaining he looked in his bank account before coming to the meeting and that sum was not credited to him. "I will lay down my life for you. I will never sell Tobago to anyone," Jack said. He said he had instructed his attorney to take legal actions against those who were spreading those rumours.
"I feel we must put an end to matters like these," he said, adding that the job of one of the two TOP candidates had been threatened. Jack also placed his signature on the People's Partnership agreement that would see five parties coming together to contest the May 24 general election. Jack spoke about the hardship Tobagonians faced to access services. He said, an entire generation of Tobago children were growing up without a library, which was destroyed by the 1997 earthquake and never rebuilt.
Jack said the controversial Scarborough Hospital, which was scheduled to cost $150 million, but was now costing $500 million, was yet to be completed. He added: "If you have a broken leg in Tobago, they have to spend $60,000 to fly you by helicopter to Trinidad." He said dirty linen from the Tobago hospital also has to be transported to Trinidad to be laundered. He said 90 per cent of the lands on that island has no clear title. "The PNM has done nothing to ensure people can pass the land titles to their children and grandchildren," he said.
