ANGELO JEDIDIAH
angelo.jedidiah@guardian.co.tt
Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) Watson Duke refuses to back down on calls for new elections, criticising members of the THA executive council for being on the “wrong side of the law.”
In an interview with Guardian Media on Saturday, Duke said that PNM Tobago and MP Shamfa Cudjoe's similar call for new elections means this is a reflection of the majority of Tobagonians.
“They did not vote for independents. Independents are beholden to no one. They are, in fact, independent of any single one. That is a treacherous thing to the democratic will of our people and will only wreak havoc,” Duke said.
As he calls for new elections, Duke pleads with people wishing to hold political office to be "serious with their role in governance."
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.
THA
According to former THA presiding officer Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, Duke’s call for members of the THA council to vacate their seats, holds no ground since the THA Act focuses on representatives, not political parties.
“There is no uncertainty there because the acts really deal with representatives. And I know he really speaks to where the acts are silent, but the acts aren’t silent. It speaks to representatives in the House. It doesn’t speak to party at all,” Tsoiafatt-Angus said.
According to Tsoiafatt-Angus, the current THA presiding officer Abby Taylor's “decision is easy” regarding the actions to be carried out.
“And while it may be a moral issue, and it is a large moral issue, it is not one that is illegal inside the legislation,” Tsoiafatt-Angus added.
But Duke remains firm in his calls for fresh THA elections, suggesting that it should be held in March 2023.
Former THA presding officer Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus.
According to Duke, he already has a “number of persons throughout the 14 districts” in Tobago who are interested in representing the party
“We’re already banging at the PDP doors asking for the opportunity to represent and disavowing any allegiance to those 13 misfits or what you call dissidents, political dissidents.”
Duke claims that Tobagonians continue to be ‘misled’ by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine concerning the THA’s legislations and the decisions which former THA members claim led to their resignation.
“We are grossly misled by a man who is highly uneducated, but familiar with politics. And if they continue going down that road, they will understand that miseducation or under-education is very expensive also,” Duke said.
“They will end up on the wrong side of the law, committing acts that are illegal. Because as far as the law states right now, they should all vacate those seats.”