Former government senator Nathaniel Moore told three political leaders who formed One Tobago Voice they are not fit to lead the new party.
On Sunday, at the Rovanels Resort and Conference Room, Moore told Hochoy Charles of Platform of Truth, Christlyn Moore of Tobago Forwards and Ashworth Jack of Tobago Organisation of the People, they are “guilty” of displaying poor leadership qualities.
“You three people up there are among the people that have set us (Tobago) back here because of your style of leadership,” the former senator said.
Moore and fellow Tobagonian government senator Agnes Williams were fired by Basdoe Panday in 2000, for refusing to vote with the government on a bill relating to Tobago’s tourism.
On Sunday, Charles, Jack and Moore waded into this country’s past and present leaders.
Moore said she did not want to lead the new party but noted that combined, all three leaders have the experience to lead.
“Until Tobago gets serious about the question of leadership we are doomed...the three of us sitting here represent more than...close to 100 years of political experience,” Moore said.
Jack said many persons were asking who will lead the party.
“We understood that Tobago is bigger than any of the individuals here... (and)we need to put our differences aside and see Tobago as that goal, so must achieve together.”
Charles said Tobago suffers under the union with Trinidad.
“Politics is public service and it has to be done, but if good people don’t do it, it will be done by bad people...that is the problem with leadership,” he said.
Moore, a former parliamentarian, could take no more. He got up and walked to the microphone.
“Some of the same things you are saying about leadership apply to you, and you are guilty of the evils you have mentioned,” Moore said.
He said the three politicians do not have the population’s support.
“ What people must know is that among these leaders here each time they went for election since they started to lose, they losing worse and worse, so these are not the ones to be the leaders.”
Moore was shouted down by members. The meeting, which was coming to an end, ended abruptly after Moore’s comments.
Sunday’s party meeting was called to ratify the party’s constitution and formally announce the party’s name as ‘One Tobago Voice.’