By Gail Alexander
December 07, 2021 – guardian.co.tt
A new day—Tobago has gone green.
A majority of Tobagonians opted for change yesterday when they elected the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) headed by Watson Duke and Farley Augustine to run their Tobago House of Assembly affairs until 2025.
Preliminary results indicated a PDP milestone with a majority of Tobago’s 15 seats – breaking People’s National Movement’s 21-year management of the THA.
“This is a Tobago dream come alive. We start a new day for Tobago, we wake up (this morning) resolved to change,” PDP deputy leader Augustine in an address to jubilant supporters at 10.45 pm.
Full Article : guardian.co.tt
Tobago opted for change, and the PDP has a clear mandate, says Rowley
Prime Minister and Political Leader of the Peoples National Movement Dr Keith Rowley this morning issued a statement in response to the party’s embarrassing and complete defeat at the polls in Tobago on Monday.
‘Tracy has fallen’
“TRACY has fallen!” shouted a woman as jubilation broke out among supporters last night at the Progressive Democratic Patriots’ (PDP) camp in Roxborough when it became clear that the party had wrested control of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in yesterday’s election.
GREEN SWEEP
The Tobago political map turned almost entirely green yesterday as the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) won upwards of 12 out of the 15 seats in the enlarged Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
PDP victory as THA deadlock broken with historic PNM defeat
The Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), a party birthed by its political leader Watson Duke in 2015, resoundingly won the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election on Monday. Duke, whose political influence started in 2014 as he held one-man meetings with a bullhorn under a dim streetlight, left Tobago – and the People’s National Movement – in a blackout.
Jearlean John: Tobago has shown the way in THA election
UNC deputy leader Senator Jearlean John said Tobago voters had shown the country the way ahead by wresting control of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) from the PNM in Monday’s election.
Farley: PDP not interested in secession
A People’s Democratic Patriots (PDP) administration has no interest in seeking to take Tobago out of the unitary state of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore secession is not on the cards.
NJAC congratulates PDP on victory
The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) congratulates the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) on its resounding victory in the just concluded Tobago House of Assembly Elections.
Allusions of the NAR win over the PNM 33-3, PDP 12-3.
“Tracy has fallen”.
That is the comment that summarizes what just happened.
This was a soft win for the PDP.. like winning a football match 1-0 based on an own goal.
That is why a failed leader ought to resign at first loss when the loss implicates the leader. Tracy became a factor for well known reasons. She ought to have resigned after the 6-6 result. Or should have been dumped. The same principle applies btw to KPB.
This was the petty politics of spite at play. The PDP also exploited it well..
Is it not very interesting that the three seats won by the PNM are the three newly created, gerrymandered, EBC/PNM cheating, conspiratorial seats.
PDP 14, PNM 1, according to EBC preliminary results
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pdp-14-pnm-1-according-to-ebc-preliminary-results-6.2.1424217.788a30661a
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE DECEMBER 6, 2021 THA ELECTIONS AND RECOUNTS IN TWO ELECTORAL DISTRICTS
The Elections and Boundaries Commission has received official requests for recounts in the electoral districts of Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant and Darrel Spring/Whim. The requests for recounts have been made by the People’s National Movement in the electoral district of Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant and by the Progressive Democratic Patriots for the electoral district of Darrel Spring/Whim.
The Preliminary Results show the Progressive Democratic Patriots winning the Tobago House of Assembly elections having captured fourteen of the fifteen electoral districts contested. The People’s National Movement won the Darrel Spring/Whim electoral district.
There was a voter turn-out of 57% as 29,273 votes were cast from an electorate of 51,383.
The breakdown of votes received by the political parties is as follows:
— The Progressive Democratic Patriots – 16,932
— The People’s National Movement – 11,943
— The Innovative Democratic Alliance – 295
— The Class Action Reform Movement – 0
— The Unity of the People – 6
The results of these recounts and its impact, if any on the Preliminary Results will be shared in a subsequent release.
Forty-five candidates, representing five political parties contested these elections, where for the first time, there were fifteen electoral districts in a Tobago House of Assembly Elections.
“Farley responded, “No. While Tobagonians are frustrated with the process of getting greater autonomy, and I think a lot of people misunderstood Mr Duke’s presentation way back in 2019. You know what Mr Duke was really saying was look, we have been begging for this autonomy maybe we should ask for independence and maybe we will finally get the autonomy.”—-Guardian.
What is Tobago contribution to the unitary state? We see this idea of wanting more from smaller or the lesser. It was manifested in the PP internal allocation of seats for the 2015 elections where Kamla was cornered by Caroline as negotiations started the with the CoP. It was a long drawn out process of internal demands as the lil party wanted more to punch above its weight. The result was devastating as time became the enemy of the PP. The PNM candidates were working the areas three and four times with no candidate on the ground from the PP. Caroline was no Dookeran. Dookeran would have given more for the good of all.
But as this party steps out on its role of controlling Tobago’s economy. The PNM will have to walk a political “tight rope”, simple reason they need those 2 Federal seats desperately if they want to win/steal the next election.
The dream of “full autonomy” should be pursued. Currently Tobago enjoys 4% of GDP for a population of 51,000 out of 1.3 million.
“For 78 per cent of the life of Trinidad and Tobago as a nation state, we (the PNM) have been chosen by you the people of Trinidad and Tobago to be the government.” The words of Fitzgerald Hinds.
Result: a failed state.
PNM back to 1 seat in THA
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) 14/1 election result in favour of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) was akin to a political earthquake, matching the physical ones which took place yesterday.
Tobagonians on PDP’s 14-1 victory: ‘PNM licks was booked’
The Progressive Democratic Patriots’s (PDP) historic 14-1 defeat of the People’s National Movement (PNM) in Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election may have surprised Trinis, but Tobagonians knew sweeping changes were on the horizon.
PM: Govt not going to ‘penalise’ Tobago for THA defeat
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday dismissed allegations that he would seek to penalise the residents of Tobago in light of the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) overwhelming 14—1 loss in Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
Hinds on THA 14-1 loss: ‘PNM a longstanding giant’
Even though the People’s National Movement (PNM) lost the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election on Monday, Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds said the party isn’t fazed by the loss.
THA deadlock solved, but covid crisis remains
THE ENTIRE country – regardless of political persuasion – can breathe a sigh of relief, given the clear outcome of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
Dennis: Tracy was unfairly targeted
Defeated People’s National Movement candidate for Buccoo/Mt Pleasant, outgoing Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis, has accepted the decision by residents of the area for change.
Nikoli Edwards: PDP win signals room for third parties in Trinidad and Tobago politics
Leader of the Progressive Party Nikoli Jean-Paul Edwards said the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) victory in Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections debunks the myth that there is no room for third parties in Trinidad and Tobago politics.
Political analysts differ on whether Tracy should resign
TWO political analysts offered different views on whether PNM Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine should resign, after she failed to lead her party to victory in two consecutive Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
Augustine says Duke must decide: PSA boss or THA secretary
Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) deputy leader has made it clear that his party’s leader cannot become a secretary in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) while still being president of the Public Services Association (PSA).
Duke: Reopening of Tobago beaches high on agenda
The re-opening of beaches in Tobago is one of the first items of business that a Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP)-dominated Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will address.
‘Despite all the PNM giveaways, Tobagonians made up their minds’
THE business community in Tobago is hoping that economic activity on the island will be boosted following the landslide victory of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) at the THA election on Monday night.