London: Jack Was Cheating

Ashworth Jack at the THA Debate 2013

The conversation of the controversial issue surrounding Ashworth Jack's possession of "Notes" for the historic political debate in the THA elections 2013 continues to surface at political campaigns. yesterday at the massive meeting in Roxborough Orville London, Leader of  the PNM Tobago Council and member for Scarborough/Calder accused Jack of being a cheater. 

London stated that the rules were that none of the leaders would walk with Notes. However, he was taken aback at how Ashworth Jack was able to quote Central Statistical Data off his head. "All schoolchildren understand, you come to exam, you cannot carry notes into exam, but they don't care," he said. He continued saying that Hochoy, knowing that kind of man Ashworth to be, looked around his head and saw the green paper on  Ashworth Jack's desk. Stating that for someone who is aspiring for the highest office, he came to the Debate and expected to cheat his way through. 

This morning Hochoy Charles corroborated London's account of the incident on a program on 91.9 FM. Stating that Ashworth Jack indeed had "green paper" on his desk which he eventually put away in his jacket pocket after the call was made for no notes. 

Ashworth was giving names at the PNM campaign as Thief Secretary and Cheat Secretary. 

Election Debate at Magdalena Grand Tomorrow

Economist Dr Ronald Ramkissoon will act as facilitator during tomorrow's Tobago House of Assembly election debate at Magdalena Grand Hotel, Lowlands, Tobago.

Former head of Trinidad and Tobago Transparency International Victor Hart and economist Hayden Blades are the two questioners chosen to pose questions to the participants drawn from the three participating parties. It begins at 8 p.m.

In a media update yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission announced that it received confirmation from all three political parties--People's National Movement (Tobago Council), the Tobago Organisation of the People and The Platform of Truth.

Though the idea of the debate was made public early in December, there was no consensus on the moderators until just before 7 p.m yesterday evening.

Chief executive officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce Catherine Kumar, who is also the project manager for the debate, said 15 names had already been proposed and rejected by the three parties participating in the Tobago House of Assembly election on January 21 before the final names were decided.

Hart, in a telephone interview, was already preparing for today's debate rehearsal set for 5 pm.

"I have given my consent to put my name forward to the debates. I am optimistic that the debate will come off. I am getting myself ready. I heard my name was one of three that will be featured if the debate goes on as expected," he said.

Blades said he was told that his name was nominated.

"I was approached, but I understand that all the parties are yet to agree on the moderator or moderators," he said.

"There is a lot of preparation to put in place. There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, it's very volatile."

Blades said the Chamber launched the idea for the debate early last month and was still unable to confirm moderators more than three weeks later.

"It is reflective of the nature of politics but people have to put their cards on the table. There is no plausible reason that the parties, if genuinely interested, could not come to an agreement. It is disconcerting," he said.

In a telephone interview, Tobago Organisation of the People leader Ashworth Jack confirmed that those two names were proposed to him and he agreed to both.

Reproduced from Trinidadexpress.

Tobago political parties to have special debate

The Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission (TTDC) will host a special debate for the political leaders of the parties in the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections, Carlos Dillon, member of the local organising committee for Tobago said at a media launch in the Lowlands Mall on Monday.

"The people of Tobago would be able to have a better understanding of the goals and purposes of the political leaders running for the Tobago House of Assembly elections, he stated and it will allow Tobagonians to make a more informed decision on the day of the elections," Dillon said.

There will be only one debate with the four political leaders due to time constraints. This would be broadcast live on all television  and radio stations, at 8 p.m. on January 10, 2013, explained Catherine Kumar, CEO of TTDC.

Taking part in the debate are the People's National Movement (PNM), Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), The Platform of Truth (TPT) and the Movement for Development and Democracy (MDD).

The Tobagonians on the local organising committee which is planning and organising the debate are Carlos Dillon, Anne-Marie de Gazon, George Leacock and Janet Parks. Moderator for the debate will also be a Tobagonian.

The TTDC is in the process of planning a series of debates for the upcoming local government elections and they are hoping this can continue for all future elections.

Reproduced from Trindad express