Jack to Announce His Political Future next Tuesday

Ashworth Jack the leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) is expected to break his silence about his political future. Party sources have indicated that this would be done next week Tuesday. In a brief interview with the T&T Guardian last Wednesday, Jack confirmed he was still meeting with members of the TOP to discuss his future.

  

Ashworth Jack, Leader of the
Tobago Organisation of the People

Jack in his concession speech told the media that he took full responsibility for the TOP's defeat, adding that the party will assess where it went wrong and all decisions regarding his future role in the party and politics in general would be under consideration. He further stated that he would make a decision regarding his political future within 48 hours. To date more than a week later, there have been no public statement about his future as leader and about his political career. 

There have been many calls for Jack to step aside, with some saying his defeat was a clear sign the Tobago electorate had rejected his leadership and he should allow someone else to lead the party forward. However, there have been no public calls or statement from the TOP membership. 

Party sources said a meeting of various members took place on Wednesday, with the leader Jack admitting that various members and groups within the TOP had requested to meet with him and he had agreed. However, he indicated that he did not want to make any comment about the meetings only that he had already met with the TOP's Youth Group members and the Executive. 

On Monday the last of those meetings is expected to be held, after which TOP will hold a news conference on Tuesday, where Jack will address his political future.

Ash-Worth more than Nothing?

Ashworth Jack, Leader of the TOP
photo by O.J.Noel

More than forty eight hours have passed since the 'Red Wash' of the THA's election, and still no word from the dejected TOP Leader Ashworth Jack. Jack in his concession speech told the media that he took full responsibility for the TOP's defeat, adding that the party will assess where it went wrong and all decisions regarding his future role in the party and politics in general would be under consideration. He further stated that he would make a decision regarding his political future within 48 hours.

It is now five days after the humiliating defeat of the TOP by PNM, and by all means it might be a part of history that Ashworth Jack would probably like to forget as PNM made double history, claiming for the first time the seat of Providence/Mason hall/Moriah and dished out a 12-0 beating on their competitors. 

The silence of the former Minority Leader has been astoundingly deafening as he has failed once more to keep his word and provide a statement/s on his future. Perhaps he needs much more time to reflect on what went wrong, as he himself admitted shock over the results stating that he could not say offhand what the party did wrong. It should therefore be no wonder why he has taken more than 48 hours in his evaluation of the results and of his own political career.  One thing is sure, the party might be down but it isn't out, Jack may have to be dethroned, but his experience can only be invaluable to the party he founded. 

Worry not folks, Jack might still be in the pack, as a stalwart of politics it might be fitting to say Ash is worth more than nothing.