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. 

London: I Will Resign As Chief Secretary, If Jack Warner Brings Evidence.

People's National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council Political Leader Orville London said he is prepared to resign his post if the allegations made against him by United National Congress (UNC) chairman Jack Warner turn out to be true.  

Last Thursday Warner, addressing Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) supporters at the Cyd Gray Stadium in Roxborough, Tobago said the THA Chief Secretary was the owner of a gas station and seven houses. There were also accusations of financial mismanagement and secret PNM deals.

Addressing a crowd of supporters in Delaford Friday night, London challenged Warner on the statements.

"If Jack Warner could bring a shred of evidence to show Orville London owns a gas station or that Orville London owns seven houses I will resign as Chief Secretary immediately and withdraw from the election. But I am saying to Jack Warner, if you cannot prove that, and you come to Tobago and tell that to the people of Tobago, you are not fit to be a public official and you should resign," London said.

"If I have lands then it must be recorded somewhere. If I own a gas station then somebody must know. So I repeat to you Jack Warner and Ashworth Jack if you hearing, carry the message, tell him I am prepared to resign in the morning if he brings the evidence but on the other hand, if it is proven that he has come here to deliberately mislead Tobagonians then he should step down," London said.

London said his fellow PNM officials did not mess with public funds, and one of the things people could say about him was that he did not mess with public funds and if he knew anyone who was doing so, he would get rid of them .

He said since the leader of the TOP cannot be Chief Secretary, his opponents are trying to bring the office of the Chief Secretary down to the level of their leader Ashworth Jack.

London said one of the tragedies of the union between the UNC and the TOP was that the TOP was bringing the bad habits of the UNC to Tobago.

Today the PNM will hold its second round of presentation of candidates at Market Square around 3.30 p.m.

Reproduced from Trinidadexpress

Will Tobago bill pass before THA polls?

THERE is uncertainty as to whether the Tobago Bill 2012 will be passed through both Houses of Parliament ahead of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections on January 21. The bill is designed to provide internal self governance for Tobago.

Government Chief Whip in the House, Dr Roodal Moonilal, yesterday said the bill will be laid on January 7, the first sitting of the House of Representatives for 2013. Moonilal added that Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, will pilot the bill. 

He explained the bill will not be debated in the House until January 16, because Government wanted to “give the Opposition enough time to study the bill.” Asked when the Senate will sit to debate and pass the bill, Moonilal initially indicated “it may be the next week.” When asked if this meant the bill would be debated by the Senate after January 21, Moonilal replied: “It may be before (January 21).” However he was unable to indicate when the Senate sitting might be held. 

For the bill to pass before the THA elections, the Senate will need to sit sometime between January 17 and 20. 

At the launch of the Tobago Organisation of the People’s THA election campaign at Tambrin Square, Scarborough, on December 30 last, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the bill would be laid in Parliament on January 7 and debated on January 16. She did not indicate at that time, whether the debate would take place in the House, or the Senate. The bill requires a two-thirds majority for passage in both Houses of Parliament (27 votes in the House and 21 votes in the Senate). 

Government has the 27 votes it needs in the House to pass the bill since it has 29 elected MPs. 

However, the Government has only 15 members in the Senate, and will need to get support from either the six Opposition senators, or the nine Independent senators to get the 21 votes needed to pass the bill. 

When the House sits on January 7, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley will ask Moonilal, who is also Housing Minister, and Finance Minister Larry Howai to answer questions whether government ministers, or officials who have housing units at Federation Villas have received any housing allowance in the State offices that they hold. 

The main item of business on the House’s agenda next Monday will be to debate a motion seeking exemption from Import Duties of Customs for certain items.

Reproduced from Newsday

First-timers get ready to battle

Tomorrow is Nomination Day in Tobago, and it is expected that more than 24 candidates will file their nomination papers in the lead-up to the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.

In just three weeks, the two leading contenders for the battle to govern Tobago's affairs for the next four years —the incumbent People's National Movement (PNM) deputy political leader Orville London and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), led by Minority Leader Ashworth Jack—will know their fate.

The Sunday Express was unable to contact Hochoy Charles, of the Platform for Truth, to determine how many candidates he will be fielding for the election.

Charles was chief secretary of the THA under the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) government.

Tomorrow, the returning officer will examine all nomination papers presented by the candidates and having found them to be valid, will accept their deposit of $2,000 and officially declare their candidacy for the electoral district, according to the Elections and Boundaries Commission's (EBC) website.

PNM incumbent London said last week, "All candidates are ready; we are going to be ramping our campaign of two public meetings per day from January 3.

Yesterday, it was learnt that both political parties were getting ready to roll out a massive marketing and advertising campaign, including the use of social media.

Reports also indicated some novel advertising gimmicks are being used, such as the contracting of a number of vehicles, draped in TOP colours and parked at strategic public places to ensure maximum visual impact.

Word on the ground in Tobago indicated as well that TOP candidates were given individual budgets upward of $80,000 to spend in their districts.

The Sunday Express was however unable to reach the TOP's leader to confirm this report.

The TOP party will field 12 candidates in its bid for control of the THA.

At present, the TOP controls three of the 12 seats in the THA: Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah; Goodwood/Belle Garden and Canaan/Bon Accord.

Outside of the current TOP members in the Assembly—all of whom have agreed to recontest—the new faces in the line-up for the upcoming poll will include:

• Fitzherbert Taylor

(Parlatuvier/L'anse Fourmi/ Charlotteville)

• Anslem Richards (Roxborough/Delaford)

• Pastor Chester Robinson Alleyne

(Lambeau/Signal Hill)

• Sherry-Ann Rollocks-Hackett

(Bethel/Mt Irvine)

• Theodil Mc-Pherson (Black Rock/Whim)

• Anthony Arnold (Scarborough/Calder Hall)

• Richard Alfred (Buccoo/Mt Pleasant)

• Certica Williams-Orr

(Plymouth/Golden Lane)

• Gladstone Solomon (Bacolet/Mt St George)

THA's Chief Secretary London and incumbent Assemblyman for Scarborough/Calder Hall is one of five PNM incumbents who will be seeking to retain their seats in this election

London is again being challenged by attorney Anthony Arnold of the TOP, whom he defeated by a narrow margin in the last (2009) THA election.

The other incumbents include:

• Claudia Groome-Duke, Secretary of Health/Social Services, who will come up against the TOP's Theodil McPherson in her bid to retain the Black Rock/ Whim/ Spring Garden seat

• Tracey Davidson-Celestine, Secretary of Community Development/Culture and Assemblywoman for Parlatuvier/L'Anse Fourmi/Speyside, who is also again being challenged by the TOP's Fitzherbert Taylor, who lost to her by a slim margin in 2009

• Deputy Chief Secretary/ Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Hilton Sandy (Roxborough/Delaford), who will contend with a relative newcomer to active politics, Anslem Richards, of the TOP

• Secretary of Housing/ Settlements Godwin Adams (Plymouth/ Golden Lane), who is being challenged by Certica Williams-Orr (TOP).

The PNM will be fielding three political newcomers against TOP candidates who are also first-timers in two of the three districts. They are:

• Jomo Pitt (PNM) against Pastor Chester Robinson-Alleyne (TOP) for the Lambeau/Signal Hill district

• Pastor Handel Beckles (PNM), up against secondary school principal Sherry Anne Rollocks-Hackett (TOP)—Bethel/ Mt Irvine.

While in the Buccoo/Mt Pleasant district, regarded as a PNM traditional stronghold, the party is being represented by bank employee Ancil Dennis, who is making his debut in the political arena up against Richard Alfred of the TOP, a former assemblyman under the NAR.

Other PNM candidates include Joel Jack, who will contest the TOP's Gladstone Solomon, both newcomers, for the Bacolet/Mt St George seat, currently held by the TOP, where the incumbent Orville Jordan chose not to seek re-election.

Other first-timers for the PNM include

• Sheldon Cunningham against TOP leader/THA Minority Leader and incumbent Assemblyman Ashworth Jack for the Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah seat

• Councillor Huey Cadette, incumbent Assistant Secretary in the Division of Education/Youth Affairs/Sport, who comes up against incumbent TOP Assemblyman Rolly Quaccoo.

The PNM's Hayden Spencer takes on TOP Assemblyman Steve Jack for the Belle Garden/ Goodwood seat.

reproduced from Trinidadexpress.