Duke wants Tobago Police Department

The proposal is contained in the party’s 100-point plan which forms part of its Tobago Mandate, titled: A Better Tobago Through PDP THA Governance.

The PDP, led by President of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke, is one of four political parties contesting next Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election. The fledgling party is fielding 12 candidates in the poll.

Tobago has experienced several brutal murders over the years, involving both nationals and visitors to the island - a situation that continues to affect its once thriving tourism sector.

The PDP, in its Mandate, said it intended to pass an Assembly law or the formation of a Tobago Police Department, under the provision of the THA, for a more effective service to the island, especially given the increasing focus on tourism.

In tandem with the proposed establishment of the Tobago Police Department, the PDP said it also intends to reintroduce the Community Comfort Patrols “to work closely with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in all 12 electoral districts while the Tobago Police Department is being implemented.” Among other proposals contained in its 100-point plan, the PDP said it also intends to seek permanent employment status for people who have exceeded seven- year working arrangements in the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and contracted monthly paid workers.

Also in the plan is a proposal to develop what the party calls a Tobago Land Title Project.

The party said it hoped the agency would “engage the national Government for a solution to the longstanding problem of land titles and deeds for inherited Tobago lands.” Meanwhile, talk on the ground among many people in Tobago is that the PDP stands a fair chance of winning some of the electoral districts, particularly in Tobago East, where its political leader, Duke, was born.

The party held a public meeting in Goodwood on Saturday to present its 12 candidates and was expected to host a motorcade, yesterday, from Moriah to Charlotteville.