Rowley to focus on Tobago Bill at PNM rally

“It is a travesty for the people,” he told Sunday Newsday.

“The autonomy issue is a travesty legislation so significant to Trinidad and Tobago that it should not be debated in a highly-charged political environment and we (PNM) take serious offence to that.”

Khan said PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley will raise the issue during his address today at the party’s rally to officially present its candidates for the upcoming THA election at the Scarborough Market Square, Tobago.

The legislation is expected to be laid in the House of Representatives tomorrow.

However, Khan insisted that the bill had far-reaching consequences for the twin-island republic and should not be rushed in the Parliament. The bill is not expected to be passed before the election.

“It deals with the future of the unitary state and the direction the country should be heading. There are contrasting views on the legislation and it should not be seen as a partisan political matter. We hope that the Tobagonians reject that (bill) outright,” he said.

Khan said Rowley, who will be the sole PNM speaker from Trinidad at today’s rally, will also highlight the achievements of the Orville London-led THA during the past 12 years. London is also expected to be one of the main speakers.

The PNM chairman predicted that the “massive” event will attract eight to ten thousand supporters.

Asked why the party felt the need to stage another rally to present its candidates, Khan explained: “At the last convention at the Buccoo Integrated Complex, the party simply adopted the selection of candidates at the convention on December 9 via the Tobago Council. But this (today’s rally) will be the official presentation.”

Khan said Rowley has been very busy fine-tuning the party’s itinerary for the events on the island in the run up to the eagerly-anticipated poll. Rowley could not be reached for comment as calls to his cellular phone went unanswered yesterday.

Of Rowley’s role in the election, Khan said: “He is the leader in the PNM and he has to lead the party, especially where an election is involved. He has an ultimate responsibility for elections and so he has to play a role. He will be spending most of his time in Tobago between now and the election.”

Khan advised Tobagonians: “Rally with the PNM.”

Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad yesterday said it was difficult to predict a winner in the election at this time.

“There is no clear-cut outcome at this time. Tobago’s dynamics are very different from Trinidad. One has to understand the demographics and the ethnic distribution. Whereas Trinidad has a mixed demographic, Tobago is largely afro-based,” she said.

Rampersad noted, too, that while the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) had contested the 2009 THA election on its own merit, the party was now part of the Partnership coalition Government and may face new challenges within that context.

“But it is not an election between the PNM and the PP but the PNM and the TOP,” she said.

“The question is to what extent will the TOP, being part of the PP, impact on the results.”

Rampersad, lecturer in political science and international relations at the Department of Behavioural Sciences at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, said there was also the view that some Tobagonians were fed up of the London administration and saw TOP leader Ashworth Jack as a fresh, dynamic face for the THA.

Rampersad said the party which pumps greater resources into the election will definitely have an edge.

The TOP held its presentation of candidates last Sunday at Old Market Square, Tobago.