The DAC attempt to hijack NAR in Tobago

THE EDITOR: It is time that the people of Tobago get the truth about the re-emergency of a group calling itself the DAC in Tobago. The interim chairman and the public relations officer of the group are telling us that the NAR in Tobago met and decided to change the name of the party back to DAC. This is far from the truth and this cannot happen. No one small group in Tobago can change the name of a political party with membership over the whole of Trinidad and Tobago with a head office in Trinidad, with a national executive meeting in Port-of-Spain and an autonomous arm in Tobago. The fact is that the man who is now interim leader of the DAC, since he became leader of the NAR in 1996, and while he was Chief Secretary of the THA functioned in such a way, that he was systematically destroying the stability of the NAR, alienating the confidence of his peers, and undermining his own credibility as a leader.

He was bent on operating a one-man show. In his own view, nobody else had a good idea or a sensible thought — everything was I...I...I. He listened only to himself. By the end of year 2000, not only had he lost the support of the majority of the party’s executive, both in Tobago and in Trinidad, but also the party had already lost the Tobago West seat. People both within and outside of the party, first quietly, then openly, begged him to step down from the leadership of the party for the party’s and his own benefit. This he refused to do. The Tobago executive, fearing the complete collapse of the party, moved a vote of no confidence in the leader, the chairman and the treasurer. The party membership agreed with the executive, and voted these officers out of office. It is subsequent to this action that Mr Charles and a handful of followers decided to resurrect the DAC.

Some people may question whether the executive was justified in moving against the leader and his close supporters, but note this: 1) The leader refused to nominate a deputy in accordance with the demands of the party’s constitution and the pleading of the membership. 2) The party received no financial report from the treasurer for years. Monies were solicited from the community for election efforts and no account was given of the amounts collected or the amounts spent in the effort. The executive could not get the treasurer to report. 3) Meeting of the executive and the Island Council were not called by the chair as required by the constitution. Action in the party was being shut down. These are the facts: the details are sordid but action had to be taken to restore the integrity of the party. I must state at this point, that the excuse about “NAR voting to change name to DAC” is a convenient diversion to find a way to move out with the property of the NAR. Public address systems, office furniture, records, books, bank accounts, all were carted away under this rule; and the perpetrators are to be ashamed of themselves, by trying to find an excuse for such blatant conversion of NAR property.

Finally for now, I want to draw attention to the fact that while results were being given for an election (I think it was in 2000 or 2001), one of Mr Charles’ close supporters was asked whether he did not consider that the election results should bring about some changes in the leadership of the NAR. The gentleman replied that if Mr Charles were removed from leadership of the NAR a new party would be formed in Tobago. This was the plan from early, so do not come now and try to fool the people. The easiest way to unite the opposition to the PNM in Tobago, is for the perpetrators of the ills done to the NAR to return to the NAR with all the property and resources of the party, and let us work together to free Tobago from the occupation of the PNM. The people are telling us that they are ready to support a move like this now!

NATHANIEL MOORE
Tobago