Hochoy Charles: Not the end of my career or death of the DAC

DAC Leader Hochoy Charles declared that Monday’s landslide victory by the PNM in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election does not mean the end of his political career or the death of the DAC. The PNM won 11 seats while the final seat of Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah was won by DAC Chairman Ashworth Jack. Speaking with Newsday following a meeting of party supporters at DAC headquarters in Scarborough yesterday, Charles said: “Politics is nothing personal to Hochoy Charles. I have nothing personal in elections. It’s a public issue and I offer myself to the population.”

Charles declined to say whether or not he would be willing to serve as an Opposition councillor in the THA, whose new members will be sworn in tomorrow by President George Maxwell Richards. As the lone Opposition representative, Jack will automatically become the new THA Minority Leader. “I am not saying that I will take a position on that one way or the other. That’s Mr Jack’s decision to make,” he stated. However, a source claimed that Charles’ appointment as a DAC councillor was all but assured.

Charles said while he was not aware of all the details concerning Monday’s election results, the party would be seeking a recount of votes in Bacolet/Mt St George, Bethel/Mt Irvine and Canaan/Bon Accord. He also said the DAC received reports that PNM activists had allegedly been distributing poll cards in some areas 48 hours before the election and had allegedly threatened persons to vote for the PNM. The DAC leader said he planned to write the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on these matters.

On the DAC’s future in Tobago’s politics, Charles said the party is a growing organisation “whether the name is an old one or not” and the only one which offers Tobagonians integrity and justice. Charles also claimed that the PNM had bought votes during the election. Asked whether the DAC had any evidence to back up these claims, Charles replied, “Well, we have work to do where those matters are concerned.” Jack agreed with Charles’ overall assessment of the election. He described his victory as “a bittersweet feeling” given the overall results, but said political parties do not have to be in government to make a difference in people’s lives. Jack dismissed suggestions that he and Charles would swap their party positions.