Vote for PNM, vote for survival

Addressing supporters at Broad Road, Moriah, London, the incumbent THA Chief Secretary whose administration is now the subject of an Integrity Commission and Ministry of Finance probe over a $320 million land deal, said the election was not about him but about the future of Tobagonians.

“The people of Tobago are getting the message that this battle transcends Orville London, the PNM, any political party, and any divisions among the people because they have come to realise it is a survival battle, it is a developmental battle,” he stated.

Having been in power for 12 years, London said the PNM remains the only choice for the island, dismissing their opponent the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), which has the two parliamentary seats of Tobago West and East, as part of the People’s Partnership coalition Government, but is making its bid to gain control of the THA and its 12 electoral districts for the first time.

“The people of Tobago are beginning to understand that over the next two months, all we have to do is to focus on convincing as many Tobagonians as possible, that the only choice they have on the January 21 is to vote for the PNM because voting for the PNM means voting for the survival, the development and the future of Tobago and Tobagonians,” he stressed.

London did not address the current scrutiny of the multi-million dollar administrative complex deal with the family-run businesses of former PNM government Minister John Rahael, but instead focused on the Section 34 controversy, which he accused TOP of attempting to keep out of the THA election campaign by saying it is not a Tobago issue.

“Section 34 sends a very clear signal that the Government is in the hands of individuals who do not care about us as a people and we (who are) in charge of the affairs of Tobago,” London said. Section 34, a clause of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act which declared the courts must free accused persons whose alleged offences occurred more than ten years ago, was proclaimed in August but has been repealed and St Joseph MP Herbert Volney was fired as Justice Minister over the issue.

However, the PNM and other opposition forces continue to call for more action on Section 34, and recently held a march in Trinidad to press for the firing of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Jack Warner.

London told PNM supporters the matter sent “a clear signal” that there are persons who were prepared to use the Parliament, the Office of the President and the Cabinet to obstruct justice.

“When you have a Government that does not respect the Parliament, the Presidency, the Cabinet, do not expect them to respect you as Tobagonians,” London said, as he hit out at TOP, which held a public meeting at the same spot in Moriah on November 4.

TOP, London said, was also demonstrating disrespect in its THA election campaign claiming its focus was on denigrating people and assassinating their character. In contrast, he said the PNM platform remains focused on the issues, information, the truth, honesty and treats Tobagonians as decent, dignified individuals who would only relate to decent, dignified leadership and dignified representation.

In reference to other national issues critical to Tobago’s governance, London said the PNM-controlled THA gave TOP on numerous occasions, the opportunity to stand up for Tobago.

“They backed out on the senior citizens, the fishermen, insults to the Assembly, the second Carnival, the local public health assistance board and many others,” London said, referring to matters which the THA had quarrels over with Central Government. Despite that, the THA, he said will not be bullied, bribed or forced into doing anything that is inimical to the development of the people of Tobago.