NAR studies post-election alliance

THE National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) may consider a post-election alliance with the Democratic Action Congress (DAC), depending on the outcome of the January 17 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections. This was the word yesterday from NAR Tobago chairman Christo Gift who also said it was not a foregone conclusion that NAR supporters would back DAC candidates in constituencies where the party has no candidates. The NAR is fielding candidates only in the Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah and Belle Garden/Goodwood districts. The ruling PNM and the DAC are fielding candidates in all 12 electoral districts in Tobago.

Gift told Newsday there was little chance of an NAR-DAC alliance before the January 17 polls, but the NAR would not rule out the possibility of such an alliance in the post-election period, depending on the outcome because there are “many permutations.” However, he added that the NAR would have to be mindful of “the deceit and betrayal” which saw its former political leader Cecil Caruth jumping ship and joining the DAC. According to Gift, the DAC’s objective in seeking an alliance with the NAR “was never about unity” but the sole survival of the DAC as the only opposition party in Tobago.

He said the fact that the DAC is fielding a full slate of candidates makes it impossible now for the NAR “to challenge for control of the Assembly.” Gift blamed the machinations of DAC leader Hochoy Charles and Caruth for creating this situation. Asked whether NAR supporters were likely to support DAC candidates in the remaining ten electoral districts, Gift said the party had taken no formal decision on the matter. However, he believed it would be “a hard sell” to NAR supporters to back any initiative advanced by the DAC, given  the present political circumstances in the sister isle.