TIME FOR REAL LEADERSHIP

Orville London, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Deputy Political Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), will have to rise to the occasion given to him by history and show real leadership in guiding the affairs of the THA following on his party’s 11-1 victory in Monday’s elections. Ashworth Jack, of the Democratic Action Congress (DAC), who defeated the PNM candidate, Rennison Quashie, for the Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah seat is the lone DAC member to win a seat. As an Opposition of one man his task is enormous for in a larger sense he represents  at the level of the Tobago House of Assembly all of the electorate who voted for the Democratic Action Congress.

Another (DAC) candidate, Orville Jordan, who lost the Bacolet/Mount St George seat to the PNM’s Cynthia Alfred, by two votes is expected to request a recount, and any reversal of the situation in this seat would give DAC two to the PNM’s ten. London’s position is close to that in which Dr Eric Williams, late Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, found himself when the PNM won all of the 36 seats in the House of Representatives in the 1971 General Election. It is reported that Williams “solved” this by encouraging two of his own PNM MPs, Roy Richardson, who became Leader of the Opposition, and Dr Horace Charles, to cross the floor, thereby “creating’’ an Opposition. Fortunately Mr London does not have to go this route as Mr Jack’s victory has saved the day for him.

A significant outcome of Monday’s election has been the virtual political eclipse of Hochoy Charles, Political Leader of the DAC, who lost by 186 votes to Godwyn Charles in a failed attempt to win the Plymouth/Golden Lane seat and led his party to a crushing defeat. Charles, who in his political heyday had been referred to as the “heavy roller” and had been, up to a little more than four years ago, Chief Secretary of the THA, had boasted that he would be returned to head the Assembly. Yesterday all he could say was that he would stay to fight another day. Another casualty has been that of the National Alliance for Reconstruction which until the Tobago House of Assembly was dissolved to make way for Monday’s election had formed the official Opposition in an eight (PNM) to four (NAR) Assembly.

Deserted by Charles (who had been its leader since the departure of former President Robinson), and Cecil Caruth its chairman, who also lost his seat, the NAR was only able to support two candiates on Monday both of whom were defeated. The NAR’s failure to put up twelve candidates was an admission of defeat before the first vote was cast. The final run up to the election saw the NAR publicly giving up the ghost and declaring its support for the PNM. An outcome of Monday’s poll is that it not only places the ruling People’s National Movement in an even more commanding position vis a vis the next General Election, constitutionally due in 2007, but it also strengthens Prime Minister and Political Leader of the PNM, Patrick Manning’s position within the party itself. London and the PNM will have to demonstrate real leadership as they now seek to take care of the welfare of all the people of Tobago.