Hochoy on mission to remove PNM

At 61 the veteran who remains a colourful figure in Tobago politics insists he is the only man capable of winning Tobago’s freedom from Trinidad. He boasts that his education in the “school of hard knocks” has fully equipped him for the job.

Charles has served as an elected member of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in various positions, including Chief Secretary and Minority Leader. Before that, he was a teacher, having come through the monitor system in 1964, some 18 years after his birth on August 1, 1946.

“I was ten years old and in seventh standard!” he proudly recalled.

Currently he is the political leader of the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) and Minority Councillor in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). As the candidate for the newly formed Tobago United Front/Democratic Action Congress (TUF/DAC) Alliance, he will come up against the PNM’s Rennie Dumas, Hewlett Waldron of the Congress Of the People (COP), Natasha Second of the Democratic National Assembly (DNA), and independent candidate Arlington Alexander on November 5.

The PNM has retained this seat for the past two parliamentary terms but Charles believes he is in with a chance once the people “understand the issues.”

Charles was elected as an Assemblyman for Mason Hall/Golden Lane in the inaugural THA election along with seven of his DAC colleagues. The PNM with four members formed the minority. Charles served for two terms - 1980-84/1984-88. He did not seek re-election in 1988.

Charles was again on the NAR’s winning team in the 1992 THA Election. He become THA’s first Chief Secretary.

In the 2001 THA Election the PNM won and Charles moved from Chief Secretary to Minority Leader. Charles claims that the PNM control of Tobago spells disaster for the island. He is hoping that the party will be swept out of power in next week’s election.