Forty-two candidates hoping to secure seats in the January 12th Tobago House of Assembly elections made it official on Friday as they filed their nomination papers at the offices of Returning Officers in Tobago East and West.
The Tobago People’s Party started the action in Tobago East as three of their candidates filed their nomination papers at the Glamorgan Multi-purpose Facility including their Political Leader Farley Augustine. They were accompanied by other candidates and a cultural procession, in less than an hour, the trio returned and reported it was smooth sailing.
Mr. Augustine shared that their candidates who are new to electoral politics were assigned with experienced campaign managers and election agents. This is the first time the Tobago People’s Party will be contesting the THA elections as in 2021 they were under the banner of the Progressive Democratic Patriots. The TPP’s Team conducted their nomination and processions simultaneously in Tobago East and West to allow for a faster flow of activities. As the TPP left and made their way to the Calder Hall Multi-purpose Facility, trickles of red appeared as the People’s National Movement’s Shonae John, Carl Mc Eween and Maxslon Roberts appeared to file their nomination papers.
Over at Calder Hall, three of the eleven Innovative Democratic Patriots filed their papers, including the party’s political leader Dr. Denise Tsoi-a-fatt Angus. Speaking to her party’s decision to put forward only eleven candidates, Dr. Angus highlighted the IDA was being generous. The Innovative Democratic Alliance’s candidates say their decision to throw their hats into the political ring was a call made by Tobagonians. Speaking to the media after filing her nomination papers at the Calder Hall Multi-Purpose Facility candidate for Mason Hall North/Moriah Shelly-Ann Lewis said service to the people has been her life course. She said entering politics was a call made by her community. Another candidate Eliyyahu Ben Yisreal who hopes to represent Mason Hall South/Bagatelle said residents also encouraged him to enter politics.
Having completed the nomination process, candidates indicated they are returning to the communities where campaigning will intensify in the lead up to the January 12th Tobago House of Assembly elections.