The polls have closed and ballots are now being counted, as voting in the 2026 Tobago House of Assembly elections came to an end at 6pm.
Forty-two candidates representing four political parties are now awaiting the outcome.
TTT News spoke with candidates across Tobago West, all of whom reported a smooth and seamless voting process.
Several candidates turned out early on Monday to cast their ballots. Among them was a newcomer to electoral politics, Ricky Joefield.
Mr. Joefield is contesting the Darrel Spring/Whim seat, which was the only constituency held by the People’s National Movement over the past four years. Speaking with TTT News, he described Monday as one of the most relaxing days following an intense campaign period.
“I just wanted to come and vote early and actually spend the rest of the day with my family, relax, get my mind down because it was a hectic couple of weeks. I actually feel confident in my chances and I feel relaxed now.”
One of his contenders, the People’s National Movement’s Kelvon Morris, voted less than twenty minutes later at the Whim Anglican Primary School. Mr. Morris reflected on the campaign period.
“We’ve done the work, I’ve done the work and therefore I am quite confident about the outcome but ultimately democracy will prevail. We saw some minor incidents but for the most part it has been an incident-free campaign. The parties have, you would have seen, brought a lot of candidates together and when we come together we always express pleasantries and therefore this is the Tobago I know.”
Meanwhile, in the Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant district, there was a display of Tobago unity as the TPP’s candidate Keigon Denoon and the PNM’s Ancil Dennis embraced before casting their votes. Both candidates reported a smooth voting process.
Mr. Denoon, commenting on the interaction with his former Political Leader, said the two remain friends.
“Mr. Dennis and I are cordial. There’s no animosity between us and that is going to continue both in and out of election season. Both of us are from the community and both of us want the advancement of the community and so, in and out of elections, we are going to be good friends. That is not going to change and politics isn’t going to divide us.”
Mr. Dennis noted that individuals are free to exercise their democratic rights and said he harbours no ill feelings toward Mr. Denoon, who previously served as the PNM’s Tobago West Chairman before crossing the floor in December.
“All of us have to live here after today so I hold no animosity towards anyone. As I have been saying during the campaign, adults are free to make whatever decisions they choose to make so I intend to remain cordial with everybody.”
The Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant constituency has the highest number of candidates, with four vying for the seat. Unity of the People’s candidate Nickocy Phillips is making a third attempt at being elected. He said the voting process showed significant improvements by the Elections and Boundaries Commission and added that he is willing to work with the island’s leadership regardless of the outcome.
“Whatever the results are, I have always come to accept the results and moving on and together I believe we all should be able to work together because it is not about a party. It should be about going forward and moving Tobago forward.”
Both TPP and PNM representatives reported minor issues concerning the placement of their tents near polling stations, but said the matters were quickly resolved.