The Tobago People’s Party (TPP) is expected to announce the confirmed candidates for the Tobago House of Assembly elections on Monday evening.
However, Political Leader Farley Augustine said additional nominees will be screened for two districts.
Mr. Augustine said that after three days of screening last week, a call was made for the TPP’s action groups and district councils to submit additional nominees for Mason Hall/Moriah and Buccoo/Mt Pleasant.
“When I leave here at some point during the day today, I would have to re-engage in screening because we do have about four or five additional nominees that came in from the two districts that we are reviewing, but certainly for those that are complete, you will know the names.”
Mr. Augustine explained that extended deliberations are not uncommon in the party’s process, as he referred to this year’s General Election. He said several factors can prompt the party’s Screening Committee to extend their deliberations on these districts.
“It could be because the contenders are very close in terms of the assessment and we want some more time. Two, it’s also about looking to see if there are additional options because at the end of the day we need to win all seats, so we’re not throwing away some or thinking we’re going to win some and leave some. We are going to be contesting all seats and want to be competitive in all areas. And thirdly, it is not an indictment on any one of the nominees because we have not in fact thrown away the nominees. We continue to review them.”
These seats were held by Ian Pollard and Sonny Craig, both of whom are hoping to contest the seat once again.
“In the Mason Hall area in particular I think the competition has been pretty contentious at points, and you could see it playing out in the public space, and so it is a perfect opportunity to pause to ask the community again if they are sure these are all the nominees that they have to throw out, review it, and then make a decision that we think will make the community happy. At the end of the day, they represent communities.”
Mr. Augustine assured that once the final selection is made, TPP followers will be pleased.
Meanwhile, the People’s National Movement announced twelve of their prospective candidates during their “Community Conversations” programme. Another is to be announced today, Monday. The Innovative Democratic Alliance is expected to announce their slate soon.