Give Tobago back to Tobagonians
By Elizabeth Williams (Express).
INDEPENDENT candidate in the upcoming general election, Public Services Association president Watson Duke, yesterday visited Goodwood, Tobago, to hear from residents what some of their concerns are.
Duke spoke with residents of the area.
“There are many clogged drains, there are many unemployed persons, there are many places that used to be fertile soil, now growing nothing. People are desperate and are looking out for some kind of leadership. Clearly Hayden Spencer has provided none. Therefore Watson Duke has stepped into the picture,” Duke said of himself.
He then commented on Tobago East representative Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, who won the seat on a Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) ticket in 2010.
“Well she is out of the race. Clearly she is out of the race.” Duke said he is planning ahead with an eye on seats in the 2017 Tobago House of Assembly elections.
He said Tobago must be placed back into the hands of Tobago. Residents in the area told the Express of clogged drains and a lack of jobs.
No proper representation
Public health worker Jerad Manswell called for proper representation.
“Our problem in Goodwood is that we are not getting proper representation from no minister at all. Tobago on the whole, we want a change in Tobago, we fed up,” Manswell said.
Another resident, Terry Lashley, said the necessary tools to work were lacking.
“I working Richmond playing field. We getting a lot of problem up there. We are not getting tools to work,” Lashley said.
Darrel Hercules is unemployed.
“I am 29 years old, well I live by my boys and them still watch my back. Now and again when Watson pass through he give me a little thing,” Hercules, alias ‘Fidel Castro', said.
The Express contacted People's National Movement (PNM) representative for Belle Garden/Goodwood, Hayden Spencer, on the residents' plight.
Spencer said the village of Goodwood has been fully represented with the implementation of projects and programmes.
“The THA cannot do everything at the same time. Some projects and programmes have been rolled out, however the workers of the various divisions need to ensure they work productively. It has been observed in many gangs where a number of persons are just standing and not working. An honest day's work, for an honest day's pay,” Spencer said.