In a dramatic political realignment, former PNM Tobago West constituency chairman Keigon Denoon has publicly explained his decision to join the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) as their candidate for Buccoo/Mt Pleasant. The 29-year-old community leader addressed a packed public meeting in Bon Accord/Crown Point on December 2, revealing the profound personal and philosophical considerations behind his party switch.
Denoon, who serves as coordinator for the Youth Energised for Success (YES) programme, acknowledged the difficulty of his decision to oppose his former PNM political leader Ancil Dennis in the upcoming January 12 Tobago House of Assembly elections. ‘If anybody had told me years ago that I would have been standing on a TPP platform, I would have looked at them and say they’re crazy,’ Denoon confessed to the audience.
The turning point came, he revealed, after a leaked voicenote of PNM members questioning his allegiance surfaced. Shortly thereafter, approximately thirty young supporters gathered at his gate, expressing excitement about his potential representation. One youth’s poignant question particularly resonated: ‘What is more important? Is a political party more important than the people that you claim to love and to serve?’
Denoon described TPP political leader Farley Chavez Augustine as ‘one of the most strategic individuals I’ve met in a very long time,’ praising his combination of political acumen and spiritual grounding. The young candidate emphasized that his decision was ultimately about Tobago’s advancement rather than personal ambition. ‘I am not here for the applause; I am here to serve the people of Tobago,’ he declared.
Drawing from his extensive background in community service—including his tenure as president of the Buccoo Village Council, Programme Administrator of the YES programme, director at the Lambeau Credit Union, and Caricom Youth Ambassador—Denoon positioned himself as a advocate for Tobago’s youth, particularly those who feel voiceless in the political process.
With the January 12 elections approaching, Denoon framed the contest as a referendum on Tobago’s future direction, urging voters to support ‘an administration that tries and puts the people of Tobago first.’