The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election campaign has commenced with profound implications that extend far beyond the island’s shores, marking significant shifts in Tobago’s political landscape. TPP leader Farley Augustine officially launched his campaign on December 1st amid extraordinary circumstances that have elevated foreign policy matters to unprecedented prominence in a local election.
The upcoming vote, scheduled for January 12th, will serve as the first electoral test of the controversial decision to permit the United States to install military-grade radar systems at the ANR Robinson International Airport. This development has effectively transformed the local election into a de facto referendum on both Mr. Augustine’s leadership and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration.
Recent diplomatic efforts have eased initial tensions between Tobago and the central government regarding the radar installation. Following Mr. Augustine’s initial claims of being uninformed about the project details and the Prime Minister’s assertion that he didn’t require full disclosure, Attorney General John Jeremie and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge were dispatched to thoroughly brief the Tobago People’s Party leader.
The TPP leadership has subsequently embraced the radar project, with former THA councillor Certica Williams-Orr characterizing it as a ‘Christmas gift’ and Tobago East MP David Thomas affirming its necessity. Mr. Augustine now expresses confidence that the equipment won’t be used for offensive operations, while acknowledging Trinidad and Tobago’s limited influence over US foreign policy decisions.
This election represents the TPP’s first THA contest since its formation in 2023 when Mr. Augustine separated from Watson Duke’s Progressive Democratic Patriots. The party enters the race strengthened by its sweeping victory in both Tobago seats during the April 28th general election, potentially signaling the decline of Mr. Duke’s political influence.
The opposition PNM faces its own challenges, attempting to recover from significant losses in both the 2021 and recent April elections. The defection of Keigon Denoon, the popular Tobago West constituency chairman, to the TPP further complicates the PNM’s path to recovery.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has maintained strong ties with Mr. Augustine, even adopting the TPP’s ‘anchor’ motto during her November visit to Tobago. While hoteliers express concerns about potential negative impacts on tourism revenue from the radar installation, the Prime Minister’s administration has facilitated substantial economic benefits through licensing agreements that have generated billions in aggregate revenues.
Tobagonians will ultimately deliver their verdict on these complex matters when they cast their ballots in January, determining both the island’s political direction and the broader implications of enhanced surveillance capabilities at Crown Point.