The Tobago division of Trinidad and Tobago’s ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) is grappling with yet another shakeup at its senior leadership ranks, coming just days after the departure of its top chair that saw the official exit a second high-profile party figure.
Carlesia McEwen, the council’s youth officer, has formally stepped down from her elected post, a decision first documented in a resignation letter obtained by local outlet the Express on Saturday, and later confirmed by McEwen herself in a press inquiry. Her exit follows closely on the heels of former chairman Nicole Henry Waldron, who resigned both her leadership position and her entire party membership, a move officially announced by the Tobago Council last Thursday.
In her public resignation correspondence, McEwen pushed back against assumptions that her departure stemmed from fading commitment to the public service values that drew her to politics, or a desire to abandon the Tobagonian communities and young constituents she had pledged to represent. Instead, she framed her choice as a matter of personal integrity, noting that she could not in good conscience continue in a role that failed to meet her own standards of effective leadership.
“Right now, the internal environment within the council does not offer the collaborative culture and institutional support I need to carry out my responsibilities as youth officer effectively,” McEwen wrote in the letter.
Following Henry Waldron’s departure, the PNM Tobago Council moved quickly to acknowledge her years of service to the organization, extending well wishes for her future professional and personal pursuits. The council emphasized in an official statement that its core work on behalf of party members, registered supporters, and all residents of Tobago remains uninterrupted. “Our work continues, and our focus stays fixed on strengthening this organization, serving the people of Tobago, and advancing the island’s collective interests,” the statement read.
In line with the PNM’s official constitutional protocols, vice-chairman Petal Daniel Benoit has stepped into the acting chairman role to oversee day-to-day operations, pending the completion of formal internal processes to appoint a permanent successor. The council reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining organizational continuity, stable governance, and effective functioning through the leadership transition.
Shamfa Cudjoe, the PNM Tobago Council’s political leader, has moved quickly to reassure stakeholders that the internal departures will not derail the party’s long-term goals. In a public statement posted to her official Facebook page titled “The Work Continues, The Mission Remains,” Cudjoe doubled down on her pledge to continue the party’s ongoing rebuilding and strengthening efforts, noting that any path back to holding government in Tobago will demand collective investment from all party members.
“Currently holding opposition status, the road back to governing power will require hard work, personal sacrifice, cross-faction unity, and a shared sense of purpose,” Cudjoe said. She added that the current opposition period requires constant presence in communities, unwavering commitment to constituents, full accountability to voters, and above all, a genuine desire to serve the public good.
“There is no space in this movement for complacency, self-serving personal agendas, or politicians who chase titles without being willing to uphold the responsibilities that come with those positions,” she said.
Cudjoe emphasized that she respects the choices of both departing leaders and thanked them for their past contributions to the PNM’s Tobago branch. Reaffirming her own unwavering commitment to the party’s membership and supporter base, she said her mandate as political leader remains unchanged.
“My commitment as political leader is firm: to lead with purpose, to listen to the concerns of our members and constituents, to make tough choices when they are needed, and to work side by side with all who share our vision of a stronger, more unified, and more effective PNM,” Cudjoe said.
Looking forward, she outlined the council’s immediate priorities: rebuilding public trust in the party among Tobagonians, shoring up internal organizational structures, and presenting a credible alternative governing option to island voters. Cudjoe closed by stressing that the movement’s broader mission far outweighs any individual leader, urging remaining members to stay united and focused on their core goals.
“The work continues, the mission stays the same, and we must never forget that this movement is, and always will be, bigger than any single one of us,” she said.