In a dramatic political reversal, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke has publicly endorsed the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) for the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections scheduled for January 12. The announcement came during a December 8 media conference in Scarborough where Duke declared, “If Farley wins, we win. We are one.”
This endorsement marks a significant reconciliation between formerly bitter political rivals. The PDP had achieved a landslide victory in the previous THA elections, securing 14 out of 15 seats. However, a substantial rupture occurred within the party just one year later when Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and twelve other assembly members defected from the PDP to establish the TPP following a very public dispute with Duke.
The PDP subsequently experienced a disappointing performance in the April 28 general election, with Duke himself failing to secure victory as the Tobago East candidate. Following this electoral setback, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disclosed that Duke had approached her seeking employment opportunities.
Recent developments suggest a thaw in previously strained political relationships. Duke was among the attendees at a November 4 reception held at the Prime Minister’s official Blenheim residence in Tobago. The event followed Persad-Bissessar’s presentation of an export licence for the Studley Park project to Augustine. During the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged both political symbols, noting, “We have the flambeau (PDP symbol) and we have the anchor (TPP symbol),” while greeting Duke and another TPP official.