Feature: What is PNM's agenda for THA election?

The People's National Movement's (PNM) signature poster for the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election tells an interesting story with its campaign slogan - Stand in Defence of Tobago - sending a coded message that Tobagonians need to build a firewall to protect the island. 

But protect it from what? 

The message that the party has been sending to people is that the opposition Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) is too close to the People's Partnership government of Kamla Persad-Bissessar and that once TOP takes charge of the THA supporters of the PP would flood the island. 

What the PNM is telling people is that "Indians would take over" if the PNM loses the election. That fear-mongering is built into its campaign when it tells voters that the PNM alone is standing "in defence" of Tobago. 

The reality is that if Tobago needs defending it must be from the PNM because it has been in charge of the island's affairs for the past dozen years and has done very little during that time to enhance the lives of Tobagonians.

Since taking over from the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) led by Hochoy Charles in January 2001 the PNM has spent $17 billion yet Tobago remains an underdeveloped island. 

And until May 2010, there was a PNM government in Port of Spain that also did nothing significant for Tobago. 

The PNM and London's legacy is not flattering. Indeed if the party truly cared about Tobago it would have a record on which to base its campaign - a record of performance. 

If after 12 years the PNM cannot present a dossier of achievements, especially with a PNM central government, then it does not deserve another term. The TOP's campaign message says it all.

Click on poster to read message in a new, larger window

The PNM strategy has been based on sidestepping real issues. For instance, it has so far failed to properly explain that multi-million dollar sweetheart Milshirv deal involving friends of the PNM. Instead it is preoccupied with a house that TOP leader Ashworth Jack built.

Voters need to put emotion aside and make an analysis of who is better suited to look after their affairs. In 2010 they discarded the PNM both in Trinidad and in Tobago because the party had failed to serve the people.

In January 2013 they need to seriously ask the one question that is the most important one in this vote - are we better off today after 12 years of PNM rule? 

The people of Tobago have an opportunity on January 21 to move forward by changing their government. They would have no one to blame but themselves if they miss this opportunity.