Jack not ready yet to talk of his political future in TOP

Dr Delmon Baker: ""There is no vacancy for the post of political leader of the TOP."

Delmon Baker has denied that the leader of his party, the Tobago Organisation of the People, has resigned and that he has been asked to be TOP's interim leader.

The Tobago West MP and Minister for Tobago Development was active in the campaign for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election that ended with a humiliating defeat for TOP.

Following the 12-0 victory for the People's National Movement in Monday's election TOP leader Ashworth Jack said he would consider his future and pledged that he won't be "an albatross" around the neck of his party. He said he would announce a decision within 48 hours.

However up to Friday he had not made a decision. He told the Guardian newspaper, he would hold a media briefing when he has a decision to announce. For now, he said, he is continuing to hold discussions with various arms of the party.

TOP Leader Ashworth Jack met with PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday
after the official inauguration of the new THA 

When reporters asked Baker about rumours of his elevation to the leadership he dismissed the talk. "There is no vacancy for the post of political leader of the TOP. So that question does not arise," he told reporters.

He also said he is not aware of rumours that Jack had resigned and that the TOP’s executive has accepted it. "As far as I am aware, there is no truth to that. I haven’t heard that,” he said.

Baker told the media TOP remains in very good shape. Baker and his colleagues Vernella Alleyne-Toppin (MP, Tobago East) and Senator Chrislyn Moore represent TOP in Parliament and in cabinet although TOP has no representation within the THA.