Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Trinidad's ruling party toppled in Tobago elections

Trinidad's ruling party toppled in Tobago elections

A majority of Tobagonians opted for change when they elected the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) headed by Watson Duke and Farley Augustine to run their Tobago House of Assembly affairs until 2025.
Preliminary results indicated a PDP milestone with a majority of Tobago’s 15 seats – breaking People’s National Movement’s 21-year management of the THA.

“This is a Tobago dream come alive. We start a new day for Tobago, we wake up (this morning) resolved to change,” PDP deputy leader Augustine in an address to jubilant supporters at 10.45 pm.

Augustine lauded PDP leader Duke – and warned the PNM Government and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that his party’s victory meant that Tobago had rejected bullying and other tactics.

Augustine said at that time the PDP was uncertain what was the exact number of winning seats but it was apparent the PDP won anywhere from 12 seats and upward.

“Whatever the final count is (today), we’re grateful for whatever opportunity God has given us,” Augustine said.

PNM Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine, who lost her seat, conceded at a subdued Shaw Park location before Augustine spoke.

She said Tobagonians wanted change and had voted for the other side.

“I congratulate the PDP and its leadership Farley Chavez Augustine and Watson Duke for winning. I wish them all the best in the upcoming term of the THA,” Davidson-Celestine said.

“We are saddened by the situation but it’s an opportunity for us to regroup and do introspection … the PNM is still here to represent you.”

Prime Minister Rowley had been in Tobago since last Friday but wasn’t seen at the location.

Votes were still being counted in several areas last night. Up to press time, the margin stood at 12-3 but the Elections and Boundaries Commission will announce the official results today.

The outcome broke the 6-6 tie between PNM and PDP which resulted from the January THA poll. Then, PNM had lost four of its 10 seats to PDP. Yesterday, preliminary results indicated the PNM slid further behind.

Forty-five candidates from five political parties contested yesterday’s elections. The PDP and PNM contested in all 15 electoral districts.

The Innovative Democratic Alliance, led by former PNMite Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, contested in 13 of the 15 – mainly in south and central Tobago held by PNM. IDA didn’t contest in the East districts of Belle Garden/Glamorgan and Roxborough/Argyle held by PDP.

The Class Action Reform Movement and Unity of the People each fielded one candidate in Buccoo/Mt Pleasant – the only district contested by five candidates.

PDP’s Duke and Augustine won their seats in Roxborough/Argyle and Parlatuvier /L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside respectively. Preliminary figures indicated PDP also retained Belle Garden, Mason Hall-Moriah, Bethel/New Grange and other seats.

PDP supporters began celebrating as early as 8.30 pm after the PDP showed early leads in a number of seats. PDP votes in its heartland Eastern seats crossed the 1,000s by 9.30 pm. By 10 pm, hundreds of PDP supporters in Duke’s Roxborough seats celebrated so energetically that riot police had to be called to caution them on social distancing.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
×