Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Sep 06, 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
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Florida Murder Case: The Adelson Family, the Killing of Dan Markel, and the Trial of Donna Adelson
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Brand-New $1 Million Yacht Sinks Just Fifteen Minutes After Maiden Launch in Turkey
Here’s What the FBI Seized in John Bolton Raid — and the Legal Risks He Faces
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
×