The PNM is moving throughout Tobago asking Tobagonians to come and hear from persons that were dismissed by the PP Government, to give testimonies of the PP Government's discrimination and to be part of a movement to bring down the government.

This is done with meetings entitled "Ah Feeling the Pain." The PNM in orchestrating its move is calling on a number of persons that allegations of corruption and gross misconduct are levelled against. One of the persons' the PNM is using in its "ah feeling the pain" campaign is an individual who is presently being investigated with a former minister of the PNM government over a steel band scandal. However, the PNM is trying to use the race card to develop a foundation for its argument and not give the whole truth about what took place with these persons and why they were dismissed.

These persons were doing the bids of many PNM hierarchies and are now paying the consequences for their actions. One of the persons has worked in more than five organisations and has been dismissed or cautioned for his behaviour in all the organisations in which he worked. The OWTU was in total agreement with the dismissal of one of these persons. This column hopes that these persons will have a conscious and speak the truth when they are invited on the "ah feeling the pain" platform.

The PNM is proposing in its constitution amendment paper that Tobagonians must live in Tobago for four consecutive years to be allowed to vote in the THA election. This column hopes that the PNM will not debar these Tobagonians who lived and worked in Trinidad for most of their lives from voting in the THA elections as they would not have lived in Tobago for four consecutive years. The PNM is requesting that only persons that live in Tobago for four consecutive years can vote in the THA election.

Tobagonians this rule, regulation or law will disenfranchise many Tobagonians who visit their children in foreign countries and spend three and six month holidays with their children. This will disenfranchise persons who are placed on government assignments all over the world but at the end of these government assignments will return to permanently live in Tobago. This will disenfranchise persons who travel frequently and would stay away from Tobago for an accumulated period of six weeks in one year.

Worse of all, persons who are ill and have to resort to Trinidad for treatment because of the delayed hospital opening by the THA, and remain in Trinidad for a prolonged period of three months will also lose their voting rights under the PNM proposal. What the PNM intends, is to put every Tobagonian under country of arrest if you want to vote in the THA election. You must remain in Tobago for four consecutive years to be allowed to vote in the THA election. Under this rule, regulation or law Tobagonians will really feel the PNM pain. The problem is even extended to engulf persons who may have left Tobago to further their education and may want to return to Tobago to make a contribution in Tobago's politics. These young educated persons, who had no intention of living aboard and were always ready to return after their studies, will have to live in Tobago for four consecutive years before they are eligible to vote and even become an Assemblyman. They would not be able to offer themselves to serve the people of Tobago. This will frustrate these young Tobagonians and many will only return to foreign countries and render their services and impart their educational knowledge in these countries. Tobagonians we must stand up against this PNM atrocity. This behaviour is one of dictatorship and this is opening the door for further removal of Tobagonians' liberty.

The PNM is trying to draw Tobagonians into a fruitless discussion about Tobago's marine space. The PNM is now talking about the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is stating that Tobago can only be defined by the EEZ. What a position, that is far from the truth. It was former Prime Minister Mr Patrick Manning who gave away Tobago's marine space to Grenada without consulting our very Chief Secretary. Trinidad and Tobago government had to fight 'tooth and nail' with Barbados for Tobago's marine space that Barbados was encroaching on. It took a well learned Tobagonian Dr Arthur Potts to fight to return Tobago's marine space to us.

The PNM sat by and allowed the Bajan fishermen to harvest Tobago's flying fish stock and when some of them were arrested there was a cover up from persons in esteemed positions and the fishermen were released without their vessels being confiscated or them paying a fine. Now the discussion on the EEZ is a hot topic with the PNM. Every right thinking Tobagonian would understand that Tobago is still a partner of Trinidad and that our sea and air space is managed by the combination for both countries and whatever governmental arrangements that are in place. The TOP is in agreement that Tobago should benefit from whatever resources that are found in Tobago as every country in the world. The Green Paper is proposing that anything that is to be done in the EEZ of Tobago must be done in consultation with the people of Tobago. This will give Tobago and Tobagonians a greater say in its resources.

Tobagonians can look at the arrangement between Scotland and England. Scotland produces Brent Crude or Sweet Crude which fetches the high end price of oil in the world. The oil is in Scotland and they produce and refine the oil in the North Sea. However, the entire country Britain benefits from the oil produced in Scotland.

The EEZ is controlled by Britain which is the overarching governing body of the United Kingdom and its arrangement is one of unity. It must be noted that the EEZ has some international law issues and this must be dealt with in the context of Tobago and its sea space. Tobagonians are not requesting secession but to remain as a partner with Trinidad. This column agrees that Tobago must have its fair share from the economy of Trinidad and Tobago, as Trinidad must get its fair share also.

With the PNM attitude and lack of performance Tobagonians are aching and it is difficult to recover from these pains that the PNM has inflicted on Tobago and the only cure is for Tobagonians to vote the TOP which has the right medication for Tobago's illness. Due to the PNM's lack of control of the six nautical miles the PNM faced lawsuits, caused uncontrolled and illegal fishing in Tobago waters, created problems for Tobago fishermen and is without a clue of the fishing stock in Tobago waters.

The PNM controlled THA could not manage the six nautical miles that they are in control of, as Tobagonians would you trust them with 200? The Green Paper is proposing 10 nautical miles which will give Tobago greater leverage in control of Tobago's sea space. Tobagonians have endured so much pain and suffering under the hands of the PNM. The PNM has refused Tobago every move that was made by Tobagonians to accomplish internal self-government. The PNM is presently working on denying Tobagonians from achieving internal self-government as they went ahead and laid in the THA two bills using an illegal method after being warned about it by the Minority Leader.

This will delay Tobagonians achieving internal self-government as this issue cannot be debated in the THA until 2013.

This is the type of pain and frustration Tobagonians have to encounter under the PNM. Tobagonians let us put our hearts and heads together and remove the PNM from Tobago's political landscape and install the TOP, an organisation that is committed to move Tobago forward by putting Tobago first.

TOBAGO ORGANISATION

OF THE PEOPLE