The executive of the Tobago arm of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) has severed ties with the national party, headed by political leader Jack Warner.
The announcement was made by the former regional co-ordinator Akeil Abdullah yesterday during a talk show on Tobago Channel Five.
Approximately 387 members have also tendered their resignations from the organisation. Abdullah said the ILP did not have Tobago at heart.
“Tobago has to reject the ILP, effective today. We will not stand for the kind of politics that is taking place there because we Tobagonians believe and we know that this can only result in more chaos and we don’t want to contribute to that kind of ill-development in the national landscape,” he added.
Abdullah, who stood as the shadow secretary for the Division of Community Development and Culture, was appointed to the position of regional co-ordinator, Tobago, in May following the death of Lionel Coker who held the position since 2013.
In response, Warner said he was not surprised at the turn of events and that would not hinder the party’s campaign in Tobago.
Warner said they got a hint of what was coming earlier in the week in a statement issued to the media.
“We were not completely surprised when reports reached us earlier this week that Abdullah was withholding party information and paraphernalia from our campaign teams in Tobago East and West.
“The ILP’s campaign in Tobago has in no way been affected by this morning’s developments as two campaign teams have been convened to continue our preparations there,” he added.
Warner said the teams were being led by Paul Peters in Tobago West and Portia Powder in Tobago East.
The ILP would announce its two candidates for Tobago soon, he said.
Warner recalled that at a national executive meeting of the ILP in June Abdullah confirmed his willingness to continue the work started by Lionel Coker who was found dead in a hotel room.
Several ILP senior members have already resigned, including Lyndira Oudit, a deputy political leader, Robin Montano, Anna Deonarine and Virmala Balkaran, former chairman of the Youth Arm of the party.
Warner said the ILP would contest all 41 electoral seats.