MP for Tobago East Vernella Alleyne–Toppin says she expects to emerge victorious as she takes on the current chairman of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Lionel Coker in the upcoming internal election. Alleyne–Toppin said while Coker has made a noble contribution she believes she can make a better input.
Speaking on a Tobago television programme, Alleyne-Toppin, also Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development, said the entire executive of the TOP should have resigned after the embarrassing defeat at the THA polls. “When I look at the present chairman and I looked at the 12-nil results, I said to the executive I think as an executive we should all demit office and allow people to make a fresh choice, because we have not delivered,” she said.
“We have not delivered that election that was so critical, so crucial to us, I looked at the current chairman and I thought pound-for-pound, I think I would be able to make a better contribution than he has made.” Alleyne–Toppin said the TOP needs to go back to the drawing board to decipher what different could be done to regain relevance among Tobagonians. She said she is the best person to spearhead the initiatives.
“I am quite committed to the organisation and I think we need at this time to regroup, rebrand and come again so that we can convince the electorate in Tobago that we are the best choice as a party to run the affairs of Tobago,” she said. “I am very confident about our chances and about my chances of emerging as the chairman of the party.”