PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - However it goes on THA election day January 21, the people of Tobago have already scored a victory with the agreement by the contesting political parties to participate in tonight's debate.
To have secured the leaders of the three contending parties to agree to enter the sober, rational environment of the forum organised by the Debates Commission is no mean achievement. Commission chairman Andrew Sabga and his team deserve our deepest appreciation for their commitment on working this breakthrough initiative to this point of success.
It has taken a lot of negotiating and cajoling to get the leaders to the final green light. For a moment there, it was touch and go as one party or the other objected to the Commission's proposals. But the Commission was able to find enough room to keep the parties engaged, options open and hope alive until the final agreement.