By KARL CUPID Monday, January 14 2013

Stressing that he was not perturbed by queries over construction of his multi-million-dollar home, Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader and incumbent Minority Leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Ashworth Jack said he had no apology for building a “nice house”.

“I don’t care what they say. I build a nice house and I (am) not apologising for that”, Jack told a TOP political meeting at Glamorgan, in East Tobago, on Saturday night. The TOP is one of four parties which comprise the UNC-led People’s Partnership administration.

Jack, who has come under scrutiny over the source of funding for his lavish eight-room home at Mt St George, east Tobago, made the declaration as he urged young people in Tobago to follow the ideals passed on by the older generation in terms of a gainful livelihood.

“I want to say to every citizen of Tobago, you should learn some of the ancient things that our foreparents have taught...how to save, how to take care of your family, how to build house...and I don’t care what they say, I build a nice house and I not apologising for that”, Jack declared. To which the crowd responded with a resounding “No”. He added: “In Tobago we know, a man is only a man when he builds a house. But them (those) boys had house, the whole roof was (like a) strainer, and they were lying down drinking whiskey, lying down and blocking drain, before they take care of their home and their family; so they want me to do the same thing”, Jack asserted. “If I didn’t do that, they would have said ‘you see, he worthless, watch him, he in the Assembly so long, they have business down the road, look how they live!’

Brothers and sisters I admonish all of you to take care of how you spend your money”, he urged. “If you like nice car, buy it; if you like nice house, build it. But make sure that you put away some and leave a legacy for your children and your children’s children”.

He said the attacks by his detractors had not ‘softened’ him, but only served to strengthen his resolve. “I want to say to my critics, thank you, thank you, thank you!” he asserted.

At the same time, the TOP leader launched a scathing attack on the PNM, with specific reference to the “Calcutta ship” statements made by THA Deputy Chief Secretary and incumbent Assemblyman/candidate for Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford, Hilton Sandy, as well as the party’s position, as enunciated by PNM and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, that it would not support the Tobago Bill aimed at giving the island internal self-government, which was last Monday laid in Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Jack claimed the PNM “never wanted to give Tobago any power at all. But with my last breath I will fight against anyone and everyone who stands in the way of our freedom”, Jack vowed. “The PNM is a cult! The PNM has been preaching race in Tobago for the past two and a half years”, he contended. “If you not careful, that racial bogey going to come to Tobago and swallow up all of us”, Jack warned. He argued that there was not a family in Tobago that did not have a relative or relatives living and working in Trinidad. “And therefore the danger of the stupidity that is being preached by the PNM could only seek to divide us”, he declared. Urging the TOP crowd to be careful of the information being fed to Tobagonians, Jack said, “The diatribe that they (PNM) want to feed you, will only destroy this country called Trinidad and Tobago”.