Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis Wins PNM Tobago Council Leadership

In a significant internal election, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis has emerged victorious as the new political leader of the People's National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council, securing a decisive win over her challenger, Kelvon Morris. This outcome marks a new chapter for the party on the island, with Cudjoe-Lewis poised to lead its rebuilding efforts.

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My first order of business would be to reach out to my challenger and every candidate who had offered themselves for service. I think that’s very important for rebuilding our party, for strengthening bonds, for repairing whatever damage was done during the election. We always have some sort of breakdown during internal elections and we are one family so we need to have those talks, those difficult talks towards moving ahead because we need all hands on deck to rebuild our People’s National Movement.

Speaking after her victory, Cudjoe-Lewis immediately called for unity, stressing the importance of bringing all factions of the party together. "My first order of business would be to reach out to my challenger and every candidate who had offered themselves for service," she stated, underscoring her commitment to healing any divisions that may have arisen during the campaign. She views this as crucial for strengthening bonds and repairing any damage, emphasizing that the PNM is "one family" that needs to engage in "difficult talks towards moving ahead."

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I feel pleased, I feel humbled...humbled by the fact that so many persons have placed their confidence and their trust in me for such a herculean task, and I feel committed and ready to get the job done. I know it would not be a walk in the park, I know it’s going to be very difficult and it requires serious commitment and discipline, and I am ready.

Cudjoe-Lewis expressed gratitude and humility for the trust placed in her, acknowledging the "herculean task" ahead. She is "committed and ready to get the job done," recognizing that the path forward will be challenging, requiring "serious commitment and discipline." Her campaign, she noted, was "people-centred" and "grassroots," focused on listening to the genuine members and their desires for the party. This approach, she believes, resonated with the electorate, leading to her 63% win, which she declared "belongs to the grassroots."

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I think this victory really belongs to the grassroots. As you know, I ran a people-centred grassroots campaign that really focused on hearing what the ground had to say, what the real bona fide members had to say, what they want for the party. It was about knocking on doors, calling persons and really having the intimate conversations that I am accustomed to having with them. I learnt much of what I know from being a youth leader and then from being an MP so in that same fashion we just connect, listen, engage, show up for these people.

Looking ahead, Cudjoe-Lewis indicated that she would prioritize sanitizing and verifying the membership list to ensure accuracy for future exercises. This focus on internal party structure suggests a methodical approach to strengthening the PNM's foundation in Tobago. Kelvon Morris, demonstrating the democratic spirit of the party, has pledged his support and readiness to work with Cudjoe-Lewis, emphasizing that unity remains paramount. This transition, as reported by the Trinidad Express, highlights the internal democratic processes within the PNM and the focus on collective effort for the party's future.

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There are some things I would do differently in my new role as political leader and I think first and foremost the business would be to sanitise and verify the membership list to make sure all the information is accurate and we have a smoother exercise the next time around.