The ruling People's National Movement (PNM) is expected to face a united opposition front as voters in this Caribbean island go to the polls on January 19 to elect members to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

THA Chief Secretary, Orville London, said that President, Maxwell Richards, had already issued the writ for the elections and Nomination Day would be on December 29.

The PNM won 11 of the 12 seats in the 2005 election and it is expected to face a challenge from the newly formed Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) that comprises a number of opposition parties on the island.

In addition, the Congress of the People (COP), headed by former Central Bank governor Winston Dookeran, which failed to win a seat in the 2007 general elections in Trinidad and Tobago, said it would campaign with the TOP, led by THA Minority Leader, Ashworth Jack.

Screening candidates

Jack said that the party was scheduled to begin screening candidates on Tuesday, ahead of its manifesto presentation to the public.

The other party in the election battle, the new Advocates for Good Governance, has named one candidate - General Secretary André Phillips.

There are approximately 42,500 eligible voters registered in the 12 electoral districts. In the last election, there were 38,600 voters.

The PNM has already named its 12 candidates for the election and London said he was satisfied and confident about pulling off a third victory.

The PNM will launch its campaign and present its candidates at a rally on January 4, while the TOP launches on December 28.

Prime Minister and PNM leader Patrick Manning is not expected to participate in the campaign. He is in Cuba, where he will undergo surgery to remove a malignant tumour on his kidney today.

In addition to the THA, Tobagonians vote for two seats in the national parliament in the general elections.