Cudjoe-lewis vs. Morris: Pnm Tobago Leadership Race Heats Up

April 13, 2026 — The race for the leadership of the PNM Tobago Council is now officially underway. Nominations closed Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the party’s Scarborough headquarters, marking a significant turning point for the organization following its historic 15-to-zero defeat in the January 12th THA elections.

The contest is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle between two of the party’s most recognizable faces: former Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, and the former Minority Leader and Assemblyman for Darrel Spring/Whim, Kelvon Morris.

Experience vs. Grassroots Reform

With the PNM currently holding no seats in the Assembly for the first time in history, the internal election is being viewed as an existential crossroads. The two contenders offer starkly different visions for the party’s path back to relevance:

• Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis: A seasoned veteran of the national cabinet, Cudjoe-Lewis is campaigning on a platform of “Political Sophistication and Stability.” She argues that her experience at the highest levels of government and her international network are exactly what the party needs to navigate its most challenging era. Following the PNM’s loss in the April 2025 General Election, she has shifted her full focus to the “Red Revival” of the island’s council.
• Kelvon Morris: Positioning himself as the voice of “Resilience and Renewal,” Morris has built a reputation as a fighter during his tenure as the lone Minority Leader. His campaign is centered on decentralizing the party’s power structure and building a “people-powered” movement that prioritizes the specific, day-to-day needs of the Tobago grassroots.

Filling the Vacuum

The leadership vacancy comes as Ancil Dennis prepares to step away from the top post to allow for a “new chapter” following the January landslide. While Dennis has remained publicly neutral, his recent commentary on the “pattern of decay” in local politics has underscored the urgency for the party to present a credible and unified alternative to the current Tobago People’s Party (TPP) administration.

Party insiders suggest that while Cudjoe-Lewis may have the logistical support of the party’s central executive, Morris is gaining significant ground among the youth arm and disillusioned supporters who are calling for a “clean break” from past strategies.

The internal poll is tentatively scheduled for the end of May, giving both camps a frantic six-week window to canvas the party’s membership across all 15 electoral districts.