The battle for the December 6 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election is expected to intensify this week as political parties make a last-ditch effort to woo voters.

The election, being held for the first time with 15 electoral districts, is taking place amid a third wave of covid19, which has already claimed 116 lives in Tobago.

As such, the political parties, in keeping with public health protocols, have resorted to mostly virtual platforms to host meetings and attempts are being made to avoid gatherings during walkabouts.

Some 45 candidates are contesting the election. The People's National Movement (PNM) and the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) are contesting all 15 electoral districts while the Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) is contesting 13 electoral districts.

Unity of the People (UTP) leader Nickocy Phillips and Class Action Reform Movement leader Ricardo Phillip are both contesting the Buccoo/Mt Pleasant electoral district, currently held by Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis. Dennis is seeking to retain the seat for a third consecutive term.

With just eight days to go, Sunday Newsday reached out to the leaders for feedback about their plans if elected.

Only PNM Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine responded.

PDP deputy leader Dr Faith BYisrael said the party's mandate will be launched in the coming days. The UTP's Phillips, who launched the party's campaign on Friday in Buccoo, also said its manifesto will be launched this week.

IDA leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, who said the party will employ a consultative approach to governance if elected, also promised to respond to Sunday Newsday but did not after the death of her mother.

At the launch of her candidates, earlier this month, Tsoiafatt-Angus promoted the IDA as the only choice for Tobagonians. She said the party intends to focus on people, the economy and the environment 'through a private sector focus.

'Our economy has been hit really hard. Economies worldwide have been hit yard but in Tobago, it's been rough. The only way we can truly come out of this strong is by focusing on building a private sector in Tobago. And so that would be our focus,' Tsoiafatt Angus had said.

The PDP, with its slogan, Leh We Fix Dis, has mounted a ground campaign. Like the IDA, it also believes the private sector must drive the economy post covid19. The party also intends to implement initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and reduce the dependence on the THA, which, it believes, employs too much of Tobago's working population (65 to 70 per cent).

Davidson-Celestine said the PNM is confident of victory. If elected, she said autonomy will be high on the party's agenda.

'From day one, back to the Parliament we go,' she said.

'The PDP and UNC are the only things standing in our way to having an island government with access $1.2 billion more annually, ability to make laws, borrow and invest, solve our land title issues, take possession of property an