Stanford Callender has resigned as Chairman of the Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement, effective immediately.

It comes after the party suffered a 14-1 loss to the Progressive Democratic Patriots in Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly election.

A release from the party today said it has accepted Mr. Callender’s resignation, which he stated was “to give the party an opportunity to restructure and re-engineer itself moving forward.”

Read the full statement from the PNM below:

The People’s National Movement acknowledges receipt of Mr. Stanford Callender’s resignation as Chairman of the Tobago Council, effective Wednesday 8 December 2021, “to give the party an opportunity to restructure and re-engineer itself going forward.”

The very distinguished and venerable Mr. Stanford Callender served the people of Tobago, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and the People’s National Movement for over 35 years. His first foray into national politics was his appointment as a temporary Opposition Senator in the 3rd Republican Parliament at various sittings during the period 12 January 1987 – 7 September 1990. He was then appointed as a Government Senator in the 4th Republican Parliament, from 1992 – 1995 and served as the Parliamentary Secretary in the then Ministry of Labour and Cooperatives. In 2001, he contested the Tobago West seat, and was elected as its Member of Parliament in the 7th Republican Parliament. In the subsequent general elections of 2002 and 2007 he received renewed mandates from the people to serve as their parliamentary representative. He was also appointed Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister from 28 December 2001 – 25 May 2010.

Mr Callendar’s commitment to the PNM is immeasurable. He was instrumental in the development and formulation of the PNM Tobago Council, an idea that was germinated in the early 1990s and came to fruition in 1998. He has served the party and the Tobago Council in various capacities, including as a member of the General Council, Central Executive Member, Campaign Manager, Tobago Council Member, and most recently, as Chairman of the Tobago Council. As Chairman, his was the pleasure and privilege to work alongside successive PNM Deputy Political Leaders – Tobago Mr. Orville London, Mr. Kelvin Charles, and Mrs. Tracy Davidson-Celestine. Upon his retirement from representational politics in 2010, he worked closely alongside his successor in Tobago West, Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe, and continues to be a pillar of support in that constituency and across the island and country.

Widely regarded as a trusted elder, many in the PNM frequently sought Mr. Callender’s wisdom and counsel. Throughout his tenure, he remained humble, dedicated, focused and rational. On behalf of the Officers of the Movement and the membership of the party, I extend sincerest gratitude to Mr. Callender for his decades of yeoman’s service to party and to country, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.