PDM is bringing the campaign directly to you – Door-to-door walkabout kicks off in Grand Turk

Candidates of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) will be knocking on your doors soon to hear your concerns, gain your support and tell you what they can do for you as your next government. 

This week the candidates kicked off their door-to-door meetings in Grand Turk, inviting residents to share their grievances and outlining how the party intends to fix some of their pressing issues as the next administration.

Speaking with the Weekly News on Thursday, September 19, Former Deputy Premier and returning candidate of the PDM, Sean Astwood said the candidates were happy to hit the road running, but that the tone of many of these sessions was marred by the crime situation in the country and the prohibitive cost of living. 

“The party is now going door to door in the different constituencies, and we will systematically be moving from island to island meeting people not just to gain support but to ensure we are addressing the issues that they feel we should be addressing.”

The PDM admittedly has a long way to come from – having lost the government during the pandemic 14-1. 

The former deputy premier – who did not win his seat last time, a seat he had won in two consecutive elections prior – said he understood then and understands now that it was a difficult period in the lives of everyone, mid-pandemic, people wanted solutions, and they felt the government of the day could not offer them those solutions. 

“We understand that,” Astwood said. 

However, he noted that since that time, the same issues voters were frustrated with and tired of, not only are those issues still present in the country today, but they have also grown to unimaginable proportions, leaving residents terrified and barely scraping by. 

“We as a party feel that over the last three and a half years, almost four years now, the people of this country have not been happy.

“They have been stating this on social media, and as we move around this week, when we ask the average person, no matter what political flag they carry, they are not happy, they are not satisfied with the way the government has been running the country and they want to see change. 

“So, we are positioning ourselves to be that alternative but also have real plans on how we will fix some of the issues that are facing the country right now.”

Crime, the border and the economic issues are the things that are concerning the people, he related. 

“We have a dynamic where the country seems to be doing quite well economically, but the average person is still struggling and that is something the government has failed to address.”

The candidate said every issue that the PNP would have campaigned on during the last election has gotten progressively worse under their leadership and that is something the voters have shown they are willing to change.

“People are less safe, the nature of crime is changing and scaring them, their salaries are giving them less buying power, there are more people leaving and going to the UK and US to have a better quality of life, yet the government seems oblivious to the way things are and the mood of the people.”

He said these are the issues the people are bringing to them as they visit their homes. 

With two consecutive terms in government already under his belt, Astwood, who has always spoken fearlessly to the issues of the day, said he is confident that the next election, the people will speak, and it will be resounding. 

“I believe when the elections come, they will vote this government out because things need to change.”

A clear message will be sent, the former deputy leader insisted.