Democratic Action Congress
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Action Congress (DAC) was a Tobago
-based political party in Trinidad and Tobago
.
, and was originally a autonomist party. It first contested general elections in 1976
, in which it won both Tobago seats, taken by Robinson and Winston Murray
. The party went on to dominate the Tobago House of Assembly
, and retained both seats in the 1981 elections
.
In 1986 the party merged into the National Alliance for Reconstruction
. However, after the NAR lost control of the Tobago House of Assembly in 2001
, an attempt was made to oust Hochoy Charles as the NAR leader in Tobago in 2004. As a result, Charles left the NAR and re-formed the DAC. In the 2005 elections the DAC routed the NAR (which was reduced to just 113 votes), but only won a single seat.
In the 2007 national general elections
the party failed to win a seat, despite forming an alliance known as the Tobago United Front. From this grouping emerged a new party - the Tobago Organisation of the People. Whilst the majority of the DAC supported the merger, Charles withdrew from the merger claiming that the DAC still existed as a separate organisation. However, it did not put forward any candidates for the 2009 elections
.
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
-based political party in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
.
History
The party was established in 1971 by A. N. R. RobinsonA. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
, and was originally a autonomist party. It first contested general elections in 1976
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1976
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 13 September 1976. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 24 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 55.8%.-Results:...
, in which it won both Tobago seats, taken by Robinson and Winston Murray
Winston Murray
Winston Shripal Murray was a Guyanese politician and who was Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana from 1985 to 1992. He was a member of the People's National Congress party, serving as its shadow minister for finance at the time of his death.-References:...
. The party went on to dominate the Tobago House of Assembly
Tobago House of Assembly
The Tobago House of Assembly is the local government body responsible for the island of Tobago within the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The THA was established in 1980 to rectify some of the disparities in the relationship between the two islands, though a prior body using the same...
, and retained both seats in the 1981 elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1981
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 9 November 1981. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 26 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 56.4%.-Results:...
.
In 1986 the party merged into the National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
. However, after the NAR lost control of the Tobago House of Assembly in 2001
Tobagan House of Assembly election, 2001
-2001 Tobago House of Assembly Elections:PartySeats WonVotesNational Alliance for Reconstruction438.4%People's National Movement846.7%United National Congress07.8%People's Empowerment Party07.1%Rejected--PNM won; Orville London appointed Chief Secretary...
, an attempt was made to oust Hochoy Charles as the NAR leader in Tobago in 2004. As a result, Charles left the NAR and re-formed the DAC. In the 2005 elections the DAC routed the NAR (which was reduced to just 113 votes), but only won a single seat.
In the 2007 national general elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 2007
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 5 November 2007. Nomination day was 15 October.The parties contesting the election were the incumbent People's National Movement, the official opposition United National Congress–Alliance , the Congress of the People , the Tobago United...
the party failed to win a seat, despite forming an alliance known as the Tobago United Front. From this grouping emerged a new party - the Tobago Organisation of the People. Whilst the majority of the DAC supported the merger, Charles withdrew from the merger claiming that the DAC still existed as a separate organisation. However, it did not put forward any candidates for the 2009 elections
Tobagan House of Assembly election, 2009
Registration for voters closed on December 23rd 2008.Nomination Day for Candidates is December 29th 2008.The Tobago House of Assemble elections is to be held on January 19th 2009.-Constituencies:* Scarborough / Calder Hall* Bacolet / Mount Saint George...
.