The People's National Movement (PNM) has taken strong objection to an advertisement by the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) in the current Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election campaign.

The advertisement features excerpts from an address delivered by current PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley during the 2010 general election campaign, in which he speaks about being a PNM sailor on a PNM ship.

This statement is juxtaposed with a statement made by THA candidate Hilton Sandy about a ship from Calcutta coming to Tobago if the electorate does not vote for the PNM.

In a release signed by party general secretary Ashton Ford, the PNM said the ad was a blatant attempt to deceive the population by using Rowley's statements out of context and blending it with the speech by Sandy in the THA election.

"This latest move by the PNM's opponents clearly demonstrates that they are prepared to use 'gutter-type' politics to influence the electorate in Tobago to vote against the PNM. Such a move will only backfire on TOP because the people of Tobago would not accept the imported vulgar and deceptive politics from the United National Congress in the THA elections.

"Instead of using underhand tactics to score cheap political points, TOP must tell the people of Tobago and the country as a whole why their leader Ashworth Jack did not declare his assets to the Integrity Commission for the years 2010 and 2011," the release stated.

The PNM said it was of the view that if Jack could not keep his promise to the people of Tobago that he will abide by the laws of Trinidad and Tobago it is obvious that he will not fulfil the wild promises he is making in the campaign.

The release added: "In the circumstances, the PNM calls on TOP to immediately stop the advertisement and focus on the issues dealing with the people of Tobago in the election."