Businesswoman warns UNC over campaign ad

Camille McEachnie

Tobago businesswoman Diane Hadad is warning the United National Congress (UNC) that its continued usage of a video clip with her discussing Tobago issues will result in legal action against the party.

In a release yesterday, Hadad said she finds it “reprehensible” that a political party can use her name and image to “score cheap political points.”

“I take this opportunity to distance and disassociate myself from any political advertisements on the various print, electronic and social media platforms, using clips of any interviews that I would have conducted in the past,” Hadad said.

The businesswoman, who is also the chairman of the Tobago Chapter of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, appears at the end of the 1:53-minute UNC political ad for three seconds.

Commenting on it, Hadad said, “the soundbite is … out of context and links her” with a “political party in an attack ad on its political rival.”

Before she appears, other video clips of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh discussing the COVID-19 pandemic form most of the video.

However, disassociating herself from the electronic production, which has the tag ‘Let’s undo this,’ Hadad said she is a businesswoman and not involved in party politics. She said she was not consulted, nor knew she would be part of the video.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that while I may have strong views on matters in this country, I remain apolitical and independent in those views and opinions,” Hadad said.

She warned, “I am in consultation with my legal team, and I wish to inform all that I will be taking legal action in defence of my good name and character.”