PNM faces legal threat over use of song in THA campaign

A United States–based music production company has threatened legal action against the People’s National Movement (PNM), alleging that one of its copyrighted songs was unlawfully used in the party’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election campaign.

In a pre-action protocol letter dated January 9, attorneys Keron Ramkhalwhan and Lloyd Robinson, acting on behalf of VAS Productions LLC, accused PNM general secretary Foster Cummings and Tobago Council political leader Ancil Dennis of copyright infringement in relation to the song Liff Up.

VAS Productions, an Atlanta-based record label focusing on urban and Caribbean music, said it owns the copyright to Liff Up, a song recorded and produced by popular Caribbean artiste Tyrell Swan, also known as Prince Swanny. The company relied on an agreement dated August 1, 2025, which, it said, granted it full ownership of the copyrights and related rights to works produced by the artist, including the song in question.