Tobagonians celebrated Tobago Day on Wednesday, commemorating 44 years of the formation of the Tobago House of Assembly through Act 37 of Parliament in 1980.
As part of the celebrations, Tobagonians and Tobago-based organisations were honoured and awarded during the Annual Tobago Day Awards.
Thirty seven awards in seven categories were distributed at the 2024 Tobago Day Awards including the Tobago Medal of Honour Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
According to Chief Admin and Chairman of the Tobago Day Awards Committee, Denese Toby-Quashie, three new categories were added to the lineup of awards this year.
“This evening we honour the extraordinary contribution of Tobagonian women with the Rose Gold Medal of Honour. Tobagonians abroad making significant impact with the Tobago Diaspora Award, and Tobagonians who are giving commendable service to this institution with the Tobago House of Assembly Award of Merit.”
Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine highlighted that the awardees demonstrate that Tobago has potential to promote human capital development.
“These awards remind every Tobagonian that you can actually self-actualise here in Tobago and that many, many of our people went through our school system here and turned out quite excellently in such a way that they made an impact on the local community, the national community, and the global community.”
Recipients of the Chief Secretary’s Awards were Asha Mars-Lewis for entrepreneurship, Jimmel Morton for Entrepreneurship and Community Service, and the Tobago Emergency Management Agency was recognised for Disaster Management and their response to the oil spill incident.
Chief Secretary Augustine further noted as the Tobago House of Assembly celebrates Tobago Day, the island is demanding four things.
“Firstly, we demand equality of status between the two islands and a legislative framework reflecting such equality. Secondly, we demand a federal type system of governance. Thirdly, we demand the definition and delineation of the boundaries of each island and that that must be placed within the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Mr. Augustine shared the fourth demand is to have the responsibility to formulate and implement policy on all matters affecting the lives of people resident in Tobago.