Minority Disappointed In THA’s Autonomy Plans

The Tobago House of Assembly’s Minority Council is surprised and disappointed with the plans announced by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, regarding discussions surrounding Tobago’s autonomy.

During Tuesday’s Minority Report, THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris recalled that on October 24th, a Motion was passed in the Assembly for bipartisan meetings to be held regarding Tobago’s autonomy. However, he said the Chief Secretary, who was absent from this debate, has made the decision to go against this Resolution supported by all Assemblymen on that day.

“Coming to a Resolution and agreement and then the first action of the Chief Secretary would be to disregard, throw aside, ignore this process, and announce a process that he unilaterally approved that does not involve the input of neither the Minority or any other political organisation or any entity except that he believes once he says it is apolitical then it becomes so.”

Mr. Morris explained why there is a need to have bipartisan meetings on the matter.

“This final Resolution really envisage a spirit of bipartisanship, a spirit of unity and a spirit of collaboration. Anytime this is dictated by a one man show and an autocratic process or unilateral process, then the likelihood of success becomes quite low.”

Minority Councillor Petal Daniel-Benoit also highlighted that there seems to be some disunity in the THA Executive’s view on the Autonomy Bills. She said this was noted from the Assemblymen’s presentations on October 24th.

“If it was the intent of the Executive to have this apolitical Committee established that should have been part of the amendments a week prior in the Assembly Legislature but it was not included in the amendments, there were no discussions by any member of the Majority as it relates to this Committee being set up.”

The Minority believes all of Tobago should be concerned with the decisions being taken by the Chief Secretary and his administration regarding the quest for autonomy.

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