Three Councillors have been appointed to the 15-member elected Tobago House of Assembly.
Former Finance Secretary Petal Ann Roberts has been reappointed, alongside Tobago People’s Party Mobilisation Officer Ackel Franklyn. Legal professional Adanna Joseph-Wallace was named as the third appointee.
Addressing party supporters at James Park following the Inauguration Ceremony, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the selection of Councillors was not an easy task.
“I carefully considered experience, service, balance and the future needs of the island. Among those considered were Ms. Abby Taylor, the former Presiding Officer who served Tobago with distinction as Presiding Officer, and Ann Natasha Second, the Chairman of our party whose leadership has been invaluable. In the end, I yielded to geography, ensuring balanced representation by allowing two Councillors from Tobago West and one from Tobago East.”
Chief Secretary Augustine stressed his decision was not guided by politics but by fairness and function. He also announced that a new Division will be established. Hence the reason for the selection of Adanna Joseph-Wallace.
“One of the areas that we will be introducing is a new Division for Legal Affairs and Inter-Governmental Affairs, which will be equivalent to that of an Attorney General for the Tobago House of Assembly and the Tobago Island Government, and because of that I needed to have on this team a lawyer of excellence, and that is why allow me to introduce to you Ms. Adanna Joseph-Wallace.”
The Chief Secretary further informed that announcements regarding this newly elected Assembly will be made during a press conference on Friday.