There is no deception or harm in a motion that the government review all previous versions of the Tobago Autonomy Bill. This is according to Chief Secretary Farley Augustine as he responded to the call of the THA Minority to withdraw the motion currently being debated in the Assembly Legislature.
Via Facebook live, Mr. Augustine noted that Mr. Morris misinterpreted the resolutions, and debunked his claims that the THA is taking a decision without consulting Tobagonians.
“This motion says, while we welcome your current attitude to Tobago, Madam Prime Minister and Cabinet, we want you to do a couple of things. On, every single thing in the 5th schedule of the current Bill give Tobagonians power, control, management, governance over those things in accordance with Act 40 of 1996. Then take all the Bills that were circulating from Tobagonians, create a harmonious working document, let us do all the consultations have the Parliamentary Committee going and all of that and then, only after that is done, you carry it to the Parliament.”
Mr. Augustine added that the motion outlines that the government will communicate with the Tobago House of Assembly, which he stressed includes the Minority Leader. Therefore, he reiterated that a consultative approach will be taken in moving forward after the passage of the motion.
“The motion in no way says that there will not be an inclusive or consultative process. The motion does not say that at all, so that is in your imagination. The motion in no way takes away from the integrity and the authority of the Tobago House of Assembly. In fact, it entrenches it by saying that the government must take input from the Tobago House of Assembly.”