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PDP political leader Watson Duke - PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has blamed Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for the failure of the main Tobago autonomy bill in the Parliament.
During debate on the pieces of legislation on December 9, the House of Representatives passed the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021 by a vote of 20-10, but failed to pass the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020.
The Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020 did not get the special three-fourths majority for passage as 21 government members voted for the bill and 16 opposition members voted against. The bill required at least 31 of the 41 members to vote in favour.
At a news conference after the sitting, Augustine claimed there was absolutely "no will nor intent" by the government to pass the Constitution Amendment (Tobago Self-Government) Bill.
He revealed he had sent the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader a list of proposed amendments to the bills minutes before the sitting. Augustine claimed his legal team had worked throughout the weekend preparing the document containing the amendments.
But in a WhatsApp voice note on December 10, Duke alleged the bills failed because Augustine attempted to negotiate with the UNC
“The bills failed because our Chief Secretary does not know how to negotiate and, therefore, he attempted to negotiate with his friends in Trinidad – the UNC or agents of the UNC – and he did so without the knowledge of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA),” he alleged.
“For instance, the THA is still waiting on the document he said he would have sent to the members of the Opposition and Parliament regarding what Tobago wants.
“He is showboating himself and telling people he would have sent something and he didn’t send anything whatsoever. And so what we heard he sent was a text message to the Prime Minister saying he does not support the bill in its current form on the day of the sitting, which was yesterday (December 9).”
Duke described Augustine’s behaviour as Chief Secretary as “very unbecoming.
“I say he lacks political diplomacy in dealing with the Prime Minister. As Chief Secretary you must have diplomacy.”
After the bill failed to get a special majority in the Lower House, Augustine called Dr Rowley a house slave. He used that phrase in a Facebook post as well as at a media conference on December 9.
Duke recalled Augustine had said he would have hosted meetings on the bill at the beginning of the year. But this, he said, did not materialise.
“That is all. He is full of fancy talk and to this day he has not kept any meeting with Tobagonians in mass nor has he sought to advance his findings from a decision made by the THA. He has not brought his points to the assembly and pushed it forward.
"What he tries to bring to the assembly is other motions that deviate into the self-government bill.”
Duke claimed during his brief stint as Deputy Chief Secretary, Augustine “did not want him to do anything with autonomy.
“From not giving me an office and eventually he pushed me out. And now the whole thing (autonomy fight) has flopped.”
Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) political leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus said the party has been calling for the bills to be rejected.
“The IDA has been calling for the rejection of the bills and, therefore, agreeing with the decision to reject,” she told Newsday in a WhatsApp voice note.
Tsoiafatt-Angus argued the bills do not guarantee the man in the street a better quality of life.
“What it does is give more dominance to Cabinet and the executive council over the people. Without the rights of the communities written into those bills, the average Tobagonian will not be guaranteed to see a penny difference in their lives.”
She said communities are asking for financial autonomy and other resources “to prioritise their spending closer to the ground, spending that is based on community needs and not what politicians want to achieve for themselves.”
Tsoiafatt Angus added, “Without respecting and protecting the rights of the community, it is only those at the top who will have more money to spend however they want to spend it.”
The IDA, she said, has been calling on the Chief Secretary to “lead a proper process on this issue” since January.
Farley lacks leadership skills
Tsoiafatt Angus recalled Augustine said about a month ago that he was writing to Rowley and the Parliament about the issue.
“But it was very disturbing and downright embarrassing to hear today that it is through WhatsApp messages that he was corresponding with MPs just before them going into the House. Clearly, the Chief Secretary continues to demonstrate his lack of leadership skills and diplomacy in dealing with matters affecting Tobago.
Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus -
She urged Augustine to lead by example.
“The IDA calls on the Chief Secretary to do the right thing and lead the process to involve parties, the Legislature and the people of Tobago in a conversation on the way forward for the Tobago autonomy issue. This is not about your opinion, Chief Secretary. It is not a TPP (Tobago People’s Party) opinion. It is not even an IDA opinion. It should be a Tobago position.”
Pursue financial autonomy
Saying it was not surprised by the collapse of the bills, The Tobago Business Chamber said Tobagonians must now focus on financial autonomy.
“One of the things that I have said repeatedly is that Tobagonians should focus instead of trying to get financial autonomy first, and then all other things will fall in place," the chamber’s chairman Martin George said in a WhatsApp video.
"Because once you have financial autonomy, then you do not need to go and ask anybody for permission to have your independence.
“You think of a simple scenario of a child growing up at home. When you are small, you depend on your parents, they are the ones who have to take care of you, to provide food, clothing, shelter. But when you are grown and you become a man and you are earning your own money, you don’t have to ask them if you can move out and go on your own or rent somewhere on your own, because you are financially capable of doing so."
He said politicians continue to use the autonomy issue as a political football.
“They have Tobagonians chasing behind the ball running up and down the field while they keep shifting the goal post on them each time so that it becomes impossible to score.
“It is clear that at some point, one has to recognise and realise the aims and objectives of the politicians with this way they keep chaining up the population in Tobago about autonomy.”
The Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, meanwhile, said the collapse of the bills was a “missed opportunity for progress.”
In a statement on December 10, chamber president Curtis Williams said while the organisation supported the intent of the bills and viewed it as a step in the right direction, “several key issues required further clarification and resolution before the bill could be successfully implemented.”
He added the failure of the bill has reignited discussions about the legislative process and the importance of comprehensive consultation. “Many of our members have expressed concerns that the rushed timeline for the bills’ introduction left critical elements unaddressed, potentially undermining the very objectives it sought to achieve.”
Williams said Tobago’s quest for greater autonomy continues with “stakeholders across the spectrum urging a balanced and thoughtful approach to governance reform.
“The Chamber remains committed to fostering dialogue and advocating for the island’s sustainable development through effective policy and representation.”
This story was originally published with the title "Duke blames Chief Sec for failure of Tobago autonomy bill" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has blamed THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for the failure of the Tobago autonomy bill in the Parliament.
During debate on the pieces of legislation on December 9, the House of Representatives passed the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021 by a vote of 20-10, but failed to pass the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill did not get the special three-fourths majority for passage, as 21 government members voted for the bill and 16 opposition members voted against. The bill required at least 31 of the 41 members to vote in favour.
At a news conference after the sitting, Augustine claimed there was absolutely "no will nor intent" by the government to pass the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.
He revealed he had sent the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader a list of proposed amendments to the bills minutes before the sitting. Augustine claimed his legal team had worked throughout the weekend preparing the document containing the amendments.
But in a WhatsApp voice note on December 10, Duke alleged the bills failed because Augustine tried to negotiate with the UNC.
“The bills failed because our Chief Secretary does not know how to negotiate and, therefore, he attempted to negotiate with his friends in Trinidad, the UNC or agents of the UNC, and he did so without the knowledge of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA),” he alleged.
“For instance, the THA is still waiting on the document he said he would have sent to the members of the Opposition and Parliament regarding what Tobago wants.
“He is showboating himself and telling people he would have sent something, and he didn’t send anything whatsoever. And so what we heard he sent was a text message to the Prime Minister saying he does not support the bill in its current form on the day of the sitting, which was yesterday (December 9).”
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