Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is seeking to advance the Tobago autonomy process via a motion to be debated on Thursday, where he is proposing the Government work closely with the THA towards this end.
However, Minority Leader Kelvon Morris in a media conference on Wednesday has labelled the Chief Secretary's actions as selfish, deceptive and dangerous. He is calling on the Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to withdraw the motion. Elizabeth Williams has this report.
00:00He criticized the process that included consultation, and he's now embarking on a process that involves no consultation, and that to me is the highest essence of hypocrisy.
00:18The motion on Tobago's autonomy reads in part, be it resolved that this Assembly welcomes that commitment and signals its readiness to work with the government to advance Tobago's development.
00:31And be it further resolved that the government, through the Attorney General and the Chief Parliamentary Council, work with the THA to expand its legislative and regulatory authority over key areas in the Fifth Schedule, and to draft the necessary legal amendments in collaboration with the THA's legal team.
00:54And be it further resolved that the government review all previous versions of the autonomy bills, with input from the THA, identify areas of consensus and refinement, and reintroduce the bills in Parliament at the shortest possible period.
01:11Mr. Morris has described the motion as a hijack and a betrayal to the people of Tobago.
01:17It is a hijack of the people's voice, the Tobago Union's voice, and it is an absolute betrayal of everything Mr. Farley Chavez-Augustin once claimed to be leaving.
01:33The motion ends by stating, and be it further resolved, that the Chief Secretary transmits this motion and a supporting policy paper to the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity following its passage.
01:49Morris says it is nothing more than a sellout of the people of Tobago.
01:54He was the one who said he don't want no half a loaf. He wore the full bread, the full loaf. And today he's giving Tobago less than half. And the question we have to ask ourselves is this, what is this rail on the hand dealing? What is this thing? What is this sellout?
02:17The motion is to be debated at the plenary chamber of the THA on Thursday. Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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