Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is today speaking out on the reassigning of Education Secretary Zorisha Hackett temporarily, as Secretary of Culture and Antiquities, a role previously held by Tourism and Transportation Secretary Tashia Burris. This comes following a number of stakeholders expressing a lack of confidence in the Tourism Secretary and them boycotting the launch of Carnival. More in this Elizabeth Williams report.
00:00The chief secretary can decide to give one duty, he can give two, he can give five, he can give all 33.
00:09In other words, the chief secretary has the sole responsibility of deciding what the duties and functions are for a secretary.
00:19And as you can see in section 34.1, it says that for the carrying out of the functions of the assembly,
00:27that the chief secretary may for that purpose undertake or assign a secretary.
00:34May being operational here, being the operative word here, means that the chief secretary may assign duties or he may not assign such duties in the law.
00:46Mr. Augustine spoke on Monday following criticism by the PNM Tobago Council about the legality of the move as there was no explanation.
00:56Mr. Augustine said the move was done after a conversation with Secretary Zerisha Hackett and the stakeholders for the Tobago October Carnival.
01:06And then having had a conversation with the stakeholders for the Tobago October Carnival,
01:14this chief secretary decided that he will reassign some of the duties from Secretary Hackett to,
01:24sorry, from Secretary Boris to Secretary Hackett.
01:28So I reassigned in writing, not what I'm out, the duties for antiquities and culture to Secretary Hackett.
01:40And Secretary Boris remains with the duties for tourism and transportation.
01:50Augustine said the reassignment was done in writing and he is legally authorized to do so.
01:59He then called out PNM Tobago Council political leader, Ansel Dennis.
02:04I've been hearing Mr. Ansel Dennis talking about this issue,
02:08but the reality is Mr. Dennis, who was chief secretary for 581 days,
02:15has neither the legal expertise nor the experience to advise anybody on how the CHE ought to function and how it ought to be run.
02:25And that is evidenced by the nonsensical claims that he has been making with regards to the responsibilities assigned to Secretary Hackett
02:37that were previously under the full remit of Secretary Boris.
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