00:00How you felt when you realized that the TPP wanted to be West?
00:06I felt great. It was a proud moment indeed.
00:09I think it was one of the proudest moments in my life.
00:15And I just have to thank God for that.
00:17I was really thankful on that night because despite the doubters, despite the critics, despite what persons had to say,
00:24I always say to persons, God has the final say and he had the final say on that night.
00:29Mr. Samson won the Tobago West seat against the former Tobago West MP, now political lead of the PNM Tobago
00:37Council, Shantford Joe Lewis.
00:39As to his feelings on her win at the PNM's internal election.
00:44I just stay in my corner and mind my business and do what I have been elected to do and
00:48that is what I will continue to do.
00:49So I don't look at the outside space or what is going on around.
00:53I focus on what I have to do and what the people have chosen me to do.
00:56Are you threatened by the leadership?
00:59I'm never threatened by anyone.
01:01Okay.
01:02In terms of her and leading the PNM, do you think that the PNM can make a comeback?
01:10The DPP is here to stay forever.
01:1260,000 strong behind us and we are here.
01:15Mr. Samson said he remains thankful for the close relations with central government and what Tobago has achieved thus far,
01:24inclusive of the Studley Park quarry license, constitutional changes in the parliament in favor of the Tobago House of Assembly,
01:32autonomy on the cards and town and country coming to Tobago, just to name a few.
01:38For one, we have had the export license.
01:41That is something that we have been clamoring for for quite some time.
01:44So, you know, it gives us the opportunity now where we can export our material, our products at the Studley
01:49Park quarry to other places to ensure that we get some revenue that will bring some forex as well, which
01:55is much needed for the island.
01:57And, you know, we have had some changes to the THAA in terms of mirroring what the government does in
02:03terms of their selection of ministers.
02:05So now the chief secretary is afforded that same type of arrangement where you can select any amount of secretaries
02:12within the Tobago House of Assembly.
02:14We caught up with Mr. Samson as he was distributing tools for young people in the agricultural sector.
02:21We have been doing a lot lately, you know, and if we look at the budget, we go back to
02:25the budget.
02:26You know, it was the highest budgetary allocation afforded to Tobago, and that goes back to the conversation between myself,
02:32the chief secretary, and the member of parliament on Tobago East with the minister of finance as well as the
02:37finance secretary here.
02:38So things are moving, things are happening for Tobago.
02:41Tobago East MP David Thomas, in echoing similar sentiments, said regular meetings are held with Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissasa
02:50about the business of the people of Tobago, and only last Saturday such a meeting was held.
02:56It is very good to see that when the Prime Minister is in decision-making mood, she would send for
03:04us, sit with us, and ask us to guide her on what Tobago should have, how Tobago should be treated,
03:14and we have seen a manifestation of her being, a woman to her word.
03:21Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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