DAYS after Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke’s sudden resignation as deputy chief secretary, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) meets in a special sitting on Monday, at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.
The THA was originally scheduled to meet in a plenary sitting on Thursday at the Assembly Legislature. It is unclear as to whether this sitting will take place.
A notice from the Clerk of the Assembly on Friday said Monday’s sitting is expected to begin at 10.30 am but no motion or item for debate was listed on the order paper.
But speculation is rife that the sitting will address issues relating to Duke’s resignation as deputy chief secretary on Thursday and its implications for the operations of the THA.
Duke, who is currently in St Lucia, is the assemblyman for Roxborough/Argyle.
His resignation came more than one week after he accused the Farley Augustine-led THA of turning its backs on some 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers who had gone to perform at several cultural events in Tobago, in August.
The PDP leader, in a video posted on his Facebook page, chastised the THA for not providing the group with funding, outside of airfare, to cover their additional expenses.
As a result, he claimed they were stranded, stressed and hungry.
Augustine said contrary to Duke’s claims, the THA provided part-sponsorship to the group to the tune of $400,417.50.
Saying the THA could not provide additional funding owing its constraints, Augustine claimed Duke was aware of the situation.
Augustine subsequently said he was reviewing Duke’s performance as deputy chief secretary as he had not been fulfilling his responsibilities.
Duke responded by firing Augustine, Dr Faith BYisrael (Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection) and Alicia Roberts-Patterson as deputy political leaders.
Augustine later dared Duke to bring a motion of no confidence against him in the THA. This move culminated in Duke’s resignation on Thursday.
Commenting on the development, Tobago Business Chamber chairman and attorney Martin George questioned the legality of the executive council following Duke’s resignation from the THA post.
In a WhatsApp video on Saturday, George said the issue has national implications.
[caption id="attachment_975552" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during his budget presentation at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough in June 2022. FILE PHOTO/THA -[/caption]
“If there is no deputy chief secretary then, according to the THA Act, there can be no executive council because when one looks at the legislation and you look at what constitutes the executive council, it must include, the deputy chief secretary,” he said.
George said section 33 of the THA Act lists the deputy chief secretary as being one of the positions comprising the executive council.
“If there is no deputy chief secretary at present there is no executive council capable of running and managing the affairs of the THA legally.
“So it is a conundrum whic
