DR VANUS JAMES
DR WINFORD JAMES
This is the conclusion of the article reflecting on the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill, 2021, and The Tobago Island Government Bill, 2021. The first and second parts were carried in the Newsday on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
Other specific matters of concern deserving reference
A NUMBER of proposals seem designed to deny self-determination to Tobago. These should be matters of concern to the country.
21. It is unclear how the provisions of Sections 15 to 18 of The Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill, 2021 to divide the service commissions to locate two subordinates in Tobago in so-called "Tobago Divisions" would promote either equality of status or self-determination for Tobago.
22. In Section 42 of the proposed Tobago Island Government Bill, 2021,
a. The Minister of Finance and two Cabinet members make up the majority of the proposed five-member Fiscal Review Commission, with the other two members coming from the Executive Council. This is explicit domination of the financing arrangements for Tobago by the Government of TT, contrary to the principles of equal status and self-determination.
b. The Fiscal Review Commission therefore entrenches Tobago's dependence on the Cabinet.
c. The Minister of Finance controls the borrowing rights of the Tobago Island Government, since borrowing is to be undertaken 'subject to the approval of the minister with responsibility for finance, which should not unreasonably be withheld.'
23. In Section 37 of the proposed Tobago Island Government Bill, 2021, the Central Bank controls Tobago's investment portfolio, without any option for Tobago to manage its own affairs from Tobago. The Central Bank is under the control of the Minister of Finance.
24. The financing arrangements for the Tobago Island Government are arbitrary and contrary to the principles of equality of status and self-determination, as specified above:
a. The provision of Section 29 of the proposed Tobago Island Government Bill, 2021 allocating to Tobago a minimum of 6.8 per cent of parliamentary appropriations in any year is not based on any known economic principle, and thus cannot be adjusted on a rational basis. It also denies equality of status to Trinidad with respect to the recurrent expenditures of the Government of TT.
b. The absence of boundaries for Tobago makes it virtually impossible to specify predictable and fair development revenues for Tobago that reflect the equal status principle.
Constitutional provisions for national financing of Tobago
25. Provisions for national contributions to financing of Tobago are based on the assumption that the Government of TT collects most of the taxes, royalties and special revenues created by the national economy. The provisions amount to a national revenue-sharing arrangement.
26. If defined on the basis of the equidistant line, Tobago can be financed with a fixed, fair and predictable share of national expenditures specified in the Cons
