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Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) deputy leader Farley Augustine said the party's insistence on the secretary of finance position in any power-sharing agreement with the PNM has nothing to do with controlling the money within the Tobago House of Assembly.
During a TTT morning talk show programme on Tuesday, Augustine responded to a question about the party’s firm stance on the finance division. The party is also requesting the positions of secretary and assistant secretary of infrastructure, quarries and the environment; secretary and assistant secretary of health, wellness and family development; and secretary and assistant secretary of settlements, housing and urban renewal.
Augustine, who retained the Speyside/Parlatuvier/L’anse Fourmi seat in the THA election, said the party’s proposal to take control of the Division of Finance is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.
He said the secretary of finance, as all other secretaries, can advise the chief secretary, who, in turn, can also give instructions to the finance secretary outside of the executive council.
“And we don’t want a situation where we are part of an executive council and we don’t have the opportunity to create that natural check and balance. Because remember, once we are part of a joint executive council, automatically we are all governed by the principles, ensuring that as a collective body, we have collective responsibility.”
On the programme, Augustine also scoffed at the view that a PNM chief secretary and a PDP secretary of finance would not work well together.
“I actually think the opposite. I think it can work and I actually think that in Tobagonians deciding to make us even-stevens, so to speak, Tobagonians are essentially saying, ‘We are tired of hearing all of your back and forth. We can’t really decide which of you we should give the executive control to. So, how about all of you behave like Tobagonians – like good Tobagonians – and find a way to work it out.’”
He said the PDP is not proposing that the arrangement be open-ended.
“We are not proposing that we do this for the next four years. What we are saying is that we can do this temporarily so that we can have good governance, we can have democracy at work and we can have accountability while at the same time, the both parties together advance the cause for autonomy for Tobago.”
Augustine said, “At the end of the day, we do not want to have a situation where the people we represent...end up being at a disadvantage.”
“And if it is I am saying to the people who voted for Farley to be chief secretary that I am not going to honour your democratic wish and I am going to give that up, there must be something I can return to them and say I am giving up that which you have voted for and here is an alternative that I think it may not be equal.”
Augustine added: “It may be inferior to what you have voted for. But I am saying to you, hey, this is an alternative that you can live with for a temporary period.”
He said the PNM could also make similar demands.
“The truth is: no six is bigger than the other.”
The PDP and PNM are scheduled to meet at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, on Wednesday, to discuss power-sharing.
Both parties confirmed the meeting on Tuesday in separate Whatsapp messages.
But the PNM, owing to much public outcry, said a change of approach is necessary.
“There has been a public outcry to stop being played out in the public space and the media,” Tobago Council PRO Kwesi Des Vignes said in a statement.
“As responsible and sensible leaders we have a duty to respect the wishes of the public. As such, to avoid further anxiety or frustration for the public, the meeting will be a private one.
“Once a pathway forward has been identified, we will fully engage the media and by extension the public to share the outcome.”
The PDP and PNM each won six seats in the January 25 THA election.
The Assembly has since remained in deadlock because the 12 assemblymen have not been able to elect a presiding officer.
But both parties have said they are willing to meet in the interest of advancing the island’s development.
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