Deputy Managing Editor
sampson.nanton@cnc3.co.tt
The United National Congress' (UNC) outpouring of support toward Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine is not earning the UNC any favour in return, as Augustine has made it clear that he and his Tobago People’s Party (TPP) wants no alignment with anyone.
Augustine has made it clear that the party’s strategy involves seeking to win the two Tobago seats in the next general election and using them as bargaining chips to obtain autonomy for the island.
He revealed this in an hour-long interview with Guardian Media yesterday at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex in Tobago, where he has an office.
Speaking about the UNC’s support, particularly given the party’s history of strained relations with Tobago, Augustine explained that the only real support he seeks from the UNC is for constitutional reform in the Parliament when the Tobago autonomy bills are debated.
“The TPP, of which I am the interim leader, is not aligning with anybody. Anybody can support what we propose. In fact, anybody sensible supports what we propose. I have had meetings with trade union leaders across the space, but we are not aligning with anybody. Whoever wants to support our ideologies, that’s all great,” Augustine said.
“As a matter of fact, for there to be constitutional reform we need a special majority, so I need both parties in Trinidad, both major parties, to align themselves with a vision for a much more autonomous Tobago.”
The support for the THA leader has been coming mainly from UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar while campaigning for the Local Government Elections after the relations between Augustine and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley deteriorated.
Augustine acknowledged that Dr Keith Rowley’s People’s National Movement (PNM) is the TPP’s main adversary, which he attributed to the “licks we put on them” in the December 6, 2021 THA elections, where the TPP won by a margin on 14-1.
“Naturally, the PNM are our adversary because they are the ones we defeated in the last election. So, naturally, they find themselves as our adversary, but we are not aligned to anyone. Our strategy ... this is what’s best for Tobago ... is that Tobago stands alone. That is what’s best for Tobago. Tobago wins when Tobago stands alone,” he said.
Augustine maintained that the UNC was also part of the economic stranglehold on Tobago over the years.
“It is a political strategy to keep us that way and, to be fair, it is not only the PNM that keeps us there. Look back, whether UNC in power, PNM in power, the same khaki pants it has been. It was Basdeo Panday in office as prime minister after Tobago gave them two seats ... and you see why there is wisdom in not trying to be part of any Cabinet and giving any seat to anybody. After Tobago gave them those two seats there arose conflict between the two islands that triggered the Dispute Resolution Commission,” Augustine noted.
Like the 17-17-2 general election result of 1995, the strategy now is to win the two Tobago seats in the general election and use them as bargaining chips for Tobago’s autonomy.
Augustine said he believes the PNM was aware that the TPP can win the Tobago seats, and that is why he has faced strong opposition since taking office.
“Tobago perhaps has the two most important seats in the Parliament. And for the PNM, they believe that if we are to win the two Tobago seats, it stymies their chances of holding on to government in Trinidad given the close margins between them and the UNC,” he said.
The Chief Secretary added, “Tobago might very well have the golden ticket for somebody, but that is not our major concern. Our major concern is the issue of greater autonomy in Tobago, that’s our concern. From where we sit, we wish to use our two seats as negotiating tools by which we can achieve greater autonomy for Tobago.”
Asked if he genuinely believes he can win the seats, Augustine replied, “Yes, I do. I’m pretty confident that we can.”
He said, “The seats won’t go anywhere because I can be quite open about what our political strategy is, which is that our two seats must be used to negotiate autonomy for Tobago. We are not interested in any Cabinet or forming a Cabinet or being part of any government or any big rank or portfolio. What we want is to use our two seats as bargaining chips, to say, ‘Look, you can get our support if we in Tobago can get these needed changes to the legislation, to Act 40 of 1996’,” Augustine said.
No reason to mend relations with PM
On his public dispute with Dr Rowley, the Chief Secretary said he does not see any reason to seek to mend relations with the prime minister.
“It is unnecessary for me. All I want is for Tobago to be left alone to be able to manage its own affairs. Whether the prime minister says hi to me, whether he shakes my hand, whether we knock glass, those are matters that are inconsequential,” he said.
He said that when he won the election, it took a month before Dr Rowley met with him, and it wasn’t until former chief secretary Hochoy Charles pointed out that Section 31 of THA Act required them to meet that Augustine realised it was necessary.
He argued that the PNM has been sending a fake message about their relations.
“What irks me is that you get this public impression from the Central Government that we want to collaborate, we want to work with you all, and then quietly they turn their backs and just ignore you,” he said.
He said the last time they met was over the controversy related to the appointment of the Chief Administrator over two months ago.
The law does not prescribe a fixed period of time for their meetings but says it should be done frequently.
Nothing from police on investigation
Meanwhile, Augustine said he has not heard anything from the police on the investigation involving him since his home was searched.
“I have not heard anything from the police. The Police Complaints Authority has been in contact with my lawyers. The Integrity Commission has also responded to my lawyers and acknowledged receipt of our query and investigation, but we have not heard anything from the TTPS,” he said.
“As far as I am aware, they don’t know what they are doing, I don’t know what they are doing and with my lawyers, I will be pressing this matter further. As you are aware, I did call for an independent inquiry of the matters at hand.”