Former MP for Tobago East Rennie Dumas describes the new Ministry of Tobago Development as a "curious creature."
In a telephone interview yesterday, Dumas said, "It would seem weird (that) the advocates of Tobago would now propose a Ministry of Tobago Development as a central government feature and institution. It is a curious creature. According to the schedule of development, a number of development issues redound to the purview of the THA according to the present schedule. "It raises the possibility of cooperation and collaboration between the Tobago House of Assemby (THA) and the Central Government. Dumas sees the possibility of conflict where the Central Bank will be seeking to dominate the development process in Tobago.
"Maybe, possibly, side stepping the THA and that's cause for concern. It might be sidestepping the meaning of the institution called the THA. Regardless of the affiliation of the governance, the THA has a unique place in the country's governance with respect to Tobago and that should be respected by all." He said the roles between the THA and the Central Government should not be confused. "We went to elect a government and when we elect the THA we deal with managers of the THA. We can't confuse the roles and the relative sovereignty of each body. It should not be considered a threat by the government that emerges at the national level," said Dumas.
On the flip side, Dumas remained confident the proper groundwork for Tobago's development had been laid.
"We have laid a groundwork in terms of what we expect. It would have identified what we were doing in schools, infrastructure and land reform all of which is being laid out." Dumas says trust will ensure the welfare of Tobagonians as of paramount importance by TOP leader Ashworth Jack. "One has to trust. Since the TOP was a significant partner, they would ensure those things continue. It means a lot symbolically in terms of the governance of Tobago. "Anything that threatens the integrity of the institutions and access to appropriate financial and personnel and strategic governance space would be rejected by the people," added Dumas.
He said Jack and THA Leader Orville London sat and decided what was the next appropriate move for the governance of Tobago. They met the political entities and there was an agreement on what moves were apparent to address the governance, autonomy issue and the whole question of fiscal sovereignty for the THA. He said the requirement is to take it to the Parliament and have it enacted. Efforts to contact London proved futile.