Clayton Clarke
Tobago Correspondent
Denese Toby-Quashie has been appointed as the new acting Chief Administrator of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
Toby-Quashie took up the vacant position on Monday, more than a month after the previous Chief Administrator, Ethlyn John, retired on May 17.
Her appointment followed a protracted feud between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Chief Secretary Farley Augustine over the failure to appoint a successor to John.
Richie Toppin was earmarked to replace John. However, his name was withdrawn.
Rowley and Augustine had traded words accusing each other of being responsible for the lapse in the Chief Administrator appointment process.
A news release from the THA said Toby-Quashie was greeted on the first day on the job by Augustine, who said he was pleased that the vacancy was filled.
He said, “I am very relieved because there is quite a bit of work piling up. We hit the ground running this morning. For starters, the Human Resource (HR) matters in the THA can get handled because she had delegated responsibilities. Secondly, we are immediately working on FUEC’s, which is the Firearms Users’ Employee Certificates. That’s for workers within the THA who must carry firearms such as game-wardens and public service security. FUEC’s are dependent on a FUL held by the Chief Administrator. So, immediately we will revert from the use of private security.”
Augustine added that the tendering procedures in the THA can resume.
He is hoping that appointments to Public Service positions in Tobago can be made quickly. It’s unfortunate that this had to take place so long. For me, the most important thing in all of this, notwithstanding Tobago notifying all and sundry a month in advance that we needed a new Chief Ad (ministrator), it just took us more than a month afterwards to get one and, clearly, the system does not work when it comes to Tobago.”
He said Toby-Quashie’s appointment was well received by senior public servants.
