Unrevised Hansard-11th Sitting (2017-2021)

Papers Laid

TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2018 The House met at 1.35 p.m.

PRAYERS [MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER in the Chair] MR. PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Finance and the Economy.

PAPERS LAID (i)

Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of September, 2017. [Secretary of Finance and the Economy (Hon. Joel Jack)].

(ii)

Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of October, 2017. [Secretary of Finance and the Economy (Hon. J. Jack)].

(iii)

Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of November, 2017. [Secretary of Finance and the Economy (Hon. J. Jack)].

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thank you.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Question No.32 - Minority Leader.

FOOD PROVIDED AT SCHOOLS (Safety of) 32.

MR. WATSON DUKE asked the Chief Secretary and Secretary of

Education, Innovation and Energy the following question: "In September 2017, the THA passed a motion that encourages healthy eating in school. In November 2017 several students from Belle Garden AC and Roxborough Secondary School fell ill, were taken to health facilities, and confirmed to have food poisoning. (a) taking provided?"

What steps have the Division taken to facilitate implementation of this ‘Healthy Eating in Schools’ policy, particularly into consideration the safety of the foods

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Chief Secretary. [Desk thumping] HON. CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (Hon. Kelvin Charles):

Thank you

Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, as you may recall, the approved Motion referred to was designed to engage wide stakeholder support for the promotion of healthy eating by our young persons generally. However, that Motion was preceded by an Executive Council's initiative to participate in a National Programme designed to reduce the escalating prevalence of chronic diseases in the general population including children.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. CHIEF SECRETARY (Cont’d)

In this regard, the Executive Council in April 2017, approved the implementation of a proposal to promote healthy eating in four (4) schools in Tobago as a "Pilot Project." These schools were:  Lambeau Anglican Primary School;  Patience Hill Government Primary School;  Charlotteville S.D.A Primary School; and  Bishop's High School.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has responsibility for data analysis and reporting. We are currently awaiting their report on the Pilot Project.

In the meantime, the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy revised its School Feeding Programme with effect from November 2017. It involved an adjustment to the overall menu supplied to schools whilst ensuring that the meals are balanced.

A focus on local meals was also introduced for the third week of the five week cycle utilized. During this week, low fat meals that are rich in beneficial carbohydrates, protein and fibre are prepared utilizing locally sourced produce.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. CHIEF SECRETARY (Cont’d)

In an effort to ensure optimal food safety, there is continuous Food Preparation training conducted with Food Service Officers as well as Service Providers.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thank you.

Question No.33 - Minority Leader.

DWIGHT YORKE STADIUM REPAIRS (Contract details) 33.

MR. WATSON DUKE asked the Secretary of Sports and Youth

Affairs the following question: "At the 18th Tobago Falcons Athletic Club Awards Ceremony and Dinner, the Secretary with responsibility for Sport indicated that five million dollars ($5M) was allocated to the repair of the Dwight Yorke Stadium, and that a contractor was already engaged. (a) who bid

Please provide a description of the works to be completed, the name of the contractor, and the number of contractors for the contract?"

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Sports.

5

2018.01.25 D.C 1.35 – 1.45 p.m.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d)

SECRETARY OF SPORTS AND YOUTH AFFAIRS (Hon. Jomo Pitt): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. In response to the question posed by the Minority Leader the answer to a three-part question.

The required works have been divided into five (5) packages:  Package one

(1) - electrical works;

 Package two

(2) - emergency standby systems;

 Package three (3) - roofing works;  Package four (4) - plumbing works; and  Package five (5) - general clean-up.

Contracts have not yet been awarded for the packages. The selection of contractors will be in accordance with UDeCOTT's (Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago) Procurement Policies and Procedures.

[Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Question No.34 by the Minority

Councillor.

CARIBBEAN AIRLINES (Committee to Monitor New Changes) 34.

COUNCILLOR DR. FAITH B. YISRAEL asked the Chief

Secretary and Secretary of Education, Innovation and Energy the following questions:

6 Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) COUNCILLOR DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

"A December 1st 2017 Media Release from the Office of the Chief Secretary indicated that a committee to ‘monitor the efficiency of the new (Caribbean Airlines) changes’ was being set up. (a)

Please indicate whether such a committee has been set up.

(b)

Outline the monitoring process that this committee will use to systematically record complaints about CAL's new

policies; including the telephone number, social media tags, email addresses, and any other monitoring mechanisms. (c)

What is the ‘later date’ for the review of the effect of the changes?"

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Chief Secretary.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (Hon. Kelvin Charles): Thank you Madam Presiding Officer.

At a meeting on Thursday, November 30th, 2017,

between Representatives of the Tobago House of Assembly and Caribbean Airlines, it was agreed that a Joint Committee will be established to monitor the efficacy of the implementation of the plan changes scheduled to take effect from December 12th, 2017.

Caribbean Airlines has since agreed that within two (2) weeks they would be ready with the arrangements. In this connection therefore, Madam Presiding Officer, once the Joint Committee is up and running, an 7 Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. CHIEF SECRETARY (Cont’d)

appropriate statement shall be made in this Honourable House and therefore, we shall communicate all the relevant information through this House to the people of Tobago. [Desk thumping]

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d)

SUPPLEMENTAL

So, please, just to confirm you said that, that Committee should have been set up within two (2) weeks up to the December date?

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: I never did say that.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Question No. 35 by Minority

Councillor.

STUDLEY PARK (Construction and Excavation Works)

35.

COUNCILLOR

F.

B. YISRAEL

asked

the

Secretary

of

Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment and Leader of Assembly Business the following question:

“At the foot of Shanghie Hill, at the ‘Welcome To Studley Park’ sign, there is construction that includes the excavation of the beachfront/wall. (a)

Please provide information about what is being constructed?

(b)

Who is responsible for the construction (including whether it is a public or private project)?

(c)

What environmental clearance has been granted to allow the construction to proceed?

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

SECRETARY OF INFRASTURCTURE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMNENT (Hon. Kwesi Des Vignes): Thank you Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, the project that was mentioned, is a private project that is being carried out.

As omnipotent as the Division of

Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment seems to be, we do not have any involvement with such a project.

As omniscient as the Minority

Member may want us to be, we do not have any knowledge of the person or the developer that is listed.

For the edification of this Honourable House

and the Member, there is an approver’s process for both private and commercial buildings.

There is an application to Town and Country and they check on land usage; density; and parking. When the above is checked, Town and Country then submits this information to Public Health who acts as a distribution to

Fire Services, Water and Sewerage Authority, Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment (DIQE) and Health.  The Fire Service check access, fire alarms; sprinklers etcetera;

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d)

 Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) checks water supply to the areas to our connection and the soak-away;  The Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment has the responsibility to check the structural integrity of the building and ensure that structural designs meet the required code whether it is an American code or European code. The Drainage and road design.  Health then does its approvals as well.

Once all approvals are met by the aforementioned services, Planning then gives the final approval to the developer. As it stands, there is no information on any environmental clearance being granted by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) whom the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment act as an agent on behalf of this Agency.

There are certain requirements for a CUC for the edification of this House again, which requires also acreage in terms of how many hectares of land is being used, any trees being cleared and the scope of the land. To date, there are no applications coming forward to the Division of Infrastructure and no approvals granted by the Environmental Management Agency.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thank you.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d)

SUPPLEMENTAL Given the obvious proximity of this construction and previously outlined expressions that coastal erosions and so forth is something that is of importance to the Division. Do you intend to make any enquiries as to this construction and why none of what you have outlined has been provided?

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: You need to limit to one of the questions.

DR. F. B. YISRAEL: It was one question Madam Presiding Officer. The question is: What is the Division planning to follow through given that there are no application to the Emergency Management Agency (EMA)?

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Thank you Madam Presiding Officer. The matter as indicated previously there is a process. The matter will be forwarded to Town and Country Planning Division, but I am pleased to inform this House that the Administrator of the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment has already been instructed to set up a Standing Committee for

Infrastructural Development on the island of Tobago. The key stakeholders would include:  The Utility Companies;  Town and Country Planning; Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d)

 The Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development;  The Division of Food Production Forestry and Fisheries; and  The Environmental Management Agency.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Question No. 36 by the Minority

Councillor.

WINDWARD ROAD, GOODWOOD (Request to Construct Adequate Drainage)

36.

COUNCILLOR

F.

B. YISRAEL

asked

the

Secretary

of

Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment and Leader of Assembly Business the following question:

“On the Windward Road, shortly after Miss Mills Trace in Goodwood (heading west), the Tobago House of Assembly widened the road and constructed a retaining wall (that ends just before the Public

Cemetery). An adequate drainage system is not available at the base of the entrance to the Fletcher property, which results in water continually flowing into the road (instead of through the tunnels under the bridge as was the original design). (a) What actions have you taken to rectify this situation? (b) When will the issue be rectified?�

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Thank you Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, the issue of adequate drainage is a considerable one facing the island of Tobago at present.

The significant

pace of development on the island both public and private fueled, by an increase in disposable income and an increase in demand for certain commercial services, has at times overwhelmed some of our aging infrastructure.

Madam Presiding Officer, this challenge has been exacerbated by indiscriminate and environmentally unsustainable practices by our citizens.

Green spaces that were once beautiful lawns and gardens are now covered with concrete, while plastic and other manmade waste flow down our drains, rivers and streams. Further, with the increase in Motor Vehicles on our roads, again as evidence to the economic stability our residents enjoy, brought on by the achievement about what can be achieved as full employment on the island, there is a greater demand for widening and asphalted roads and drains.

Madam Presiding Officer, through the Development Programme the Division of Infrastructure has responded by building kilometres of box

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d) drains curbs and slippers, while also building, developing and resurfacing hundreds of roads on the island. In light of our diminishing resources and continue challenges in some areas on the island, as Secretary of the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, I would have done two (2) things that would have liked to share with this Honourable House.

Firstly Madam Presiding Officer, acting on information from officials from Tobago Emergency Management Authority (TEMA) and the Fire Service, I would have toured many of the affected areas myself during periods of bad weather inclusive of:  Lowlands;  Canaan/Bon Accord;  Shirvan;  Buccoo;  Moriah;  Mason Hall;  Parlatuvier;  Lambeau;

 Bloody Bay;  Roxborough;  Scarborough; and  Goodwood.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d)

Secondly, based on firsthand information and technical advice, I have instructed the Administrator to form a Drainage Taskforce within the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment using our current human resources. The remit of this taskforce is threefold  Improve the Maintenance Programme for existing Drainage Network by using GIS technology;  Develop and Repair Drainage System using relevant data as a guide; and  Respond quick time in emergency situation.

This taskforce is also mandated to collaborate closely with the:  Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development;  Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries; as well as:  Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA).

As a regards Fletcher corner, the area Representative Assemblyman Hayden Spencer, Secretary for Food Production Forestry and Fisheries, was the first to bring the issues to the attention of my office.

Based on his

experience and knowledge, the area Representative would have advised on the challenge and the way forward.

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont’d) HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d) The Engineers in the Division has taken this into consideration, as the challenge is the fact that the drain crossing is currently clogged, as such the run-off flows into the roadway. Due to the depth of the drain and the back-up water access to unclog the drain was very limited. With our strengthened partnership with Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), we have an agreement that the operators of the VAT Master Truck, will access the drain to determine if the truck can unclogged the drain. Failing this, a submersible pump will be used to remove the water and then have the drain cleared of whatever is blockages preventing the water from flowing. In the long term there is a plan to reconstruct the entrance in the area to allow the water coming off of the driveway adjacent to the drain to enter into the drain. The drain is also to be enlarge to reduce the chance of future blockages.

At this time I would like to thank the efforts of Assemblyman Hayden Spencer, for continuously following up with my office to ensure that the residence of Goodwood experience relief in the near future. [Desk thumping]

Oral Answers to Questions (Cont'd)

COUNCILLOR DR. F. B. YISRAEL: The second part of the question spoke specifically about timelines. All of that sounds great but when do we think this issue will be rectified?

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Madam Presiding Officer, as indicated in my response the residents of Goodwood will experience relief in the near future.

[Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: questions.

Okay, we will move on from

STATEMENTS SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP MADAM

PRESIDING

OFFICER:

Secretary

for

Community

Development, Enterprise Development and Labour. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR (Hon. Marslyn Melville-Jack): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, Members of this Honourable House, Ladies and Gentlemen, Students.

This week marks exactly one year since we assumed Office as Assemblymen within the Tobago House of Assembly. I am grateful to God, to the Honourable Chief Secretary, Mr. Kelvin Charles, my Assembly Colleagues and the hard working staff of the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour for making my engagement as Secretary a fruitful and enjoyable experience.

Madam Presiding Officer, it is recorded in the book of Genesis 41 that in the Land of Egypt there was seven (7) years of plenty and then there were

seven (7) years of famine. There was a man called, "Joseph" who, through his faithfulness and reliance on God was able to steer the country successfully through the lean years and we on this side can affirm that we have such a man, for a time like this. [Desk thumping]

This man is our

Chief Secretary - Honourable Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] In the face of a shrinking economy, our newly appointed Chief Secretary, proposed to all of Tobago that the best approach to community prosperity and to achieve an enhanced quality of life was to give to individuals, families, businesses and community groups the freedom, opportunity and encouragement to build and secure their own future.

In order to achieve these goals, he advised that the strategy to be employed should be community focused and productivity driven. He saw Community Development as the axis around which Tobago's future development will revolve.

Madam Presiding Officer, the specific mandate to this newly aligned Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour was the promotion of social and economic growth through the management and development of community structures, the expansion of community activities, provision of an enabling environment for the development of community-based entrepreneurs and the engagement of the THA (Tobago House of Assembly), NGOs, (Non-Governmental Organizations) FBOs (Family-based Organizations) and CBOs (Community-based Organizations) to participate in and accelerate the growth of sustainable communities.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me take this opportunity to applaud the visionary leadership of the Honourable Chief Secretary who recognized that in stringent economic times, the fostering of strong partnerships among community stakeholders was critical to enhance delivery of services. This Administration is committed to our mantra of "Enhancing Delivery, Strengthening Partnerships".

Madam Presiding Officer, the strategic realignment of our Division, to include the Departments of:  Community Development;  Business Development Unit;  Labour;  CEPEP (Community-based Environmental, Enhancement Programme); and

Protection

and

 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Agency).

Was the perfect catalyst to spring board a variety of successful communitybased initiatives and activities, which supported the realization of this Administration's mission.

Our Division's mandate is reflected in our

revised vision which states: "Building Strong Families, Sustainable Communities and a Healthy, Productive Workforce."

Madam Presiding Officer, it is noteworthy, that the Tobago House of Assembly invested millions of dollars over the years, in the construction, upgrade and refurbishment of Community Centres and Youth Spaces in more than forty (40) communities throughout Tobago.

However, the

majority of these facilities remained closed throughout the day and were inaccessible to many community groups.

To remedy this anomaly, the Division engaged Staff from various departments to temporarily manage and coordinate activities on a daily basis, within thirteen (13) multipurpose community facilities, as Phase 1 of a Pilot Project to bring Government Services nearer to the people within communities. This Division partnered with other Divisions within the THA to provide application forms for a variety of grants and loan funding towards entrepreneurial pursuits.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Vocational Skills Programme which is conducted within a large number of Community Centres was broadened to provide Day and Evening Classes in a wide variety of courses.

The

programme offerings were also increased to include more technical skill based units like electrical installation, air conditioning and refrigeration.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am happy to report that more than seven hundred (700) persons graduated from these programmes last November.

[Desk thumping]

This Event culminated in a gala display of quality

products and service items.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Division of Community Development Enterprise Development and Labour is also partnering with the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy to offer a Construction Training Programme at the recently upgraded Roxborough Trade Centre, for upgrading the skill-set of our employees. Twenty-five (25) of our artisans have been selected to participate in this skill enhancement programme.

Madam Presiding Officer, as we sought to build human capacity and to provide a nurturing environment for aspiring entrepreneurs in communities, the Business Development Unit (BDU) provided financial training for businessmen within two (2) communities and partnered with the Community Development Unit, in the hosting of three (3) Night Markets and a Grand Christmas Village Experience on the Scarborough Esplanade which showcased local businesses and sought to encourage the population to acquire a taste for local products.

This Department proposes to take ten (10)

businessmen who were previously funded by this Division to export ready status by the end of this Fiscal Year. Training will be provided in packaging, labelling, marketing and promotion of products and services as part of the Business Incubator Programme.

The Business Development Unit (BDU) distributed a total of approximately six hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($630,000) in loans and four hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) in grants as seed capital to forty-one (41) young, enterprising businessmen and approximately three hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($360,000) were recovered from delinquent clients. [Desk thumping] This Unit was also instrumental in the official opening of the long awaited Argyle Micro Centre and keys were distributed to eight (8) tenants from Tobago East. (Desk thumping)

Madam Presiding Officer, the Building and Maintenance Unit were also successful in finally awarding the Contract for the construction of the new Belle Garden Multipurpose Community Facility which is expected to be completed on time and within budget by August 2018. [Desk thumping] Additionally, five (5) Community Centres namely:

 Castara;  Mt. Grace;  Canaan/Bon Accord;  Signal Hill; and  Bethel were refurbished at an approximate cost of three point three million dollars ($3.3m.). Four (4) of these refurbished centres will be handed over at official ceremonies to be held on February 8th and 9th, 2018. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, the Department of Labour launched its Mobile Caravan Unit last December, thus making Labour Related Services more accessible throughout communities.

The Occupational Health and Safety Department, continues to collaborate with all Divisions of the Tobago House of Assembly, in the promotion of a positive Occupational Safety and Health Culture.

The

Department has also recently commenced discussion on the roll out of the

World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Community Model Pilot Project within one community in Tobago.

The Community Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme’s or (CEPEP) that Policy is currently under review to reengineer operations of workers through mandatory training and skill enhancement for a more productive and sustainable workforce. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, we believe that the most important asset of any island, is its Human Resource. Our Division understands, that we are entrusted with the responsibility of developing and empowering people.

A consistent message of no job cuts in the Tobago House of Assembly, still resonates with our Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, though we are faced with stringent economic challenges. We understand that job security is even more critical in times like these. The Division is committed to continued collaborated efforts with other Divisions of the Tobago House of Assembly to ensure that the services offered are streamlined to avoid duplication‌ [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Member, your speaking time has

ended.

HON. M. MELVILLE-JACK: Thank you. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT [Mr. Sheldon Cunningham]: [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, with permission I would like to make

a statement.

This year marks five (5) years of my service to Tobago, as an Assemblyman and as the Area Representative for the Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah Constituency.

We have enjoyed many reverent years,

remarking how, “Tobago becomes more beautiful”, as her infrastructure ascends and her people makes determined strides in:

 Global Leadership;  Education;  Sport; and  Technology

among other spheres. What is particularly interesting about this phase in our development, is the undertaking of “business as unusual”’ forged by our leader, the Honourable Kelvin Charles [Desk thumping], which calls the whole of Tobago towards a mature and mastery of all spheres that contributes to dominance. What this means in essence, is that at the locus, Tobago is being reengineered for greater exploits, with the current team at the helm. [Desk thumping] Tobago’s security is in good hands. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, the era in which we live demands uncommon leadership. In times like these, where adversity appears to be the prevailing circumstances. The people of Tobago needs resilient leadership, where, despite setbacks, it recovers and move forward; maintains its composure and resist being emotionally derailed by turbulence.

These

dispositions, as opposed to inspiriting fear, complacency and unrest. In this Administration and most certainly under this Chief Secretary, Tobago has leadership that can focus on the bigger picture, lay hold of opportunities and inspire creativity out of what seems less than advantageous.

Madam Presiding Officer, leading with an uncommon spirit is fundamentally grounded in change; in adapting and reforming to meet the growing realties of our society’s needs and the ever-changing world, if we are to survive and become undeniably relevant. Under this Administration, Tobago purposes to become alive and responsive in ways that it has never known. Therefore, at the foundational level, the Chief Secretary has stressed

the critical importance of policy development and the reengineering of systems to unearth the latent capacities and strength within our island and its people.

It is for this reason, that the Chief Secretary enamoured by a progressive vision, took the uncommon decision to reposition and rebrand the Assembly’s institutions for greater functionality and for efficient and sustainable leveraging of the resources of the island; generating greater value on public investment.

In his wisdom, the Chief Secretary, cleaved the Environment and Infrastructure in an effort to place greater emphasis on harmonizing infrastructural development with environmental protection.

[Desk

thumping] Now, Engineers; Project Officers; and Environmental Officers; now work in concert to ensure that projects adhere to environmental laws and are instituted in a manner that considers the sustainable use of Tobago’s resources; embraces greener solutions; and gives consideration to the sanctity of our historical spaces and heritage.

That Tobago’s environment is one of its greatest assets, action cannot be laissez-faire but rather calculated. Hence, greater emphasis being placed on Environmental Protection was therefore not a contingent plan but rather the outcome of direct and proactive policies of the Chief Secretary and his Administration. [Desk thumping]

The results of such synergy can be found in the Coastal Management Agenda the Division is pursuing. This thrust relies on the engagement of stakeholder to discover the best possible and sustainable engineering solutions for the island’s Costal erosion challenge. Coastal erosion is a real threat; primarily to sites which holds historical significance such as the Pigeon Point Heritage Park, now under siege of rising sea levels.

The Division together with stakeholders, Pigeon Point Heritage Park and the Ministry of Works and Transport have deployed efforts and influence into restoring the coastal line at Pigeon Point as a matter of urgency. [Desk thumping] We have honed into the technical skills of both local and national institutions and therefore, we have launched a campaign against this coastal problem. Pigeon Point is the flag ship for all other endeavours of this kind.

Overall, we in the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment now ascribe to the mantra of ‘Delivering Quality Work for You", the people of Tobago. [Desk thumping] While the population has not been graced with an abundance of infrastructural projects during the first quarter, what was occurred is a rethinking of the modus operandi to best suit the financial realities, capacity and local needs. We all feel too well the disappointment and perplexity of seeing quality but underutilized facilities; our priorities are now realistically aligned. This means better planning guided by economist and evidence; and coordinating the strategy planners with utility companies, stakeholders, bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Moreover, great emphasis is played to ensure that contractors and partners deliver projects with quality and timeliness. [Desk thumping]

It is the very least we can do; thus, we await the delivery of the Lambeau River Bridge and the Roxborough Administrative Complex. It is no surprise therefore, that Divisions are mandated to develop well-thought out strategic plans and institute systems that monitor growth and delivery.

[Desk

thumping] All of this, in the pursuit of "Quality Work for You", Tobago. For you, Tobago deserves quality; in infrastructure, in services and opportunities.

Madam Presiding Officer, I make mention of the institutional changes for as leaders. We are accountable to the people of Tobago to deliver better than which was found. This accountability and responsibility extends to Public Servants. It is no secret that our Chief Secretary, like no other, makes his presence felt throughout the Assembly; and it is perhaps the first time that employees are aware of its leader's demanding for productivity and performance. [Desk thumping] So critical is this focus of productivity and performance within Tobago's economic space, that under the leadership and guidance of the Chief Secretary, the Assembly has able to skillfully with much care, negotiate with the National ... [Interruption] [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, your speaking time is up. I want to take this opportunity to remind the upcoming speakers that under Standing Order 29, Section 2, the time limit for Statements by Secretaries shall not exceed ten (10) minutes.

Secretary for Settlements, Urban Renewal and Public Utilities. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY OF SETTLEMENTS,

URBAN

RENEWAL AND

PUBLIC UTILITIES (Hon. Clarence Jacob): Let me say a pleasant Good Evening to everyone in this Honourable House. Those in the gallery, a pleasant good afternoon.

Madam Presiding Officer, other Members of this Honourable House, I rise today to join with my Colleagues to provide to this House and the people of Tobago in particular, an account of the stewardship of my Division; the Division of Settlements, Urban Renewal and Public Utilities.

Let me say from the onset that my Division was the beneficiary of several initiatives and projects from the previous Peoples National Movement (PNM) Administration. This allowed My Staff and I to hit the ground running and seamlessly continued provision of much needed amenities and services to the people of Tobago.

This continuity was largely facilitated and encouraged by the current Chief Secretary and Our Leader, the Honourable Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, please allow me at this time to apprise the House and the Tobago population of some of the achievements of my Division for the period under review; January 2017 to present.

The Settlements Department introduced a modern approach to public housing in 2012 with the construction of townhouse units in Phase II Homes of Adventure in Plymouth. On completion, the Division will deliver a total of ninety-four (94) multi-family townhouse units. The deliveries are as follows:  A total of 62 two-bedroom - 1 1/2 baths - were distributed in Fiscal 2016/17. [Desk thumping]  A total of 16 three-bedroom - 1 1/2 baths - have been allocated and will be distributed in 2017 - 2018. [Desk thumping]  A total of 16 two bedroom - 1 1/2 baths - were under construction at the end of fiscal 2016 - 2017. These units have been allocated and will be distributed in 2018. [Desk thumping] The Department of Settlements delivered several social programmes aimed at improving the quality of housing stock on the island. In Fiscal 2016 - 2017 the Division distributed grants to Tobagonians in need of home repairs or to start or complete construction of a total value of TT Nine million, one hundred and forty-seven thousand, two hundred and eighty-four dollars ($9,147,284.00). [Desk thumping] Here is a breakdown of the distribution:  Home Improvement Grant

-

$2,437,500

 Home Construction Subsidy

-

$2,981,784

 Home Improvement Subsidy

-

$400,000

 Home Completion Programme

-

$715,000

 Beneficiary Owned Lands

-

$2,613,000

 A total of

-

$9,147,284.00

[Desk thumping] The Division's Public Utilities Department, conducts monthly meetings with the various Public Utility Agencies in Tobago.

These

meetings were established in 2017 and have been successful in fostering spirit of cooperation between the Division and the Utilities as well as among the

Bodies.

Information

is

shared

on

upcoming

projects/programmes/activities and addresses matters of concern.

On February 5th, 2017 Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) acquired two additional vehicles to provide relief to the people of eastern Tobago.

The two new twenty-five (25) Seater Mitsubishi buses were

assigned to the L'Anse Fourmi route.

Acquisition of fifteen (15) new buses for Tobago: In

fiscal

2016/2017 Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) met all necessary steps to acquire 15 additional buses for Tobago in 2018. The estimated cost for this acquisition by Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) is fifteen million dollars ($15m.). [Desk thumping] Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) – T&TEC to boost Tobago’s Power Supply: The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) turned the sod on December 4th, 2017 for the installation of a new gas turbine ancillary infrastructure, designed to increase the generating capacity in Tobago. The upgrade and expansion of the Cove Power Station will see sixty-four (64) Megawatt Facility upgrade to an eighty-four (84) Megawatt Facility.

Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the Honourable Chief Secretary, Kelvin Charles turned the sod to mark the commencement of the twenty (20) Megawatt Upgrade Project.

When completed, the project will improve the long term reliability of the electricity supply for almost twenty-eight thousand (28,000) residence and business customers in Tobago. [Desk thumping]

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT): Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), EcoIndustrial Company of Tobago (E-IDCOT) opens Tobago’s 1st Data Centre.

A joint venture was signed between the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) and the Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago (E-IDCOT) to establish the Island’s first Data Centre. The Data Centre will be located at the Eco Industrial and Business Park in the Cove Estate at Canoe Bay. This Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure represents investments of approximately thirty-six million dollars ($36m.) which will assist in the economic transformation and development of Tobago.

The Water and Sewerage Authority – WASA – (1) Hermitage Gravity Feed System 2016-2017. In Fiscal 2016-2017, the Authority also laid a Pipe Network in the Hermitage Gravity Feed and installed:

 Five (5) two thousand (2,000) gallon communal water tanks;  A Pump Station; and  A Base Station

in this area.

Wells Development Programme 2016-2017. The Calder Hall; Mary’s Hill; and Triangle Wood Wells were put into operation to supplement the shortfall in available water supply in Tobago, as a result of the harsh 2016 dry season.

This in keeping with the Authority’s Water Supply and

Conservation Plan 2016.

Customers served by Courland Water Treatment Plant and Hillsborough benefitted from this project, which cost two million four hundred and sixty dollars ($2,460,000.00).

Pipe Laying Project Fiscal 2016/2017: In 2016-2017, the Water and Sewerage Authority began several Pipe-laying Projects to a cost of one point nine million dollars ($1.9m.). The expected inconveniences experienced by: motorists, pedestrians; businesses; and residents because of the unusual amount of traffic congestion and nuisance associated with the road works.

However, the Pipe-laying Project which was conducted in twenty (20) areas in Tobago will significantly improve the reliability of the water supply across the island.

These achievements, coupled with those of all my Colleagues, are irrefutable, evidence of quality governance. The electorate in their wisdom to their credit, gave a resounding mandate to us on this side, to provide the development compass for the island for this four (4) year period. [Desk thumping]

We on this side, under the astute leadership of Chief Secretary Charles quickly realized governance must be pro-people and pro-active. [Desk thumping] Good governance is therefore putting people at the centre of the development process.

The past year of this Administration has been one which was attended by sobriety and wisdom, balanced and sensible thinking at a time of severe financial strictures. At a time when there is a firm acknowledgement that transparency reduces corruption, we understand that good governance goes beyond transparency to achieve openness. Openness means involving our stakeholders, the people in the decision-making processes, for example the Chamber of Commerce. Transparency is the right to information while openness is the right to participation. These are principles to which our Leader and his team subscribe. Anyone playing a role in governance, who is not ready to say “no” to corruption or “no” to business as usual in this period of economic contraction, is not a Leader.

Honourable Kelvin Charles is a Leader and we all stand resolute behind him. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Chief Secretary, Division of Education, Innovation and Energy.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, DIVISION OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (Ms. Marisha Osmond): [Desk thumping] Thank you Madam Presiding Officer, and I stand to make my statement.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 vs. 1 states that: “To everything there is a season and time to every purpose under heaven”.

We exist in a time when we have to do more with less; a time when we truly are called upon to exercise the true meaning of, “Cut and Contrive”. As an Administration and as citizens we are called to “dig deep”. This time and season calls citizens to strengthen their relationships with each other; to love your neighbour, as you love yourself.

As the Government on this island, we are charged with the responsibilities of ensuring that there are:

 Continued Economic and Business Development;  Infrastructural and Physical Development;  Human Capital Development;  Social and Cultural Development;  Formulation of Strategies; and  The creation of the platforms and opportunities for a winning future.

We have to present to the people the right governance model and leadership that will take us into the future. While simultaneously, we must at all times, seek to maintain employment levels and provide the necessary goods and the quality services to our citizens.

This is a mammoth task and the man for this job, in this season is the Honourable Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] The Division of Education, Innovation and Energy, under the leadership of the Honourable Kelvin Charles, has experienced movement in a positive direction and we have begun to deliver to the people of Tobago some of the policy measures as outlined in our Manifesto.

As a young Assemblyman, under his guidance, one can only grow, mature and blossom into the better version of one’s self. [Desk thumping] In my capacity, as an Assemblyman, and Assistant Secretary, I am pleased to report and speak again, of some of our achievements to date. We have had:  Upgrade to four (4) Primary Schools on the island;  Successful and timely execution of the July/August School Repair Programme;  Contractors received payments on time for works completed on these schools for this period; [Desk thumping]  Nine (9) Primary Schools now benefit from the use of CCTV cameras;  The Establishment of School Development Plans for Primary and Secondary Schools on this island;  All Schools have Internet;  Upgrade to the Libraries of four (4) of our Primary Schools and the books in our Secondary Schools’ Libraries have been upgraded;  Strengthening of the Teacher/Student Support Programmes through training of our Teachers and Principals;

 The introduction of Instructional Coaches into the Primary School with a focus on literacy and numeracy;  Five (5) new Curriculum Officers were added to strengthen this Unit;  The Teacher Development Centre at Mardon House is well on its way. This Research Centre provides a home to Teachers where they can meet collectively to brainstorm and strategize.  Successful execution of the Pan and Music Camps 2017;  Our Library continues to have Programmes such as: - Computer literacy; - Literacy day; - Chess; - Scrabble; - Book Clubs; and - Story telling; and many more.

 Two Primary Schools received new Steelpan Instruments (Signal Hill Government and North Regional SDA);  The Roxborough Trade Centre got a much needed upgrade as it is home to the Construction Certificate Training Programme.

This nine (9) months Programme caters for tradesmen between the ages of seventeen (17) – sixty (60) who requires certification in skilled areas such as:  Masonry;  Carpentry; and  Plumbing.

Tomorrow, Friday, the pilot of a Chrome Book Initiative will be launched in two (2) Primary Schools on the island. This Pilot Project will give students greater access to technology and they begin to develop an appreciation of its use and value in their learning. Once this Pilot Project proves successful, more schools will be engaged. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, there was:  Psycho-social assessment of the students who scored under thirty percent (30%) in the SEA 2017 examination;  Roll out of the SEA Vacation Enrichment Programme and the Leading for Literacy Programme.

Statement (Cont'd) MS. M. OSMOND (Cont'd)

The Jolly Phonics Literacy Programme was introduced in ten (10) schools on this island.

And of course: The Sports In Education Unit was able to execute its programmes of activities for 2017 producing winners in areas of football and track and field.

This is only a snippet of the achievements under the Stewardship of the Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy. [Desk thumping] The Honourable Kelvin Charles is the man, the Chief Secretary and Secretary of Education, the Political Leader of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) Tobago Island's Council, the man at the helm with the vision. He is an upright citizen for this season, a manager for this season, a diplomat and statesman for this season. [Desk thumping] As a political party and organization the Peoples' National Movement is celebrating sixty-two (62) years as a Party and Organization. Sixty-two (62) years of good governance, continually giving to the nation leaders with ethics, integrity, fortitude and substance. [Desk thumping] The Political Leader and Chief Secretary leads this administration and Tobago with skill, tact, vision, foresight and without fear. [Desk thumping] Statement (Cont'd) MS. M. OSMOND (Cont'd) There is a song, "Don't take my kindness for weakness", don't for one second take his unassuming quietness for weakness. [Desk thumping] Still

waters run deep, a still tongue keeps a wise head and he go play dead just to catch a perverse, devilish and pesky cobra. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, this is the time and the last time to send this message that in this time and in this season under this heaven the people have spoken. The Peoples National Movement (PNM) is the Administration and the Political Leader and Chief Secretary is the champion.

[Desk

thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Secretary for Agriculture, Food

Production and Fisheries. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTION AND FISHERIES (Hon. Hayden Spencer):

Thank you very much Madam

Presiding Officer. First, I wish to indicate to all present in this Honourable House, to all citizens of Tobago and by extension Trinidad, that it is because of the astute leadership, vision, commitment, plans and policies were the leadership of the People's National Movement and the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, the Honourable Kelvin Charles, that we are able to deliver to the people of Tobago. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, I rise in this Honourable House, to present a Statement of Performance on the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries to which I have responsibility as Secretary.

Madam Presiding Officer, the calendar year of 2017 was indeed a challenging one for us all, given the harsh financial constraints with which we are still working through. Nevertheless, we in the Division have made

the necessary adjustments and continue to execute the mandate that was given to us. As you may know, the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for the preservation and sustainable development of the natural resources in and around Tobago and as well as the marketing and distribution of indigenous agro-based products of Tobago.

The establishment of the Agricultural Revitalization Team which was mandated to develop the Agricultural Revitalization Plan. Now, Madam Presiding Officer, the plan was completed and a Standing Committee will now be set up to overseer the implementation of the plan, chaired by the Honourable Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] The Department of Agriculture has maintained its work in supporting farmers across the island by boosting agricultural productivity. Through our Plant tissue Culture Laboratory, in Goldsborough, we sold a total of twelve thousand, two hundred and twenty-five (12,225) hardened plants to farmers.

The Department sold:  Twelve thousand, six hundred and twenty-six (12,626) citrus plants;  Twelve thousand, six hundred and forty-five (12,645) Ornamentals; and two thousand, five hundred and seventy-one point five (2,571.5) crates of seedlings. [Desk thumping] Through the Home Gardening Initiative two hundred and eighty (280) Dwarf Bananas and seven hundred and fifty (750) Assorted Seedlings were distributed.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me report on the production of the Agricultural Estates at Lure and Courland in supporting the much needed boost in agricultural productivity on the island. We have distributed:  Fourteen thousand (14000) cassava sticks; [Desk thumping]  Three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-six (3786) pineapple crowns and suckers; [Desk thumping]  Three thousand, two hundred (3,200) potato slips; [Desk thumping]  One hundred and thirty (130) banana suckers; and [Desk thumping]  Ninety-three (93) dwarf bananas. [Desk thumping] [Laughter] All to local farmers.

In the area of livestock production, at Hope Farm, we produced:  Ten (10) calves;  Two hundred (200) piglets;  Two hundred (200) kits (rabbits); and  Ten (10) kids.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am pleased to say that over the reporting period, the Division has sold:  Thirty-five (35) weaner lambs;  Two hundred (200) weaner pigs; and  Thirty-three thousand and ten (33,010) dozen eggs. thumping]

[Desk

We continue to encourage the population of Tobago to grow our own with the slogan "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." The Home Gardening Initiative to date, has seen four hundred and sixty-eight (468) persons registered.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Tractor Pool Department has provided land preparation services to one hundred and ninety-nine (199) farmers across the island.

Our extension services remain critical to agricultural production on the island, and so, our Officers have been evenly spread across the eight (8) agricultural districts consulting with and lending support to our farmers. For the reporting period, Madam Presiding Officer, two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one (2,871) farm visits were made to two thousand, four hundred and fifty-two (2,452) Crop and Livestock Farmers.

The Apiculture Unit conducted one hundred and eighty-four (184) site visits to forty (40) beekeepers and carried out four (4) school lectures.

In the area of Animal Health, the procurement and distribution of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) worth of imported Veterinary Surgical Instrument to Animal Health Officers. This is notable, because for the first time each Veterinary Officer (V.O) and Animal Health Assistant (AHA) has his/her own large animal surgery kit. [Desk thumping] We are also able to produce one hundred and ten thousand dollars ($110,000.00) worth of laboratory equipment which is imported for the support services to livestock farmers.

To secure a sustainable agricultural sector in Tobago, youth involvement is pivotal. So, The Kendal Farm School is just about rounding up the eleventh (11th) cycle of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture, where (sixty) (60) young persons in Tobago are enrolled and will soon graduate. [Desk thumping] The School has hosted Twenty-five (25) training courses in:  Crop and Livestock production;  Beekeeping;  Post Harvest Management;  Livestock Health;  Silage production;  Value added/processing of commodities like farine, ham, smoke fish, and fruit preservation etc.  Each workshop saw participation of twenty-five (25) - fifty (50) persons.

Madam Presiding Officer, World Food Day, 2017 was reformatted due to the limited funding. We suspended to the usual grand 2-day exhibition and substituted with a month of activities with stakeholders and key interest.

We had a successful launch on October 16th, 2017 which was followed by a Farmers and Agri-stakeholders Mini-exhibition at Gardenside Street Carpark, Scarborough. During the month of October, we hosted Open Day Activities in our four (4) agri-stations, two (2) Farmers’ Markets in Windward and Leeward, three (3) Agricultural Seminars on Crop, Livestock and Agro-processing.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me switch your attention to the Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries. We established a Jet Ski Task Force charged with the responsibility to develop a Policy document for the management of these crafts in Tobago. A Jet Ski Public Awareness Programme was also developed to supplement the Policy.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Buccoo Reef Marine Park is a protected area. So, the Department successfully completed the Buccoo Reef Marine Park Demarcation Project; replacing the marker buoys which clearly outlined the boundaries of the area.

In commemoration of World Food Day, the Extension Services Unit hosted a Secondary School’s Education Forum at Fort Granby Beach Cleanup Exercise at Carapuse Bay. The Unit continues to monitor and manage all fish landing sites across the island.

The Department of Natural Resources and Forestry continues its unwavering service of natural resource conservation. Over the reporting period, the Department has coordinated the sale of permits for the felling, extraction and removal of Forest produce primarily timber; also including permits for minor forest produce like Balata berries; conducted work primarily on State Lands and on request, including removal of mistletoe and other invasive species.

Supervision and management of Sawmill and Furniture Shops operations with regular inspections and consultations.

Madam Presiding Officer, Game Wardens were involved in patrolling hotspot areas both during the open and closed hunting season to encourage conformity of the laws.

In addition, inspection of Pet shops and privately operated Wildlife Holding Facilities were conducted.

This is routinely done to ensure

compliance to regulations and to provide technical assistance where required.

The Department has continued to oversee the management of urban recreational spaces include in the Calder Hall Play Park; the Courland Park as well as the Bon Accord Park.

This is in addition to the management of traditional recreation/public spaces like the Botanic Garden; and the Main Ridge Reserve; and Bloody Bay Lookout where general upkeep and maintenance of grounds and trails for visitor use constituted the main activities.

The Department of Marketing is mandated to facilitate stakeholders in ‌ [Interruption] [Desk thumping] Statement (Cont’d) MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, your speaking time is up.

Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs.

SECRETARY OF SPORTS AND YOUTH AFFAIRS (Hon. Jomo Pitt): [Desk thumping]

Just about one year ago, I assumed the position of

Secretary of the Division of Sport Youth Affairs. In my previous capacity as Assistant Secretary, I had the responsibility for Youth Affairs and Sport in the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport. We had some notable successes at that Division. However, being lumped with Education, which essentially was the big brother to the two (2) smaller Departments, we often felt overshadowed. This was at no fault of the past Administration, but mainly due to the size of Education. When you truly examine it, the island has forty-four (44) Primary Schools and nine (9) Secondary Schools.But in his infinite wisdom, the leadership of the Chief Secretary found it necessary to separate Sport and Youth Affairs and set us on our own path to do more, to focus more and to succeed more. [Desk thumping] As a result of such, we have been able to do more with less. Allow me to identify some of the achievements within the short year. We had upgrades and refurbishment to:

 Lights at Bon Accord;  Roxborough; [Desk thumping]  Table Piece; Statement (Cont’d) HON. J. PITT (Cont’d) 

Jubilee Park;

 Shaw Park Mt. Pleasant;  Calder Hall and  Black Rock Hard Courts.

We refurbished:  Bon Accord; and  Mason Hall Pavillions; and we were also able:  To construct Bathroom Facilities at the Bloody Bay Recreation Ground;  Dusty Park at Hope;  Jubilee Park at Sangster Hill; and  At the Moriah Recreational Ground.

All facilities are accessible for the differently-abled.

We were also able to open the:  Signal Hill Youth Centre and  Reopening of the Bethel Youth Development Centre.

In the field of Programming, we were able to offer workshops to our: Statement (Cont’d) HON. J. PITT (Cont’d)

 Physical Education (PE) Teachers;  Sport Coaches; and  Other Stakeholders; to ensure that all are involved with the physical literacy on the island.

We were also were able to launch the first ever THA District Games, an initiative to increase the youth participation in Sport during the slow holiday period of July/August. Over five hundred (500) youngsters, coaches and team managers represented their various districts in:

 Cricket;  Football; and  Netball The competition created an environment of continued physical literacy development and brought communities together.

We were also able to have the first Disability Workshop and Camp, which created opportunities for greater inclusion by all. Participants learned concepts in Paralympics sports; structural differences in Para-athletes; and how to create and effectively manage an inclusive coaching session.

Statement (Cont’d) HON. J. PITT (Cont’d)

We were also able to have school-based round table discussions for youths. This was held during the lunch period at schools under the theme “Protecting Our Girls”, [Desk thumping] which I know would be of concern …[Desk thumping] [Laughter], where students interacted with Police Officers from the Child Protection Unit and Guidance Councillors from Education. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, Ladies and Gentlemen, from the start of my term my support and confidence in the Chief Secretary has never waivered nor faltered. [Desk thumping] This THA Administration has achieved great feats in a short space of time, with less money under his leadership.

Thank you very much. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Chief Secretary and Secretary of

Education, Innovation and Energy;

CHIEF

SECRETARY

AND

SECRETARY

OF

EDUCATION

INNOVATION AND ENERGY: (Hon. Kelvin Charles) [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, I rise at this time, only to place on record a concise account of a meeting held on Monday 22 nd January, 2018 beginning at 10.00 a.m. at the Magdalena Grand Golf and Beach Resort among the Office of the Prime Minister, the Tobago House of Assembly, the Chamber

of Industry and Commerce, Tobago Division and Members of the Tobago Business Community generally.

The meeting was requested by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Tobago Division, as the Division sought to obtain a clear understanding of the Government’s position and plan for Tobago and its economy.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by a few Ministers of his Cabinet, including the Minister of Finance; the Minister of Planning; the Minister of Works and Transport; the Minister of Agriculture; and Ministers and Members of Parliament for Tobago East and West respectively, the Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy and the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe.

The Executive Council of the Tobago House of Assembly was represented by the Chief Secretary and Secretary of Education, Innovation and Energy; the Secretary of Finance and the Economy, Assemblyman Joel Jack; the Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes; the Secretary of Tourism Culture and Transportation, Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips. The Chief Administrator Raye Sandy was also present.

The meeting focused heavily on problem solving as opposed to complaining and blaming, and therefore, allowed for the engagement of constructive discussion and criticism, which facilitated the exploration of

ideas for resolution or implementation of temporary control measures in some situations.

Among the issues raised and discussed were:  Foreign Exchange Distribution;  Construction of Mariners in Tobago;  Access to Agriculture land in Tobago;  Land License;  Air and Sea bridges;  New Terminal Building at the ANR International Airport; and  Sandals.

The meeting concluded with overall agreement on how certain issues will be handled or further explored and investigated as the case may be. The following reflects a summary of some of these:  With regard to concerns about Foreign Exchange, Minister of Finance, the Hon. Colm Imbert assured the business community that there was no intention on the part of the Government, to reintroduce exchange controls that were abolished in 1994.  With reference to the issue of illegal fishing. Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat indicated that a 1918 piece of legislation is causing management of Fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago to be quite difficult, especially concerning poaching in Tobago waters by non-Tobago fishermen. However, the Minister disclosed that a draft bill is currently being prepared to deal with all laws relating to the modern management of fisheries in the context of the waters of Trinidad and Tobago.

Statement (Cont'd) HON. CHIEF SECRETARY (Cont'd)  On the subject of mariners, the meeting was advised that consideration is being given to a mariner at Peti Trou, to be handled through a Public Private Partnership arrangement. [Desk thumping] The Ministry of Planning and Development and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) are working together to determine the exact location of this Mariner.  The situation concerning farming lands issued to persons in the past, to engage in agriculture but which are not being utilized, was another matter on the table. However, the business community especially in the Agricultural sector was given the assurance that a re-constituted State Lands Committee has been established to spearhead the process

of getting back the lands not being used for the intended purpose.

However, it must be noted that a legal process must take place.  There was a concern for the lack of specialized professionals in the tourism industry in Tobago and the absence of provision for them in the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) arrangement. A request was made to the Honourable Prime Minister seeking his intervention to have immigration laws relaxed towards this set of skilled workers.  The Honourable Prime Minister indicated that it was imperative for our locals to be trained to fill these positions but he also did promise to investigate how temporary relief could be achieved in this short term.  On the matter of the Land License, the Prime Minister did promise to have further discussions with the Tobago House of Assembly, to better assess the execution of roles and functions entailed in the

authorization process, in an attempt to alleviate the delays being experienced by prospective investors.  On the matter related to the air and seabridges, it was agreed that Caribbean Airlines would meet with the Tobago House of Assembly and the Tobago business community to devise a suitable flight schedule to better serve the Tobago route. The Prime Minister also indicated that with the acquisition of another boat, the Tobago route will eventually experience the benefit of having three (3) boats servicing the route simultaneously. [Desk thumping]  There was confirmation that the new Terminal Building at the ANR Robinson International Airport will commence once approvals have been received, after which, the project is expected to be completed in approximately 24 months. This project will also include the construction of the taxi way, ramp and access road etc. Assurance was also given that works on the Tobago run way will resume soon, in as much as the contract was awarded and the Quarry issues were now resolved, so that material will now be made available for the project. [Desk thumping]  The Sandals Project received a resounding "yes' from the Tobago Business Community. [Desk thumping] The Prime Minister confirmed that he will pursue the investment once the Tobago community wants it. It was clarified that Sandals will be located on the Buccoo Estate and not No Man's Land. [Desk thumping] The discussion around Sandals explored how this type of world class branding that Sandals engages in, will auger well for Tobago's Destination Marketing Strategy. Clarity was brought to the type of business model Sandals will utilize.

Madam Presiding Officer, in this regard, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will own the property and the land (currently being finalized in the Clico settlements where two (2) parcels will be taken from Clico, whilst Sandals will handle the managing and branding of the Resorts. There will be two Resorts - the Beaches Hotel which is the larger Hotel with more

room and the Sandals Hotel which will cater primarily to couples. The meeting was notified that the land surveys have been done and the next step will be the engagement of public consultations, which are due hopefully to commence in approximately two (2) to three (3) months.

Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you for this opportunity to bring to this Honourable House, an update of the meeting held among the Prime Minister, the Tobago House of Assembly, the Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the businessmen from the Tobago society generally.

I thank you. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Minority Leader.

PRIVATE BUSINESS MOTION LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CHIEF SECRETARY OF THE ASSEMBLY MR. WATSON DUKE [Minority Leader]: Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you for ending the torment which we the Minority Leader and Councillor had to endure on this side. It was very tormenting I must say. “Praise and Worship� as never before. Each person on that side singing from the same hymn book.

I have the pleasure on behalf of the Minority Council and the people of Tobago who are not in support of the Chief Secretary and the Praise and Worship session that they have turned this House into, I have the pleasure of laying before this Honourable Chamber a Motion of No Confidence in the Chief Secretary, Kelvin Charles. I read: "WHEREAS January 26th 2018 represents one year since this PNMled Executive Council has been inaugurated; AND WHEREAS by a series of actions, and more importantly inactions this PNM-led Executive Council, under the leadership of the Chief Secretary, has aided and abetted in the continual demise of the Tobago economy via the strategic dismantling of: 1.

the air and sea bridge;

2.

the private sector, which includes the tourism industry, the agricultural industry, the distribution sector among

others; AND WHEREAS the people of Tobago have suffered immensely due to the inaction of the Chief Secretary, coupled with the mismanagement of the funds allotted to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the refusal to follow the rule of law and account judiciously for the monies allotted, and nonpayment of several classes of workers; AND WHEREAS the Office of the Chief Secretary has refused to equip the Minority Council with an office, staff and the much-needed resources to ensure that democracy remains at the helm of our governance structure, in a continuous attempt to return the THA to a system of no opposition, thereby not being able to effectively debate and clinically respond to matters of Tobago interest; BE IT RESOLVED that this House confirm its loss of confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly."

I am all struck this afternoon! I am all struck, to wonder for a moment, whether we all are in the same country. There is a lot of popular debate on the outside of these walls, where people are taking to Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Social Media. They are telegraphing a message, a note that is directly in discord to the symphony my friends on the other side seems to be singing.

Allow me Madam Presiding Officer, this afternoon to sing one such note of discord taken from Facebook. It was so long, I could just crunch it and just take the necessary part. It would be of great help if my Honourable friend on the next side, Mr. Kelvin Charles would take some notes. This

was taken from a noted, renowned Facebook activist. We called him, “The Policeman of Democracy”. He is fearless and he goes like “Star Trek” where no man has gone before. That is what I like about him. I say this after bad treating us, this is his words for the last year with:

 No proper air bridge, increased fare by fifty dollars ($50.00);  No Sea Bridge deliberately dismantled by PNM Rowley;  No pay for Christmas Health Daily Paid workers;  No pay upon New Years - health daily paid;  No pay for January late since Monday January 22nd;,  No proper electricity services - long outages;  No water in our pipes;  No proper Health Care, Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer;  No proper roads - big pot holes all over.

People are watching and people are taking notes.

They have taken to

Facebook. This note is in discord to the mesmerizing symphony you all are singing inside here. It is somewhat bothersome to me. Perhaps like Shabba Ranks said, “Your body is here but your mind is on the other side of town”.

A plot is a place that is gated and where big dogs go bow wow, a place where credit never runs out. It is a land of milk and honey known only to an elect few of the P.N.M. (People’s National Movement). Perhaps you are in that place mentally, but for the rest of us we are trapped in our bodies and bodies happen to be a in a place call, “Tobago”. A place where everything

seems to be going down, Madam Presiding Officer. “Abide with me Dear Jesus, Abide With Me”. People, as we go through the state what it is, I must make this journey through these painful parts living what people are living on a day to day basis in the bigger communities that exists beyond these walls.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

No tourists, lowest international arrivals. I personally pulled aside and looked at the big boat, the big cruise ship as it pulled in. I saw tourist moving around very despondent. I happened to stop one of them, I said “Sir, excuse me, you seemed to be having a rough day, what can I do to make you smile?

I am a citizen. I am a resident”.

He said, “You need to fix

Scarborough”. He said that to me. [Crosstalk] He said to fix Scarborough.

I have it on record. He said that to me. [Crosstalk] [Desk thumping] I confess that today. I plea your protection Madam Presiding Officer, against the “hooliganism” that is emanating from these hollowed walls.

No gratuity payments for contracts, people are complaining outside these walls, no defense for Tobago’s interest, only um, um um, they are saying, “No Confidence in Chief F. F. Kelvin Charles”. That is what they are saying here. I do not know what that stands for. “We want back all of

our missing money too, thirty million dollars ($30m.) from DIPU from ghost rental of toilets, scaffolding; ten million dollars ($10m.) from Tourism in United Kingdom Bank accounts”. People are talking! People are talking outside these walls. But as I stand in these walls, I stand here with a certain level of commitment and conviction.

I stand here knowing that I am

standing in a place that was once a place of decision.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

In the 1700s, to the late 1800s Tobago House of Assembly though it was erected in Shaw Park, and later came here, it was a place of decision. A place where men and women decide on the future of the inhabitants of Tobago. But in the late 1800s, along with the marrying giving Tobago over to a Ward it was dissolved. From that moment, 1889, to present, we have never gotten back our first estate, that place where every Tobagonian feel as if they belong.

We had a lot of our leaders, James Biggart being our first legislative person from the Assembly, well from Tobago, making strong points for more independent Tobago. He was followed later on by several others, but lastly, the last Member of the legislation was APT James – Alphonso. [Laughter] You know the rest of the names there. What attracts me to A.P.T. James is this: He took his own resources and he tried incessantly until he died to

mobilize Tobago to the point where it was a natural chant among the populace that we need “Internal Self-Government”.

Those words were

coined by him; those words were made prominent by A.P.T. James. After he died in 1961, and A.N.R Robinson took over before he died, our late great Prime Minister/President Extraordinaire Minister would have raised the same issue and would have caused Tobago to galvanize around

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

that “Internal Self-Government”. Unlike a dream that is real, but it is not able to come within the grasp of your hands. Everybody who rise to power, whose worth its salt will aspire for greater interdependence for Tobagonians.

In 1977, A.N.R. Robinson would have made a Statement. He moved a Motion for Internal Self-Government. In making his statement, he said:

“That the purpose of this Motion (Madam Presiding Officer) I want you to listen to me carefully: “…is to place a substantial part of the responsibility for the conduct of Tobago Affairs, fairly and squarely where it belong”.

He was contending with the lack of proper Administration for Tobago, proper accounting for Tobago. He said, "This is what I want, that we the people must play a greater role in the conduct of our affairs.” This is the purpose for the Tobago House of Assembly. Three (3) years after he made that speech - 1980 the House of Assembly was formed again. That speech is what catapult the reformation of the Tobago House of Assembly. That was supposed to be the agenda, the sole purpose of the Tobago House of Assembly.

This book [Indicating] the Tobago House of Assembly Act - all that is inside this book seeks to do that. Places a role upon the Tobago House of Assembly both the Executive Council and the Minority Council to create policies and implement policies with respect to matters set out in the Fifth Schedule.

For those who are looking over the Media, Facebook, Youtube and those in our gallery - I just want to recognize the students there. I salute you, I see future leaders here. Thank you for paying such great attention.

Some of the areas for which the Tobago House of Assembly is responsible for and there are thirty-three (33) of them:  Finance;  Statelands;  Lands and Marine Parks;  Museums;  Archives etc;

 Public Buildings;  Tourism;  Sports;  Culture;  Arts;  Community Development;  Cooperatives;  Agriculture;  Fisheries;  Food Production;  Forestry;  Town and Country Planning;  Infrastructure;  Telecommunications; Well, they gave that back they said that they did not want that they could not handle it.  Industrial Development;  The Environment;  Customs & Excise;  Licensing;  Health Services;  Library Services;  Education;  Social Welfare;

 Marketing;  Valuation;  Postal Services;  Statistics;  Housing;  Plant and Animal Quarantine; and Other things that the President may see fit. I took my time to list them out because leading up to the Chief Secretary's win (and I say that guardedly) there was not a chant in the byways that put the Peoples National Movement (PNM) in charge and you will get Internal Self-Government. Put us in charge. Right after they got to be in charge, the Prime Minister came and he said, "I cannot give you Self-Government."

Then again, we announced very early in January of this year, a NoConfidence Motion and I see the Prime Minister running to Tobago again, sending some of his under-links here stating that they are meeting with the THA which was a bogus group of the THA called, "The Executive Council” and not the real THA. They claimed that they have found the formula now for Internal Self-Government.

But somewhere along the line, I recalled the former Chief Secretary, Mr. Orville London passing an “Assembly Bill” in this House.

When he

passed the Bill, the Bill was sent to Trinidad. Trinidad said that they got it.

All of a sudden Trinidad is coming up now saying that “Hey, we do not know what Tobago really want and we are going to try and work on it.” It is kind of worrisome.

Our Chief Secretary has nothing to say about putting greater responsibility in the hands of Tobagonians for its own future. So much so that when he was inaugurated on January, 26th 2017, I stood right next to him and a person from the Media asked him, “What is your priorities now that you are Chief Secretary?" He said, “Crime, Agriculture and Tourism.”

They asked, “What are your plans for Crime?” He said, “I have none, that is a Central Government issue.” The record could show that. He said, “I have none, that is a Central Government issue.” If he wants to correct I could sit down and

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

say you could correct it. I would make way for him to correct the facts. He said that is a National issue - a Central Government issue. But that is not new to him.

You see, all the time, people were struggling with the boat issue here when the Joint Select Committee came to Tobago to talk about the boat and they issued him an invitation, he sent a Lawyer letter stating, that is a Central Government issue. He cannot talk on that.

I want to go to this year. The person said, “No defence of Bago interest only mmm!” Them say so, people outside saying that.

When the people outside voted for Chief Secretary they voted for someone who will “Stand in Defense of Tobago” as his former colleague said some years ago. Someone who will look at the crime situation and say, “You know what, there is an ‘Assembly Police Bill’ that was piloted by the Former Chief Secretary, Mr. Orville London in 2014, let’s dust that Bill out, let's see where that Bill is and let's send it to Trinidad.”

But my

investigations has showed that inspite there was an Assembly Police Bill it was never sent to Trinidad. Never sent. You know there is a particular way in which things ought to be done.

For those who are looking and are not

aware, the Assembly can make Assembly Laws once it is based on the Fifth (5th) Schedule or it is

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

based on things that are directly related to Tobago you can make Assembly Laws - Assembly Bills as the case maybe.

So an Assembly Bill was made called, "The Autonomy Bill." That was sent to Trinidad, nothing came out of that. They made another one called, "The Assembly Police Bill."

That was never sent to Trinidad.

Because in Trinidad there is something called, “The Local Government” where all these municipalities have what is called (who represents those Police Officers) “The Municipal Police Officers.”

They are like what we

call the “LAPD or the LYPD” they are restricted to geographical areas which is the area of the Corporation. Here in Tobago, we were trying to mimic

something like that.

I cannot blame London for wanting to do better, I

cannot blame him. But I blame the person sitting in the seat for doing nothing. Only, "mmm." Nothing! Ha! I want to talk about Crime. When we said that Crime was a priority we felt the Assembly Police was a priority. Nothing was done. Not even a Bill for a whole year the Chief Secretary spent here not a Bill was moved in the House. Not one single Bill. They hired a number of Lawyers up there, a number of technocrats, not one Assembly Bill. A set of joky Motions Styrofoam, Eating Healthy. As if to say, we were uneducated people and the business of Tobago was trivial. As if to say that. Crime was on the rise.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

So much so, that in the Month of November when they had a Police meeting, the most senior Police Officer on the island - Mr. Moore, he said that, I want to quote: He said, “Murders are two hundred percent (200%) on the increase.� I went through the statistics and for a hundred (100) years that was the highest. Thanks to the - [Applause] the new Chief Secretary. For a hundred years under your watch crime got out of control. At that point in time, there were eight (8) murders on the island - eight (8) murders - two hundred percent (200%) - November. By the time December came there were twelve (12) - four (4) more and he is comfortable with that. When we ask him what plans he put in place somewhere on the newspaper articles he said that he is meeting with stakeholders and then he will meet with the

community. Which community did you go to? Who did you interact with?

No one but your choir of thirteen (13).

I want to say that crime has a direct impact on the economy. This is one of the reasons why the economy in Tobago is going down, and down, and down. No one wants to invest in an era where murders are the order of the day.

They removed (under his watch) what is called, “The Community Comfort Patrol”. These were people who were unarmed, patrolling the streets; they would help people who cannot get a police, do different things, assisting people bringing comfort to the lives of ordinary Tobagonians. But as they

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

removed that, crime was shut up in the country some three hundred percent (300%) and he is untroubled by it. His body is here with me, but his mind is on the other side of town. That is what is going on. This is why we are calling a, “No Confidence Motion in the Chief Secretary.

When I look at the way workers are treated in this country, I worry.

We sat in this Chamber, and we heard the Deputy Chief Secretary, who is a reflection of his Chief Secretary, stated across there, they came with a book you swear it was a “Kung Fu Book”.

Hear the name of the book,

“Unleashing, (like unleashing the dragon) the potential of Tobago people” calling a Budget around June 2017. We said, “Cool yourself!” Where are you going with that? Cool yourself! He said, “Late payment, (it is on record) will be a thing of the past”.

They now have what is called ACH (Automatic Clearing House), which is really an automatic form of payment where people no longer have to do payment on Pay Sheets and that kind of stuff. You just send it through the Bank, “boom”, and you get it in your Bank Account. We would have retorted and told them ACH does not put money in your account; it is simply a process to get money there. But if there is no money, it would not go there. They tried with that. He is comfortable with himself. By now, he has put on an additional jacket. That is how they are across on that side Madam Presiding Officer. You have three (3) jackets when you are coming to work, three (3) jackets. But you are not studying about the people outside who cannot get one. They come inside here with three (3) jackets.

I am concerned about these workers who did not get pay, and continue not to get pay. The Chief Secretary through the Deputy Chief Secretary would have said “You know what late payment is a thing of the past”. I have received a number of calls regarding people in TRHA (Tobago Regional Health Authority) again, Tobago Regional Health Authority, saying to me that they may not be paid for this month and it cannot be ascertained when they would be paid. Here we have the Secretary who has never been elected, writing comfortably and boasting and laughing and singing choruses, “Great is the Chief Secretary, Great is the Chief Secretary”. I like

“Voice” “Fire guh bun them”. Fire will bun them! People in this country have a right to be paid when they work. They have a right to go home to their families and pay their bills. That has become a big task! Since when!

They are talking about building mariners and doing this and doing that. Pay people when they work. We are saying to the Chief Secretary, through you Madam Presiding Officer, that he needs to do better. We have no confidence in your leadership after twelve (12) months.

We look at the Air Bridge and Sea Bridge now. For once I sat and I looked at my Television and I saw the Chief Secretary like he was gearing up for a battle. That was when CAL (Caribbean Airlines) introduced the fifty dollars ($50.00) penalty for changing your ticket. He said, “What, I was not consulted!” I said that is a man. He said, “I am going to meet with CAL”, I

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

said, “That is a man”. I said, “go man go”. Next day, he was on the plane and I listened for the News. He came back up emasculated, defeated, wounded; and like the man said here, m, m, m He cannot talk. Kahr talk!

Nothing was accomplished from that CAL meeting, more than some weak response that they will try it and see how it goes. We were not looking to hear that! If there is no consultation, with the people of Tobago, then that should be brought to an end, until a survey is done, a discussion is had and a decision is arrived at by consensus. But no, he gone down there m, m, m,

comes back up emasculated. He must go! The Chief Secretary must go.

That is what we are saying. We are tired of that.

Then, we have the next issue because there are some people in Tobago whose flights are delayed and they received no compensation for that. At least if you cannot get rid of the fifty dollars ($50.00) penalty, you must cause them to implement a fifty dollars ($50.00) payment for those persons who are late because of their own inconsistencies, their own mechanical failures. No! Not a word about that. He is comfortable with that. The Chief Secretary must go; we have no confidence in him.

Let me come down to the, “Boat” issue. No crisis on the island. He said, “There is no crisis on the island”. There was a Joint Select Committee here in Tobago, a few months ago, last year, and the Honourable Mr. Khan Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

was here.

He chaired the meeting.

The fishermen complained

bitterly, they said, every single time they have to sail their boat, they had to break the law. They have to go get a jug with gas carry it with a vehicle and carry it out at sea to get gas, because there is no mariner where they can refuel their boats. Mr. Khan said that he would look into it. But what was quite constructive to me Madam Presiding Officer, (and I want to see if I can find this thing here, I gave you the month, was September 07, 2017) was what Mr. Khan said and I want to read it.

“I do not know what the solution is, but the Sea bridge issue has exposed a fundamental level with the structural weakness…, Let me read it again. I want the Chief Secretary to pay attention because his name is calling here. He said that there is no crisis in Tobago; there are challenges, but no crisis. Here is a senior PNM Member, Mr. Khan, he said:

“I do not know what the solution is but the Sea bridge issue has exposed at a fundamental level the structural weakness of Tobago economy especially as it relates to Agriculture and Food Production.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. W. DUKE (Cont’d)

If the CARICOM Jetty does not work, Tobago would be in trouble.

Somewhere along the line, you all drop the ball and if you do not pick up that ball quickly, you will hurt deeply for it. When you are unable to feed yourself with basic commodity, you are at a great risk”.

Yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Express, not the one you does read, the boat you travel on, was designated schedule to leave the Port of Scarborough at 6.30 a.m., it left 8.00 am. Instead of 6.30 a.m., it left 8.00

a.m. Persons would have gone down for a one day journey hoping to come back up, the boat never ever, ever set sail from Trinidad yesterday. I am told that the boat is now set to leave at 3.00 p.m. As far as I am aware, the boat is still parked up at the Port of Port-of-Spain even as I speak, the boat is still parked up there. Engine failure! All type of failure! But my Colleague on the next side is saying, “No crisis”. Shabba Ranks was right, “Your body is here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town”. No crisis, no crisis, no crisis! The Honourable Minister Khan said, if we cannot feed ourselves, we are in a crisis.

The JADE CARICOM Jetty in Trinidad which means all these boats from Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia come down to the CARICOM, they should be coming here in Tobago, dropping off goods here? Where is the jetty? Where is the next berthing station? There is none!

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

The day a cruise ship pull inside there the Cargo boat cannot pull up. Once a Cruise Ship is inside there no cargo boat could come to Tobago. No cargo boat. That is the trouble we have but there is no crisis here. Food must stay out at sea. The Chief Secretary needs to go. He spent a whole year doing nothing but twiddling his thumb while “Rome is burning down”, while Tobago is sinking.

Madam Presiding Officer, at least, he brings his friends inside here, his colleagues to sing him praises - Praise and Worship. A whole document - Praise and Worship. Achievements - 2017 - Praise and Worship.

Let me speed up on this thing here. The Port of Scarborough holds great treasure because in the Year 1676 there was a big battle right out in the Port of Scarborough where about thirteen (13) Dutch ships had occupied the island at that time, had faced off with fourteen (14) French ships. It was at war two thousand (2,000) persons died and at the end of the day, a lot of valuable items sank to the bottom of the ocean. Reports will show that those things are still there about twenty-five meters under the ocean, under the sea.

In 2016, a group of persons approached the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) to get sponsorship - nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000) to bring a Conservator from Britain to protect these things so that they could Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

build up the Museum. Not a cent has been given now, no commitment at all.

So all those things remain out there and we cannot have a proper museum because those things are buried out there - treasures. But you know what?

They are busy partnering with some Organization called, “Cropper Foundation� and Peter Minshall, the Mass Man, THA who IADB would have given the Cropper Foundation over five hundred thousand dollars US (US$500,000) - a Grant, to get Peter Minshall to come and put some Carnival things under the Buccoo Sea out there. Up to now we have not

seen one single thing in the Buccoo Sea but old iron and a Jetty that will crumble on anybody at any point in time and the Chief Secretary sits across there not following up on anything.

The last time I went to Buccoo to eat in a fancy Restaurant down there the view outside was horrendous, horrible, old steel, Jetty falling down and no business. All the fishermen outside just relaxing, liming, business is low and we have a Representative from Buccoo. I say, the Chief Secretary must go because he failed to manage Tobago properly.

The Superfast Galicia brought comfort to Tobagonians. It was sent back, they brought a barge called, “The MV Transporter”, they bought a super barge called, "The Protector”, they was bringing a next boat called, “The La Caracola” called, "The Snail”, they bring the “Cabo Star”, all of those boats

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

have no accommodation for the truckers more than the trucks. They made it hard for the truckers.

They promised us two (2) new Ferries this year - we got none. Now, the last one was “The Ocean Flower” that they say, eh, eh, they not taking as half of it was exposed, the one that they said they going to buy and I say this to you is nothing but a sophisticated River Barge. It is a River Barge and

they cannot challenge me on that. You see, the haul of that boat or the draft of that vessel, it is so shallow that it is for a River Boat - 2.7 meters.

Normally, the draft on the T&T Express, the draft or the haul on the T&T Spirit is about 4. something around there, a little deeper. The longer the vessel the more sturdy the ride will be. Those waters are not the Caribbean Sea you know - Atlantic Sea. They bring a short boat, a little draft to go and face these bad waves out there. Anybody in Tobago will tell you that when they took those water taxis from South and they send them to Tobago it was the worse ride out. They just do not manage the waves well. They are bringing a small boat that was launched in 2016 saying it is a new boat. A boat that when you sit on the inside you feel like you are outside. That's the boat. A boat that could only hold a hundred cars and all of the cars and the vehicles and the people are exposed to sea blast. By the time you come out you are looking rusty but then the Chief Secretary does not travel on the boat. He went, Madam Presiding

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

Officer, on the Cabo Star himself and the Secretary for Tourism and when they came back out - if you see them posing.

They remind me of a cat in a story but I will tell you that in a while again. They came back saying that, the boat have pool on it. They went to see a Cargo Boat they came back saying, the Boat have pool on it.

When I went to Roxborough A.C School, and I want that school to be recorded a very good school, I learned of a story it says: “Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been?

I have been to London to visit the Queen.

Pussy cat, pussy cat what did you do there?

One expects a response to say, “I have seen the Queen; I have seen the King.” The pussy cat said: I frightened a little mouse under her chair.”

Do you know why?

All the pussy cat could see and interested in is

mice/rats. All my good friend on the next side is interested in is luxury. So when they went across the only thing they could see is a pool. That is all they can see. He did not see that there were no beds for those persons with the truck, he did not see that. This is why he must go. He did not see that there was no cafeteria Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. W. DUKE (Cont'd)

there, he did not see that. He did not see the inhospitable conditions of the toilets. No male and female - he did not see that. He did not see that the engine was so slow that the boat was actually a tug - he did not see that.

Luxury – “pussy cat, pussy cat what have you seen there? I frightened a little mouse under the chair.”

For more than one reason, the Chief Secretary must go. I want to close my debate this evening as I will wind back up in a bit again. [Desk thumping] [Booing] I want to close my debate in a while again by saying this: Tobago House of Assembly is an Honourable House and our sole purpose here is to bring representation to the people of Tobago, to defend their interest and pursue their welfare. Nothing the Chief Secretary has done over the year would have engendered that mission to protect Tobago's interest or enhance our welfare. Nothing he did succeeded and I wonder why all the praises, why all the praises?

I end, there is a note of discord outside these walls and it is time you bring your mind back into your body, Madam Presiding Officer. It is time that they bring their mind back into their bodies and stop the "mmm."

Thank you. [Crosstalk] [Laughter] Question proposed.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d)

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: As we await the responses for this afternoon, I wish to advise that no speaking order has been provided.

Therefore, we will be guided by Standing Orders 42 (1) where any member desiring to speak shall signify your intention to so do and I will then call on you.

Deputy Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping]

DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY: [Mr. Ancil Dennis] [Desk thumping] Afraid of what or who may I ask? Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to respond to this thing here call a motion. [Laughter]

But before I respond, I just want to correct couple of the usual lies that was espoused by the Minority Leader in his usual style. I must admit that I noticed that this evening, he was rather charged, but at the same time I want to remind him, do not talk about, “Boat Draft” when the only draft you know about is, “Bank Draft”. [Laughter] [Desk thumping]

So firstly, the highest murder rate ever recorded in Tobago was in the year 2012, and that was fifteen (15) murders on the island.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d) Secondly, the Community Comfort Patrol that the Minority Leader said that was disbanded under the Leadership of this Chief Secretary, was actually disbanded in December, 2016 and of course that was a decision made by the Minister of National Security.

I also want to inform and educate the Minority Leader, that in order for the Assembly Bills to become law they first have to go to Parliament, be approved by the Parliament, and then assented to by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. With that said Madam Presiding Officer, I want to get straight into dealing with this thing called a “Motion”.

First of all let me just say how proud I am and how good I feel being in the land of the living, and of course being a Tobagonian; a Tobagonian with integrity, a Tobagonian of good character; and a young Tobagonian at that. [Desk thumping]

Let me say how proud I am as well to be a Member of the People’s National Movement [Desk thumping] which of course this month celebrates sixty-two (62) years of service to this country and of course since 1998 in service to this island as a Council. You know interestingly, they have the audacity to mention the PNM-led Executive Council in this Motion. So allow me to talk a bit about Political Parties. Of course, here we have a Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

Motion of, “No confidence”.

But Madam Presiding Officer, I want to

suggest that in life it is not necessary about who you do not have confidence in, it is about who you have confidence in. [Desk thumping] Of course, I just like you Madam Presiding Officer, would prefer to place my confidence, and

trust in individuals and institutions of integrity, institutions and individuals of good character, that are solid, that are upstanding and have no running’s with the law Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping] That is where I would want my confidence to rest.

So as far as I am concerned this Motion is vacuous; this motion is ridiculous; this motion is frivolous;, it is vexatious; incredulous; dubious; superfluous; malicious; ludicrous; and preposterous

[Desk thumping]

[Laughter] I want to delve into it a little bit Madam Presiding Officer. Of course, the first WHEREAS is:

“WHEREAS January 26th 2018 represents one year since this PNMled Executive Council has been inaugurated”;

True!

But it is also represents one year since a PDP (Progressive

Democratic Party) so-called Minority Council were also inaugurated. I want to ask them who is their Chairman? [Desk thumping] I want to ask them who is their Treasurer? [Desk thumping] Who is the Secretary of the Party?

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

Where is the structure of the party Madam Presiding Officer? But they want to talk about confidence?

MR. W. DUKE: On a point of Order. Section 45, the Member should confine his observation on the subject under discussion.

Furthermore

Madam Presiding Officer, another point of Order, Section 45 Sub section 49, it says:… a member shall maintain silence…”

Whenever I am making a point of Order., we will seek your protection to ensure that our Colleagues here…[Interruption] [Crosstalk]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thank you Minority Leader. Please continue.

MR. W. DUKE: Madam Presiding Officer…, [Crosstalk]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Minority Leader, please have a seat.

The two of you are on your feet; I am asking you to have a seat. Okay. I have asked the Member to continue. That is my decision. [Desk thumping]

MR. A. DENNIS:

When you are accustom disrespecting females…

[Laughter][Desk thumping] Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d)

MR. W. DUKE: Madam Presiding Officer, Section 45 (5) … [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: No. There is no issue there.

MR. A. DENNIS: Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer. ‌ [Interruption] [Desk thumping]

MR. W. DUKE:

There is an issue here Madam Presiding Officer‌

[Interruption][Crosstalk]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: I did not hear the Member speak directly to anyone in terms of calling a name, so I do not know how it applies and to whom it applies. So, I am asking please to allow the Member just to finish his presentation at this point.

Thank you. [Desk thumping] MR. A. DENNIS: Madam Presiding Officer, thank you very much. THA (Tobago House of Assembly) is not PSA (Public Services Association) that is all I will say. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] I beg to move that maybe all the other Members should stand and give the Minority Leader their seats because he need to have several seats. [Laughter] Madam Presiding Officer, as I was saying, (before I was interrupted) they want to talk about Party yes, PNM-led Executive Council and I am happy to be part of a PNM-led Executive Council in this Tobago House of Assembly because of course, it is a Party that is organized, a Party with structure and a Party with a track record of service.

We have produced great leadership over our sixty-two (62) years.

Great Leaders such as Eric Williams, George Chambers, Patrick Manning, Keith Rowley and here in Tobago, Orville London and now we have a distinguished gentleman, Mr. Kelvin Charles leading the charge here in Tobago. [Desk thumping] I am proud to be Tobagonian and I am proud to be PNM, Madam Presiding Officer.

So when you want to talk about confidence deal with your structure, put an Executive in place, they even have a Constitution.

Let us talk

actions, Madam Presiding Officer, because the Motion says: “AND WHEREAS by a series of actions, and more importantly, inactions.”

Madam Presiding Officer, you see they have no confidence in this Administration, no confidence in this Chief Secretary who when he took Office we had a situation where our Quarry here in Tobago, described as a “Gold Mine”, described as, “One of the largest Quarries in this part of the world”, was very unproductive, producing very little, staffed with over one hundred (100) employees. What is the situation today, Madam Presiding Officer – twenty-six (26) employees, both Plants operating as efficiently as possible.

Madam Presiding Officer, productivity, delivery, truckers no longer have to line-up for weeks to wait for material and that is the situation today at the Quarry and they have no confidence in that. [Desk thumping] But you know what they had confidence in:

 The lies that all the employees in the Quarry will be sent home.  The lies that we selling out the Quarry.  The lies that the Quarry will be privatized to some businessman in Trinidad.

Madam Presiding Officer, they had confidence in that.

The all important issue of the Land Titles. Of course, in collaboration with the Central Government this PNM-led THA Administration, we have a situation now where that Bill will be going before the Parliament this year and therefore, all Tobagonians affected by this issue where land titles are not clear, where land titles are tied up will soon be dealt with and therefore, Tobagonians in those situations will have access to their lands and they will be able go to banks and get loans and mortgages etcetera. Thanks to this Administration. [Desk thumping]

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

They have no confidence in that but they have confidence in the lies that the Minority Leader will put in this Motion about us not giving him an Office. But the truth is an Office … [Interruption]

MR. W. DUKE:

Madam Presiding Officer, on a Point of Order. Section

45, Subsection 5 I will ask the Member to withdraw his Statement. He said that, “the Minority Leader is speaking lies and telling lies.”

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Can I ask you to address your

language please, Assemblyman Dennis?

MR. A. DENNIS: Madam Presiding Officer, untruths and he put it in the Motion that we did not give him an Office. But the truth is an Office was allotted to the Minority Leader. I will admit it is not as nice as No.1 Woodbrook Place. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] I will admit that it is not as plush as a Benz or a BMW but an Office was given nonetheless and therefore, my advice to you, is rather than saying that Tobagonians are claustrophobic and that they cannot use elevator, occupy the Office and do your work. [Desk thumping] But they have confidence in that, deception and untruths, and bachannal, Madam Presiding Officer.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

New Tourism Agency established here in Tobago - for the first time we have a separate entity managing Tourism affairs here on the island. Of course, I want to commend the Secretary of Tourism, Nadine Stewart-

Phillips for her hard work thus far. [Desk thumping] Not only that but we have a situation now where all the Festivals on this island:  Jazz Festival;  Carnival;  Heritage Festival. will be managed by one Authority, one Committee, Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping]

I am saying to you, that as we are on this part

towards more productivity and more efficiency and of course, greater value for money, those are two (2) significant reforms here in Tobago that will afford us to realize those objectives and I congratulate the Secretary again.

[Desk thumping] Again in collaboration with the Central Government - construction has begun on two (2) new Police Stations here in Tobago and I do not expect them to have confidence in that for obvious reason. [Laughter]

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

Administrative Complex in Roxborough – under construction. Again in partnership with a PNM-Government in Trinidad and a PNM-THA development is happening on this island. [Desk thumping] Finally, we have a boat after going through many pains - because I want Tobagonians especially to understand procuring a boat is not an easy thing and of course, The Prime Minister would have gone to the Joint Select Committee and he told all of us exactly what was happening at the Port and therefore, we must understand that a boat is not something that you could just go in a Store and pick up. It is a process, a long process and we have been experiencing difficulty and I will admit that, we have been experiencing difficulty for months and now we finally have a situation where this seabridge could be serviced by three (3) ferries and the Minority Leader is running up and down the place, talking about draft, talking about the boat not carrying enough passengers, talking about the boat is too slow and all kinds of stories. Well my response to that is if the boat is too slow for you, swim like you did the last time. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] Great swimming skills are needed. Let me rephrase it; “If the boat is not good enough for you swim like you did

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

the last time.” [Crosstalk] Because I am sure many of us are finally happy that a new boat is added to the seabridge. [Desk thumping] Of course, great swimming skills is required if one is to end up in a place like Carrera.

[Laughter] [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, the airbridge – and the time is running because I want to get to this part where they are talking about “rule of law.”

[Laughter]

Let me deal with the airbridge quickly, Madam Presiding

Officer. Yes, there are challenges and again I will be the first to admit that because they have a situation where it is one country but the two (2) islands are separated by water. Of course, even with a very efficient airbridge you still going to have challenges. Even if you have a flight every hour, Madam Presiding Officer, I am suggesting this is my own personal opinion that you still going to have challenges where people may want to travel and not be able to travel because there is a limit, there is no road, you cannot just pick up and leave Tobago and go to Trinidad when you want, you have to plan.

You have to go and buy a ferry ticket or you have to go and purchase a plane ticket and you have to book in advance and plan and show up at the airport on time. So, Madam Presiding Officer, there are limitations.

But I want to, of course, congratulate the Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) Board because I am seeing some efforts made and of course, the

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

Minority Leader in his contribution spoke about increased fare. There is no increased fare, Madam Presiding Officer. What has been added is a fee for if persons want to change their bookings and of course, this situation where people want to book tickets not travel and clog the system, that is what the fees intended to deal with. [Desk thumping] Therefore, this may allow us to manage the airbridge and manage the booking situation more effectively.

I want to refer to an article, of course, with your leave Madam Presiding Officer.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d)

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, you have four (4) minutes left.

MR. A. DENNIS: Time flies! Am I still entitled to an additional ten (10) minutes?

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Yes.

MR. A. DENNIS: Excellent! That should be enough. So Madam Presiding Officer, the Air Bridge December 28th 2017, Newsday, and I am quoting part of it.

“… The source said all the confirmed passengers were moved to Tobago yesterday afternoon along with one hundred and fifty-four (154) passengers who had stand-by tickets. “By the end of the day they would have extended moving over two hundred (200) passengers on stand-by tickets. It was not one jet that we put on.

It was about seven (7) jets we put on,” the source said.

This is a source from Caribbean Airlines. It goes on to say: …All confirmed passengers who were confirmed to travel on a ATR that developed a problem late Wednesday were contacted. They were moved yesterday morning. No standby tickets were issued. The protesters, the source said, included people who ‘were not even standby passengers [Laughter] as they had not yet bought tickets’…”

This is where this Minority Council (I will call you all Council in that regard) is encouraging nonsense Madam Presiding Officer.

You see

sometimes when we are in Opposition; we tend to do all kind of things to destabilize the country and to give people unreasonable expectations. So you must show up in the airport, no ticket, not even on stand-by and you must get on a flight and they are supporting those unrealistic expectations why, because you are in Opposition. But I want to say to you be careful about the decisions that you make, be careful about the expectations that you caused the people of this

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

country to have.

God forbid, one day you may end up in the Chief

Secretary’s Chair, God forbid, and you will find it very difficult to govern the very people because of some of the things you would have done. So you sat in the airport, and you protested. As a matter of fact I think a comment was made that the people should be given refreshments.

Are those

expectations reasonable? Is it reasonable or practical for persons to show up in an airport, no ticket, but they must travel today in a situation where they are limited seats available? They are supporting that. They have confidence in that.

So I want to call on the people, Tobago and even Trinidad and Tobago let us be pragmatic; let us be realistic; because policy formulation and policy implementation and governance on a whole is no easy task because sometimes we sit at home and we want a road fix and we want it now, but we do not understand that there is a process. We do not understand that it does not just simply mean that once Chief Secretary say fix the road, that the road will be fixed. I want to get down into that some more.

Because of course again, we are attempting to fix URP (Unemployment Relief Programme), I think it is one thousand, six hundred (1,600) employees. Everybody knows that there is a need for some more productivity; everybody knows that there is a need for some more reforms in URP, but they have no confidence in that. undertaking a process to get rid Loss of Confidence in the Chief

So this Administration is

Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

of some of the apparent “ghost” that are in the system, so that we could bring down the numbers and of course achieve greater productivity in URP. No confidence in that!

I want to talk about Health Madam Presiding Officer, … How much time I have? [Laughter]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Speaking time is up.

MR. A. DENNIS: Thank you Madam Presiding Officer.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Member’s speaking time be extended by ten (10) minutes. [Hon. K. Des Vignes]

Question put and agreed to.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief

Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER (Cont’d)

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: That speaking time has now been extended by ten (10) minutes.

MR. A. DENNIS: Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer. So much to say with so little time. [Laughter] So they have no confidence in this Administration as we attempt to restructure URP. But you know what they did? All of a sudden the Minority Councillor and the Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/ Speyside are Union operatives.

They are

employed now with the PSA (Public Services Association).

So, in a

situation where we are trying to facilitate again more productivity because of course the Division was occupying an unsuitable space, found a new building and we are attempting to move, they gone in the place to protest.

But I want to take them to Law School now. Law School, Hugh Wooding or Howard which one you want to choose.

Occupational, Safety and Health Act: Now I saw in an article in 2014, this time it was Immigration because they want to talk about dismantling Air and Sea Bridge and dismantling the private sector, but they are strategically dismantling the public sector Madam Presiding Officer.

Since 2014,

Immigration, let me get the source, Guardian Newspaper January 24, 2018

Loss of Confidence in the Chief

Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

that was when I printed it, the article was dated July, 08, 2014 Madam Presiding Officer, since then, dismantling the Public Sector.

Immigration, this time: This is a member of the public, speaking.

One woman said she had to pay eleven thousand dollars ($11,000.00) to change her travel plans because she could not get her grandsons Passport on time. Who did that Madam Presiding Officer? Of course, in explaining the definition of, “Industrial Action” Mr. Duke who I believe is the Minority Leader… [Interruption]

MR. W. DUKE: Madam Presiding Officer, this motion is not talking about public servants and union stuff… its irrelevance.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Minority Leader, please.

He is

explaining himself; I consider that he is relevantly speaking to the motion. I do not know that he is speaking specifically to PSA business but please, I am asking you to allow him you will have along with your other members will have another opportunity to speak. Please allow him to finish.

MR. A. DENNIS:

Of course I know Madam Presiding Officer, that you

will grant me some extra time due to the amount of times I have been

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

disturbed. So he quoted of course, and Mr. Duke who I believe is the Minority Leader, According to Section 15, he likes section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act,

“An employee may refused to work or do particular work when he has reason to believe that there are serious or imminent danger to himself or others… etcetera, etcetera.”

But he stops there, he does not go to Section 16, which says: “Upon refusing to work or do particular work, and this applies to the situation in Health as well Madam Presiding Officer, an employer shall… [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Minority Leader, I want to remind you of Standing Order 51(1). Okay! I want to read it for you just in case you are not clear on it.

“The Presiding Officer, in the Assembly and the Chairman of the Committee respectively shall be responsible for the observance of the rules of order in the Assembly and Committee respectively, and their decision upon any point of order shall not be open to appeal and shall not be reviewed by the Assembly except upon a substantive motion made after the notice”.

I am asking you please, to observe Standing Order 51 (1) [Desk thumping]

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d)

MR. A. DENNIS: Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to continue. So as I was saying, they like Section 15…

But they ignored Section 16 of the same Act which says: “Upon refusing to work or do particular work, the employee shall immediately report the circumstances of the refusal or intended refusal to the employer or his Representative and the Representative of the Safety and Health Committee…”

I would not read the rest in terms of the fines etcetera, etcetera.

Madam Presiding Officer, so, I am saying, even in the situation with the Division of Health, lawlessness and illegality abounds. No confidence in this Administration but confidence in that and in that man.

Illegality in the Public Service Association (PSA), illegality in the Airport, illegality all in the streets of Roxborough, illegality and illegal marches everywhere; illegality even at popular hotels, Madam Presiding Officer, but they have confidence, confidence in that. Charges but they have confidence in that, no confidence in this man, a man of integrity, a man of good character. [Desk thumping] A man whose greatest weapon may not be his loud mouth but maybe his brains, no confidence in that! thumping]

[Desk

Illegality after illegality, costing the Public Service Association (PSA) over one point two million dollars ($1.2m.) in legal fees and that is one (1) Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d) year and you all have confidence in that. I am disturbed by that, Madam Presiding Officer.

On a lighter note, with the little time that I have left. I am pleased as a Tobagonian that the issue of Tobago Self-Government will soon be taken to the Parliament.

[Desk thumping] As a matter of fact, this year a Bill is

expected to be on the Parliament’s floor and of course, it requires Opposition support in order for Tobago to achieve greater autonomy.

Speaking about Self-Government, a critical aspect of leadership or a critical trait of any Leader is in fact, Self-Government - the ability to control oneself. [Desk thumping]

The ability to restrain oneself, the ability to

exercise discretion; the ability to be diplomatic especially when necessary.

Kelvin Charles has those qualities, Madam Presiding Officer.

[Desk

thumping] The one who is bringing the No-Confidence Motion, completely out of control. I hope that the Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside would at some point be able to charm him. [Laughter] [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, I want to end with a little story. Because you know, sometimes even here in Tobago a man might have his wife or his girlfriend, Common Law Wife whatever you want to call it and another man Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d) might be interested in her so he will go to the woman and he will bad talk the man: “he this he that, he ain’t want nothing, he horning yuh, he aint’t giving you enough money, all kind of thing.” But you know what is the interesting thing and I can talk about this because I was there recently.

[Laughter] [Desk thumping] The man who doing the bad talking must ensure that he is superior to the man he is bad talking, Madam Presiding Officer. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] You must ensure that you have the moral authority, you must ensure that you have the intellectual capacity, you must ensure that you have the leadership qualities and you must ensure that you are superior and a class above the man that you are bad talking.

[Desk

thumping] Therefore, women who find themselves in those situations must be careful. Ask yourself, whey you have and Tobago must ask themselves the same questions. [Desk thumping] “What do I have as a Chief Secretary, whom do I have as a Chief Secretary?” As a matter of fact, you must tell yourself, “I know whey I have but I nuh sure whey I will get.” [Desk thumping] As a matter of fact, I want to suggest in this case, you sure what you going to get because you are seeing it.

[Laughter] [Desk thumping]

The illegality all over the place, no regard for the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Madam Presiding Officer but they want to put in a Motion, “the rule

of law.” They have the audacity Madam Presiding Officer, to place in this Motion the rule of law.

In closing, the Minority Leader, I recognize symptoms of fear and I want to say to you that you should be very afraid because while the NoConfidence Motion in Mr. Kelvin Charles came from outside, yours will come Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) MR. A. DENNIS (Cont’d) from within. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] And I will give you a little clue, look to your left.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. [Laughter] [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Secretary of Tourism, Culture and

Transportation. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION (Hon. Nadine Stewart-Phillips): Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to contribute to this Debate and thank you, to my Colleague, the Assemblyman for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant for setting the tone for this afternoon’s debate.

Madam Presiding Officer, I stand on the eve of my one year Anniversary as Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation appointed if I may add, Madam Presiding officer, under the distinguished exemplary,

honest, confident and inspirational leadership of the Honourable Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, when I received and read this Motion, I had mixed feelings and these feelings did not speak to sadness or joy, these feelings ranged from being perplexed to downright flabbergasted. Madam Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

Presiding Officer, I was in utter disbelief that this Minority Leader has the audacity to bring such a baseless Motion to this Honourable House. I listened carefully to the Minority Leader in his presentation, of course, his dramatic (if I might add) presentation and you have to ask yourself Madam Presiding Officer, what is new? There was no bombshell, no mark ain’t buss, all the issues that he spoke about are already in the public domain.

As Minority Leader we do not expect him to have confidence in the Chief Secretary because he wants his job, he wants to be here and so he continues to attempt to create havoc and panic in the island of Tobago and for Tobagonians.

Madam Presiding Officer, might I remind the Honourable Minority Leader that the people of Tobago spoke resoundingly on January 23 rd, 2017.

[Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, I listened to the Minority Leader as he spoke about interacting with cruise passengers and persons like the Minority Leader are Tobago’s problem.

Because his attempt to incite fear into a visitor, to

score cheap political points. Madam Presiding Officer, I had the liberty of going on that very same ship today and I came off with a group of about fifty (50) persons and who were going on tours around Tobago and they were amazed by the craft selling at the Craft Market at the Port Authority.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d) They were amazed by the Craft Market at the Port Authority Madam Presiding Officer. They were enthralled by the natural beauty of Tobago and Scarborough. To listen to the Minority Leader, looking at his theatrics, I could imagined how he just jumped on these tourists just to get some negative response in order to come this House to have something to say Madam Presiding Officer.

That is the type of Leadership that we must

debunk; that is the type of leadership that we must reject. Leadership that is dictatorial; dominated and riddled with outright bad behaviour before it escalates into an uncontrolled nightmare. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, we are very mindful of the situation on the Air and the Sea Bridge. Of course, as Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation, we can admit that the situation has not been the best for the past months. But, Madam Presiding Officer, the words in the Motion by the

Minority Leader, demise on the Air and on the Sea Bridge. That is one of the areas in the Motion that baffled me. I have to consult the Webster’s Dictionary to reassure myself that my understanding of the definition of “demise”, was still intact. The Webster’s Dictionary described, “Demise”:

 End or failure of an enterprise;  Institution or Industry; Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

 Disintegration;  Downfall;  Ruin Madam Presiding Officer, none of these describes our Air and Sea Bridge situation. At my last check, both the Air and Sea Bridge were in operation. I know that the Minority Leader can confirm this, because he had to travel from Trinidad to get here this morning, unless he jet skied or kayaked or took a parachute. He is speaking about, “demise” but he better hope that the air bridge is working tomorrow so that he can attend his Court hearing at the Port-of-Spain, Magistrate’s Court. [Desk thumping]

MR. W. DUKE: On a point of Order. Madam Presiding Officer, Standing Orders 45 Sub Section 2. I require from her an apology.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Under 2: it says that: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial matter is pending, in such a way as might opinion of the chair prejudice the interest of the parties thereto”.

Okay! I would like us to just refrain from any mention of any matter that may be related in any way to the issue that may be in Court.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

MS. NADINE STEWART: So guided Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, when I took my Oath as Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation one (1) year ago, I made a commitment to God, myself and the people of Tobago to serve without fear, to serve without favour, to serve without affection or ill will. I will continue to uphold that Oath as I contribute to this debate.

Madam Presiding Officer, I can say without fear of contradiction, that the Leadership of this Chief Secretary is, “unquestionable”. [Desk thumping] I want to repeat that, “unquestionable”.

His commitment to the

development of Tobago is unwavering as his decisions are reflective of his resilience in advancing Tobago’s development. I would speak to that in a

bit. This Chief Secretary continues to demonstrate astute Leadership to the Executive Council and to the people of Tobago.

I wish to take the

opportunity to personally commend the Chief Secretary for his wisdom; foresight; and transformational Leadership. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, to put this Motion into perspective, we as Tobagonians must understand who the mover of this Motion is. Because in truth and in fact, by bringing a Motion of, “no confidence” of the Chief Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

Secretary, it means that the Minority Leader is applying for a job. What he is seeking to do with this Motion is to indicate that the reputation of the current Chief Secretary is at stake. We must not allow information such as this to escape the record, as the Minority Leader must understand that he needs to “Dance ah yard, before he dance abroad”. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, if I might just read into the record on a News item dated November, 09, 2017. Headline:

PSA Members tell Duke to fix home first.

“The workers said that they are disenchanted and frustrated over several issues that are not being attended to by the PSA President, they have had enough and Mr. Duke needs to fix home first.”

Yet, this same leader, this same man is the one who puts up a facade that he cares for Tobago. In my last contribution‌ [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, I am sorry I have to interrupt at this time, but the sitting is suspended and would resume at 5.00 p.m.

4.31 p.m.

Sitting suspended.

5.08 p.m.: Sitting resumed.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation may I invite you to resume your response? [Desk thumping] HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS:

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer can you remind me how much time I used before?

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: You have taken about ten minutes the last time.

HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS: Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, before the tea break I was referring to a

newspaper article where Public Services Association (PSA) Members were calling on Mr. Duke to fix home first and I spoke about my last contribution that mentioned Mr. Duke's non representation even at the Electoral District level which has not changed.

Madam Presiding Officer, now as we continue to examine this Minority Leader, he must understand that we can see through the smoke, we can see through the blurred mirrors especially the ones at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

where events there led to criminal charges being laid.

Officer, I hasten to add ... [Interruption]

Madam Presiding

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Councillor, I made a ruling before on going down that road. I am asking you please, to respect it.

HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS:

Madam Presiding Officer, so guided.

Madam Presiding Officer, I must hasten to add that the only time our Chief Secretary with whom the Minority Bench has taken up this No-confidence Motion has been through a Court House is as a witness. The only charge he has, Madam Presiding Officer, is the mandate that the people of Tobago gave to him on 23rd January 2017. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, added to that, he has a cadre of distinguished women seated in his Executive Council. We have one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) [Desk thumping] and none of us, Madam Presiding Officer, are intimidated, cursed or exposed to any negative and unwanted influences as all he provides is sterling leadership and guidance. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, a birdie whisper to me that not all women working in offices of men who think they have power enjoy this type of leadership and some have opted to quit indicating that they will not be manipulated.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d) Madam Presiding Officer, if there are women on the side of the Minority screaming in support of such a man who am I to stay silent on my leader who continues to be of exemplary service to Tobago?

[Desk

thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, the time has come that instead of debating No confidence Motions we should be joining women around the world and launching HASHTAG ME 2 campaign [Desk thumping] here in Trinidad and Tobago where women continue to be victims of Sexual Harassment in the work place. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, effective Leaders must ensure, that in the workplace everyone must be treated fairly. As a young woman, I am standing up and I am saying, “No”, to any male who under the guise of Representation, uses force, uses power and position to have their way and when they cannot do that they dismiss these women.

[Desk thumping] Madam Presiding

Officer, we must reject these actions and start using the HASH TAG ME 2 to show support for the Movement. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, and I want to make it collusively clear that any individual who is applying for this job of Chief Secretary must come with their hands clean and the palms of your hands cannot look clean but your nails dirty. There must be an understanding that such a responsibility requires your Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d) judgement to be intact as well as your ability to mentor and not exploit.

[Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, over the past year, I have seen where our Chief Secretary has proven to be strong, purpose driven, and a resilient man who is not easily dissuaded or discouraged. Even when this same Minority Leader in his obnoxious tone sought to degrade his Office he remain calm in all his undertakings.

Madam Presiding Officer, this self-proclaimed madman masquerading as a person who cares about Tobago, this gentleman, does not even have respect for solemn moments such as the passing of a former President, Maxwell Richards. God rest his soul. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, while extending condolences to the bereaved family, the Member thought it expedient to score cheap political points by accusing the Peoples National Movement (PNM) of performing necromancy. How low can one go? Madam Presiding Officer, when it comes to this Member lower than the white line is an understatement. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, it is no surprise that another relevant article in Newsday dated November 13th, 2017, it was reported that the Minority Leader in his capacity as PSA President has poor relationships with workers at the PSA who complained about poor Occupational Health and Safety conditions - that's the same shutdown man I talking about. [Desk thumping] He was even described as a Political Schizophrenic for contradicting the Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d) issues he is championing on behalf of his workers of the Public Services Association (PSA). And if there is one thing that this Minority Leader is consistent

with

Madam

Presiding

Officer,

that

thing

would

be

inconsistencies. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, and the people of Tobago must not forget, here is a man who does not even abide by their own Constitution in so much

that the Public Services Association’s (PSA's) membership has filed an Injunction in the High Court to halt what was deemed to be a devious plot to skew elections.

Now this is definitely not what the people of Tobago

deserves and it does not augur well for Tobagonians.

Now, Madam Presiding Officer, instead of giving too much more time to the failings or inadequacies of the Minority Leader, I chose to focus my attention on accounting to the people for my stewardship as Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation under the leadership and direction of the Honourable Chief Secretary.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

Madam Presiding Officer, the Executive Council and this Administration is focused on increased performance, service delivery, enhancing the quality of lives for residents and people of Tobago, diversifying our economy through tourism and the development of our island and by extension Trinidad and Tobago.

I must once again highlight the excellent decision made by the Chief Secretary in the configuration of the Division that I lead.

The addition of Culture to the portfolio of Tourism and Transportation, was indeed a strategic realignment which is testament of the fact that our Chief Secretary is a visionary and one who understands and appreciates institutional and organizational dynamics.

Madam Presiding Officer, I know that the Speaker that went before me, Representative for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant, spoke about the fact that the Minority Leader is bringing a “No confidence” Motion in a PNM elected Chief Secretary. What does his Party’s Executive structure looks like? Who are the Executive Members that his Party leads? Is there a Constitution? Or is it based on the whims and fancies of a supreme leader? We have not seen that Madam Presiding Officer. Once we are provided with these responses to these core questions, then we will know that the Minority Leader understands what leadership is.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

Madam Presiding Officer, it is no secret that the Tourism Sector in Tobago has been constraint by a number of factors. However, as Secretary, we will not lose sight of the opportunities that lie ahead. We know that our collaboration with stakeholders is critical and necessary for us to turn around the sector. This will definitely not involve… Madam Presiding Officer, referring to stakeholders and business entities and representatives as sellout,

when they openly agree to decisions that they are very much aware will help the sector to get firmly back on track.

Nevertheless, the Division of

Tourism, Culture and Transportation has made notable strides over the past year in delivering on its mandate to boost the Tourism Sector. I will just go through them quickly Madam Presiding Officer.

As part of our Manifesto promise in the Tobago House of Assembly Elections of 2017 to the people of Tobago, was the Establishment of the “Tobago Tourism Agency”. I remember during my third week in Office, and with the insistence of the Honourable Chief Secretary, the Tobago Tourism Agency was formally established. [Desk thumping] This is an entity that the stakeholders in Tobago have been advocating for… [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Member’s speaking time be extended by ten (10) minutes. [Hon K. Des Vignes]

Question put and agreed to.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is now extended by a further ten (10) minutes.

HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS: Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer.

I move to the Division launching the Fort King George Interactive Museum as a new product offering. This project was another key initiative resulting from the incorporation of Culture to the Division.

This

reenactment Madam Presiding Officer, has attracted scores of visitors locally and internationally and the intent is to monetize this activity and eventually outsource to a private entity for operations to encourage entrepreneurial development.

Madam Presiding Officer, in order to create structure and balance, each Division was requested by the Chief Secretary to submit a one hundred and eighty (180) day Work Plan. This Work Plan would allow for better management of resources, projects and facilitate more effective monitoring and evaluation. So it is very clear to all of us Madam Presiding Officer, that with good leadership we are making progress and we are doing more with Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

less. So, the notable achievements of the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation are as a result of:  Structured Leadership;  Strategic foresight;

 Firm and decisive decision making. even whilst we are encouraged to do better.

Madam Presiding Officer, many of us are unable to fill the shoes of the Chief Secretary as the duties and the responsibilities are not an easy one.

Looking from the outside it may appear to be attractive, especially for those who are desirous of getting their hands in a bigger cookie jar. But the reality is Madam Presiding Officer, that not many are equipped to fill this role.

Madam Presiding Officer, when others were busy jet sking, and kayaking to Trinidad, hoping that a boat will appear, the Chief Secretary was in active conversation with the Line Minister on the procurement of a vessel that will be here shortly. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, when others were parading with a van load of sheep in James Park, the Chief Secretary was signing MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) to convert the Studley Park Quarry into a Special Purpose Company. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, when others were displaying thug-like behaviour Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

at the Division of Health, under the guise of being PSA (Public Services Association) President, the Chief Secretary was approving the Establishment of a Research Committee to oversee all Health related research in Tobago.

[Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, the Chief Secretary, the Executive Council and this Administration is doing its best to advance the development of Tobago as we continue to grow even in the face of strained circumstances. It is within these same circumstances that I categorically rebuke this Motion as tabled by the Minority. [Desk thumping]

The Chief Secretary was given a mandate for a period of four (4) years at least, and no premature Motions of, “no confidence” is going to get in the way of that. [Desk thumping] It was this same Minority Leader who stated that if this country mashes up, let it mash up with our hard earned money in our pockets. Does this sound like a Leader who cares about this country? This Chief Secretary is about holistically building the island of Tobago, not mashing it up.

So, instead of bringing useless; impotent; worthless; inept; and hopelessly weak Motion of, “No confidence” into this House, the Minority Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS (Cont’d)

Leader should focus on doing the work that he was elected to do or revert to pushing his ice-cream cart.

We on this side, repose full confidence in the Honourable Chief Secretary, Kelvin Victor Charles, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of

Assembly. It is with these few words Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you for the opportunity. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: The Minority Councillor.

COUNCILLOR DR. F. B. YISRAEL: Good evening Madam Presiding Officer, Members of the House; those who are sitting in the visiting gallery; particularly a special good evening to the students who decided to stay with us on this very lengthy day. Thank you for sharing this day with us.

Madam Presiding Officer, like some of the Members on the other side, I too have mixed feelings about today. It really is and I would use the term I came up with, “bitter sweet”. Now, it is “sweet” because it really represents one year since those of us who are in the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) officially became part of the Tobago House of Assembly. But it also “bitter” because it also represents the ushering in of this continuation of the Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

PNM-led Executive Council that continues to rule and continues to reign and continues to bring havoc over the people of Tobago.

It is also “bitter” because this Executive Council is led by none other than the Member for Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden, Mr. Kelvin Charles.

A man who has proven over the last year or so, that he does not know how to lead; that he is simply out of touch with the average Tobagonian and that unfortunately, he does not care.

Madam Presiding Officer, when I got into Politics, in fact, when all of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates got into politics we ventured into it for one reason only and that is to build a better Tobago. We were doing that, we were planning to do that, child by child, family by family and village by village. We did so, so that we could become a part of this great institution known as "The Tobago House of Assembly" and my Leader already gave a brief history as to the struggles of the Tobago House of Assembly from where it began, to where it is now. Outlining that the Tobago House of Assembly really is this entity that should be guiding, that should be managing, that should be leading the development of this absolutely amazingly gorgeous island known as "Tobago."

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

It saddens me, it really, really saddens me that instead of doing that, instead of listening to the cries of the average Tobagonian, what you have been doing is bringing failed policies just continuing the legacy of Mr.

Orville London and in essence, giving back Tobago to Trinidad everything that we have been fighting for you guys through you, Madam Presiding Officer, seems to simply be giving it back to Trinidad.

Madam Presiding Officer, this Executive Council led by this Political Leader wasted an entire year bringing Motions that were of no importance or of little substance to the lives of Tobagonians. Instead of spending time bringing policies right here that were critical and that were geared towards developing this island, "No”, we wasted the entire year.

For those who may not have been following through the year, please allow me to go through very quickly, some of the policies that this Executive Council led by this Chief Secretary chose to waste our time with.

We started with a Motion to have a Code of Conduct for the Tobago House of Assembly. A Code of Conduct when in fact, the Tobago House of Assembly already has the THA Standing Orders that is a relatively inclusive document and that document also allows if there are things outside of the THA Standing Orders that we can resort to the House of Representatives Standing Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

Orders. A year later and the Code of Conduct is nowhere close to being materialized but that is okay because we did not need it.

They brought a Motion to ban the use of Styrofoam when we know and they knew well maybe they did not know that the THA does not have the authority to ban the use of Styrofoam. Even after passing that Motion, Madam Presiding Officer, the THA still remains the biggest culprits when it comes to using Styrofoam - another wasted Motion.

Madam Presiding Officer, they brought another Motion, asking for permission to collaborate with community and church-based Organizations something that they already has the capacity to do - wasting our time.

They then brought a Motion, that in essence, was a Money Bill - the Budget. The Budget that was for five billion dollars ($5b.) when they knew from history that the THA has never been granted that kind of money and certainly not in this kind of economic time would not have been granted a five billion dollars ($5b.) Budget. We begged them, we begged them to rethink it and to bring that Budget to a point that was more realistic - they simply did not care.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

Then, they brought this Bill about Eating Healthy in Schools.

[Interruption] Yes, a Motion, I am sorry, yes we did not even bother with

Bills and you all should not be snickering because that is such a disgrace that after an entire year there are no Bills. [Laughter] They brought a Motion about Eating Healthy in Schools one that had absolutely no concrete plans if you go back and listen to it, or you go back and read the transcripts there were no concrete plans. We did not know and we understand today that even though they said that the Motion that they brought then was based on the Trinidad proposals, we understand today that they were now going back to something even though that is not what was said when the Motion was brought.

Of course, since that time, even in the same month several

children became sick after they agreed on that Motion.

We ask today again, given that you did that Motion, given that children have fallen sick what have you done to ensure that that does not happen again? The answer - what was the answer? We might be training some people. When in fact there is an entire system that needs to be put in place to make sure that what happened in November does not happen.

The next Motion asked us to endorse policies or plans to bring the five billion dollars ($5b.) that we knew they were not going to get, to bring that and somehow make that turn into a two billion dollars ($2b.) Budget.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d) Again, because of that we are in the situation where we are in now where we continue to say, "We do not have money� and the average Tobagonian suffers because of it.

Madam Presiding Officer, in December, when hundreds of workers did not get paid, this Chief Secretary spent time with his colleagues sending Christmas greetings all over the place, almost forgetting to send Christmas greetings even to the Tobagonians who were here without pay. We said to them, “let's think about this for a little bit, instead use the time to commit to doing everything that could be done to ensure that those individuals get paid.” The answer - "no!"

Madam Presiding Officer, we pleaded, we begged.

This Chief

Secretary, even in December up until now has still been allowing his Secretary with responsibility for Health to treat the workers at that Division with scant courtesy.

In fact, they have been begging, they have been

pleading. Some of them have cried. I have personally seen some of them cried because of the mistreatment that they have been getting and Chief Secretary you have sat silent and allowed your Secretary for Health to keep mistreating these workers.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me just interject a little bit with that because what they continue to not say is that what they did was to take approximately two hundred and fifty (250) people and try to stick them into a Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d) building that could only comfortably hold one hundred and fifty (150) people.

Please, if I am wrong, stand on a Point of Order and correct me.

That is what they did and that is why up to now, up to today, these workers still have not been paid. Yes, okay, so a fancy Press Release came out and said, one fortnight but one fortnight being paid when you are owed four (4) is still no payment, and this Chief Secretary stood back and allowed that to happen and said nothing.

Even when my Colleague asked him about late payment, he pretended that he did not know that there were scores of Tobagonians who were not being paid then. Tobagonians are watching.

That building that they went into had:  No telephone;  No internet;  No computer set up; and they knew that, knowing that the Paying System needed those things, knowing that the Division Paying System was based on an Electronic System Madam Presiding Officer. They sat and did nothing. Tobagonians are suffering because of it, and this Chief Secretary still sits and does nothing. Let Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

me not say he does nothing, what they did agree on, is to allow the rent of that building to go from two hundred and seventeen thousand, nine hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($217, 930.00) a month up to three hundred and twenty-three thousand, eight hundred and fifty dollars ($323,850.00) per month. I am asking, I am sure that the rent for that building has been paid while the workers have not been paid. This Chief Secretary allowed that to happen.

To add to that, the Memorandum today came out from the TRHA (Tobago Regional Health Authority) telling the staff at the TRHA that they were supposed to get paid around now, but that is not going to happen. The Memorandum said that they cannot tell them when they are going to get paid. But everyone stands here, in this room, with their fancy clothes, thinking that the world out there is okay. It is not.

Madam Presiding Officer, if you will count back with me that was seven (7) waste of time Motions. The Minority Council had the opportunity throughout all of 2017 to raise two (2) Motions. Two!

Let me say very

briefly for those of you who may not have been around to explain what our Motions were.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d) DR. F. B. YISRAEL (Cont’d)

The first one was because the Executive Council sits in a little room all by themselves making decisions about how to spend money. We were asking them, after they have done that decision making to come back to the people of Tobago and tell us, just for courtesy sake, just for manners sake, how they were spending the money. We asked them specifically to report on off Budget Expenditure meaning, something that was not in the Budget but you decided to spend money on it. Come back and tell us, it is our money. We asked them to tell us about:

 Expenditure that is drawn down from the Contingency over fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00); 

When they were leasing or distributing THA or State lands;



Contracts or consultancies worth over one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00);

All of that is in TT. 

When they were employing people and paying them over twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00);



When they were appointing people to THA or State Boards;



The reports for all of the State-owned Companies that are all over the place because we have not had audited reports for those companies.



When they were renting or leasing a building, that was going to cost more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) a month.

This Chief Secretary stood up and allowed the rest of his counterparts to vote: “No” on a request like that. That was not an unreasonable request and you as a Tobagonian, those of you in the viewing audience, you need to say, you need to wonder why did they say “no” to that.

Madam Presiding Officer, our second motion. Our second motion was again very simple. It was one because we understood how economics work. We were asking them; we were begging them to go back and instead of trying to tweak and twindle and doing all sorts of things with the five billion dollars ($5b.) budget; we asked them to go and think about it again critically and create a budget that was for the two billion dollars ($2b.) that Trinidad gave us. There is no way, there is no kind of crunching or policy or anything that you can do to make what you wanted to do with five billion dollars ($5b.) work out with two billion dollars ($2b.). That was not an unreasonable request, but they refused.

Madam Presiding Officer, we saw within the last couple days or so, this list of achievements they called it, “Coming out of the Office of the Chief Secretary”. The reality is, Tobagonians are not fooled. We are not fooled! They are not fooled. Please allow me to touch on a few of them because I heard them being repeated today again, and you really have to be conscious. You have to tell the truth when you are here.

Madam Presiding Officer, they spoke about the fact that there is this great Reforestation Programme that is happening. I had to wonder if it was the same Reforestation Programme where every single month I have had individuals come to me from that Programme telling me that they have not been getting paid. Is it the same Programme? They have been complaining bitterly. We understand that the way that it is done, they did some kind of sub-contracting thing where we do not even know who are the people who have those sub-contracts where the money gets to them or I do not know if the money gets to them, but somehow the people who gets up every day and go to work are not being paid. This is not an achievement.

They boast about extending the hours at the Health Centres, sure! But we have to ask ourselves if we are going to the Roxborough Health Centre, are the Auxiliary Services that you need there until the late hour? Can you get a prescription at 6.00/7.00 p.m.? For somebody who is in Roxborough, when that is the only option at 6.00 p.m./7.00 p.m. the fact that the doctor may be there until 8.00 p.m. does not mean that all of the services are available.

That is not an achievement.

Again, if I am wrong if the

Pharmacist is there at 6.00 p.m., 7.00, and 8.00 p.m. please correct me.

You also boast about establishing these Committees you know to do over see research and to ‌ [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Member’s speaking time be extended by ten minutes. [Mr. F. Augustine]

Question put and agreed to.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: The Member’s speaking time is now extended by ten (10) minutes

COUNCILLOR DR. F. B. YISRAEL:

Thank you Madam Presiding

Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, those communities, the Committees that are there to oversee the monitoring of homes for children and elderly and to look at the research that is happening on the island, we understand that this Executive Council led by this Chief Secretary, actually approved those Committees where there was no information about where the money was coming from to cover the expenses associated with those Committees. So we have individuals who have been working and who have been trying to do what they are supposed to do who were expecting a stipend as promised, but have not been getting it.

Madam Presiding Officer, I would like to know who in their correct minds would allow an Executive Council Note to come to not have information that is as critical as that, and still allow it to pass. It is not just this.

The same thing happened with the Caregiver Programme, where we understand that the Caregivers that were trained, they did not get the money that was supposed to be given to them, the little stipends and even the consultants who did the training did not get the money. By the way, that information did not even come from outside, that information came from inside the Executive Council.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Chief Secretary has also today frequently spoken about that Agriculture is really important to us and Agriculture is the way we will go and that we are doing all of these things.

Of course in March, they boasted about this Agricultural Revitalization Team that was going to create this Agricultural Revitalization Plan, which is fine. Wonderful! We do not know who are the Members of the team? But we understand that it is a very large team. I understand probably up to ten (10) or fifteen (15) people are on this team. These ten (10) or fifteen (15) people are getting up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) a month. If the fifteen (15) of them have gotten five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) since about March, that is over, six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($675,000.00) spent on this Agricultural Revitalization team since its inception.

Let me repeat, six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($675,000).

Again, please correct me if it is not ten (10) or fifteen (15) people.

Madam Presiding Officer, I happen to have gotten a copy of that plan and I had to ask the two (2) or three (3) individuals who gave me copies if that is it? Is this it because for the last nine (9) months for six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($675,000), the document that I saw could not have been it.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me explain why. Because they say that it is an Action Plan. An Action Plan that misses the most critical part that is the actions. Let me explain very quickly. The objectives in that Plan are not smart and by smart of course, some of the students here would know specific measureable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

Madam Presiding

Officer, I stood right here several times before and spoke about that but it seems like no one was listening. For example, there is something that speaks to increase in reliability and consistency of supply of quality produce.

They talked about establishing contractual arrangements and the formation of community cluster groups but that is not a “smart� objective.

Because it is not specific, it is not measurable, we do not know how many contracts they plan to have, we do not know how many contractors they plan

to get, we do not know when this is suppose to happen. So we do not know when to start checking to see if it has happened.

A better way to do this would have been to say, by November, we were hoping to contract ten (10) farmers who were going to do herbs or who were going to do staples or who were going to do whatever.

So in

November 2018 we could check and say, did we get ten (10) farmers to do that or not? It is not there.

Same thing applies to the other things that they spoke about - the training of Extension Officers in what? To do what?

Revitalization of the youths programme - again to do what? Madam Presiding Officer, as somebody said, this Agri-Revitalization Team seems to be a “Eat Ah Food� Committee where no one really, really expects it to develop into anything.

We are hoping because I understand that there are

issues with the Integration of the staff at Agriculture with this Plan. We are hoping that they really, really bring the people who are in the Division so that they can be a part of the development because it is not finished with the implementation.

By the way, I understand that the whole part about

Fisheries and Agriculture is still very much missing - six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($675,000).

Let me chat very quickly, I will take a minute because we keep talking about this Office that you all got for the Minority and I would say this very quickly. If you really got an Office for the Minority Council please show us the Executive Council Minute where that was approved and tell us the number and give us copies. Please, also show us the contract that you signed with wherever Office you got and please also show us that a key was given to you and you gave us the key. [Desk thumping] Unless you can

show us any of that then you did not give the Minority Council any Office.

[Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, let me wrap up really quickly by speaking through you to the other Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries who are here.

Who seemed to be forced to stand in the defense of their Chief Secretary today. [Laughter] We know that many of you are not pleased with his performance. We hear the whispers. As a matter of fact, some of you have even spoken to me about it. So please [Crosstalk] but do not worry, do not worry, Madam Presiding Officer, we are not going to call any names do not worry. We will pray for them.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me remind you that you are in this room ... [Crosstalk] Madam Presiding Officer, please ... [Interruption] Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont'd)

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: You all have a Point of Order that you need to rise on.

MEMBERS: No. MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Okay.

COUNCILLOR DR. F. B. YISRAEL: Thank you. Let me remind those of you who are singing the chorus in here that if you have been thinking about it carefully, what you have done here is stand up very loudly for a man who

refuses to stand up for Tobago. [Desk thumping] You have been doing that and those of the rest of Tobagonians who are out there are watching and watching closely. They are watching closely. You have stood up for a man who has said nothing while hundreds of workers continue to not get paid.

You have stood up for a man who has said nothing, refused to speak when asked about the Inter-island Transportation System. You have said nothing when a man who instead of being upset with whoever stole the eight (8) or ten (10) or how many million dollars in Tourism, he was upset that the information was being leaked. That is what he was upset about. You are standing for that man and the rest of Tobago is watching you, stand for a man who is not standing for them.

Madam Presiding Officer, he has failed us, we are disappointed in him and if all of you, you do not have answer me but if you think deep, deep down in within you, he has also failed the PNM. We have no confidence in his ability to lead and it is as simple as that. He does not have the ability to lead.

Madam Presiding Officer, thank you. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY

OF

HEALTH,

WELLNESS

DEVELOPMENT (Hon. Dr. Agatha Carrington):

AND

FAMILY

Thank you, Madam

Presiding Officer and to my Chief Secretary and my Colleagues on this side.

A group of esteemed men and women and to those on the other side who seemed to be choking with venom, good evening! [Laughter] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON:

Let me rather than dealing with mixed

feelings and bitter, sweet and poison, let me deal with something else.

Because each time people on the other side rise they talk about all these and perhaps the intervention and the medication for that is not found within these walls. It would be found somewhere else. So if you are sad and you bitter and all of that, we encourage you to go elsewhere.

Before I get into the substantive issue I just wanted to quickly touch on because when I was younger I think most people know what Tabanca is and the Minority Councillor seemed to be suffering from that because all I hear about is this obsession about Health. Now, if you are so marketable (and she is not sitting here perhaps you could convey) she should not be tagging on to a band wagon called, "The PDP" she should be able to find a job. [Desk thumping] So let us be truthful in terms of when we deal with issues and all the conversations and the sidebar conversations that you claim to have, this Executive is not part of that. So keep your mischief-making out of this. [Desk thumping] No part of it.

I am hearing all of that about people intervening about groups of workers even though they are not even the Representatives Madam Presiding Officer. I do not know since when Daily Paid employees are

represented by the Public Services Association (PSA) - no those in the Tobago Regional --Health Authority (TRHA) who I am certain will have their salaries paid. Since when the Public Services Association (PSA) has the status to represent them? Stop imposing yourself on and exploiting others.

Let me just quickly wrap up some of the issues that I heard raised. I am hearing about the inter-dependence, I am hearing about a lot of things that do not fit into the construct of the English Language but that we speak them anyway.

We talked about accountability in Tobago and all of that but we first have to deal with accountability within our own Organizations and some of the Organizations that Leaders on the other side are leading, accountability is not part of it.

That is a stranger to the truth! So let us talk about our journey; our leader; our mission and our actions because I do not want to waste time with this matter at all.

One year ago, tomorrow, our journey was punctuated by hard work, commitment, a group of educated individuals; a group of honest individuals who made the commitment to serve the people of Tobago.

Let me just quote Jim Roone.

“Rohn”.

Let me tell you “Rohn” is spelt,

“The challenge of Leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind but not weak; be bold, but not be bully; be thoughtful but not lazy, be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humour, but without folly”.

Many of those attributes seem to fit on the other side. Many of these, they will have quite a challenge in terms of dealing with these matters. But today I and my own Colleagues, we stand resolute, we stand firmly because those on the other side do not understand what loyalty and commitment is. You blow like the breeze. We support our Leader, a man of humility; a man of integrity; a man of demonstrable passion for the work; a man whose vision for Tobago we share.

I will boast, “Yes” of those actions we have taken

under his leadership and all those actions have been for the benefit of the Tobago population. [Desk thumping] We will not and we do not do any actions that are for self-aggrandizement as we see on the other side. We are about Tobago’s people’s welfare; we do not focus on exploiting the vulnerable as we see by those on the other side, we commit to contributing to improving their quality of life.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, allow me to stand in the future while I recognize and revel in the presence. A presence directed and guided by our Chief Secretary. Remember, I am saying our Chief Secretary. Nobody on the other side could “our” anything. It would never be anything [Desk thumping], A most humble servant, a Leader who has been elected and

selected for a time like this, one who is able to exercise thrift; patience; reasonableness; good judgement; in the management of our affairs.

I remember Bill Gates saying: “As we look ahead in the next Century, leaders will be those who empower others”.

That could never be said by those on the other side. So, our Chief Secretary is empowering others so that they too can become Leaders in the future. I do not see that action taking place on the other side. Because we know our children and our grandchildren will have the benefit and that lasting legacy that a Kelvin Charles Administration would have left to the benefit of them all.

Just imagine, these “wanna be leaders” want to talk about our Esteemed Leader Mr. K. V. Charles. Our Leader has not had any adverse issues laid against him.

He has earned the respect of thousands of

Tobagonians, but when I look at the other side what do I see? I see thugs; I see fear; I see mis-use of monthly contributions of Members; I see wastage; I see Tom foolery to the highest.

But wait, exploiters; and evil-doers;

scoundrels, they will have their day. But let me not waste time. I want to point to the exemplary leadership of our Chief Secretary.

What separates our Chief Secretary from the rest?

He is already

ahead of the pack. He is way ahead and could not and cannot be classified with the upstarts and bullies and thugs. I read depending on how your

organization is comprised, there are certain names that go with them, but you know I think, there should be a name placed in this august House. If that Notice is placed, many persons would not be able to enter in. I will be very careful with those on the other side with whom I associate. “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. We are amazed by the people some persons associate themselves with. They did say look to the left, look to the right and be careful who you associated yourself with, person on the left, boldfacedly walking around, as though you claim this space. Let me just say to you and read my lips, “This Tobago space does not belong to you.

It belongs to all of us [Desk thumping] to be used and not to be abused by you. Neither Tobago nor its women should be abused by you”.

My Colleague from Tourism is a Tourism staff that is giving heartache now. You better take it in your pipe and smoke it! My Chief Secretary is patient, he is honest, he is decisive, he is not caught up of those things that some of you are caught up with. He leads by example. Each encounter that he has had with the public is one in which he exudes confidence. He remains poised even when many of us become flustered.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, we need E-X-E-M-P-L-A-R-S for our people.

We have on this side Colleagues of stature, we are on a mission and we are on a mission to do many things. My Colleague from Tourism spoke about the Hashtag we want to save our daughters from the evil ones.

For our first year in office, our morals have remained high.

Sometimes even me, Secretary for Health, Wellness and Family Development would express some concerns and I look to my Chief

Secretary for guidance. We have had our share of challenges, some we inherited and some current ones, yet with his guidance, we managed to stay positive and focused. That calm confidence, even in stressful situations was able to see us through. Indeed he has a good sense of humour, you may not know that. He has been a source of inspiration to all of us because many of us are learning to be calm but confident. I must say, I am not calm by any means but I am learning that. I want to encourage some of us on the other side and I want to encourage you in your investment to ensure that you take full, full account because many of us on this side including myself will wade into the Budget that you have because since you want to proceed with your thuggery, I will make you pay!

So let us talk more about our Chief Secretary because it is not about me because I will have my day to deal with those persons who think that they can perpetrate these activities against other human beings. I pity the situation though that some of you find yourselves in, that you have these people in charge, people who are not of worth. I have known organizations who have had persons of worth lead them, but now what is happening. We have a man posing like a superman, superman from a comic book, comic book story you are in charge. Staff hiding with their deduction cheque because if superman sees it, no salary, but you are talking about my staff, start dealing with your own stories!

You know I had the most harrowing story and that is why I am saying organize your Bank account because I am coming. [Desk thumping] [Laughter] A visit to the Division by some nameless persons, I would not

call their names, visit here, visit Public Health Division interfering with legitimate business. Out of place! Keep your dirty, filthy politics out of the compound! Our workers do not have to dodge from anybody. They do not have to dodge and enjoy exploitation. I am hearing people talking about mistreatment and thing Hastag, Meetoo, they do not have to do that. Nobody is abusing them. Your same members, the members with which you should be talking to them, those administrative challenges that continue to plague the organization. Let me talk about a good human being, I do not want to talk about people who are not good now. [Laughter]

Kelvin V. Charles is a good human being [Desk thumping] who remains to gain and maintain our trust who we respect. We are loyal to our Party and to our Chief Secretary, and to the mandate given by the people of Tobago. [Desk thumping]

All of Tobago, we would serve you. [Desk

thumping]

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, those on the other side keep promising, those impracticable impossible things, so an airport in Roxborough, aircrafts could land on the sea, there are crafts like that.

Maybe you should see some of those coming because they made promises; but this Executive is promising to deliver to the population, an improved quality of life. It is no secret that all of Tobago even before our year in Office, have benefited singularly and collectively from the stewardship of the PNM-led Administration over the years. Many are well fortified and many of those on the other side have fortified themselves because of a PNM-

Administration; yet they sit and posture and pontificate as though they have not been benefiting. But we do not need to stop traffic to do anything. We do not need to sit on the Airport floors, all we have to do is to serve.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, my Chief Secretary has the skills to do many things. We have benefited from his tact, his wit, his experience in industrial relations.

[Desk thumping] He has been sharing that with the

team such that we become a formidable one. So we do not come out here and do not even know the use of English; cannot even pronounce words; do not even know what means what. These are skills we would take with us.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, an important part that we need to note is the insistence on all those who have taken that Oath of Office that you take full responsibility for your actions and that we account for our stewardship. Many of you on the other side do not know about stewardship.

We know a lot of other things, this thing about “tabanca� because there are some people who have been down some roads; they could not begin to talk about that because they have been in many roads; they have been in too many places to talk to anybody. Do not talk to anybody when you think you know too much tabanca; too much whispering things, you all whisper too many things; whisper in too many ears - other people hearing you. Accountability is second place with those on the other side but we commit to wherever our Chief Secretary goes we will go. [Desk thumping] The same people that he is serving those are also our people; they are not different they are the same Tobago people and those are the same people that you want to serve if you are aspiring to high Office.

I am not one to

share jokes but even before the elections we had people practicing (in a certain Organization) how you step like a First Lady and things like that.

First

Lady what, in which life? [Laughter] It is enough to be the parent, it is enough to not support the child but it is worst to start to talk about the First Lady. Come on, not in this season.

Let me talk about something more important because this matter of the management came up in the “nonsense Motion - sometimes you have a nonsense job? The “Nonsense” Motion. But because we have to do it to make you understand that the next time you come you do not come with nonsense. Because people get up here and feel as though they went to school more than anybody else. If you went to school so many times, find a decent job. There are decent jobs around, find a job. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] We understand the importance of planning and so even before we got the Budget - I am hearing people saying, "Boodget” and the “Boodget” this and the “Boodget” that. [Laughter] The Budget was presented to us, but even before that we did scenario planning, we knew that the Budget would be smaller than the Budget that we got before, we knew that and we started planning something that you all come and “wishy-washy” here and talked about you collected data here and want to talk about this and want to question about research and whether we put the Budget in. Listen, “Do not make me put you all in school.” [Laughter] Because you all are coming

here and “old talk”, we are not into “old talk” we are into delivery.” If you are so good, you should keep the job.

So, let us talk about the planning and the scenario planning that we did. We knew that should we got five percent (5%) less, this is what will happen. If we get ten percent (10%) less, this is what we will do. We took time out to do that, we took time out to deal with Tobago's business.

I am

hearing you talking about bring this and bring that, we are not obligated to bring anything to you, stay in your place. [Desk thumping] [Laughter] One important thing is that for all the commitments we have made and for all the challenges we have faced no employee has been sent home. The question of them being paid late, “they getting paid though!” It is not what happens in a place that I know. It is not in a place that I know. They are going to get paid but some people except they dodge the cheque, except they hide it, they got no pay because that deduction cheque that is coming from many other places is somebody's private personal cheque.

So, leave the Public Service, leave the Division's business and let us manage it. When you become Secretary for Health you could do what you want. So long as I am the Secretary for Health, stay away from my thing and what you escaped the last time it is going to be blaze the next time.

[Desk thumping] You talked about work ethic - you are encouraging people to talk about work and so on. Talk about productivity, talk about building a good work ethic a fair day's work for a fair day’s pay. You think that you would become so popular by encouraging people to walk off the job. For all the

times we have had to hide you in a certain hospital, I should have instructed those Doctors and Nurses to walk off the job.

From the days when you

have had your matters that we have hidden you in a certain hospital, they should have walked off the job, rather they stayed on the job to hide you. But I am saying, any time that case is called again, no one, no one is hiding you again.

[Desk thumping] [Laughter] We want to change the way we do business, an hospital in the City is not a place where people who are in conflict with the Law will hide. It is going to be “business as unusual.” My Colleagues and I have taken that, we have done it before.

Do not watch me you know what I am talking about, it

is not going to be done again! [Laughter] The man who was hiding you, we have moved him from there, so you cannot hide any more. When your case is called go and face the music, go there. [Desk thumping] Do not come and let my colleagues hide you and pretending to be ill. “It is business as unusual.” We are changing the way we do business in the health sector. We are not harbouring anybody with/or a designation starting with "c".

[Laughter] Let me just come back to my Division. Spent enough time on “thugs” and people with a capital "B." We have rebranded and we focused our Division under the leadership of and the direction of Mr. Kelvin V. Charles.

I have not heard about any branding, all he heard is criticism. Where is your stuff bring it, bring your Organization, let us peruse it, let us see, how it is designed? Where is it? All I am hearing is what, you seems to have an

answer for everything on this side. Then you should have been in Office; you should have been in Government. You are not in Government so stay in the Opposition, stay in the Minority.

You cannot even stay in the Public

Services Association (PSA) because you have to go in the Court to stay there.

Now, we have been building on previous successes, we have been doing that and therefore, we expect to see some improvement and we have seen some. But you know I have this most interesting portfolio and I want to talk about that because the “Supermen” around us feel that they could be doing just about anything.

I thank the Chief Secretary for the way he has “reshaped” and caused us to “rebrand” this Division - Health, Wellness and Family Development.

Health because we want to have healthy human beings. Every time we come here, we hear about sickness and we hear about people feeling all kind of ways. We want to encourage you to take full responsibility for your health. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] Do not come here and complain. I do not come here and do that and I am senior to all you but you cannot begin to enjoy the health that I have. But what is all of this? They boast on the other side, they say all kinds of things but let me say something: one day they swim in the Atlantic, another day they are in Court; another day they are hiding and pretending to be ill, but let me just say, this running is going to stop.

You know my ministerial colleagues when I wear another hat said to me, that a part of the Prisons Ministry they have had to interface with persons with whose designation starts with a "C".

When they converse with them, they claim to be petrified, not just about the length of the sentence, but the abuse they endured while they are there. But I just want to say, “Boy Boy” is waiting. [Laughter] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, “Thugs and bullies” are not qualities of our Leader. People have come to my office under the pretext of serving, persons who have political office have been posing as though they are Union Representatives. I assure you it will only happen once. You will be busy. You know in old time days what they say about the court clothes?

Buy some new suits.

I need

retirement monies for my grandchildren and I to spend some time out. I am going to dry you out. [Laughter][Desk thumping] These illiterates, imbecilic pump attendant, all kind of attendant, wanna be Leaders, who in the days when I worked in the PSA (Public Services Association) would not bat an eyelid to ask for representation from them. You are talking about pay and workers and want to “bully” your way and want to think that you could frighten people by your threats that is not what a leader is about, leadership is not about threatening people. Leadership is not about “thuggery and bullying”. It is not about that! But I did say to you, what is going to happen. It is going to be “fresh meat”. [Laughter] This very interesting portfolio and these are behaviours that we are trying to curb as part of what we have done within the past year. We have been focusing on:

 Domestic Violence;  Gender;  Children and Family issues;  Alcohol and Drug abuse because those are important as we seek to improve the lives of our population. So some behaviours would not be tolerated by those that work in my team.

Not even my Colleagues on this side. So this bit about

Hashtag Metoo, we are hyping it up. One may question whether this is relevant because you hear that all the time, but because I am charged with that responsibility, that we should improve the quality of life of our families.

Many of you would not know about that, because we live in all kinds of ways, so we do not know about family business. But you see us women in here, will ensure that this harassment that is going on between our women and girls will not continue in our staff associations.

I did say my Colleague from Tourism, there is a person that would make your heart bleed, and is bleeding all now. He is grinning? You continue to grin, he will make you cry. Women of Tobago, women of Trinidad, we do not want to be disrespected…

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Member you have three minutes left.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON:

I will do it quickly.

behaviour, we do not want to continue.

This abnormal

Let me just quickly deal with

another matter I thought was a joke and I do not give jokes. You know that people of the East were told that a minor one would be moving into the Chief Secretary’s residence because they won. The joke is on them still. I just want to celebrate actions and not inactions as the Motion stated because I just want to recall some directional statements in our early assumption of office where our Chief Secretary pointed to, decentralizing family services in the community, so as to reach the vulnerable in our population.

Another directional statement was that we make Tobago the preferred destination for health care delivery and we are working on that that is a work in progress. But more than that, our focus on wellness where we encouraged as I just said to you before, that you must assume responsibility for your health; that you must embark on more Health Promotion and Disease Prevention rather than coming here every time and saying that you sick and the that and the other.

You are bitter, go somewhere and get sweet.

[Laugher] You all young you know. So, if you are bitter from now, I do not know what is going to happen with you all nuh. They would surely get rid of you all.

We have been focusing on our children and family because the development of our families is important. We have improved the services to our elderly and children. With respect to, “Research and Development� and my Research person on the other side commented about what they are doing.

What have you done? There is research to be done and what have you done?

Start reading what I write. I write every Friday.

You make your

contribution! Each of us has a role to play. Start writing! You have all the answers for everything. Get a column in the Newspaper as I write. I write every Friday. So I am encouraging you, this is Cervical Cancer Month; we are talking “Wellness”. You are a woman, start writing this week. Read my Article tomorrow and you start joining me and writing about what is happening on women’s issues [Desk thumping] rather than coming here and complaining.

An important part, as I wrap up because my Colleagues has exhausted this issue, you know some of them are first in the class because so many people who did not go to school long on the other side. But I just want to engage all of us, all in this matter because this entire community of Tobago must understand what is happening here that whereas persons are speaking to a Leader that they do not have confidence in. I do not know what they have confidence in because they do not know what confidence is. Can you have confidence in somebody that you are at risk?

You know I am blessed

with only one (1) daughter. Thank God she is a senior person already and spoken for because I tell you… [Interruption]

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

The speaking time of the

Member has expired.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME.

Motion made: That the Honourable Councillor’s speaking time be extended by a further ten (10) minutes. [Hon. K. Des Vignes]

Question put and agreed to.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

That the Members speaking

time is now been extended by a further ten (10) minutes. Member you can continue.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON: Thank you Deputy Presiding Officer, it is interesting that you address me as, “Councillor”. I always hear those on the other side talk about not counsel, they speak about the fact that I am nominated, I am selected, but you know something, it is a privilege for somebody to call you out ahead of the rest. [Desk thumping] So this thing about my not being elected is a non-issue. You know something, if I were elected I run pass the three (3) of you several times [Desk thumping] So do not be playing with me, the fact that you are elected that is a non issue. It is my contribution that I would make. [Desk thumping] So you do not talk about me elected and selected nonsense.

The one on the right side, she behaves as though… Did she win Goodwood/Belle Garden?

MEMBERS: No.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON: If you won the seat for Goodwood/Belle Garden, you would be sitting here – come on. Non-issue! - A group of sad, tabanca stricken people, on the other side. Untruths! I need to make good use of my time because the way they say people whispers on the side.

Nobody whisper on the side by me. Do not feel you could come and ask me anything about my Chief Secretary and Secretary here. We have a “Code” [Desk thumping] you hear! We have sworn to that, but you do not know what that is, you do not know about swearing to anything. People tell you by the side and you get it from the Executive Council, feel that you are important. Anybody from this Executive Council will be talking to you about anything that we talked about, and for you to talk it. Come on. We do not have time to waste you know, we are so busy with the people’s business.

[Desk thumping] Let me go back into some of the things. Thank God for Facebook, because if we did not get Facebook, the presenter of this motion would not get anything to talk about.

Because a lot of them pay the people in the facebook to write what they write because a lot of times they cannot write English, so that is what is happening. But I am just going back into some of the things he spoke about because the way the people on the other side compartmentalize accountability I will question that.

I want them to start accounting for their own stewardship because they are Representatives. People have elected you and what have you done in Roxborough, in L'Anse Fourmi/Parlatuvier? You should be engaged in that just as we are. So do not be pointing accountability on one side it is everywhere - is Tobago's business, they have voted for you.

You want to jump around talking about missing money and this and that and Gratuity payments and all kinds of things.

That is not your

business. You deal with the issues at hand and let us deal with our business.

People terming people as “bogus group� and this and that.

You are

disrespectful!

Let us talk about crime. My father use to be a Special Reserve Police (SRP) when I was young and growing up and people used to come to him whenever there was any infraction in the village. If my father was alive you would not be running around and I would not have to be talking Hashtag MeeToo. [Laughter] I would not have to be doing that.

People speak about - you know the important thing about a Choir? A Choir is a group of people that sing in unison. [Desk thumping] We have harmony. So when people talk about Choir of 13, I think you are jealous.

[Laughter] I listened to you all and it is so much venom. Careful you do not sleep at nights because you are so bitter that you cannot sleep and if you want to govern try to sleep nah, [Laugher] try to be less bitter do not be doing what you are doing because it is not going to - and if you are aspiring to having a family you will get none because if you are bitter like that now, nobody will make you sweet far more to make you a parent.

Well, I dealt with the Budget and the confidence issue. The air and seabridge and the efforts by our Esteemed Chief Secretary you criticizing that. When have you had the opportunity to negotiate something with sense?

When was the last time? You are jealous because the Honourable Prime Minister did not engage you so you start talking sell out. People want to

negotiate with people, good people. [Desk thumping] We want good people to lead we do not want people with all kinds of flavours.

You talk about havoc in Tobago and we reaping havoc in Tobago.

When was the last time you have seen such a stable group of people? You do not see us running around like wild animals, you do not see us sitting on floors, you do not see us hanging out in places, we do not do that. But we see you all shamelessly hanging out in squares and Public Places trying to draw attention to yourself. Let us start doing it differently and perhaps, you saying that Tobago people are listening and they watching? They watching you as well, do you think they watching one group and not the other? They are saying, who are these people who want to be in charge? Who are those?

The situation is the same on either side so do not figure that you are fenced around in any way they are also looking at you and they are saying, "What manner of man would want to rule having regard to all those infractions he has against him, what manner of man?"

These children that we are talking about and talking about Healthy Eating in Schools and thing you all have all the answers. I do not want you to come here and question us, come with alternatives.

You are the

Opposition, you want to be in Leadership, come with an alternative plan, I have not heard that yet.

People scratch around and say they came with

Motion, they flip around and say they interchange Motion for Bill and all kind of thing, they interchange Contingency for Consolidated. We do not even know the difference and we want to be in this House and you want people to vote for you all, but if I was Spencer I would blaze you the next

time around again. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] If I were him and not by five (5), I would give you about fifty (50) or five hundred if they have so many. You coming, talking about you do not know the difference between the meaning of words but you know something: this matter of the PHD I tell you, we have to question. [Laughter] This discussion around what is not in the Office that we now occupy.

No telephone, no computer, no internet. Untruths! Let me say, no resources (and I want that to be in the record) were removed that were required for the preparation of wages and salaries - none were removed until January, way past the moving date. May I say, we planned to move since in August. So start talking to your Public Services Association (PSA) Members as to why we have this challenge, start talking to them.

We have had our challenges, I encourage you to stay out of it. Let us solve our own business (you know like a family) we do not want you in it, let us sort it out ourselves because you are like acid, you are like poison toxic. [Desk thumping] Don’t come in there, do not come there.

You questioning our rent. That is not your business. That is our rent.

You saying you know our rent paid and we did not pay the workers. You want information? You not getting it here. People talking sidebar, you not going to get it from me.

No sidebar conversation, when you become

Secretary for Health, God forbid because I do not see that! [Interruption] MR. DEP. PRESIDING OFFICER: Member you have one minute left.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON: Yes, so, as I wind up, all of Tobago, we served one year, we serve one year under the tutorage and under the guidance of our Honourable Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles.

We will

continue to serve for year two and beyond, we will serve you all of Tobago.

We will serve as we have not served before because by doing so we know it will be to the benefit for all of us.

I thank you. [Desk thumping] MR. DEP. PRESIDING OFFICER:

Member for Bethel/Mt. Irvine.

[Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer in the Chair.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR (Mr. Shomari Hector): Thank you, Mr. Dep. Presiding Officer. You know I sat there content with the view that perhaps that it might be fair with the dissenting voices that constitutes the Minority to just rise to my feet and say like them, "I have nothing to say."

[Laughter] [Desk thumping] But instead, I think that we

owe the people of Tobago and that we owe them the honour of speaking to issues to help them to clarify their own convictions as to why like me, they have elected a man of integrity into Office as Chief Secretary.

[Desk

thumping]

I sat there and I could not help but notice that above us lies the Crest that represents the Island Council here in Tobago and that at the side of it there is the Coat of Arms and it kind of humbled me for a little while

because whereas I may have risk summing up a conversation and a debate very quickly. It dawned on me then, that over fifty (50) years of democracy is looking down upon us and that we have a responsibility to its preservation and its protection.

So I just want to use that as the platform to register from onset that I feel very pleased to be able to form part of an Administration that is led by a man of integrity. [Desk thumping] A man who I am sure does not have his cellphone on him right now because it has no charge. [Laugher] [Desk thumping] A man who can stand public scrutiny because of the absence of malice in him and still show up day to day to exercise and discharge the responsibilities of the Office to which he was elected. [Desk thumping] You know, I decided to start this thing by defining "confidence" because what attempt was made at constructing a Motion argued for No Confidence. When I looked at the definition, Madam Presiding Officer, it says that, "Confidence is the belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing."

If I have to compare Leaders today, I think that we have to jump into the palang and say, “Chalk and Cheese�. No competition at all! No comparison!

[Desk thumping] He has to run, because unlike them, we represent the truth [Desk thumping] and through the democratic process, the way.

For me, Madam Presiding Officer, before I jump in or delve into treating with some of the successes of the Division that I represent as an Assistant Secretary, because of the visionary leadership of the man Honourable Kelvin Charles, I just want to say very quickly, that leadership

and the kind of leadership upon which he brings to the table, suggest that there must be superior quality that is unquestionable in integrity. [Desk thumping]

Superior quality that is unquestionable in integrity. That

without that kind of approach to Leadership, there can be no real success, no matter whether it is on a sectional team, a football field, in an army, or an Office such as the Office of the Chief Secretary. So today, I just want to put on the record, how proud I am of my Political Leader and Chief Secretary.

[Desk thumping] Sir, I never had any questions about your ability to lead in a difficult time, but having being elected into office and having served with your counsel, I have had an opportunity Sir, to compound, confirm, and galvanize my own conviction. Not many people may know and not many people may be able to appreciate, but because I have had an opportunity to work so close with you and the other Members of the team, I am able to say of you as “Oaks” would have said of Abraham Lincoln, that

“Though high in position… the humblest and the youngest like myself can approach you.

[Desk

thumping] and feel at home in his presence.

…though deep that the man is transparent, and though strong he is gentle, that though he may be decided and pronounced in his convictions, he is tolerant of the views of those that differ from him, and patient under reproaches”.

I would like to think that it has to do with the fact that he comes from good stock.

I am contend to believe that the hard conditions of his early

upbringing which may have broken lesser men, only give vigour and life to the character that is the Chief Secretary. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, let me speak firstly about the kind of thinking that we formatted and we constituted in the Division of which I am now a part. The Division that was formally Community Development and Culture had its organs strengthened and some even replaced so as to ensure an amalgamation of forces come to bear on the work that we must do to transform the quality of lives of the people here in Tobago. [Desk thumping] I feel as though I am getting hot, and with a changed society. you cannot risk getting hot around certain people.

So Madam Presiding Officer, we now

have as part of the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour:

 Community Development;  The Business Development Unit;  The Labour Department;  CEPEP (Community–Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme; and  OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Agency.

I want to hasten to the point to say that, that is not by accident, but by strategic design. What that amalgamation of forces and resources does, is that it gives us an opportunity to locate closer to community, the persons with the vested interest, to build communities by communities to affect the

lives of families and to transform the prospects of Tobago so that they can become better versions of themselves on a day to day basis.

That is

leadership by design and success by definition. [Desk thumping]

I sat here and I listened and I took some notes not very… because I said not much was said. So I did not have an opportunity to really delve into it. Madam Presiding Officer, how dare anyone…[Desk thumping] (fifty (50) years of democracy) fathom the audacity to be able to come to this House and decree and declare a vote of “no confidence” on a man who has done nothing but provide transparent; honest and

integral leadership for the

people of Tobago, because he is concerned about their development, while at the same time arguing that this is a place of decision, and serious decisions must be taken in this House.

Madam Presiding Officer, might I remind you and the people of Tobago, that when a critical serious decision had to be taken here, they decided to walk out and parade themselves in James Park with a set of sheep, [Desk thumping] trying to play that they are more Shepherd that the Psalmist David to lead the people of Tobago like lambs before they are slaughtered. We are standing in defense because we have a Leader of whom we are proud. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, the other thing I want to challenge before I jump into it. You see this thing about the no “Code of Conduct” and after twelve (12) months…. Might I remind this House that it is the Minority Bench and the Members of the Minority who chose not to lend support to

the Establishment of a “Code of Conduct” because they are not by nature subject to the rule of law? [Desk thumping] Might I remind the people of Tobago that if in fact we have had a Code of Conduct, then outside of this confines of this Legislature, outside of the security of this honoured Chamber, that the Member who is Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee would not have gone behind the back of the Committee to engage a conversation that the Committee did not approved. [Desk thumping]

That if there was a “Code of Conduct” that there could have

been realistic and practical expectations and that he would have been subject to collective responsibility.

But they want to argue that there is no

confidence…

I have had an opportunity to serve for twelve (12) months, one (1) year and I am proud that I am a part of this team. [Desk thumping] You see they tried to bash this PNM-led Administration and Island Council Madam Presiding Officer, and have failed to remember that some of the successes some of the titles, some of the accolades, some of the education that they received was because of the goodness and the generosity of a PNM-led Administration that afforded them the right to education, even at the tertiary level. [Desk thumping] But they will not confess that because life has taught me even at a tender age, that some people live in a permanent condition of ingratitude and dissatisfaction, [Desk thumping] and that there is nothing anyone of us can do for such a person. We simply have to leave it up to God.

Madam Presiding Officer, because of the astute leadership of our Honourable Chief Secretary, we have some successes in the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour that is noteworthy, and that ought to interest the people of Tobago and those viewing from around the world.

Firstly, Madam Presiding Officer, it is the kind of Leadership that now presents itself as our Chief Secretary, that allows for us to come to this House and vote and approve the Establishment of the Tobago Community Action Network Model that gave life to community engagement and stakeholder’s partnerships, at the level of the community in order to effect some of the changes that we need in order to build sustainable communities, [Desk thumping] to impact directly on families and the quality of our people’s lives.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me just share some of the successes what that decision was able to do for us. What we were able to do, is use the Community Action Network to engage public consultation across the length and breadth of the island of Tobago, and not wait on one man to give us a feedback on Facebook. [Desk thumping] What that gave us an opportunity to do, is to engage the conversation to the level of commonality in the language of the people and with some kind of sophisticated ultimate English that causes the Minority Leader to say sheep’s with an “s” to pluralize it.

Madam Presiding Officer, we were able to have those kinds of consultations to share our vision and our mission with the people of Tobago

to gather their support. I might just say from onset that it is that kind of action under the influence of our Political Leader that allowed for us to be able to graduate over seven hundred (700) people the highest ever recorded in the Vocational Skills Programme. [Desk thumping] Success by design and leadership by definition. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, I want to race through because I want to address certain anomalies that were presented. Let me just say, very quickly that we were able to establish partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), with Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), with Sporting Fraternities and Youth Councils and the likes to ensure that the youth spaces which we have created at the level of the community which is the Community Centre but also through the establishment of the Youth Zones that we will be able to engage a new kind of conversation and provide the delivery of new kinds of services that would help our people to become, better versions of themselves. You see, I particularly pride myself in the fact that we are on the heels, (Colleagues you know and I will just share with the people) of relaunching seven Y-Zones in seven (7) communities to ensure that young people have a safe space in order to engage themselves on a daily basis. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, not only did we do that, we decided just like the Honourable Councillor, Secretary for Infrastructure et al that we have to look at policy formulation and policy creation in order to take our people to the next level and thereby really doing what we claimed to do when we laid the Appropriation Bill to this House. We said that we want to increase the productive and creative capacity of our peoples. And so we

have decided to ensure that we bring to the table of discussion a policy that will reformat, reorganize and refocus CEPEP to ensure that our peoples within communities and at the level of the families are productive and that they lend their selves and their potentials to the well-being, the growth and the development of Tobago. [Desk thumping] So we are presently working on a policy that would include hours of engagement and at the same time, speak to hours of mandatory training so that all persons can get certified and improve their economic prospects and you have no confidence in that? [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, I want to speak to the fact that we now have a Labour Department as well and in the month of December just past, we were able to launch a Mobile Unit. What the Mobile Unit would do, is that it would allow for the decentralization of labour services from within the confines of the Division into communities so that people can have direct benefits and access to the services. But not only is that Facility available through the Labour Department, what we have done is that we have ensured that we enhance and upgrade community centres, opening them on a daily basis from very early in the morning all into the wee hours of the night so that we can continue to decentralize governmental and THA services to impact directly on the lives of families within communities and I think that that is commendable. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, it is instructive to note that the Mobile Labour Unit now has as part of its portfolio and as part of its diet a tool which would equip them to be able to look at Private Sector Business

opportunities and also to create as it were a Skills Asset and a Skills Register or database within communities.

Madam Presiding Officer, the intentions as I know it is to ensure that anybody having a Smart Phone would be able to access an App and look at certain skills and certain qualities, ranked with reviews, with ratings and be able to extract, draw upon and glean from those services within the concept of communities.

[Desk thumping]

Secretary Pitt give me a Amen!

[Laughter]

Madam Presiding Officer, you see what a Community Assets Register and a Skills Bank that form a database does is that it allows us to sit in the confines and in the comfort of our own homes and look at the strengths and the skills of Tobagonians and be able to access those kinds of services. So what I am saying, that if you are living in Lambeau you do not have to drive through the whole of the West in order to find a Mechanic because something is wrong with your vehicle, pull up your App on your Smart Phone and find the services.

Madam Presiding Officer, more than that, we have decided to ensure that a level of training goes into everything so that the people of Tobago who are already engaged - and I must say that that is commendable Colleagues let us give the Chief Secretary a round of applause. [Desk thumping] that we have people engaged and up to recently we are re-engaging people because we are committed to ensuring that we are going to maintain levels of

employment and retrench no one and put no family on the breadline. [Desk thumping] Chief Secretary, they have no confidence in that.

But as I tell you this, that we are partnering as a Division with every other Division and even with Ministries and Inter-Ministries in Trinidad so as to be able to pool resources, Madam Presiding Officer, and really service the interest and the felt needs of Tobagonians. I could tell you with certainty that we have already engaged Sports and Youth Affair and we want to commend you Sir for the re-opening of the Youth Empowerment Centre up in Bethel I will benefit directly from it myself. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] We want to thank Secretary Spencer because there is an agricultural diet and an Agricultural Programme that our people will be accessing and there are so many other things, so many other things Madam Presiding Officer, that I cannot understand and I do not know for the love of Christ why somebody would bring a frivolous, vacuous, vexatious Motion to this House to declare a Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Secretary.

I went to a Calypso Tent recently - "Attempt it if they get you vex they might want them to “bury you upside down.� [Laughter] [Desk thumping] But I am going further, I am going further because I cannot ...

[Interruption] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME

Motion made: That the Member's speaking time be extended by ten (10) minutes. [Hon. K. Des Vignes] Question put and agreed to.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is now been extended by a further ten (10) minutes.

MR. S. HECTOR:

Madam Presiding Officer, thank you and thank you

colleagues. I cannot speak about the successes and the work of the Division as I was saying, without mentioning the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Department that is working assiduously day by day to ensure compliance with certain OSHA standards and OSHA Regulations across the length and breadth of the Administration that comprises the Tobago House of Assembly and that they are further working as a Unit and that we are in fact working as a Division to ensure that in the not too distant future we can deliver to the people of Tobago a Community Action Model that speaks to safe communities across every village and every sector of our Tobago land mass. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, but you know a lot of people obligate responsibility and then they come to this House and then they try to decree and declare “No Confidence.�

How could it be no confidence when the

man who is now in charge has taken the decision that our doing we will put systems in place to improve and ensure the social and economic prospects of our people here in Tobago. How can we decree and declare no confidence in a

man who decided that part of the strategy of this Administration in this term in Office is to ensure that we enhance delivery and strengthen partnerships.

[Desk thumping] How can we decree and declare no confidence in a man who have decided that Tobago's development will rest on four (4) pillars which include good health care, competitive education, a robust Private Sector and a hospitable but productive people. [Desk thumping] How can we decree “No Confidence” in a man who after assuming Office with less than six hundred million dollars ($600m.) in his coffers, took hard decisions to ensure that levels of employment were maintain across the Divisions in Tobago? [Desk thumping] How can we declare no confidence in a man who has no charge, and who has never seen a Court except to testify or to witness? [Desk thumping]

How can we even allow for Members

opposite to come to this House having the audacity…?

Let me tell you what “no confidence” is.

“No confidence” is when

you promise to build a University up in the East knowing that the only thing you want to educate people on is “Corruption and Mafia”. [Desk thumping] That is “no confidence”. “No confidence” is when you promise the people in Roxborough an airport, when your undercover secret Trini-base Political Leader, built a Heliport home by her, that is “no confidence”.

[Desk

thumping] “No confidence” Madam Presiding Officer, is when you start to pool all of the anti-PNM together and want to form this coalition and then part of the proposal is to extend Store Bay which is bordered on the left and the right by hotels. Where are you are carrying it, up? [Desk thumping] [Laughter] Madam Presiding Officer, “No Confidence” is when you would come to this House and disrespect and dishonor the intellectual history of

this Chamber in as much as you try to challenge the integrity and the ruling of the Presiding Officer.

That is “no confidence”. [Desk thumping] But

more than that, (I am time conscious) Madam Presiding Officer, is that we have a man who publicly declared himself a “madman”, trying to be Chief Secretary and deceiving simple minds talking about them being Minority Council an alternate government. When in truth and in fact, they do not have the statesmanship to match. They do not have the intellectual powers to compete nor do they have the ability and the decency and dignity to hold the office reserved for a man like Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] I can tell you, and I can tell you, and I can tell you. “No confidence” is when team Phoenix who proposes to save the PSA (Public Services Association) could say “must go”. That is “no confidence”. I want to harbor for a while, on the fact that one could publicly declare oneself to be “mad” and want to assume an office of responsibility; and an office of trust. Your mind must be simplistic beyond description, because effective leadership that allows for confidence in my Chief Secretary is concerned with one’s ability to lead, and to influence others we have procured a boat by that kind of doing.

I want to argue this point; they challenge the sea bridge and all kind of thing. What just jumping in the water and getting wet does? Is it that you were trying to procure a boat from Poseidon Order or the Titanic? [Desk thumping] What does swimming do? When the decisions really need critical conversations to be had and decisions to be made, you decided to get wet.

Alright!

Madam Presiding Officer, effective leadership such as that reflected by the Chief Secretary, is concerned with the execution and the delivery of service excellence particularly here in Tobago.

I am saying Madam

Presiding Officer, that until you can do something like that, you have a right and the responsibility to “hush your mouth in silence” and learn from the Chief Secretary. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, we heard from the Secretary of the Division of Community Development, Enterprise and Labour that over forty-one (41) young enterprising businessmen and women were able to benefit from the Loan and Grant Facility afforded them by the Business Development Unit.

We are purposing under the Leadership of Kelvin Victor Charles to take that even further and establish a Business Incubator, so that businessmen, young businessmen in Tobago, can take their businesses to the next level and improve the economic prospects of Tobago and Tobago’s people.

In closing Madam Presiding Officer, I just want to put on record, that never before have I been more proud of the work we have done as a collectivity. [Desk thumping] What we have done is that we have taken Tobago’s business, and Tobago’s people business seriously and engage and make difficult and tough decisions that no other person would of had the strength or the determination or the political will so to do.

I want to leave you with the thing that I left you with very early when I perhaps if it were not my maiden, my second address. The reason why I have confidence in my Political Leader is because like Martin Luther,

“When evil men plot, good men plan. [Desk thumping] that when evil men burn and bound, good men build and bind; that when evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love; and where evil men seek to perpetuate an unjust statuesque;

whether it is in PSA, Health Community Development Works, or up by the Quarries,

…good men commit themselves into bringing themselves into committing into being a real order of justice”.

If you cannot appreciate that, then something wrong with you. [Desk thumping]

In closing, I want to tell the people of Tobago, to be weary and to be careful of “wolves in sheep clothing”. That the time has come for us to be discerning; the time has come for us to be critical of the dissenting views; that the time has come for us to be aware because as my Colleague said, we know what we have and God help us because we are all the more confident of what we might be getting.

Thank you. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Okay, as I said before, since I do not have a speaking order that would have been provided to me, I will await someone to signal to speak. I will give you all one (1) minute to make that decision. If that decision is not made, then I would bring this to a close.

MADAM

PRESIDING

OFFICER:

Assemblyman

for

L’Anse

Fourmi/Parlatuvier/Speyside.

MR. F. AUGUSTINE: Thank you Madam Presiding Officer.

Today was an interesting day. In a large part of the debate, it went as was expected, that Members opposite could not stand in this House and confidently reaffirm their Leader but they can confidently denigrate someone else. This debate demonstrates that what we have passing for governance on this island is arrogance at its best. Furthermore, I heard people talk about who is “bitter” and who is not “bitter”, when the reality is the bitterness and the acrimony came from the other side.

Let us start a year ago. Let us go back to where this all came from, and who we have as the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly.

We have an Honourable Gentleman, who projected himself by way of a symbol of a, “Shepherd’s rod or Staff” and he campaign within the ambit of his party. Some of us admittedly, I am one of those, who pray that he would

get the nod over his contenders. He did get the nod over his contenders; he promised us that he would get a fresh face and a fresh start.

He promised us that this time will be different from the preceding sixteen (16) years of PNM rule in Tobago. He promised us that things will change for the better and so Tobagonians bought his message. I did not, I chose otherwise. A minority of us on this island chose otherwise and I want to say at this juncture that Tobago did not vote for Watson Duke as Chief Secretary, they voted for Kelvin Charles. So, bad talking Watson Duke from now till the cows come home will not change the fact that the responsibility for managing power, resources, managing this island by the Executive Council does not lie with Watson Duke it lies with Kelvin Charles. That is the fact. I realize some people cannot help themselves but chat but that is okay.

You see, if a man's symbol was a Shepherd's staff or rod I expected a David. Someone who when times are tough and adversity came nigh will use even his bare hands and put his life at risk for the flock and for the people of this Island of Tobago. Instead, what we have gotten these last twelve (12) months is in stark juxtaposition to what we had previously.

I

hate to admit it. I thought we had the worse under Mr. Orville London. I never expected that we will get “worsara� under Kelvin Charles. And yes, as a Linguist I am very okay and confident in using the creole and delving into it too because it is a language in and out for itself so snicker.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am wondering how did we get here? If we should go back to the years of 2012 and 2011, the former Chief Secretary

who I had great disagreements with the very one thing I could have agreed with him on is that he never shyed away from standing up for Tobago and we must start there. We must start there because when we could have a man in a fete before he became Prime Minister could promised, "When ah win ah go geh yuh Sandals," and win and say we giving you Sandals in Tobago and all that the current Chief Secretary could do is just nod and accept, no questions asked, nothing, no consultations with the people of Tobago, nothing! We asked where are the cries of disrespect and breach of protocol? Where are the cries for the Tobago House of Assembly Act and for our rights and our responsibilities here on the Island?

Where it is a Joint Select Committee could invite the Chief Secretary to speak on behalf of Tobago, on behalf of a population of Tobago who voted him by majority and he could refuse sending a letter, talking about Kelvin Charles Esquire can't come because it is not his responsibility. So much so that Reginald Dumas had to go to the Media and say, something has to be wrong with this man because for the very least he can speak up on behalf of Tobago.

I stand here in shock that Members in this House will stand and refute the claim that the seabridge has met its demise. Well, Madam Presiding Officer, I do not know what you would call that again. Tobagonians have suffered long because of the absence of a functional seabridge. In fact, let me jug their memories.

It was May 25th, 2016, that the then Minister for Transportation Mr. Fitzgerald Hinds stood in the Parliament and spoke about the kind of new vessels we will get. In fact, he said that we will get two (2) and he said that we will get them above and beyond specifications. What year are we in now?

This did not just happen overnight, the crisis on the seabridge was created.

Then we had a Chief Secretary who instead of standing up and forcefully saying, Tobagonians are suffering chose silence in its place. Then we have people with the audacity to stand in this House and talk about Watson Duke protesting on the airport not even remembering the fact that on that same day Caribbean Airlines was cancelling flights like they crazy. Five (5) flights cancelled, Tobagonians stucked in Trinidad because flights cancelled. PNM folks walked past get whatever little flights was available, get to come up and one man sat with the people on the ground until flights were made available.

Madam Presiding Officer, we thought about there not being a crisis on the airbridge? The reason why people were on the airbridge in such large numbers and they still are is because we do not have a functional seabridge that is why. There is a spillover effect on the airport.

I will say more than that, more than that when Members in this House could commend the fifty dollar ($50.00) charge saying Tobagonians must plan, clearly they are out of touch with the realities of the average Tobago traveller. Many Tobagonians do not plan to go to Trinidad emergencies calls them to Trinidad. Many Tobagonians have to get up and run because a family Member was airlifted to Trinidad. Many Tobagonians have to get up

and run because this is still a twin-island Republic called, "Trinidad and Tobago" and ever so often in fact, more often than otherwise most meetings, most Committees, most everything happens in Trinidad and the Tobagonian is sometimes only notified a week in advance, two (2) days in advance, no ticket and you are being penalized for that and we have a Chief Secretary who is okay with that.

We had people stand in this House and talk about unreasonable expectations.

You see, Tobagonians have not demanded more than what

they are justly due you know. Tobagonians are demanding that people just be honest with them say what you can do, say what you cannot do, and sit with them, talk to them, explain to them and not even that we have been getting from the Chief Secretary, not even that, Madam Presiding Officer.

I heard people talk about the Chief Secretary helping to get rid of apparent “ghosts” within the URP system. Well that peaked my interest, we did not know that we had ghost gangs in URP and in Tobago and if we did, it would have been at the construct of the People’s National Movement nobody else. Because the reality, nobody on my side has been in office prior to now.

We have not been responsible for Tobago's resources and so the time has come for the People’s National Movement to watch itself in the mirror and own the responsibility of destroying this island and destroying its economy.

We also had such arrogance instead of trying to defend the Chief Secretary I mean, if you could have convinced me that the man ready for the job that is fine but instead of trying to convince me of such. Do you know what people duh, people got up and in their haste to be bitter, in their haste

to get back at others for talking truth, for getting leaked information, in their haste we heard all kind of things. We heard people down cry others because they haven’t made any children, they do not have a family. I do not know since when a woman not having a child is a curse. I do not know since when that is, and people hypocritically talking about Meetoo. I do not know how that becomes a curse.

I want to say to my Members opposite if you want to “cuss” there is a time and place to “cuss.” You could do like me and go on Facebook and “cuss.” That medium lends itself to that. But in this House, this medium does not lend itself to that.

When Tobagonians today were awaiting hope

what they got was arrogance.

We had people who say it is “our money”; I do not know that the money belongs to any Secretary inside here. The monies belong to the people of Tobago. How dare a Secretary can stand in this House and say do not ask us about rent, do not ask us about money we are spending because it is our money? No! It is not our money, as in the Secretary’s money or the PNM money. The monies and resources belong to all the people of Tobago, even more reason why we cannot have, “confidence”. How is it that people could be Secretaries and do not want to be asked any question?

Do not ask her

any question? Do not critique what we are doing? Do not disagree? Do not say anything adverse? “I must be left to do what I want”. What is coming out quite clear from this debate is that loyalty is to the People’s National Movement and not to the people of Tobago. This is a case of thirteen (13) versus sixty thousand, (60,000) that is what it is! That is exactly what it is!

I wish to warn Members opposite because I have friends on the other side too, (I do not know if they are still calling me their friend, because they might realize now that I am plain spoken) that not because you won a vote convincesingly a year ago, it means that Tobagonians feel the same way about you now. Times have changed, and a shifting is happening, and evidently those on the other side are still locked in a world by themselves, in a delusional way, almost pathological delusional, thinking somehow that they are the best thing since “slice bread.” Perhaps even better than “a slice of fresh fish” up in Charlotteville. So good, clearly some folk’s ears have not met the ground, clearly some folk’s feet have not met the ground. People required hope.

We have workers on this island who were not paid for months, from November they were not paid. We have workers on this ground, today makes it four (4) fortnights that salaries have been late. We could only boast of giving one fortnight’s salary that accounts up to the November, 14, 2017 more than a month they are late and people cannot get salaries and you will say they will get pay though. “Deh guh get pay doh”. Is that what we are going to tell single mothers who are dependent on that? Fathers who must mind their entire family on that - “Yuh guh get pay doh”. Hold strain, “Yuh guh get pay doh”. Dismissively, not even a sense of hope.

I want to say it in this House, I was elected by people and therefore I do not need to be a Member of a Union to represent a Union, to represent anybody on this island. I do not need that as permission, I will represent anybody on this island who requires representation. I have in my Electoral

District, two (2) workers in Health who have not been paid, and when they do not get paid they come to me, they bother me. I have workers in my Electoral District who are suffering, who since last year November that they are saying they are not getting paid. I have been trying to avoid talking about them not getting paid until it reached a point where it was too much to bear.

Then we have Members on this side who joked about this entire thing, joked about people’s pain, joked about it. I wonder how people sleep at night. If it is I am not directly responsible for people getting their salaries, if it is I am not directly responsible for the infrastructure works on the island or for the management of Tobago’s resources and I am losing sleep over them not getting their pay, and things are not getting done, I am not directly responsible. How is it that those others opposite could be comfortable and could be okay with that? That just baffles me. It shows Madam Presiding Officer, that some of us will just have PHDs in arrogance, but when it comes to humility and serving people we will be an epic failure.

I want to warn some in this House to remember when they were chased out of Tobago, remember that, because you are heading down the same road again. So do not feel like yuh reach, and yuh own the Division.

You did not own the Division then and you still do not own the Division now. It is owned by the people of Tobago.

I am a proud Tobagonian and I do not know if you are one, well may be you are because I see you were chased from a Regional Corporation too.

All this joke about who mad, and who is not mad, and people talking about

it as if it is a joke. Well, some people are honest enough to confess to “madness”, but some would just display it in the House. [Crosstalk]

Then the principle is we have a “Code.” Tobagonians that is what the Executive Council is saying to you. We have a “Code”. I do not care if my Chief Secretary is a failure; we have a “Code.” The “Code” is our loyalty to each other and the Party first and everybody else suck salt and wait. That is the “Code”.

Let me contrast that with the ‘Code” in the PDP, let me

contrast, that for you.

I heard people talking about watch the man on the left and all kind of thing. Let me contrast it. You see in the PDP (People Democratic Patriots) if it is one Institution that you are allowed to speak your mind even to the Leader is the PDP. Mr. Duke is right here and I said it right in front of his face, you think we do not disagree. Do you think I do not tell Mr. Duke when I disagree or when I think he is doing stupidness, [Interruption] [Laughter] but we have an Executive Council who values their own clique over the sixty thousand (60,000) on this island? That is the contrast, that is the difference.

What is amazing, and Dr. Faith spoke about it, is that Members in this House are pretending like they all love this Chief Secretary, and that everything is so nice between them and that they too were not planning their own coup. The coup that is planning is in motion right now, to get rid of the

Chief Secretary. [Laughter] [Crosstalk] Those who wish to stand in this House and grand charge - Mr. Kelvin Charles, I do not know if you still consider me your friend, but perhaps you need to watch those on the left and on the right, on both sides. All is not well within your team. You do not need to believe that, no need to answer now; you will answer when the time is right. But this island is not well, this island is not well. People think this is a joke. This island is not well. People are dissatisfied.

Watson Duke chose to quote from one (1) man on Facebook, but if I am to quote from several people that I do not even know on Facebook, the comments are not even worthy to put in this House. They are not savoury enough to be in this House. Some are far too vulgar and obscene, but that is how people feel and stop thinking for a second that people are in love with you, when they are falling out of love with you.

It is in that context that we are saying, the Chief Secretary must require certain qualities that Kelvin Charles is not demonstrating at this moment, even after one (1) year. Let us talk about some of those qualities.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Member’s speaking time be extended by ten (10) minutes. [Councillor Dr. F. B. Yisrael]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Honourable Member, your speaking

time has now been extended by a further ten (10) minutes.

MR. S. HECTOR: You see grace, generosity, goodwill and team spirit?

MR. F. AUGUSTINE:

Well, thank you for your grace, generosity, good

will and team spirit. [Laughter] I guess some people get turn on by people singing their own praises.

Madam Presiding Officer, I spoke about the fact that if you are a Chief Secretary in Tobago you more or less have to be Tobago's Chief Advocate, you have to be Tobago's Chief Voice.

The interesting thing about the

relationship that is, Trinidad and Tobago is that it does not matter whether we have the same Party in Trinidad and the same Party in Tobago, Trinidadians for some strange reason down at the Central Government has never really treated us right. All across the board, it is not a UNC (United National Congress) thing, it is a UNC thing; it is a PNM thing; it is a Trinidad thing.

So, regardless of which Party you are a part of your first responsibility is to stand in the gap in what is a relationship that is bound to have challenges and bound to have issues. Must!

So if your Chief Secretary does not do

that on our behalf, then the Chief Secretary automatically would have failed. I want to read a quotation and it comes from the Trinidad Guardian of Monday June 27th, 2011. I am reading a quote and it says:

is

â€œâ€Ś London stressed that once the THA has the autonomy to do what deemed worthy for Tobagonians, in those areas over which the Assembly has responsibility, then the Central Government has to

accept it as long as it was within the parameters of the THA Act …

for the

‘Once you have a situation, where the Government can override the THA Act at will, you may as well scrap the Assembly, scrap the THA Act 40 of 1996 and forget everything that we are doing.’ ‘Forget everything in order to increase the power because I am saying to you even if we go through all this process and we have additional power the Assembly and we operate on the premise that the Central Government can override the THA in any circumstance, then what's point?”

Now is a good time to ask, "What's the point? …”

When the real Chief Secretary operates from Trinidad and just pulls the strings across the waters we have to ask, "What's the point?

This

Motion of No Confidence is asking exactly that, "What's the point?" When the Prime Minister decides what happens and how it is done because he wants to run Trinidad over there in the Central Government and run here we have to ask, "What's the point of even having a Chief Secretary?" That is the critical thing. So all this push now for autonomy should be pre-phrased by the fact that we

have to demonstrate our ability to assert ourselves within the THA Act of 1996 and to assert ourselves if even it is forcefully by virtue of recognizing what the Act gives us the right to do and standing up on those rights. We have not done that in the last year.

This is a sad state and all Tobagonians got from this was a lot of display of arrogance and people who are so bitter that they do not even understand the

medium through which they are communicating now. But time will tell, and “time longer than twine” and the people will not forget:  How long it is taking to finish little retaining walls;  Why it is they have to class mass something on Facebook for a road to get pave;  How long it is taking for them to get pay, notwithstanding the Chief Secretary is failing on his promise that late salaries will be a thing of the past.  How much do you decide to pay Habib? A One Percenter, while everybody else had to sit down, wait and suffer.

People will not forget, they will not forget.

I will say this, as demonstrated in the House today, I have come to the realization that the PNM has a problem, if you earn, if you succeed and if you do it outside of them giving you a gift, they have a problem with that.

Because they think everybody must succeed and grow based on a kickback, based on somebody giving them a special favour.

I also want to say in this House, that the resources of Tobago, they do not belong to the Peoples National Movement, they belong to all Tobagonians and a Tobagonian who benefits from the THA has a right to support the status quo as well as they have a right to reject the status quo. It is their right, it is not PNM money and so this Motion we will see where it goes because when the time comes I am going to ask for Division so that every

man can answer “yes” or “no.” Every man for himself because as you all like to say, "Tobagonians are watching."

I know some folks in here are delusional thinking that they still enjoy this overwhelming support when they do not. I am warning my friends on the other side, don't misread the politics nor your popularity. Don't do it. As for me, I am certain where my vote lies, and my vote lies in a vote of No Confidence against the Chief Secretary. That's where my vote lies.

From

Castara to Parlatuvier, to Bloody Bay, to L'Anse Fourmi, Hermitage, Charlotteville, Speyside and the piece of Delaford I represent we do not have any confidence in the Chief Secretary taking us forward.

We are certain that perhaps, if the PNM Executive Council dig deep they must and should find a suitable replacement. speaks volumes about it.

If they cannot then it

So throwing backchats, being bitter and I

understand some people's problem. Some people were never loved, so I understand some people's problem. Craving love and attention but that is okay, we will give it. I want to end by quoting a passage of scripture, since so many on the other side chose to quote scriptures. I wish to just quote a few verses of Psalm 109.

I am quoting this to those opposite and I am

starting at verse 1 and it says: "Do not keep silent, O God of my praise; For the mouth of the wicked; and The mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; And I will paraphrase “me” to Tobago.

They have spoken against Tobago with a lying tongue; They have also surrounded Tobago with words of hatred; and

Fought against Tobago without a cause; In return for Tobago love they are accusers.

But the Psalmist David is saying: I give myself to prayer; Thus, they have rewarded evil for good; and Hatred for love.

Here is the point I want those opposite to hear and this is David praying against the evil ones and I believe, I will have to start to pray against the evil ones too and like David I will say: "Set a wicked man over him; and Let an accuser stand at his right hand; When he is judged let him be found guilty; and Let his prayer become sin; Let his days be few; and Let another take his Office; Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow; Let his children continually be vagabonds and beg; Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places; Let the creditors cease all that he has; and Let strangers plunder his labour; Let there be none to extend mercy to him; Nor let there be any favour to his fatherless children; Let his posterity be cut off; and The generation following, let their name be blotted out�.

This is my Prayer for those who are comfortable with Tobagonians not being paid after such a long time, and saying, “They guh geh pay�. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member, your speaking time is up.

Leader of Assembly Business.

PROCEDURAL MOTION LEADER OF ASSEMBLY BUSINESS AND SECRETARY OF INFRASTRUCTURRE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Hon. Kwesi Des Vignes):

Thank you Madam Presiding Officer, I moved

that the sitting be extended so that the business of the Order Paper be completely exhausted.

Question put and agreed to.

Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d)

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary

of

Finance

and

the

Economy.

SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND THE ECONOMY [Hon. Joel Jack]: [Desk thumping] Thank you Madam Presiding Officer, for giving me the opportunity to join this important debate at this time.

But before I do, please permit me to convey condolences to Dr. Jean Ramjohn Richards and the Richards family on the passing of His Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards.

As we are in this Honourable House on this day, reflecting on our year in office, I have to extend my gaze a bit further to 2013 when I inaugurated in his Honourable Chamber, and he was the President that sworn me in at the start of my political career. So, condolences are extended to the family.

Madam Presiding Officer, it is with a deep sense of disappointment and concern that I joined the debate at this time. I am ready to contribute to a Motion that I view as nonsensical and a complete waste of time. [Desk thumping] Once again, I think our Colleagues on the Minority Bench and as the saying goes, “they have run true to form”. So although I am deeply disappointed, I am not surprised. I am by no means surprised; “they have run true to form”.

Madam Presiding Officer, as I reflect on this Motion at hand, I cannot help but be reminded of a piece of advice given to us by his Excellency Anthony Carmona, President at the Tenth Inauguration Ceremony of the Tobago House of Assembly on January, 26, 2017, right here in this Honourable Chamber. I want to start with that quote with your leave. In his address, he cautioned and I quote:

“We are Guardians and Servants of the people and we have a constitutional responsibility to carry out the will of the people of Tobago.

He warned us: The silly season is over and in this august Chamber; solutions should be the order of the day and not an obsession with restating the problems that we face.”

Madam Presiding Officer, here we are, one (1) year later and notwithstanding the noble advice given by his Excellency, our Colleagues on the opposite side continues to use this House for their political escapades. It seems to me that if they are in perpetual campaign mode and I think the people of Tobago expect a lot more from them. I have stated before and I have said it so many times, that the Member on the Minority side, Mr. Augustine who has left the Chamber, he has picked up the quote, “that the people of Tobago are looking and they will make the right decision in time to come”.

Madam Presiding Officer, I want to remind him and I want to remind all of them, that in the 2013-2017 period, we had no Opposition Bench and no Opposition voice, and this House ran so smoothly and beautifully, we progressed the people of Tobago’s business. I want all Tobagonians to be reminded of their campaign slogan, “Give us a chance, there is a need for an Opposition voice there is a need for an Opposition Bench”. Again I say, the people of Tobago are looking. What I have seen today, what I have seen over the past, this is the third Private Members Motion (Leader of Assembly Business, I believe).

What I have seen from day one is a betrayal of the

trust of the people of Tobago and a waste of their votes and the people in

Tobago are looking. I am very confident that the next time around they would not be bought by your cheap slogans, to give them a chance, there is need for a voice, because what we have seen is no voice at all. [Desk thumping] No voice representing the people of Tobago. [Desk thumping] No voice representing Tobago’s people issues. Madam Presiding Officer, I must express my grave disappointment.

Madam Presiding Officer, a Motion of “No confidence” is not unique, so they are not bringing anything new, but with a Motion of “no confidence”, there are two (2) substantive issues:

 Whether the current Leader of the ruling majority in the House is unfit to lead and has lost the majority support; and  Whether the Leader of the Opposition or in our case, the Minority Leader or Leader of the Opposition Bench is suitable to lead the Government.

Madam Presiding Officer, that is the gist of a “No Confidence Motion”. Additionally, a “No Confidence Motion” in its nature is implying (as one of my Colleagues mentioned before as well) that the current Leader should be replaced by the Opposition, and in this context Madam Presiding Officer, this Motion has presented us with an opportunity to evaluate not only the stewardship and leadership qualities of the Chief Secretary, but has also given us an opportunity to evaluate the leadership qualities of the Members opposite.

Madam Presiding Officer, a Motion of “No Confidence� at this time, also pre-supposes that at some time prior, the confidence which was held by the population, that this confidence has since been lost.

Madam Presiding Officer, if we evaluate, if I have analyzed this quite correctly, then I must commend my colleagues who started off the Debate, starting with Assemblyman Ancil Dennis and all my other colleagues because they have as a Motion of No Confidence requires giving us sound, honest and a clear assessment not only of the stewardship of the Chief Secretary but also of the Minority Leader and the Minority Bench. Because I have to put it out there so that persons listening and wondering what took place today could understand clearly what is needed in a Motion of No Confidence.

Madam Presiding Officer, this Motion of No Confidence is in itself a none Motion. It is also a self-inflicting Motion and it is also an indictment against the Minority Bench in an attempt to foist a self-confessed madman, a man who have some questions to answer in certain places in Trinidad for certain actions.

Someone who has continuously attempted to mislead the

people of Tobago with his theatrics, rolling on the ground, pulling fire alarms in public buildings and so on. A man who has demonstrated by his ill-tempered behaviour and during his stewardship as Leader of the Public Services Association (PSA) that he should not be trusted with power, financial resources or leadership of any kind.

Madam Presiding Officer, as we mark our one (1) year Anniversary in Office, as we reflect on the mandate of the people of Tobago and let me say,

as some opposite might be implying that the people of Tobago continue to repose their confidence in the People’s National Movement (PNM) and they have reposed an even greater degree of confidence in our Chief Secretary, the Honourable Kelvin Charles. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, in that regard, let the people of Tobago know that we do not take the mandate that you gave us lightly. We are about serious business, we came to this House prepared to debate a Motion which says in essence that the people of Tobago made a mistake and they should put the Members opposite but as I have seen on every occasion in this House starting in February when we asked them to agree on a Code of Conduct, when we move from there to protect Tobago's environment, when we move from there to pass a Budget in terms of advancing Tobago's development.

Every Motion brought to this House there was no magnanimity, there was no Tobago consciousness, there was nothing no incline of advancing Tobago's development that they could see throughout all the Motions from February right down to November that they can lend support to. There was no bye partisanship approach to advancing Tobago's development and when they did not vote no in support of Protecting the Environment they abstained.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Motions that they brought to this House you could see that they were ill-prepared, I mean even this Motion today, I

mean, I sat wondering why are we here today till 8.00 o'clock. Why are we here, what are the issues?

Madam Presiding Officer, again I say, if this is what passes for Opposition or the alternative, this is not what the people of Tobago voted for.

Madam Presiding Officer, we pledge as we advanced this island's development that we will continue to provide quality leadership to Tobago so that the people of Tobago can continue to be proud of our leaders that we have as a PNM Administration since 2001 that we have placed before the people and that we will continue to provide the quality leadership.

Madam Presiding Officer, the important question that must be asked at this time and that question is, "What are the qualities in the Leader that we desire at this time to navigate Tobago through these challenging economic waters?�

These qualities can be best described as balanced, mature and

responsible. [Desk thumping] We require a Leader that is perceptive, a visionary Leader, one who understands these challenging times and is sufficiently stable, sufficiently strong, sufficiently resolute in his stance to make the hard decision and to confront the challenges before us.

Madam Presiding Officer, it was over twelve (12) months ago that a new PNM Administration under the Leadership of the Honourable Kelvin Charles, the successor to the Honourable Orville London took the reigns and the mantle of leadership of this island.

Madam Presiding Officer, and the beauty about it, is that when the PNM came into Office in 2001 we brought a Brand and a style of leadership and then, we managed that transition and now we have another Leader coming on the helm.

Over the last sixteen (16) years, we have a refutable proof that all sober minded and right-thinking Tobagonians can evaluate and judge in terms of the leadership style over the last sixteen (16) years.

Madam Presiding Officer, the beauty about my position is that, I know the previous Leader, I have known him for a fairly long time. I could say, before I was born, Honourable Orville London. And the beauty about our current Chief Secretary is that, I know him quite well.

Because in

2006/2007 I was transferred to act in a higher post in the Public Service, I believe it would have been from Tourism or Goodwood High School to the Division of Infrastructure at the time and that was the first time I met the Honourable Kelvin Charles and from since that time to now we have been interacting on a close basis.

In fact, a lot of people are not aware that Mr.

Charles was the one who took my hand and brought me into the Party's fold and brought me before a Council of change agents that had a significant input in terms of the direction and the strategy and implementing new breath and life and strength and new direction into the People’s National Movement Party. So Mr. Charles held my hand and ushered me into politics at the time. So when persons opposite are making their snide remarks about looking left and right I want to remind him just as Moses sat in the seat of authority during war times he had Aaron on one side and Earl on the other side. [Desk thumping] Every time Moses’s hand felt tired, they would lose the war. But as long as Aaron and Herr was on the left and on the right [Desk thumping] whatever war came, whatever battle, they were sure to win.

Let me tell you

something: we are a dangerous combination. [Desk thumping] We are two (2) eagles advising [Laughter] [Desk thumping] and standing up in support with our Chief Secretary. Let me dear say, I can stand and say Mr. Kelvin V. Charles the Honourable Chief Secretary, is the right man for this time, for the job and all of Tobago. You have nothing to fear, [Desk thumping] another great PNM Leader is on the scene to continue to develop this bless island.

Madam Presiding Officer, if I was to give a theme to my short presentation today, I will coin it, “Responsible and Sensitive Leadership in a Period of Economic Uncertainty”. [Desk thumping] Sensitive and Sensible at this point in time!

Madam Presiding Officer, in our current circumstances where the pool of resources is significantly reduced, we have to make hard choices. As Secretary of Finance and the Economy, I am well positioned to evaluate the decisions of our Leader in light of our current economic challenges. Let me say, they have been spot on. When we came into Office last year, we did not wait until the Budget was read in September/October, to start planning the people’s business. From the time we came into Office, we hit the ground running and we started planning. We started doing the necessary scenarios; planning looking at every eventuality in light of the challenging economic landscape.

Madam Presiding Officer, it was said before, but it bears

repeating. When we came into Office, we made a conscious decision to minimize the pain on the vulnerable and those that are socially displaced and we also made a conscious decision… [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME

Motion made: That the Hon. Member’s speaking time be extended by ten (10) minutes. [Hon. K. Des Vignes]

Question put and agreed to.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

That speaking time is now been

extended by a further ten (10) minutes.

HON. J. JACK: Thank you Madam Presiding Officer, and thank you colleagues. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, when you evaluate our approach, and you compare that of Barbados, when they were faced with reduced revenues, the first thing that they did was to reduce the size of the Public Sector. They cut the Public Sector Expenditure, including the size of the Public Service. Let me say that we have made a conscious decision not to do that. But what have we done? We have reduced Recurrent Expenditure, we have rationalized some services, we have cut back significantly. However, while we have reduced Expenditure, we are conscious of the fact that we need to

keep our developmental momentum and to ensure that there is a continuation of a number of Projects and Programmes. That is why we brought a Motion to this Honourable House in November. I believe in terms of recalibrating our financial resources in terms of ensuring that this islands developmental momentum continues and we are still awaiting support from the Members opposite.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Leadership question also has to be asked as it relates to temperament. Here we have someone at the national level, failing to understand that the resources that we are accustomed to that they are not available.

And that your approach to governance should be

sober should be balanced and it should not be any kind of outrageous proposals and recommendations coming from the Members opposite.

Madam Presiding Officer in a period of economic uncertainty, there is no question and it is no secret that Trinidad and Tobago are confronted with significant economic challenges at this time, and mainly due to the fact that the Government has lost ninety percent (90%) of its tax revenue coming from the Energy Sector. Oil prices fell from one hundred and six dollars ($106.00) per barrel in June 2014 to thirty dollars ($30.00) a barrel in February, 2016. Given this fact, Madam Presiding Officer, given these challenging circumstances, again I say, what is required is strong and sober Leadership to navigate us through these waters.

Madam Presiding Officer, when you compare the leadership approach to the Chief Secretary, sober minded, continue to scrutinizing the numbers, providing directions as to how we should navigate these waters, and take Tobago forward, compare that with what we have heard here this afternoon.

What bothers me a lot is the intellectual dishonesty of the Members opposite. You have never heard them couch their statement to an argument of the context in the prevailing economic circumstances; to them it is business as usual. To them you should continue as you have done before. If we follow their irresponsible mandate, their suggestions Madam Presiding Officer, we will derail Tobago’s development, we will crash the Tobago economy and they will be the ones blaming us for taking their own advice.

But you see, we are not buying any “cat in bag” and we are not “taking basket” as they say because we are guided by sound economic principles ...

Madam Presiding Officer, I have five (5) minutes?

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Yes, you have five (5) minutes.

HON. J. JACK: That is more than sufficient.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Minority Bench, they have taken pleasure in spreading fake news, to paint a picture of “doom and gloom” in Tobago. I want to point them to go and review the economic data, go and review our unemployment figures; go and review our inflation figures; go and review the economic data that we have placed in the Budget Statement; because all the economic indicators suggest that we are not in that place of “doom and gloom” as they suggest.

Madam Presiding Officer, I want to ask them to stop scaring investors coming to make an investment in this country. [Desk thumping] We are attempting to attract foreign direct investment, to attract persons to come and set up business in Tobago. If you listen to them yuh pack up and run, you do not even come to Tobago for a holiday.

We are a tourism dependent

economy and with the support of the Government expenditure they are the key drivers of the Tobago economy.

So when somebody picks up the

Tobago Newsday, the Tobago Guardian, or the Tobago News and they listen to the Members opposite they have not engendered confidence in the Tobago economy. They have not done anything to attract persons to come and set up business in Tobago but all they are doing is preaching “doom and gloom.�

Madam Presiding Officer, that also points to the kind of irresponsible leadership that is displayed by the Members opposite and that should be strongly condemned in all forms and fashion.

Madam Presiding Officer, as I wind up this evening, let me leave by again expressing confidence in our Chief Secretary, expressing confidence in the team - this PNM-Administration that is in power leading the Assembly.

Let me also continue by saying, that inspite of the fiscal challenges which confronts us, the people of Tobago can be confident under the astute leadership of the Honourable Kelvin Charles that we will continue to manage with prudence and foresight and we will continue to ensure that this island's developmental momentum continues.

What Tobago requires at this time is a strong, wise, sober, decisive Leader who is a visionary. Not an irrational politica who finds pleasure in masquerading around Trinidad and Tobago. What Tobago needs is someone with the intellectual capacity and strength to manage and guide the affairs of Tobago while we are at this critical juncture in our development.

Madam Presiding Officer, I remain confident in the leadership and vision of the Honourable Chief Secretary that is why I view this No Confidence Motion as pure political mischief and absolute waste of time. In the words of John C. Maxwell and I quote: "Anyone can steer the ship but it takes a Leader to chart the course.

Leaders who are good navigators are capable of taking their people just about anywhere."

Madam Presiding Officer, let me say with confidence that the people of Tobago have nothing to worry about, the people of Tobago have nothing to fear with our current Chief Secretary at the helm at this time. Whether it be in sitting and leading the Executive Council or being part of National Meetings as we saw on Monday and Tuesday, our Chief Secretary has done Tobago proud and will continue to do Tobago proud.

Chief Secretary let me say that you have my full support and as a team together each achieves more and as a team with your leadership will continue to serve Tobago with pride and with dignity.

Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment. [Desk thumping] LEADER OF ASSEMBLY BUSINESS AND SECRETARY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Hon. Kwesi Des Vignes): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer, and thank you for this opportunity to address this august House on such an important occasion.

Madam Presiding Officer, I must say that when I first heard about this Motion and someone would have sent me a clipping from Social Media I thought this definitely has to be fake news. [Laughter] Even the Watson Dukes of today are not as crazy as that.

Madam Presiding Officer, low and behold, I received an e-mail and a couple words came to my mind. The old people use to say, "frappish." I said but what “frappishness” is this, what kind of “boldfaceness” is this?

January 26th does represent one year since we are in Office and it represents one year of the people of Tobago placing full confidence in the People’s National Movement (PNM) and moreso, confidence in our Leader the Honourable Kelvin Victor Charles. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, I want to remind the Minority and the Minority Leader that two (2) out of twelve (12) is by no stretch of an imagination a victory. [Desk thumping] I want to remind Members on the Minority that whether you are five (5) votes short or yuh ten (10) votes short yuh short. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, imagine the Minority is speaking about confidence when in fact, when the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) was going through an identity crises in 2005 they still got more votes than the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP). [Laughter] In 2005 they were the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) by 2009 they were the Tobago Organization of the People (TOP) and they still got more votes than the PDP. Madam Presiding Officer, imagine that the Tobago public still has more confidence in this Administration and there is a reason why. Because no matter where we go, Tobagonians have certain characteristics and tendencies - it is the reality; it is what we are, it’s who we are. We stand in a certain manner and we pride ourselves on certain things that as the former Chief Secretary were describing our Tobagonianism. There are some people who just do not display that level of Tobagonianism or any at all.

We want people who are honest, we want people who are respectful, who have respect for authority, we want people who are virtuous. Integrity is important. We do not want people who deliberately try to mislead the public Madam Presiding Officer. Moreover, we do not want people who think that all Tobagonians are clusterphobic. [Laughter] Madam Presiding Officer, the reality is, we are not foolish and the Minority Member for Speyside/Parlatuvier always like to say, "They playing smart with foolishness." What is the point and I will take up where he left off. What is the point of this Motion? What really is the point of this

Motion? And the reality is, and I think I get the confusion of the Minority Member for Speyside, Assemblyman Farley Augustine.

Not having context and not knowing our history is a dangerous thing.

You have always heard about the fact that, "If you didn't know where you come from, yuh nah know whey you going."

You see for those people

who especially the facebook crew as you all like to speak to, who do not remember what was happening in Tobago pre 2001 then you don't appreciate what is happening today.

Prior to 2001, our unemployment levels were creeping up or even galloping up to almost forty percent (40%). Today, we could boast of almost full employment in Tobago and despite the economic challenges that we are facing and especially in light of the commitment by this very Chief Secretary that you are trying to move a Motion of No-confidence in, this very Chief Secretary has given the commitment and kept the commitment that we are going to maintain employment levels as far as possible. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, imagine in the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment we have over a thousand (1,000) workers in the Development Programme, we have seventeen hundred (1700) workers in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and we are taking steps to ensure and Assemblyman Ancil Dennis would have spoken to it before that the Tobago people are getting value for money because the reality is, there are the scamps that are out there today - the PSA has a scamp almost in leadership position or maybe leading.

The reality is, we have to ensure that nobody is attempting to defraud the Tobago House of Assembly and to that extent, the Chief Secretary, one of the first things he would have insisted is that we do an Operational Audit of the Unemployment Relief Programme.

The reason we are doing this Operational Audit, is to:  Ensure that Tobago’s people are getting value for money;  That the persons who are enrolled in the Unemployment Relief Programme are able to get the most value out of the programme.

Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) is not just a hand to mouth Programme, it is not meant to be that kind of Programme. It is meant to be the Programme that empowers our Tobagonians, equip them of the skills and provides real value to our communities.

I am happy to say Madam

Presiding Officer, that we are in the process of ensuring just that. The Training Programmes that are lined up for our URP workers will be like none before. The URP workers will be exposed to training with the BDU (Business Development Unit) to ensure that when they get the requisite skills, whether it is in masonry; joinery; plumbing; whatever the case might be, they can now link with the Business Development Unit and start developing those skills in entrepreneurship and then be able to access the very loans and grants that we have been distributing in this past year.

Madam Presiding Officer, we are about the serious business of Tobago. As I said before, several words came to my mind when this Motion came to me. After I got over the “frappishness” and the “boldfaceness” of the Minority, I said, this is “arsenide and hypocritical”. [Desk thumping] Imagine Madam Presiding Officer, the Minority Leader is purporting …

[Interruption]

MR. W. DUKE: Madam Presiding Officer, on a point of order. The level of word, “Arsenide”. Do not disrespect the House.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Madam Presiding Officer, as I said, when I got this Motion, I thought to myself, these people are hypocrites.

When we were getting after ten (10) years of trying to get the Studley Park Quarry in order, getting the level of productivity that we want out of the Studley Park, getting the type of benefits of the Tobagonians out of the Studley Park Quarry, trying to prevent the truckers from having to line up from 6.00 p.m. the evening before, trying to ensure that even in the Division of Infrastructure, we get the aggregate to do the road works and the concrete works that we are talking about. When we were trying to do that, imagine the Minority Leader/PSA Leader would parade himself up into the Quarry and tell workers that they are going to lose their jobs and that the Studley Park Enterprise Limited is an illegitimate Enterprise. Madam Presiding Officer, we were right here in this very House when the Minority Leader was parading himself in James Park, fooling the Studley Park Workers,

telling them that they are going to lose their jobs and that the quarry would be privatized. Fake news yet again! The King of fake news, as I called him recently.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am pleased to report that despite the efforts of the Minority Leader‌ By the way, it was not only the Minority Leader, because they seem to like James Park. It seems that whenever Assemblyman Farley Augustine is not getting enough Likes on Facebook, he jumps out and does a live or a host of Press Conference. He would have gone on to make claims about illegal operations at the Quarry.

Madam Presiding Officer, we started losing calls from persons who wanted aggregate from the Quarry. We were beginning to lose business; we had to send a convoy to Trinidad to salvage business. I am pleased to report that not only all of the Studley Park workers have their jobs maintained, all one hundred and fifty-one (151) of them, they also received three (3) fortnights pay as an incentive for moving. [Desk thumping] Before you tap the desk, hold on! They did not only get their regulars salary as they kept their jobs and their three (3) fortnight incentives, they got it all before Christmas time too. [Desk thumping] So we stand here talking about who did not get pay and who did not get paid.

The reality is, we now have a situation where there is one Division where a Public Servant or Members of the PSA (Public Services Association) are deliberately giving trouble to the political directorate,

undermining the political directorate because of the Leadership of the Minority Leader/PSA President. So he is using his position to undermine the work that we are trying to do, the legitimate work for the business of Tobagonians. Then the Minority Member, Assemblyman Farley Augustine, has the gumption to talk about he can go and be a part of a protest action by a Union. What kind of nonsense is that? That is not the way Tobago that people do their business.

Madam Presiding Officer, in spite of the efforts by the Minority Leader, we have been able to double a two hundred percent (200%) increase in the production of aggregate at the Studley Park Enterprise Limited. [Desk thumping]

No more line-ups for the truckers, they go they get their

aggregate and they leave.

The A.N.R. Airport Runway Rehabilitation can

continue as plan, because we have now done what Tobagonians have put us here to do. We are getting things right! [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, I dare to say after the intervention, just last week we started shipping boulders down to Trinidad, armoured rock for them to start doing work on Costal Protection in Trinidad. So we are now exporting from Tobago to Trinidad as well. [Desk thumping] There is more to come.

Madam Presiding Officer, imagine last year 2017, as a Tobagonian, we were all worried here; twelve (12) murders were recorded. I want us to take that in a very sober manner. Twelve (12) murders were recorded! I do know that if there is anyone on the Majority Side including the Chief

Secretary who is involved in any nefarious activities, or who was charged of any nefarious activities, but we are in a situation where twelve (12) murders were recorded, and an alarming amount of them with the use of guns. But the information coming forward to this side is that a lot of the guns and the gun men are coming over on the Port, on the same Sea Bridge that we are talking about. So, they are coming over on the Sea Bridge with their guns and they are committing their crimes here in Tobago.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am happy that the Prime Minister spoke about it as well yesterday. We have a situation where the PSA/Minority Leader, whatever he calls himself on the day, Olympic Swimmer or whatever it is, is saying that the men has scrotums. Of course, the men have scrotums, and that they cannot use the Port Scanners, that were allotted to us by the US (United States) Government. Madam Presiding Officer, these very Port Scanners would have saved the lives of these twelve (12) Tobagonians who were murdered here in Tobago.

The blood of these

Tobagonians is on the hands of the Minority Leader, I dare to say. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, the reality is, we need to take steadfast action and stand up to the “buffoonery” and the “hooliganism” that is what is what we need to be doing here today. We need to stamp out this type of behaviour in Tobago, we need to say anyone who is abusive or anyone prohibits or inhibits Tobago to be “Clean, Green, Safe and Serene” should not be here and should not be in this august House in no particular way.

[Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, we are talking about actions and inactions, and we are talking about the Tobago economy. I just want to give a story if you allow me.

My family is a family of readers, we love to read. Every

Christmas, I ensure that I buy my family members books.

On Christmas

eve when I finally got some time off, I did not take any time off at all, nearer to Christmas, I said, let me run down to Nigel Khan and buy some books for my family. Madam Presiding Officer, I called the Manager of the Mall, he said, “Yes the Mall is opened. They are opening from 9.00 a.m. and they are going as late as possible�. I got down there at 10.00 a.m. Nigel Khan was closed.

I said alright, let me go down the road and come back, I got a call

the Book Store is now opened. By the time I got back there at 2.00 p.m. the Book Store was closed. Madam Presiding Officer, I said to myself, what kind of business is this?

Is this how these business places are serving the

people of Tobago? But thank God, that Tobagonians like to buy local, so that we are able to go to the indigenous book store to get the same books that they claim that they cannot get on the boat we can get those books and we till can continue to get those books for our school children and for my family members as well. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, as I said several words came words came to my mind and especially when I read the fact that they claimed that the people of Tobago has suffered immensely, I said what kind of buffoonerism; callousness and contemptuousness is this?

Imagine somebody who has a five (5) storey house in Moriah and driving Benz and Bema like Bounty Killa is the one (1), to talk about Tobago people are suffering.

The same person, who is giving twenty

thousand dollars ($20,000.00) sandwiches as Christmas gift, is the one who is talking about Tobago people are suffering.

Madam Presiding Officer, the same people who renting an apartment in No. 1 Woodbrook Place is the same one who is talking that Tobago people are suffering.

The same one who now buy a how much hundred thousand Benz again is talking about Tobago people suffering? Is that the same person and you telling me that I am insensitive? That is nothing more than callousness!

Madam Presiding Officer, the mismanagement of funds and you know when I first read through the Standing Orders again and I saw that the Minority Leader is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, I said but hold on, based on some information as provided to me does he even know what audited accounts look like? Because the information provided to me is that the Public Service Association (PSA) has not seen Audited Accounts since 2009. So how is it then that this man now is going to be going through the Auditor General's Report? Does he even know what an Audited Financial Report looks like? That this man is going through a Financial Report looks like? [Interruption] [Crosstalk] HON. J. JACK: OJT Minority Leader.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: OJT? Madam Presiding Officer, OJT Minority

Leader.

Madam Presiding Officer, the reality, I really was stunned as many would have said at this sinister and unscrupulous Motion to even insinuate that the Majority did not allot an Office to the Minority is again deliberately misleading and fake news. You know sometimes I wonder, am I in an alternate reality? Because we have a Minority who is comfortable saying “A” today, “B” tomorrow and “Z” as he claimed the next day. Because this same Minority Leader when we stood up here and say there is going to be an Office allotted claim he claimed that Tobagonians are clusterphobic and we do not want that Office. The records will show. Nuh me say it!

It was

reported in the newspaper, it was carried on the News. That is what the Minority Leader said out of his mouth, that Tobagonians are clusterphobic and we do not know how to use elevators.

Yet he is coming and claiming and going to James Park every week or at least when he is not in No.1 Woodbrook Place or other places, to hold Court or when he is not in Court to speak about the fact that there has been no Office allotted to them and the reality is Madam Presiding Officer, we have a situation where ...

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Thank you Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer.

One of the things I must say, I think out of all the strengths of the current Chief Secretary the one weakness I have been able to identify is that he is not a Facebook lover. [Laughter]

He really is not.

I will give him that

weakness, if he want to criticize him for that then okay, I would say he deserve that, he is not a Facebook lover because he just does not have the tolerance for that type of things sometimes on Facebook.

But I cannot say the same about the Minority. The Minority have the Facebook darlings or gluttons or whatever you want to call it. As a matter of fact, so because the Chief Secretary now is not a Facebook man he does not have no life with sitting down with anybody or whatever else he is not trying to post and get more likes than loves or whatever the case might be. He depends on the mainstream Media and being the man that he is of course, the Media would prefer as any Media House would to cover the PDP circus with swimming lunatics and “pussycat� charmers. [Laughter] Of course, the Media would prefer to cover those things because they sell more headlines that is the reality!

So sometimes the Chief Secretary or often times the Chief Secretary or even this very Administration is doing the goodly work of Tobago and there is no coverage. There is no coverage about the fact that we promised that the Roxborough Administrative Complex would be started in 2017 and it was.

There is no coverage that we said that the Community Centre in Belle Garden would be started in 2017 and it was.

There is no coverage of the fact that we said that we are going to collaborate with Central Government to ensure that the two (2) Police Stations will be built as we drive to ensure National Security and the

security of Tobagonians.

Again, no coverage!

Mr. Deputy Presiding

Officer, the reality is the circus is a lot more entertaining.

We have to recognize that we are in difficult times. It was Martin Luther King junior who said: "The Ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, the reality is, we are in challenging times and we have a controversial Minority. So it is fair to say that we are in challenging and controversial times.

Not one time have I seen the Chief Secretary overwhelmed by the challenges that face us. Not once has he flinched at the fact that we have to maintain such levels of employment in the face of decreasing allocations from Central Government.

Not once has he flinched at maintaining his resolution that we are going to focus on Community Development and we are going to focus our limited funds in the places that matter most.

Not once has he flinched at his promise that he would engage persons whatever or whoever, where ever they may be once they have the skill and the competence and as long as they do not try to undermine the Administration.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, the Minority Councillor spoke about the ART but she did not speak about the fact that the ART has the wide range of professionals and professionals who are known to oppose the PNM. We have the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI) that is now under a restructured model and the Chairman happens to be someone who is known to be Anti-PNM. We started with the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited and one of the coincidence is the very week when the Secretary was swearing in the Board, one of the Members of the very Board that she was swearing in even before was critical of the Assembly but we still are saying if you have value to bring to the table come with your value let us work together. I would say it again. We have come to this House time and time again and we said "Hi, we are about the business of Tobago."

I could remember Assemblyman Jomo Pitt standing here and saying, where ever you have good ideas I am willing to work with you.

Assemblyman has anyone contacted you as yet with their good ideas?

MR. JOMO PITT: No. HON. K. DES VIGNES: Not a single one!

Bankrupt of ideas to truly

move Tobago forward.

Every time I stand here and listen to the Minority Leader speak about the THA Act and who is lawless I wonder, but this man serious? He knows about the law? He is cognizant of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago? Your actions Sir, speak a lot louder than your words.

The fact is, Councillor Faith has spoken about there being no difference between a Code of Conduct and the Standing Orders. Sometimes I wonder why some people speak or is it just because you have something to say that you say it. There is a golf of difference and the ironic thing is we would have provided or I personally would have provided the Councillor and all the Members of the Code of Conduct Committee with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Handbook on Codes of Conduct and it clearly states the difference between a Code of Conduct and the Standing Orders. It clearly states it.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, as a matter of fact, I had the opportunity last year to visit the Commonwealth of Guyana where I was able to meet with the Speaker of the House and get solicit advice because they are also in the process of getting a Code of Conduct and he would have advised on the way forward in terms of getting the requisite legal advice as well.

In Trinidad, the same House of Representatives that the Councillor spoke about, they are trying to do the same thing, put in place a Code of Conduct. You see if they had a Code of Conduct in place; and I understand why they do not want it.

A “Code of Conduct� would have meant that they cannot go and involve yourself in Union protest. Now, I am not taking away the right of anyone to protest but there must be a clear line of demarcation between the politician

and the work of representation by the Unions. Everyone has the right to representation, but there is union representation and there is political representation. The incestuous relationship that has occurred or continues to occur with the PDP and the PSA is one that is destine for failure.

As a

matter of fact, the cracks are there already and the writing is on the wall, because people are walking away from their office. There are persons who are seeing the light and realize hold on, something is not working here, and their legal training and background would have made them realize you know what, what these people are doing is not legal and not right and they have left the very office after starting or championing a cause. These people are no longer part of it. The Campaign Manager for the PDP is gone, other founding members of the Women’s League, gone, and the “three (3) blind mice” still stand alone.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, if it is one thing that I have found and the Chief Secretary is always saying it, “Stay focused”. Leadership is never going to be easy. It is not a popularity contest. We are doing the business of Tobago. You know there is the Chinese Proverb, “if you want to live for tomorrow, you plant rice” but we are talking about for the future, so we are planting trees.

We are sowing the seeds of economic development and

prosperity for Tobago.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, there is a guy by the name of Jamal Mc Norton, some people may know him as Cronics. He said, “Do it for the love, do not do it for the likes”. Day after day when I see the Facebook Videos in “Charming” comments I keep reminding myself when I put on the tune, “Do it for the love and not do it for the likes”. That is what we will continue to do. We will continue to deal with love and do our job with pride so that we can hold our heads high, and at the end of our tenure whenever that time may come we can know that we have serve the people of Tobago with pride; we have served them with dignity, and we served them with honour, and our stewardship would be one that not only would our children be proud, but our grandchildren and their grandchildren. The same cannot be said for everyone seated here in this House. What is really worseror than someone who intends to propagate and sow the seeds of “mistrust and deception”, and mislead the Tobagonian and make them believe that this Assembly… [Interruption] MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

The Member, has two (2)

minutes remaining.

HON. K. DES VIGNES… is not seeking their best interest. Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, we have a situation where there are people who believe

when they go on Facebook and post a pothole or bad road, then the road gets pave. It is clear that it is worseror to pretend you know when you do not know that to not know than you do not know. In everything there is process and especially in these times of lean.

I must say that in the Division of

Infrastructure, we pride ourselves in quality work.

For the residents of Daniel Trace, I will like to put this on record, and I am sure that the Assemblyman for the area will be proud, that we were going to do the road work at Daniel Trace just before Christmas. Finally, the Quarry was producing enough aggregate in a reliable quantity, so that we can provide a reliable and efficient service to the people. After consulting with the Assemblyman for the area, and the Assemblyman consulted with the residents in the area, we recognized that this work is definitely not work to do before Christmas. The scope of works include, if you go there now you will see we are stripping the entire street of all the old asphalt and laying a new foundation that is free of soft spots and free of any impediments so that the residents of Daniel Trace have a road that stands up for years to come. I had to laugh or chuckle or whatever you do sometimes or smile to myself when there were people parading themselves and saying well I drive and did a video and post it on Facebook and it had plenty likes. So, it is I that ensured that the road was paved. Rubbish! Absolute rubbish! To the

Assemblyman, I would have walked with him in the area to demonstrate to him the work that we are doing at the Division. We said that we going to start at a certain time and we did. Now that we are partnering with WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority), WASA is now laying new mains on the road as well, so that the burst pipe that they were experiencing before in Daniel Trace would be a thing of the past. The potholes on Daniel Trace would be a thing of the past, and we are now doing things in a most cost effective way… [Interruption] MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time has expired.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Hon. Member’s speaking time be extended by a further ten (10) minutes. [Hon. J. Jack] Question put and agreed to.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Member you may continue for a further ten (10) minutes.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer.

As I was saying the work at Daniel Trace is Testament to the way forward in the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, the Division is now ensuring that we are working great as a well-rehearsed symphony, that we are working in tandem with ourselves, but with the representatives, with the utility providers namely WASA in this case to ensure that the residents of Tobago get value for money. I do not want people to go away with the fake impression that whenever we say patch a hole or pave a road, it happens with a snap of a finger. That is not the way things are done, especially in these tough economic times. We do our:  Planning;  Forecasting; and  Budgeting our timelines, proper project management so that we are able to deliver on our objectives whether they are smart or not.

The reality is Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, we cannot just do things because we want to do and do it for doing it sake. There are complaints about the Highway; they are not falling on deaf ears. The reality is the Claude Noel Highway has been standing in its current state for years, and it is going to take us quite a significant sum to rehabilitate the entire Highway.

People have been asking why not patch the highway, and I said no, because the material that we are going to use to patch the highway we can use to patch other places. What we are doing at the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment currently is doing the right thing. The scope of works has been developed because we have done the surveys of the entire highway. We know the exact length, depth, width that we want to go with the paving, we know the full scope of the milling, we know where the soft spots are we know what kind of geo-technical work that we have to do. We are now going through the proper procurement procedure to ensure that we

get the right supplier to come in at a cost that is, one that we can use and we are satisfied with in the Division, so that we can get the entire Claude Noel highway rehabilitated. Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I would like to tell the people of Tobago at this point, do not lose faith. Relief is on its way on the Claude Noel Highway. [Desk thumping] We are taking the business of the people seriously.

With a new Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) policy and soon to come a new Development Programme Policy we are moving towards ensuring proper service delivery to Tobago. This is not by chance eh, this is with the direct insistence, guidance and leadership of the man to my right,

[Laughter] [Desk thumping] the Honourable Kelvin Victor Charles, because the reality is, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, it cannot continue to be business as usual as he always says, it is business as unusual.

We will continue to

serve the people of Tobago the way they deserve to be served, getting value for money and delivering our projects within budget and on time.

We are talking about keeping Tobagonians safe as well and not only from the criminals that are among us but also on the roads of Tobago and I am happy to announce again to this House that the Speed Guns are in Tobago and people now have to observe the speed limit in Tobago because some persons were going too far too fast. The reality is now, we now are able to provide a greater amount of safety on our roads.

This would be accentuated by the fact that we are now implementing a Traffic Management Unit to ensure that the proper signage is in place as well – the proper Road Safety barriers and mechanisms, the Schools Safety Zones. If you drive around the island now you will see Schools Safety Zones in place in many schools around the island. These things are not by error, careful planning

and

good

guidance

and

leadership

leads

to

effective

implementation.

I just want to say something quickly on the environment. I have said it time and time again, that persons who have no respect for environment should be considered as thieves and murderers because they are stealing the beauty of this island and they are killing our environment. They are killing that which we treasure the most here in Tobago.

I am happy that in his

wisdom and vision the Chief Secretary would have cleaved or bring together

because some people are complaining about the words that I use - cleave can mean bring together or take apart and on this occasion, I am saying bring together, infrastructure and the environment.

Because the world around

infrastructural development usually comes at the expense of the environment.

I am happy that my colleague in the Division, Assemblyman Sheldon Cunningham, my Area Representative, would have spoken to the fact that we are now looking at greener solutions and we are now taking the environment into greater consideration when we are doing our development.

Moreover, coastal protection on our one hundred and sixteen (116) square miles of island paradise, the Chief Secretary has insisted time and time again that coastal protection is high on our agenda. Just before coming in

here, I realized that I got an email because after attending – after the Chief Secretary again because of his pronouncements and his meetings with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) they would have recognized that we are serious about Coastal Protection and they would have invited me (all expenses paid) to the Bahamas to attend a forum on Coastal Resilience.

Coming out of that we now have a meeting on February 1 st it is, Secretary with the IADB to discuss Coastal Resilience here in Tobago and I am accessing funding for just that because we recognize and the Chief Secretary moreover, recognizes the importance of preserving and protecting our island paradise – the Capital of Paradise – one hundred and sixteen (116) square miles of bliss and joy that we call, “Tobago.”

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I just want to close by saying and sharing that the confidence of the entire executive, the confidence of the Tobago people continue to reside in the People’s National Movement (PNM) and moreso, in the Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Leader of Tobago, not just the Tobago House of Assembly, the Leader of Tobago, the Honourable Kelvin Victor Charles. [Desk thumping] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, thank you.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

If there are no further

contributors to the Motion, two (2) things can happen, either the Minority Leader may choose to close the Motion at this point in time.

MR. W. DUKE:

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer. The time is

now 8.52 p.m.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, at 2.00 p.m. today the Cabo Star left Port-of-Spain Port. It is now docking in the Port of Scarborough. There are Tobagonians on that boat who are in less than honourable conditions, they have travelled for more than four (4) hours and our Chief Secretary said there is no crisis there. [Desk thumping] Yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago Express left the Port of Scarborough for Trinidad at 8.00 a.m. yesterday, reached Trinidad late and today it is making the return trip. It left the Port of Port-of-Spain at 4.30 p.m. There are Tobagonians on that boat. It will be docking shortly. A journey that is in excess of four (4) hours and thirty (30) minutes. Why is it that a boat that is

designed for two and a half hour journey is taking four hours and a half and there is no crisis. There are Tobagonians on that boat.

As I sat and I listened, I recognized that there are many persons on the PNM Executive Council that are quite comfortable with the leadings of the Chief Secretary. They have a code and certainly, they support their Leader.

He is the best thing, he is intellectual, [Desk thumping] he does not use Facebook, he does not like the lights not the loves. He is very economical and sensitive to the needs of Tobago.

I am happy for those words but they are not reflecting on the outside.

You can laugh as long as you want, joke and toy but what has happened today will be recorded against you forever. You have made a mockery of this House both locally, regionally and internationally.

People listened to

the pettiness, lack of depth and I said to myself this is the Chief Secretary who has a hard time.

I for one moment recognized that we asked for the wrong Motion and I admit that. It is a wrong Motion that we ask for. We asked that we have no Confidence in the Chief Secretary and for persons to vote for that but we should have asked to move a Motion against yourself because you have demonstrated a lack of confidence in the job that you are all are given.

There is no confidence in the job. It was a very awkward moment for you all to stand and speak.

There was nothing that you all could have said to actually interest the people who were viewing and who were listening. Nothing! All you spent time on

is speaking about a man who has made it in life; a son of the soil; a man who is more recognized than any of you on that side. Let me spent a little time to say, you want to talk about, “Leadership”.

Watson Duke, born in

Roxborough, educated in Roxborough, left for Trinidad, married in Trinidad twenty plus one years, still to the same woman; clothes never put outside.

Folks set up, charged; never convicted! That is there. So what more can you say. A man who dresses impeccable, women loves him, that is not a fault. I heard one (1) of the Speakers saying “Me too”, and I do not like “she too”. I just want to say that. Let us be very careful.

This is a House, not of sound and dance; not of Praise and Worship. It is the House call the “Tobago House of Assembly”. When we gather here, as men and as women, we gather here on behalf of the people on the outside.

All of us comes from a particular area, we are called, “Area Representatives.”

So I represent Roxborough/Delaford; Assemblyman Farley Augustine, Speyside right back to Castara; yourself Assemblyman SWUM. Do you know what SWUM means? At the end of the day, we all represents people.

When we get here, we ought to be speaking on behalf of those people. But instead you are loyal to the PNM. [Desk thumping]

Though you claim to be a “Health Professional”, I want to say to you, we have your records in the PSA. All that glitters is not gold, but I do not engage in petty stuff nor triviality. Madam, I have your records. I held them in my hand I said “ah, I drop them”. I put a wrapper! Done drop! I drop them like that! I said, “Poor”.

We are in this House because the people of Tobago voted for us, and put us here. Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, we come in here and behave as if no success is still success because I am trying. Success must be measured, and I say that today, I want to say that when the Chief Secretary rise up to speak, he must speak of success in a measured way. Not this, “Sound and praise” that he has. About forty-one (41) items, “Sound and praise”. They did something! If people cannot see it, it is not done.

I pride myself as a Leader who has demonstrated par excellence, Leader of the PSA for nine (9) years, eighty thousand (80,000) people; and I have always been voted for. Poops, never get an appointment nor somebody give me something, I fight everybody. I fight the Minister of Labour, I emerged strong.

I fight again. Listen me, I take on “King Papa Rowley”,

and the whole PNM some of them are up there, [Applause] all you have twelve (12) we take back two (2). I looked at that picture with joy and I said thank God, that he looks from high and see low. He has vindicated the

people of Tobago who was stifled under the oppression that my brother from Bacolet/Mt. St. George spoke about and said it was a good time there was no Opposition here. You hear the kind of folly, the kind of rubbish that is passing for intelligence here.

It was a good time when there was no

Opposition here everything was smooth. God recognized the people needed a voice they must be a “yea and a nay”, a “for and against”, and so we are here.

I ask myself, what is it they have with a man that has been successful?

A man who was even on a PNM Station, and they contested against a Catholic Priest, a man who was contest against the Olympic team, a man who started off from way behind and boom when they said, “Personality of the Year” Watson Duke won by forty-three percent (43%). My closest rival was twenty-one percent (21%) I am just saying to you my friend, I have always been in competition.

But what I am concerned about is people who came from background that does not tie in to the area that are now given to be experts on. Square pegs in round hole. One man training is in Tourism, both at a first level and second degree level, and he parades himself as if he is a, “Wordsmith”; as if he is a, “Linguist”. We have a “Lindquist” here! He parades himself as if he is an Engineer, he has never built a dog Kennel. What is going on here?

Square pegs in round holes!

I challenge anyone of you what are you

successful at? Nothing! So when you see no success, you say that is success. Tobago does not want that! What Tobago wants is success that can be measured. It must be measured.

When I measured the Chief Secretary, I fell in love with his first words that dropped from his lips on the day we came from here. He said that “crime� is priority; and you would have a chance to speak; Agriculture is a priority; Tourism is a priority; but asked about crime in November month, the highest police authority on the island, Mr. Moore, said crime which was eight (8) at that time was two hundred percent (200%).

In

December, it was four (4) more, twelve (12), so that is three hundred percent (300%). In 2016, there were only four (4) murders. So in 2017, when there was eight (8) he said murder on the island has gone up by two hundred percent (200%) but by December it was three hundred percent (300%).

When asked what would you do about crime? It is a Central Government issue. You cannot think local, you have bought into the local idea as yet.

But yet you talking about School Feeding, should be local, you are buying local, but you are not consuming local ideas. You have taken nothing from your people in Tobago, everything Trinidad. You asked them about the boat, Central Government issue; we are saying that you are unfit to lead.

Even myself with a charge but without a conviction got more votes than all of you, except my good friend there from Buccoo who won me by ten (10) votes, he got ten (1) more votes than me. The second highest votes for that Election came from me. You are no way in my class. You cannot compete with me. What you are talking about leadership, none of you could compete with me in here for leadership. But you all do not know what “Leadership” is. [Crosstalk] You see this man here, this is my brother, [Desk thumping] [Crosstalk] I say to you now, when you see the duo, remember Robinson and who, Dr. Winston Murray. Remember that! No, no, no! “Dynamic duo”. I just want you to remember that my friend. When a man say remember, I want you to remember that. They were the ones who went to Trinidad and broke the strong hold, they broke the PNM mould. It does not matter me what happens from here today onwards you know, what matters me most is that we have broken the mould. Therefore, we have given persons without a voice, a voice. We have given persons the opportunity to come and critique the finances, challenge anyone of you with rights. Before that we were outside, and we were “um um um”, but now we can speak with legitimacy.

I say to you, the PDP got almost eight thousand (8,000) votes, six (6) months, one truck, one mike, and some street lights. Almost eight thousand (8,000) votes in six (6) months. New Party! A sixty (60) year old Party with

all the resources of the “big bugwasy” and the one percent (1%), got just thirteen thousand (13,000) votes.

I say unto you wait, wait, wait my friend, wait, the Minority is growing into a majority. I ask you to call an Election now, if you brave, call it. If you are brave, call Elections now. You see your body is here but your mind is elsewhere, so you do not know what is going on. But if you know what is going on you will know outside people do not have you all good in their mind at all.

So today, we have moved this Motion to test the mettle of Assemblyman and Women and Councillors on that side.

I recognize you

all are shallow without depth and without vision, and so it is easy to support a visionless Leader. But let the dice be cast, and let the people who are looking on, who will look at the future record of this, let them know, that we did start in a moment like this, and put a bookmark in time and say look, “reflect back on one (1) year it is not good and you said it was good.

[Applause]

I say to you further, that years from now we would be on that side and I believe maybe one of you will be on this side. The rest of you would be on the gallery. That is where you all will be on the gallery.

We wanted to hear things about housing.

When you hear about

housing, Trinidad is saying, they giving you a hundred thousand ($100,000) if you build a house. Does that apply to across here? How many housing is the Private Sector is going to build? We want to find that out - how many housing? We not hearing that from you across there.

We wanted to hear the Secretary of Health speak about paying people.

She say they will get pay whenever. But I want to tell you something, when I take off this jacket here and I put on the Public Services Association (PSA) clothes you will know what time it is.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTON: I putting on mine too.

MR. W. DUKE: It will be a different story but today I have on a three piece suit and I am decent Mr. Charles. When I take this off and put on that green jersey and I become the President of the Public Services Association (PSA) it will be a different horse coming around the track, uterus whenever we getting pay sometime you will know. Sooner rather than later and you could lock yourself up if you want but I will tell you something the PSA is coming.

I listened to Councillor Stewart-Phillips and I was a bit shocked to hear a Member, one of my Area

Representatives, a Member of my

Constituency, I heard her speaking about this and that but she is not giving account about the eight point eight million dollars ($8.8m.) that is the worse class of lowness I have ever seen. You should be ashamed of yourself and I expect the Chief Secretary to condemn your behaviour because you have not hold yourself accountable to the people of Tobago instead you wrap up yourself in a towel. If the place is too cold for you lower it down. You have

temperature issues or take a tablet.

Look the Minister of Health about

eighty (80) years old and she have no jacket on. [Crosstalk] You just sixteen (16) and watch you covering up yourself. What is wrong with all yuh?

I want to find out where is the eight point eight million ($8.8m.)?

[Crosstalk] [Interruption] MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Members it seems that we are reducing this Debate to chaos and I want us to maintain a certain level of Order. I know sometimes we have the Crosstalk happening but let us not get it too much out of hand.

So I am asking Members to maintain a certain

level of Order, we are finishing just now. I know it is late and people are tired, we will be closing shortly.

Continue Member.

MR. W. DUKE: Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, could you tell me how much time do I have again?

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

Twenty-two (22) minutes.

[Laughter] MR. W. DUKE: The man has spoken are you challenging the ... What's going on here? The Presiding Officer has spoken you all are challenging the Presiding Officer. Where is the law and order?

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Continue.

MR. W. DUKE:

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, this is the kind of

ludicrousness that is passing for wisdom in the House. This is the kind of

senselessness, the kind of jokes that is passing for leadership in the House.

Everything for them across there is laugh.

I want the Chief Secretary to answer about the eight point eight million dollars ($8.8m.) that was sent into a wrong account and then the account closed. Leadership must be accountable to the people.

Do not allow the Councillor to go away easy because she is singing you praise [Indicating clapping] because she is part of the Praise and Worship team. No! Hold her accountable, pull her over the coals publicly, pull her over the coals. I am a strong Leader. [Crosstalk] I am not a weak Leader, I am not a soft Leader. I am not a mmmm Leader, I am not a take it Leader. So I am saying to you, hold your people accountable, hold them accountable.

Sometimes I sit here and I worry about my brother Cunningham from Moriah/Mason Hall.

He has never been given the opportunity to be a

Secretary, never ever, ever, I am concerned about that. [Crosstalk] Always a junior always a junior.

Someone told me and I am asking the Chief Secretary to respond to that. Please, please give, please allow all of your colleagues to have a home some of them do not have homes. The first thing you have to ensure they have a home, they are working, they are qualified, ensure you take care of your people. [Crosstalk] [Laughter] I am concerned about that. Give them a home.

As I close my debate, I say to the people of Tobago, we may be outnumbered tonight but one thing we are clear about is the character of the people on that side. We are clear that the way forward would be through the polls and continue speaking out through us and we maintain that the Chief Secretary does not have the confidence of the Minority and certainly when his back is turned the majority speaks behind your back and they say, we do not have confidence.

Well I wait to see the vote and we will be calling for a vote by Division. We want all of them to place their name inside the record tonight and you will see. However, if you are out of Office I think you are a good man and I would take you into the PDP, I would take you in. [Laughter] [Crosstalk] I do not believe you are a bad man, honestly speaking all jokes aside, I do not believe the Chief Secretary is a bad man. [Laughter] You not competent you cannot handle your work, it is a little too much for you, you bite off more than you could chew and at that stage of your life, you want something a little bit more slow, slow. It is too fast, fast for you, it is too fast place. But if ever you lose your work tonight we will take you into the Public Services Association (PSA) or we could take you into the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) you have a choice, you have a choice into the Public Services Association (PSA) or into the THA. [Crosstalk] [Desk thumping] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I maintain and I say to them, the Motion is a valid one, it is a useful one and it is a true one we have no confidence in the Chief Secretary, Mr. Kelvin Charles.

I close, I give way.

CHIEF

SECRETARY

AND

SECRETARY

OF

EDUCATION,

INNOVATION AND ENERGY (Hon. Kelvin Charles): [Desk thumping] Thank you, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer. I invoke Standing Orders 43 (2).

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, let me begin by thanking my Colleagues for their unwavering, steadfast, unstinting and indeed their very loyal support. [Desk thumping] "It is indeed good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.” [Desk thumping] And I say to my Colleagues, and I quote Deuteronomy 31 (6) "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or terrified because of them; for the Lord Thy God goes with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you." [Desk thumping] [Laugher] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, this Motion provides an opportunity for us to give an account of our stewardship and indeed I am so happy that after one (1) year, I could have seen the level of maturity that was demonstrated here tonight. [Desk thumping] Loss of Confidence in the Chief Secretary of the Assembly (Cont’d)

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY (Cont’d)

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, after you spoke on the debate, I did not think that it was necessary for us to speak. Quite frankly! [Desk thumping] Not only was your presentation clinical, but you demonstrated a quickness of wit, it speaks to a perspicacity that certainly was absent [Desk thumping]

… from the other side. Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, before I proceed let me place on record, two (2) interactions I would have had with the Minority Leader before he became Minority Leader. I just thought that I should place it on records. I hope he learns, because I did tell him on the first occasion for him to keep his words, “soft and sweet” because he might just have to eat them. [Desk thumping] Let me remind him and let me advise this House of that incident.

I was the Presiding Officer in 2015, and the Minority Leader in his capacity as PSA (Public Services Association) did extend an invitation to me to attend this Christmas function which was held in Tobago at Fairfield Complex, and of course, I obliged. But I was not really sure that he really knew me, because when I got there he was there greeting persons who were attending. So I said, good night, I am Kelvin Charles. “Oh, you are the Kelvin Charles”. Well as we would say, to cut a long story short, we ended up sitting at the same table. If you hear mih boy. He is going to be the next Chief Secretary and he talking. At one time I said to him, “Be careful, keep your words, “soft and sweet” because you may just have to eat them. [Desk thumping] That is not all Mr. Presiding Officer. When it became clear that I was going to run for Office, we met at Piarco, and he came up to me and he said, “Weh yuh going?” I am prepared to make you Presiding Officer again,

all you have to do is to sign. Tell me you are ready I will just sign tonight. I will sign to that. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] I cannot believe he thinks it is my competence but when I sought to give guidance to this House, he would take a position that is anti that. But be that as it may, he made that attempt again, then I just smiled. Tonight he is once again trying to be magnimous, because he is of course looking for talent in his Party. I am saying through you Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, to the Minority Leader, “thanks” but “no thanks”. [Desk thumping] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I would be negligent however, if I did not place on record, the period under review in its proper perspective. Given the way that this debate has gone, I really do not propose to repeat many of the achievements and statements of my Colleagues, but for the record, let me state quite unambiguously that I have done what the Minority Leader has not done and would not do. I step down as Presiding Officer, in March, of 2016, made the ultimate sacrifice of not working or becoming unemployed for nine (9) months, because by then I had decided that the people of Tobago needed a, “Champion”. I challenged him, if he so cares about the people, let him do a similar thing. I gave up my job and ran for Office.

You know, it was not easy because I had to win two (2) Elections in the Party and then win the National Election in terms of the Tobago

community. So, I have demonstrated very forcefully, at a personal level the whole issue of industry; the whole issue of service; the whole issue of principle. Let me make the point. When I stepped down, I did so at the time I did because I did not want whatsoever to bring the Office of Presiding Officer into “odium and disrepute�. You know because we do not have to go far, we just have to look next door and we will see that the Presiding Officer was a Presiding Officer yesterday and a Member of the Senate on the Opposition side today. I made sure that I did not do that because I wanted to uphold the integrity of that Office. That speaks to a particular kind of attitude; one that puts country before self; one that puts Institutions before self. Recognizing as I did, that at the end of the day, it is strong Institutions that in fact make strong countries. [Desk thumping] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, they like to talk about excesses.

I

came to the Office of Presiding Officer with a vehicle that I bought, I spent three (3) years as Presiding Officer, and I left with that vehicle. I did not at any time make use of the facility that was given. We talk ambition, but you see how they demonstrate ambition, is a Mercedes Benz every other year, because it is people money. It is rental at No. 1 Woodbrook Place that is paid for by PSA money, thirty-five hundred United States dollars ($US3,500.00) a month. Ladies and Gentlemen, his rental for that place‌

MR. W. DUKE: The member is imputing improper motives. The PSA is not paying rent at No. 1 Woodbrook Place, that is clarity and also on a point of order.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Member would you continue please.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Thank you Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, but I say as much on that for now. But it is only to show the difference. Yes, where some are prepared to live modestly. You know Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, what it is said, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the gates of heaven”. They like to make the point over and over that I have not been defending Tobago’s cause, nothing can be further from the truth.

You see, there is a difference between

“fighting and fighting up”. [Desk thumping] [Laughter] But more importantly, as one who is about the island’s business, my focus is on problem solving and getting solutions.

My Colleagues did speak about some of them for example, the Quarry issue is a significant one.

The issue as well is the Waste Water Treatment Plant at South Western Tobago is another one.

When I came to Office, there was a stalemate

between Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and the Mt. Pleasant Credit

Union. My intervention and in two (2) meetings we would have broken an arrangement so that today, there is construction work in respect of that.

More importantly, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) funding we would have lost the opportunity to get a Waste Water Treatment Plant in Tobago if we did not broker that arrangement because there was a time limit for the drawdown on that loan. That is performance, performance beat old talk any day. [Desk thumping] Whilst they flams themselves and play to the theatre, I am quietly being about Tobagonians business. [Desk thumping] What they would like is for me to engage in a public battle with our colleagues at the level of the Central Government so they could say, “You see, watch they cannot not even agree, they are one but look how they fighting.” There are other ways to achieve the goals that we set ourselves.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, but just for the records again, I would have spoken on the issue of the seabridge a couple times.

When I

apologized

– as a matter of fact, I was apologizing and empathizing with the people of Tobago before even the Minister of Transport and the Prime Minister even when I did that they were not appreciative of that. They made all kinds of silly statements.

More importantly, at the Stakeholders Meeting on April 5 th – the Minority Leader was there - when we got to a point in the meeting – stalemate. I suggested a Committee comprising Members of the Business Community, Members of the THA and Members of the Port Authority and

so on. So that Committee could meet and thrash out their difficulties and differences. The idea being of course, that the Members of the Business Community would have been an integral part of the process, would have been intimate to all the conversations and therefore, would have been in a position to influence the outcome and the choices.

The Business Community rejected to that, inclusive of the Minority Leader.

In fact, the main spokesperson for the Business Community said,

“We have complete faith in the Minister.�

MR. W. DUKE: Aha? HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Yes, you ought to remember that.

MR. W. DUKE: Yes, yes.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Those were her words. Let him go and represent our views in the Cabinet.

We do not have the time to sit and talk

through this thing. I was seeking a solution then and I was seeking a solution that would have involved everyone at the table and the Minority Leader should have been able to appreciate that because he represents at one level, workers.

MR. W. DUKE: Eighty thousand (80,000).

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY:

He knows about negotiation for the

solution of certain problems but in that case, of course, you know, playing to the gallery and now they talking. If they had taken my suggestions seriously it is distinctly possible that things would have been different.

MR. W. DUKE: That is a weak suggestion.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: It is only weak because it did not come from him. [Laughter] Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I would wish to place on record once again, that when we took Office, this Administration, we had to work with six hundred million dollars ($600m.) less than the previous year – in 2017.

That is what we had to deal with.

In fact, it was six hundred and fifty

million dollars ($650m.) less because at the end of that Financial Year the Central Government still was owing us some money and the point that was made that we kept a commitment to maintain employment levels is not to be taken lightly you know.

In fact, the Minority Leader is a beneficiary of that. Let me tell you why, I am sure if you talk to your shadow Minister of Finance or your shadow Secretary of Finance he will show you the link.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, may I say, that I have no quarrel with the Member Farley, he knows that we have our differences but he knows we would have had very fruitful conversations. As a matter of fact, the Member would have complimented me once but I did not have time to look for it when I was Presiding Officer.

MR. W. DUKE: Presiding Officer was not a job.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: He talked about my capacity for innovation and bringing the Assembly Legislature out of the dark ages. But I could understand why he is saying what he is saying at this time.

MR. W. DUKE: Yes. HON. CHIEF SECRETRY:

But let me place on record, as I have said

several times, I am about the development of the Island of Tobago and wherever talent avails itself I shall use such talent. [Desk thumping] But let me make the point, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I do not know that all three (3) Members qualify. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] But as I was saying, Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, as we maintain employment levels, those who are Members of his Union who are able to keep their jobs are therefore able to continue paying their dues to the Union and therefore, there is then a predictable source of inflow to your Union to afford you the luxurious life that you continue to live. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] So you should be thanking me.

MR. W. DUKE: Alright, thank you. [Applause] MEMBERS: [Laughter] HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: It is so good when the Minority Leader can be magnanimous. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] MR. W. DUKE: Let me hear about the Eight point eight million ($8.8m.) now.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: The thing about that I would deal with that in another way, I was not ready for that but since he raised it, let me demonstrate that I could respond.

MR. W. DUKE: Yes. HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: What that speaks to is the whole issue of accountability and I have made the point on more than one occasions that accountability is not only for the Politicians, accountability must run through every facet of Tobago at every level. So you are being paid to do a work, you do it properly and you must be accountable for the results. Therefore, we all know, no Secretary, no Chief Secretary, signs a cheque. No Secretary, or Chief Secretary would have been involved in the processing of the information; the pre-invoices etcetera that would have led to that.

Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, as we know, whilst they felt that I would not have acted and whilst their friends were on facebook saying that my process was botched, the records will show that I did the right thing because as we stand now the matter being where it is the Public Service Commission has taken action and indeed they have set up their investigative machinery over which I have absolutely no control.

That point must be

made so that the pseudo Industrial Relations and legal experts have all been proven wrong, and may I say, that they were trying to bait me you know? “The Chief Secretary must say something about this, the Chief Secretary must come out and talk about that.� But you see when I was a teenager I used to take basket. [Laughter] MR. W. DUKE: You still taking basket.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: But as I grew up I recognize that it does not hold water.

This was filed on November 23rd, 2017. Would you believe that Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer?

[Crosstalk]

The Defendant contravened the

Occupational, Safety and Health (OSHA) Act by its repeated failure to comply with the improvement notice dated and this is the leadership that we are espousing.

I have said on divers occasions that there is a contradiction many times between the theories we espouse and the theories that are in use for some of us - contradictions. We must be consistent.

So if we think that

something is not good for others we must make sure that we are beyond and above reproach. We must never be waved in the balance and found wanting.

[Desk thumping] The Defendant - among the complaints failed to obtain a Fire Certification from the Fire Authority in the manner prescribed.

The

Defendant failed to so far as is reasonable practicable to maintain his place of work in a condition that is safe and without risk to health and provide and maintain the means of access to and from. [Interruption] MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Is the member wrapping up?

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: No, I do have another ten (10) minutes you know.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER:

No, not according to the

Standing Orders.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Read it for me. A Member who is speaking has thirty (30) minutes. I am asking for guidance. [Crosstalk] MR. W. DUKE:

You should not even have a conversation with the

Presiding Officer.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: According to Standing Orders 50 (3): "In their reply to debate on a motion, the Secretary or Assistant Secretary for the subject area shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes and

the mover of the original motion shall be limited to forty (40) minutes, save that no limit shall be placed upon the Secretary presenting the Annual Estimates and the Minority member making the initial

response

to the presentation."

So, based on this, your thirty (30) minutes has expired. According to Part (2). Of course, in the usual course of a Debate it speaks to: "Subject to the preceding paragraph of this Standing Orders, a member shall not be entitled to address the Assembly of Committee or the whole Assembly for more than thirty (30) minutes on any subject, except that the Assembly or the Committee may by motion made and carried without amendment or debate, extend once only the time

limited by this Standing Order for such period not exceeding ten (10) minutes ...

According to 50 (3) when it speaks about in replying to the Debate the Standing Orders here says nothing about extending the time when it comes to reply.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Mr. Deputy Presiding Officer, I would abide by your ruling so I will take my one minute to close and wind up.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Yes, please.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: I say to the people of Tobago consistent with our vision we remain on track. We are not turning back. [Desk thumping] Do not follow those who really have nothing to say. It is clear unambiguously clear that they have lost their way. [Desk thumping] So let us go further together, holding hands as we build our future.

[Desk

thumping] I want to end by quoting Mark Twain: "Beginning of a change the Patriots is a scarce man and brave and hated and scorned. When his scores succeeds the timid joined him for then it cost nothing to be a Patriot."

Finally: "Blessed is the one who persevere under trial because having stood the

test that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who loved him."

I thank you. [Desk thumping] Question put.

Motion negatived.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Division. [Crosstalk] MR. F. AUGUSTINE: Division MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: We will have a division of votes at this time.

The House divided: AYES: 3 NOES: 12 ABSENTEEISMS: 0

AYES: Augustine, Mr. F. Duke, Mr. W. Yisrael, Dr. F. B. NOES: Des Vignes, Hon. K. Charles, Hon. K. Jack, Hon. J. Stewart-Phillips, Hon. N. Spencer, Hon. H. Pitt, Hon. J. Melville-Jack, Hon. M.

ABSTENTIONS: 0

Jacob, Hon. C. Carrington, Hon. Dr. A. Cunningham, Mr. S. Osmond, Ms. M. Hector, Mr. S. MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Clerk of the Assembly.

HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: One is in the Chair.

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: Standing Order 48.

CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY: Member for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant (Mr. Ancil Dennis).

MR. DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER: (Member for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant): “No.” So, Members the results are 13 voted against the motion and 3 voted for it. Therefore the Motion has been defeated.

Motion negatived.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made: That this House do now adjourn to a date to be fixed.

[Hon. K. Des Vignes]

Question put and agreed to.

House adjourned accordingly.

Adjourned at 10.01 p.m.