Overhaul THA to ‘fix’ Tobago

THE EDITOR: The suggestion that Tobago should be given greater autonomy is one that is illogical, politically divisive and a threat to the integrity of our republic. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are or ought to be seen as “Trinibagonians.”

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a single country. Do we hear people from Bimini saying they are Bimini-born? The Bahamian Parliament passed the Local Government Act to facilitate the establishment of family island administrators, local government districts, local district councillors and local town committees for the various island communities.

This act allows the various elected leaders to govern and oversee the affairs of their respective districts without the interference of central government. So back to my question: who is a Tobagonian and who is Trinidadian? If as a single State we begin to ascribe exclusive “rights” to separate regions, then we end in fragmentation.

In my respectful view, the behaviour of MP Ayanna Webster-Roy speaks eloquently to the absurdity of our existing constitutional arrangements. Webster-Roy’s role as a representative of half the people of Tobago conflicts starkly with her role as a PNM minister. Her outburst demonstrates that what Tobago wants may not necessarily gel with what the PNM wants. But that dissonance applies to every constituency in both islands and that situation needs to change. While Tobago’s economy is in tatters, she has a collective responsibility to the central government which cares little for the concerns of Tobagonians. Simply put, Tobago’s voice is restricted to the THA, a body that has no power in Parliament. If the PNM says Tobago is not suffering she has to agree. The PNM loves the first-past-the-post system since the winner takes all and the devil takes the hindmost. It is for that reason that Tobago has just two constituencies and people vote for “party” in a system steeped in emotive tribal politics.

The political arrangement is nonsensical, but it suits the PNM which relishes a “maximum leader” and to hell with everyone else. The system is rigged to render the needs of Tobagonians, and indeed people in all constituencies, subservient to the central government’s rule by fiat. Of what use is a THA, or a municipal body, that debates Tobago or municipal issues in Tobago or the municipality but has no means of effective representation in the Parliament? In both instances, each entity has to go cap-in-hand to someone obedient to the head honcho.

The ferry issue eminently demonstrates this. The THA may find an excellent solution to the problem, but it cannot even articulate, far more implement, one. Both Tobago constituencies belong to the PNM, and as long as the system remains organised as it is, Tobago will have no voice.

The previous government had contrived a mechanism to give greater weight to Tobago regarding the representation of its needs, but it met with irrational antagonism by the PNM. It said Tobago could see about itself, it doesn’t need a Minister of Tobago Affairs.” Tobagonians fell prey to ethnic bigotry inspired by “their people,” and so extinguished a novel mechanism designed to voice their concerns to Parliament where it matters.

Lofty debates in the THA are but sound and fury, signifying little. The system needs an overhaul – not just in Tobago but everywhere. Trying to “fix” Tobago while keeping the absurd constitutional status quo is a recipe for disaster.

STEVE SMITH via e-mail