PDP: Tobago needs substantive leader

KINNESHA GEORGE-HARRY

DEPUTY Political Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), Farley Augustine, says that in the height of the covid29 pandemic, Tobago needs a full and substantive leader to chart the island’s course in these uncertain times.

In wishing Kelvin Charles – who quit as Chief Secretary on Thursday – all the best, Augustine said during a virtual news conference that Charles’ departure “obviously creates a gap.”

“The THA Act provides for the Deputy Chief Secretary to act as Chief Secretary until such time that the house meets and elects a new Chief Secretary,” he said. However, for the sake of the economy, Tobago needs to have a confirmed leadership in place immediately.

“You look around the world at this time, no country at this time is being run or managed by an acting leader or a deputy leader. While a deputy is essential, we need a confirmed leader of the Executive,” he said.

A week ago, Augustine called on the Executive Council of the PNM’s Tobago Council to say who they plan to nominate as Tobago’s next leader. Augustine described as “a colossal embarrassment” the fact that an announcement is yet to be made over who will replace Charles.

“Is not because I fast and nosy. This matter is no longer a PNM matter, this matter is a Tobago matter. A Chief Secretary has resigned as a result of their (the PNM) internal wrangling, so this is no longer a party business...this is a Tobago people’s business. So, Tobagonians are asking for leadership because psychologically, they want a sense of firm leadership,” he said.

On Wednesday, the PNM in a press release gave the reassurance that all is well within the party. A day later, when Charles demitted office, there was silence over who would take over.

Responding to the PNM’s Wednesday release, Augustine said: “Good for them, sometimes, you have to speak good into your own soul and hopefully it would happen, so good for them. We require strong leadership and that leadership of course is absent, absent because we have one woman trying to be the de facto leader while having a de jure leader in place. That is not fair to the Tobago public and the THA,” he said.

Asked if he was pleased with Charles’ leadership during his three-year tenure as Chief Secretary, Augustine said: “That’s asking me to look for a needle in a haystack.” Augustine said wishing Charles all the best would be the humane thing to do at this time.

“Let me say, I wish Mr Charles the very best, I pray that his future endeavours would be much more successful than his endeavour into politics. I pray for him and his family and I wish him all the very best as he moves on with his life. All the very best Mr Charles and I hope that life after politics treats you better than life in politics.”