Who's the boss?

The stunning media silence that followed the resignation of Kelvin Charles on the question of succession is an astonishing turn of events that brought to a close the puzzling final months in office of former Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles.

Charles faced Tracy Davidson-Celestine in a run-off vote for the leadership of the PNM Tobago Council in January, a repeat of an earlier joust for leadership in 2016.

An admirably confident Davidson-Celestine announced that she would give up her role as ambassador to Costa Rica after winning in the days before the election. Davidson-Celestine did so and was appointed a councillor in the THA effective March 1. She is the newest of the 12 appointed representatives who are expected to govern Tobago with some degree of independence, legislatively, from Trinidad.

After the win, Charles' position as THA Chief Secretary became untenable, but he would not demit office, even after the intervention of Prime Minister and PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley in the scrappy circumstances of the election's end.

Charles initially declared that he would remain as Chief Secretary until his term ended in 2021, but after a party meeting, revised that position. Charles then announced his resignation at the end of April and kept that promise. Deputy Chief Secretary Joel Jack will act as Chief Secretary until the assembly chooses new leadership.

Charles continues to serve Tobago as the Assemblyman for Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden, but, according to newly-appointed Health, Wellness and Family Development Secretary Davidson-Celestine, lost his post as Secretary for Education, Innovation and Energy after resigning.

It's an unsettling time for such a major change, and whoever is appointed by vote among the assemblymen of the THA will face robust challenges in steering Tobago through the restrictions required by the covid19 lockdown. The island – at an economic standstill since March – has spent $53 million to strengthen its medical response to covid19 on the island, which has experienced five cases diagnosed and one death, but must stand ready to manage any surges that occur.

Trinidad has pledged support for any growth in patients, with CMO Dr Roshan Parasram outlining procedures for transport and management of cases via Coast Guard vessels should the need arise.

The next steps of the THA, dominated by the PNM with just two PDP assemblymen, are critical. Tobago has traditionally been unresponsive to any indications that its House of Assembly is being guided politically by the central government. The Democratic Action Congress led by ANR Robinson controlled the THA between 1980 and 1996.

The PNM has maintained a majority presence since 2001 and will only continue to do so if Tobago's leadership remains independent and focused on the island's welfare.