PM: I never said Tobago self-government bill would be withdrawn

THE PRIME Minister has denied saying the Tobago self-government bill would be withdrawn.

He was responding to a prime minister's question in the House Friday from Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial on whether the bill will be placed on the Government's legislative agenda prior to the dissolution of the Parliament in September given statements reported in the media.

In a newspaper column on Thursday (published by another newspaper) political analyst Dr Winford James had said in an interview on Tobago Channel 5 Dr Rowley announced that he would not be taking the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2018 back to Parliament because he does not have the requisite majority of seats in Parliament to get it passed. He also said the Prime Minister was being "shamelessly authoritarian" and he did not explain to the nation why he had abandoned the bill.

On Friday Rowley replied: "This is a most amazing question. And I, like my colleague from Couva North, am a little taken aback by the article written by schoolmate Winford James. And I am also even more amazed that a member of Parliament could be asking me in this House about a bill that is on the agenda, whether it is part of the Government's legislative agenda.

"If it was not part of the Government's legislative agenda how did it get to the Parliament and get to a Joint Select Committee (JSC)...which is functioning."

Rowley pointed that in the article James said that he (Rowley) said that the matter would be withdrawn by him.

"I have said no such thing."

He stressed that because the bill was on the Government's agenda why it was in Parliament.

"And I will go further - it is because the party that I lead is the only party at convention that has committed itself to further internal self-government for Tobago. We are the only party at convention that put the issue by resolution and said and did what we have done to bring it to a JSC...which is now under process.

"So I don't know where that question is coming from from kindergarten in the Parliament."

Ramdial said the Prime Minister was very sensitive over the issue. She then asked if when the bill is brought to Parliament for the second reading whether he was prepared to remove the special majority requirement to give Tobago self-government.

Rowley replied: "This is getting more ridiculous by the minute. It's a statement of fact – 23 votes in this Parliament cannot change the Constitution in that way. And as a member of the committee the member has a responsibility to stop confusing the public."

He said that it would require a majority larger than what this Government has to do so.