PNM Tobago still discussing PDP's power-sharing proposal

The People's National Movement is still considering the Progressive Democratic Patriots' proposal to share power in the Tobago House of Assembly.

This follows a meeting last Wednesday between the 12 elected assemblymen and the Prime Minister at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Lowlands, to discuss the management of the island's affairs until a solution is reached to end the deadlock in the assembly.

At the meeting, the PDP said it was willing to give the PNM the positions of Chief Secretary and Presiding Officer, while it would take the portfolios of Deputy Chief Secretary, Secretary of Finance and two out of the three councillors allocated to the executive. The remaining secretarial positions would be split down the middle.

The PNM asked for the proposal in writing and said, once received, it would respond in a week.

PNM Tobago Council chairman Stanford Callender told Newsday the party's executive met on Monday and a special Tobago Council meeting has been planned for Wednesday at the Hope Multipurpose Facility The meeting is expected to begin at 4pm. Callender said after the meeting, the party will issue a media release that same day or on Thursday to announce its position.

Last week, attorney and Tobago Chamber president Martin George said any type of power-sharing arrangement would be illegal because the THA Act does not cater for it. He also believes the adversarial nature of TT's politics would not facilitate smooth relations between the two parties if such a system is implemented.

But political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath believes power-sharing in the assembly could work in the best interest of Tobago if both parties are committed.

Dr Rowley said on Friday the law must be followed to find a solution to the impasse, and nothing could be achieved or operated outside the provisions of the law.

Rowley said this was one of the reasons why he sought legal advice, "because all of the issues here have a legal construct and are to be addressed within the confines of the law."

On March 2, the Senate passed the Tobago House of Assembly Amendment Bill 2021 to increase from 12 to 15 the number of electoral districts on the island, to eliminate the likelihood of a tie in future THA elections. The bill also seeks to give the Chief Secretary the power to call a fresh election even amid a six-six deadlock.

The legislation was passed in the House of Representatives on February 19 without Opposition support.