PNM 'uncomfortable' with mediation on THA power-sharing negotiations

The People’s National Movement’s (PNM’s) Tobago Council says it is “uncomfortable” with the Progressive Democratic Patriots' (PDP’s) proposal to invite independent mediators to preside over power-sharing negotiations in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

The PDP made the request in a statement on Thursday, a day after talks between the two parties broke down.

The parties met again at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, on Wednesday in an attempt to thrash out an agreement to manage the affairs of the island until a solution to the six-six deadlock is reached.

But after the meeting, PDP political leader Watson Duke and Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine gave different accounts of what transpired during the deliberations.

Duke, who accused the PNM of conducting the negotiations in bad faith, claimed Davidson-Celestine had presented a document calling on them to provide resumes of their possible nominees for four secretarial positions in the THA.

He regarded this as disrespectful and said the party felt humiliated.

Duke claimed Davidson-Celestine had also asked the PDP to apologise to the PNM for statements it had made about the party in the run up to the January 25 THA election.

The PDP had called for follow-up talks with the PNM assemblymen on Monday.

Davidson-Celestine, in her response on Wednesday, accused the PDP of telling untruths.

She claimed she had never requested they supply resumes of the potential nominees for secretarial positions.

Davidson-Celestine said, though, both parties agreed the PNM would present its nominees for chief secretary and presiding officer while the PDP would supply its nominee for deputy presiding officer to resume the assembly’s legislative work.

But there was some disagreement on the assigning of councillors.

In a statement on Saturday, the PNM’s Tobago Council quoted Davidson-Celestine as saying both parties must find a workable solution to the impasse without the involvement of mediators.

“We need to set aside personalities, egos and personal political ambitions if we are to find a workable solution. This calls for a level of maturity, humility and understanding that Tobago expects from its political leaders.”

She added: “The Tobago PNM is, therefore, uncomfortable with the proposal to utilise mediators at this time, in our efforts to resolve the impasse. If we send the signal that we cannot resolve this impasse on our own initiative, we could be hard-pressed to convince that Tobago public that we will be able to engender the level and quality of collaboration that will prevent the administration from descending into chaos after any ‘arrangement.’”