Dennis: PDP's ‘executive council’ about political relevance, not accountability

Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis says the Progressive Democratic Patriot’s (PDP’s) decision to establish an alternative executive council within the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is not about accountability but political relevance.

On Friday, PDP deputy political leader Farley Augustine announced the party’s establishment of an alternative executive council to serve the needs of Tobagonians until a solution to the six-six deadlock in the THA is reached.

Augustine said the alternative council, which is expected to begin its work on Monday, will focus largely on community-based initiatives.

He added it will rely on the skills and resources of people in communities with support from the island’s corporate and civil society sectors.

Augustine also said the alternative council, “will keep checks and balances on the holdover executive that has been operating without prudent restraint.”

In a WhatsApp voice note on Sunday, Dennis said the PDP did not need to establish a shadow executive council to facilitate community-based initiatives.

“I want to also suggest that this is not about accountability, but it is really about political relevance.”

Dennis recalled that as an assemblyman without an executive council portfolio in the past, he undertook a number of community-based projects.

“So, it is safe to say that their roles and responsibilities as assemblymen in their various districts already allow them to undertake community-based initiatives.

“So, it is really a part of the responsibility of an assemblyman, and all of them are assemblymen already administered the oath of office by the President and are already being paid as such.”

But Dennis made it clear, the PDP, through its alternative council, cannot assist in making the THA accountable to the people.

He said the existing council continues to report to the people, even in the absence of a fully constituted THA.

Dennis said there are rules and regulations within the public service to govern how public money is spent.

He said every division has an accounting officer, who is responsible for the public purse.

“So, accountability systems are in place. We continue to facilitate that as an executive council. We continue to respect the rule of law and we continue to discharge our responsibilities even in these unique times and circumstances in accordance with the laws of TT.”

Dennis told Tobagonians there is only one executive council of the THA that is duty bound to run the affairs of this island, until a new executive is appointed.

Saying a shadow executive council is not a new concept, Dennis said it exists in many other jurisdictions utilising the Westminister form of Government.

He said even with other forms of Government, there are members of the Opposition party or Opposition in the Parliament who will assume roles and responsibilities for the various areas of responsibility.

“They will act as spokespersons for the Opposition on issues within their respective responsibilities. So, it is not a new concept.”