[UPDATED] Show me your motion: Chief Sec dares Duke to bring no-confidence vote

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during his budget presentation at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough in June. FILE PHOTO/THA
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during his budget presentation at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough in June. FILE PHOTO/THA

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has dared Deputy Chief Secretary Watson Duke to bring a motion of no confidence against him at the next sitting of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) on September 22. But Augustine warned Duke that if the motion fails, he will demand Duke's immediate removal.

Augustine was speaking on Tuesday on 195.5FM, six days after Duke, the political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), began publicly criticising the PDP-run THA and Augustine's leadership.

The public feud began after Duke slammed the THA for "neglecting" 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers by leaving them "hungry" and allegedly sleeping on the streets in New York.

Augustine has denied Duke's version of events and promised to review his responsibilities as Deputy Chief Secretary.

On Tuesday, Augustine said he could not understand why Duke felt compelled to publicly criticise the assembly of which he is part.

However, he said he welcomed the challenge to his leadership and if a motion of no confidence is brought against him, all 15 assemblymen would be allowed to vote freely.

“I wish to also go out on a limb here and take a position that some may have advised me not to take.

"The House resumes on the 22nd of September, and so there are a few hours from two days or so before a motion has to be entered for debate, and if the Deputy Chief Secretary feels so aggrieved, feels so disappointed in my leadership – I would remove the parliamentary whip from over his head and let him enter a motion of no confidence in me.

"I am giving him full privilege to do so. Let him go right ahead. Mr Duke, go right ahead." But if he enters it and it is unsuccessful, I will demand his removal immediately.”

Asked about Duke removing him as a deputy leader of the PDP. Augustine was unfazed.

“I have chosen silence as a response to the flatulent noises that we have been hearing every day coming from live videos. That is because the THA, although its act and its legislation (are) efficient in many ways, one of the beauties of the THA Act, as it is designed by ANR Robinson and others, Act 40 of 1996...insulates completely the functioning of the THA, the Government, even the Minority and the operations of the THA legislation, from any political party."

Augustine said last Thursday, when he was removed as PDP deputy, he immediately thanked the PDP executive and left the meeting.

"I did not wait for commentary, I did not make an argument, I did not make a case."

He denied being part of any "power struggle" within the PDP.

Duke, he said, was "perhaps struggling with a ghost, not with Farley."

Farley: Duke will get fair hearing

On his promise to review Duke's portfolio, Augustine said he had spoken to the other assemblymen but is yet to receive an audience with Duke.

“There are 13 of us outside of Mr Duke. We all have had conversations.

"The reasons why I have not come back to the public on that issue is because we’ve not had the benefit of having Mr Duke present at one of our meetings – given he was absent – to be able to respond to our concerns. I am a fella who believes in natural justice, I want to give him that.”

He said another virtual executive council meeting was planned for Wednesday, and Duke will be invited as usual.

“I am certain that the country would know what the position of the government (THA) would be. One would appreciate that it won’t just be Farley’s position, but it would be the position of the government of Tobago.”

He said what was paramount was ensuring the stability and that the operations of the THA continued unaffected.

“People can disagree, but the challenge I have with Mr Duke’s posturing is that that with which Mr Duke is disagreeing...he is a part of. He is a member of the executive, so it's more than passing strange that he would take this public position, as if he is not a member of the team.”

Contacted on the latest development, PNM Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis and Minority Leader Kelvon Morris declined comment. Efforts to contact PDP assemblymen Dr Faith B.Yisrael (Belle Garden/Glamorgan), Terance Baynes (Bethel/New Grange), Zorisha Hackett (Bethesda/Les Coteaux), Joel Sampson (Bon Accord/Crown Point), Sonny Craig (Buccoo/Mt Pleasant), Wane Clarke (Lambeau/Lowlands), Ian Pollard (Mason Hall/Moriah), Nathisha Charles-Pantin (Bagatelle/Bacolet), Megan Morrison (Mt St George/Goodwood), Niall George (Plymouth/Black Rock), Trevor James (Scarborough/Mt Grace), and Nigel Taitt (Signal Hill/Patience Hill) proved futile as calls and messages were not answered.

This story was originally published with the title "Chief Sec dares Duke to bring no-confidence motion" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has dared Deputy Chief Secretary Watson Duke to bring a motion of no confidence against him at the next sitting of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) on September 22. But Augustine warned Duke that if the motion fails, he will demand his immediate removal.

Augustine was speaking on Tuesday on 195.5FM, six days after Duke, the political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), began publicly criticising the PDP-led THA and Augustine's leadership.

The public feud began after Duke slammed the THA for "neglecting" and leaving 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers "hungry" and allegedly sleeping on the streets in New York.

Augustine has denied Duke's version of what transpired and promised to review his responsibilities as Deputy Chief Secretary.

Duke later removed Augustine as deputy leader of the PDP.

On Tuesday, Augustine said he could not understand why Duke felt compelled to publicly criticise the assembly he is part of.

However, he said he welcomed the challenge to his leadership and if a motion of no confidence is brought against him, PDP assemblymen would be allowed to vote freely.

“I wish to also go out on a limb here and take a position that some may have advised me not to take.

"The House resumes on the 22nd of September and so there are a few hours from two days or so before a motion has to be entered for debate, and if the Deputy Chief Secretary feels so aggrieved, feels so disappointed in my leadership – I would remove the parliamentary whip from over his head and let him enter a motion of no confidence in me.

"I am giving him full privilege to do so, let him go right ahead. Mr Duke, go right ahead. But if he enters it and it is unsuccessful, I will demand his removal immediately.”

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"[UPDATED] Show me your motion: Chief Sec dares Duke to bring no-confidence vote"

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