[UPDATED] PDP leader backs down from Farley's challenge – DUKE QUITS THA POST

PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has resigned, with immediate effect, as deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

He revealed this during a press conference on Thursday at the PDP's Trinidad head-office in Barataria. Duke said he will remain the assemblyman for Roxborough/Argyle.

This is the latest twist in a week-long saga between Duke and Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, which began with the former criticising the assembly, in a social media video, for abandoning a group of Tobagonians in New York. Augustine denied this, saying the THA funded the group's airline tickets and other expenses.

Speaking on Thursday, Duke said he does not want to fight Augustine – whom he fired earlier this week as PDP deputy political leader. In fact, Duke fired all three of the party's deputy leaders.

On Tuesday, Augustine publicly challenged Duke to move a no-confidence motion against him when next the assembly sits. Duke's resignation is being seen by some, as him backing down in the face of this public challenge by the THA head.

“You want to be one boss, one chief, one leader? Go ahead! I hope you can deliver on your mandate because we will hold you accountable. Farley's behaviour is not new. I knew who he was in the very beginning, he has not surprised me,” Duke said.

TOBAGO

BETRAYED

Duke insisted he would not be muted on matters important to Tobagonians.

Following Duke's video last week condemning the THA for abandoning the Tobago group, Augustine announced that the deputy Chief Secretary's position in the THA would be under review.

In response to this, Duke warned Augustine that there would be repercussions for challenging the PDP founder and political leader.

At the press conference on Thursday, Duke accused the THA members of betraying Tobagonians and using the PDP to get hold of power.

“We promised Tobagonians we would put them first, because they were tired of politicians putting them last. I’m leaving him to run his executive, I don’t care about money or position, I care about the people.

“I will not be a part of an executive run by a child and his friends who do not know how to serve. You want to be big? Form your own company, run your own things," Duke said.

"I will sit on the opposite side (in the assembly) but I will not sit with the PNM either. It will be Watson Duke of the PDP representing the people, and Farley and friends on the other side.

"When Watson Duke moves away, he carries the PDP with him. Wherever I am, there is the PDP. It is owned by me. There was no group when I started under a street light."

READY FOR

A NEW FIGHT

In his resignation letter addressed to Augustine, which was posted to social media, the PDP leader said: "I will not accept your invitation to fight for such or any position.

"I wish to remind you (that) I gave you the authority to become chief secretary and now I remove myself to ensure that the voice of the PDP will be heard.

"As you are aware, democracy and transparency have always been part of my political philosophy. I have seen first-hand that you choose to fight against me rather than fight for our people. I have lost all confidence in you."

Duke said he decided to remove himself from the THA executive because, “I fought for Tobago and we won, I put it in the hands of a child and he messed things up. I will hold him accountable."

Going forward, apart from representing Roxborough/Argyle, Duke said he will commit himself to a new fight which will happen from Port of Spain. This fight, Duke added, is against the PNM and the battleground will be the local government elections.

Duke also claimed on Thursday that plans are already in place for Health, Wellness and Social Protection Secretary, Dr Faith B.Yisrael, to be appointed as deputy Chief Secretary.

B.Yisrael could not be reached for comment.

When contacted for comment on Duke's resignation, Augustine told Newsday he would not respond at this point in time.

PDP chairman Sean Nedd said he will say more on the issue after having discussions with the party's executive.

"I would feel more comfortable then, to give a statement that is clear," Nedd said.

This story was originally published with the title "Duke resigns from THA post" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A prolonged power struggle between Democratic Progressive Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke and Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine took a shocking twist on Thursday.

Duke, the party’s leader, announced he has resigned as deputy Chief Secretary of the THA.

At a press conference at the party’s Barataria office on Thursday morning, Duke pledged not to fight Augustine.

“You want to be one boss, one chief, one leader – go ahead. I hope you can deliver on your mandate, because we will hold you accountable."

His resignation came two days after Augustine challenged Duke to bring a motion of no confidence against him in the THA.

Contacted for a comment on Augustine’s challenge later that day, Duke told Newsday he had “no interest.”

But on Thursday he broke his silence, saying he would not be muted on matters that are important to Tobagonians.

The spat between the two men started after Augustine announced at a post-Executive media briefing last Thursday that Duke’s position in the THA would be under review.

Duke had publicly condemned his colleagues for allegedly leaving a group of Tobagonian performers stranded in New York.

In response to Augustine's announcement, Duke warned of the repercussions of challenging him as PDP founder and political leader.

At the press conference on Thursday Duke further accused his THA colleagues of betraying Tobagonians and using the party to get hold of the THA.

He said, “We promised Tobagonians we would put them first because they were tired of politicians putting them last.

“I will not be a part of an executive run by a child and his friends that do not know how to serve. You want to be big, be big –but do not abuse public funds," Duke warned Augustine.

"I will sit on the opposite side – but I will not sit with the PNM. It will be Watson Duke representing the people, and Farley and friends on the other side...

"When Watson Duke moves away, he carries the PDP with him. Wherever I am is the PDP. It is owned by me. There was no group when I started, under the streetlight."