[UPDATED] PNM's Dennis: Farley must go over Cepep firings

People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago council political leader Ancil Dennis is renewing his call for the resignation of THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Secretary of Education, Research and Technology Zorisha Hackett.

Dennis was speaking to the media during a protest at James Park in Scarborough hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Tobago, which also called on Augustine and Hackett to go.

The protest took place before the start of the 2023/2024 budget presentation at the THA Assembly Legislature.

“As leader of the People’s National Movement in Tobago, I am in support of this action calling for the resignation of the chief secretary and the secretary of education,” Dennis said.

“It is not usual that the PNM in Tobago would support this kind of action...

"We saw very early in the term of office of this administration, they started off firing – as their first order of business – Cepep workers, workers in the Community Partnership Unit, labelling them as political hires – unfairly so.

"Many of them would have gone through the usual recruitment process of submitting themselves to an interview, of course, after applying for the job, getting appointed or contracted in these positions – and then the chief secretary, based on his own information, from wherever he got it, labelled these persons as political hires and dismissed them.

He said the THA had dismissed over 200 people.

He said there was no protest then, but then it was seen that the entire development allocation to the Assembly was "shipped away" to Trinidad.

“Fifty-four million dollars – a road in Pigeon Point given to a Trinidad contractor, who at this time is still not registered as a contractor with the Tobago House of Assembly, that as of now has zero experience in road development in this country...had he built that road, at least he would have had that first experience but that road has not even started. Twenty-five million dollars up at Lammy Road (Argyle), $20 million at Dutch Fort and most recently $64 million at Friendship and all of these massive projects have been given to Trinidad contractors. All while the Tobago contractors who have existed in Tobago for beyond ten years, building up their capacity, building up their experience – all of them have been sidelined. They have not been receiving their payments.”

He said there is the belief that contractors should have asked the previous administration for their payment but said under the PNM it ensured that contractors received timely payments, noting that most of projects that are outstanding for payments were during the period 2020 and 2021.

“Of course, it was impossible for the previous administration to settle those debts.”

On the audit report which the chief secretary has said has been sent to the police, Dennis said the audit is nothing but “a devious, malicious act designed to simply sideline the Tobago contractors."

"And not just sideline but I get the feeling that there is an intent to destroy homegrown Tobago contractors to pave the way for their friends from Trinidad.”

He said if there is an audit, the findings should be submitted to the relevant authorities, “and let the chips falls where they may.”

“I find it strange that in all the allegations of corruption against the PNM, not one finger is being pointed at any PNM politician here in Tobago. So submit your audit, as bogus as I believe it is – submit it to the TTPS but be careful in submitting that audit that they don’t keep you for questioning concerning audiogate.”

He said the PNM remained concerned about the leak of recordings of a discussion among THA officials on a propaganda campaign which he felt amounts to misbehaviour in public office. "That is corruption.” Police and the Integrity Commission are investigating the audio-recording matter.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago council political leader Ancil Dennis is renewing his call for the resignation of THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Secretary of Education, Research and Technology Zorisha Hackett.

Dennis was speaking to the media during a protest at James Park in Scarborough hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Tobago, which also called on Augustine and Hackett to go.

The protest took place before the start of the 2023/2024 budget presentation at the THA Assembly Legislature.

“As leader of the People’s National Movement in Tobago, I am in support of this action calling for the resignation of the chief secretary and the secretary of education,” Dennis said.

“It is not usual that the PNM in Tobago would support this kind of action...

"We saw very early in the term of office of this administration, they started off firing – as their first order of business – Cepep workers, workers in the Community Partnership Unit, labelling them as political hires – unfairly so.

"Many of them would have gone through the usual recruitment process of submitting themselves to an interview, of course, after applying for the job, getting appointed or contracted in these positions – and then the chief secretary, based on his own information, from wherever he got it, labelled these persons as political hires and dismissed them.

He said the THA had dismissed over 200 people.