FORGET Kimye, it appears the breakup of the decade is taking place on the shores of Tobago. Where T&T’s once favorite bromance between Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine aka Fartson appears to have completely disintegrated.
Months of bickering have resulted in Augustine leaving Duke for good and taking with him the house and kids.
On Monday Augustine, along with 18 members of the THA, submitted their resignation from the PDP effective December 1. Oh snap! This sneaky move has essentially locked Duke out of the THA.
As it is Augustine and company are now considered independent candidates, and whether that will hold up legally or constitutionally is up for debate. But we all know in a matter of days a new party will be formed and it will be a swift kick for Duke.
How did Fartson get here? Just the other day they were zipping each other into wetsuits and going on to achieve what many thought was unachievable – defeating the People’s National Movement and becoming the leaders of the THA.
Sadly, not all relationships can bear the weight of success and the spotlight. Things went sour over a cultural groups trip to Brooklyn, when Duke chose to publicly criticise Augustine. There were a lot of back-and-forth allegations and Duke left the THA.
The only thing holding them together was the PDP and whether Duke wants to admit it or not Augustine was an asset to the party, especially with his influence in Tobago.
This isn’t the first time Duke has been involved in a messy public breakup.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we. In the late 2000’s Duke had a dream to lead the PSA, which had been under the reins of Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for years. He wasn’t as flashy then as he is now. He wore baggy suits and scuffed shoes, but damn he was charismatic. He also had a loyal partner, Oral Saunders, who helped propel Duke to leader of the PSA.
When they first took office, Duke and Saunders seemed to be on the same page. They were fighting the proposed Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority and tackling salary negotiations with the Chief Personnel Officer. Together they seemed unstoppable until I think Duke discovered he was the Cher in the relationship and Saunders was Sonny. At the same time Saunders began disagreeing with some of Duke’s decisions and behaviours.
It didn’t take long before Duke turned on Saunders and kicked him to the curb. Saunders wasn’t alone, over the course of a year or two, more and more members of Duke’s original slate were either fired or left on their own accord stating Duke as the source of conflict.
Farley Augustine
Notice a pattern.
If you look at Duke’s track record it’s apparent, he doesn’t play well with others. He’s the superstar and isn’t too keen on sharing the spotlight.
Unfortunately for Duke, if you want to be in politics, you must be somewhat of a team player.
What Duke doesn’t realise is that it isn’t about him. Every scandal and falling out that has taken place involving him in the PSA and PDP, has weakened the associations and cast public doubt on Duke’s ability to lead.
Augustine was Duke’s ticket into Tobago. Duke was the mouthpiece, but Augustine was the heart and the fan favourite. Without Augustine and Tobago behind him, Duke and PDP are in trouble.
In terms of optics, this doesn’t look too good for the PDP. Just after a year, the political party that defeated a goliath has fallen apart.
Watson Duke in himself has the charisma of a cult leader, he has the bold arrogance needed to leave a footprint in the political arena. What he doesn’t have is the humility and social skills needed to hold a party of strong leaders together.
Duke will always have others who he believes he can outshine around him, background players. Should any of them start to shine a little too much, Duke will cut them out, that’s the part they unfortunately knowingly or unknowingly play in Duke’s world.
This wasn’t the part Augustine wished to play and unlike Saunders, Augustine had the support to take what Duke desires the most, power.
What will happen with the THA and PDP, I do not know. Frankly, it should be left up to the people of Tobago. If they want fresh THA elections, then so be it. If they want to hold on to see what Augustine and friends will come with, so be it.
In the meantime, I suggest Duke use this moment as a learning experience. Breakups are hard man, but they provide us with a chance to examine our behaviours and how they may have impacted our relationship. So, my old friend Watson Duke, take this time to eat, pray, love, examine your past and learn for the future.
Tobago’s ‘Fartson’ Break-Up
FORGET Kimye, it appears the breakup of the decade is taking place on the shores of Tobago. Where T&T’s once favorite bromance between Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine aka Fartson appears to have completely disintegrated.
Months of bickering have resulted in Augustine leaving Duke for good and taking with him the house and kids.
On Monday Augustine, along with 18 members of the THA, submitted their resignation from the PDP effective December 1. Oh snap! This sneaky move has essentially locked Duke out of the THA.
As it is Augustine and company are now considered independent candidates, and whether that will hold up legally or constitutionally is up for debate. But we all know in a matter of days a new party will be formed and it will be a swift kick for Duke.
How did Fartson get here? Just the other day they were zipping each other into wetsuits and going on to achieve what many thought was unachievable – defeating the People’s National Movement and becoming the leaders of the THA.
Sadly, not all relationships can bear the weight of success and the spotlight. Things went sour over a cultural groups trip to Brooklyn, when Duke chose to publicly criticise Augustine. There were a lot of back-and-forth allegations and Duke left the THA.
The only thing holding them together was the PDP and whether Duke wants to admit it or not Augustine was an asset to the party, especially with his influence in Tobago.
This isn’t the first time Duke has been involved in a messy public breakup.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we. In the late 2000’s Duke had a dream to lead the PSA, which had been under the reins of Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for years. He wasn’t as flashy then as he is now. He wore baggy suits and scuffed shoes, but damn he was charismatic. He also had a loyal partner, Oral Saunders, who helped propel Duke to leader of the PSA.
When they first took office, Duke and Saunders seemed to be on the same page. They were fighting the proposed Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority and tackling salary negotiations with the Chief Personnel Officer. Together they seemed unstoppable until I think Duke discovered he was the Cher in the relationship and Saunders was Sonny. At the same time Saunders began disagreeing with some of Duke’s decisions and behaviours.
It didn’t take long before Duke turned on Saunders and kicked him to the curb. Saunders wasn’t alone, over the course of a year or two, more and more members of Duke’s original slate were either fired or left on their own accord stating Duke as the source of conflict.
Notice a pattern.
If you look at Duke’s track record it’s apparent, he doesn’t play well with others. He’s the superstar and isn’t too keen on sharing the spotlight.
Unfortunately for Duke, if you want to be in politics, you must be somewhat of a team player.
What Duke doesn’t realise is that it isn’t about him. Every scandal and falling out that has taken place involving him in the PSA and PDP, has weakened the associations and cast public doubt on Duke’s ability to lead.
Augustine was Duke’s ticket into Tobago. Duke was the mouthpiece, but Augustine was the heart and the fan favourite. Without Augustine and Tobago behind him, Duke and PDP are in trouble.
In terms of optics, this doesn’t look too good for the PDP. Just after a year, the political party that defeated a goliath has fallen apart.
Watson Duke in himself has the charisma of a cult leader, he has the bold arrogance needed to leave a footprint in the political arena. What he doesn’t have is the humility and social skills needed to hold a party of strong leaders together.
Duke will always have others who he believes he can outshine around him, background players. Should any of them start to shine a little too much, Duke will cut them out, that’s the part they unfortunately knowingly or unknowingly play in Duke’s world.
This wasn’t the part Augustine wished to play and unlike Saunders, Augustine had the support to take what Duke desires the most, power.
What will happen with the THA and PDP, I do not know. Frankly, it should be left up to the people of Tobago. If they want fresh THA elections, then so be it. If they want to hold on to see what Augustine and friends will come with, so be it.
In the meantime, I suggest Duke use this moment as a learning experience. Breakups are hard man, but they provide us with a chance to examine our behaviours and how they may have impacted our relationship. So, my old friend Watson Duke, take this time to eat, pray, love, examine your past and learn for the future.