PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar missed a great opportunity to address Tobago’s autonomy.

This is according to Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman.

Speaking during an Opposition press conference on Thursday, Roberts-Radgman criticised the prime minister’s first official visit to Tobago on Tuesday in which she listed out several measures for Tobago and granted Tobago the licence to export material from the Studley Park Quarry.

She said, “Never would we have imagined that the prime minister, on her first official visit to the island, would have squandered the opportunity that she was given to speak to the people of Tobago and use that opportunity on political rhetoric and on campaigning.”

The senator expressed disappointment that the prime minister promoted a “project-based allocation model” instead of presenting a clear plan for Tobago’s self-governance, calling it vague and politically motivated.

“It seems like all the years of effort, all the advocacy, all the input from brilliant, talented Tobagonians and Trinidadians alike, into bringing Tobago further towards autonomy, all these efforts have been discarded and disregarded,” Roberts-Radgman said.

She emphasised that Tobago’s progress must be grounded in legislative certainty rather than “handouts or political promises.”

“More importantly, what we need in Tobago is legislation that protects us from any administration that would want to deal with us, that would want to govern with dishonesty and with contempt,” Roberts-Radgman said.

In her address to the Tobago House Assembly (THA) Persad-Bissessar acknowledge the request for autonomy.

She said, “Our Government stands firm in its commitment to Tobago’s right to meaningful self-governance and self-determination within a strong and united republic. This is not a favour granted but a duty honoured, grounded in equality, respect and shared purpose.

“Tobago must have the freedom to shape its development while remaining a full and valued part of the national family. True autonomy is not separation, it is participation with power, backed by predictable funding, joint planning and transparent governance that treats Tobago’s priorities as national priorities.”