Caption: New THA 2026
By Alicia Chamely
THREE new Divisions have been added to the newly expanded Tobago House of Assembly.
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced the addition of the Division of Legal Affairs, the Division of Strategic Planning and Development and the Division of Climate Resilience and Energy on Monday at the swearing in ceremony of THA Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries by President Christine Kangaloo at the Magdelena Grand, Tobago.
A total of 12 Secretaries and four Assistant Secretaries took their Oath of Office.
Speaking after the ceremony, Augustine formally announced the expanded THA, which had grown from nine divisions to 12.
Augustine said three new divisions had been added, while two former divisions had been split into four divisions to increase efficiency and focus.
The Division of Legal Affairs, he announced, would be headed by attorney Adanna Aisha Joseph-Wallace.
Augustine said, “If the Office of the Chief Secretary is the head of the Tobago House of Assembly, then the neck part connecting the head with the rest of the body will be the Division of Legal Affairs.”
He said Joseph-Wallace and the Division would be “take responsibility for civil litigation, conveyancing, government contract, legal advice to the government, provisional liquidator, provisional receiver, public trustee, official receiver, the legislative agenda for the Tobago House of Assembly.”
Augustine said the Division of Legal Affairs would also be tasked with drafting proposed constitutional amendments for autonomy, the proposed bill for the establishment of a localized Tobago police force and immigration concurrence.
He said the creation of the Legal Affairs Division ensures all legal matters would be sent to one central body to be addressed.
The Division of Strategic Planning and Development, Augustine announced, would be responsible “for guiding Tobago’s long-term growth and transformation through evidence-based policy, coordination, development planning and performance monitoring.”
Augustine said the Division would be headed by Secretary Trevor Williamson James.
He said the Division would also be responsible for the Friendship Estate Development, which he added would “be the heart of our development agenda.”
Augustine announced the creation of the Division of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy, which would be headed by Secretary Darian Henry.
He said, “The Division of Environment, Climate Resilience, and Energy is responsible for protecting Tobago’s natural heritage while strengthening the island’s capacity to adapt to climate change and transition to sustainable energy systems. It leads environmental conservation and regulation, coastal and marine management, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation planning while at the same time promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and green technologies.”
Addressing the newly sworn in Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, Augustine said, “The assignment of secretaries to Divisions is not just a ceremonial exercise. It is a strategic act of stewardship. It is about placing the right people in the right spaces at the right time to deliver real results to real people on time.”
“Each division represents a pillar of Tobago’s development, a pillar in our strategic development pathway from health and education to housing and infrastructure to use empowerment, economic growth and environmental resilience. How we organize ourselves today will shape how we effectively serve tomorrow,” he said.
The THA Divisions and Secretaries were:
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY
- Farley Augustine – Chief Secretary
- Megan Morrison – Secretary in the Office of the Chief Secretary
- Nigel Taitt – Assistant Secretary in the Office of Chief Secretary
DIVISION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS
- Dr Faith Brebnor – Deputy Chief Secretary & Secretary for Health and Wellness
DIVISION OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
- Adanna Aisha Joseph – Wallace – Secretary
DIVISION OF FINANCE, TRADE AND THE ECONOMY
- Petal-Ann Roberts – Secretary
- Kern Alexis – Assistant Secretary
DIVISION OF STATEGIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
- Trevor James – Secretary
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ENERGY
- Darren Henry – Secretary
DIVISION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
- Nathisha Charles-Pantin –Secretary
DIVISION OF FOOD SECURITY
- Wane Clarke – Secretary
DIVISION OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND SPORT
- Keigon Denoon – Secretary
DIVISION OF TOURISM, ANTIQUITIES AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
- Zorisha Hackett – Secretary
- Niketa Percy – Assistant Secretary
DIVISION OF HOUSING, SETTLEMENTS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
- Ricky Joefield – Secretary
DIVISION OF EDUCATION, SKILLS AND INNOVATION
- Orlando Kerr – Secretary
DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
- Ian Pollard – Secretary
- Ackel Franklyn – Assistant Secretary
