By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE new Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is now officially Farley Augustine, the deputy political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP).
The Deputy Chief Secretary is PDP’s political leader Watson Duke.
Abby Taylor has been selected as the Presiding Officer and Joel Sampson is the Deputy Presiding Officer.
Taylor was the only PDP candidate who did not secure a seat in the THA general elections on Monday in which the PDP won with a resounding victory over the People’s National Movement (PNM) winning 14 out of 15 electoral districts.
The new members of the THA took their oath of office during the second part of the 12th inauguration ceremony of the THA on Thursday at the Assembly Legislature in Scarborough, Tobago.
The elected representatives were sworn in in an earlier ceremony that was attended by President Paula-Mae Weekes, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Chief Justice Ivor Archie who also attended the second ceremony.
Also receiving his instruments of appointment was Kelvon Morris as Minority Leader. He is the sole PNM assemblyman.
In accordance with the THA Act, three councillors were also selected by the newly appointed Chief Secretary. They were Tashia Borris, Orlando Kerr and Certica Orr who would be taking her oath of office on Friday.
The Minority Leader was allowed to select one councillor and the councillor chosen by Morris was Petal Daniel Benoit a senior financial analyst in the Division of Finance and the Economy.
