By Faith Edwards
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Tobago’s development is being hindered by a poor working relationship between the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the central government.
He made the comments during a People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting in Tobago on Saturday night.
Rowley said, “On many of the methods of government allocation and government service, there’s nothing anybody getting in Trinidad that the people of Tobago not getting, whether you are a nurse, a doctor, a teacher, or a clerk.”
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He said that Tobago’s “extra development” comes from the partnership between the THA and the central government, stressing that when the relationship is strong, progress is made, but when it breaks down, time and possibly money are wasted.
Citing examples from the past, he said former chief secretaries such as Orville London had strong working ties with then Prime Minister Patrick Manning, which benefited Tobago.
“I can tell you about the relationship that I had with Farley for six months,” he added.
Rowley claimed that after the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) won all 14 THA seats, many of its members had previously been THA employees who were “busy undermining the THA because they wanted political office.”
He said, “They got the political office, and Tobago was in danger.”
Rowley also noted that upon assuming responsibility for Tobago, he brought a team of ministers, including those of Finance, Works and Transport, and the Attorney General, to meet with THA officials to address urgent matters.
He said local contractors were not being paid and were at risk of losing their businesses. In response, he intervened and secured an additional $100 million from the Ministry of Finance.
However, according to Rowley, instead of using the money to pay Tobago based contractors, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine allocated it to three Trinidad based firms.
“Farley take the $100 million and give it to three contractors from Trinidad and shut down all the Tobago contractors,” he said.
He alleged that one company lost 300 workers and that none of Tobago’s contractors are currently involved in major projects on the island.
Addressing recent public discourse, Rowley dismissed concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and video evidence.
“I’m not concerned about AI and no video. I’m telling you what actually happened in my portfolio,” he said.
He said that under the Constitution, the prime minister is responsible for Tobago and is required to answer in Parliament on matters related to the island.
“When all the big and bad they playing in Tobago, they can’t say a word in the Parliament. I am the one or the Tobago MP’s who have to answer in the Parliament,” he said.
