September 9, 2022

THA Tension: Augustine To Review Duke’s “Roles And Responsibilities”

By Newsroom

There appears to be some internal conflict within the Tobago House of Assembly, with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine saying he intends to review the roles and responsibilities of his Deputy, Watson Duke, and make a decision by today as to what, if any, role he will continue to play in the THA.

It comes after Duke publicly criticized the THA for allegedly failing to provide funding to 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers, who travelled to New York for Labour Day celebrations.

During Thursday’s post-Executive Council media briefing, Augustine explained that approximately $400,000 was spent to assist the Roxborough Folk Performers to get to New York.

“The THA did not send them, the THA sponsored, partly sponsored, their trip to the US,” he said.

He further reasoned that due to the last minute timing of the trip the THA could not have issued any cheques and as such, a promissory note was given to the travel agency to settle the bill.

In response, Duke said the Chief Secretary’s statement about reviewing his roles was “laughable”, adding that while Augustine serves as Chief Secretary, he remains political leader of the Progressive Democratic Party.

“Today, my brother has commenced a political war against his political leader which he cannot win,” Duke said.

“…For the Chief Secretary to issue a veiled threat and say he is going to review my functions to me is laughable, ridiculous and he has to understand that while he is Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, I am political leader of the PDP,” he said.

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