Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has announced that coming out of this morning’s meeting with the Assemblymen of the People’s National Movement and the Progressive Democratic Patriots, an agreement was made for the Tobago Autonomy Bill to go before the Parliament for debate.

The Bill is currently before a Joint Select Committee.

Essentially, it means that the PM has chosen to leave the resolution of the deadlock up to the Assemblymen. 

At a press briefing after Wednesday’s meetings, the PM explained, the amendments to the Tobago House of the Assembly Bill which was passed in the Senate last night, will serve only as a backup in resolving the election impasse.

“It has a proclamation clause and that law does not come into effect until it is proclaimed and if for example based on what I just said about the direction that the elected THA members representing Tobagonians where they want to go, if for any reason that fails to deliver, then what we have done last night and what exists is always going to be available to be utilised by the Government which I lead to ensure that Tobago has a functioning Assembly,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Progressive Democratic Patriots has proposed a shared government with the People’s National Movement in Tobago, with both parties holding responsibilities in the executive of the THA.

The PDP’s Farley Augustine said the interim arrangement could stand until the Tobago Autonomy Bill goes before the Parliament.