The rift between Watson Duke and Farley Augustine took another sharp turn on Thursday, with Duke resigning from his post as Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly. 

The announcement from Duke, who remains as political leader of the Tobago House of Assembly, came exactly one week after Chief Secretary Augustine said he would review Duke’s “roles and responsibilities” within the THA. 

“I have decided to resign with immediate effect from the Tobago House of Assembly. I do not wish to be part of Farley and his gang. I wish not to be part of an executive run by a child and his friends. Expect no fight from Watson Solomon Duke. You are simply not my equal and the reasons you are looking for a fight are unworthy,” Duke said at a media conference on Thursday afternoon.

He clarified he will continue with his position as an Assemblyman for Roxborough/ Argyle, “but I will not sit with him and I will not sit on the opposite side with the PNM people.”

Duke hinted that the fallout could impact the party\s support for Augustine, noting: “Because when Watson Duke moves away he will be carrying with him the PDP with him. The PDP is owned by Watson Solomon Duke. When the party was formed there was no Farley, no Faith, it was just Watson and the people.”

How did we get here? The recap:

Last Thursday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said he would review Duke’s responsibilities after the PDP leader publicly slammed the THA for allegedly not doing enough to help 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers, who travelled to New York for Labour Day celebrations.

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.

Duke then retorted by issuing a notice early on Friday morning, removing Farley’s appointment as Deputy political leader.

The appointments of the party’s two other deputy leaders, Faith B.Yisrael and Alicia Roberts-Paterson, were also revoked.

On Monday of this week, as he appeared on a radio interview with i95.5fm, Augustine challenged to Duke to file a motion of no confidence against him.

Augustine said at the time that should the motion fail, he would have Duke removed from his position in the THA immediately.