Hochoy says no to new Tobago seats

POLITICAL Leader of the Democratic Action Congress (DAC), Hochoy Charles, said he did not support the PNM’s call for an additional seat for Tobago in the House of Representatives. In fact, Charles told Newsday yesterday that ever since the issue was first raised in the House, the DAC had always objected. “And we will continue to oppose it because it is not in Tobago’s best interest. Additional seats are not advantageous to Tobago,” Charles declared. “One additional seat will not fix the airbridge, seabridge or put an end to the many problems that have bedevilled the people of Tobago all these years. Look at how many seats the Opposition in Trinidad has and if the Government does not approve what the Opposition asks for, they won’t get it.”

Hochoy said the additional seat would instead create an even bigger problem — put total control of the affairs of Tobago back into the hands of Port-of-Spain. He was adamant that those in authority on the island as well as other regional corporations should be empowered to handle their own affairs. “This call for additional seats is just to give someone else the opportunity to go to Trinidad and curse each other like they normally do in Parliament,” Charles said.

Charles’ views on the proposal are in sharp contrast to that of THA Chief Secretary Orville London, who told Newsday that he welcomed the move and also felt the creation of an additional constituency in Tobago, coupled with efforts by the Assembly for greater autonomy in the governance of its affairs, could only redound to the betterment of the country. The chief secretary said clear distinctions must be made between representation of Tobagonians at the levels of the THA and Central Government and, “we don’t necessarily believe that one has to be exclusive of the other.”

After the sitting of the PNM General Council in San Fernando, PNM chairman — Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan — said an Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) report proposing an increase of constituencies in TT from 36 to 41 will soon be laid in Parliament. Khan said the PNM accepts the EBC’s proposal, but recommended to the commission that a third Tobago seat be included in any increase in the number of constituencies in TT.