Treat Tobagonians equally

Duke spoke to the media before and after walking out of the THA’s sitting saying, “When I pulled the gate on Monday, I did so for thousands of persons who see the vessel that transports people and cargo between Trinidad and Tobago as a means to survival. Many persons are left back every day in Trinidad and Tobago and there are no criteria by which those persons are left back. There is an old principle that says do unto other as you would have them do unto you. I am asking Dr Keith Rowley to do unto Tobagonians exactly what you would like Tobagonians to do unto you.” Frivolous and irrelevant was how he described the motion brought before the THA Chamber after he and other members of the minority opposition stormed out refusing to make any contribution to the motion. The motion, brought by the Executive council, Secretary for Community development, Enterprise development and Labour Marslyn Melville-Jack seek to create a stronger bond between communities, families and the THA.

However, Duke commended this motions saying there are other serious issues affecting the island of Tobago such as the sea and air bridge crisis, which according to the THA Act 5th Schedule, Tobago has the responsibility for the operations of both air and sea bridges.

Minutes into the sitting,Duke left the chamber ringing a bell down to James Park, uptown Scarborough where he joined a few Tobagonians holding placards protesting against the lack of attention the Assembly has placed on the current sea and air bridge issue.

Duke told the media, “we have been here time after time looking for those issues Tobagonians have been struggling with. Issues with their bread and butter, issues with employment, issues with infrastructure development, of health care and education. However, the first motion was code of conduct, the second motion was ban of Styrofoam and the motion brought by them is permission to meet faithbased NGO’s and private businesses, how much can Tobago take of this folly?” Holding a sheep on his side, Watson explained that the livestock cargo trade between Trinidad and Tobago is suffering. He says over $20,000 in livestock could be lost as they are unable to survive the seven-hour ride on the “Atlantic Provider” or they are not accommodated on the vessel.

“Here we have a man today with over 100 sheep and he is being told find somewhere to put the sheep.

Chances are the sheep will die in the morning. I am mad enough to lock the gates of James Park and lock the sheep inside, so they can survive.” Duke said Rowley has a sheep farm and suggested taking the sheep there and “tomorrow (today) collect them.”