London unhappy with plan to revisit THA Act

THA Chief Secretary Orville London said that to revisit the THA Act 40 of 1996 would be to trod on dangerous grounds. London was responding to a statement by Member of Parliament for Tobago East, Eudine Job-Davis, that the Act was “very silent on the roles of MPs” and that it should be revisited to give the Tobago Members of Parliament more active roles in fundamental decision making. He pointed out that the Act, as it should be, was introduced to give more autonomy to the THA in relationship to its undertaking of the affairs of Tobago. “The Act did not foresee any member of the Central Government actively overseeing the THA and to go back and undermine the Act will be going on dangerous grounds.” London said.

Stating that he did not wish to become involved in any public political debate, London acknowledged that Tobagonians were represented at two levels; the THA and the Central Government, and sought to “set the record straight” that there were several channels through which representatives or members of the public could make contributions to the Administration. He noted that the Tobago Council, which included all members of the THA and the Members of Parliament, party group meetings and annual retreats were several such mediums by which the MPs can be involved in the decision-making process. As for the MPs being ex-officio members of the THA, London said that he preferred not to make a comment until he fully understood the term and the context in which it was meant. London said, “I don’t understand the term ex-officio members. Does it mean that they will be taking part in debates (THA)?”