Tobago PNM slams Duke

In a statement, the council complained that the minority bench repeatedly disrupted the fourth sitting of the House, showing a total lack of respect for the presiding officer of the THA.

“What adds intolerable insult to insufferable injury was the fact that the minority were outside engaging in further shenanigans when it was time to conduct the affairs of the people they were elected to represent,” The PNM’s Tobago arm said.

“ To b a g o n i a n s should note the inexcusable absence of the minority when in accordance with Section 20 of the Tobago House of Assembly Standing Orders the Presiding Officer gave way for the adjournment of the Assembly on definite matter of urgent public importance - urgent business that this very Minority claimed they were not allowed to discuss in the very first sitting of the 2017-2021 session of the Assembly.” At the sitting, Duke, who is also the outgoing President of the Public Services Association, described as “flittered, untimely and vexacious,” a motion moved by Secretary of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour Marslyn Melville-Jack, which called for initiatives to strengthen private and public partnerships in Tobago.

Duke insisted there were more pressing issues to be dealt with on the sister isle, including the ongoing problems on the sea bridge.

“As I read the motion, I was almost moved to tears to think that we are speaking about development, to think that we are speaking about sustaining communities, to think that we are talking about families and nothing at all has been mentioned about the ABC of families,” he had said at the sitting.

“The fundamental rudiment to develop a family and sustain economies is the need for food and security and I though the motion would have been about that. The minority council will not be supporting this motion.” Duke subsequently called on the executive council to deal with the important issues affecting Tobago.