Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Orville London yesterday announced three changes to the assembly which become effective next week. The announcement was made at the Executive Council's news conference yesterday. London said the realignment of the council was prompted due to the absence of Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Hilton Sandy, who suffered a stroke last September 21.
He said according to the THA Act No 40 of 1996, the Chief Secretary could only operate with a total of eight secretaries in addition to the Chief Secretary so the adjustments were necessary to ensure the assembly continued to function at an optimum level. He added: "In those circumstances I have made the decision to do some realignment among the divisions of the THA.
"Councilor Deon Isaac, who is now an assistant secretary in the Office of the Chief Secretary, his appointment as an assistant secretary would be revoked and he would be appointed as Secretary in the Division of Settlements and Labour. "Huey Cadette, Secretary of Settlements and Labour will move to the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport and Councilor Gary Melville to the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities."
Meanwhile, Sandy, the representative for Roxborough/Delaford is expected to travel abroad for further medical treatment. London said the medical chief of staff at the Scarborough General Hospital, Dr Nathaniel Duke, has been overseeing Sandy's rehabilitation at the hospital and at his home for the past four months but had recommended he continued his treatment in Florida, United States. Sandy is expected to leave Tobago within the next two weeks and the THA would foot the bill.
"The decision was taken that he should be sent to the Baptist Medical Centre Rehabilitation Unit, South Florida, for rehabilitation, assessment and management. "The THA ,obviously based on his entitlement as a secretary, will be footing the bill for that particular initiative and that will include accommodation, rehabilitation sessions and other related issues," London added.