Recognise Tobago as equal partner

In this the 50th anniversary of our independence, I am deeply distressed by an item of news on  the tv news report which claims that the chairman of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) wants the Tobago House of Assembly to “write to CAL to express their complaints/dissatisfaction so that these can be addressed”.

Clearly this demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the concept of the entity known as the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He ought to recognise that both Trinidadians and Tobagonians travel between the islands. Additionally, under the constitution Tobago has an equal interest in the airline and consequently there is a fundamental responsibility on CAL’s part to provide a satisfactory service between the two component islands.

In other words the chairman’s remarks imply a relationship of “us vs them” and really holds no place in the equation. This situation raises the serious and fundamental issue of constitutional reform after 50 years of independence since there continues to prevail the misguided and widely-held concept which is commonly expressed by some nationals when they ask “what more they want?”

The simple answer is that Tobago needs to be recognised as an equal partner because it constitutes one-half of the political entity that makes up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Samuel B Howard
Via e-mail