Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London has turned down an invitation from Tobago Development Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin for a meeting to discuss appointees to the board of directors of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA). London told reporters on Wednesday there were two laws which governed the TRHA-the THA Act which placed health services under the THA and the Regional Health Authority Act which stated categorically that in relationship to the TRHA the authority rests with the THA.
He said there was also the question of precedence, as for close to 20 years there had been a RHA in Tobago under a PNM government with a DAC Chief Secretary; a PNM government and a PNM chief secretary and a full minister responsible for Tobago affairs. According to London, at no point in time during all those years did any minister, Cabinet or Parliament interfere with the right of the THA to select the members of the TRHA boards. London said when that position was first voiced by Minister Toppin the majority side raised the matter in the House of Assembly and Minority Leader Ashworth Jack was very clear that he could support it.
He added: "I, therefore, find it very strange that at this point in time there should be that quiet from the Minority Leader. "I think what makes it particularly distasteful is the fact that here you have a situation where something no national government has ever done, no Trinidad-based minister has ever attempted, that a Tobago-based minister will be so bent that six months after her political leader tells her it is wrong that she still insists in reviving the issue. I find that quite disturbing.," The Chief Secretary added that while over the past month Tobagonians were engaged in discussing more autonomy for Tobago there was a Tobagonian attempting in a brazen manner to undermine the authority the Assembly already had.
London said he had instructed the chief administrator to forward the Executive Council minutes and all relevant documents on the nominees to the Cabinet through the Office of the Prime Minister as was customarily done. He added: "I want us to be very clear that is in keeping with what this assembly has done in relationship in getting notes to Cabinet. Notes to Cabinet from this administration always go on through the Office of the Prime Minister.