Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Hilton Sandy has called on Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin "to stop trying to run the THA and co-operate with the assembly by going to the Parliament in Trinidad and fight for Tobago."He said the minister should consult with Chief Secretary Orville London whenever there were issues relating to Tobago being raised in Parliament to get a Tobago position.He claimed the minister went to Parliament to chastise the assembly."By chastising the assembly it is like chastising yourself because you are from Tobago. When you say things wrong in Tobago this is not so," Sandy told reporters at a post-executive council media briefing.Sandy claimed the name-Ministry of Tobago Development-was the problem. He said the name gave the impression the minister was in charge of all development in Tobago which was not so.
He added: "The name is the problem and probably that name was created for political mischief in Tobago."It is not creating mischief for us but an imbalance in the society and I think once the minister tones down, stop trying to get into the areas of the Tobago House of Assembly, the country of Tobago, this island of Tobago will continue on that peaceful transition."Sandy said the mantra of the assembly was to perform and it would continue to perform and not to be sidetracked by the minister."We will not leave matters affecting the assembly undone. She will not distract this assembly from carrying out the work of the people. This will never happen," he added.