He's made no secret of his ambition to be THA Chief Secretary. "The answer is, if we win-yes. I haven't hidden that fact," TOP leader Ashworth Jack said last week. Sitting in his office at Scarborough's NIB Mall, Jack is in his impeccable suit and is his usual upbeat self because his favourite subject-THA elections-is on the table.
Jack continued, "When I was asked by the Prime Minister after general elections what we wanted, I said I preferred not to be a minister, as there were things I wanted to do for Tobago first." Despite the issues which have plagued the People's Partnership coalition in Trinidad, Jack believes the momentum built up by its Tobago partner's last THA election success will serve in good stead when the THA bell is finally rung.
"TOP lost the last THA election by 255 votes," Jack said. "We had an increase in numbers in subsequent years, so we must be doing something right and that will continue into THA elections. Trust me." Jack says he's cognisant that some PNM people won't change, and he shrugs off certain negative public perceptions of his image.
"We regard the undecideds as our target, the people who came off the political scene and stopped voting after ANR Robinson." Jack, who says he's been involved in politics from his teens, is given to invoking the image of the former Prime Minister, who he says, still advises and assists him.
Currently, his hope for the THA polls will be planted on the foundation of the Green Paper on internal self-government, which Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has issued for comment. "The Green Paper is themed 'Towards Internal Self-government,' and suggests amendments to a number of constitutional sections, which could strengthen the process towards internal self-government," Jack said.
"But the Cabinet will remain as the Cabinet for Trinidad, as well as Tobago. "There would be certain decisions that the Cabinet will have to handle and the executive council of Tobago wouldn't be able to change, and there will be matters which the Council will have jurisdiction over.
"For instance, you wouldn't ask the Cabinet to make a decision on matters concerning seine fishing in Tobago that would be done by the Council. The THA would also decide on laws concerning marine sports and such things. It would be very broad."
Jack claims the Green Paper has a lot in common with the previous White Paper, because Reginald Dumas was involved in producing both. Asked if he was satisfied with the Green Paper, Jack said he was. He also said, "It's a proposal. If the general population feels more should be done, this is the opportunity to propose where it should be."
He said the reason Tobago didn't have internal self-government now was because the PNM had always voted against it. Jack's party also wants to open up legislation that blocks large-scale foreign investment in Tobago. "It's flawed. Government cannot continue to be the largest investor on the island," Jack said.
"We also need to be more mannish in the economic thrust beyond tourism-manufacturing, agro-processing. Tobago could be Trinidad and Tobago's food-production basket. The Cove Industrial Park is suited for this." While maintaining his concerns about the MSJ's recent demand for the PP to fix its national business, Jack said he sees the TOP as a stabilising force in the coalition.
Jack, who says he has an issue with leaders who try to control everything, said the TOP has grown over the years to the required level to run Tobago. Following on the UNC's internal election, the focus will turn to the TOP's structure-so far, lightweight-when the party holds its own executive election in about a month.
Jack acknowledges there are several challenges looming for executive posts. Any takers for his? He shrugs. "Once you're in Government, everyone comes out and wants to participate," he said with a laugh.