Jack calls on London: Share info on internal self-govt for Tobago

Minority leader in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Ashworth Jack has called on chief secretary Orville London to release details of the dates and times when he spoke to former prime minister Patrick Manning about internal self-government for Tobago. Speaking at Tuesday’s minority leader’s news conference, Jack said he received information that London has again written to Prime Minister Kamla Persad–Bissessar, requesting a meeting to discuss the issue of internal self-government for Tobago. “I want to say that I am quite happy that for the last two years, the chief secretary would have seen it fit to start discussing the issues of internal self- government,” he said. “I know that the Prime Minister, through the Attorney General, has written to the chief secretary in December and September of last year, asking for his position on constitutional reform before the Green Paper was made and on both occasions the chief secretary declined, stating that he did not wish to participate.” 

 

Jack said London should share with Tobagonians all information when he communicated with any former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago on the matter during his 11 years in office. “A lot of information would be cleared up if the chief secretary would also give us an idea as to the other occasions on which during his tenure as chief secretary for past 11 years that he has petitioned other prime ministers to discuss the matter of internal self-government,” he said. He said the chief secretary should also inform the public about the outcome of the discussions so that such information can be included in the Government’s position on internal self-government for Tobago.