Minority Leader in the Tobago House of Assembly Ashworth Jack says he is confident in "the immediate future" Tobago will get the long-awaited autonomy it wants. Jack made the statement in commemoration of T&T's golden jubilee of Independence, being observed tomorrow. He added: "We anticipate in the immediate future, the long-awaited autonomy promised by our Government, when the widely-debated Green Paper is turned into a White Paper." He also said the people of Tobago "look forward to the opportunity to exercise our franchise to elect a new House of Assembly that will give prominence and priority to you, the people of Tobago."
Jack said he was confident the law enforcement agencies would have a greater impact on crime in the coming weeks and months. He added: "This jubilee year finds us in a place of soaring national pride over the historic successes of our Olympic team. "As we poured out into the streets in gleeful adulation of our new-found heroes, we not only proudly waved our national flags but we also displayed to the world we are indeed united in our aspirations for our nation."
Jack, who is the leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People, said: "Over the last 50 years, we have demonstrated how peoples of different ethnic groups and historical pasts can live together in harmony and love. "We have given the world the only new musical instrument made in the 20th century. The sound, texture and rhythmic power of our local tambourine and tassa are reflective of the ingenuity and diversity of our people." He called on all citizens to recommit to ensuring they never failed to contribute in their various capacities to the development of the twin-island state, by giving a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. "Let us look to the future with new hope and confidence in our ability to succeed as a nation. Let us be guided by the wisdom and dreams of all of our founding patriots," Jack added.