London removes Sandy as deputy THA succession plan kicks in

Leader of the People’s National Movement’s Tobago Council Orville London  will reportedly remove Hilton Sandy as Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly. Tracy Davidson-Celestine, one of the successful candidates in Monday’s 12-0 THA election victory, is tipped to take over the position,   a party source told the T&T Guardian yesterday.

Davidson-Celestine and Godwin Adams were being considered to replace Sandy, who had held the position for four years. It is part of a succession plan London will implement in preparation for his departure at the end of the current term. But Davidson-Celestine, the younger of the two, will eventually get the nod, the source said.

However, there also was speculation that London’s decision came after assessing the possible impact of Sandy’s controversial “Calcutta ship” statement, made during the election campaign for the assembly. The source said London yesterday met with all the successful candidates and discussed their suitability for portfolios and other matters relating to the THA.

President George Maxwell Richards will swear in London and his new executive council today at the THA’s ninth inauguration ceremony at James Park, Scarborough, from 10 am. A statement yesterday afternoon from the Office of the Prime Minister said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accepted the invitation of the THA to witness today’s inauguration ceremony.

Apart from the 12 assemblymen, the THA Act provides for the chief secretary to add three councillors to his executive, making it 15 people. With so many people on the executive, each division will have both a secretary and an assistant secretary.

The new secretaries

Chief Secretary: Orville London

Division of Tourism and Transportation
• Secretary: Tracy Davidson-Celestine
• Assistant Secretary: Handel Beckles

Education, Youth Affairs and Sports
• Secretary: Gary Melville
• Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Youth Affairs and Sports: Deon Isaac:

Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment
• Secretary: Godwin Adams
• Assistant Secretary: Hayden Spencer

Community Development and Culture
• Secretary: Dr Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt–Angus
• Assistant Secretary: Ancil Dennis

Finance and Enterprise Development
• Secretary: Joel Jack

Health and Social Services
• Secretary: Claudia Groome-Duke:
• Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Social Services: Sheldon Cunningham:

Settlements and Labour
• Secretary: Huey Cadette

Infrastructure and Public Utilities
• Secretary: Hilton Sandy
• Assistant Secretary: Jomo Pitt