Former deputy chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Hilton Sandy says he fully supports the decision by chief secretary Orville London to appoint Tracy Davidson�Celestine, area representative for Parlatuvier/L'Anse Fourmi/Speyside and secretary for Tourism and Transportation, to the post of deputy chief secretary.
Sandy held the position for four years before it was entrusted to Davidson�Celestine on Thursday. There was speculation that Sandy was stripped of the position in the wake of the "Calcutta ship" statement made during the campaign. Sandy was severely criticised for the comment, and although he subsequently apologised, there were calls for him to step down from the election race. Sandy did not and was among the 12 candidates who swept the PNM to victory on Monday.
When the move to replace Sandy became public knowledge ahead of Thursday's inauguration of the new THA, London denied it had anything to do with Sandy's campaign statement saying the move was purely a transitional plan for the party. In an interview yesterday, Sandy said the idea of making Davidson�Celestine deputy chief secretary arose even before the election was called.
"The chief secretary had the discussion with me prior to the election, and we would have discussed the question of a new deputy chief secretary and looking at the whole moving forward of the party and the Assembly," he said. "As a matter of fact, we even discussed if both of us should have run for the election, but because of the experience we wanted the others to gain in the Assembly, we decided we will go back for the benefit of the young persons."
Sandy said he had worked closely with Davidson�Celestine over the years and was confident she was able to function in her new capacity. "I have no grudge against Mrs Davidson�Celestine. It is not a vexing thing. We would have discussed it and I accept and support the views and decisions of the Chief Secretary," Sandy said.
THA's new executive
Division of Public Administration, Planning, State Lands, Energy and Information
�2Secretary: Orville London (Chief Secretary)
�2Assistant Secretary: Deon Isaac
Division of Tourism and Transportation
�2Secretary:Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Deputy Chief Secretary)
Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities
�2Secretary: Hilton Sandy
�2Assistant Secretary: Handel Beckles
Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports
�2Secretary: Gary Melville
�2Assistant Secretary: Jomo Pitt
Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment
�2Secretary: Godwin Adams
�2Assistant Secretary: Hayden Spencer
Division of Community Development and Culture
�2Secretary: Dr Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus
�2Assistant Secretary: Ancil Dennis
Division of Finance and Enterprise Development
�2Secretary: Joel Jack
Division of Health and Social Services
�2Claudia Groome�Duke (Leader of Assembly Business)
�2Assistant Secretary: Sheldon Cunningham:
Division of Settlements and Labour
�2Secretary: Huey N Cadette