Nine secretaries and four assistant secretaries in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) were given their instruments of appointment by President Anthony Carmona here at President's House yesterday.
But while the team was sworn in, the postings were not revealed right away, as the media was informed that there were some last-minute changes. When the official listing of the portfolios were revealed via a press release around 3.30pm there were some curious choices.
In keeping with the Fifth Schedule, some divisions were consolidated while others were renamed.
Speaking to the media after the swearing in, Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles said he looked at the skill-set of his team and assigned portfolios based on the plan and vision of the new Assembly. He said being able to work out of one's comfort zone could make them stronger.
"You also have to bear in mind that part of the process of development in respect of people, has to do with training and exposing some of those people in other areas. So for example, you may find someone who may be strong, let's say in community development, but you want to expose that person and you may put them in finance, or you may put them in health and social services, so it's all a process of organising your resources, in this case your human resources, in a manner that will allow you as a team to get the best results," he said
Buccoo/Mt Pleasant Area Representative and Deputy Presiding Officer Ancil Dennis and Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah Area Representative Sheldon Cunningham had served as assistant secretaries during the 2013/2017 term, but were again given junior positions. The move did not sit well with supporters of both men. However, Charles refused to give any reasoning for his decision
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Watson Duke said he would like to have a collaborative approach to governing the island. He said, however, that the monthly plenary session was inadequate and called for weekly meetings to create laws to guide Tobago.
"Right now the House of Assembly meets once a month and that to me is unacceptable. It speaks to a type of lethargy that should not be in the House of Assembly, so therefore I am calling upon the House, that let us meet weekly, let us create a legislative agenda for the year, let's formulate policies for crime, policies for health, policies for education, policies for tourism, policies for agriculture," he said
Duke also called on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Charles to give Tobago its autonomy in the quickest possible time, as he said the island is being sidelined when it comes to important policies.
DIVISIONS/SECRETARIES
?�2 Chief Secretary, Secretary of Education, Innovation & Energy � Assemblyman Kelvin Charles
�2 Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Finance & the Economy � Assemblyman Joel Jack
�2 Secretary of Community Development, Enterprise Development & Labour � Assemblyman Marslyn Melville-Jack
�2 Secretary of Sports & Youth Affairs � Assemblyman Jomo Pitt
�2 Secretary of Food Production & Fisheries � Assemblyman Hayden Spencer
�2 Secretary of Settlements, Urban Renewal & Public Utilities � Assemblyman Clarence Jacob
�2 Secretary of Infrastructure & the Environment � Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes
�2 Secretary of Health, Wellness & Family Development � Councillor Dr. Agatha Carrington
�2 Secretary of Tourism, Culture & Transportation � Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips
�2 Deputy Presiding Officer & Assistant Secretary in Office of the Chief Secretary � Assemblyman Ancil Dennis
�2 Assistant Secretary in Office of the Chief Secretary � Assemblyman Marisha Osmond
�2 Assistant Secretary of Infrastructure & the Environment � Assemblyman Sheldon Cunningham
�2 Assistant Secretary of Community Development, Enterprise Development & Labour � Assemblyman Shomari Hector