Senior Political Reporter
Progressive Democratic Patriots leader Watson Duke’s lawyers will be sending Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine a letter seeking evidence that Duke taped a meeting - and Duke will lead a Labour Day March on Monday against Augustine’s “obnoxious policies.”
Duke has also defended a Tobago contractor against Augustine’s claims during a media briefing yesterday.
This was among Duke’s responses soon after Augustine broke his silence on issues in Tobago, including the controversial leaked voice note which he alleged Duke was involved in.
In a response on Facebook soon afterwards, Duke said, “You’ve said that you believe Watson Duke leak that tape. I know your hate for me is a lot. You can’t stand me. I’m simply brighter than you, and more good looking - I’m a leader.
“If you believe I leaked the tape, I’m going to give you a date in court ... you should have plenty, plenty clothes to answer to that. You can expect very soon a letter from my lawyer so you can produce evidence that I taped a meeting.”
Duke said he was a “... Real Spartan ... me eh no jellyfish. So don’t get personal with me and try to pretend that I tape something ...”
He added that Augustine will have a date in court to answer that.
“I hope you have proper evidence to show you believe that I taped ... why would I tape it?”
Asking if Augustine could be trusted to look after Tobago, Duke recounted the issue with the 26 Tobagonians who were stranded in the United States and Duke had sought assistance for them. He asked why it was only when he “loosed the tape” (on that issue) and embarrassed Augustine that he dealt with the matter.
Duke asked if contracts Augustine’s THA were doing were valued at the money that was being made.
He added, “You’re talking about ... you know what I hate? When a Tobago leader decries a Tobago contractor. You cyar do that, you wrong.
“... is not my friend but I could tell you this - I respect him for the strides he’s made in Tobago’s development, whether you like him or not, he’s simply a large contractor in Tobago.
“I can’t tell you about him. What I can say is - respect the man. Why you single him out for punishment, try to desecrate the man good name. Don’t you know that for him to be successful, he requires trust?”
Adding that if people believed the contractor was a fraud they wouldn’t have hired him, Duke said, “So, why are you spending time without the completion of the audit, without a police report to speak of things in a shady manner ... If you have evidence, carry it to the police or Fraud Squad ... but do not try to sully people name, you going to find yourself paying money in courthouse - courthouse is a lonely place.”
Duke added, “Why you spend a whole meeting talking bout ... how could you refer to one of the largest contractors in Tobago as a ‘magga dog’ - you have no respect for Tobagonians, boy?”
Duke, who questioned if Augustine could be trusted, asked about various alleged issues.
“We want to hear you clearly say ‘I Farley Augustine did not do that’.”
Duke said after he encouraged Augustine to give CEPEP workers an increase, a backpay would have been necessary and there would be arrears of an increase.
“So where’s the arrears, these workers are asking?”
He asked if Augustine also could be trusted on payments for other types of workers and what was the plan to pay contractors whose houses are being repossessed.
“But no, you’re hooked up on power, threatening Trinidad, feel Tobago is yours - call election.”
Duke added, “(Saturday) and on Sunday I’ll be moving around Tobago and on Monday, we’ll be marching from King’s Bay to Roxborough and we’ll be marching against your obnoxious policies - you are the worst Chief Secretary ever!”