obago Organisation of the People leader Ashworth Jack says “full internal self-government for Tobago will be attained before the end of this year.” Jack said that in his address at last night’s second anniversary rally of the People’s Partnership in Scarborough. The rally was also the launch of the TOP’s 2013 Tobago House of Assembly election campaign.
Jack began by retracing the history of the island’s attempt to secure internal self-government. Jack said, “For 50 years the PNM had denied us, Tobagonians, our constitutional rights to self-determination.” He said his main objective in politics was not to become chief secretary but to ensure the island secures internal self-government: “I give you the assurance that Tobago and Tobagonians will experience the realisation of full internal self-government before the end of 2012,” Jack told the rally.
He said the PP Government will establish new institutions to promote and protect the nation’s democracy based on community participation, transparency, accountability and good governance.” Jack also used the rally to defend his decision to join the People’s Partnership Government, which includes the United National Congress, the Congress of the People, the National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice. The MSJ is not participating in the celebrations, saying there were too many outstanding critical issues facing the country for such celebrations.
Jack said it was ANR Robinson—the former leader of Tobago’s Democratic Action Congress—who formed an alliance with other parties in 1986 to defeat the PNM. He said Tobago benefited from that partnership called the National Alliance for Reconstruction.
Jack said the former THA chief secretary, Hochoy Charles also benefited from a former partnership Government led by Robinson. He criticised Charles, Deborah Moore-Miggins and Hughvon des Vignes for seeking to challenge him, saying they were never available when Tobago needed them most. He described them as “a bunch of absentee leaders.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was expected to announce the names of a three-member committee to look at the issue of internal self-government for Tobago during her address to the rally last night. The rally was the culmination of a series of events hosted by the PP to mark its second anniversary in office in Tobago this past week, which included a two-day retreat to reconfigure the Cabinet, a Cabinet meeting and the opening of several facilities on the island, the opening of the $200 million Magdalena Grand Beach Resort and the sod turning ceremony for a new service station at Roxborough.
