A new attempt to grant Tobago greater self-governance has been defeated in what local politicians have described as a significant setback.
Tobago has long sought more control over its political and economic affairs. Despite having its own house of assembly, the island has pushed for a larger share of the national budget and the ability to pass its own laws.
On Monday, a bill aimed at increasing the powers of Tobago’s house of assembly was introduced to parliament after years of political negotiations. However, opposition members blocked the bill, citing concerns raised by Farley Augustine, head of the Tobago government and leader of the Tobago People’s Party.
Augustine, who has been advocating for a “federal-type” system, criticized the government’s proposed amendments, calling them “inconsequential nonsense.” He expressed frustration over the focus on changing the titles of Tobago’s leaders, rather than addressing key issues such as creating a real federal system, defining the island’s boundaries, and granting the island the authority to pass laws on matters affecting its people.
In a Facebook post, Augustine accused the government of “majoring in minors” by ignoring these important issues. He pledged to take his fight for the islad’s autonomy to the international stage, planning to submit a formal complaint to the United Nations.
Tobago’s proposals had garnered support from the government, including T&T Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who expressed shock at the opposition to the bill. Rowley noted that the bill had been the result of extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including legal experts and representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties.
Senator Ancil Dennis, the Tobago Council’s political leader from the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), emphasized that the bill reflected the will of the people of Tobago. He highlighted that the proposed legislation would have increased Tobago’s share of the national budget from 4.03% to 6.8%, an increase of approximately $1.5 billion (nearly US$221 million). Dennis also pointed out that the bill would have eliminated the need for Tobago’s legislation to pass through central government scrutiny, granting Tobago more legislative independence.
“The bill that failed would have put us in a position where Tobago could pass its own laws and simply seek the president’s assent, similar to the process in the UK,” Dennis explained. “It’s extremely disappointing that after years of hard work and numerous consultations, we are still unable to achieve these crucial improvements for Tobago.”
