Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots and Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Watson Duke has announced the revocation of THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and fellow PDP members Faith B. Yisrael and Alicia Roberts-Paterson as PDP deputy political leaders.
In an update Friday via Facebook, Duke shared a letter announcing the change, which he said was taken following a party meeting on Thursday night:
“The PDP Political Leader Watson Solomon Duke at a PDP Executive Meeting held last night, Thursday 8th September 2022, has revoked with immediate effect the following Deputy Political Leaders appointments:
Farley Augustine … Deputy Political Leader
Faith B.Yisrael … Deputy Political Leader
Alicia Roberts-Paterson … Deputy Political Leader
The Public is hereby to note that they are now ordinary members of the PDP and to should be guided accordingly.”
Augustine said during Thursday's THA Executive Council media briefing that as THA Chief Secretary he is the political leader:
"So long as I am here as Chief Secretary, there is one Chief Secretary in the space, one leader in the space, one team in the space and we move as a team."
He said a THA statement would be issued on the behaviour of the Deputy Chief Secretary.
The apparent difference of opinion developed after Duke’s comments regarding a situation in New York where he said a group of 27 Tobagonians were stranded.
“A Time for Silence and A Time to Speak Up! As Founder and Political Leader of PDP I chose to speak up yesterday for 27 Hungry Tobagonians stranded in New York, which resulted in a direct THREAT from my Deputy Political Leader. This is a man I love as a brother and having brought him into the PDP as a newbie, I nurtured him and watched him grow. However, today my brother has commenced a political war against his Political Leader which he cannot win. Therefore, I caution him to drink cooling bush and smoke the peace pipe. Leh We Fix Dis!”
Duke said the THA has aided in the purchase of tickets for the group and should assist them with their issues.
Speaking at Thursday’s THA Executive Council media briefing, Augustine said prior to the trip he told the group bound for New York that the THA wouldn’t be able to fund all of the money for the trip.
“I want to bring some clarity to the space so all and sundry will be aware of the THA’s commitment to the Roxborough performers. The Roxborough Folk Performers approached the Tobago House of Assembly for assistance because they had several engagements that they were called out for to perform in and around…the Labour Day Festivities.
“I had a meeting with the principals at Roxborough Folk Performers, about two months or so ago. When I met with [the group] I told them that the THA could not fund 100 per cent of..the entire trip. I was assured then that they weren’t looking for the THA to give 100 per cent, they were looking for the THA to help…getting tickets to New York and to get there on time.”
He said there was also difficulty in acquiring US visas for some of the group who travelled over the weekend, which was not under the jurisdiction of the THA.
“The timelines were so tight that there was no way the THA could have issued any cheques for their departure. And in any case this administration has a policy where we prefer to pay invoices as opposed as opposed to just giving money to groups…what we have found is that sometimes you give groups monies and they don’t go anywhere, or less people than they tell you will be going actually attended and no accountability is given for the extra sums or moneys [etc].”
He said a promissory note was given to the travel agency to facilitate the flights to New York, adding that he had been told by the group’s leader that accommodation had already been booked.
“Before they left here [the group said] that accommodation had been booked and everything was in place for where they were to stay. On Sunday I was alerted by the team that they came in, they were calling the host at the bed and breakfast and they got no answer. They couldn’t get into the place, the place was locked up and eventually a church rescued them and allowed them to sleep in the church for the night.”
“When I heard that, I said that notwithstanding the fact that I said to the group we can’t fund all of your exploits in the US, I said we can’t allow Tobagonians to sleep on the streets.
“I worked out an arrangement….that we’ll provide some accommodation for them. That accommodation for the entire group came up to US$9,000 which we gave a commitment to pay and we had someone in the US pay it on our behalf with the hope of being refunded by the THA…all in an effort to ensure that the team would be able to find someplace to sleep and…meet their appointments…because at the end of the day they are Tobagonians.”
He said the group also had difficulty getting food while they were there and the THA also attempted to assist.
Augustine said the group was not sent there on behalf of the THA.
“Let me correct a misconception, the THA did not send them, the THA part-sponsored their trip to the US. If the THA has to send anyone the THA has to pay per diem per person, we know that. We did not make any bookings for anybody because it’s not a THA trip.”
He said the total amount for flights and accommodation paid by the THA for the group equates to $400,417.50. He said the initial ask was just over $700,000.
Augustine said he has no hate for Duke:
"I have no hatred for Mr Duke, I see Mr Duke as a brother who I love dearly, and maybe from time to time we may disagree, but I will do nothing that is injurious to Mr Duke but I will also do nothing that is injurious to the people of Tobago. That has to come first."
Source: Loop TT
