tidings
Corey Connelly
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has promised that there will be an accelerated pace in the delivery of projects in Tobago during this first quarter.
“We have a lot to offer,” he told reporters Friday after unveiling the Indoor Sports Floor at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.
“At the end of my first year in office, I made it very clear to everyone that I felt we did well. But I felt we had a lot better to do and I wanted the secretaries to spend their time digging in their heels and doing more work, delivering more wins like this (Sports Floor). This will be our focus.
“And you’re going to see some accelerated shipments during this first quarter. The point is that we are focused on doing the business of the people of Tobago and dealing with the delivery of the people’s mandate.”
Augustine said a date for the reshuffle within his administration will be announced soon.
“It is not just about a reorganization. It is about restructuring governance for greater delivery and also to allow much more checks and balances in the system.”
He also responded to Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke’s call for a meeting to be peace and healing within the party.
Agustin and other members of the THA executive resigned from the PDP on December 4, 2022, almost a year after their resounding 14-1 victory over the People’s National Movement in the December 6, 2021, THA elections. They have declared themselves independent.
In a recent radio interview, the Duke urged Augustine and other executive members to join the PDP in the interest of Tobagonians.
On that occasion, he said he was sure Agustin’s team would not win a seat in the upcoming THA elections if he decides to form his own party.
Augustine said Friday, finally seeing Duke’s interview.
“Looking at it, this can’t be seen as a serious starter for anything.”
Augustine said if the Duke wished, he could write to him.
“He could engage in a formal way, but it is clear from the other members that we have more or less moved on. We are focused on the governance of Tobago. We are not interested in political games. We don’t care about the back and forth.”
On the recent birth of his daughter, Augustin said he and his wife have yet to name the child.
“Now we have several options. Before the birth, I told my wife that we have time to decide on the name. And the baby just came out of nowhere.”
He expects to decide on a name by the end of the month.
“We are not in a hurry. At the moment, the focus is on making sure she gets through the first month and making sure her growth is in tune with normal rates and that she’s healthy, because preemies (premature babies) are much more sensitive to certain health conditions. So we’re working on all those things.”
