PM moves for THA election after autonomy bill stalls
15 Hrs Ago
THE PLAN: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley speaks to the media at Thursday s post-Cabinet news conference at the Prime Minister s Residence in Blenheim, Tobago. - OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister laid out, on Thursday, the steps to be taken, starting from Monday, to pave the way for a fresh Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election with 15 seats in order to break the current six-six deadlock between the PNM and the PDP.
Dr Rowley said the Cabinet has approved the proclamation of the THA (Amendment) Act which was passed in the Parliament and assented to by the President on March 16. The proclamation by President Paula-Mae Weekes is scheduled for Monday.
Davidson-Celestine: PDP can t give anything, law favours PNM newsday.co.tt - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsday.co.tt Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tracy on zipline: I was excited to expand tourism
PNM Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine
Political leader of the PNM Tobago Council Tracy Davidson-Celestine is maintaining her innocence in the controversial zipline matter.
In 2015, the Division of Tourism and Transportation announced the1.5-kilometre zipline project while she was secretary, but it was never completed.
Speaking on Tobago Channel Five’s morning programme, Rise and Shine, on Monday, Davidson-Celestine said she had been excited about the project, because it would “expand the tourism product offering on the island, and so I did what every secretary would do to get the approval in order to expend that kind of sum.”
PNM Tobago Council political leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine - Jeff K Mayers
Political leader of the PNM Tobago Council Tracy Davidson-Celestine said her party will never support a nominee for THA presiding officer put forward by the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), or vice versa.
Last Monday s THA election saw both parties tied 6-6 and the deadlock continued within the assembly with the failure –on two occasions – to agree on a presiding officer.
The PNM nominated TRHA chairman Ingrid Melville while the PDP nominated THA Department of Youth Affairs programme co-ordinator Julien Skeete.
Monday s sitting, the second since the assemblymen took their oaths of office, was adjourned until Thursday after both parties again stood firm on their proposed candidates. However, the PDP accused the Clerk of the Assembly of bias towards the PNM and said the framers of the THA Act intended for a marathon sitting until a presiding officer was selected.
PDP ready to form new THA executive cnc3.co.tt - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cnc3.co.tt Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.