Thursday 4 February 2021
PNM Tobago Council PRO and Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment Kwesi DesVignes at a press conference on Tuesday in Scarborough. PHOTO BY JEFF K MAYERS -
THA Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis has explained why he asked for the resignation of three THA secretaries who did not seek re-election and were replaced, but not that of Councillor Kwesi DesVignes.
On Sunday, during a pre-recorded address, Dennis called on the secretaries to do “the right and proper thing,” but did not mention councillors.
On Monday, three secretaries – Jomo Pitt (Youth Affairs and Sports); Hayden Spencer (Food Production, Forestry, and Fisheries); and Kelvin Charles (Education, Innovation, and Energy) – resigned with immediate effect.
Rowley: Parliament to act to break THA deadlock
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
THE Prime Minister on Wednesday proposed Parliament amend the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Act to break the current THA deadlock after the six-six tie in the recent election.
While the THA’s incumbent executive council remains in place, the assembly cannot agree on a presiding officer to oversee the election of a chief secretary to constitute an assembly (including with four councillors) then dissolve it to return to the polls.
Dr Rowley said he had legal advice from Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and a senior counsel. He was speaking at a news conference on Wednesday at the Diplomat Centre in St Ann’s.
Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis -
Three THA secretaries who did not seek re-election and were replaced in the assembly have resigned.
On Sunday during a pre-recorded address, THA Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis appealed to the secretaries to do the right and proper thing.
He said, “Notwithstanding what the law says, I am prepared to request the resignation of those secretaries who did not seek re-election and were therefore replaced as assemblymen. I believe that this is the right and proper thing to do in the unique circumstances which we now find ourselves.”
He said “Some of the remaining secretaries in the Executive Council will be assigned additional portfolios to facilitate this change.”
Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis -
Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis has called for the resignation of all secretaries who did not seek re-election in last Monday s THA election.
In an address on Sunday evening, Dennis acknowledged the unprecedented political turmoil left after the People s National Movement (PNM) and Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) won six seats each – the first deadlock ever in the 40-year history of the THA.
Dennis lamented that the THA Act allowed the incumbents to remain in office.
He described it as a situation I do not relish.
However, he said, Notwithstanding what the law says, I am prepared to request the resignation of those secretaries who did not seek re-election and were, therefore, replaced as assemblymen.
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