Tobago CivilNet Organisation Calls For Properly Constituted THA

The Tobago CivilNet organisation is warning that Tobago needs the Tobago House of Assembly to use its power to formulate and implement policies for the 33 areas of responsibility assigned under the THA Act 40 of 1996. In a release, they say that according to Economist Dr. Vanus James, there will be many risks for Tobago without an Assembly. Among these are that the Chief Secretary would not be able to transmit draft estimates in accordance with the appropriate legal procedure as well as there being a lack of adequate representation for the people of Tobago in the process of planning and budgeting to meet the 5th Schedule responsibilities. Among other things they say the citizens will be without institutional arrangements to scrutinise the use of their monies by the holdover Executive Council. Their main message says legislative oversight is needed. They say that the Assembly must be constituted urgently while sounding the alarm that without this democracy is at risk in Tobago.