THA Chief Secretary: Amendments To THA Act Only Solution To Deadlock

Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Ancil Dennis, says he is operating based on law and legal advice as efforts continue to address the Assembly's existing deadlock situation. At the first Executive Council Media Briefing since the January 25th THA election, Chief Secretary Dennis reiterated that with the current deadlock, technically, there exists no House of Assembly to be dissolved and therefore they are not legally in a position to call fresh THA elections; hence his request for intervention of the Prime Minister. Mr. Dennis stressed amendments to the THA Act remains the only solution, which includes the 15 seat recommendation and an allowance for the Chief Secretary to call an election. Mr. Dennis, who was elected to the position of Chief Secretary in May 2020, said he doesn't intend to remain Chief Secretary too long under the present circumstances, and he hopes this matter can be resolved as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary indicated he has been given word that the Joint Select Committee has been given a deadline of May 2021 to complete its work on the Tobago Autonomy Bill.