Manning talks of more autonomy for Tobago

Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Sunday told delegates to a special convention of his governing People's National Movement (PNM) the time is right to give Tobago a greater say in its affairs.

The PNM leader said it is time for Tobago to pursue “maximum autonomy for Tobago within the unitary state of TT” with greater powers to govern its own affairs, noting that the first priority for the island would be the development of a deep water harbour.

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London welcomed Manning's announcement, telling the Newsday newspaper, “We in Tobago now have the responsibility to identify what exactly we want."

London said the process in the THA started a few months ago. “We are well on the way. I think that the important thing is that we in the THA or we in Tobago must come up with the documents that craft a relationship and craft a prospective Bill that will give the kind of platform for those kinds of aspirations that Tobagonians have,” he said.