With the arrival of Dr Eric Williams and the People's National Movement, the excitement over controlling Tobago seemed to have gone behind the curtains, only to step forward with ANR Robinson and his Democratic Action Congress (DAC).
The cry then was about possible autonomy for Tobago. However, as control over Trinidad and Tobago for Robinson became possible, the DAC appeared to lose interest in autonomy for Tobago.
Other advocates, like Hochoy Charles and the energetic Dr Winston Murray went on to advocate autonomy for Tobago, but few people seriously took on their demands.
Tobago seemed to have its concerns over autonomy settled with the THA Act. But within recent times, debates and discussions over autonomy have resurfaced. It is clear therefore that the Tobago governance issue is not dead.
To my mind the time has come to objectively look at governance in Tobago.
Other advocates, like Hochoy Charles and the energetic Dr Winston Murray went on to advocate autonomy for Tobago, but few people seriously took on their demands.
Tobago seemed to have its concerns over autonomy settled with the THA Act. But within recent times, debates and discussions over autonomy have resurfaced. It is clear therefore that the Tobago governance issue is not dead.
To my mind the time has come to objectively look at governance in Tobago.
Some people are demanding Tobago be treated as another regional corporation. Clearly, such people do not understand the dynamics of history and culture.
Others believe the Tobago House of Assembly should be allowed to handle its affairs without Central Government interference. This to my mind can lead to problems which space does not allow me to highlight.
Still others like me believe Tobago needs a federal-type structure—similar to what now exists in the US.
Whatever the design or government structure we adapt, it is important that we recognise the trend worldwide of regional groupings and the problems of small states on the global landscape.
Further, while it is comforting to talk about the natural resources of Tobago, is it not more important to reflect on how we can help make these resources a functional reality?
Perhaps now, more than ever, we should sit down to decide where we are going with Tobago and how fixing Tobago can lead to the benefit of Tobagonians in particular and Trinidad and Tobago in general. Again I ask for think-tanks, since politicians seem not able to function without strings attached.
Also, the time has come for Tobagonians to seriously consider what they want.
Raymond Hackett | via e-mail
Perhaps now, more than ever, we should sit down to decide where we are going with Tobago and how fixing Tobago can lead to the benefit of Tobagonians in particular and Trinidad and Tobago in general. Again I ask for think-tanks, since politicians seem not able to function without strings attached.
Also, the time has come for Tobagonians to seriously consider what they want.
Raymond Hackett | via e-mail
Please read related column: Understanding the Tobago row - by Dr Hamid Ghany
No comments:
Post a Comment