Tobago wants $3.7B for 2012, prepared to go to court for "fair share"

The Finance Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly on Tuesday attacked the Central government, accusing the administration of trying to "recolonise the island.

Dr Anselm London made the charge as he delivered the THA's 2012. He said the People's Partnership government is trying to make Tobagonians economic, political and social servants.

"Like in the colonial past, Tobago has become prized property to be fought over and claimed. But while everybody wishes to fight over Tobago, only Tobagonians can fight for Tobago," he said.

"The risk is that over the next several months, there is likely to be an intensification by the Central Government of its efforts to disrespect, intimidate and wear down the people of Tobago. 

"They will do that through obfuscation, manipulation and emasculation. And when those methods do not work, as they will not, they will revert to the well-rehearsed strategies of delivering hampers, kissing babies and where necessary, resorting to outright falsehoods and fabrications."

London asked for a further $36 million dollars for CEPEP for the 2012 financial year and warned that the THA would use the courts if necessary to get its fair share of the national budget.

"If it chooses to do otherwise, this administration will use every resource at our disposal and yes, including the court, to secure for this island, that which is morally and legally ours," London said.

The budget estimates $2.1 billion in recurrent expenditure and about $1.6 billion for development. London said the THA projects $139 million in tax revenue.

The leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People, Ashworth Jack, called the budget "two hours and twenty minutes of ranting".