Reproduced unedited from the TOBAGO NEWS
The People's National Movement (PNM) is calling on Tobagonians and Trinidadians alike to reject outright the Green Paper on Self-Government for Tobago and to see it as a Bill imposed on Tobagonians by the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Speaking at a media conference at PNM's Tobago Balisier House on Monday, PRO of the Tobago Council of the PNM Dr Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus explained that the Assembly Bills approved by the House of Assembly after consultation with thousands of Tobagonians were about the "Tobagonian's voice, their views and the future they see for themselves as Tobagonians and their right to internal self-government".
She added: "The Green Paper is the creature of the Attorney General who is attempting to foist his views upon Tobagonians and must be rejected as it represents the continued disrespect shown by this Partnership Government for the people of Tobago."
Dr. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus asked Tobagonians to consider what right do Ramlogan and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) have to publish this Green Paper and ask Tobagonians to go back out and consult again in a few weeks, on a topic that has extensively been discussed over the past four years.
She said the current scenario was repeating a process that was already completed, where a nonpartisan group of well-established Tobagonians were commissioned by the THA to collate the views of Tobagonians from across the whole island.
She pointed out that voices of average Tobagonians including those of special interest groups, prominent individuals like ANR Robinson and the late Sir Ellis Clarke and political entities were documented and then debated in the House of Assembly and sent to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General under the pen of the Chief Secretary.
Dr. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus emphasised that the Minority Leader Ashworth Jack was involved from the start and abandoned the process at the "baton change" when it was debated in the House.
She pointed out that the farce of the Green Paper was that in essence it cannot effect changes for the Tobago House of Assembly since it only addressed the Constitutional Amendment and not the Act that gave action to the Constitution.
The PRO admonished Tobagonians not to be trapped into taking a "piece" of legislation that cannot then be enacted until another series of consultations were held.
She reiterated that had the Assembly Bills been used as the basis for the Green Paper, it would have provided the amendments to both the Constitution and the Tobago House of Assembly Act for which extensive work had already been done.
She recalled that throughout the consultations, the majority of Tobagonians wanted to be defined by international standards and marine law that gave Tobago a border of 200 nautical miles that defined their marine resource contribution to the national purse and not 10 miles as the TOP leader and Ramlogan would like.
She further reminded that persons also understood the need to protect Tobago's heritage and recommended a four-year residency status before being granted voters rights or eligibility to be elected, unlike the three months suggested by the Ramlogan's Green Paper.
Deputy Chairman, Wendell Berkley said his message for Tobago is that no one should treat Tobagonians like children.
He said neither the Green Paper nor carnival ought to be imposed on Tobagonians because they can hold their own discussions and make decisions free and fair.
Dr. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus asked Tobagonians to consider what right do Ramlogan and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) have to publish this Green Paper and ask Tobagonians to go back out and consult again in a few weeks, on a topic that has extensively been discussed over the past four years.
She said the current scenario was repeating a process that was already completed, where a nonpartisan group of well-established Tobagonians were commissioned by the THA to collate the views of Tobagonians from across the whole island.
She pointed out that voices of average Tobagonians including those of special interest groups, prominent individuals like ANR Robinson and the late Sir Ellis Clarke and political entities were documented and then debated in the House of Assembly and sent to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General under the pen of the Chief Secretary.
Dr. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus emphasised that the Minority Leader Ashworth Jack was involved from the start and abandoned the process at the "baton change" when it was debated in the House.
She pointed out that the farce of the Green Paper was that in essence it cannot effect changes for the Tobago House of Assembly since it only addressed the Constitutional Amendment and not the Act that gave action to the Constitution.
The PRO admonished Tobagonians not to be trapped into taking a "piece" of legislation that cannot then be enacted until another series of consultations were held.
She reiterated that had the Assembly Bills been used as the basis for the Green Paper, it would have provided the amendments to both the Constitution and the Tobago House of Assembly Act for which extensive work had already been done.
She recalled that throughout the consultations, the majority of Tobagonians wanted to be defined by international standards and marine law that gave Tobago a border of 200 nautical miles that defined their marine resource contribution to the national purse and not 10 miles as the TOP leader and Ramlogan would like.
She further reminded that persons also understood the need to protect Tobago's heritage and recommended a four-year residency status before being granted voters rights or eligibility to be elected, unlike the three months suggested by the Ramlogan's Green Paper.
Deputy Chairman, Wendell Berkley said his message for Tobago is that no one should treat Tobagonians like children.
He said neither the Green Paper nor carnival ought to be imposed on Tobagonians because they can hold their own discussions and make decisions free and fair.
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