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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to announce more goodies for Tobago as she makes her first official visit to the island today. One of the main priority areas for discussion with Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is legislation to deliver autonomy for Tobago. In the national budget, the Persad-Bissessar-led Government allocated $3.72 billion to the THA —the largest allocation in the island’s history. This figure comes from a $2.96 billion allocation to the THA and a further $763 million will be spent by various ministries on Tobago. The Prime Minister is expected to outline and detail several projects, initiatives and incentives that will benefit the sister island. Persad-Bissessar arrived in Tobago on Monday evening, but her official day of activities begins today. A key item on the agenda is her address at a Special Sitting of the Tobago House of Assembly Legislature from 2 p.m. The trip comes at the invitation of Augustine, who formally wrote to the Office of the Prime Minister under provisions of Act 40 of 1996. During Dr Keith Rowley’s nearly ten years in office, there were unsuccessful attempts to deliver autonomy for Tobago as support of the Opposition was critical. The last effort was in December 2024 when The Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill, which required a three-fourths majority, failed in Parliament without the support of the then-Opposition United National Congress (UNC). The Farley-led THA had rejected the Bill, saying that it was not a true representation of the desires of Tobago. The Bill at that time would have limited the powers of the Cabinet in regard to Tobago, granted the Tobago Legislature law-making powers over Tobago in specified matters, and deeply entrenched the powers granted to the Tobago Island Government and Legislature in the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution. It would have virtually established two executive authorities—the Cabinet in Trinidad and the Executive Council in Tobago—with exclusive jurisdiction. Any new legislation for autonomy will require a constitutional amendment. Therefore, to make this a reality, the support of the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the Lower House and the Independent senators in the Senate will be needed. According to a release from the Chief Secretary’s Office, during the visit, the Prime Minister and Attorney General are carded to discuss Tobago’s autonomy. Additionally, a series of meetings will be held between Cabinet ministers and the respective line secretaries of the Tobago House of Assembly. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by several Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials, including Attorney General John Jeremie, Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John, Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Dominic Smith and permanent secretary to the Prime Minister and Head of the Public Service, Natasha Barrow. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that her remarks will highlight the Government’s ongoing work to expand social and economic opportunity, enhance public administration, and strengthen national unity through practical, people-centred governance. After the assembly proceedings, the Prime Minister is scheduled to host a brief informal meeting with members of the Executive Council of the THA at her Official Residence in Blenheim, Tobago, to further discuss key areas of collaboration and shared priorities. At 7 p.m. a reception in honour of the Prime Minister will be hosted by the Chief Secretary and his wife at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. The event will bring together members of the Tobago business community, cultural and civic leaders, public officials, and representatives of civil society, in recognition of the enduring partnership between both islands. The Prime Minister’s visit comes as the THA is gearing up for its elections which can be held as early as December this year or by January 2026. PM’s Tobago Itinerary *Visit to Signal Hill Secondary School – Special joint ceremony hosted by the Signal Hill Secondary, Primary, and Kindergarten Schools. *Courtesy call on THA Chief Secretary– At the Office of the Chief Secretary, THA. *Visit to the Office of the Prime Minister, Central Administrative Services, Tobago (CAST) *Feature address at the THA Legislature. *Informal meeting with the THA Executive Council – At the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, Blenheim, Tobago, to discuss key areas of collaboration and shared priorities. *Reception in honour of the Prime Minister – Hosted by the Chief Secretary and his wife at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tobago.
