Farley to PM: ‘Mind your damn business’

_{Farley to PM “Well just mind yuh damn business then!”}

That was the advice that Chief Secretary Farley Augustine had for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, following his call for fresh Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.

Augustine on Monday made the comment via his Facebook page, alongside a 31-second clip of Dr Rowley speaking on a political platform. In the brief video, the Prime Minister affirms Tobago’s independence in dealing with its affairs, declaring that he “stays out of Tobago’s business”.

Augustine also listed the THA’s business, according to the Fifth Schedule.

The Chief Secretary’s stance comes as the Prime Minister in a recent op-ed noted that the THA Executive is currently being run by “independents” following their resignation from the Watson Duke-led Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP).

Augustine very recently formed a new political party, the Tobago People’s Party (TPP).

Duke added his voice to the conversation, agreeing with the Prime Minister on the call for Tobagonians to return to the polls.

During a live radio interview the PDP leader said Dr Rowley was right in his statements.

“The Prime Minister is correct. I do not usually agree with the Prime Minister, but in this instance I would say he spoke correctly and he spoke in a manner that represents the interests and the welfare of Tobago,” Duke said.

Meanwhile, attorney Martin George and head of the Tobago Business Chamber said while the Prime Minister’s call may hold water from a moral standpoint, there’s no legal imperative by which the members of the THA Executive can be forced out of office.

At the same time, he said it was up to the people of Tobago to say whether they wanted their leaders to seek a fresh mandate, especially in the context of the newly formed TPP.

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