THA launches $2.25m electoral district fund

Stephon Nicholas

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has launched a $2.25 million programme designed to give area representatives greater resources to address day-to-day challenges in their communities.

The Electoral District Fund, a manifesto commitment first proposed by the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), was officially launched earlier this week, with $150,000 allocated to each of Tobago’s 15 electoral districts. A unit within the Division of Community Development and Social Protection will manage the programme.

Speaking at the launch at the division’s offices in Scarborough, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said he expects the initiative to become a lasting legacy of his administration.

“It will not matter who will represent your district thereafter. A fund will always be available regardless of which side of the political divide the area representative is from, and that is only fair. At the heart of this, is an understanding that if you are elected then you must now have a responsibility to provide goods and services to that district.”

Augustine said the initiative promotes equity and allows area representatives to take a more active role in resolving issues affecting their constituents.

The Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside representative said the fund had been promised before the closely contested 2021 THA election.

The PDP won the December 2021 election 12-3, but internal divisions later led to the formation of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP). Augustine said the Assembly Legislature later approved a motion establishing the fund, while the administration worked out how it would operate. The TPP went on to win the January 12 THA election 15-0.

Although the PDP had originally promised $10 million for each electoral district, Augustine acknowledged the scaled-back launch.

“We decided we would start this slow and steady. The campaign promise in 2021 was a gargantuan sum per electoral district. I would not go over those figures,” he said with a smile.

He said the funding would help address everyday needs by supporting sporting groups, faith-based organisations, schools, vulnerable people and fisherfolk.

“This is for tiny, critical projects in these areas,” he said, adding that requests would not become bogged down in bureaucracy.

Assistant Secretary of Community Development Ackel Franklyn said the fund could also be used to respond to disasters.

With the fiscal year ending in September, Franklyn said the initial allocation could make a meaningful impact before it is renewed in the new fiscal year.

Programme co-ordinator Akilah Kaiser said the fund would complement, rather than replace, existing programmes across THA divisions.

“We do not intend to duplicate or replace any divisions. We assist where we can or we refer or we collaborate,” she said.

Kaiser said many area representatives had previously used their own money to help struggling constituents, but the new programme would remove that burden.

“They can come to the respective district offices, identify their needs and concerns and the process begins from there.”

District office managers Kellyanne Frank of Plymouth/Black Rock and David Smith of Mt St George/Goodwood welcomed the initiative.

Smith said his office regularly receives requests from vulnerable residents and believes the fund will allow assistance to reach them much faster.

“They will get help in real time,” he said, predicting support could be delivered in less than two weeks.