Tobago House of Assembly won’t push for secession, says chief secretary

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has confirmed that the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will not include provisions for secession in its push for greater autonomy. However, he added that if public consultations indicate support for such an option, Tobagonians “will get what they want.”

Augustine made the remarks during an online media briefing following his trip to St Kitts and Nevis for the Caricom Heads of Government meeting. He was part of Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation and was specifically invited to engage with local officials and examine the federation’s governance structure.

Last week, Augustine described Nevis’ autonomy laws as “progressive” and suggested Tobago could learn from them in its quest for greater self-determination. Under Article 113 of the St Kitts and Nevis Constitution, Nevis can secede if two-thirds of voters approve a referendum. A 1998 attempt fell just four percentage points short of the required threshold.

“Our proposals for a referendum would not include a right to secede,” Augustine said. “What St Kitts and Nevis did was place a very high benchmark in law — two-thirds of the population plus two-thirds of the Nevis Island Administration must say yes in order for Nevis to depart from the federation. That right to self-determination is embedded in their laws.”

He emphasised that the ultimate decision on autonomy or secession rests with the people of Tobago. Despite the Tobago People’s Party winning all 15 THA seats, Augustine stressed a democratic approach.

“I am not coming up with these laws and saying this is what I want. We are going to the people of Tobago, and what they want will factor into the proposed legislation,” he said.

He added that a simple majority would be insufficient for a decision as consequential as secession. “You don’t want the union to be separated by just 51 per cent of the people saying yes. That can’t work. It has to be a special and high benchmark if such a provision is to be included in the laws,” Augustine said.

During his visit, Augustine met with Mark Brantley, Nevis Premier, and Sir Kennedy Simmonds, the 90-year-old former Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, to review constitutional provisions related to autonomy.

He noted striking contrasts between the governance relationship in St Kitts and Nevis and that of Trinidad and Tobago, and highlighted differences between prior failed autonomy bills under the PNM administration and the current arrangements in Nevis.