“We have a disaster of this magnitude and you realise that I keep saying well we have to take the sample, send it to Trinidad, we have to get equipment we don’t have on the island to match a tier two type disaster”
Scarborough, Tobago – February 9th, 2024 – Amidst the intensive oil spill clean-up and containment efforts in Tobago, a strong call for greater autonomy for the island has emerged from its leadership. At a Tobago House of Assembly (THA) press conference held on Thursday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine highlighted a critical challenge in the disaster response.
Augustine stated that specialist equipment required for a Tier-Two level disaster response in Tobago was not readily available on the island and had to be sourced from Trinidad. This crucial logistical hurdle, he explained, directly contributed to the THA’s delayed initial response to the unfolding environmental crisis.
The Chief Secretary’s remarks underscore a long-standing grievance regarding Tobago’s heavy reliance on the central government for critical resources, even in emergencies. The oil spill, classified as a Tier II disaster, brought into sharp focus the practical implications of Tobago’s limited self-governance, prompting renewed demands for enhanced autonomy to better manage such crises independently. [WATCH MORE]
