No Cap for Secretaries for Monday’s Presidential Swearing-in
January 22, 2026 — A pivotal shift in Tobago’s governance begins today as the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) undergoes a major structural overhaul. Following the historic fifteen-nil sweep by the Tobago People’s Party (TPP), Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is preparing to unveil what he describes as a leaner, more focused executive team designed to eliminate the overlap of unrelated portfolios.
During the first Plenary Sitting of the 2026–2030 term held today, Chief Secretary Augustine confirmed that the new Executive Council will consist of the Chief Secretary, the Deputy Chief Secretary, and a maximum of eleven other Secretaries. This expansion from the previous limit of seven was made possible by the Tobago House of Assembly (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was passed in the Senate earlier this week.
The structural realignment includes the creation of specialized standalone divisions, such as:
Division for Planning and Development
Division for Legal and Inter-Governmental Affairs
By increasing the number of Secretaries to 11, the administration aims to ensure greater portfolio specialization and more consistent service delivery. Chief Secretary Augustine noted that the removal of the “artificial cap” allows for a more proportionate distribution of the workload across the expanded 15-member Assembly.
Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is scheduled to be on the island this coming Monday, January 26, at 11:00 AM to officially administer the Oaths of Office to the new Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries.
Reporter Jewel Greene-George (JRG) will provide live coverage of Monday’s swearing-in ceremony.
