Barjan Politicians Hails from Bethel Tobago

Shamfa Cudjoe Minister of Tourism and Delmon Baker, former
Minister of Tobago Development

Political Barjans: Bethel has long been known for being a depressed area and for being a crime hot spot in Tobago. Though surrounded somewhat by the coastal beauty of Mt. Irvine and the tranquility and serenity of Carnbee and SouSou lands, the aggression usually consistent within certain strata of society were seen displayed by persons who held and are currently holding high office.

Such was the case yesterday when current Member of Parliament and Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe and former Member of Parliament and Tobago Affairs Minister Dr. Delmon Baker were caught throwing repulsive comments at each other.

Perhaps Tobago is a mill that produces poor examples of politicians or political 'barjans', or perhaps the two were exhibiting repressed social influence, a bi-product of the socialization and influence of their village. Even if neither is not the case, (and we hope so) the truth remains that both former and current MPs via their ugly exchange on social media are indulging in dishonorable behavior.

Indeed it is a poor display of statesmanship when politicians aspire to conduct themselves and engage in a manner that is unbecoming and unseemly. What are the benefits accrued by such irresponsibility? Likes? Support from those you should be an example to? Or is it a ploy to raise the 'ant nest' of blind followers before the THA's election?

It is embarrassing enough for Tobago to be labeled as 'backward' but it is even worst when persons of such caliber, through childish behavior adds meaning to such a label. What is left for our youths to emulate?

We the Tobago Daily cannot support,justify or condoned such aggressive behavioral display,whether virtually or otherwise. It leaves much to be desired and certainly not fitting for persons who aspire to or hold high office.

What we demand is that our politicians (whether in government or not) act with high esteem, morality, integrity and goodwill. We demand that the actions our politicians be honest, fair and worthy of respect. We demand that you perform your duties not only as Ministers, but as examplers and as a role model to our youths.

Get your crooked act together, desist from such frivolous and unprofessional social indulgences. Turn your attention to more productive social media activities. There are members of your constituency and village who are suffering and need your assistance. Always keep in mind that to whom much is given, much is required.

Tobago Constitutional Reform a Political Scam

And the Game of Political Football continues, while the people of Tobago Suffers! Another Non Useful Exercise of Constitutional Ole Talk begins, courtesy, Minister Baker through the Ministry of Tobago Development. So Go ahead Tobago, indulge your self, be kicked like the Football you have settled to become, and when the game is ended, you'll recognized that you have lost the match in a worst manner than Brazil's shameful defeat.

Its only a week after branding the Constitutional reform (which was accepted by the Prime Minister) as illegal, that the Ministry of Tobago Development is seeking to present and initiate another design to engaged Tobagonians in the same process that was concluded mere months ago, and to which they categorically refused to be part of.  What sort of Duplication of effort is this? What sort of Wastage is this? both of time and resources! What sort of Tobagonian are you? This is Scandalous and Tobago must WAKE UP! Constitutional Reform has become a Political Game, and your well-being and future remains in the doldrums, because of some Over-Educated, Egocentric Few. 

Tobago, the only way out and forward is a resounding unified front. But this unified front does not exist in the leadership of any Political Party, it rests in the hands of the Masses, NGO's and other non partisan groups whom they have used and reused (for political expediency) over and over again. Time enough to send a resounding 'no nonsense' message, to those bent on keeping the island of Tobago in an everlasting state of Underdevelopment. Let them know that you are not prepared to compromise your future nor your children's future at the expense of these never ending Political Wars. Let them know that you are not prepared to sit idly by and be tossed like a 'shaft which the wind driveth away'. 

Stand up for your Rights, Stand up for your Future and your Children's Future. Let Your Voices be Heard. Stand up and Defend your Dignity and your Island against these Political Soucouyants.    

Tobago's Education System Poor Performance

Minister of Tobago Development, Dr. Delmon Baker

Tobago’s population of about 56,000 is roughly 4.3% to 4.5% of the national population. That in effect meant Tobago should have attained at least sixteen national scholarship awardees out of the four hundred and twenty-eight instead on the three it received. Those statements were made by the Minister of Tobago Development, Dr. Delmon Baker as he highlighted how Tobago students are vastly under-performing. He said, “our system should have produced at least sixteen, just by raw numbers, by averages, unfortunately we are under-performing in that area”.

Dr. Baker indicated that he was raising an alarm bell because the under-performing is being duplicated at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) levels. That situation he said, “puts our society fundamentally behind our counterparts in Trinidad”. Taking a line from a song by ‘Shadow What Wrong With Me’, the Minister said the question which must be asked is, “what is wrong with the education system in Tobago as to why we cannot meet our quota of scholarship students, of SEA passes and of CXC passes?”.

Dr. Delmon Baker seeks to Implement Maritime Monitoring System for Tobago

Dr. Delmon Baker, Minister in the Ministry of Tobago Development (MTD) will soon be seeking Cabinet’s approval for his Ministry to implement a Maritime Monitoring System (MMS) around the island of Tobago for the purposes of monitoring the meteorological aspects of the marine environment and providing necessary warnings to appropriate individuals, in particularly members of the fishing community.

London to Baker: Don’t play politics with Tobago’s money

Orville London, Chief Secretary THA

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) received the $222.8 million needed for the payment of arrears of salaries and wages to its 9,000 monthly and daily rated employees on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Finance had given instructions to the Ministry of Tobago Development on July 4 to release $222,818,100 to the Assembly as part of the supplementary budget approved by Parliament a month ago.

In addition, the Tobago Development Ministry was instructed on June 26 to release $87,487,500 to the Assembly as the final tranche for its development programme in fiscal 2013. This too was received on Wednesday.

However, an instruction from the Ministry of Finance dated June 2 to the Ministry of Tobago Development for the release of $341,937,263 for recurrent expenditure during the final quarter of fiscal 2013 was still outstanding. This sum is needed to pay salaries and wages to Assembly workers, as well as their national insurance and health surcharge. The money is also to be used for the purchase of goods and services and minor equipment for the period July to September 2013. An additional $14,324,960 for the daily-rated workers group pension plan “was withheld” according to correspondence from the Ministry of Finance.

Chief Secretary Orville London told Wednesday’s weekly post Executive Council media briefing that he didn’t know if the delay in releasing the final tranche to the Assembly was a deliberate act by the Ministry of Tobago Development.

However, he said, releases have been delayed over the last two and three quarters unlike previous years. He said the time spent after the approval of funds by the Ministry of Finance and their release by the Ministry of Tobago Development has been increasing; a blatant example of this was the release of the second tranche due in early January but only released after the THA elections.

He said the Ministry of Tobago Development was the sub treasury which only served as a conduit for the release of funds to the Assembly and he “didn’t think anyone should play politics with the lives of people”. “We should not play games with people’s lives,” he stressed.

London said now that the funds were available to the Assembly, employees will begin receiving their arrears by the end of this month. He added that because there were a lot of workers involved, it would take some time to pay all of them.

Source:tobagonews