Clarke $1B Debt Burden "Not Easy"
Speaking on the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) platform, Assemblyman for Lambeau/Lowlands, Wayne Clarke, delivered a blistering critique regarding the financial state of the Tobago House of Assembly. With the January 12, 2026, THA elections approaching, Clarke highlighted the severe challenges posed by a debt of just under $1 billion inherited from the previous administration.
Clarke illustrated the magnitude of this financial obligation, explaining that it is equivalent to the total allocation the Assembly receives over four years. He noted that even if every dollar received annually were directed solely toward debt repayment, it would still take a full four-year term to clear the arrears. This burden, he argued, significantly impacts the current administration’s ability to operate freely.
The Assemblyman firmly supported the Chief Secretary’s strategy for managing these payments. He clarified that the administration is committed to paying debts, but strictly based on verified and completed work. Clarke detailed that auditors have been deployed to validate claims, a move he suggested has caused unrest among certain contractors.
In a sharp rebuke directed at a specific builder from Lambeau, Clarke stated that the individual « supposed to be in a pit » rather than building walls that collapse. He challenged the opposition’s use of the phrase « Tobago is We, » asserting that true Tobagonians do not exploit the island’s treasury. Clarke concluded by defining « Tobago is We » as those willing to work honestly for the island’s development, rather than those seeking to profit through dishonesty.
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