Farley 'Sorry' Better Than Permission
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has signaled a shift towards aggressive infrastructure development, declaring that his administration is prepared to bypass bureaucratic hurdles to ensure Tobago’s progress. Speaking at a Tobago People’s Party (TPP) meeting, Augustine asserted that when it comes to the island’s development, « sometimes you have to be prepared to say sorry than to ask for permission. »
Augustine justified this stance by pointing to a precedent set by the previous administration, listing several major state projects that he claims were constructed without a single planning approval. He cited the Food Hub, where he noted the Tobago Agribusiness Development Company (TADCO) recently struggled to obtain a bar license because the building lacks planning permission.
He further listed the Micro Mall in Argyle, the « monstrosity on the beach » in Castara, and the Charlotteville fishing depot—which he claimed suffers from a failing sewer system—as examples of government infrastructure built without regulatory sign-off. « Every step of the way we took… EMA come in, Town and Country Planning come in, » Augustine observed, contrasting the scrutiny his administration faces with the leeway granted to his predecessors.
The Chief Secretary warned that he is no longer willing to let « obstruction » stifle the economy. « I am prepared to tell them… get to hell out of Tobago, we will build what we have to build, » he stated, arguing that the island’s economic growth depends on faster, more efficient project execution.
Turning to the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Augustine criticized the current policy that requires foreigners to seek land holding licenses from a Minister in Trinidad. He claimed that since this policy was championed by former Chief Secretary Orville London, the island has not seen « a single foreign direct investment. » He rejected the philosophy that « Trinidad does it better, » maintaining that Tobagonians are intelligent, talented, and capable enough to manage their own affairs.
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