Farley THA Dependency Dangerous
Political Leader of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP), Farley Augustine, has characterized the island’s current economic dependence on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) as inherently « dangerous. » Speaking at a political meeting in Lambeau ahead of the January 12, 2026 elections, Augustine argued that an economy cannot be deemed sustainable if it relies solely on THA expenditures to function.
He challenged the metric often used to gauge economic health—specifically, the number of contractors paid by the THA—stating that this mindset admits that nothing happens in Tobago unless the Assembly bills it. Augustine outlined a vision for an economy driven by industries independent of the THA’s daily, monthly, or quarterly spending cycles.
Addressing concerns regarding employment, Augustine firmly dismissed rumors suggesting a plan to fire CEPEP and URP workers. He labeled these claims as recurring election-season fabrications. Instead, he emphasized that the administration’s strategy is to bolster the private sector to such a degree that Tobagonians will find it more advantageous to seek gainful employment outside of the government sector, rather than being forced out.
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