POLITICAL leader of the Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus is strongly condemning the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for what she describes as continued legal recklessness and political vindictiveness following the Industrial Court ruling that the assembly wrongfully terminated 13 contract workers.

A media report has indicated that the THA might have to pay more than $3 million to 13 contract workers fired after the 2021 THA elections. The report said the Advocate Trade Union (ATU) represented the group and had until May 29 to indicate what each worker was owed. A final court ruling is scheduled for June 30.

Thereafter, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is on record saying that the assembly is appealing the matter.

In response, Tsoiafatt-Angus said the THA was not just wasting public money, but abusing power, punishing people and misleading the public.

This pattern of legal defeats, she said continues to drain public resources while the THA claims it has no money for essential services.

“More millions in damages. More public money wasted. And Tobago continues to remain stagnant – all because of the arrogance and recklessness of this administration. And to make matters worse, the Chief Secretary is yet again planning to appeal, wasting even more of the people’s hard-earned money on a fight that the court has already ruled they deserve to lose.”

She described the deception and political cleansing exposed by the court, including false claims of consultation, lack of evidence of restructuring, and the deliberate targeting of workers perceived to be aligned with the former administration.

The workers, she said, were discarded without dignity, without care, and without support.

“Husbands and wives, both sent home, left to suffer anxiety, shame, and financial ruin.”

She said the IDA fully supported the court’s ruling in favour of the workers and issued a direct appeal to the Chief Secretary to "have a heart...

“Do not punish these families any further by appealing a case that you have already lost. This THA administration must see that they didn’t just terminate workers – they terminated livelihoods, dignity, and trust. While they appeal to buy time and spin the narrative, Tobago is paying the price for their vindictiveness and financial recklessness.”

However, political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) Watson Duke has said that when the current THA administration took office in 2021, he cautioned them about using political power to target and terminate workers. Sadly, he said the warning was ignored, as according to him, what followed was a “wave of politically motivated dismissals.”

This, he described as unjust, troubling and entirely unavoidable.

“I want to strongly advise that the THA would relook at the past firings over its tenure and begin to apologise to people and compensate them.”

Duke said he would never support political firings.

“When does it end? We have to end political firings in Tobago, Tobago is way too small for that.”

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