The Tobago House of Assembly

The Tobago House of Assembly.

Since 1764 Tobago was a self governing island, with is own 12-seat House of Assembly, responsible for running the business and services of the island.
• Tobago had its own Legislative Council, Laws and a Governor, appointed by Britain, thus, its political and economic confines were dictated from Britain.
• This changed in 1876 the British institutionalised Crown Colony Government in Trinidad and Tobago was made an administrative associate colony then later amalgamated to Trinidad.
• In 1974 the Hugh Wooding Commission on the Constitutional reform of observed that the question of Tobago must be addressed.

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• In 1977 the House of Representatives resolved that: "Proper and necessary steps should be taken to accord the people of Tobago internal self-government in such measure as will not be contradictory to the Constitutional reality of the Independent unitary state of Trinidad and Tobago.
• In1979 debate on the Tobago House of Assembly Act begun and Act No.37 was passed in 1980.
• The new Tobago House of Assembly Act 40, of 1996 repeals Act 37, of 1980. The new Act gives the THA greater autonomy than any previous legislation in political, financial and social issues. The THA has no powers of of law making and is still bound by the Constitution of the Republic. It also reports directly to the Minister of Tobago Affairs, who acts on its behalf in the Cabinet and the House of Representatives.

ANR Robinson
1st. Chairman of the
Restored THA - 1980

• Members to the The Tobago House of Assembly are elected every four years.
• Upper Scarborough, overlooking James Park (the original Market Square) is the site of the Tobago House of Assembly. It is in a Georgian styled mansion, an architectural remnant of the colonial era. Most of the buildings from this era were lost in the 1789 fire that razed the town of Scarborough.
• From 1976-1986 Mr. ANR Robinson led the struggle for decentralization and devolution of authority to Tobago.

He was the first Chairman of the (restored) Tobago House of Assembly and founder-member of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) which he led to victory in the elections of 1986 when he became Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago until December 1991.

Members of the Tobago House of Assembly - (2001 - 2005) - 6th. Session

Assemblyman Orville London	Chief Secretary and Secretary for Finance, Works, Transport and Infrastructure. Member for Scarborough/Signal Hill. - PNM
Assemblywoman Ann Mitchell-Gift	Presiding Officer.
Assemblyman Cynthia Alfred	Deputy Chief Secretary, Secretary for Health and Social Services. Member for Bacolet/Mt. St. George. - PNM
Assemblyman Hughford McKenna	Secretary for Agriculture, State Lands and Settlements. Member for for Belle Garden/Goodwood. - PNM
Councillor Hilton Sandy	Secretary for Infrastructure and Public Utilities. - PNM
Councillor Anslem London	Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration - PNM
Councillor Neil Wilson	Secretary for Tourism, Transportation, Enterprise Development & Settlements Chairman of the PNM Tobago Council
Assemblyman William Mc Kenzie	Secretary for Community Development and Culture Member for Buccoo/Lambeau. - PNM
Assemblyman Lennox Smith	Assistant Secretary for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Member for Canaan/Bon Accord. - PNM
Assemblyman Adintong Spencer	Assistant Secretary for Health and Social Services. Member for L'Anse Fourmi /Speyside - PNM
Assemblyman Michael Brizan	Assistant Secretary for Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment. Member for Black Rock/Whim.- PNM
Assemblyman Anthony Arnold	Deputy Presiding Officer.
Assemblyman Ashworth Michael Jack	Assistant Secretary for Works and Infrastructure. Member for Providence/Calder Hall.
Assemblyman Hochoy Charles	Minority Leader Member for Plymouth/Golden Lane - NAR
Assemblyman Ashworth Michael Jack	Member for Providence/Calder Hall. - NAR
Assemblyman Cecil Caruth	Member for Roxborough/Delaford. - NAR
Assemblywoman Miriam Caesar-Moore	Member for Bethel / Patience Hill. - NAR
Councillor Alex Browne	Councillor. - NAR

• The Assembly meets in the Assembly Chamber once a month - the fourth Thursday of every month.
• The Executive Council meets once a week - every Monday.
• The Clerk of the Assembly provides administrative support to the assembly and is "responsible for the efficient discharge of such functions as fall to be discharged by him under the rules and standing orders of the assembly, or as may be assigned to him by the presiding officer."

The Tobago Assembly, however, does not have legislative powers.