Chief Secretary of Tobago
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief Secretary
| body = Tobago
| native_name =
| insignia = THAseal.png
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption =
| flag =
| flagsize =
| flagborder =
| flagcaption =
| image = Farley Augustine 2017 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| incumbent = Farley Chavez Augustine
| acting =
| incumbentsince = {{start date and age|2021|12|09|df=yes}}
| department. = Tobagonian Government
Tobago House of Assembly
| style = Chief Secretary
(informal)
The Honourable
(formal)
| type =
| status = Head of Government
| abbreviation = CS
| member_of = {{Hlist|Tobago House of Assembly|Cabinet}}
| reports_to = Tobago House of Assembly
| residence = Office of the Chief Secretary
| seat = Scarborough, Tobago
| nominator = Tobago House of Assembly
| appointer = President of Trinidad and Tobago
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength = The Chief Secretary is nominated among the Assembly following quadrennial elections to the Assembly or resignation of the previous Chief Secretary
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = {{start date and age|1980|12|04|df=yes}}
| first = ANR Robinson AM
| last =
| abolished =
| succession = 7th in order of precedence{{cn|date=September 2023}}
| unofficial_names =
| deputy = Faith B. Yisrael
| salary = {{currency|492,360|TTD}} per annum{{cite web |url=https://www.finance.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Numbered-Draft-Estimates-Statutory-Boards-2019.pdf |title=DRAFT ESTIMATES OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 2019 |publisher=Republic of Trinidad and Tobago |access-date=7 January 2020}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.tha.gov.tt/divisions/office-of-the-chief-secretary/}}
}}{{Politics of Trinidad and Tobago}}
The Chief Secretary of Tobago is the leader of the Tobagonian Government.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tha.gov.tt/about-the-assembly/|title=About The Assembly|date=March 24, 2015}} The Chief Secretary chairs the Tobagonian Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Tobagonian Government policy. Additional functions of the Chief Secretary include promoting and representing Tobago in an official capacity, at home and abroad, and responsibility for constitutional affairs, as they relate to devolution and the Tobagonian Government.
The Chief Secretary is a Member of the Assembly, and is nominated by the Tobago House of Assembly before bring officially appointed by the president. Members of the Tobagonian Cabinet as well as councilors of the Tobagonian Government are appointed by the Chief Secretary. As head of the Tobagonian Government, the Chief Secretary is directly accountable to the Tobago House of Assembly for their actions and the actions of the Tobagonian Government.
The official office of the Chief Secretary is in Calder Hall Road, Scarborough, Tobago as well as the Tobago House of Assembly on Jermingham Street.
The current Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly is Mr. Farley Chavez Augustine of the Tobago People’s Party. He assumed office on December 9, 2021.
Election and term
The Chief Secretary is almost always the leader of the largest party, or the leader of the senior partner in any majority coalition. There is no term of office for a Chief Secretary. In practice, they hold office as long as they retain the confidence of the chamber; indeed, they are required to either resign or seek a parliamentary dissolution (and with it, new elections) if his or her government "no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament." Whenever the office of Chief Secretary falls vacant, the President is responsible for appointing the new incumbent; the appointment is formalised at a meeting between the President and the Chief Secretary designate.
If an incumbent Chief Secretary is defeated in a general election, they do not immediately vacate office. The Chief Secretary only leaves office when the Tobago House of Assembly nominates a successor individual.
The period in office of a Chief Secretary is not linked to the term of members of the Tobago House of Assembly. A maximum four-year term is set for each session of Parliament.
Parliament can be dissolved and an extraordinary general election held, before the expiration of the four-year term.
The Chief Secretary, once appointed continues in office as the head of the devolved Tobago House of Assembly until either resignation, dismissal, or death. Resignation can be triggered off by the passage of a Motion of No Confidence in the Chief Secretary or the Tobagonian Government or by rejecting a Motion of Confidence in the Tobago House of Assembly. In those situations, the Chief Secretary must tender their resignation and the resignation of their government to the president. In such circumstances, the Presiding Officer appoints an interim Chief Secretary, until the Tobago House of Assembly determines on a new nominee to be presented to the President for formal appointment.
Nomination and appointment
Candidates for the position of Chief Secretary are nominated by the members of the Tobago House of Assembly from among its assembly members at the beginning of each term. The members elect the nominee for the Chief Secretary by majority vote. If no one is elected by a majority of votes cast with the first set of nominations, the process continues until a majority decide to cast their vote for one candidate. This process does not require an absolute majority of the Assembly (currently 8 out of 15 members).
Once this process has occurred the Presiding Officer shall formally send a letter to the incumbent President who must then appoint that nominee to the position of Chief Secretary.
List of chairmen and chief secretaries
Below is a list of office-holders:{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.tha.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/update-issue-2.pdf|title=Update| publisher=Tobago House of Assembly |issue=2 |magazine=Update Magazine |access-date=13 June 2020}}{{cite book|last1=Pemberton|first1=Rita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=huhPDwAAQBAJ&q=%22robinson%22+%22london%22+%22charles%22+%22denoon%22+%22hochoy%22&pg=PA395|title=Historical dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago|last2=McCollin|first2=Debbie|last3=Matthews|first3=Gelien|last4=Toussaint|first4=Michael|date=19 March 2018|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-1146-8|edition=Newition|language=en|access-date=13 June 2020}}{{cite web|title=Trinidad and Tobago|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Trinidad.html|access-date=12 June 2020|website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="10" |{{Party index link|National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR}} (3){{pad}}{{Party index link|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement|PNM}} (3){{pad}}{{Party index link|Progressive Democratic Patriots|PDP}} (1){{pad}}{{Party index link|Democratic Action Congress|DAC}} (1) |
| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Portrait !Officeholder (birth–death) Office ! colspan="3" |Term of office and mandate Duration in years and days !Party !Government ! colspan="2" |Deputy |
|---|
| colspan="10"|Chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly |
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Action Congress}}; color:black" |1
| rowspan="3" |File:A._N._R._Robinson_(cropped).jpg | rowspan="3" |A. N. R. Robinson {{small|(1926–2014)}} AM for Roxborough/Delaford | rowspan="2" |4 December 1980 | rowspan="2" |16 December 1986 | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Congress}} |1980 | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic Action Congress}} |Democratic Action Congress | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Congress}} |Robinson I ! rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Action Congress}}; color:black" |1 | rowspan="3" |Jefferson Davidson (DAC) 1980-1986 (NAR) 1986 |
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Congress}} |1984
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic Action Congress}} |Robinson II |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|1980|12|4|1986|12|16}} |
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" |2
| rowspan="3" |112x112px | rowspan="3" |Jefferson Davidson {{small|(c.1938–2023)}} AM for Belle Garden/Goodwood | rowspan="2" |16 December 1986 | rowspan="2" |31 October 1989 | — | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |National Alliance for Reconstruction | {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |Davidson I | style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" |2 |Hochoy Charles (NAR) |
| {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |1988
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |Davidson II | rowspan="4" style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" |3 | rowspan="4" |Benedict Armstrong (NAR) |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|1986|12|16|1989|12|31}} |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" |3
| rowspan="2" |112x112px | rowspan="2" |Lennox Denoon {{small|(1930–2007)}} AM for Scarborough/Signal Hill |1 November 1989 |December 1996 | {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |1992 | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |National Alliance for Reconstruction | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |Denoon |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" | |
| colspan="10"|Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" |4
| rowspan="2" |112x112px | rowspan="2" |Hochoy Charles {{small|(1946–2023){{cite web |title=Hochoy Charles |url=https://belgroves.com/services/hochoy-charles/ |website=Belgroves Funeral Home |access-date=8 February 2024}}}} AM for Moriah/Parlatuvier |December 1996 |31 January 2001 | {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |1996 | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |National Alliance for Reconstruction | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/National Alliance for Reconstruction}} |Charles | style="background:{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}; color:black" rowspan="2" |4 | rowspan="2" |Cecil Caruth (NAR) |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" | |
| rowspan="5" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |5
| rowspan="5" |112x112px | rowspan="5" |Orville London {{small|(1945–)}} AM for Scarborough/Calder Hall | rowspan="4" |1 February 2001 | rowspan="4" |26 January 2017 | {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |2001 | rowspan="5" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |People's National Movement | {{Party shading/People's National Movement}} |London I |style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" rowspan="2" |5 | rowspan="2" |Cynthia Alfred (PNM) |
| {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |2005
| {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |London II |
| {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |2009
| {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |London III | style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |6 |Hilton Sandy (PNM) |
| {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |2013
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |London IV | rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |7 | rowspan="2" |Tracy Davidson-Celestine (PNM) |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|2001|2|1|2017|1|26}} |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |6
| rowspan="2" |112x112px | rowspan="2" |Kelvin Charles {{small|(1957–)}} AM for Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden |26 January 2017 |30 April 2020 | {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |2017 | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |People's National Movement | rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |Charles | rowspan="6" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |8 | rowspan="6" |Joel Jack (PNM) |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|2017|1|26|2020|4|30}} |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |—
| rowspan="2" |112x112px | rowspan="2" |Joel Jack (acting) |30 April 2020 |6 May 2020 |— | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |People's National Movement |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|2020|4|30|2020|5|6}} |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}; color:black" |7
| rowspan="2" |112x112px | rowspan="2" |Ancil Dennis {{small|(1987–)}} AM for Buccoo/Mount Pleasant |6 May 2020 |8 December 2021 | — | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |People's National Movement | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}} |Dennis |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|2020|5|6|2021|12|8}} |
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}; color:black" |8
| rowspan="3" |112x112px | rowspan="3" |Farley Chavez Augustine {{small|(1985–)}} AM for Parlatuvier/L’anse Fourmi/Speyside |8 December 2021 |Incumbent | {{Party shading/Progressive Democratic Patriots}} |2021 (December) | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Progressive Democratic Patriots}} |Progressive Democratic Patriots | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Progressive Democratic Patriots}} |Augustine | style="background:{{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}; color:black" rowspan="2" |9 | rowspan="3" |Watson Solomon Duke (PDP) (2021-2022) (Independent) (2022-) |
| colspan="3" style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal" |{{Age in years and days|2021|12|8}} |
Timeline of chief secretaries
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from: 1986 till: 1986 color:NAR text:"ANR Robinson"
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from: 1989 till: 1996 color:NAR text:"Lennox Denoon"
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from: 2016 till: 2017 color:PNM text:"Orville London"
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from: 2020 till: 2021 color:PNM text:"Ancil Dennis"
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from: 2021 till: 2022 color:PDP
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from: 2023 till: end color:TPP text:"Farley Chavez Augustine"
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Previous nominating elections
| class=wikitable
! rowspan=7 | Party key | style="background: {{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}" | | PNM |
| style="background: {{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}" |
|PDP |
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="5" | Chief Secretary nominative elections |
|---|
| Parliamentary term
!Date !colspan="1"|Candidates ! colspan="2" |Votes received |
| rowspan="2" |Twelfth Assembly
| rowspan="2" |9 December 2021{{Citation |title=12th Tobago House of Assembly Inauguration Ceremony PT.2 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBKJ0ooWSF0 |language=en |access-date=2022-05-02}} | rowspan="2" |{{Color box|{{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}|border=darkgray| |
|Nominated by
|{{Color box|{{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}|border=darkgray||}} Watson Solomon Duke
|-
|Seconded by
|{{Color box|{{party color|Progressive Democratic Patriots}}|border=darkgray||}} Zorisha Hackett
|-
| rowspan="3" |Eleventh Assembly
|4 February 2021{{Citation |title=Third Meeting of the Assembly |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS57LTFCJoI |language=en |access-date=2022-05-02}}
| colspan="3" rowspan="3" |No Chief Secretary nominative election was subsequently held due to preceding deadlocked Presiding Officer nominative elections;Ancil Dennis remains as Caretaker Chief Secretary{{Cite web |title=THA sitting suspended, deadlocked again {{!}} Loop Trinidad & Tobago |url=https://tt.loopnews.com/content/tha-sitting-suspended-deadlocked-again |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=Loop News |language=en}}
|-
|1 February 2021{{Citation |title=Second Meeting of The Assembly |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3cXyboEB2Y |language=en |access-date=2022-05-02}}
|-
|28 January 2021{{Citation |title=Meeting of the Assembly |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1oohy7PD_k |language=en |access-date=2022-05-02}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Tenth Assembly
| rowspan="2" |6 May 2020
| rowspan="2" |{{Color box|{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}|border=darkgray||}} Ancil Dennis
|Nominated by
|{{Color box|{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}|border=darkgray||}} Sheldon Cunningham
|-
|Seconded by
|{{Color box|{{party color|Tobago Council of the People's National Movement}}|border=darkgray||}} Hayden Spencer
|}