Dr Keith Rowley
THE Prime Minister said former attorney general Ramesh Maharaj was incorrect to say the PNM had once opposed the granting of autonomy to Tobago in the past parliamentary debate on 1996 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Act.
Dr Rowley addressed the post-Cabinet briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, days after Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections which were tied six-six.
He was replying to Maharaj’s recent claim that as then AG he had wanted to give Tobago full internal self-government within the State of Trinidad and Tobago by way of the 1996 THA Act, but due to an alleged lack of support by the PNM, the bill had to be amended.
Ramesh Maharaj to check records on UNC 1996 Tobago bill
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Photo by - Ayanna Kinsale
FORMER attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj on Thursday said he was not in a position to agree or disagree with the Prime Minister s statements on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Act of 1996.
The PM had said the PNM always supported internal self-government for Tobago but was against a constitutional amendment proposed to increase the size of the Senate.
This contradicted an account of events reportedly given by Maharaj.
Maharaj promised to check the records and respond in full to Dr Rowley next week.