Chief Secretary of THA, Ancil Dennis

The Office of the President seeks to clear the air on the process surrounding the swearing-in of the fourth Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Ancil Dennis.

It follows some doubt over the role of the President of the Republic in the swearing in of Mr. Dennis.

Former Chief Secretary Hochoy Charles yesterday questioned the President’s handing over of the instrument of appointment to the new Chief Secretary.

According to the Office of the President, Assemblyman Dennis was not being elected to the Assembly to fill a vacancy in the Assembly but was already an Assemblyman having been elected in 2017 as the representative for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant and, in any event, Her Excellency says there was no vacancy in the Assembly, but the vacancy existed in the Executive Council.

President Paula May Weekes pointed to Section 21 (6) saying this applies where a person, not already an Assemblyman, is elected to fill a vacancy, as was the case with Councillor Tracy Davidson-Celestine, who was not already a member of the Assembly when appointed to fill the vacancy in the chamber created by the resignation of former Councillor Agatha Carrington.

The President noted that the Chief Secretary can only take his oath, as Chief Secretary, before the President.

Meanwhile, the Office of the President reiterated that in all cases, the members of the Assembly employing the process laid out in the Act -Sections 8 and 11 elect the Chief Secretary.

Her Excellency further stated that once the Chief Secretary is elected, he is then administered the Oath of Office by the President, after the President has been satisfied that he has been duly elected.

In this instance, the President said she was satisfied in by notification from the presiding officer, indicating compliance with Sections 8 and 11 of the Act as in any case the President does not, appoint the Chief Secretary as there is no provision in law to do so.

The President’s Office said a vacancy in the Executive Council of the THA was created by the resignation of former Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles and Mr. Charles continues to be an Assemblyman having been elected by the constituents of Blackrock/Whim/Spring Garden, hence there was no vacancy in the Assembly.