The Tobago House of Assembly is poised for a significant political transition as Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announces tentative plans to swear in the newly appointed secretaries on January 26. This development follows the Tobago People’s Party’s unprecedented electoral sweep on January 12, where they secured every legislative seat for a four-year governing term.
Augustine revealed during the Tobago Updates morning program that his administration has been coordinating with the Office of the President to finalize logistics for the ceremony, which is expected to be broadcast live from Tobago. The swearing-in comes after the Senate’s passage of the THA (Amendment) Bill 2026 on January 20, which formally expanded the number of secretarial positions within the assembly structure.
The Chief Secretary outlined his strategic approach to governance, indicating his intention to maintain a streamlined team of one chief secretary, one deputy chief secretary, and no more than eleven additional secretaries. Significant structural reorganization will include establishing a standalone Division for Planning and Development alongside the existing Division for Legal and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Addressing speculation about specific appointments, Augustine emphasized that “no one owns a division” and highlighted the rigorous screening process that identified capable candidates from among the 15 assembly members. He stressed that effective management skills rather than subject-matter expertise would be the primary qualification for secretarial roles, noting that competent resource management would ensure success across all divisions.
The administration has already appointed three councillors—Petal-Ann Roberts, Adanna Joseph-Wallace, and Ackel Franklyn—with deliberate attention to geographical representation across Tobago’s constituencies. Augustine affirmed that his appointment authority remains exclusive and requires no external consultation.