00:00Opposition leader Penelope Beckles is questioning the government's priorities,
00:04arguing that Tobago's proposed Senate representation does not address what she considers the more pressing issue of autonomy for the
00:12sister aisle.
00:13The Prime Minister has proposed amending the Constitution to provide two Senate seats specifically for Tobago,
00:20but Beckles says the focus should instead be on legislation that would give Tobago greater control over its affairs.
00:30Those are distractions. If you, if they dealt with the bill that would have given Tobago autonomy,
00:36Tobago would have gotten much more money than they are being allocated now,
00:40and Tobago would have been in a position to make laws, you know, for the benefit of Tobago.
00:46As far as I can say, that's a distraction.
00:49Beckles also criticized the Prime Minister's position on Senate representation,
00:53pointing to previous comments about independent senators.
00:56She says Tobago Niaza should consider how independent senators have been described in the past.
01:02It's amazing that the same Prime Minister that will call independent senators,
01:08combat and accuse independent senators of taking a bribe, literally, to vote,
01:13will come now and talk about senators for Tobago.
01:16Because I hope the Tobago Niaza listening how she refers to independent senators.
01:21The opposition leader also revisited the 2024 debate on Tobago autonomy,
01:26claiming the UNC did not support the bill despite months of consultations and recommendations.
01:32Beckles maintained that the legislation would have offered significant benefits to Tobago.
01:36Well, Trinu, if you recall that it was in 2024, we debated the autonomy bill for Tobago,
01:44and the UNC did not support it.
01:47As a matter of fact, the morning of the debate, that is when the UNC decided they were not supporting
01:53it.
01:53There was consultations going on for months, you know,
01:56all Tobago Niaza made recommendations, the UNC made recommendations,
02:00and we were pretty clear that they would have supported that bill.
02:03A few minutes before, a letter was received, as I understand it,
02:08from Chief Secretary Pally, indicating they were not supporting the bill.
02:12Meanwhile, Beckles welcome indications that a decision would be made
02:16to allow opposition members to attend the funeral of Calypso Nian, the mighty Sparrow,
02:21recognizing his cultural significance in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean.
02:25She says the opposition should have been given an opportunity to offer condolences
02:30during the early parliamentary proceedings.
02:32I'm glad to hear that he has indicated that they will find a way to ensure that the opposition attends,
02:41because you would recall that when the Minister of Culture gave condolences,
02:46the opposition was not allowed the opportunity, which is traditional.
02:50Beckles was speaking ahead of her presentation in response to the national budget.
02:55Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
02:57What's the other day is?
02:58Okay, let's go.
02:59You
