Tobago's Internal Self Government

The pursuit of internal self-governance in Tobago has a long history deeply rooted in the island's desire to regain autonomy lost through its union with Trinidad. The words of Member of Parliament for Tobago West and Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis. She says over the years, there have been significant milestones, including Motions in Parliament and the re-establishment of the Tobago House of Assembly in 1980. "Mr. Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson brought a Motion to the Parliament on internal self-government for Tobago. I think he was an Opposition member for Tobago East at the time and the Motion was carried and passed unanimously. And since then, the fight for internal self-governance, especially at the Parliamentary level, has been on." The Minister said that the push for internal self-governance in Tobago has reached a critical stage, with the process hinging on legislative changes at the national level. "At the end of the day, we cannot grant internal self-governance to ourselves we have to convince the Parliament the laws have to be changed and the only place where laws can be changed is in Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago so therefore, we have to encourage and get support of the Parliament."