The federation agreement that governs the relationship between St Kitts and its sister island Nevis could serve as inspiration for similar laws in Trinidad and Tobago.

This comes as Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine revealed he has been invited to be part of Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation heading to the twin-island federation this week for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting. 

He is expected to meet with the St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance and Nevis Premier Mark Brantley.

Speaking at a media conference on February 22, Augustine noted it was the first time a THA leader had been invited to join Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation to a CARICOM meeting.

“St Kitts and Nevis has extremely progressive laws when it comes to the autonomy for Nevis. And the prime minister (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) has signalled that we should think as progressive as the people in St Kitts and Nevis in building out our framework for autonomy,” he said.

“Meetings are being facilitated with the premier of Nevis, prime minister of St Kitts, and also conversations with CARICOM counterparts about autonomy and how CARICOM as a regional body ought to look at this matter seriously when we start considering the devolution of powers to sub-states or appendage the states to larger islands.”

Augustine said he is hoping new autonomy laws will be in place by December 31.

On his return from St Kitts, Augustine plans to establish a constituent assembly where Tobagonians will have an opportunity to express their views. The meeting will take place at the Shaw Park Complex.

Despite winning all 15 seats in the THA Legislature in the recently concluded THA election, Augustine stressed that his administration has no intention of pursuing autonomy on its own.

“We are not trying to come up with everything ourselves, but we are essentially asking the entire island to participate and to let their voices be heard in terms of what they will like to see, what we will like to see with regards to our autonomy. We will also be inviting to Tobago, to our constituent assembly, independent senators, members of the opposition, and members of the government. In other words, we’re doing this in reverse,” he said.

“We’re not going down to Trinidad to do it. We are inviting our counterparts from Trinidad to come to Tobago and to sit with Tobagonians, to hear from us here in Tobago, and to be part of our constituent assembly, so that by the time we send this thing down to the parliament, it should be fit to go straight to the parliament floor.”