The Constitution (amendment) (Tobago self-government) Bill of 2021 - Trinidad and Tobago

4.    The Preamble of the Constitution is amended by inserting after paragraph  (c), the following paragraph: 

“ (ca) recognise- 

(i)    the right to self-determination of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, including the right of the people of the Island of Tobago to determine in Tobago their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 

 

5.    (1) In accordance with the powers under section 75(A) (1) (b) of the Constitution, the Tobago Executive Council shall have exclusive jurisdiction for the administration within Tobago of the matters set out in Schedule 1 

Section 53 of the Constitution is amended by renumbering that section as section 53(1) and inserting the following subsection: 

“(2) Subject to subsections (1) and (3), the Tobago Legislature may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Tobago with respect to the matters as prescribed. 

(3) The power of the Tobago Legislature to make laws shall not extend to- 

(a) altering the provisions of this Constitution; or 

(b) any of the matters set out in Chapter 1 of this Constitution 

 

The Constitution is amended by inserting after section 75, the following sections 

75A. (1) There shall be a Tobago Executive Council which  shall have- 

(a) the general direction and control of the Tobago Island Government and shall be collectively responsible therefor to the Tobago Legislature; and 

(b) subject to section 75(1)(b), exclusive jurisdiction for the administration within Tobago of the matters as prescribed. 

 

Except on the recommendation or with the consent of the Tobago Executive Council, the House of Assembly shall not – 

(a) proceed upon any Bill, including any amendment to a Bill, which in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of the following purposes: 

(i) for imposing or increasing any charge on the revenues or other funds of Tobago or for altering any such charge otherwise than by reducing it; or (ii) for compounding or remitting any debt due to Tobago; 

 

In this section a public Bill which, in the opinion  of the Presiding Officer in the Tobago Legislature, contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely: 

(a) the imposition, for the payment of debt or other financial purposes, of charges on public money or the variation or repeal of any such charges; 

(b) the grant of money to Tobago or to any authority or person, or the variation or revocation of any such grant; 

(c) the appropriation, receipt, custody, investment, issue or audit of accounts of public money; 

(d) the raising or guarantee of any loan or the repayment thereof, or the establishment, alteration, administration or abolition of any sinking fund provided in connection with any such loan;