In Trinidad and Tobago, proposed constitutional amendment on autonomy for Tobago defeated

The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) Monday used its numbers in the Parliament to prevent the government from pushing forward legislation on the granting of autonomy to Tobago. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley had sought to get approval for the reading of legislation to amend the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution “to accord self-government to Tobago and for related matters to be forthwith read a third time and passed” after the clauses to the legislation had been approved in the committee stages. Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George told legislators that the bill required a special majority of the 41 member Parliament and when the matter was put to the vote, 21 government legislators voted in favour while 16 of the opposition members present voted against the move. “Honourable members with a division of 21 members voting for, 16 members voting against and no abstentions, the motion for the third reading of the Constitutional Amendment Tobago Self Government Bill 2020 is not approved,” said Annisette-George to loud applause from the opposition benches.
Read the full article here: Trinidad and Tobago Guardian