WHERE IS WATSON DUKE?

THE usually voluble Watson Duke is uncharacteristically quiet while there are two major current issues in which he would typically express himself. 

The Government’s move to increase the number of electoral seats in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) directly affects Duke as Minority Leader of the assembly and as head of Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP). 

The matter is being debated in Parliament, and would lead to fresh THA polls before the end of the year, to break to 6-6 deadlock which resulted from the January 25 election. 

The Government has also brought a new version of the Revenue Authority, which would merge the Inland Revenue Department and Customs and Excise Division. 

In the past, Duke had criticised the measure, in his capacity as president of Public Services Association (PSA). 

The Government is insisting that, through the new model, there would be no loss of jobs of full-time public officers. 

Duke’s unusual silence has baffled many people, including PDP supporters and public officers. 

The decision to expand the number of electoral constituencies in the THA by three, to 15, has been termed by some as an act of gerrymandering. 

The constituencies are in the Tobago West parliamentary constituency, which the ruling PNM won in 2020 by more than double the number of votes of that of the PDP candidate. 

Political analysts say the PNM is strongly favoured to win the new constituencies and take control of THA. 

In April, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) made moves to fire Duke, who is on extended no-pay leave. 

Duke is an assistant manager at the authority. 

WASA backed down after threats of legal action by Duke. 

The union leader had also faced sedition charges for public statements he made. 

The charges were dismissed after a High Court judge ruled that the relevant sections of the Sedition Act were unconstitutional. 

In 2020, Duke was found guilty and fined $1,200 for allegedly making a false fire report. 

He said then that he would appeal the conviction.