TOBAGO-Former chief secretary, who advocated the need for self-determination, dies.

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC – Hochoy Charles, the first secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and a staunch supporter of the island, attaining self-determination and the equality of status promised by Parliament in 1977, has died.

His death was announced by the incumbent THA Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine, in a Facebook post, stating that he died at a hospital during the early hours of Sunday.

“At 4:26 am on the last day of 2023, we lost one of our best fighters. You were a true patriot. You believed in the dream for Tobago’s autonomy, so much so that while I was visiting you in the hospital, you were more concerned about the fight for autonomy than your health,” Augustine wrote.

“You served Tobago as its first Chief Secretary in 1996. You took bold decisions and paid a heavy political prize for some of them. You were unfairly characterized by some who will hypocritically stand up today to sing your praises. You took some blows for executing advice from some in the space, who disappeared after things didn’t go as planned. But at last, your legacy cannot be denied,” Augustine said.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, in paying tribute to Charles, said, “There can be no dispute over the fact that Hochoy Charles, affectionately known as the Heavy Roller, has been a patriotic powerhouse in the leadership of Tobago for decades.

“His advocacy and steadfastness have benefited all of Tobago. Even as he aspired to greater autonomy for Tobago, this can in no way diminish what has been accomplished nor can it be superficially exploited by late risers who are yet to travel half his course,” Rowley said, adding, “Tobago has lost a valued son and would celebrate his life as one who contributed to her development.”

Augustina said that Charles, whose age has not been disclosed but is widely believed to have been born in the 1940s, had wanted to play a role in the new THA administration, and even when he had been hesitant initially, “ you insisted on being let into my world.

“You even publicly insisted. Then our friendship blossomed, and I discovered that you were nothing like how your detractors portrayed you,” he said, adding that Charles was patient, playful, and critical and would spend hours reviewing documents and writing proposals.

“We sometimes spent hours debating strategies when we disagreed. I discovered then how energetically wilful and determined you can be. And you did all of this for free!” Augustine said that Charles’s plan for the new year was for Tobago to see his latest work.

“The plan was never for them to see your work without you being present. God knows best,” he said of Charles, who became ill in July.

“It was from then that I realized I couldn’t reach you. I had to surprise you at home, only to discover you were not well. It took me weeks and several strategies to convince you to have us give you the best medical care we could. We knew then that the fight was hard, but you fought on nonetheless. You have done more than enough for this island, and God will do the rest,” he said.

Augustine said their last conversation was on Saturday at 10.48 pm (local time).

“You had sent the message via a nurse that you wanted to see me. Unfortunately, we traveled home before “day clean,” Augustine wrote, referring to Charles as “Heavy Roller.”

Earlier this year, a street was named after Charles, who, in June this year, had written to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament complaining at the treatment meted out to Tobago in its quest for self-determination.

Charles told the Committee members then that they do not recognize the right of the people of Tobago to “freely determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”

He recalled when Trinidad and Tobago sought its self-government from the United Kingdom; discussions were held in London in November 1959 and in Trinidad in June 1960 between the UK government and the local government and opposition.

“The report of those constitutional discussions contains the agreement of Trinidad – Government and Opposition on what Trinidad wanted to take responsibility for as internal self-government,” he said, noting that London made no changes and also that it held no consultations with the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

“The British colonial powers did not treat Trinidad that way. They respected your judgment and your decision and provided the appropriate legislation. Why is Tobago treated so differently by Trinidad?”

He said on June 7, 1957, then Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams had said Tobago had exchanged the neglect of UK imperialism for the neglect of Trinidad imperialism.

“Tobago is still paying that price, and it is time to put this matter to rest,’ he said.

“Tobago has clearly said what it wants as democratic self-government within the sovereign democratic state of Trinidad and Tobago, and since both parties in the Parliament are on record indicating that this is of critical importance for a harmonious relationship between the islands of Tobago and Trinidad in the sovereign democratic state of Trinidad and Tobago….”

He said appropriate legislation should now be drafted and discussed with Tobago. That assistance could be sought if needed from the United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the law schools of the Caribbean.

Charles also served as a government senator and parliamentary secretary during the 3rd Republican Parliament as a Member of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) administration between 1986-91.