IS Prime Minister Patrick Manning adopting a deliberate strategy to stay out of Tobago’s business?

There is a feeling among Tobagonians that this is an issue, which deals with the relationship between PM Manning and Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London.

There have been speculations that both men have been keeping a distance from each other as they grapple with the political dynamics of governing the twin-island republic of TnT.

Even though the political rhetoric coming from the ruling Peoples’ National Movement (PNM) has been that a PNM-controlled central government and a PNM-controlled THA would offer the best deal for the people of Tobago, there are many who contend that this situation has now left the island almost voiceless within the national political landscape.

There is the feeling that Tobago issues are now relegated to the back burner.

The PNM captured one then both of the Tobago seats in successive national elections.

Then, they almost wiped out the opposition in the last THA elections, claiming 11 of the 12 seats in the Sister Isle.

But despite the PNM’s overwhelming electoral success, many are expressing disappointment about the overall pace of the development of the island.

They suggest that since the PNM took complete control of the affairs of Tobago from the Hochoy Charles-led National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) regime, the stocks of the island have been declining steadily.

It is in this environment that PM Manning made one of his rare visits to the Sister Isle.

He was there as host for CAST (Central Administrative Services Tobago) 25th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Tobago in Lowlands last Sunday.

Even though both men sat together, TnT Mirror observed that they hardly communicated with each other during the function.

London, in delivering his greetings, must have raised some eyebrows in the audience, when he described PM Manning’s attitude towards Tobago as being “sometimes a little troubling,” over the years.

At the poolside cocktail reception, which was held after the awards function, Mirror, in an exclusive interaction with Manning, questioned him about his lack of interest in the affairs of Tobago as shown by his infrequent visits to the island.

“I have to ensure that I don’t overstay my welcome here,” he quipped.

Told that as the Minister for Tobago Affairs, it was expected that he gives more attention to the island and that included regular, scheduled visits, Manning replied: “My Minister of State Stanford Callender, the MP for Tobago West, has been doing a fantastic job so I don’t need to come here as often.”