MORE than 500 persons have benefitted from a 28 million dollars distributed by the THA to enhance business operations in Tobago.

This was one of the main points projected by Finance Secretary Dr Anslem London when he presented a motion calling on the House to support the current efforts of the Assembly to encourage home grown private sector entrepreneurship in Tobago.

The sitting of the THA was held last week Thursday at the THA Chamber. Dr London who has earned a reputation of being forthright in his quest to develop the economic sector of the island, called on the Hose to formally recognise and commend the efforts of Tobago's entrepreneurs in joining with the Executive Council by engaging in activities that contribute to the long term shift in economic output from the public to the private sector.

Dr London's motion also spoke of a "demand from the THA's Executive Council to the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago for action on several policy and programme initiatives that are necessary for the future expansion of entrepreneurship and the private sector in Tobago."

The Ashworth Jack led TOP minority threw their support behind the motion but their representative Rolly Quaccoo warned the PNM Majority to be extremely careful about how the loans and grants are being administrated in order to avoid irregularities.

He pointed to the controversial Community Micro Projects Programme which ended up under investigation. That programme was subsequently suspended.

Quaccoo, who represents the Canaan/Bon Accord/Crown Point constituency called for a system of checks and balances to be put in place to administrate the granting of the payouts.

However, Dr London told the House, an independent body has been set up to take care of the granting of the funding. He made it clear that the Executive Council will have nothing to do with determining who gets funding.

Meanwhile, a Private Motion by Assemblyman Quaccoo calling for a Forensic Audit of all THA Projects and for measures to be put in place to avoid undue delay and cost overruns in the completion and delivery of all projects was put off to the next Private Members Day in April.