During the 5th session of the 11th Republican Parliament on June 5, 2020, as shadow for Ministry of Tourism and Tobago Affairs, I brought a matter on the adjournment on the profligate spending and mismanagement of the taxpayers’ dollars in Tobago. The Minister of Tourism Randall Mitchell responded then to my work on the matter, saying that I fancied myself “the chief architect in the demise of the Sandals project.”
To that I say “mea culpa” and I proudly wear that badge with honour since there were incontrovertible challenges at the centre of the Tobago Sandals project, as it was presented, which may never have resulted in net benefit to the people of Trinidad & Tobago. In hindsight, such massive and extensive financial commitment to this project in the context of the pandemic’s continuing economic contractions would have been too much to bear.
In October 2017, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert in his budget contribution announced a “game changer” in that of a proposed Tobago Sandals to boost our Tourism sector. It was touted to be a $3 billion investment with 700 rooms and employment for 2,000 to be located on No Man’s Land. It was an arrangement heavily skewed in favour of Sandals International. The Government was to have designed, built and outfitted with taxpayers’ dollars and not the usual financial investment by Sandals as they committed to other islands. Sandals would have been offered significant tax concessions over 25 years and work permits for an unlimited number of expatriate staff. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Gaston Browne was fighting Sandals over the renewal of such 25 years of tax concessions in Antigua, an ominous portent.
There were also concerns with the planned construction of the resort in the Buccoo Golden Grove close to No Man’s Land, an environmentally sensitive area. Quite naturally and just doing my job on behalf of the people, for three years, I highlighted these issues and asked the relevant questions, established communications with Tobago people to get their perspectives to ensure that they and the entire nation would get the best out of this mega project.
Could you imagine our government having to invest $3 billion of our taxpayers’ money on Sandals during this pandemic? There would have been the usual delays and cost overruns which would have further inflated the burden and all citizens would be shouldering it right now.
Fast forward to 2021 and the announcement by Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon of the proposed Tobago Marriott Hotel, right before the upcoming THA elections, interestingly. Superior Hotels Limited, a local company secured the project. It has been presented to be constructed at a cost of $500 million with 200 rooms in Rocky Point Tobago. 750 jobs would be created and 220 jobs when the hotel opens in 2025. They have also committed to using local labour, materials and produce and to conduct training programmes for Tobagonians.
My biggest concern with these mega projects remains the financing arrangements. In this case, Superior Hotels Ltd is investing the full $500 million for construction. The Private Public Partnership is a preferred option in such initiatives. A 99 year lease of 28 acres at Rocky Point and a seven-year tax break to Superior is a far cry from the $3 billion investment and 25 years tax break of the so-called Sandals “game changer.”
Both PDP Leader Watson Duke and IDA leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus have decried the Tobago Marriott project. Duke said it is an election gimmick in light of the announcement being made so close to the upcoming THA elections. I must agree with his sentiments also and with regards to the run down state of the existing hotels in Tobago and the need for Government to invest and upgrade them. This is still a possibility though with government not having had to commit to the oppressiveness of the Sandals project and the relative affordability of the Tobago Marriott project.
Dr Tsoiafatt-Angus also expressed her disappointment that Tobago people should have been consulted on the project. My one response to both political leaders would be to ask why they did not persuade the Opposition to support the Tobago Autonomy Bills in Parliament two months ago? Their cries to the PNM government to listen to Tobago people were to have those bills passed so that they could have been well on their way to internal self government and escaping the PNM stranglehold.
At this juncture, with all the preliminary information on the proposed Tobago Marriott released, it is far more information that we have as compared to the secret Sandals deal where an application under the Freedom of Information Act had to be sought to get the details.
One can hope that the Government has learnt its lessons with the failed Tobago Sandals project and that it will apply those learnings well with the Tobago Marriott project. As a former teacher, I feel pleased to have taught them a lesson or two. “Chief Architect in the demise of the Sandals project”? Indeed.