Over $500,000 spent on stalled forest zipline project

A zip-line project for the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, announced in 2015, is on hold because the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has no money to continue it, despite spending more than $500,000 to get the project off the ground.

“The project is currently on hold due to the reduction in the Tobago House of Assembly budgetary allocation and the canopy tours was not identified as one of the priority projects to be undertaken during the fiscal 2017/2018,” Tourism Secretary Nadine Stewart-Phillips said at last Thursday’s plenary of the Tobago House of Assembly at the Chamber, Jerningham Street, Scarborough.

Responding to a question for oral answer from Minority member and Representative for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside, Farley Augustine, Stewart-Phillips said in December 2014, the then Executive Council had granted approval for the Division of Tourism to establish canopy tours in the Main Ridge Forest Reserves.

The tours were to comprise of a maximum of 12 to 14 platforms and 11 to 13 traverse lines and a special observation platform for bird watchers and photographers was also to be set up, she added.

“The sum of TT$4 million was approved to undertake this project which was expected to be completed within seven weeks of the materials arriving on site. A service agreement was signed in June 2015 between the THA and Original Canopy Tours Enterprise Limited to design, develop and construct a high angle canopy tour course in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve,” she said.

Stewart Phillips said officials from Original Canopy Tours visited Tobago in September 2015 to map out the tours’ course and the Division paid two of the four payments as per the signed agreement.

"The first payment was in the sum of $277,000 for material and equipment and $117,000, again for material, equipment and shipping as per the signed agreement.

“However, all materials have not been received as they are stored at a facility in Miami, Florida. I am informed that a decision was taken to have the materials shipped together, rather than in separate shipment as the equipment and materials would usually arrive at different time intervals. This incurred a storage fee of an estimated US$108,332, which is due to be paid,” she said. She did not say who was to pay this outstanding sum.

Stewart Phillips said the Division has paid $416,000 to Original Canopy Tours Enterprises Limited for materials, equipment and a 40-foot insulated shipping container, and $192,571 - payment for procurement project management done by EIDCoT (Eco Industrial Development Company of Tobago) and visits to Tobago by Original Canopy Tours Enterprises Limited.

Augustine has asked for update on the status of the original Main Ridge Canopy Tour project which was announced in September 2015 by former Tourism Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine. The project, he noted, was announced as a 1.5 kilometre zipline intended to give visitors fresh views of part of the 4,000 hectare tropical forest, and that a grand opening was scheduled for November 14, 2015. He also reminded that a projected US$500,00 million was to be spent on creating that tour.

Augustine also asked Stewart Phillips what was to happen with the material stored at the Miami facility, to which she said:

“As we continue to review our projects, we would make a final decision on what we would do with the materials stored in Miami, Florida.”

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