Jack: Sandals to boost tourism, agriculture

THE Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is actively collaborating with the Central Government to expand and diversify Tobago’s tourism base, through the construction of the 750-room Sandals Resort on the island.

This was disclosed of THA Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Finance and the Economy, Assemblyman Joel Jack as he delivered his 6th budget presentation on Monday at the Assembly Legislature Chamber in Scarborough.

“We see this resort as not only adding to the stock of high quality rooms in Tobago, but more importantly, as providing the necessary catalyst to strengthen linkages among tourism, agriculture, education and our cultural industries. High quality food is an essential ingredient for the hotel industry and the Sandals Project will present us with a great opportunity to upgrade our farms and fishing establishments to meet the expanded demand for food,” he said.

Jack said the project has already started to generate strong interest among local, national and even international entrepreneurs who see Tobago as a potential frontier for investment in high-tech niches in agriculture.

“All Tobagonians should recognise this project as an important game-changer that will not only contribute to our national diversification thrust, but simultaneously provide a base for modernising the tourism sector in Tobago. The Assembly remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure that our development momentum continues and that the quality of life and the standard of living of the people of Tobago are not severely impacted. The qualities of resilience and hard work for which we Tobagonians have been known are the very same qualities we need to draw on to take us through this difficult period,” he said.

The Secretary noted that a number of mega projects are earmarked for Tobago, adding that Tobago is much closer to attaining the goal of self-government.

“Self-government for our island promises significant opportunities for growth and development. However, if we are to derive optimal benefit from the autonomy we seek, social and economic transformation is essential. We are at a critical juncture and there is a need for a strategic review of all the operations of the Assembly, in order to re-engineer and redesign our policies and processes consistent with international best practice.

"For example, the public service in its current form, must be re-engineered to manage this transformation. Every resident and institution in both the public and private sectors must therefore be prepared for the additional responsibilities which autonomy will thrust upon us.”