Beware wolves in sheep clothing

Beware of wolves in sheep clothing! This was councillor Kwesi Des Vignes’ appeal to Tobagonians as he chastised Opposition members who continue to speak disparagingly about the island.

“There are some people who insist on attacking Tobago, especially from the Opposition in Trinidad,” he said last week during a news conference at the PNM’s Tobago Council headquarters, Scarborough.

“I want Tobago to be on guard for some of the characters in the Opposition who are intent on attacking Tobago and Tobagonians. By attacking Tobago and Tobagonians, they are attempting to implicate the prime minister because he is Tobagonian,” Des Vignes said.

Secretary for Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, Des Vignes said some members of the Opposition were even questioning the allocation given to Tobago in the 2019 budget “when in fact investment in Tobago is investment in the national economy.”

He recalled in the early 1990s, when there was a depression in oil prices, “it was Tobago’s tourism industry that buoyed the national economy, getting foreign exchange, and just like central Government, would have invested in different parts of Trinidad and Tobago.”

He added: “Whether it be in Diego Martin, Couva, San Fernando, investment in Tobago will yield good returns and it is sad to see that persons are trying their best to make it look almost criminal that Tobago is getting what I deem to be at this point, fair investment.

“I want Tobagonians to stand up against this type of foolishness and to be on guard because these are the same persons that are going to come back, whether it is in 2020 (general election) or 2021 (THA election) to ask for the vote of Tobagonians after they have been the ones that have been crying shame on Tobago and trying to put Tobagonians in a negative light....Tobagonians, be aware of these wolves in sheep clothing.”

Des Vignes, who is also the PNM Tobago Council’s PRO, made the appeal as he welcomed the launch of Destination Tobago, which took place at Mt Irvine Beach Resort.

The initiative, a project of the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation and Tobago Tourism Agency, is intended to position Tobago as the go-to destination in the region.

However, Des Vignes observed social media posts have been damning of the initiative.

“It is very hurtful, because whenever I see our elected leaders taking a position of speaking ill of Destination Tobago, of making it seem that Tobago is forlorn and all is lost, when that is not the case.”

He said Tourism Secretary Nadine Stewart-Phillips has already secured new international airlifts that will be launched from the Scandanavian market next year.

“These are some important markets for us.”

Des Vignes said officials of an airlift that is currently coming from North America also has indicated a willingness to support the Sandals resort when it comes on stream.

“That is how important it is (Tobago’s tourism thrust) and we have to be so careful about the things we say, because in this age of social media, everyone around the world sees what we post and what we say.”

At the news conference, Des Vignes also extended condolences to the family and friends of late calypso icon Winston Bailey, better known as Shadow.

“Tobago, definitely the calypso fraternity and the calypso world for that matter, has lost a true icon and though we have lost an icon, I think we have gained a legend.”

He urged young people to reflect on Bailey’s contribution to the artform.

“Let’s see how we can build upon that legacy because calypso is really our artform, our storytelling and we would like to see the resurgence of this artfom.”

He also called on the media to assist in preserving the artform.

“Don’t just play Shadow’s song today or for the nine days as we tend to do, but start putting more emphasis on getting our legends to get their airplay or even our artform to get its airplay.”