A total of $3.473 billion has been allocated to the island of Tobago from the 2027 National Budget.
The figure accounts for the allocation to the Tobago House of Assembly as well as expected expenditure by other ministries within the next fiscal year.
For fiscal 2027, the Tobago House of Assembly was allocated $2.756 billion, which accounts for 4.35 per cent of the national budget. This is a slight decrease from the allocation in the previous year.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also announced extra ministerial expenditure of $716.5 million.
“In this regard, the total allocation to Tobago in fiscal 2027 will be $3.473 billion which equates to 5.48 percent of the National Budget.”
Minister Tancoo detailed some of the projects the THA is expected to deliver, in keeping with the Tobago Blueprint: Pathway to Prosperity 2026–2030.
“Towards this end, in 2027, the THA will continue Destination marketing; Strengthening Tobago’s air connectivity through a new wave of direct routes between Tobago and Toronto, Ogle Guyana as well as Miami; Restoration and modernisation of historical and strategic tourism sites.”
These plans come alongside the opening of the new terminal of the ANR Robinson International Airport, scheduled for Tuesday.
“I wish to remind citizens viewing and listening that it was this honourable Prime Minister that created the name of that airport, that decided to name that airport ANR Robinson airport.”
Other deliverables include upgrades in health, particularly new MRI machines and hyperbaric chambers, as well as the development of an oncology unit.
“With respect to Infrastructure investment, priority projects include the Friendship Estate Development Project, the Scarborough Redevelopment Project, the Roxborough–Bloody Bay Road Retaining Wall, the South West Drainage Project, and island-wide road improvements.”
The Assembly is also expected to deliver significantly on housing.
“The THA will deliver 130 units at Riseland; 120 housing units at Adventure Phase III; 52 service lots at Adelphi, 15 at Blenheim and 19 in Castara; and 350 housing grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.”
Additionally, the THA will expand its Mega Farm Programme at Friendship Agro Park, continue to improve agricultural access roads and advance its digitisation efforts for public accounting purposes.