Ahead of Monday’s National Budget presentation, Chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Curtis Williams, says he expects a number of announcements designed to boost Tobago’s economy.
Mr Williams says Tobago’s economy requires renewed stimulus to bolster its sluggish economy, but he is optimistic that key announcements in Monday’s Budget Presentation, including updates on the opening of the new terminal at the A.N.R Robinson International Airport, will be forthcoming.
“With the sod turning of the Marriott and all these things that’s going to happen on the island within this month, that excitement is what’s going to stir businesspeople and other entities to say, ‘Hey, there is a market there that is going to be developed, so let me position myself; let me put my business in a position to take advantage of that market’.”
Mr Williams explained that without visitors to the island, it is difficult to sustain the private sector with the current population. He suggested ways to improve visitor arrivals.
“The emphasis must be placed on getting the Tobago House of Assembly understanding that they cannot do it alone; their budget is quite small to do marketing, and Trinidad has a larger budget, so let’s twin with the Minister and have a direct conversation. We’re going into one conference; we could talk Trinidad and Tobago, we could talk Tobago in that one language.”
He also believes that policies for better alignment between several key ministries and the Tobago House of Assembly would be included in the budget.
“I see that bit of synergy being formed there and I predict that something exciting is going to be in that budget for Tobago. I just have some feeling, I don’t know, but there will be something there for Tobago that will make all of us smile. I just felt that way.”
The Tobago House of Assembly is requesting TT$4.12 billion to handle its affairs in the next fiscal year, with a heavy focus on tourism development, increased construction activity, digitisation, improving food security and more.