04 June

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Tobago gets to do what it wants

in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

Has Tobago been allowed to spend billions of taxpayers dollars with little or no oversight and even less accountability to the people of T&T whose money it is entrusted every year? The Tobago House of Assembly by Act 37 of 1980 has been ascribed significantly more power than any other local government body in the country. In its revised legislation, a formula was set for its funding that ensures the Minister of Finance provides a minimum percentage of the national budget to the island. Part of the rationale for the governance arrangements for Tobago are that the island is under-developed re: Trinidad...

04 June

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George supports Govt’s reopening plan

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

“Lives before livelihoods.” That is Tobago Business Chamber’s take on Government’s phased reopening plan after most of the country was shut down to reduce the spread of COVID-19 weeks ago. Speaking with Tobago Today on the issue, the chamber’s chairman Martin George said the organisation fully supports Government’s plan as it’s “a measured and balanced attempt at reopening.” “The Tobago Business Chamber wishes to lend its support to the Government’s efforts to stage a phased reopening of the country...

04 June

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Economist suggests taxes based on business sizes, minister disagrees

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

As the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the vast informal sector in T&T, Economist Dr Roger Hosein believes that one of the reasons companies stay informal is due to the high cost of doing business. He has recommended that as something the Roadmap Recovery Committee should pay close attention to. Hosein said one option that should be placed on the table when the Revenue Authority comes on stream is, “to encourage small firms to cross the border from informality into formality we would probably want to consider a lower tax rate, for example, for firms employing five or less people.” In response to the suggestion...

04 June

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Tobago chamber applauds decision to reopen stores

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber has welcomed the approach taken by the Government in speeding up the phased reopening of businesses in T&T, in light of the country’s position with COVID-19. Head of the organisation Martin George said the chamber appreciated the fact that business are opened and the economy can start moving once again. “As a business community we appreciate the fact that businesses basically are open, save and except a few, which would be bars, casinos etc, however the majority of retail businesses are able to now open and function so we appreciate that and we applaud that” he said. Meanwhile, George...

04 June

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Tobago Business Chamber welcomes reopening

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber has welcomed the approach taken by the government in speeding up the phased reopening of businesses, in light of the country’s position with COVID-19. Head of the organisation, Martin George, said they appreciated the fact that the economy can start moving once again. “As a business community we appreciate the fact that businesses basically are open, save and except a few, which would be bars, casinos etc. However the majority of retail businesses are able to now open and function so we appreciate that and we applaud that,” he said. Meanwhile, George is urging the Government and the Tobago...

04 June

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Tobago Business Chamber welcomes Trinis

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

AFTER weeks of little to no revenue generated by tourism – the island's lifeblood – chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George was telling Trinis, “welcome, welcome, welcome,” as he responded to the Prime Minister’s announcement that Caribbean Airlines will expand flights to and from Tobago, in a bid to resume domestic tourism. “We invite you to come to Tobago. The beaches would be opened in a few days’ time so therefore you would be able to have your wonderful vacation right here in Tobago as normal. We welcome all Trinis because this is the best place, in fact it...

04 June

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Tobago’s wastage of taxpayers money happening for a long time

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in Media, Television Interviews, Tobago Business Chamber

Kyron Regis kyron.regis@guardian.co.tt The Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber, Martin George has revealed that wastage in Tobago has been occurring for years. Speaking in an interview on CNC3’s the Morning Brew, George said: “They have a long history, a rich history of doing these kinds of things.” George was speaking in light of an article published in the Sunday Business Guardian, which highlighted the years of wastage by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), particularly the Division of Tourism during 2012 to 2016. During that time present political leader of the Tobago Council of the PNM was the Secretary of Tourism and Transportation. It also...

03 June

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TOBAGO BUSINESS CHAMBER welcomes and encourages all Trinidadians to come to Tobago for vacation

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in Events, Occasions, Anniversaries and Celebrations, Media

[embed]https://youtu.be/33RRdD9R1hw[/embed] TOBAGO BUSINESS CHAMBER welcomes and encourages all Trinidadians to come to Tobago for vacation and the TOBAGO BUSINESS CHAMBER calls upon the Government to -: 1. Urgently increase the number of flights to and from Tobago as an essential service. 2. Facilitate ease of booking and purchasing of tickets on the inter- island ferry as too many people still have to line up for hours in the hot sun just to buy a ticket. 3. Speed up the actual disbursement of the Tobago Tourism Relief Grants to Hotels, Guesthouses and Bed & Breakfast establishments in Tobago; even if it means sticking to the...

02 June

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Tobago Tourism – CNC3

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in Events, Occasions, Anniversaries and Celebrations

[embed]https://youtu.be/TplSnhV_EDk[/embed]...

25 May

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Tobago association advises hoteliers to take Government ‘s grant terms

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in Interviews, Newspaper Articles

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George says Tobago hoteliers should accept Government’s terms and conditions to access the $50 million COVID-19 hotels’ upgrade grant facility. In a statement on Saturday, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) expressed disappointment over the distribution of the grant. The association said: “We reject the proposed grant distribution outright.” THTA said the grant gave hoteliers with less room more money and made the criteria for accessing the funds, burdensome. ‘This could be the end for many small and medium-sized businesses, most of whom were already suffering before the pandemic hit Trinidad and Tobago,” the hotel association...

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