21 April

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Travellers: Easy movement between Trinidad and Tobago for Easter

in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Travellers and the head of the Tobago business chamber have commended Caribbean Airlines for its reliability and efficiency on the inter-island airbridge over the long Easter weekend. Passengers moving between Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Easter activities expressed relief that their experience was hassle-free. When Newsday visited the Piarco airport on Sunday, all the domestic check-in counters were clear. Newsday saw only two men seated opposite the domestic check-in lounge. One of the men travelling from Tobago to St Vincent spoke with Newsday while waiting for his luggage to arrive from Tobago. He said because of the availability of flights to Trinidad,...

13 April

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Opposition Leader Blames Latest Fuel Hike On Petrotrin Closure

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the latest fuel price hike is a direct result of the closure of the Petrotrin refinery. In a release, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said the increase in fuel prices will increase the cost of goods and services across the board. She said with food prices also likely to increase further, she is of the view that there is no plan in place by Government to treat with the nation’s food security. Meanwhile, Pointe-a-Pierre Member of Parliament David Lee, in a statement, called on the Government to commit to decreasing the price of fuel as soon as global prices decrease. Minister...

11 April

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Tobago Chamber head: Winford James must go

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Head of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George has called for the appointment of political analyst Dr Winford James as deputy chairman of Tobago’s Studley Park Enterprise Ltd (SPEL) board to be revoked, given his “closeness” to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James. George said Dr James can serve on another board, but it must be out-side the remit of the Division of Infrastructure. Secretary James and Dr James are brothers. Dr James and ten others were appointed to the SPEL board last week. The Division of Infrastructure has direct oversight for the company, whose mandate...

11 April

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Tobago, Grande Chambers: Rise in cost of fuel will have knock-on effect

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Business chambers continue to express concerns about the negative impact the recent rise in fuel prices will have on businesses and the country in general. Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George in a statement said coming out of the pandemic and with businesses now reopening, fuel price increases could not come at the worst time. “The Chamber fully understands the need of the Government to balance its budgetary allocations. It is unfortunate that coming out of the pandemic, it does not appear to be the best thought out option, given the fact that we have now emerged from all the...

11 April

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Tobago stakeholders: Fuel price increases create more hardship

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Tobago stakeholders have said the government’s decision to increase fuel prices would place further hardship on tourism-related businesses still reeling from the effects of the covid19 pandemic over the past two years. In the Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that from April 19, 2022, the prices of premium gasoline and super gasoline will be adjusted by $1 per litre to $6.75 and $5.97 per litre, respectively, while the price of diesel will be adjusted by 50 cents per litre to $3.91 per litre. Veteran tour boat operator Michael Frank said the move could be disastrous for the industry. “We are...

08 April

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OCTOBER CARNIVAL
…Island to host its own show from October 28-30

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Carnival 2022 in Tobago is on! For the first time ever, the island will host its very own Carnival festivities, separate and apart from celebrations in Trinidad. Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Tashia Burris announced yesterday that Carnival celebrations will be held in Tobago from Friday, October 28 to Sunday October 30, 2022. “We have put together a very dynamic Carnival committee. We have a number of consultants who have agreed to come on board to provide their expertise, advice and their training, to be able to execute this event. “And we’re looking forward to...

07 April

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Views differ on James’ appointment to Studley Park board

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

POLITICAL analyst Dr Shane Mohammed says he sees no problem with the appointment of political commentator Dr Winford James as deputy chairman of the recently assigned Studley Park Enterprises Ltd (SPEL) board. On Monday, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said James' appointment was under review after concerns were raised in the public domain. James, the brother of Trevor James, the THA's Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Renewal – the division responsible for the Studley Park Quarry – was among 11 committee members appointed for a year to oversee the quarry's operations. Speaking with Newsday on Tuesday, Mohammed said the appointment could be...

06 April

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Excitement builds over Tobago Carnival

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

With most people not revelling in a Carnival since 2020, stakeholders foresee that the October celebrations in Tobago will not just produce bumper events but provide a much needed economic boost for the island. The anticipation is so great that some Tobago mas makers are already designing costumes in preparation for the first Carnival that is separate from the annual celebration. Chairman of the Tobago Carnival Bandleaders Association Jemma Bedlow said on Tuesday that members welcome this separation. Tobagonians usually participate in the national celebration held between January and March but Bedlow said it now allows Tobago to celebrate in its style. On...

05 April

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Tobago Business Chamber: October Carnival must rival regional, international festivals

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber says the island’s October Carnival must make its mark on the world stage, even rivalling Trinidad’s event and those of its regional and international counterparts. The chamber’s chairman Martin George said in a WhatsApp voice note: “We want this to be stamped on the calendar as an event that people will look forward to annually, the same way they look forward to Crop Over in Barbados, Miami Carnival, Jamaica’s Carnival and Toronto’s Caribana. Tobago’s Carnival must make its mark,” George said the island’s Carnival must not be “an October version of the mundane, pedestrian, ordinary Carnival-type event that...

05 April

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Tobago Business Chamber wants seaplane airbridge too

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber is urging the government to consider implementing a seaplane service between Scarborough and Port of Spain, specifically for business travellers. On Wednesday, the chamber welcomed Caribbean Airlines’ (CALs) decision to fly 24 daily services from April 2 to meet the inter-island demand. The chamber, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association and other stakeholders had been clamouring for increased flights to the island, particularly in light of the government’s decision last Saturday to do away with safe zones and covid19 restrictions in most sectors. They said Tobago’s economy was decimated by covid19 over the past two years and needs to...