11 April

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Tobago Chamber head: Winford James must go

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...

01 April

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[UPDATED] CAL adds additional domestic flights, stakeholders want more

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) will increase the number of flights on the domestic airbridge from April 2. In a press release on Wednesday, CAL said it will operate 24 daily services to meet the inter-island travel demand. The Prime Minister recently announced that the majority of covid19 restrictions, including safe zones, will be dropped from April 4. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and a number of business stakeholders in Tobago had been calling for CAL to beef up the number of domestic flights for the Easter period. All flights to Tobago for the next two weeks had already been sold out. On Monday, Augustine said Tobago...

31 March

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CAL awaits permission to increase Tobago flights

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) says it is waiting on the Ministry of Finance to give the green light before any adjustments are made to the existing flight schedule on the Trinidad and Tobago airbridge. When contacted by Newsday on Tuesday, CAL's head of corporate communications Dionne Ligoure said, “We will be guided by the instructions and direction of the relevant authorities with respect to adjusting the operations on the airbridge. THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and several business stakeholders have called for more flights on the airbridge. Augustine said on Monday, "In Tobago's case, we need a bumper season. Beyond the reopening of the...