Questions for the Chief Secretary and Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation

We saw with interest this week, the announced resignation of the Chairman of the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd. Ms. Alicia Edwards. This was in the making for some time now as there were whispers of disquiet regarding the souring relationship between the Chairman and the Secretary of Tourism Culture and Antiquities.

One wonders whether this announcement was the follow-up action to the removal of the same Chairman, as the Executive Chairman of the Agency. These developments are definite signs that the management of our vital tourism industry is in disarray with no clear plan and direction under this Administration.

We were told, in no lesser a place than the House of Assembly by the Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Transportation and Antiquities, that the appointment of the Chairman of the Board as Executive Chairman in 2022, was an interim arrangement while a search was on the way for a CEO. In light of the aforementioned, we wish to publicly pose the following questions to the Chief Secretary, and the Secretary with responsibility.

1) Is there any truth to claims that Tobago has an all-time low image in Germany amongst the travel trade in general, and additionally specifically with the main airline flying out of that source market, to the extent that Tobago may loose the service soon?

2) Is there any truth to the suggestion that the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd, under the stewardship of the existing Board of Directors, and Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Transportation and Antiquities, have overspent their entire budget by $15 million, and utilized funds allocated for the Tourism Accommodation Upgrade Program (TAUP) and the Tourism Accommodation Relief Grant (TARG)? Those funds were very specific and intended for the relief of the tourism stakeholders, but seemed to have been utilised for other purposes. What those purposes were, and who, if anyone approved their alternative use?

3) Has the Board of Directors imploded under the stewardship of Ms. Alicia Edwards?

4) Why have three top level management officials (the CEO, the Head of Product Development and the Head of Marketing) left the Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd over the past 18 months?

Those questions and the recent resignation of the Chairman are the smoke. The real fire is burning below the surface while the Tourism sector remains rudderless under this Administration.