London moves to restore THA Building
By KARL E CUPID
Newsday News Tobago Bureau 15.02.2006

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London is moving to restore the THA Building considered to be a historical landmark in the Jerningham Street area, uptown Scarborough.

London told Newsday that unfortunately the THA Legislature – under whose portfolio the THA Building falls – does not possess the necessary expertise and capacity to effect restoration works to the building because of its ancient architecture/design.

Neither does the Division of Infrastructure/Public Utilities (DIPU), which has oversight capacity and responsibility for all such projects on behalf of the Assembly, have the expertise to undertake restoration of the building which stands out as a historical landmark in Tobago, he noted.

He stressed that preservation of the original architectural design of the building was of paramount importance, and this required a specialist firm in this field of work. "They (DIPU) don’t have the expertise to do the job!" London acknowledged.

This, he explained, was the rationale behind the THA putting out an advertisement seeking such a firm. In an advertisement on Page 12 (Section C) of the Newsday, DIPU requested "expressions of interest" for the "design review, finance and construction of the proposed restoration and addition of the THA (Building)." The advertisement also noted that "interested firms should be willing to partner with Tobago construction firms." "This (the invitation for expressions of interest) is something that would have happened under normal circumstances," London asserted.

He said that DIPU will oversee and manage the project. "In other words, they (DIPU) manage the process", he explained. He asserted that while the THA Legislature, or Secretariat as it is commonly referred to, has responsibility for the THA Building, it "was not set up for that kind of activity (restoration project)."

London assured that all steps would be taken to retain the original architectural design of the building.

THA pained by cutlass attack on tourists
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Tuesday, February 14th 2006
T'dad Express

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London and Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson are concerned about the recent cutlass attack on three British golfers at a villa in Mt Irvine.

London recalled that while he was in Trinidad, Wilson had telephoned him with the news of the incident.

London, who was speaking at the weekend during the second leg of the Fourth International Conference on Crime and Justice in the Caribbean hosted by the UWI Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel, said he and Wilson had recognised the importance of tourism to Tobago and the threat to the island of an incident like that.

To support his statement, London said tourist arrivals by air had increased from about 49,000 in 2001 to about 90,000 last year, with 69 per cent coming from the United Kingdom. Cruise ship arrivals over the same period moved from 6,000 to more than 59,000.

He said more critically, tourism and tourism related activities accounted for 57 per cent of the island's employment, 46 per cent of GDP and most alarmingly, 90 per cent of its foreign exchange.

He said the increased presence of tourists increased the incidence of crime. London said a recent report had identified Tobago as one of the most tourism dependent economies in the world and this had signified the need to diversify the economy and the THA was doing that.

However, he added, while doing that there was a need to protect and enhance the sector in a way that it would continue to bring benefits to the people of Tobago.

He said in this competitive market, Tobago had to ensure that its brand of clean, green, safe and serene was more than just a brand.

He said a recent study by the THA among the tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom revealed that 53 per cent considered safety and security as the most critical aspect in determining destination travel.

THA plans to spend $25m to regain Pigeon Point beach
-Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Friday, February 10th 2006
Tobago News

THE Tobago House of Assembly plans to spend $25 million to regain the beach at Pigeon Point and Swallows area that was being lost through erosion. In disclosing this on Thursday, Agriculture, Marine Resources and the Environment Secretary Hilton Sandy said plans for a coastal protection system in the Pigeon Point/Swallows area had been completed. "What we are trying to do is to regain the land and regain the beach. At the present time we are losing the beach front," he said.

The Government purchased Pigeon Point in May last year for $106 million from Robinson Crusoe Limited, a member of the Ansa McAl conglomerate. Sandy stated that the Assembly had received the instruments declaring Pigeon Point Heritage Park and the Buccoo/Bon Accord Lagoon as a Ramsar site. He said development of the Park would now have to be done along the lines of proposals put forward by the Department of the Environment. In addition, he said, the department would do certain management of the wetlands at the Park, to clean it up and have it looking good as an added attraction.

Sandy also appealed to Tobagonians to have another look at how they treat wetlands in the island. "We are having problems with the wetlands and the public is not too aware of the very important uses of the wetlands," he told reporters at the weekly post Executive Council press conference. He said the time had come when persons can no longer be allowed to clear the wetlands for housing development because "we can lose that natural resources given to us by our creator". He said the Assembly was continuing to look at the cleaning of the rivers because the silt was causing water to run off. He said dams would be created in the rivers to hold water.

THA increases subsidy to homeowners
Friday, February 10th 2006
Tobago News

The Tobago House of Assembly has increased the grant and subsidy to homeowners to upgrade their property. Enterprise Development and Settlements Assistant Secretary Oswald Williams disclosed at the post Executive Council press conference on Thursday that the home improvement grant had been increased from $10,000 to $15,000 while the dollar for dollar subsidy had been increased from $15,000 to $20,000. He said there have also been increases in the qualifying income that would widen the net for a larger cross section of the community to access the grant and pointed out that the qualifying income per month for the grant was now $3,000, up from $2,000.

In the case of the subsidy, the qualifying income has moved up from $3,600 to $4,500 per month. Williams also disclosed that there were 41 bids received for construction of the proposed 257 housing units at Blenheim, Castara and Roxborough when the project managers, the Housing Development Corporation, opened tend ers on January 26.
He said the tenders would be evaluated over the next two weeks and recommendations made. He said the Castara site was about 98 per cent ready and once hot mix was available to complete the road it would be ready in two weeks. He said at Blenheim, which he also visited two Fridays ago, the roads were about 66 per cent complete and should be ready in two month's time for construction of the houses to start.

Williams said the Roxborough site being developed by SWIRL was a challenge and his Division was working feverishly behind the scene with the contractor, consultant and project manager to have the work restarted. He said the Division was hoping to have a meeting with the main players within the next two weeks to discuss the resumption of the project.

Saturday 4th February, 2006
T'dad Guardian
UNC’s Barrington suspended from THA
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news11.html

UNC activist Barrington “Skippy” Thomas has been suspended from all sittings of the Tobago House of Assembly for six months. Thomas’ suspension was issued in response to his outburst during last Thursday’s sitting of the assembly. Also a reporter, Thomas, who was covering the proceedings, reportedly interrupted assemblyman Hilton Sandy during his contribution, calling him a liar.

Thomas, a witness in last year’s Scarborough hospital project commission of inquiry—which probed claims that Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley siphoned off material to a private family development—had to be cautioned by presiding officer Ann Mitchell Gift. He allegedly continued and was escorted from the chamber by policemen.

There have since been calls from Tobago media workers for Thomas to apologise, because his action took place in the media enclosure of the chamber. Thomas writes for the Tobago Pillar newspaper. But Thomas says he will disregard the suspension and return to the chamber for the assembly’s next sitting. He described Gift’s ruling as “null, void and unconstitutional.”

Sandy, who is leader of assembly business, sought to clear the air on the matter, saying Thomas was not entirely correct in the version he gave to the media last week. At Thursday’s post executive council media briefing, Sandy said that during his contribution he had stated that under the PNM administration Tobago has moved forward.

“People in Tobago were happier now because they were getting some spending money,” Sandy said, repeating his statement to the chamber. It was at that point that Thomas called him a liar, he said. (WT)

THA CHIEF: INCREASE POLICE RETIREMENT AGE FROM 55 to 60
By MARISSA WILLIAMS
Tobago Bureau, Newsday News 9.11.2005
http://www.newsday.co.tt/morenews.php?p=2#30501

THA meets Planning Minister on $1.3b allocation
Friday, October 14th 2005
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=4297146

Pigeon Point board soon to be appointed
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Thursday, October 13th 2005
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=108002599

Ansa McAL leaves Pigeon Point as heritage landmark
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news15.html

The only people who would pay to enter is poor Tobagonians, THA and their 'friends and family' would most likey go in for free. 8-[

THA gets its hand on a piece of prime property Taking Pigeon Point back
http://www.newsday.co.tt/business.php?p=1#29330

Visitors still to pay for Pigeon Pt access
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Thursday, October 6th 2005
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=106549486

DEVELOPMENT $ LEAVES LONDON UNMOVED
By KARL CUPID
Tobago Bureau
http://www.newsday.co.tt/morenews.php?p=2#29151

Daaga: Memorable time for Tobagonians
Friday, September 30th 2005
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=4140190

THA leases Richmond Great House
Friday, September 30th 2005
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=4140191

THA WANTS INCREASE IN SECRETARIES
Friday, September 30th 2005
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=4140200

State pays $106m for resort AG forces Pigeon Point settlement
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Friday, September 30th 2005
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=105213767

$1.3b for Tobago......Ferry services to be upgraded
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Thursday, September 29th 2005, Express

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=104949550

THA chief pleased with tax breaks
Sateesh Maharaj
Thursday, September 29th 2005, Express
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=104949549

London wants bigger THA
By MARISSA WILLIAMS
Newsday Tobago Bureau
http://www.newsday.co.tt/morenews.php?p=2#29074

I hope London don't turn Pigeon Point into a 'Rum Bar on the Beach' like Mount Irvine and Store Bay.

London: Pigeon Point takeover soon THA getting $103m from Finance Ministry
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Saturday, September 17th 2005

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=102397855