porbably not....with regars to the treatment plants.

I think you both talking about the "nylon pool" its a sallow part of the reef, its clear, from far it looks light blue. There is alot of sea weed around that area so aheading to peagon point it would look like the water is dirty. Also the visit to the reef have its good days and bad day, the tour guide should advise you before you pay how its like out there, most of them come from buccoo so they can see the reef before coming into store bay or peagon point.

Mt. Irvine sends it treatment (waste) via river to the mount irvine beach (don't bath there) and current takes it to the reef. :minigun:
Are their treatment plant working :

that is acutally when i went the last time in august 3rd and 4th week .spent 4 days in tobago was only suppose to be 3 but had one havy rainstorm the entire day and close de airport so no flights could leave so that was nice de rest in t'dad for a wedding.

acutally i found the water pretty clean for bathing went store bay then up into the reef and pool.

maybe it some other area of tobago

i went back to de reefs and the pool 2 yrs ago .....it seems to me wasn't as nice as the firs time around like i felt something ws mssing or there wsa to much damage from the enviroments and tourism industry....seem to remember the reef have omre color and plant life then this time around.

Stay away from Tobago....British tourists warned:
Elizabeth W Allard Tobago Bureau
Monday, March 27th 2006, Trinidad Express

A British advisory deterring visitors from coming to Tobago has been upgraded again. Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson said as a result of this recent advisory, he received a letter from the Association of Tour Operators, in the United Kingdom indicating their intention to advise passengers to stay away from Tobago. Several airlines have also informed him that they will be cutting their service to the island.

Wilson was speaking at the monthly plenary session this week. He said scanners will be implemented to check vehicles that board the inter-island ferries in Trinidad and in Tobago. The advisory reads that crimes against tourists in Tobago and the inability of the Tobago authorities, to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators was of serious concern. There have been a number of serious robberies and violence against tourists in recent years.

Tourism generates 60% of net benefits
Friday, March 24th 2006, Tobago News

Tourism generates 60 per cent of the net benefit from Caribbean Coral Reefs and 40 per cent from dive tourism, according to data revealed at Tuesday's on the economic valuation of coral reefs in Tobago. It was further revealed that tourism and tourism related activities were the major contributor to Tobago's economy, 46 per cent went towards the island's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 51 per cent towards employment, based on data from the World Trade and Travel Council 2003.

The World Resources Institute and Buccoo Reef Trust, which hosted the two-day workshop in collaboration with the THA, presented the valuation at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel. During the presentation it was revealed that coral reefs in Tobago and the wider Caribbean were on the verge of being extinct.

Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment Administrator, Joan Hannibal-Phillips said this impending disaster must change since human beings and climate change was a significant contributor to the demise of reefs.

Hannibal-Phillips further stated that in 2005 Tobago experienced its worst case of mass bleaching of coral reefs, and the southwestern parts of Tobago have been adversely affected with an average of 70 per cent of shallow corals still reeling from the effects. Some reefs have died, while others were slowly recovering, she added.

Buccoo Reef Trust director Dr Owen Day said there were four major factors that were damaging the present survival of Coral Reefs, sewage inadequately treated; siltation from storm run off; human activities on reefs, for example reef walking; and Climate change. Day advised that reef tour operators needed to implore their clients that they use fins when walking on the reefs instead of plastic shoes. He said the anchors of sea vessels also contributed to the destruction of reefs.

3 airlines planning to pull or reduce services
Monday, March 20th 2006

Three airlines have indicated plans to pull or reduce their services to Tobago.

LIAT, which has served the island faithfully for several years with connections to other Caribbean destinations, had its last scheduled service through Crown Point on Saturday citing economic reasons.

Similarly, British Airways (BA), which flies between London and Tobago via Antigua has reduced its flights from three to three a week, while the Vienna-based Lauda Air has terminated its services for economic reasons.

However, Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson told reporters that negotiations were taking place with BA for a direct service from London to Tobago, without sharing with Antigua. He said the airline was reviewing its worldwide destinations including the viability of some Caribbean destinations. He noted that the airline was losing money on a number of destinations and needed to tighten up its spending.

In the case of LIAT, Wilson said the airline was losing money for a number of years and it made a commercial decision to pull its flights through Tobago. He said LIAT's major market to Tobago was from Barbados where international passenger made connections, but with direct flight to the island that traffic had more or less ceased. He said Caribbean Star would take up the slack and had in fact increased its services to three a day.

Wilson said Lauda Air, which had been serving the island with flights from the Balkan States, would cease operations to Tobago from March 26 because of their insistence to cater for the upper market level and high fare level.

He explained that the airline had hoped to penetrate the Russian market but because of Government's insistence of visa requirements it took up to 13 months to get one. However, he added, the airline was looking forward to reintroducing the service next winter.

On the positive side, Wilson disclosed that Virgin Atlantic Airlines would increase its service to two from next winter with a direct service from London.

He said discussions were being held with Condor for it to provide two services out of Germany since there was need for increased capacity out of that country.

Airport ramp completed
Monday, March 20th 2006

The $16 million ramp expansion at Crown Point airport has been completed and is now in use after almost two years.

The contract which formed Phase 1 of the proposed $100 million airport expansion was awarded to Raghunath Singh & Co Ltd of Siparia in South Trinidad in February 2004 but work did not start until April with a completion date of November. The company blamed the delay on a number of reasons including several changes in the designs, the scope of work and shortage of materials.

Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson told the Tobago News that the additional 17,129 square metres of ramp would allow the parking of four wide-bodied aircraft and two narrow-bodied at the airport at any one time.

He said it was very embarrassing when international flights had to delay their arrival at their last port of call or circle the airport with a critical fuel situation because of a shortage of ramp space.

He once international flights were on the ground at Crown Point, Tobago Express had to delay its services at Piarco until space became available here. He said the long overdue extension had now put an end to all of this especially on a Thursday.

The Airports Authority now plans to move with haste to the second phase of the project, which includes additional arrival and departure space and new accommodation for its staff.

Wilson said when two international flights were on the ground at Crown Point passengers were cramped into the small arrival and departure halls and he didn't think that was what an international airport was about.

He explained that the waving gallery, which has not been in use for several years, would be converted into a departure lounge for the domestic services to make way for a larger arrival area for international passengers to check in with immigration and customs.

Further, the Airports Authority offices would be relocated to a new temporary building east of the terminal and this would make additional space available for the international departure lounge.

Wilson stressed that all this would be temporary until a new terminal was constructed in the next two years.

The Cat last sailing April 29
Monday, March 20th 2006

The Cat leased from Bay Ferries of Canada will have its last sailing on the seabridge from Scarborough on April 29 at 6.30 a.m., according to the schedule published by the Port Authority in this week's Tobago News.

The fast ferry manufactured by Incat Tasmania PTY of Hobart is currently on a second six-month lease. By the time it leaves these shores it would have serviced the busy Easter period which is normally packed with events such as the world famous Buccoo Goat Races. In addition this year there is going to be the Plymouth Jazz Festival from April 21 to 23. Tickets for this event go on sale on Monday.

A spokesman for the Port Authority said negotiations for a replacement vessel were in progress. He assured that it would be here in time to take over from The Cat. The other fast ferry The Lynx was also built by Incat.

However, it was learnt that the authorities were considering the lease of a similar vessel manufactured by Astral PTY Limited of Western Australia.

In April alone The Cat would be making 87 sailings between Tobago and Trinidad, while The Lynx would make 75 sailings between the islands.

Passenger tickets alone for the ferry service can also be bought in Tobago at the TTPost outlet in Bon Accord 48 hours before sailing time. Tickets are also sold at TTPost outlets at City Gate in Port of Spain, Tunapuna, Trincity Mall, Carlton Centre in San Fernando, Chaguanas, Siparia, Princess Town and Sangre Grande.

No more Liat flights to Tobago....Caribbean Star to replace airline
Elizabeth W Allard Tobago Bureau
Saturday, March 11th 2006
Trinidad Express

Liat flights to Tobago will come to a stop today. Caribbean Star will be replacing the loss-making airline. Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson made this disclosure at Thursday's Tobago House of Assembly executive council news conference. Wilson also said that Lauder Air will also cease flying to Tobago as of March 26. Passenger loads have not been good, mainly because of the airline's insistence for a high fare level catering for the upper-class market. Lauder Air had also hoped to penetrate the Russian market, but this did not materialise.

Wilson said the Government of Trinidad and Tobago imposed sanctions and visa requirements on Russian citizens and, as a result, there was a setback with respect to the Russian market. Visa waivers for other European countries took 13 months, but by this time the damage already had been done, and multi-million dollar losses were incurred, Wilson said. He said, however, that the airline will be re-introduced in the winter of 2006. Virgin Atlantic will also be operating direct flights to Tobago, bringing 442 passengers from the winter of 2006.

Wilson said Tobago's tourism revenue is totally dependent on the United Kingdom market, but the THA is in the process of diversifying. American Eagle and Delta airlines are being considered in the move to penetrate the United States market, he said.

Tobago hotels filled for carnival
By MARISSA WILLIAMS Tobago Bureau
Newsday News 26.02.2006

Trinidadians trying to escape the “bacchanal” of Carnival, have contributed tremendously to the good fortune being experienced by the Tobago Hotel fraternity for the season. Checks at several major hotels on the island, indicated that while there are foreign guests at the facilities, particularly due to the current winter season, locals make up a large number of the occupants. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, Rene Seepersadsingh, confirmed that “by and large the vast majority of the hotels on the island are booked,” particularly during the upcoming week by locals seeking retreat from the hectic Carnival activities in the country.

Seepersadsingh pointed out that Tobago’s local tourism industry grows around this time and it is allowed “two bites of the cherry” before and after carnival by those wishing to escape the festivities and then by those coming to “cool off” after them. He said that the introduction of the fast ferry has actually had a positive impact on the local tourism and it has been realised that more families were coming with their own transport. He assured that this has not adversely affected the car rental industry. Seepersadsingh noted however, that while the local occupancy rate remains in line with the figures of the past years, the number of foreign winter visitors has decreased. Seepersadsingh declined to comment further on the issue except to say that “that alone is a whole other discussion.”

13 cruise ships to dock next month
Friday, February 24th 2006
Tobago News

Thirteen cruise ships with a capacity to carry almost 10,000 passengers are scheduled to call at the Scarborough and Charlotteville Ports in March.

Next Thursday the Sea Cloud will call at Charlotteville while on the Saturday the Braemar will be in port at Scarborough. Other vessels to call are the Sea Cloud II at Charlotteville on March 12, Ocean Village at Scarborough on March 13, Wind Surf at Charlotteville on March 14, Sea Cloud at Charlotteville on March 16, Oceana at Scarborough on March 18, Acadia at Scarborough on March 22, Sea Cloud II at Charlotteville on March 23, Le Levant at Charlotteville on March 24, Ocean Village at Scarborough on March 27, Wind Surf at Charlotteville on March 28 and Sea Cloud at Charlotteville on March 30. Commenting on a recent report that a cruise ship was forced to lift anchor because of the condition of the Charlotteville jetty, Chief Secretary Orville London said repairs had to be done in an incremental basis along a particular course. He admitted that some work had to be definitely done at Charlotteville.

London said Agriculture, Marine Resources and Environment Secretary Hilton Sandy recently submitted a list of jetties that needed repairs to the Executive Council for approval.

toursim go get hit just know in tobago with travel advisory from key countries like britian that has one out now and soon to follow usa if not already and then canada.

3 British golfers injured in Tobago cutlass attack
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Thursday, February 9th 2006
trinidad Express

Three British golfers were injured in a cutlass attack at a villa in Mt Irvine on Sunday night by four masked men. Six hours later an 80-year-old British national was raped, buggered and robbed at a villa two miles away at Carnbee.

These latest incidents against British nationals have resulted in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office updating its January advisory alerting their citizens about the crime situation in Tobago. The advisory described crime on the island as a "concern".

The golfers, Mike Jones, 69, a golf-course builder of Sussex; dentist Chris Stokes, 67, a world authority on root canal of Hampshire; and Stuart Anderson, 70, retired secretary of the Kent County Cricket Club, were in the island to participate in the Tobago International Pro Am Golf Tournament.

The golfers were having drinks with their wives around the pool around 9 p.m. at a villa on Pine Hurst Drive overlooking the Mt Irvine Golf Course when they heard screams from their night watchman Anthony Winchester who was in the garage area.

Four men have been detained for questioning by the Old Grange police.

The elderly woman at Carnbee told the police that she heard a noise around 3.30 a.m. and went downstairs to investigate when she was confronted by a knife-wielding bandit.

She said the bandit demanded cash and was handed $200. He then ordered the woman to strip and proceeded to rape and bugger her, after which he ran off.

A report was made to the Old Grange police and the woman was taken to the hospital where it was confirmed she had been sexually assaulted.

Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley who played in the tournament with the British golfers described the cutlass attack on the men as a "very distressful and discouraging act" which must be condemned by all. He said he felt badly about the incident.

"People have to understand that they make a living by being good," he added.

He said Tobagonians have to ensure that this hooligan-type behaviour must not be allowed to happen again because it gave Tobago a very bad name. He said with this kind of crime it meant that Yorke and others were just wasting their time.

Rowley's solution to the crime problem in Tobago was for law-abiding citizens not to give cover to criminals and for good policing.

He said if this type of crime was not controlled the people who build villas, rent them out and employ locals would not come.

Sister isle goes after scuba tourists ....Tobago takes the jump
By Wesley Gibbings
http://www.guardian.co.tt/bussguardian5.html

actually I wouldn't mine taking a day cruise around the island and stopping at some keypoints for a little swimming and some lunch. i think it could mae money.

They used to do the same with the NV Panaroma, have little trips around Tobago.

45-foot catamaran for cruises around Tobago
Friday, December 2nd 2005
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=4858912

I know of the treatment plant problems for many years, mount irvine plant is the oldest. Bon Accord plant not only effects pigeon point but the residents of that area. Sloppy management of these treatment plants may have greatly caused environmental pollution on the island.

Capital of paradise?
MARK MEREDITH
Sunday, October 2nd 2005
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=105624149

Mt. Irvine Bird Scanctuary

few people know of this one, the entrace is after mt. irvine hotel entrance on left, through the golf course.