the Sandals EIA Promise

Finally. Almost two years after he went public, the prime minister's promise of bringing Sandal's to Tobago is showing some skin. To the public that is; everybody else in his orbit always knew what was up. Transparency issues aside though, Environment Tobago recognises the potential of having a new hotel as part of this island's tourism offerings. Its a no-brainer. If you want to have visitors as your model of business, then you got to have places enough for the droves if and when they come. 

The recent application by the government to the Environmental Management Authority for a Certificate of Environmental Clearance is actually welcome news to the general population. It must. It means money to the business sector, as the trade moves to stock up. Banks are polishing up the old lending portfolios - so long untouched in Tobago. And taxi drivers are window shopping, as the Sandals boom will surely require best wheels. And of course Environment Tobago is okay with all of this. There is a tiny care though. Just the one. What if it doesn't all work out as planned?

There are many elements to Dr Rowley's dream hotel. It pre-supposes the Tobago hotel ecosystem can support a 1000 room hotel without the taxpayer having to subsidise hidden things in the Stewart's value chain. It implies, quite openly, that the Sandals verve will stimulate the agriculture sector. Which is hard to see how, when government wants to starve those very same people of much needed development finance for their wherewithals - this from looking at the 2019 budget. They are also gambling that the shower of money going to the construction sector prior and concurrent with the Sandals build will catalyse the broader economy; a risky bet given the bottomless pits contractors dig for themselves every time there's a boom.

There are a host of other wobbly variables. Take the island's hospitality ethic for one. Tobagonians do not like to serve - that's a fact everybody whose ever done business in Tobago knows. Its not a negative thing probably, pride does have its place. The issue though is that in just 24 months - give or take the customary extra year or so it will take to complete Sandals and Beaches Tobago, that adverse ethic simply will not go away. Unless the prime minister decides to make his kinsmen suck salt. Rowley's not a child. He knows a thirsty horse is easier to lead to the water. If his people' backs are put to the wall, the only way for them is foward, to a man of his thinking.

So he's allowing Tobago via the House of Assembly to borrow $300mil should they want more than the $2bil point something they were promised. Meantime he's spending borrowed money on every piece of infrastructure the Stewart's will need. More, since they are not the only one's on the island with hospitality interests. Indeed our good prime minister seems to have dotted every 'i' and crossed every 't'. 

Which is a good thing. Because while Environment Tobago does not have a problem with the Stewarts coming, the Sandals and Beaches project will experience the very best social and environmental impact assessment ever. And that's for starters.