Tobago
From The Report: Trinidad & Tobago 2016
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The smaller island of Tobago has a history of colonial rule by a succession of different European powers, including Spain, France and Britain, and in 1889 the British government first grouped the island with Trinidad under a single colonial administration. Trinidad & Tobago sought and achieved independence from British colonial rule in 1962 and became a repub¬lic in 1976. A significant proportion of the population has, however, consistently sought greater autonomy for Tobago within the existing constitution of the twin-island republic, and from time to time a smaller group on Tobago has argued for full independence. Tourism remains the strongest single economic activity in Tobago. The 300-sq-km island offers beautiful beaches, tropical forests and a wide range of leisure activities. Attractions include the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status, and Pigeon Point Beach, which has been ranked among the world’s best beaches by media outlets such as CNN and the UK’s The Guardian. This chapter contains an interview with Orville London, Chief Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Unlocking potential: The small island has several segments with capacity for growth
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Tobago has a history of colonial rule by a succession of different European powers, including Spain, France and Britain. In 1802 Trinidad and Tobago came under British rule. It was not until 1889 that a British government grouped the two islands together under a single colonial administration. T&T sought and achieved independence in 1962, and gained status as a republic in 1976. A significant proportion of the population has, however, consistently sought greater autonomy for Tobago within the…

Analysis

Off the beaten track: The tourism sector can offer visitors new experiences
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A significant segment of the tourism business is focused on water vessels, ranging from large luxury cruisers to recreational yachts. According to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), cruise ship passenger visits to Tobago more than tripled in 2015, rising from 16,159 in 2014 to 56,220, indicating that cruise ship tourism is emerging as a major growth area. On The Up & Up The background to Tobago’s performance was a broadly positive year for tourism across the Caribbean as a whole, boosted…

Interview

Scaling up: OBG talks to Orville London, Chief Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly (THA)
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Interview:Orville London In which areas do you foresee public-private partnerships (PPPs) playing a greater role? ORVILLE LONDON: The THA has undertaken several trade and investment missions to the US, Europe and Asia in an attempt to attract private sector investment, especially in tourism. We aim to use PPPs to solve our development budget’s financial constraints – typically an 80% shortfall on funding requests. Through the recently established PPP unit, we are developing a pipeline…

Analysis

More options: New projects are attracting investment for development
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As part of its policy of promoting economic diversification, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has been developing the Cove Eco-Industrial and Business Park (CEIBP), a 57-ha site operated by the THA-established private firm, Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago (E-IDCOT). The industrial park is intended to act as a catalyst for a wide range of renewable energy and economic diversification projects. “We are focusing on developing small and micro-enterprises as a way, not only of diversifying…

Analysis

Moving forward: The island is rolling out more initiatives under a new strategy
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The Comprehensive Economic Development Plan 2013-17, also known as CEDP 2.0, places a major emphasis on developing business enterprise and entrepreneurship. Tobago had 4.6% of Trinidad and Tobago’s total population as of the 2011 census, but contributed less than 1.2% to its GDP. The development plan states it is critical to narrow or close this gap so “that the private sector grows and expands with large numbers of Tobagonians involved, and that young people who have traditionally migrated to…