The proposal was for the construction of a 750-room Sandals and Beaches Resort, which Trinidad and Tobago Finance Minister Colm Imbert last year said would represent a major turning point for the economy of Tobago.
“We would like to thank Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Government for inviting us to explore the possibility of bringing the Sandals brand to Tobago just over two years ago, and for their tremendous support throughout this process. While such a project was not in our original short-term plans, we have always found Tobago to be an amazing destination with tremendous potential, and we signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Government to guide these discussions and explore the opportunity further,” Sandals said in a statement yesterday.
“While this project is not right for us at this time, we commend both Prime Minister Keith Rowley and his Government on their vision for developing Tobago, and we wish them every success with future plans for the island,” added the resort group.
Sandals' decision was met with an expression of regret by the Tobago Business Chamber, which said it hoped there could still be “some way of salvaging” the deal.
“The Tobago Business Chamber is convinced that with the billions of dollars of investment, in construction, job creation, training, and service delivery attendant upon such projects, it is possible for the population of Tobago, as a whole, to benefit and develop and derive spin-offs from such developments.
“The possible loss of the associated projects, such as the airport expansion, the marina, golf course, and other infrastructural developmental works, will also spell tremendous and significant economic and foreign investment losses to Tobago and Tobagonians,” the chamber said in a statement.
“As a business chamber, we are always focused on facilitating and encouraging business and investment and development, and we remain convinced that such business, development and investment can be done while still preserving and maintaining and nurturing the natural environment and the eco-systems of the island in keeping with the maintenance of its natural beauty and pristine status as a paradise which can manage both the competing forces of development and infrastructural improvement along with preservation of the heritage and environment for future generations.
“It is the hope of the Tobago Business Chamber that all sides will be able to return to the table to resume negotiations and to find workable solutions to meet the aims and objectives of the two competing ideals.
“It is also the hope of the Tobago Business Chamber that, one way or another, Tobago recognises the absolute and urgent need for brand name hotels to help boost and promote its tourism thrust,” said the chamber.
According to the chamber, the international significance of a major brand brings with it a certain pull in terms of increased destination branding, destination awareness, greater airlift, greater interest by other airlines, greater improvements in standards and quality of service delivery, and greater economic benefits all round.
Describing the situation as unfortunate, Ranier said Sandals was of the view that it was best to withdraw from this project and focus on other areas, given the "negative and ongoing publicity" that has surrounded the project.
“Today's meeting is an unfortunate announcement. We as Sandals Resorts International have made a decision to withdraw from the project.”
“The reason for the withdrawal…is the constant and ongoing negative publicity and media coverage that we have received over the last two and half years since the inception of the project that for us, as a global brand it is taking on a dynamic that we are not willing to carry on.”
He emphasised that government has been completely transparent and open with them.
“In saying this I want to make some things very clear. First and foremost, we, Sandals International, are extremely grateful and thankful for the unwavering support, the consistent transparency and frankness from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister (of Communications and National Security) Stuart Young throughout this process.
“From the beginning there has never been a shadow of a doubt as to what the Prime Minister has been intending to do for the good of Tobago,” he said.
Rainer re-emphasised that to date, there are no signed agreements and said the Memorandum of Understanding was simply an indication that both parties were open to negotiations.
“There is no cost on our side that would be passed on to the Trinidad and Tobago government,” he said.
He called the development ‘unfortunate’.
“I think there was an unfortunate time with a lot of negativity and negative reporting that did not focus and highlight as to how we as a brand are operating and how we are supporting the islands in the Caribbean.”
“It is very unfortunate that we had to take this step but we believe its best at this point in time that we withdraw Sandals from this project and focus our resources areas where we can be more effective,” he said.
Communications and National Security Minister Stuart Young said it was a ‘sad day’ that the project was thwarted by the agenda of ‘a handful of people’.
“I'd like to thank the Sandals group for all working with us and all of the positive conversation and the learning experience we’ve had over the past two and half years.
“This government tried its very best and put forward its best foot and all of its efforts to bring a project that would have uplifted Tobago in our view, the economies of not only Tobago but Trinidad.
“Today what we’ve heard is the loss of an opportunity due to the negativity that was put on the Sandals brand, only by a handful of people.
“We've seen just that handful of people and some with agendas and some with personal agendas in particular, run one of the best brands of the Caribbean from Tobago, where we would have been building a new project that would have taken all of the best that Sandals had to offer. It’s indeed a sad day and a disappointing day,” he said.
Rainer added that media had been invited to the resort’s other branches in the Caribbean however negative coverage and ‘badgering’ continued.
Young said any negative publicity on the resort had been raised after its construction and never before.
Rainer: Environmental concerns would be met in line with government requirements
Regarding the issue of the site’s international protections as designated by the Ramsar Convention, Rainer said the resort has always obeyed environmental protections outlined by respective governments on which the resorts are built.
“I think you would have to go into detailed specifications as to what is protected and what is not protected. This is why you do have a government agency here and an environmental protection agency here that clearly works with people like us and brands like us under the guidance and as part of the government, in order to determine where you can build and cannot build. It’s the same in every other island.
“We build where we are allowed to build, where we get approvals, and then we build within an environmental framework that allows us to respect the environment, have zero to little impact on the environment and wherever possible, actually have a positive impact on the environment,” he said.
Young emphasised that the plans did not encroach upon protected areas and said environmental experts had been advised from ‘the word go’ to ensure all specifications were met.
Young added that there was never any secret regarding the proposal and said they will not stop searching for opportunities for Tobago.
“It’s not about proving the naysayers wrong, at the end of the day why is it that the naysayers were provided with a louder platform than the positives of a project such as this?”
“We refuse to stop hoping and looking for opportunities on Tobago. We've seen just that handful of people, some with personal agendas, run one of the best brands...a new project that would have been the best Sandals had to offer.
“We keep repeating the same thing over and over and you all keep looking for something that does not exist. We had not yet determined the footprint of the hotel. We recognised there were environmental issues that needed to be addressed. The application…would have been guided by the EMA, the body that is statutorily charged with protecting the environment,” he said.
Sandals: We may return to Tobago in future
Despite the decision to pull out of the Tobago project, the Sandals CEO said the resort chain has not given up on the island as a tourist destination.
Rainer said Tobago has tremendous potential with the right environment and said that they may re-engage discussions in future.
“We see tremendous potential in the tourism development of Tobago. Would we come back? Absolutely yes. It's a destination that from a tourist destination is well worth going forward but you need the environment for that destination.
“The real issue is there is an ongoing prolonged debate on things that have not yet been decided. It seems the debate has taken over prior to the official decision being made.”
“It is a brand impact in general. I'm sure you understand when you deal with ongoing negative media it does have an impact which affects...the organisation."
Rainer said the resort sought always to enhance and benefit Tobago.
Young added that government remained committed to uplifting Tobago to become a world-class destination.
Tourism Observer
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