The Ministry of Works and Transport wishes to clarify the facts in circulating media reports regarding comments made by the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the Honourable Farley Augustine, on the matter of a Grenada to Tobago commercial sailing service.
On April 29, 2022, Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport, accompanied by a senior executive team met with the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the Honourable Farley Augustine.
At the meeting, discussions focused on advancing the agenda of critical infrastructure that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Works and Transport, along with specific projects poised to improve land, sea, and air transportation for Tobago.
In the Chief Secretary’s statement, he outlined different areas of interest for the development of Tobago, which included a statement on what he saw as the attractiveness of a Tobago to Grenada commercial sailing. This topic was not part of the meeting’s agenda and was not the context of the discussions.
While the Ministry is not averse to any initiative that will benefit Trinidad and Tobago, projects must be based on sound research and analysis to guide the best path for implementation. Additionally, there is a process to be followed for projects to be officially tabled before being deemed viable.
The introduction of this commercial sailing requires extensive groundwork. In the first instance, a feasibility study with the necessary market research will be required. Upon completion, and if deemed feasible, a proposal should be submitted for consideration.
To date, neither the Ministry nor the Minister of Works and Transport has received an official request or proposal to pursue this project.