Tobago’s House of Assembly has received $264.1 million for development projects, including many which will be reactivated over 2021-2022 – among them an “artificial turf facility.”
The information is contained in the Draft Estimates of Development Expenditure document that was among the Budget 2022 documents presented in Parliament on Monday.
In the report, Tobago received the third-largest sum for development – $264.1 million. Tobago has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout, which has seen many businesses close – some permanently.
The Education sector received the highest development sum ($308.4m), followed by Health ($279.1m), THA and Rural Development and Local Government ($228.7m), with other ministries’ development fund levels after that.
Listed among them in the report was the “establishment of an artificial turf facility.”
There were no figures listed for this project in 2020 and 2021, but $500,000 was listed for 2022. It was alongside another reactivated item – an “elite athletic development facility.”
THA Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis did not answer calls when Guardian Media tried to inquire about the astroturf project yesterday.
Other THA officials said it’s likely to be a sports project but they couldn’t say if this project is similar in any way to the recently scrapped astroturf idea which the Port-of-Spain City Corporation had for Mandela Park.
That project was dropped after fierce public objection, which also included criticism from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Also on the cards for Tobago in the year ahead, is a reactivation of the cocoa industry, jetties for Parlatuvier, Bird of Paradise Island (Little Tobago) and Plymouth, the establishment of a childhood centre, Scarborough Library, Information and Technology programmes and a Youth Empowerment Centre.
According to the Budget documents, other projects to be revived include the Roxborough Cultural Complex and over 25 recreation grounds and a playing field, hard courts and other facilities from West to East Tobago.
Meanwhile, there are new projects on the horizon for Tobago involving the coconut industries and for Tobago agri-business industries, as well as Tobago agro-tourism.
Tobago is also listed in the Public Sector Investment Plan to be a Green Tourism destination and as a location for new houses to be built in “targetted areas.”
Other projects
contained in the PSIP
The PSIP for 2022 involves $4.2B.
It is based on three pillars – transforming the economy, food security and leaving no one behind.
PSIP projects also include dealing with the vulnerable created by the pandemic. Those would be people who became jobless or had reduced income or suffered the trauma of domestic or child abuse.
Special services and programmes will be made available to those impacted with the aim of reducing dependency and empowering them to graduate out of the programme, according to the PSIP.
Funds allocated for development in regional bodies
The Port-of-Spain City Corporation has received the highest figure for Development funding among corporations – $17.7 million.
San Fernando City Corporation got the lowest – $12.7 million
Other corporations received the following:
Arima – $15.7m
Point Fortin – $15.5m
Chaguanas – $14.9m
Diego Martin- $13.3m
San Juan – $14.4m
Tunapuna- Piarco- $ 14.4m
Sangre Grande – $13.7m
Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo – $15.3m
Mayaro/ Rio Claro- $14.5m
Siparia – $14.9m.
Penal/Debe- $14.1m
Princes Town- $14.3m
