Limited in capacity. That's how Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz described the ANR Robinson International Airport, stating that modification of the airport was long overdue and the Government was justified in spending $44m to refurbish. Cadiz spoke to Business Guardian last Monday in a telephone interview to outline government's vision for the airport.
"It is a complete refurbishment of the existing terminal building. We are re-doing the roof, the building itself needs a lot of refurbishment work. While we are doing that we are looking at getting additional space in the international arrival hall."
In a published notice in the print media, the Airports Authority stated: "Enhancement works to the ANR Robinson International Airport Terminal building have begun. The planned works include modifications to the check-in area, international arrival and departure halls and the addition of a VIP lounge."
Cadiz confirmed that a VIP lounge is also going to be included in the international side of the airport. He also said the seating in the international departure would be re-done. The local and international check-in desks are also being re-modelled in order to create more space.
"This would be the single project that was planned some time ago. The airport has always been recognised as an international airport, what we are doing here (the modification) is making life a little more comfortable, not only for the passengers using the facility, but for the employees whether it is airline employees or customs."
He admitted that the airport is "limited" in its capacity and with the modification it is hoped that the capacity of the airport is increased. Refurbishment of the air-conditioning, modernising the information technology also form part of the modification project.
Tobago Division of the Trinidad Chamber responds...
Even though Cadiz outlined the details of the $44m modification on the airport, Diane Hadad, chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad Chamber, raised certain objections. She said consideration has not been given to expanding the airport to accommodate more flights.
On Monday, in a telephone interview, Hadad said the airport does not need upgrading, it needs expansion to accommodate more visitor arrivals to the destination.
She added: "What was shown to us was disappointing, it is a $44m project. We indicated a couple years ago when the first presentation was done at Coco Reef that was not what Tobago needed. We really needed to have more space to accommodate more people and therefore to accommodate more flights. You still have the movement of people if you are going to encourage more flights, you need more space."
Describing the second meeting as a "repeat" or "dusting off" of the first presentation made to the group last year, Hadad said: "We asked at that meeting whether it was possible to spend the money on the first phase of the new airport and the answer was 'no'. We (the Chamber) don't see the value of just dressing up of what's there."
Hadad added in the group's discussions with Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL), the issue of additional seating to cater for delayed flights was talked about.
"In us asking for CAL to do more flights, or going out there to lobby for more people to visit Tobago, it is the movement of people in a specific sized space. You cannot move more than a certain amount of people in a certain amount of space, you are going to cause problems."
Administration after administration, discussions have taken place about increasing the size of Tobago's airport, Hadad said. Asked whether politics is being played with the people's business in Tobago, she said: "None of our politicians have really taken Tobago seriously, in terms of actual development of the island. I think we continue to suffer for it."
The island is lobbying to retain its international global credit rating.
Last week Friday, a team led by Joel Jack, secretary for the division of finance and enterprise development at the Tobago House of Assembly, met with representatives of Moody's Investor Services. Those discussions, which started in 2014, are expected to conclude in a few weeks. If the sister isle retains its international global credit rating it would mean that it could be one of the highest ranked in the Caribbean region.
In a statement last week, the THA stated: "The island's balanced fiscal results (operating surplus), very low debt levels and solid liquidity position were noted in the report and should impact positively on the overall grade assigned. If given a Baa1 rating the island will be one of the highest ranked in the Caribbean scoring higher than Barbados, Jamaica and St Vincent among others."
In order to qualify for an international global credit rating, the island had to subject itself to intense scrutiny of its financial operations including the following, according to the THA's statement:
�2 Examination of its institutional framework
�2 Sources of income
�2 Performance of revenues of the assembly
�2 Expenditure trends including the evolution of its recurrent expenditure
�2 Contingencies account expenses
�2 THA deposits
�2 Cash management and liquidity and its debt financing and management
T&T, according to THA's statement, now enjoys a Baa1 rating and the outlook for the assembly's rating may be on par. The THA is expected to meet with Hadad tomorrow, to discuss further development of the island, including the modification of the airport.
International rating
Commenting on the rating, according to THA's statement, Joel Jack, secretary for the division of finance and enterprise development, said: "This rating will go a long way, boosting investor confidence and advancing the THA's development plans for the island as set out in the Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDP). It will provide the assembly with greater access to the capital market where it can independently source funds for priority projects to sustain growth on the island. This has become even more critical given the situation with the energy sector.
"Decreasing oil prices and the continuous challenges with central government allocations will soon be appropriately addressed through the utilisation of alternate models for funding for Assembly projects including Public Private Partnerships other similar mechanisms. "
ISO certified
In February 2014, the ANR Robinson International airport was awarded the ISO 14001 Certification For Environmental Management Systems. This means that the airport is the only airport in the region that has taken steps to ensure that its operations are environmentally friendly.
The airport, in order to qualify for this certification, had to develop a programme to enhance the environmental performance of Tobago. The airport implemented an eco-management audit scheme which managed the impact on the environment of the visitor from their arrival to their departure. This included having sorting bins for recycable waste as well as training for staff on how to be environmentally friendly.