00:00We contacted the new THA, we met with the Chief Secretary on three occasions.
00:09The first occasion was actually right here in this hotel.
00:13We had a very good meeting.
00:15The new Chief Secretary and the Secretary for Tourism, the Secretary for Infrastructure
00:22and one or two advisors, we had a meeting that lasted maybe a couple of hours for us
00:29to explain the project to them and at the end of it we got a resounding approval.
00:37Mr. Aboud said he walked the proposed lands at Rocky Point with the Chief Secretary and
00:42a team of experts.
00:44Mr. Aboud said the process is now in the hands of the EME.
00:48Next year, by June next year, once God willing we get the sign off from the EME because that's
00:54the critical element now and once we address all their concerns and we actually submit
01:02our final plans to the country because right now everything is conceptual.
01:07As for local employment, upon completion of the 200 room hotel, Aboud expects approximately
01:12180 local persons to be hired while a world class chef is needed.
01:19We estimate that we will probably employ permanently on staff between 150 and 180 of which I am
01:29very hopeful that 99% of them will be Tobagoans.
01:36The only individual right now I can say cannot be from Tobago and a relationship I cannot
01:43say but the general manager has to come from a pool of general managers from Marriott.
01:51Aboud said the completion of the A&R Robinson International Airport Expansion Project would
01:57assist in bolstering flights to Tobago.
01:59Vendors, taxis, persons from the local entertainment industry, tour guides, the fisher folk and
02:05other sectors are expected to benefit.
02:08Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
02:13For more information visit www.fema.gov
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