Despite concerns by some environmentalists in Tobago, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is in support of the building of the $500 million Marriott hotel at Rocky Point..
00:00My clear position is that we cannot just say no just because.
00:09Both things can happen.
00:13We can have a hotel that is environmentally sensitive and that respects our history.
00:21We can't say no before the designs have been completed.
00:26Concerns of the destruction of Tobago's wildlife, turtles, reefs and soil degradation took center stage during the second round of public consultations two weeks ago at Buku.
00:37The chief secretary, however, wanted to make one thing clear.
00:42Let me be clear. I will never support any hotel development on this island that makes the beach prohibited to locals.
00:54All beaches in Tobago belong to all tobogonians.
00:59Mr. Augustin spoke on Thursday during a tourism forum event at the Magdalena Grand.
01:05And so my support for that development is not a support for destruction of the environment and history.
01:12It is not a support for locking off beach access to locals, but it is a support for a development that is much needed on the island that can in fact happen in concert with our environmental laws and environmental consideration and in respect for our environment.
01:35The project comprises 200 rooms, 28 duplex residences, 11 single-family villas and 12 fully outfitted townhouses, fully paid for by the private sector.
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