00:00The greatest litter island on the planet. The words are prominently displayed on a mural at the front terminal of
00:07the A&R Robinson International Airport.
00:10But the slogan has sparked debate in Tobago because it was also used by the Tobago People's Party during its
00:17campaign for the January 12 THA election.
00:21Some have questioned whether its use at the airport amounts to political messaging, while others have compared it to the
00:29PNM's slogan, Great is the PNM.
00:33TV6 News contacted Tourism Secretary Zorisha Hackett, who rejected the comparison.
00:39Hackett said the distinction, in her view, is between promoting a political party and promoting Tobago itself.
00:47She noted that the mural does not carry the name, symbol, colors, or imagery of the Tobago People's Party.
00:55Hackett also pointed to the national watchwords, Discipline Production Tolerance, noting that although they were articulated by former Prime Minister
01:04and PNM founder, Dr. Eric Williams,
01:07they have since become part of Trinidad and Tobago's national identity.
01:13TV6 News also sought the views of the business community on the debate.
01:17Chairman of the Tobago arm of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Curtis Williams, says there are
01:25more pressing issues facing Tobago.
01:27I have a 50-50 view on it, in the sense that when the next regime gets into power, whenever
01:34that will be, they can remove that sign and put whatever they so desire.
01:39We have some more pressing issues in Tobago than to worry about the Greatest Little Island sign.
01:43Because if the other issues is not being addressed, then the Greatest Little Island cannot be Tobago.
01:48Williams referenced a TV6 News report on Saturday about service providers in Tobago who are owed millions of dollars by
01:57the THA.
01:58People being paid for service after they have rendered these services in a kind of a priority way and not
02:0411 months after and 10 months after that doesn't make any economic sense.
02:09That's why the goods and services for the THA always are at a little higher price than a normal person
02:13going to purchase it.
02:15So those are things that I want us to look and focus on getting direct airlift coming into the same
02:19airport that we have the sign painting on.
02:22We should be worried about what is the direct airlift going to come in there instead of it being a
02:26ghost town.
02:27He says Tobago's priorities should remain focused on the issues affecting residents and the island's economy.
02:35We want to put rooms or heads in beds so we're supposed to look at what our accommodation looks like
02:42on the island.
02:43Because right now it's not feasible for tourists.
02:45It's totally not feasible for tourists.
02:47We had the challenges we were having on water and now we've seen some of those have been addressed.
02:52But those are the fundamental things that should be concerned and put in our priorities instead of a sign at
02:57this point at this present moment.
02:59Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
Comments