Senate passes Tourism Bill

Moving the motion, Minister of Tourism Howard Chin Lee said the Government was seeking to increase the number of hotels rooms available in Trinidad and Tobago from the current figure of the 6,000 rooms. “The Government is giving attention to tourism to try to diversify the economy and create sustainable jobs.” Moreso, he said, the Bill would fulfill this country’s duties owed under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which sets up a Single Caribbean Market and Economy (CSME).

UNC Senator Wade Mark lamented the low wages paid locally saying a Central Statistical Officer (CSO) report had shown 64 percent of employees earning under $3,000 per month. “And 194,000 people earn less than $2,000 per month,” he stormed.

He thought the Bill would simply continue the status quo of the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer.

He wanted to know whether other Caricom countries were under the same obligation to pass such a Bill. Mark wanted more information all around. “What’s happening in Trinidad and Tobago to encourage Jamaicans to come here and set up shop? How many companies will invest? What’s the projected investment?”

He said the Government must be careful that such bills are not used to facilitate money-laundering. On the topic of crime, he asked what thing will encourage people to come and invest in Trinidad and Tobago in our current crime epidemic. Saying the country’s beaches lacked basic facilities like lifeguards and toilets, he asked: “Is the infrastructure in place?” He related that the tourism industries of St Thomas and Barbuda had both greatly suffered after incidents of attacks on tourists. Citing a recent attacks on six tourists in Tobago, he said: “How are people to come and invest here when crime is out of control?”

He wanted to know whether local agriculture is sufficiently linked to the tourism sector ie whether tourists are eating locally-produced foods.

Independent Senator Prof Ken Ramchand agreed. In fact he went further saying agriculture should be put ahead of tourism.

He saw tourism as being a drain on the economy, and a sector which figures might suggest should be shut down as being unproductive as had happened to Caroni (1975) Limited.

Ramchand also agreed that crime should be tackled before promoting tourism, saying: “A country becomes attractive to visitors when you make it attractive to locals.”

Wrapping up, Chin Lee addressed each point raised in the Senate.

He read out a list of about 10 Caricom countries who have agreed to pass similar legislation but the Opposition insisted on knowing how many have actually passed such a Bill. On the issue of crime, he cited joint patrols to assure: “We are dealing with it.” So far, he said, there has been a reduction in crime against tourists in Tobago.

The country had been well publicised in the recent World Cup, he said, by the Soca Warriors and their website which had received 30 million hits (visits) by people from 150 countries. “I congratulate the Soca Warriors for branding Trinidad and Tobago internationally.”