P.M. Stuart Young On Sandals Meeting: Positive Step For Tobago’s Development

Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, and his team have been officially invited by the Central Government, representatives of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and a cross-section of Tobago stakeholders, to consider bringing the Sandals brand to Tobago. 

At a meeting held in Tobago on Monday (7th April, 2025), the stakeholders signed the following statement: 

“Be it resolved that having had a meeting with the Prime Minister, the THA, and the Central government, and the team from Sandals Resorts, we the leaders and representatives of sectors and interest groups in Tobago, have collectively agreed that it is in the best interest of Tobago for us to invite the Sandals Group for discussions and negotiations for the bringing to Tobago of a Sandals Resort if they so desire.” 

The announcement was made by Prime Minister the Honourable Stuart R. Young, SC at a Press Conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister – Central Administrative Services Tobago (CAST), Orange Hill Road, Scarborough, on Monday (7th April, 2025).

Ahead of the meeting with the Sandals’ team, Prime Minister Young engaged in an open discussion with the various Tobago stakeholders. 

This meeting he said was “about development and investment for the people of Tobago because this type of investment and development is going to lead to employment for Tobago, it is going to lead to a number of increases in business in Tobago, and all of the basket of positivity and productivity that comes with it.”

Prime Minister Young also told the stakeholders that “this is a clean slate.”

Monday’s meeting with the Sandals’ team has been described by the Prime Minister as a positive step for Tobago’s development and he shared the sentiments by Mr. Stewart, “that the past is the past.”

The Prime Minister said he hopes the Sandals Group will take a positive decision in the interest of Tobago.

The following invitees were also present at Monday’s meeting:

• Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, the Hon. Farley Augustine.
• Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Senator the Hon. Randall Mitchell.
• Minister of Sport & Community Development, the Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis.
• Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister - Gender and Child Affairs - the Hon. Ayanna Webster-Roy.
• Minority Leader of the Tobago House of Assembly, Assemblyman Kelvon Morris.
• Tobago House of Assembly Councillor, Petal Daniel Benoit.
• Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy, Councillor Petal Robinson.
• Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Councillor Tashia Burris.
• Assemblyman Mr. Watson Duke.
• Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce - Tobago, Mr. Curtis Williams.
• Vice Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce - Tobago, Mr. Jason Arthur.
• President of the Tobago Business Chamber, Mr. Martin George.
• Managing Director, Jade Distributors Limited, Ms. Diane Hadad.
• President of the Tobago Taxicab Co-op Society Limited, Mr. Joseph Johnson.
• President of All Tobago Fisherfolk Association, Mr. Curtis Douglas.
• Senator Ancil Dennis.
• Senator Laurence Hislop.
• President of the Agriculture Society, Mr. Deon Taylor.
• President of Goldsborough Farm Association, Mr. Roland Murray.
• Dive Association, Mr. Sean Robinson.
• President of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, Mr. Alpha Lorde.
• Sandals Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Jordan Samuda.
• Sandals Regional Manager Director - Eastern Caribbean, ⁠Mr. Winston Anderson.
• Sandals Director of Communications, Ms. Rachel McLarty.
• Sandals Regional PR Manager - Eastern Caribbean, Mr. Sunil Randeen.
• Sandals Executive and Personal Assistant to Mr. Stewart, Ms. Kerry Miller.
• Sandals Board Director, Mr. Nicholas LokJack.

If you missed the Press Conference on Monday, you can watch it in its entirety right here.

More on this as it becomes available.