2 weeks ago
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Senior Reporter
By mid-August, the public is expected to have a clearer timeline for the opening of the new terminal at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point, Tobago.
Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John told Guardian Media yesterday that the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) was currently conducting walk-throughs with the client, Airports Authority, with a view to handing over the airport by mid-August or thereabouts.
Minister John added, “The runway still has to be paved and then handed over subsequently.”
This would also see responsibility for the airport transferred from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, headed by Minister Eli Zakour.
This is because NIDCO currently falls under John, while the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) is under the purview of Zakour.
Therefore, once the terminal is handed over to the AATT, it will be up to Zakour to decide when it will open to passengers.
Zakour did not respond to text messages or phone calls on the issue yesterday.
Meanwhile, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said some steps, especially regarding certification, must be completed before the terminal can become operational.
“So, it’s not as simple as you build a nice airport, it looks pretty, planes can land, and you could proceed to open the airport,” he told Guardian Media.
Augustine explained that the airport’s ability to respond to fires must be improved.
“Because we have had some recent threats to our certification because of operations at the fire station there. In fact, just over two weeks ago, I saw an email from the Airport’s Authority then about some threats that we had in terms of downgrading ANR Robinson because a fire tender shut down at the runway for an extensive period and just could not be moved,” he said.
Augustine said the former administration had asked the THA to widen the Store Bay Local Road and he believes the airport should have had a road behind Apex.
“I’m not sure why they did not build that road to manage the traffic. So, that is just one of the things that the international agencies like FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) will be looking at before granting that certification.”
Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor also told Guardian Media that Tobagonians are looking forward to its opening “ASAP” (As soon as possible).
She added, “We are willing to assist in every regard to ensure that Tobagonians benefit.”
Brebnor lamented that when the terminal was commissioned by the former People’s National Movement government in March 2025, the THA and Tobagonians were excited but that was short lived.
However, she added, “We learned then that a lot more work was needed, and that grand event was just a political ploy. We were disappointed.”
Also contacted, Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation Tashia Burris said the mid-August deadline was a positive step forward, despite the remaining paving work on the runway.
“We are optimistic as this milestone reflects steady progress towards operational readiness. This new terminal will significantly enhance the visitor travel experience, boosting direct airlift capacity and efficiency. This development is poised to boost Tobago’s tourism sector by attracting more visitors, facilitating smoother arrivals, and ultimately contributing to the island’s economic growth,” Burris said.
The new two-story terminal was “practically completed” in March 2025 and includes a public departure hall, advanced check-in systems, nine departure gates, VIP lounges and expanded parking facilities.
The project, managed by NIDCO, began on July 18, 2020. The main contractor was China Railway Construction Caribbean Company Limited.
The project experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain difficulties, and issues with land acquisition.
The initial contract for the project was approximately US$128.7 million, with the final cost reported at around US$129.8 million. Land acquisition costs were separate, totalling about US$44 million.
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