4 days ago
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Senior Investigative Reporter
State-owned Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) has been invoiced almost half a million dollars for a three-day retreat in Tobago for acting chief executive Keino Cox and 10 of its executives.
The all-inclusive retreat, which was held from January 16 to 18 this year in Tobago, is set to cost the company $436,081.78, at a time when the telecommunications provider reported a loss of $82.2 million in its financial statement for the year ended March 31, 2025.
The cost of the retreat was discovered in a bundle of invoices obtained by the Guardian Media Investigations Desk.
Several video clips of the retreat were also provided, which showed the executives, some casually dressed and others in beachwear, partaking in games, taking group photographs, boarding a tour boat, wearing green and white garlands, lighting a bonfire and engaging with each other under two tents on the secluded, pristine beach of No Man’s Land in Bon Accord, which is only accessible by boat.
Executive retreats are common and are often regarded as team-building exercises which take place outside of the office, allowing team members and leadership to engage in activities to strengthen their communication, reconcile different perspectives toward a common goal and deepen trust, which would ultimately create cohesion in the team. However, the Government has taken a hardline approach to excessive and unnecessary spending, cutting Christmas parties for staff and several sponsorships from State companies.
Cost Breakdown
A three-page invoice gave a detailed breakdown of the overall cost of the retreat.
The invoice, dated January 20, 2026, showed TSTT was billed for branded tokens — $38,704, event production — $203,265, hotel accommodation — $72,167, and supervision/coordination — $73,492.25.
These four areas of the retreat cost $387,628.25.
The bill grew to $436,081.78 when 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) was added to the sub-total of $387,628.25.
The services offered to TSTT were experiences and tours, retreat coordination, logistics and on-call service, infrastructure and set-up, branding, labour and transportation.
Event Production
An invoice from Tobago-based Stage Solutions Ltd, dated January 17, 2026, sent to the advertising agency listed 32 items and services for the retreat for $180,680.
When VAT was added to the $180,680, the final figure increased to $203,265.
The extensive list focused on the quantity, rates and amount for the items and services provided.
It showed that four boat services totalling $57,500 were provided.
One was a “bar service on tour boat and No Man’s Land” for $15,000, while the second was a “catering service on tour boat and No Man’s Land”, costing $15,000.
For a single-boat charter on January 16 and 17, the fee was $12,500.
A reef boat charter was priced at $15,000.
It also listed a $6,500 island tour with a tour guide and refreshments.
Included in the list were 12 goodie bags — $9,000, pannists, drummers and dancers — $10,500, recreational games — $2,500, a $3,600 bonfire, golfing at Magdalena Grand payment and facilitation — $4,800, retreat coordination/logistics and on-call service — $15,000, ambient lighting/boat and land — $3,600, transportation January 16–18 — $5,000, executive concierge services January 16–18 — $15,000, a 20-foot bmobile arch branding on No Man’s Land — $5,000, grass turf — $2,000, a bmobile backdrop — $3,500, Seahorse Inn dinner reservations and payment facilitation — $12,500, branding and installation Comfort Inn/No Man’s Land January 16–18 — $4,500, pre and post-cleaning of No Man’s Land — $3,000, and labour January 16–18 — $7,500.
The rental of two generators, five ottomans (four large and one white premium), eight beach chairs, two tents, four tables and four tablecloths for $8,480 was also on the list.
Eight insect-repellent torches, costing $1,200, were also included.
Accommodation
Another invoice from Comfort Inn and Suites, dated January 14, showed that TSTT was billed $65,666.57 for accommodation, a meeting room, food and beverage, and a late check-out fee for its executives during their stay.
In the invoice, the hotel used Cox’s name, cell phone contact and email address as “contact details”.
It showed that a “King Suite Room” (single occupancy) was rented for Cox, with a king-sized bed at $1,961.26 per night.
For the three nights Cox was a guest at the hotel at Orange Hill Road, Scarborough, a fee of $5,883.78 was charged.
The hotel added a ten per cent service charge ($588.38), 12.5 per cent VAT ($73.55) and ten per cent accommodation tax ($588.38) to the $5,883.78, bringing the final cost of Cox’s accommodation to $7,134.09.
Of the ten other executives, six were placed in King Suite Rooms (single occupancy) with king-sized beds for two nights at $23,535.12.
This figure increased to $28,536.33 with taxes and service charges.
The remaining four executives were placed in Standard King Rooms (single occupancy) with king beds (with breakfast) for two nights, costing $1,368.25 per room.
The cost of those rooms increased to $13,272.03 when taxes and service charges were added.
TSTT was also charged a $4,534.75 late check-out fee on January 18 for the 11 rooms rented.
The cost of a late check-out for each room was $340 plus taxes and a service charge.
The hotel’s total accommodation bill for the executives was put at $53,477.19.
An additional $6,000 fee was also charged for a boardroom-style meeting room at the hotel to accommodate the 11 executives for two days.
When the hotel included VAT and service charge for the boardroom’s rental, the final tab was $7,425.
Under food and beverage, the hotel provided the executives with an all-day beverage station and snack plates for its two-day board meeting, costing $4,764.38, inclusive of taxes and service charge.
The beverages were an assortment of teas, coffee, bottled water and two juices.
A third invoice showed Pretty Pineapple Productions billed the advertising company on January 15 under the subject “Bmobile Tokens for Executive Retreat”.
The tokens, priced at $38,704, had no details on the document except for the words “token, packaging, coordination, etc.” Up to the time of publication, the advertising agency had not been paid by TSTT.
TSTT responds
Guardian Media Investigations Desk reached out to Cox via WhatsApp regarding the invoices, but he said he was in transit yesterday and referred us to Janelle David, TSTT’s Media and Stakeholder Relations, for a comment.
In a WhatsApp message, David stated, “As noted, the figure referenced is inaccurate and significantly overstated. We remain focused on ensuring that any reporting about TSTT is accurate and verified, especially given that we were not able to review the documents you referenced.”
Stage Solutions Ltd-bmobile executive board weekend retreat
Items and description Quantity Rate Amount
Goodie bags 12 $750 $9,000
Pannist welcome serenade 1 $3,500 $3,500
Folk dancers welcome serenade 1 $3,500 $3,500
Drummers welcome serenade 1 $3,500 $3,500
Single boat charter 16 & 17 1 $12,500 $12,500
Reef boat charter 1 $15,000 $15,000
15×15 clear top marquee tent 1 $800 $800
inclusive of side walls
20×20 clear top marquee tent 1 $1,200 $1,200
inclusive of side walls
White premium ottoman 4 $120 $480
Large ottoman 1 $300 $300
Beach chairs 8 $150 $1,200
Ambient lighting/ boat & land 1 $3,600 $3,600
Bar service on tour boat and 1 $15,000 $15,000
No Man’s Land
Catering service on tour boat and 1 $15,000 $15,000
No Man’s Land
Bonfire 1 $3,600 $3,600
Generators 2 $2,000 $4,000
Insect repellent torches 8 $150 $1,200
Grass turf 1 $2,000 $2,000
Recreational games 1 $2,500 $2,500
Executive concierge services
January 16 – 18 1 $2,500 $2,500
Pre and post cleaning and 1 $3,000 $3,000
Sanitation No Man’s Land
Retreat coordination/logistics 1 $15,000 $15,000
and on-call service
20 ft bmobile arch branding 1 $5,000 $5,000
on No Man’s Land
bmobile backdrop 1 $3,500 $3,500
6ft tables 4 $50 $200
Table cloth 4 $75 $300
Branding and installation Comfort In/ 1 $4,500 $4,500
No Man’s Land January 16 – 18
Seahorse Inn dinner reservations 1 $12,500 $12,500
and payment facilitation
Golfing at Magdalena Grand payment 1 $4,800 $4,800
and facilitation
Island tour/tour guides and 1 $6,500 $6,500
refreshments
Transportation January 16 – 18 1 $5,000 $5,000
Labour January 16 – 18 1 $7,500 $7,500
Sub total $180,680.00
VAT (12.5%) $22,585.00
Total $203,265.00
Union wants answers
General secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), Joanne Ogeer, said concerns are now being raised regarding what appeared to be a lavish executive retreat.
The union leader said the retreat came at a time when workers were being told that financial constraints prevent fair settlements in collective bargaining negotiations.
Ogeer questioned whether the board had approved the retreat’s budget.
“Historically, TSTT has not been known for hosting such retreats for its executive management and board of directors. Yet the union has been reliably informed, and supported by video recordings and photographic evidence of an elaborate gathering involving executives and board members.”
She described the retreat as an “extravagant celebration” and called for “full disclosure on the total expenditure associated with the retreat”.
Ogeer said austerity appears to apply only to bargaining unit employees.
“What procurement policies governed the organisation of this retreat?”
She also queried whether operational improvements and measurable value had been identified following the retreat.
“The workforce and public deserve answers.”
In the last few months, Ogeer claimed bmobile has been on a sponsorship drive.
“From fete sponsorship to partnership with high-profile personalities, the company seems eager to engage in high-visibility marketing initiatives. Let it be clear, the union does not oppose effective marketing. In fact, we encourage strategic partnerships that strengthen the brand and generate revenue.”
Such initiatives must be phased, measured and supported by demonstrated results that justify investments, Ogeer pointed out.
The union, she said, has consistently raised alarms about wanton wastage at TSTT while workers were sent home due to cost-cutting measures.
“While employees are repeatedly told the company faces cost limitations, the public continues to witness what appears to be a spending spree.”
Insisting that the union would protect the interests of TSTT workers, Ogeer said she was prepared to expose “those square pegs placed in round holes… individuals who appear to be part of what workers increasingly view as a feeding trough at TSTT.”
TSTT’s administrative expenses
2025 2024
Contract services $125.9M $92.3M
Rentals $60.1M $56.3M
Advertising $45M $38.4M
Directors’ remuneration $996,000 $1.4M
Training and foreign travel $2.9m $2.2m
Supplies and related expenses $7.1m $3.5m
Janitorial service $4.5m $5m
TSTT maintenance and repair costs
2025 2024
Fleet costs $2.4m $3m
Motor Vehicle rentals $355,000 $3.2m
Maintenance hardware, software $73m $66.8m
and office equipment
Maintenance of premises $14m $12.7m
Maintenance of plant $78.1m $109m
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