Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has raised serious concerns about the recently refurbished Manta Lodge in Speyside, labeling it a den of iniquity.
In February 2023, the keys to the two-star hotel and dive center were handed over to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announcing plans to put tenders out for managing it. As of now, an operator has not yet been selected.
During a news conference on June 20 at the PDP’s headquarters in Port Mall, Scarborough, Duke urged Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to provide an update on the hotel in his upcoming budget presentation on June 24 in the Assembly Legislature.
Expressing his concern over the $32 million spent on the refurbishment of Manta Lodge, Duke alleged that the facility was being misused as a ‘romping shop’ for certain elite individuals, hindering access for tourists and preventing revenue generation.
Describing Tobago under the Augustine administration as “an island of lost dreams,” Duke highlighted the PDP’s pre-election plan to establish co-operatives in rural communities, particularly in the eastern part of the island, to manage Manta Lodge.
According to Duke, the PDP’s approach aims to empower locals to invest in and oversee projects, fostering a stronger sense of responsibility and ensuring benefits for the people of Tobago. He emphasized the party’s commitment to a win-win-win strategy, where all stakeholders stand to gain from government projects that would otherwise be stagnant.
