The long-awaited opening of Tobago’s upgraded ANR Robinson International Airport terminal has a confirmed opening date, according to top regional official Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). Augustine shared preliminary details about the milestone project during a press briefing held Wednesday at Scarborough Library, where he addressed growing concerns from local airport concessionaires over proposed high relocation and rental costs.
While Augustine confirmed that a concrete launch timeline has been finalized, he noted that the official public announcement will be made this coming Monday, keeping the exact date under wraps for the short term. A core priority for the THA throughout the transition process has been addressing complaints from small and micro local vendors, many of whom have spoken out against steep proposed space rental fees in the new facility. Some vendors even reported having their applications for commercial space rejected outright, while others pulled out of the process entirely due to cost barriers.
Augustine moved to ease these concerns this week, emphasizing that punitive exorbitant pricing is neither supported by the THA nor aligned with the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s (AATT) goals for the new terminal. “I will not support nor do I think it is the intention of the Airports Authority to be punitive in any way or to be extremely harsh in terms of their fees…and so I think with some patience and some time people would be moved into the airport effortlessly,” he told reporters.
To make the transition seamless and accessible for local small businesses, the THA has pledged direct support and dedicated funding for booth and kiosk construction for micro-entrepreneurs. Augustine acknowledged that covering custom build-out costs to meet the new terminal’s design and quality standards would pose a major financial burden for small operators working with limited budgets. That is why the regional assembly is stepping in to cover this work, ensuring local vendors can meet requirements without taking on unsustainable debt.
Earlier on Wednesday, Augustine led a coordinated stakeholder meeting directly at the new terminal site alongside AATT representatives and affected concessionaires. The session included a guided walkthrough of all assigned commercial spaces, designed to answer questions, clarify logistics, and confirm readiness ahead of the official relocation. This on-site engagement is part of a broader series of preparation activities leading up to the terminal’s opening.
In a formal statement released by the Office of the Chief Secretary, officials confirmed the AATT has guaranteed that all existing small and micro-business operators currently working out of the old terminal — including local sweet vendors and other micro-enterprises — will receive the opportunity to relocate to the new facility. Augustine emphasized that this inclusive approach is intentional: the entire transition process is structured to center local enterprise, support small business growth, and ultimately deliver a better, more authentic experience for visitors arriving in Tobago.