Dennis PNM Will Fight for Flights
In a fiery address at a political meeting in Mt. Grace, People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council political leader Ancil Dennis outlined a robust strategy to revitalize Tobago’s tourism and transport sectors ahead of the January 12, 2026, Tobago House of Assembly elections.
Dennis asserted that the October Carnival, which he claimed was conceptualized by the PNM, still holds significant capacity for improvement and visitor growth. However, he emphasized that the critical difference a new PNM government would offer is a commitment to « work for you, » particularly regarding inter-island connectivity.
Addressing the perennial issue of airlift, Dennis criticized the current administration’s passive approach to dealing with Caribbean Airlines (CAL) during peak travel periods. He recalled that the previous PNM administration was prepared to aggressively advocate for the island, stating they were willing to « cuss CAL » to secure necessary flights. He contrasted this with the current leadership, suggesting that when faced with seat shortages during the last carnival, they merely « prayed for more flights » rather than negotiating effectively. Dennis promised that his administration would go beyond prayer and explore every option to ensure visitors can reach the destination.
The PNM leader also unveiled a vision to brand Tobago as the « Festival Island of the Caribbean » through a 52-week calendar of events. This comprehensive schedule would encompass music, heritage, culinary arts—highlighting Tobago’s food as superior to anywhere else, including Trinidad—and sports.
On the topic of sports tourism, Dennis lamented the loss of major events such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Tobago Cycle Classic over the last four years. He pledged to not only restore these staples but also to aggressively pursue opportunities for premiership teams to conduct off-season training on the island.
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