Trinidadian Opinion on Pigeon Point

[Michael Moses]

I just wanted to clarify a few things about the policy of Pigeon Point
The rules are you cannot use any facilities provided ie. bathrooms, jetty,etc without paying the fee. But you can still use the beach and swim in the sea around the area.
Although Anthony Sabga has received a lot of bad press about the whole thing, I think it has been undeserved. And further more I think the whole country of Trinidad and Tobago would benefit greatly from the massive plans the Ansa McAl group had for the property, there was talk of marinas and hotels and such on the property. Providing a better service for the boaters and tourists of all sorts, not to mention the employment opportunities it will provide for Tobagonians.
In perfect Trinbagonian fashion everyone has jumped up at arms about losing "their favourite beach" instead of looking at the good points of development of the area and bringing more income to the island.

BUSINESS ASIDE,

When I last visited Pigeon Point, as a paying customer mind you, I found the staff pleasant, the sun hot, the carib beer cold, the beach beautiful and the service provided by the personable staff of the Wild Turtle Dive Shop great.
I just wanted to finish up by adding the Karawak reef dive is a light and easy beach dive that is most enjoyable.

[Paul Tallet]

Michael

Interesting points.

Yes Pigeon Point is a beautiful place and it has potential ... as a beautiful place.

You pay the fees on entrance. If you decline to pay the extra for a boat trip you get abuse from the gate keeper. Then you pay more fees for the use of a sun bed, plus inflated prices in the beach bars ... if they are not all closed down by now. I am not sure about the showers but there was a recent post in this forum stating that they were shut down. I once got 'shouted out' of the toilets at around 1700 one afternoon by a cleaner who said the toilets were shut ... and I hate doing it behind a tree!!

I have seen the property get more run down over the last 5 years and the sight of the fence is quite offensive.

There is concrete debris along the beach, presumably to keep the waves from washing most of the beach away at high tides, and I once badly cut my foot on an iron spike sticking up out of the sand. No first aid facilities, the least you would expect if you are paying to enter the site.

Also, I wonder how on earth you would fit a Marina and hotels on this property? I heard one rumour about a hotel being built on No Mans Land but a marina? ... Where would it go, in Bon Accord Lagoon? That would be the end of much of the wildlife there I suppose.

I am sure Mr Sabga had big plans for the site, I guess they did not work out and he has lost interest. Who's idea was it anyway and who was consulted?

Could vast hotel and marina complexes really work in Tobago? Or is this just one man's idea of how it should be?

I am not sure if it is fair to blame Mr Sabga for the ecological damage ... that has been going on for decades but he certainly has not helped ... what commercial entity would do anything unless there was profit at the end of the day?

I think the one thing that Mr Sabga does need to improve is his PR ... whilst you have (bravely, I might add) felt the need to speak out on his behalf, Mr Sabga has not spoken out for himself and faced his critics.

There have been some quite unpleasant incidents at Pigeon Point over the years coupled with an ongoing 'overkill' with security guards ... secrecy has surrounded the future plans for the site ... I am sure that good PR would have given Mr Sabga a better opportunity of realising his dream.

At the end of the day ... is it really Mr Sabga's fault ... some comedian sold the site to him in the first place !!!

Who's place is it to own?

Regards

[Bob White]

Well said Paul.

Like you I have watched the whole P P area deteriorate rapidly over the past two years.

Whoever is to blame in this political game....... and I think it is the local vendors who have really suffered.... there are plenty of alternative and vastly superior beaches to enjoy on the island.

Regards,

Bob.

[Paul Tallet]

Yes Bob, you are absolutely right.

I got so into this thread that I forgot that there are so many other more beautiful places in Tobago.

But shhhhhhuuuuush !!... don't tell them otherwise we will have property speculators running all over the place !!

Cheers