On March 15, with great fanfare, the previous administration under the People's National Movement (PNM) hosted a ceremony hailing the practical completion of the new terminal building at the ANR Robinson International Airport at Crown Point, Tobago, as a pre-election high-profile project.
It is alleged that the project had $462 million in cost overruns.
Practical completion is a term used to describe the point in a building construction project where the works have been completed in accordance with the contract specifications, except for minor defects that do not materially affect the use of the building.
In his address at the ceremony, former minister of finance Colm Imbert said, "It does not mean that aircraft and passengers can utilise the new terminal building from tomorrow, since final completion on construction, I am told, is expected by the end of April. After that, there will be testing and commissioning, but practical completion is a significant milestone in the life of any project.
"We expect, therefore, that barring unforeseen circumstances, the first plane with passengers can utilise this new terminal building in July 2025. We will all work together to make that happen."
On that same day, the then Ministry of Works and Transport issued a public release stating that Tobago celebrated a significant milestone with the practical completion of the brand-new ANR Robinson International Airport terminal.
The ministry said the modern facility marked a transformative step in improving the island’s air travel infrastructure, boosting tourism and elevating service standards for both domestic and international passengers.
"The two-storey terminal spanning 25,500 square metres was designed to meet ICAO standards, ensuring world-class safety, efficiency and passenger comfort. The modern facility will significantly enhance airport operations, streamlining departures, arrivals and overall connectivity to support Tobago’s growing role as a premier Caribbean destination," the ministry said.
It said the new terminal building has been built with cutting-edge technology and modern amenities to enhance the passenger experience.
A key standout feature in the ministry's release was the advanced check-in systems with the new self-service kiosks and streamlined baggage handling processes for faster, hassle-free check-ins.
Passenger facilitation based on the standards of the ICAO Annex 9 – Facilitation is critical for improving the overall travel experience and enhancing operational efficiencies.
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Effective facilitation enhances passenger experience from booking, check-in, boarding and upon arrival immigration and customs formalities and baggage retrieval, ensuring a contented experience.
Procedures are streamlined to ensure faster passenger processing times through the formalities of immigration, customs, port health and security at airports.
The ministry release described the completion of the ANR Robinson International Airpo
