THE INNOVATIVE Democratic Alliance (IDA) has called on Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to establish a special unit to prepare Tobago businesses for opportunities in the new ANR Robinson airport, which is expected to be commission on March 15.

During a news conference on February 25 at the IDA’s headquarters in Scarborough, the party’s PRO Kaye Trotman said, “Deliberate steps must be taken to assist businesses to capitalise on opportunities that would be presented.”

Saying the new airport raises the issue of economic exclusion of Tobago businesses from opportunities of commerce, Trotman said the party recently saw flyers advertising calls for RFPs (requests for proposals) for food and beverage spaces, which would cover grab-and-go enterprise, quick-service restaurants and casual dining restaurants.