Days before the 2010/2011 national budget, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday announced some "goodies" for Tobago, among them an integrated tertiary education facility and a new fire station.

"I thought that as we are in Tobago it would be nice to let Tobago know some of the things we have agreed that we will get in that budget," said Persad-Bissessar at the post-Cabinet press conference at the Coco Reef Hotel in Tobago, where the party is currently on a four-day Government workshop.

"It is a great pleasure to advise that the Cabinet has decided we will be putting in place and establishing here in Tobago, an integrated educational facility so that the students of Tobago will have the same benefits as the students in Trinidad," Persad-Bissessar said.

She said in the budget, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran will also announce that a new fire station will be constructed for the people of Tobago in the next fiscal year.

Minister of Tobago Development, Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, also spoke of some of the other decisions which Cabinet had agreed upon for Tobago.

She said she was advised by Cabinet to assure the people of Tobago that the long overdue Scarborough Hospital will be delivered next year June and it should be fully operational by December 2011.

Toppin added that the Vanguard hotel, formerly the Hilton hotel, will also be up and running for the start of the winter season 2010/2011. 

Also dealing with Government's commitment to Tobago, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy said he will today meet with Tobago's senior superintendent to discuss crime.

"There is an almost 100 per cent detection rate, which is quite good, and we recognise that the criminal activity has increased and there are efforts being taken as we speak to minimise that," Sandy said.

In the May 24 general election, the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) party, which is part of the People's Partnership coalition Government, was able to successfully sweep the two Tobago seats.

Persad-Bissessar, on her arrival in Tobago on Wednesday, said Tobago is very special to the Government and she will work to ensure that the people are a priority.