Orville London's statement was in response to claims made by Peter and Murium Green, who were chopped across the face on August 1, 2009, as they slept outside their home in Bacolet, Tobago.
The Greens have claimed that the THA promised them compensation and have said that officials are not honouring that promise. They have threatened to protest outside the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London if they don't get a satisfactory answer by the end of the year.
High Commissioner to London, Garvin Nicholas, told JYOTI Tuesday he will attempt to contact the Greens on Wednesday to discuss the matter. He also said, in his view, if any promise was made it should be honoured.
Read the story: TT HC to London will try to meet Greens, says Tobago "relatively safe"
London told the Express the THA and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago spent $93,443.55 for ground transfers to and from the Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex, 21 days of accommodation at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, for Martin Green, the couple's son, and return airfare to London for family members.
"I did not make any commitment nor do I think any official representative of the Tobago House of Assembly made any commitment to compensate the Greens which they would have suffered," London said.
London explained that if any compensation agreement were made it would have set "a challenging precedence" in relation to locals and other international visitors. He said efforts have since been made to see if the Greens and other visitors can qualify under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act.
He also took issue with charges by the couple about mistreatment at the Mount Hope hospital.
"I want to also state very categorically that my information is that the Greens received the best medical care possible, and that the story that is bandied about, about the bandages, that to me is preposterous."
That comment was in relation to a report attributed to Peter Green that a nurse used a contaminated rag to clean an open wound to his head.
"We have to clear the name of THA and treat with the integrity of the island and the country, and the destination, and all the care givers, and all those that may have been responsible in some way, with the treatment of the Greens," he said.
"We also have an added responsibility to ensure that we market Tobago aggressively, and that we find ways and means and utilise all relevant strategies to alleviate some of the damage that must have been done to this island and this country," London told the paper.
The THA's Division of Tourism and Transportation has offered to pay for the Greens to return Tobago to testify in the case against the man accused of attacking them. It is also offering to pay any necessary professional support.
"We have every confidence that justice will be dispensed. We wish Mr and Mrs Green well, as they continue to recover from an experience which no one deserves," the Division declared in an official statement.
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