The Challenges Of Hybrid Work To Traditional Organizational Risk Management

A Pre-HSSE Conference 2022 Meeting

Opening Remarks by Nirad Tewarie - CEO Of AMCHAM T&T

Good morning, everyone.

I am Nirad Tewarie – CEO of AMCHAM T&T.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to today’s meeting on this very important and relevant topic facing all leaders across every industry today: The Challenges of Hybrid Work To Traditional Organisational Risk Management.

Today we are hosting this session as one of our Pre-HSSE Conference Meetings in the lead-up to our 26th Annual HSSE Conference & Exhibition from November 1st to November 3rd at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain.

As we transition into what we hope is a post-pandemic world, we have seen an increase in the organisational risks to the traditional models. There has also been a significant boost in digitalisation in the corporate environment. And we have also witnessed an increase in productivity with employees working from home or other locations. This has had many positive impacts on organisations, as employees have reported feeling less stressed getting to work – having avoided long hours of traffic – and feeling more comfortable working in a familiar, safe, and convenient environment.

Looking ahead, we see the future will continue along this trajectory – we will not return to the ‘normal of 2019 and early 2020’. Life has changed and the world of work is changing. The Prime Minister is probably correct in outlining the current situation in the Public Sector. Many companies in the private sector, including AMCHAM T&T, have already embraced flexi-workplace policies.

As we think about the society that we want to create, the systems we want to implement to increase productivity and even in the context of ongoing negotiations, there is probably an opportunity to explore opportunities for remote work for some types of jobs in the Public Sector. The processes and systems that would enable remote work in the public sector, would also likely improve the ease with which citizens interact with the state.

So, now that the economy becomes increasingly digital, we must also recognize that the growing cyber threat is also outpacing most companies’ ability to manage operations effectively. Today, all types of data being held and stored by companies – employees’ personal information, corporate data, customer information, intellectual property, and key infrastructure – is at risk.

Also, even as much as we have experienced an increase in productivity, the unprecedented changes caused by the pandemic have taken their toll on all of us. The combination of being separated for long periods and losing our loved ones and our livelihoods has had a major impact on our mental health.

This is and continues to be a difficult time for employees, as well as employers who seek to create an environment where their employees feel safe. But how do we access what is going on with our employees when they are working remotely? Can we read non-verbal queues from the little image that comes across our screen? Is it enough for us as employers to wait for employees to reach out with a problem?

Many times, we believe that the well-being of our staff is the responsibility of the HR department - but with rotational work, when HR is not there today - are all of us equipped to help an employee who is at work dealing with a mental health issue?

I look forward to the presentations today which would help us as employers and employees learn some strategies that we can employ - not only at our physical work buildings but also at home - the other place where we work.

Work-life balance - how do you achieve this when work from home has resulted in a blurring of the lines between work and home time and when the office calls are coming in later or earlier? How do we manage this when you are now living where you work? These are important questions that today’s leaders must answer as we adjust to this new world of work.

And as we deal with cyber threats and mental health, we must also balance this with the reality that the working spaces at home may not be the most conducive for work - from the lack of ergonomics to other hazards. How do we deal with a home office or another location that may contain physical and even environmental hazards?

And of course, as we look at all of these things, we should always understand our role as employers. We have a legal obligation, and Catherine would speak to that later today, but I want to advocate something that is a mantra at AMCHAM T&T - we do not aim to do the bare minimum for our employees and stakeholders - we aim to follow the best practices as an investment in our employee's physical and mental well-being - a happy employee is a productive employee. Our workers spend so much of their waking hours doing work for the company - it is our duty to ensure that we make the time enjoyable - even if sometimes the work may not be.

The session today is significant, it is one of our Pre-Conference sessions which are designed to give you a sneak peek into the Conference. The Conference will be held from November 01st to 03rd 2022 and would feature over 40 speakers. I ask that you encourage your supervisors and members of your team to attend. The Safety of our teams is paramount - and I challenge each of you to do as much as you can to ensure that health and safety is at the forefront of your organisation. Of course, one way to visibly demonstrate that is to support the Conference which seeks to highlight the relevant industry information. But I am also advocating that the strategies identified here be something that you make part of your company’s culture, regardless of where the work is being conducted. In the end, our major goal is to protect our employees. I hope to see a lot more of this in a post-pandemic era!

Thank You.

AMCHAM T&T's 26th Annual HEALTH, SAFETY, SECURITY, AND ENVIRONMENT (HSSE) CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION LAUNCH

President's Opening Remarks 
by Toni Sirju-Ramnarine

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for joining us today for the launch of our 26th Annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Conference & Exhibition.

We are very delighted and grateful to have your participation and support today as we seek to build on the work that AMCHAM T&T has been doing for a quarter of a century.

But despite our proud legacy over the last 26 years, this year’s conference is going to have a more futuristic focus. To move forward we must adopt a learner’s mindset – one that will help us to usher in a new era of progress and success. As the futurist Alvin Toffler wrote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

This quote is most fitting to what we are trying to do here today and over the coming years because it forms the backdrop of this year’s Conference and Exhibition which speaks to “Re-Imagining HSSE”.

And. let me be perfectly clear: we are NOT saying that we want to “reinvent the wheel” or that we need to start over in any sense.

What we are saying is that NOW we must continue building on the lessons we have learned and use them to transition HSE into a new era.

What does this era look like for HSSE? We see it as:

- an era that is defined more by innovation through the increased adoption of new tools and technologies

- an era that encourages sustainable business practices as we all move towards net zero.

- an era that embraces new perspectives and approaches around HSE compliance

- an era that takes on a deeper philosophical look at accidents and emergencies while still maintaining all the scientific findings that have driven our decision-making.

This year, the Conference will put some of these changes in clear focus and highlight the innovations in the industry and show how these new tools and techniques are reducing fatalities and protecting the environment.

AMCHAM T&T’s drive behind the HSSE Conference is simple - we want to save lives and livelihoods. We want employees to have workplaces defined by a culture of HSSE awareness and compliance. We want children to return to schools where they feel safe and protected. We want to ensure that HSE is not viewed as a checklist item, or one determined by cost factors but instead, HSE must be a core priority of ALL industries and ALL companies.

The pandemic brought into focus the importance of mental health - a topic I am pleased to say that we have been focused on since 2015. This year, we are exploring the topic once more, but we are re-imagining and evolving with the current trends. No longer are we addressing mental health in the workplace from the sole perspective of making sure employees have access to good mental health resources, but from the perspective of ensuring that there is no stigma attached to accessing these resources. We will be having conversations about mental health through personal stories which show vulnerability from leadership.

Also, we can’t ignore the health and safety impacts when we lead with exclusion or discriminatory practices in our workplaces. Therefore, we are saying that in HSSE, issues of diversity, equity and inclusion must be addressed if we hope to create a psychologically safe work places that empower our employees and help prevent unhealthy situations that may lead to undue stress and trauma.

To create safe spaces for our employees, we will be addressing issues of leadership - we must be able to create strong leaders who can support our people - these are matters that we will address head-on in this year’s Conference.

I also want to mention that we are also launching the 12th Annual National HSE Awards which will evaluate companies for their robust HSE systems. This award program is awarded by judges with over 30 years of experience in HSE and provides companies with coaching to fill existing gaps in their HSE arsenal.

I am also happy to say that this year, the Awards would also include a mentorship component where companies who are not successful in the first round of judging will be given one-on-one coaching for a maximum of two (2) years. The aim is to assist companies to improve their HSE systems, with an end goal of improving HSE nationally.

So now, I want to recognise our SPONSORS who are helping us to build and Re-Imagine the HSSE culture.

Thank you to our TITLE SPONSOR: Atlantic LNG – We thank them for their continued partnership and support of this conference which dates back to 2018. Also, we thank our PLATINUM SPONSORS: NGC Group of Companies; bpTT, Shell, Proman, Digital Era Group, Yara and Woodside Energy as well as our GOLD SPONSORS: Nu Iron Unlimited; Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, Heritage Petroleum Company Limited and Hitachi Systems Security Inc for their unwavering commitment to this issue.

This year the HSSE Conference will be a hybrid affair from November 01st to November 3rd – the first two (2) days will be in person at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain and the third day will be virtual. We have once more gathered a diverse mix of talented and highly accomplished speakers who will be delivering excellent content and information around this year’s theme: “Re-imagining HSSE”.

Helping us to start this conversation is the renowned keynote speaker and author Bill Sims, Jr. who was recently selected as one of the top ten speakers by the National Safety Council. Bill has created positive reinforcement systems with companies such as Dupont, Siemens VDO, Coca-Cola, and Disney to inspire better performance from employees and increase bottom line profits. He will be joined by a list of regional and international HSE experts and leaders at this year’s HSSE Conference.

Also, I would like to thank the hard-working AMCHAM T&T HSE committee - chaired by Balchan Jadoonanan and vice-chairs Travis Gayah and Camilla Arjoonsing, and our very own, Melissa Pierre, Senior Trade and Policy Specialist at AMCHAM T&T for their strong leadership and commitment on the coordination of this year’s Conference & Exhibition.

Let me remind you to check out the official 26th Annual Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE) Conference & Exhibition Website at https://amchamtt.swoogo.com/HSSE2022. There, you will find all the information about our speakers, sponsors, agenda, sessions, topics, registration details, and much more.

We hope to see you on November 1st – November 3rd for AMCHAM T&T’s 26th Annual HSSE Conference & Exhibition.

Thank You.

END.

INL eBike Handover Ceremony
President's Remarks

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is a pleasure to be speaking to you today here at Shirvan Road Police Station in Tobago at this INL eBike Handover Ceremony.

At the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T), we have a strong desire and record of delivering quality service to our members, their communities, and our nation. This handover ceremony serves as another amazing example and a reminder of how collaboration, mutual trust and commitment to a single cause can build bridges and unite people and organisations around an initiative that will benefit the wider interest of the community.

When AMCHAM T&T first got the call about this initiative, there wasn't a moment of hesitation about whether we should get involved or not. Initiatives such as this which hold the dual purpose of positively impacting the quality of life of our citizens while simultaneously improving the ease of doing business will always remain a top priority for us at AMCHAM T&T. Therefore, we are very happy to be partnering with the US Embassy, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and the many agencies whom you see here today on this very worthy initiative.

Against this background, I take great pleasure to thank the US Embassy and Chargé d'Affaires Shante Moore for providing an opportunity for partnership on this noble venture initiated by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

I must also extend my personal gratitude to Amerijet International Airlines - one of AmchamT&T’s loyal members - for their partnership and support with the construction and outfitting of the E-Bike Recharging Station that will be delivered to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Tourism Oriented Police Unit (TTPS TOPS) at the Shirvan and Roxborough Police Stations.

The introduction of these solar-charging eBikes as a solution to combatting crime while incorporating technology is a major step forward in our nation's anti-crime arsenal. I want to personally thank the TTPS for their progressive stance to lead with technology as they continue their challenging work to combat crime in our nation.

We are very fortunate to be living in a digital era right now where almost every part of human functioning has an element of technology that makes life much easier, simpler, and more efficient. Therefore, technology must remain a critical means of crime prevention strategies and policies to keep citizens safe.

The deployment of these eBikes will serve multiple purposes in crime prevention and the police response to criminal activity. Citizens can feel assured of better engagement with their law enforcement officers in their communities through increased neighbourhood patrols as well as the eBikes will also help law enforcement to move more efficiently in spaces where a vehicle would be more cumbersome or dangerous and respond to emergency situations a lot quicker - bringing a measure of relief to all citizens.

This is particularly important here in Tobago with its scenic beaches and unique flora and fauna, it is important that we conduct business inclusive of crime prevention, in a manner that is ever mindful of this pristine environment.

Additionally, with the unique cultural events and festivals that are known to draw record crowds every year, these eBikes will ensure an added measure of safety and protection to patrons and spectators at these events.

At AMCHAM T&T, our partnership and support of this initiative are both necessary and strategic. Necessary, because crime is a problem that affects everyone both directly and indirectly. Our quality of life is hampered, our businesses suffer, and ultimately, our nation pays the price when we are unable to attract both tourists and investors to our shores.

It is also strategic for us because partnering on this venture complies with our mandate to promote technology and greater attention to the conservation of our environment across all industries and sectors to ensure our nation's sustainable growth and development.

Moving forward, we need a lot more of these private-public partnerships as we seek to combat some of these big problems with even bigger solutions to drive progress in our nation. And so as I close, I reaffirm AMCHAM T&T's commitment to working with all our stakeholders on initiatives such as this one so we can create a safer society for all citizens of our beautiful twin-island republic.

Thank you.

END.

AMCHAM T&T & Republic Bank
present

TECH HUB ISLANDS SUMMIT (THIS) 2022

CHANGE IN ACTION

Day Two Opening Remarks by AMCHAM T&T CEO
Nirad Tewarie

Good morning, everyone

Welcome to DAY TWO of THIS (Tech Hub Islands Summit) presented by AMCHAM T&T and Republic Bank.

I just have a few little messages that I wanted to share with you all this morning.

Yesterday, we were talking about AI becoming sentient, what that means, and how dangerous that could be for us.

But I would argue that we are facing a greater danger today. A danger that the system overwhelms us. And the inertia that we talk about or the things that we don't get done or why life is hard or not good. This system is overwhelming us. But what is the system?

The system is you. The system is me. We are all nodes that make up that system. So how do we see ourselves? Do we see ourselves like the big strong dog who sees himself or herself as being incapable of doing anything or do we see ourselves like the cat is a tiger?

I think that's a fundamental question. Because we often ask who should do something. Why not you? Why not me? Why should somebody else do it? And that's what we're trying to do here at AMCHAM T&T as we build the Tech Hub because we have a problem.

I don't know how many of you caught this. But the SEA results this year show that of the 19,000 children who wrote the exam, the majority of students got less than fifty percent in Math and English - and by the way, the SEA exam is now whittled down to Math and English only, and no other subjects such as social studies and science.

Okay, so we have a problem. But life is about us turning problems into opportunities.

So how can we take this problem and turn it into an opportunity? So, instead of thinking, "oh my gosh, Tech is going to take away jobs". Why not talk about how Tech is going to help us get better jobs and improve social justice and social mobility in Trinidad and Tobago, and the world? That should be our goal.

In 2019, when I give this speech, this slide was a picture of some CPEP workers, and the next slide was a picture of tech workers in data science and so on. What we should be thinking about today is taking the people who feel they have no opportunities in the traditional system and creating opportunities for them while using technology as an enabler and as an industry, in and of itself, to be able to do that and to also solve the problems that we have of inequality and injustice around the world.

If we define our problem, if we say, we are going to be part of the solution as AMCHAM T&T is, as all of you are, then we can say, you know what, let's use some tools or let's create some new tools to solve our problems and to make our whole space better because that's what it should be about.

So, when we talk about the various industrial revolutions and we no longer have as many people in the developed world involved in manual labor - and we talked about using technology for business efficiency - shouldn't we also be talking about technology, in terms of quality of life and maybe even reducing the work week and reducing work.

Can we create the conditions where technology does some of the things that we do now that maybe we don't have to do? We tease the lawyers about it and talk about the bots that are giving you better results than the lawyers because they are able in a short time to use the data and algorithms to scan tens of thousands of cases, tell you what the case law is and therefore what's the best outcome. But they are complex things that you still require lawyers for, right? Therefore, if we can reduce some of the busy work or some of the tedious work, can we get better quality of life? Not that we don't want lawyers to have a better quality of life.

For any job set, we can do that. So that is what when we talk about building a tech sector it is not an abstract thing and it is not only a money thing - although that is important because you need the resources to be able to move things along – but it's how do we do this to achieve larger objectives that we have around how we want our society to develop.

And in that vein, we spend a lot of time focusing on government - yesterday, Carina Cockburn from the IDB spoke about cyber security and a possible testing lab within the private sector. But what if our government which has so much to do in their digital transformation journey, sees itself as a developer of IP, where they invite the private sector and they put an open call to solve solutions and become co-owners of the IP that we can then resell on license and that in itself becomes a revenue stream.

My point is, that there's no shortage of ideas, there's no shortage of opportunities. And if we focus only on the problems, we will never create the Trinidad and Tobago that we want. We will never achieve the objectives that we want, and we will always be depressed and upset and angry because all we see is what we can't do or what somebody else should do.

So, let's create the Trinidad and Tobago that we want, and we argue that let's do it in part through the development of a tech sector because "we can make it if we try, just a little harder" in the words of the great poet, the Black Stalin.

Thank you very much.

END.

AMCHAM T&T and Republic Bank
present

TECH HUB ISLANDS SUMMIT (THIS) 2022

OPENING CEREMONY
PRESIDENT'S WELCOME REMARKS 

by Toni Sirju-Ramnarine

Change in Action

Good morning, everyone.

WELCOME to the AMCHAM T&T-Republic Bank - Tech Hub Islands Summit (THIS) 2022.

It is a real honor to be with you today live and in-person to kickstart what promises to be three days of engaging and thought-provoking discussions.

Before I begin, I want to start by acknowledging the support of our sponsors. We are delighted to have Republic Bank return once more as our Title Sponsor and for sharing the vision we have of T&T becoming a major tech hub globally.

I must also acknowledge our other sponsors: Platinum Sponsors: PwC; IDB; Digicel; Eximbank; SI Digital; our Gold Sponsors: Guardian Group; NIO Digital; Proman; Silver Sponsor: Balroop Group; Session Sponsors: Visa and the TTIFC; Digital Media Partner: LoopTT and our Transportation Partner: Europcar. All that we are able to do here today is largely built on the support and partnership of these organisations.

STORY OF THIS

Four years ago, when we started the first edition of this, we wanted to amplify the importance of digital transformation to our economy. We are of the firm belief that a tech sector in Trinidad and Tobago can be a critical component of a diversification strategy.

The vision we had for this was to build a national tech ecosystem and marketplace that will allow local businesses to export tech services to international markets.

We also wanted to develop a critical mass of local talent and to put the established businesses in touch with the young disruptors to start collaborating more on problem-solving facilitated by technology.

To accomplish this, we knew we had to first start investing in our people. Bringing together representatives from the private and public sectors and all other stakeholders and interest groups was central to our digital transformation vision. I want to offer my gratitude to AMCHAM T&T's Digital Transformation Committee for their hard work over these past four years which helped us to achieve this goal. And the result is THIS – a conference bringing together these very minds! So you see we’re living the theme of this year’s conference - change in action

CHANGE IN ACTION

Now the question is: what do we do next? The answer is to continue building on what we created. Therefore, "Change in Action" over the next three days will see us highlighting the success stories of the young disruptors and innovators who are at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Their inspiring stories will hopefully channel a new influx of creativity and innovation to show us how technology can underpin a more fulfilling, productive, and profitable way of life.

Today competitiveness is about being innovative. The experiences of the past two years have definitely taught us that. But what does that mean in an ever-changing world? How do we continuously reinvent our business operations, redefine our dreams, and reimagine a future that has us staying both competitive and successful?

THIS 2022 is set up to answer these questions. This year we will amplify the work that needs to be done around building the local Fintech Industry and Financial Inclusion. We will share information to develop a futureproof digital infrastructure and make T&T a real player in the global tech supply chain.

But THIS isn't just a platform for discussions. THIS is a space to foster meaningful partnerships between key stakeholders:

- the private and public sectors

- the key innovators and disruptors with larger and long established, experienced entities

- local talent and internationally operating tech giants

You are all in this room. Jointly, we are here to learn, we are here to collaborate, we are here to form partnerships, and we are here to deliver the technological dream and vision we have for our businesses and our nation.

TELE-EVERYTHING WORLD

Let's start by accepting that this is now a "tele-everything" world. Recent global events have deepened our relationships with technology. Today we rely on digital connections for work, education, health, daily commercial transactions, and essential social interactions. This has existed for some time now, became amplified as a result of the pandemic and continues as an extension of the pandemic. And there's no forecast showing that the human connection to technology will change any time soon.

Digital adoption has become the mainstay of our operations and human functioning in recent times. There is no escaping it. But while we evolve with it, we need to make sure that we are building a world that:

1) enhances the quality of life for many families and workers,

2) fueling safety and convenience through the increased use of digital tools, and

3) enhancing interconnectedness to engender empathy, trust, and the administration of truth.

A digital era cannot have us worrying about:

- worsening economic inequality because of the digital divide;

- "big tech" exploiting their market advantage to erode the privacy and autonomy of users;

- or the weaponisation of lies and hate speech to manipulate public perception, emotion, and action to sow hate and discord in society.

Currently, we see a lot of this happening already in our world. What would be new is how we come together to solve these problems even as we embrace technology in all parts of our business operations and lives.

If technology is being harnessed to provide solutions, we will overcome these problems. But we must have a clearly defined strategy with intended goals and leadership buy-in from the decision-makers. Your presence here today suggests you already recognise this. Now we just have to agree on a clear roadmap to build the tech ecosystem and start doing the work.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF GOVERNMENT

The work must start with ensuring that digital transformation in the private sector does not outpace the rate at which it happens in the public sector, or vice versa. A true return on investment from digital transformation requires a coordinated and simultaneous approach between both private and public entities.

AMCHAM T&T, through THIS and the work of our Digital Transformation Committee, has outlined several key policies in the past to help fulfill our digital agenda. I don't want to sound repetitive, but we would like to see the government take swift action on these policies to fully reap the benefits of digital transformation.

We remain hopeful that the unique national e-identification will be operationalised soon so that we can simultaneously track the state's interactions with citizens while ensuring equitable access to public benefits and services for every citizen. Recently at our AGM Minister in the Ministry of Finance Brian Manning indicated that the Government is working on this and another of our recommendations, a data interoperability framework for the Government. We are hopeful that these will be actioned this calendar year.

FINTECH ECOSYSTEM

Also, we have seen how cashless payment systems and other advanced technologies like machine learning, blockchain, automation, bank lending, or consumer lending have digitally transformed many businesses elsewhere. With Trinidad & Tobago having the largest financial services industry in the English-Speaking Caribbean, we can leverage this to develop a thriving fintech ecosystem. This way we can boost innovation, advance financial inclusion, strengthen public financial management systems, and promote positive economic transformation. With the right mix of incentives, policies, and legislation to promote growth, innovation, and adoption, we can build this fintech ecosystem.

R&D

If we are going to invest in technology, then we must make sure that R&D is at the core of our growth strategy. This is how we will drive economic growth or spur innovation, invention, or progress.

In fact, one of the recommendations to the Government for inclusion in the upcoming budget is to support R&D in private companies through the allowance of a write-off of 75 % of the working capital used to support innovation against chargeable income tax, up to a limit of 2% of a company’s annual revenue in the prior year. We hope this recommendation will be taken into consideration.

NEARSHORING

Nearshoring is another sector that can provide a great return on investment considering recent global events such as the pandemic. Trinidad and Tobago’s immense resources and talent create the ideal environment to position itself as a world-class nearshore provider for foreign companies seeking to establish operations in new locations.

Currently, our close proximity to North America, English-speaking talent pool, favorable economic climate for investment, and relative ease of doing business are just some of the key factors that make T&T a prime destination for the emergence of a nearshoring sector. We believe this is what will keep us attractive to foreign investors seeking to fill their digital transformation gaps as they look to outsource their operations to other territories.

Indeed, we have held meetings with the Ministers of Trade and Digital Transformation on this proposal and are pleased to say that both Ministries have agreed to work in collaboration with us on the initiative. Further, last week, we convened the inaugural meeting of a Technical Working Group on this initiative and on Friday, we will have a wider meeting with stakeholders, as part of t.h.i.s., to brainstorm ideas to create a tech hub in T&T.

LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT

Finally, it's important to note that developing a tech ecosystem will not reap the intended benefits in the absence of the regulatory and legislative environment to facilitate its success. With many businesses now relying on technology and software to provide key services and collecting vast amounts of data from their customers, keeping the information secure has become a major priority. Therefore, our digital transformation dreams require a strong and robust governance framework to guide this tech ecosystem. We will need more efficient cybersecurity networks and the implementation of the Electronic Transactions Act, Data Protection Act and the Transfer of Funds Act coupled with policies to protect the free sharing of open data to ensure the vital success of our digital journey.

CLOSING REMARKS

As I close, I want you to know that AMCHAM T&T's focus on technology doesn't stop at the end of this summit. We will continue to do the work that is necessary to improve our business functions, enhance the quality of life for citizens and drive economic growth and sustainability from everything that technology has to offer.

We recently hosted another BreakbeatCode hackathon – which teaches coding through music – for 50 young people in T&T. We expect to do another such hackathon this year to be followed by a longer 12-week course for more intense coding training.

Our digital skills gap study with the IDB is almost completed. The findings will help guide the development of training programmes to support the growth of local firms and investor firms as the tech sector expands in T&T. Such a study should provide policy-relevant information on how key actors in the digital economy can better interact towards improving the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment based on an internationally competitive supply of digital talent. It will also examine distinct elements of the digital economy, including gaps in digital inclusion, emerging opportunities for e-commerce, and state responses to facilitate gap closure.

Also, our Security Committee is finalising the cyber-security guidelines which we hope to make available to our members soon. So, the work continues for us as I hope it will for you following this summit.

I hope you feel as excited as we do that digital transformation can be the engine of our economic growth and sustainability. I don’t expect you to have all the answers today or even by the end of this summit, but my hope is that the connections we leave here with will help advance the partnerships and collaboration needed to build the roadmap to our digitally connected future with fewer detours. I hope the information we share with you over the next few days will be useful and rewarding to both your businesses’ survival and our country's future.

Thank you once more to all our sponsors, speakers, and to Ms. Rey-Anne Paynter, TECH Community and Projects Officer at AMCHAM T&T and to everyone at the Secretariat for all their hard work in putting together this event.

Thank you.

END.

29th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 
BUSINESS FORUM 
PRESIDENT'S WELCOME REMARKS 

by Toni Sirju-Ramnarine

Toni Sirju-Ramnarine - AMCHAM T&T President

topic: Recovery, Growth and Resilience in the Context of Sustainable Development

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to AMCHAM T&T’s 29th Annual General Meeting and Business Forum.

I have to begin by saying how wonderful it is to be joining you here today IN PERSON after two years of virtual interactions. I know personally that it was difficult for me to take on this Presidency last year in the virtual space and have to deliver these remarks to a camera from home at the AGM, so I am indeed delighted to be here.

Let me assure you that these in-person and hybrid events are something we are intending to do more of now. Our Board and I are very much looking forward to having the opportunity to interact more with all of you.

And speaking of our Board, I warmly welcome our new and returning Directors to AMCHAM T&T’s Board of Directors. Thank you for the faith and confidence you have placed in me over this past year as President. I look forward to working and growing with you in the coming year.

This is an important year for us at AMCHAM T&T, as not only are we celebrating returning to in-person events, we are also celebrating a major milestone for our chamber.

30th ANNIVERSARY

We are celebrating our organisation’s 30th Anniversary. It may seem difficult to believe it now but the organisation that has faithfully served you so well over the past three decades started as a simple idea during a breakfast meeting among colleagues at the residence of the then US Ambassador.

For those of you who own or manage a company, you know that every great product, service or invention starts with having a simple idea – an idea that can solve a problem, transform societies, or even birth a new nation for a new era. We’d like to think that AMCHAM T&T has contributed significantly to our country’s private sector and the progress of our society.

There are many accomplishments we can reflect on that have added immense value to your businesses and have advanced development in our nation.

Some notable achievements include our 26 years of HSSE advocacy – AMCHAM T&T has been a leader in this sphere, and we can truly say that this has been transformational across many sectors in our society.

We have also hosted important trade missions to boost trade and investment opportunities, and we’ve strengthened our access to AACCLA whose board has consisted of several former and current AMCHAM T&T Directors and on which our Past President Patricia Ghany and our CEO Nirad Tewarie still currently sit.

This association with ACCLA has brought benefits, the most recent of which was securing a speaking spot for Massy Group CEO Gervase Warner at the recently concluded CEO Summit of the Americas three weeks ago.

Our work on gender equity has helped us to reach gender parity on our Board in 2020, which we maintained in 2021, and yet again in 2022. Meanwhile, our annual Women’s Leadership Conference continue to grow and draw widespread interest with this year’s conference having over 500 attendees registered.

More recently, we created THIS, the Tech Hub Islands Summit - our nation’s first major technology conference – at a time when, arguably, digital transformation wasn't yet quite seen as the imperative it is today.

These are all bright and shining examples of AMCHAM T&T's reach, influence, and relevance in representing the business interests of the private sector in an ever-evolving world.

As we celebrate these achievements, we also celebrate our members. Had it not been for your support coupled with the leadership shown by our past and current boards and respective committees, as well as the hard work of our CEO and Secretariat, we would not be able to celebrate these milestones and major victories. AMCHAM T&T thanks each of you for your unwavering support and we look forward to another 30 years of more wins shared with you.

RECOVERY, GROWTH, AND RESILIENCE

This sets the tone for what I am going to speak about today: enabling recovery, growth, and resilience in the context of sustainable development in our nation.

The past two years have presented many setbacks to our lives and businesses. The impact of an ongoing pandemic, climate change, and recent geopolitical tensions arising both near and far from our region continues to disrupt business. Against this backdrop, companies have been forced to make many difficult decisions to stay alive and afloat. But in the midst of these tumultuous times, many promising opportunities have also arisen. Here is where I would like to speak about what AMCHAM T&T has been working on and will continue to progress this coming year to support our recovery, growth, and resilience.

1) Investing in TECH

Investing in Technology is a prime example. Today every company can be called a TECH company. For the past two years, technology has provided the fuel to sustain most of our operations in the wake of such unprecedented challenges. Looking ahead this is not going to change. Already, many companies have made the digital switch or are seeking to invest more in digital transformation.

For any of this to happen, we must start leveraging new technologies and applying them across all sectors of the economy to equally benefit all companies. Doing this will ensure that technology becomes a real enabler for innovation and development.

We have seen how technology can transform the way companies produce and sell their goods and services. We know the potential it has to open up new markets and new business models, resulting in higher levels of productivity, production, and profits to grow the economy.

What we require more of now are the structural changes to promote innovation. Therefore, building a thriving tech sector requires greater investment in research and development, advancing education, bridging the digital divide, and creating an easier regulatory environment to enable our entrepreneurs to start businesses more easily. Both the private and public sectors have to do this together, but we must make this a major priority within our operations and as part of our country’s economic agenda.

AMCHAM T&T’s promotion of technology is mainly to help solve problems by building a vibrant tech ecosystem to fuel the digital economy. In two weeks, we will be hosting the 4th edition of the Tech Hub Islands Summit (this), where we will hear from tech giants Bernard Meyerson, Chief Innovation Officer Emeritus at IBM and David White, Global Technology Team Lead for Infrastructure Modernization at Google Cloud. THIS 2022 will return to an in-person Conference and Exhibition on July 6th – 8th, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain with the option to stream the summit and participate in a virtual exhibition on the virtual platform at techislands.net. We look forward to welcoming you to THIS 2022!

2) Nearshoring Policy

The second major initiative we have been progressing, which we believe has the potential to be truly transformational for our economy and is linked to national digital transformation, is developing a Nearshoring strategy, with a view to diversifying the economy and attracting investment in T&T.

We recently presented a policy paper developed by the AMCHAM T&T's Digital Transformation Committee and our Secretariat to the Minister of Trade & Industry and the Minister of Digital Transformation, both with whom we are currently working, alongside other agencies, to execute the strategies outlined in the paper.

Developing a nearshoring sector amidst the instabilities shaping our world right now may work in our favour as companies seek to move operations closer to home because of ongoing conflicts, supply chain concerns, the issues highlighted by the pandemic and climate change. The potential here for the development of this sector will result in viable export, foreign exchange earning opportunities, and increased jobs.

As we work to develop a detailed roadmap for this sector, AMCHAM T&T wishes to thank the Honourable Ministers Paula Gopee-Scoon & Hassel Bacchus and the teams from the Ministries of Trade and Industry & Digital Transformation for the collaboration and support on this initiative. We look forward to continued engagement to generate mutually desired results.

3) Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)

As we set the stage for recovery and growth towards sustainable development, we cannot ignore how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of climate change have emerged as serious threats to attracting investments. In response, companies are adopting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) measures to thrive today and future-proof themselves from tomorrow's risks. This is why key investors, stakeholders and policymakers are now looking at companies with built-in, measurable ESG policies as a prerequisite for investment - a point made clear in a recent PwC 2021 Global Investor ESG Survey where 79% of investment professionals from 43 territories said their investment decision making hinges on the way a company manages ESG risks and opportunities.

Therefore, I take pleasure in announcing that AMCHAM T&T has established a stand-alone ESG Committee. AMCHAM T&T's ESG Committee will help track how the ESG/Sustainability standards are applied to Trinidad & Tobago while sharing information and best practice advice on current issues affecting the realms of ESG.

Thanks to the tremendous work of Mark Thomas and the UNDP office in Trinidad & Tobago, we will be able to share with our members and the wider business community, an ESG handbook that is tailored to the Caribbean context.

Having reviewed this handbook, I can tell you that it is very comprehensive, and for those of you who are looking to introduce ESG more deliberately into your businesses or to enhance your existing practices, this is an excellent resource.

So, I want you to feel confident in relying on us at AMCHAM T&T for assistance, as you progress this important area of ESG to make your businesses more resilient and improve overall social wellbeing.

4) Rule of Law

That point brings me to the Rule of Law, another area AMCHAM T&T has been progressing. The key to an attractive and welcoming business environment begins with the predictable application of laws, policies, and processes. However, corruption – both actual corruption and the perception of corruption – a painfully slow justice system and violent crime pose major problems to both societal development and the ease of doing business.

We cannot build a resilient and cohesive society or conduct business in the absence of citizen security, fairness, and access to justice. There have been many solutions brought forward to help curb the rise of criminal activity. Ultimately, I believe the situation requires an "all-hands-on-deck" approach, for which AMCHAM T&T is committed to doing its part to help address these issues.

Our soon-to-be-established Rule of Law committee will provide additional resources, skills sharing, and knowledge transfer between the private sector and the government on this important national issue. We are delighted to have Mr Clive Fletcher, Managing Director at Unicomer who will chair this committee which will include representatives from the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, The Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute and the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

We must all work together to create a society rooted in good governance and high levels of social mobility and equality so that our citizens are made to feel safe, our businesses can thrive, and the economy becomes more efficient and attractive to investment.

MOVING FORWARD – WHAT WE NEED TO DO!

These are very promising initiatives and to help achieve them, we need more meaningful public-private partnerships geared towards national development initiatives.

We need to upgrade the existing infrastructure so that we develop a booming tech hub and drive economic growth derived from nearshoring opportunities.

We need to improve the ease of doing business to attract greater investment by addressing concerns at the ports and with customs.

And as we invest in ESG and Tech, we need to strengthen our cybersecurity frameworks and ensure we have the necessary regulatory and legislative environment to facilitate these objectives.

All of this is possible by working together. AMCHAM T&T will continue to do our part. We... each of us, must do our part.

CLOSING REMARKS

As I close, I remain optimistic about our future. Current commodity prices give the Government and likely many of our businesses some fiscal space. We must all use this wisely, understanding that this is a temporary situation.

There is no reason why the pathway to recovery, growth, and resilience toward sustainable development cannot lead to a place where social mobility is facilitated; or where inequalities are replaced by greater opportunities; or where our economy is in the top three most attractive places for investment in the hemisphere.

At AMCHAM T&T, these are goals that we have championed over the last thirty years, and goals I promise you, we will continue to work towards achieving over the next 30 years and beyond.

Finally, I say thank you to all our sponsors of today’s AGM and to our hardworking Secretariat. Ladies and gentlemen, I very much look forward to catching up with each of you at our networking cocktails following this meeting.

Thank you.

END.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (WILMP) LAUNCH 2022 LAUNCH

OPENING REMARKS BY
TONI SIRJU-RAMNARINE - AMCHAM T&T PRESIDENT

Good afternoon everyone.

I am Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, President of AMCHAM T&T.

It is my pleasure to wish you a warm welcome to the launch of the AMCHAM T&T and IDB's 5th Women in Leadership Mentorship Programme.

I would like to begin by offering my sincere gratitude to the Inter-American Development Bank for their continued partnership and support to empower women through this mentorship programme.

I would also like to thank our class of mentees. Thank you for recognizing the importance of this programme and choosing to participate this year.

And to our mentors, some of whom, I understand was part of our distinguished list of speakers at our recent Women's Leadership Conference, and others who were part of last year's Mentorship class. Thank you once more for offering your knowledge and wisdom to help support younger women in their future career prospects.

We often hear about the barriers preventing women from progressing and claiming success in their chosen careers and throughout every aspect of their lives. Rather than dwelling on the problems, AMCHAM T&T would like to shift the focus on the solutions.

The goal should always be to remove these existing barriers with more opportunities so that we are empowering both women and men. At AMCHAM T&T, we believe a diverse workplace and society brings about better outcomes for everyone.

Ultimately, this is what we are hoping to both inspire and achieve with this Mentorship Programme. We aren't saying that this is the only answer to some of these issues, but it is one small step we can take to provide the solutions we need.

You might ask how is this possible.

The answers are never easy or straightforward. But together we can counteract these hidden barriers by making conscious decisions every day to simply show up and offer support, wherever we can.

We can change the rules of the game and create a better game plan where we can ALL succeed, together.

For this to happen, as women, we must seek each other's interests. That means reinforcing greater collaboration to eliminate the competition that pits women against each other, and by extension, all women against men.

When we challenge the status quo we are essentially raising the bar for all women to have clearer and easier paths to reach their fullest potential in life. We can achieve this by helping our sisters to have a different vision for their lives, empowering them to continuously strive for better instead of settling for less, and by current leaders leaving a legacy of support and allyship that will continue to uplift women.

Don't ever forget that we are always stronger when we join forces and come together.

Women have the power to achieve this, but we can't do it alone. This is why lifting barriers and reducing inequalities is a job for EVERYONE. Therefore, we are going to need more men to stand in solidarity with women so that our world becomes a lot more inclusive, a lot more diverse, and ultimately, safer for everyone.

That’s why we hope to see more companies investing in mentorship programmes to foster greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace, strengthen company culture, and improve employee engagement. Companies that invest in mentorship will see the benefits of higher productivity, fewer turnover rates, better succession planning, and increase profits. Ultimately, it comes down to doing the right thing!

Mentorship also provides a platform that allows women to develop their leadership skills, increase their self-confidence, build their social capital, and take ownership of their own personal and professional development. At AMCHAM T&T and the IDB, we see the value in creating these opportunities for women to grow and succeed which is why this programme is a top priority for us.

I can guarantee you that the mentorship journey will pose some challenges and disruptions. It will make you a little uncomfortable at times as you unlearn some of the old and familiar patterns that have prevented your growth and development. But through the careful direction of your mentors, they will gentle guide you away from those restrictive fears and doubts to a place of greater courage and confidence.

And because of this, I can assure you that the outcomes you stand to gain will far outweigh the struggles and discomfort you may experience. Remember nothing worthy comes easy. But with your dedication and commitment to stand strong and face your fears you will soon realise that the only limitations that exist are the limitations you set for yourself.

So, I encourage you to absorb the valuable advice and counsel from your mentors. Let their knowledge and wisdom force you to rethink so many of your beliefs and attitudes. Let it motivate you to accept new challenges that once posed so much fear and anxiety. And don't be afraid to challenge your mentors as well. Growth is a continuous journey and no one person is better than the other or knows everything. So, offer your ideas and suggestions freely to build a strong relationship with your mentors where you are both learning and growing with each other.

This programme holds the promise for all of this, but you will only realize it if you first BELIEVE it. Your decision to register for this programme coupled with your attendance today already shows a promising first step to achieving these rewards.

I wish you much success as you begin this enriching journey.

Before I close, I want to once more thank all our mentors who have stepped up to offer support and solidarity with women to help them stand firm in their worth and value. Thank you for your willingness and enthusiasm to be part of this year's programme.

And finally, thank you to the IDB for showing continuous support and leadership in this programme, and for these issues.

END.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

An AMCHAM T&T WEBINAR

OPENING REMARKS by
MELISSA PIERRE, SENIOR TRADE AND POLICY SPECIALIST

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for joining us for today's Webinar: Waste Management: What You Need To Know? hosted by AMCHAM T&T and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

I am Melissa Pierre – Trade and Policy Specialist at AMCHAM T&T.

Do you understand your Responsibilities Under THE WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2021 AND THE WASTE MANAGEMENT (FEES) REGULATIONS, 2021 that recently came into effect on May 31st?

What do these new rules mean to you and your companies?

These are a few of the questions that we are going to be addressing in today’s session. The hope is that you would leave today with much-needed clarity and more straightforward answers to any questions or concerns you may have about these new laws.

To help us with this, we are delighted to have our partners at the Environmental Management Authority who will be joining us today to shed some light on the new laws.

As you are already aware, these rules strive to support the environmentally sound management of waste while helping to reduce waste pollution in Trinidad and Tobago. At AMCHAM T&T, we see these new laws as representing a bright and positive step forward in our country’s sustainable environmental development agenda.

With the successful passage of these two pieces of legislation, AMCHAM T&T would like to congratulate the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Ministry of Planning and Development, and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for moving towards creating a strong regulatory and legislative environment to protect and preserve the country’s natural environment.

We also applaud these agencies for their hard work and unwavering commitment to advancing the local environmental development agenda. At AMCHAM T&T we see measures such as these strengthening T&T’s position to meet the targets outlined in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – especially SDG 12 which talks about responsible consumption and production around how the management of our shared natural resources and disposal of toxic waste and pollutants are treated.

With over twenty-five years behind us advocating for efficient HSE policies to keep employees safe in the workplace and measures to protect and preserve our environment, you can understand why these issues are a matter of priority and importance for us at AMCHAM T&T.

Our HSE committee – one of the largest, and dare I say, BEST, in the region is made up of stakeholders representing over 40 local and multinational companies operating in T&T. These are professionals who are driven by a strong desire to ensure that we are doing everything possible to safeguard people and simultaneously protect our environment while we perform our jobs and manage our companies. Hence, why AMCHAM T&T fully supports this legislation which provides a powerful safety net over our environment from hazardous and non-hazardous waste by making sure the treatment, recovery or disposal of waste is done in accordance with the law.

We know this issue is not localized only to our nation or our region. The burden is not only placed on our people. Waste Management is a global concern that poses alarming threats to human health and the environment everywhere. Therefore, the responsibility to act and show leadership on this very real global threat lies in the hands of every individual, every business, and every nation.

It remains our collective duty to save our environment from the toxic effects of inorganic and biodegradable elements present in waste which can cause water contamination, soil erosion and air contamination.

It is also our collective duty to ensure that waste is recycled and managed efficiently so that it does not end up in landfills and oceans and poses a threat to both human health and marine life.

And we have a responsibility to be law-abiding citizens and operate in accordance with the law while we manage our businesses. Therefore, we must make every effort to both understand and comply with the rules outlined in these laws.

However, if there is uncertainty about the new rules, we will not achieve full compliance. So, while AMCHAM T&T fully supports the implementation of these laws in principle, we are also seeking further clarification on specific issues outlined in the legislature which is why today’s session is so important.

For example:

We would like clarification on how the fees are calculated for continuous generation of liquid waste (oily water) and for discrete solid waste (scrap metals)?

Also, while we agree with the polluter must pay principle, we note the exorbitant fees imposed on SMEs. Will consideration be given to SMEs who may not have the income to supplement the cost of the permit?

We are also concerned that the current suite of insurances applicable to businesses in T&T is not adequate to cover compensation for clean-up and restoration if improper waste management practices are not adhered to, or in the event, an accident occurs.

How is the EMA planning to engage the Insurance Sector concerning coverage for Indemnity Insurance for companies involved in the generation and handling of hazardous wastes?

Also, we are seeking further guidance concerning if the waste has properties that make it fall under more than one waste code in Schedule 1. Companies will require clarification on these issues and others so that compliance is met, and we achieved our objectives.

AMCHAM T&T has enjoyed a very collaborative and engaging working relationship with the EMA over the years. We are very grateful for the partnership today to host this educational webinar around the waste management rules and fees. We hope today’s session will address the concerns raise and serve to make the wider private sector more aware of the legislation, and what is expected of them to achieve compliance.

Thank You.

END.

TECH HUB ISLANDS SUMMIT (T.H.I.S.) 2022 LAUNCH

opening remarks by nirad tewarie
amcham t&t, ceo

Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining us today.

I am Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T and it is my great honor to welcome you to the launch of the AMCHAM T&T-Republic Bank - Tech Hub Islands Summit (t.h.i.s.) 2022. I take great pleasure to announce that we will be returning to hosting THIS in person in July!

Four years ago, AMCHAM T&T stepped outside our comfort zone to embark on a journey that would see us transform who we are as a business chamber and how we serve our members. We have long prided ourselves as being the chamber that is willing to take risks, willing to try new things, and willing to push and innovate through “change in action”.

Understanding the importance of digital transformation to our economy, six years ago we launched our digital transformation committee. The ultimate goal of that committee is to undertake initiatives to drive digital transformation in T&T.

One such initiative was the creation of the Tech Hub Islands Summit – THIS. THIS is designed to show practically what can be done by the private sector to accelerate our digital transformation. THIS was established to showcase public sector digital transformation initiatives and opportunities using examples from here in T&T and around the globe. THIS was created to provide a meeting place for traditional businesses and startups. Solution providers and those who require assistance to solve their tech-related problems.

Our firm belief at AMCHAM T&T is that T&T can become a centre of excellence, a significant node in the global tech ecosystem.

With that will come better services for citizens and consumers, export-led growth, more resilient businesses, more opportunities for our citizens to find meaningful work in T&T and an overall more attractive place to live work and play.

In the four years since we held the first THIS, we all lived through the effects of the pandemic. As we emerge in the post-pandemic phase, we can’t seek to recreate life as it was. We have to do better.

Last year we asked you to use technology in a way that takes us beyond the “now” problems so that we can diagnose, deploy and solve for what’s beyond. This year we will focus on how organizations -private and public sector – have realized real tangible benefits from doing just that – using technology to solve those problems AND taking us closer to realising this world we are envisioning.

We are calling this “Change in Action” which is the official theme for this year’s Tech Hub Islands Summit

t.h.i.s.2022 will see us once more promoting the adoption of technology and digital transformation to drive economic growth and development while challenging the visions we have for our future. But we will do it differently. This year we are highlighting success stories about how technology can underpin a more fulfilling, productive and profitable way of life by engaging with the innovators and disruptors who are at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution wave. You would recall that our 2019 THIS there was the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

We will hear testimonies of how accessing technological solutions have improved business processes and customer experience to ensure continued success and survival. We will engage in important discussions around building the local Fintech Industry and Financial Inclusion, developing futureproof digital infrastructure and making T&T a real player in the global tech supply chain.

We will also assess how technology is currently creating a new world with the latest trends around Web3, the Metaverse, digital currencies and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). What are they? Trends or fads? And should we get involved or press the ignore button?

And we will learn from the global tech giants to help us implement practical tech solutions to realise digital transformation in the public sector while building on the local initiatives that are currently underway.

The past two years have been challenging but many exciting things are happening all around. Change through digital adoption is rapidly transforming our lives and creating new pathways for progress and success. Doubt, resistance and hesitation cannot fuel our actions to a standstill. We must keep moving. We must keep adopting and adapting. It is time to go beyond dreaming and talking. Many are already seeing the results of “change in action”.

Joining us live and in-person to help tell these stories are:

• IBM’s Chief Innovation Officer Emeritus, Dr Bernard S. Meyerson,

• Global Lead for Infrastructure Modernization in Google Cloud’s Solutions Engineering organisation, David White,

• Senior Vice President & General Manager, Training & Certification of the Linux Foundation, Clyde Sepersad.

These are just three of the major speakers who will headline a dynamic lineup of local and international speakers who are doing amazing and innovative things in the tech world at t.h.i.s.2022.

We are happy to have t.h.i.s.2022 return to an in-person Conference and Exhibition on July 6th – 8th, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency. To maximise our audience and advocacy reach on these important topics, t.h.i.s.2022 will be a hybrid event with the option to stream the summit and participate in a virtual exhibition on our virtual platform at techislands.net.

We are so delighted to welcome back our Title Sponsor: Republic Bank Limited who reaffirm their commitment to this important venture by signing a three-year sponsorship contract to return as the event’s Official Title Sponsor. We would also like to thank our Platinum Sponsors: PwC, Digicel Business, Eximbank and IDB for their continued support. We are extremely grateful to our sponsors who enable us to do all the things we do and attract the kind of speakers that we have lined up at this year’s conference. In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the names of those speakers so we ask that you stay connected to us on our social media platforms and via our official media releases for more information on this.

Technology is the currency that will drive our economic prospects for the future. We must keep investing in technology as we continue to map out a plan that will help us generate the expected growth and sustainability that will be so vital to our survival and competitiveness in this ever-evolving world. We know that t.h.i.s.2022 will once more spark great dialogue, worthwhile partnerships and actions that will help us realize the benefits of the "Change In Action" needed to develop the local tech ecosystem right here in T&T. So, we look forward to your support and participation.

But a conference alone will not be the catalyst of change. In the past four years, we have worked with a team of Googlers to host the BreakbeatCode hackathon – which teaches coding through music – for 50 young people in T&T. We expect to do another such hackathon this year to be followed by a longer 12-week course for more intense coding training.

With the support of the IDB, we are currently finalising a digital skills gap study to identify the areas of need to support the growth of the local tech industry of which I spoke. We hope that this study will guide the development of training programmes to support the growth of local firms and investor firms as the tech sector expands in T&T.

We hosted a tech trade mission with the Canadian High Commission in which local and Canadian firms were able to connect and explore business partnerships.

Next week, we will present a paper to the Government on opportunities that could be derived from a National Nearshoring Strategy, starting with a focus on IT Enabled Services. This technical work was done by our Digital Transformation Committee and Secretariat.

Next week we also intend to share with members some cyber-security guidelines, which are currently being finalised by our Security Committee.

The last two initiatives are examples of how AMCHAM T&T members work together and learn from one another to promote national and business objectives.

We have also introduced a new category of membership in AMCHAM T&T for startup and early-stage companies so that we build a community of entrepreneurs within our organisation to ensure that the ecosystem of innovation and dynamism that we want to see is nurtured and supported.

All of these, of course, compliment the many policy recommendations that we make on an annual and ad hoc basis, many of which have found their way into official government policy. So, we are working. We are building. Join us in this effort as we do our part to make T&T the kind of vibrant, dynamic, future-proof society that we all desire.

As I conclude, let me remind you to check out the official t.h.i.s.2022 Conference Website at www.techislands.net. There, you will find all the information about our speakers, sponsors, agenda, sessions, topics, registration details and much more.

Thank you and we hope to see you at t.h.i.s.2022!

END.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

OPENING REMARKS
TONI SIRJU-RAMNARINE - PRESIDENT OF AMCHAM T&T

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for joining us this morning. As we gear up for AMCHAM T&T’s HSSE Conference later this year, this is the first Pre-Conference Webinar that we are hosting, and it is on Crisis Communications – What You Need to Know? I am Toni Sirju-Ramnarine – President of AMCHAM T&T.

I want to begin by thanking our sponsors: Title Sponsor- Atlantic, Platinum Sponsor – The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago and our Gold Sponsor – Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited for their support to host today’s Webinar.

Today’s session is meant to provide vital information about the necessity for organisations to have an effective crisis communications strategy. As a responsible organisation, AMCHAM T&T and our speakers today will not be making any announcements or inferences on any active investigations and will appreciate your understanding on this matter. Therefore, we ask that you refrain from asking questions about ongoing investigations.

Now let’s talk about crises. These are often unexpected, unwanted, and unpleasant, and while many organisations do focus on conducting effective risk assessments to prevent tragedies and incidents from occurring, we need to recognise that crises do happen. They may not happen with great frequency but that doesn’t mean we don’t invest in the training and resources for events that are unexpected and unpredictable. That means effective leadership especially in today’s world requires preparing for the unforeseen and unpredictable. Let’s face it, we have spent the greater part of the past two years doing just that!

And so, because all organisations are vulnerable to crises, it means every organisation today must make crisis management planning a major part of its operations. This includes looking at the prevention, preparation, and training strategies that detail what is to be done during the pre-crisis stage followed by managing the response to the crisis as it is unfolding in real-time, and then finally seeking better strategies to prepare for the next crisis while fulfilling the commitments made during the crisis phase.

Part of this preparation has to do with how we communicate BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a crisis to ensure that the company’s integrity, reputation, brand, and stakeholder relations remain intact. And in stakeholders I include, not only its external stakeholders, but very importantly its own employees as well.

This is what today’s session is about. It’s important to implement the necessary incident management plans and policies to prevent and simultaneously prepare for a crisis which includes having these conversations to respond to a crisis because so much of our world is defined by:

• how we communicate

• what is communicated

• at what point do we communicate

• why do we communicate

• And to whom we are communicating

These are all fundamental questions and concerns we must have when responding to any situation that demands answers where the information is limited, inconsistent or uncertain. However, it is especially during these times that we must increase our outreach to our public to be transparent, to provide guidance, and very importantly, to offer support and sympathy.

During these times, our words and actions can be the equivalent of keeping people safe or increasing the threat.

But what should be the message in the age of social media and the internet where news goes viral instantly. This is what we are here to ask and answer. Inaction and failure to respond will not cut it in an age where accountability is demanded from the public. Ultimately, this is what will build organisational trust and loyalty in the long run.

Now we have to acknowledge that today, the biggest change we have witnessed in crisis management is the revolution of social media. We should never underestimate the voice of the public or fail to accept that they won’t care. Any incident involving injury or fatality shows how quickly the public can move from being engaged to enraged. It is during these heightened periods of a crisis that the public feels most empowered to voice their opinions, propagate rumours and experiences, and cast judgement in a highly visible manner that can reach millions around the world.

Finally, I want to add, that while the message is important, so too must be the messenger. Therefore, it is so important to have effective spokesperson training in any crisis communications plan. These are the people who will deliver your message with the proper media relations training and skills to provide key information that debunks rumours and false theories with concrete facts and evidence that enlightens and comforts.

Today our distinguished panel of experts will provide more insight and information on these points. They will share the strategies to effectively handle crises. I hope that after today’s sessions more companies see the value to invest more readily in this so that they are better prepared to handle these unfortunate incidents and communicate effectively with their stakeholders and wider public.

Thank you.