WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME:
“BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND”
with Golda Lee Brooks

OPENING REMARKS
by
Patricia Ghany, AMCHAM T&T President

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen,

I am Patricia Ghany, President of AMCHAM T&T. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you to a special session on “Building Your Personal Brand” with our class from the 3^rd AMCHAM T&T/IDB Women in Leadership Mentorship Programme.

I want to begin this morning by extending my sincere gratitude to the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) for their continued partnership with the Women in Leadership Mentorship Programme. 

As everyone knows, this programme is very special to me because it allows us at AMCHAM T&T to walk-the-talk when it comes to promoting gender parity and ensuring women’s leadership in business – which happens to be one of the major pillars of our work at AMCHAM T&T.

Today’s session we are going to talk about the importance of building a personal brand. We chose this topic because we understood how vital it is for female professionals today to build a personal brand when they are looking to move up the corporate ladder in their related disciplines.

We know that there is a leadership gap when you compare the number of men versus women in positions of power and authority. We know that women are often overlooked for promotions and paid less than their male counterparts in certain industries. And we know that a woman’s gender is often used against her in many ways as she attempts to prove her ability and accomplishments.

We see this everyday in the workplace as women try to climb the ladder while juggling longstanding gender stereotypes that forces her to “stay in the box” and to “know her place.” It’s these outdated gender norms that creates this “likability conundrum” where women are expected to be “agreeable”, “warm” and “nurturing” or be penalized when they make a tough decision, share a strong opinion or even promote themselves which are often considered a violation of these gender norms. 

Perhaps this is why so many studies often find women less likely to speak of their accomplishments or credit themselves for the success of their team. We often see women downplaying essential parts of themselves to fight off the criticism of being labelled “too aggressive”, or “ice-queen” or even the “b-word”. But when we do this, what is the image are we projecting to future employers and clients?

This is where personal branding comes into play!

They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. Today, I want to challenge each of you with the question: what first impression would you like to make on a work colleague, supervisor or potential future employer? What are the traits and qualities do you wish to be defined by?

We must realise that we, as women, have the power and control to define this narrative that the world places on us. When we do this, we are building our personal brand that communicates to the world who we are and how we want to be defined. Rather than subscribe to outdated gender norms, our personal brands should be built on our talents, skills and accomplishments while staying true to those many unique feminine traits that proudly defines who we are as women.

When you pay close attention to some of the greatest female leaders we have today, you would recognize that they each have a personal brand that goes beyond their professional titles. Think of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel – she is arguably the most powerful woman in the world today – but behind that power is a personal brand that communicates a meticulous, systematic, adaptive approach that has instilled trust and confidence in her citizens who have elected her to serve as the first female Chancellor of Germany for a fourth consecutive term in office.

Serena Williams is known as the greatest athlete in the world with a record 23 Grandslam titles but behind her many accomplishments is a personal brand that is all about how women can be equally “Strong, Sexy and Sophisticated” both on and off the court.

And then there is Oprah Winfrey who have built a self-made TWO-billion dollar empire on a personal brand about being honest, authentic, genuine and real with her audience and fans around the world.

So, what can we learn from these pioneers? 

First, closing the gender gap in the workplace means we must support each other as women. When we support each other, it will help us to build our personal brands to show confidence, stability, empowerment and values that will widen our networks, highlight our achievements and ultimately help each other to accelerate our career growth.

These are just a few of the many great benefits of having a personal brand and it is why I believe companies should take the lead and encourage their female employees to develop and build their personal brands. 

So often we hear about personal branding competing with the corporate brand. But this does not have to be case. When companies allow their employees to be their best authentic self in support of their careers, their team and the company, everyone wins. We know this to be true because of high employee retention rates and when the corporate brand produces hefty profit margins annually. So, companies should offer training and development programmes to assist their employees, particularly women, to realize their personal brand.

This is why the Women in Mentorship Leadership Programme is very important to us at AMCHAM T&T and it is why we are delighted to have Ms Golda Lee Bruce here with us today to help us build a personal brand that will put us on a path towards continued success in our careers and in life.

CEO CONVERSATIONS with
 DOMINIC RAMPERSAD – PHOENIX PARK GAS PROCESSORS LTD.

Opening Remarks by Patricia Ghany - AMCHAM T&T President

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen,

I am Patricia Ghany, President of AMCHAM T&T and it is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you to our second CEO Conversations with Mr Dominic Rampersad, President of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited and Director at the Unit Trust Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago and AMCHAM T&T.

AMCHAM T&T will be hosting our 24^th Annual Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) Conference and Exhibition on October 19^th through October 23^rd and we thought what better way to get you ready for the Conference than through this fun and interactive series of CEO Conversations.

Our hardworking HSE Committee developed this Webinar series with the aim of providing you (our audience) an opportunity to learn from the insights of some of the country's most prominent CEOs who are leading our nation’s largest and most innovative companies.

Right now, we are all facing tremendous burdens associated with the community spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many of us are struggling as we try to navigate a healthy work-life balance, stay safe and protect our businesses and loves ones. This period undeniably calls for strong leadership and cooperation from everyone to do what is right and responsible.

At AMCHAM T&T, we have spent 24 years promoting HSSE excellence in business and in our wider society. Today, we are seeing firsthand the major importance of health and safety on our businesses and society, particularly as it relates to the lives of our employees and citizens. That’s one of the major reasons why we felt we needed to host this year’s conference.  We must support each other even if that means doing it at a distance. Therefore, I am proud to announce that this year’s conference is 100% VIRTUAL because we must stay safe and maintain social distancing.

But I also want to reassure you that "virtual" doesn’t mean you will be losing out on any of the fantastic content from our past live Conferences. In fact, if you noticed, the dates this year have been extended to five days – that’s three more days of exceptional content, dynamic speakers, interactive exhibition booths, and opportunities to network and make those important business contacts. And the good news is, you don’t have to wait in long lines to enter the Conference this year. Yes, digital transformation as its best!

I believe the goal this time around shouldn’t be to just flatten the curve but to crush the curve, once and for all! It’s usually in our most difficult moments we see the greatest displays of humanity by our citizens. When we are all facing the same challenges and roadblocks, we see normal everyday citizens stepping up to the plate and showing strength, courage and compassion. This speaks to the resilience of our citizens and our nation. And that’s why this year we felt that word: RESILIENCE would make an appropriate theme for this year’s Conference. We cannot wait to welcome you! We have an excellent line-up of speakers waiting to greet you this year and REGISTRATION is now open so PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.AMCHAMTT.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Before we begin our conversation, I would like to thank our HSE Committee for their hard work and continued commitment they have shown with these Webinars and our Conference. I also would like to say thank you to our sponsors:

·        Our Platinum Sponsors: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC); bpTT; and Shell

·        Our Gold Sponsor: Nu Iron, Trinidad and Tobago

·        And also, a special thank you to our Title Sponsor – AtlanticLNG who have once more agree to partner with us as we continue to promote leadership and excellence in everything HSSE through our upcoming Conference and Exhibition.

CEO CONVERSATIONS with
 DR PHILIP MSHELBILA – ATLANTIC LNG

Opening Remarks by Nirad Tewarie - AMCHAM T&T CEO

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen,

I am Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T and it is indeed a great pleasure for me to deliver this morning’s welcome remarks to the Launch of AMCHAM T&T’s 24^th Annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment Conference and Exhibition.  

At AMCHAM T&T, the promotion of excellence in health, safety, security and environmental management remain one of our key tenets. Today we are launching the HSSE Conference and Exhibition with the theme: Resilience - a topic I am sure needs no explanation as to why we see this as a critical issue particularly given the challenges we are facing today.

Ladies and gentlemen allow me to remind you that this is the best opportunity locally and perhaps even within the Caribbean region to attend an HSSE Conference and Exhibition of this scope and quality. We will host the Conference and Exhibition over the course of one week - 19^th to 23^rd October, 2020 - and this year we are indeed going VIRTUAL to maintain social distancing and the safety of all our guests. Therefore, this means you have the opportunity to log on at specific times to participate in the Conference webinars. We also have a second-to-none virtual platform which will allow you to interact and network with our exhibitors, conference attendees and walk-ins - just as if you were physically at the Hyatt ballroom interacting with the guests. Yes, digital transformation as its best! We have an excellent line-up of speakers and over the course of the next few days, we will start accepting registrations.

I would also like to thank our HSE Committee who envisioned and designed the Conference and this series so that you will be able to glean insightful knowledge from the stories of success and challenges of building an organization through the unique vantage point and the perspective of the CEO. Our HSE Committee is one of our longest serving committees at AMCHAM T&T, and I would have to say, one of our most active and innovative committees.

This series of Pre-Conference Webinars was created to give you a sneak peek into the Conference this year. The session this morning is the first in our CEO Conversation series. We are happy to launch this new event because it allows us to get up close and personal with many of the major players in our business sector. We have deliberately kept the number of participants small so that you can interact with the CEO, so don’t hesitate to ask a question during our Q&A.

They say every CEO has a story to tell that speaks to their success and leadership style. Through this series, you will hear from the men and women who are leading dynamic companies across all industry sectors and making thoughtful decisions that ultimately have a major impact on our lives and the country. They will share with us the visionary leadership styles that have helped them to build their companies and offer sound advice that will hopefully inspire each of us to build our own successes in business and in our lives.

Today we are featuring the CEO of AtlanticLNG which is one of the world’s largest producers of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Dr Philip Mshelbila is no stranger to us here at AMCHAM T&T – having been involved with our annual HSSE Conference & Exhibition as the title sponsor for many years. Based on this measure of support and leadership, it felt like a no-brainer to have him as our first guest in our CEO Conversation series.

Before we begin our conversation, I would like to say thank you to our platinum sponsors:

• The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC)
• bpTT
• Shell
• And also, a special thank you to our Title Sponsor – AtlanticLNG who have once more agree to partner with us as we continue to promote leadership and excellence in everything HSSE through our upcoming Conference and Exhibition.

Click here to watch a video from the CEO Conversation with Dr Mshelbila as he speaks on the topic of leadership.

LAUNCH OF AMCHAM T&T’s Pre-CONFERENCE WEBINARS

Pre-Conference WEBINAR – Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) in Practice

WELCOME REMARKS by NIRAD TEWARIE – CEO of AMCHAM T&T

Good morning everyone! 

I am Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T and it is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome you to our first “PRE HSSE Conference Webinar” series. 

Let me thank our Conference sponsors - Atlantic- title sponsor and platinum sponsors- NGC, BPTT and Shell.

Today we have a dynamic speaker who is here to address Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles that are human-centred – and can improve reliability, performance and safety culture.

As many of you will know, AMCHAM T&T believes it is important that companies create a strong safety culture in their business operations which is the reason why we have championed the promotion of HSSE as best practice to our membership and the wider national community for many years.

When we had to adjust to this new normal, what was very evident is that safety is of paramount importance not only for our business to succeed, but it is necessary to be able to protect our lives. COVID-19 made it very obvious to most, if not all of us, that we must protect our employees and even more importantly, we must each take responsibility and protect ourselves.

Many times, when accidents occur, we often blame it on human error or the failure to do the right thing when something bad happens. So, our focus is always meant on “fixing” the worker when they make an error after an incident occurs as opposed to “fixing the system” in which the error occurred. 

Or, as Dr. Todd Conklin writes in his book “Pre-Accident Investigations: An Introduction to Organizational Safety”: “Fixing the worker gives the impression of an immediate solution to the problem, but it probably fixes the wrong thing. Punishing the worker is a fast and easy way to “solve” the problem, with the only issue being that it unquestionably fixes nothing at all, not even the worker in question. Because the whole failure will inevitably happen again with a different worker…. (However) fixing the system…will fix the right problem, and will ensure that the facility [doesn’t experience the same problem again].”

This is why we wanted to highlight the approach of Human and Organizational Performance, also known as HOP. We felt it was important, particularly in this time of COVID, to continue to adopt new approaches, new designs, new philosophies to protect employees in the workplace while redefining what the safety culture should look like. And that’s what today’s session will be focused on. 

We know that humans will fail i.e. make errors and break rules with a known frequency that is affected by known influencing factors. But if we appreciate this proven fact, we can design better systems i.e. better rules, and better methods of discipline to solve a problem. That is why we say HOP is not just a program, it is an entire philosophy, which when adopted in the right way, we can establish a local safety culture change in business and in our society. 

This philosophy will call for management and CEOs to change their attitudes and challenge their biases when it comes to adopting the right safety measures for their businesses. It is the difference between asking the right questions to find a better solution and being stuck in our biases towards error and blame. It teaches us how we ask questions, how we create rules, how we react to failure, how we treat people. It will directly impact our business performance in the future and result in better system designs that rewrite the rules of how we do business with each other and even how we interact in our personal lives. 

When errors occur - and they will occur - we learn how the error was made or why a rule was broken. And we understand that a similar error or broken rule could have happened if we were doing the same job. So how do we fix that problem? Well fixing the problem comes with acknowledging that the failure will inevitably be repeated unless we improve. Once we are able to do that our working relationships with our staff and our ability to solve problems improves.

So that’s what we are hoping to gain from today’s session. Given the changes that COVID has presented us, we have recognised that our role in the national community is even more important, and we must be open to new changes, new teachings and practices that will help us mitigate some of the impact of this pandemic. We hope to use technology to facilitate much of this change which is why we were able to secure Kym, who is joining us today from Australia, something that would have been logistically difficult under different circumstances.

We hope that what she says here today will challenge some of your biases and attitudes to adopt a safety philosophy that builds relationships and facilitate meaningful conversations between those that do the work and those that design the work to share operational intelligence and improve system design.

We have been working on a very exciting Conference agenda and have finalised about 50% of our speakers. This year we are taking the Conference and Exhibition - virtual. I look forward to you all participating.

I also need to thank the very hard working HSE Committee, who very quickly mobilised when we had the stay-at-home orders and brought us Webinars to assist companies in retooling their operations to adjust to the current situation. The committee also worked on the Conference agenda and the National HSE Awards- which incorporates a new category this year for companies – a Pandemic Award. I am advised that the deadline for submission is Monday - so those of you who would like to submit - there is some time to fill out your screening forms on our website. 

Thank you to our HSE Committee members who are online this morning, and of course a special thank you to the committee chair Ms Cindi Nandlal.

In closing, I want to reiterate, AMCHAM is here to support you. We are open to initiatives and ideas from you, so just simply reach out to us. If you have suggestions for webinars, topics or speakers, please let us know.

Thank You.

AMCHAM T&T – AAIUH 2020
Summer Internship Programme
on

Sustainable Development, Entrepreneurship & Advocacy

PRESIDENT’S SPEECH

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen, AND boys and girls.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago.

I would like to begin with a quote by Arthur Ashe who once said: “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”

I wanted to start with this quote by the man whose name the institution that is facilitating this lucrative summer internship programme is named after. Thank you to all the kind and caring folks at the Arthur Ashe Institution of Urban Health. Without your support for this initiative, none of this would be possible.

This quote reminds me of the work that AMCHAM T&T is doing and why we are here. So much of what we "get" allow us to continue to do the great work that we do. The support we receive helps us to provide thoughtful leadership and value to our members through our events, advocacy work and general support we provide on a host of issues. But that’s only what we receive or get. It is what we give back that determines the quality of life we afford to other persons.

That’s why we are happy to be partnering today with the Arthur Ashe Institution of Urban Health which was facilitated by our friends at the US Embassy. Together with their support, 20 students from our nation’s secondary schools will greatly benefit from training on an array of topics and will conduct research projects in collaboration with various local organizations through this internship programme. I simply cannot wait to see how this is going to change the lives of these students.

As you know this is all part of our National Youth Productivity Forum (NYPF) which remains one of our marquee events on the AMCHAM calendar because we believe that creating a better economic future for our country means taking an active role in the development of the youth of our nation. That means giving our young people a chance at a life where they can fullfill their dreams and make a life for themselves.

Every year we invite secondary students from schools around the country to participate and engage in healthy discussions on various national issues at our annual NYPF. At the end of the forum, we offer summer internships to students at the companies of our members. 

This year, with COVID-19 impacting on the lives of so many of us, we were forced to be nimble in our approach to ensure that we were in a position to give back to these students.

Cancelling the programme might have been the easy thing to do given the disturbances caused by COVID-19. But as Mr. Ashe said “it is what we give that makes a life” so we knew we had to be resilient and to ensure that we didn’t let down these kids. That’s why we partnered with the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health on this year’s summer internship programme because through their resources we were able to make this year’s programme entirely virtual.

We believe this will be an ideal platform that will help students to remain safe while affording them an opportunity to grow by gaining valuable work experience. It also helped us to put our digital transformation agenda to the test. We have been promoting the need for digital transformation to introduce new opportunities for business and reliable services to benefit citizens. While this year’s internship allows the students to work remotely, we are also creating an even more diverse work environment through different geographical settings. This way students need not worry about fears associated with COVID-19 while still acquiring skills that will positively contribute to their future growth and development.

That’s why I want to encourage all our students to embrace the opportunities that you received from this internship programme. It can and should change your life but only if you take full advantage of it. Not only will you learn new skills, but you will also gain valuable knowledge from your co-workers and bosses. 

I implore you to digest all the knowledge you are taught in this new environment. Don’t be discouraged when things seem too challenging. Seek guidance from your bosses and fellow co-workers. And always remember to ask questions. 

Yes, ask many questions even when you think or feel it will make you look or sound stupid. No! Remove that thought from your head. Don’t let fear or doubt control your thoughts. There is no such thing as a stupid question. So, if you are unsure about something or you don’t understand, simply ask a question. It’s something I do every day. And I can assure you that there is always someone around to offer guidance or assistance in the workplace. And that’s how you really learn and grow.

Opportunities like this can help you develop a different work ethic that will prove beneficial to how you approach your studies and perhaps even inspire new goals for your life and future career. It will allow you to meet many influential people who might have a lasting impact on your life. So, use this to network and build your contact lists beyond your Facebook friends list.

At AMCHAM we are not only about promoting trade and investment into T&T. We believe in order to achieve this we must build and strengthen relationships with clients, investors and our members. We have to establish those connections that will have us make a living, but more importantly, give back so we can help make a life for many others. That’s what is really important to us. So, I encourage you to be respectful to everyone you ever encounter. Always lend a helping hand wherever you can. Be kind to others and stay engaging. Prove that you can be a team player, excel at whatever tasks that are assigned to you, embrace new opportunities, even when they seem challenging, and continue building your resume.

As young people, I know most of your interaction revolves around likes, tweets, snaps, and now TikTok. I am always very impressed by the ingenuity and creativity by our young people particularly by how quickly they are able to embrace new technologies and make something “go viral” or the new trend. And that’s the commitment and enthusiasm I hope you take with you to build your personal brand. 

Yes! Everything you post online is part of your personal brand that is meant to tell the world something about you. I’m sure you have heard the warnings about being careful what you post online. I don’t need to rehash that but what I would tell you is how you can use those very platforms you enjoy to create a brand for yourself that will make you the envy of your friends and more attractive to future employers.

Instead of sharing a pic of that delicious meal you are having for lunch, why not share a selfie with the caption “first day on the new job”. Think how impressive that will be to your friends. And instead of resharing that funny meme because everyone is doing it, why not share a post about accomplishing a difficult task with success. Think of the many people you can inspire when they read that post. 

This is what building your personal brand is about. It allows you to show a history of strong values that proves your dedication, commitment and resolve to accomplish your goals. This is the language employers love to listen to. So, know that whatever you post, you are communicating to people that are outside your friend's list and who may have the power to influence and change your lives.

In closing, let me extend my sincere gratitude to the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health for partnering with us this year to facilitate the internship programme. I also want to thank our friends at the US Embassy for their continued support on so many of our initiatives. Thank you to all the companies who have agreed to accept our interns this year. I know they will add positively to your respective organisations so I hope you will make good use of them. Thank you to the Board of AMCHAM T&T for their leadership. And thank you to Melissa Pierre, our Senior Trade and Policy Specialist, and the rest of the secretariat for their commitment and dedication towards the NYPF programme. And finally, to this year’s class of interns I leave you with this final nugget of advice: “Absorb the knowledge and experience you will receive from this internship programme, make good use of it, and whatever path you choose for yourself, always remember it’s more important to give back.”

 

Thank You!

COFFEE SHOP CONVERSATION SERIES:
“Stories from Tech Start-ups”

OPENING REMARKS by Nirad Tewarie, AMCHAM T&T CEO

Good morning everyone! 

I am Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T and it is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome you to our “Coffee Shop Conversation” series. 

Today we have three dynamic speakers who are leading the tech revolution in T&T through the innovative work and services they are providing to the public.

As many of you will know, promoting technology as a viable means for both enabling growth and a sector of growth is a major pillar of our work at AMCHAM T&T. We definitely see an opportunity through technology to stimulate our economy by creating new and exciting jobs, boosting entrepreneurship, and building the talent pool through innovation and competitiveness. Moreover, we firmly believe that the tech industry can be significant source of investment in T&T in the very short term.

To achieve these objectives though, we need a wholistic approach. Next door, Barbados’ open-door policy, allows people to work from Barbados for up to a year, hassle-free and is already attracting application from highly-skilled tech workers. Undoubtedly, some of these people will form partnerships that will help Bajan companies internationalise. Some of them will stay in Barbados and create businesses. Barbados has created a regulatory sandbox for fintechs and they are undertaking significant economic reforms. My point is, to create the kind of dynamism that a viable, globally competitive tech industry needs – indeed all businesses need – the government and institutions too need to be dynamic.

This is why today’s conversation featuring “Stories from Tech Start-ups” will show us how these experts are leading the tech industry through their innovative work. How did they do it? How could their journey have been easier with a more facilitatory environment?

But first, why are tech start-ups so important? It’s because countries and cities that have invested in tech start-ups have witnessed a major tech revolution that has improved the quality of life for citizens. Once priority was given to tech-driven start-up economies, cities have seen development in areas such as transportation, clean energy and the emergence of other innovative industries that have positively contributed to overall GDP growth and productivity. Tech start-ups in Britain are helping to improve the quality of emergency services by alerting medical professionals to emergencies near them who can then respond even faster than the emergency services. In Argentina, I have a friend who has developed an e-platform to collect food that is edible but about to go to waste and delivering it people in need. So enabling the tech sector is not just about enabling business for profit – which isn’t a bad thing – but the tech community in any place that there is a cluster, also focuses significantly on the provision and enhancement of social goods.

So that’s why we believe technology has the potential to improve the quality of life for citizens. The quickest way to influence this will be through creating an enabling environment for a tech ecosystem, of which start-ups are an integral part. This is why we are saying that there needs to be an environment that will encourage and promote innovation and creativity. 

It’s part of the reason why we launched the business accelerator programme for tech entrepreneurs before last year’s t.h.i.s. conference in partnership with the IDB and CARIRI. The accelerator programme was meant to foster growth in the technology sector in Trinidad and Tobago because we recognize that entrepreneurship is a driving force for growth and innovation in any economy. It was also part of a wider initiative to create a truly connected tech ecosystem in Trinidad and Tobago that will drive real change and make us more competitive globally. 

When we look at some of the countries that have invested in developing their start-up ecosystem we see how quickly they have transitioned from underdeveloped to developed status. Just think of Estonia and Israel for example. They are home to companies like Skype, TransferWise, Wix, Waze, etc. Estonia is now known as “the most advanced digital society in the world” after more than 2 decades of government leadership in digital technologies. And the same can be said for Israel, which was once known as an underdeveloped, war-torn nation. A start-up boom helped grow its economy and made it a developed nation, globally recognized as a start-up hub. So it's clear that with the right investment and leadership from both the state and private sector, start-ups can be a key component of leading a nation out of poverty and into prosperity. But they must be part of a wider ecosystem involving business, academia, government, and a range of capital provision services.

With COVID-19 causing many disruptions to our lives and livelihoods, we also have an opportunity here to channel our focus to a more digitally based economy that will help us weather the storm in the coming months. And what better way to do this than to nurture a start-up ecosystem through technology that can boost entrepreneurial activity, create new jobs, increase the talent pool of our younger citizens, and attract foreign investors.

We all know the big 5 tech companies in the US: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (now called Alphabet).. collectively called FAANG. It might be hard to imagine these giants of the tech world as tiny start-ups with brilliant founders just waiting for that big break. But that is what they once were. All it took was the right idea, one that fulfilled a need or solved a problem (even one people didn’t know they had) belief in that idea, the tenacity to make it work and of course, the right leadership climate to attract investors for it to take off and literally change our world. And all of this would have started, first with an idea and then a culture and climate that allowed these ideas to transform our lives and our world, simply from the introduction of small companies doing big and amazing things.

With many in the established tech centres realising that in the race to find the next best thing and attract the very best talent they have to look outside the centre, now is a great time for T&T and the entire Caribbean to leverage the strengths of excellent management of the pandemic, wonderful climate, creative people, great connectivity and so much more to really go after being the tech hub islands.

That’s the message we hope to leave you with today after you have heard the amazing success stories from our three experts. We hope that you allow what they share with you to inspire you to think big, focus more on that little idea you once had but allowed doubt to deter you for making it a reality, and we hope that some of you who have the means will look at these dreamers and invest in the vision they are sharing with you. And remember, AMCHAM T&T is here to help in this journey, so keep in touch with us. Join us and reach out.

Before I leave, I would like to thank our Digital Transformation Committee for taking up this mantle and for creating this webinar series. I also want to thank our speakers for their support and for the insightful information they are about to share with you. And finally, I need to thank our sponsors, Republic Bank, Digicel Business Solutions, PwC, Atlantic and our digital media partner: Trend Media for their continued support. 

In closing, I want to reiterate, AMCHAM is here to support you. We are open to initiatives and ideas from you, so just simply reach out to us. If you have suggestions for webinars, topics or speakers, please let us know.

FEATURE ADDRESS AT AMCHAM T&T 27th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

by

Julie J. Chung, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau Of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Introduction 

I want to thank you for the kind invitation to address your annual meeting.  I would have preferred to be with you all in person, but the realities of COVID-19 made that impossible.  I look forward to a time when I can visit. 

I met AMCHAM’s Chief Executive Officer, Nirad Tewarie, back in February at the Atlanta meeting of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean.  That was the genesis of this invitation for me to speak with you today. 

I would like to focus on our Growth in the Americas initiative and how it can work for Trinidad and Tobago.  I would also like to lay out our priorities and concerns regarding China and Venezuela. 

Growth in the Americas  

Growth in the Americas is part of the U.S. government’s positive economic agenda for the hemisphere.  It seeks to apply the coordinated expertise of the entire U.S. government to catalyze private sector investment in energy and infrastructure.  

Growth in the Americas started in 2018 with a focus on increasing private investment in energy infrastructure, but now, in its expanded form, it encompasses all types of infrastructure, including airports, ports, roads, and telecom networks, among others.  

The urgent need to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and spur post-COVID economic recovery make the impulse behind Growth in the Americas all the more relevant.  Restoring jobs and growth require creating the enabling conditions to attract private sector investment.  That is after all where the most innovation, growth, and job opportunities come from. 

You don’t need me to tell you the best way to attract private sector investment.  But I would boil it down to three things: transparency, stability, and predictability.   

Transparency means bidding, tendering, contracting and related procurement processes that are open for the public to see.  We support governments regionwide passing and implementing procurement legislation to improve transparency.  

Predictability means standing by the agreements made by your predecessors and having faith that your successors will honor yours.  It also means consulting with business leaders like AMCHAM, before passing legislation and regulations that will impact business.  

Stability doesn’t just mean economic stability, but bureaucratic stability too.  For example, the rules should be the same for everyone to obtain necessary permits, and the process should take the same amount of time for everyone. 

Governments in the region are aware of the public hunger for quality public infrastructure and services procured in a transparent, efficient, and timely way, and are taking steps to meet these demands.  

For example, I would note the efforts by the eastern Caribbean states to work with an American company in Ohio to deploy software tools to buy medical supplies for COVID response in a quick but transparent way that tracks expenditures and provides market leverage and logistical coordination.  That procurement software serves immediate needs but will also help future hurricane response and ordinary government purchases. 

But much more needs to be done to attract skittish investors to Trinidad and Tobago, and to the Caribbean.  How often have we seen issues in the region such as: projects that do not survive a change in administration; opaque tendering processes; arbitrary taxation, and excessive Customs delays. 

Growth in the Americas seeks to respond to these issues by rawing on the expertise of a broad arc of our agencies. 

In Panama, for example, the United States Treasury Department experts helped a public utility modernize its accounting, resulting in a two-notch improvement in its bond rating that will save Panama at least $40 million in debt service costs and attract higher quality investment.  

It is important to point out that the Growth in the Americas initiative encompasses all of Latin America and the Caribbean.  Sharing best practices through technical exchanges is one of our best tools under the initiative for high income countries such as T&T.  Specific topics have included government procurement, water management, and spectrum auctions. 

I think many of you are aware that the new International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC for short, which took over from the old OPIC, cannot provide project financing in high income countries.  That DFC limit comes from Congress.   

But the U.S. Export-Import Bank is available for loan guarantees and other project financing support.  

I would encourage AmCham T&T members to reach out to Matt Ciesielski, the economic officer at our embassy, who also sits on your board of directors, to discuss specific obstacles to investment to start the conversation on what Growth in the Americas-related activities might make the most sense in your country.  

I would also note that Growth in the Americas works alongside a number of other initiatives we have developed to deepen our engagement with your region.  The U.S. Caribbean 2020 strategy, for example, covers a broader arc of issues – security, health, energy, education, prosperity, and diplomacy.  And of course there are longer-standing programs that remain vital such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, ten years running now with over $600 million in assistance toward reducing crime and trafficking in the Caribbean.  As I am sure you know, T&T is the biggest beneficiary of the separate Caribbean Basin Initiative’s trade preferences; more than $5 billion of your products have entered the United States duty free since 2013 under this program. 

China’s Influence 

I am not here today to say don’t do business with China. Our largest companies have global supply chains that include China.  I am here to emphasize the partnership between the United States and T&T.  That we are your largest trading partner shows the strength of our relationship. 

As neighbors and partners, we have a strong interest in the well-being and prosperity of Latin America and the Caribbean.  In coordination with democratic partners, we are working to strengthen responsible governance, promote transparency, and ensure respect for human rights.  Unfortunately, Chinese State-Owned Enterprises do not abide by these values that we share. 

I can assure you the United States has a long-cherished tradition of friendship with the Chinese people.  Regrettably, the communist government in China today is not reflective of the people of China.   

Among our concerns are the Chinese government’s approach to lending and development, and its motivations.  A region hungry for infrastructure investment and short on finances finds Chinese concessional loans attractive, but the opacity of Chinese deals threatens to reverse the region’s hard-won gains for transparency, the rule of law, labor rights, and the environment.  

One Trinidad example is the closure of the NAPA (National Academy for the Performing Arts) for more than a year in 2014 due to a litany of construction defects that raised serious health and safety concerns. 

As Trinidad seeks to modernize its physical, digital and energy infrastructure, it is important for both the government and private sector companies to stay alert to the dangers of debt diplomacy and a disrespect for transparency and even national sovereignty.  

The United States remains committed to the promotion of pro-market economies and open societies, and continues to work with our partners to uphold global best practices. We want to see a prosperous China that transacts business with the rest of the world on a fair set of reciprocal terms and allows its people to flourish.   

Venezuela and U.S. Policy  

The Maduro regime, according to the Venezuelan constitution, is illegitimate, period.  This is not an ad hoc U.S. government policy decision.  Venezuela’s 2018 national election was illegitimate and left the presidency vacant.   According to the Venezuelan constitution, the next in line is the president of the National Assembly.  Yet the illegitimate Maduro regime has refused to abide by its own constitution and Nicolas Maduro has refused to peacefully transfer power.  

Instead, the Maduro regime has plundered Venezuela’s wealth for private gain, impoverished its people, caused one of the largest forced displacements in recent history with now over 5 million refugees, and has been a key factor in the instability of the continent and the region. When we look at the growing number of refugees in South America and the Caribbean – including in Trinidad and Tobago– it is the Maduro regime and its continued persecution of its people and gutting of its institutions that are to blame.  

As important as it is to work together to assist these vulnerable people, we must also work together to help them achieve their aspirations to return to a Venezuela that’s democratic, prosperous, and safe.  

Our goal in Venezuela is clear: the return of the National Assembly; a New Council of State that will serve as the executive branch; a new cabinet; and new presidential and national assembly elections under conditions recognized internationally as free and fair, and a gradual lifting of sanctions so that the new government will be allowed to function. Until that time, however, our sanctions remain in place, and I know the Trinbagonian business community is concerned about the reputational risk caused by sanctions.  

The purpose of our sanctions is to identify those entities that are providing material support to the illegitimate Maduro regime.  It is critical that the Trinbagonian business community track and comply with U.S. sanctions to the full extent possible.   

Conclusion 

I wanted to close with a note on COVID-19.  A year ago none of us could have predicted the stress and dislocations of the pandemic.  Now we are turning to focus, in coordination with our partners, on how to restart our economies.   

I have been impressed with how Trinidad has been managing the crisis, balancing public health and economic concerns, and has become a leader in the Caribbean and indeed the world for its phased re-opening of the economy.  

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government has committed more than $1 billion in emergency health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance aimed at helping governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations fight the pandemic. This includes nearly $112 million for the Western Hemisphere and over $21 million for the Caribbean. 

In addition to this direct funding from the U.S. Government, our All-of-America approach is helping people around the world through the generosity of American private businesses, non-profit groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, and individuals, who have now provided more than $11 billion in donations and assistance globally, more than any other nation. 

Some things will change in the wake of this crisis.  Countries large and small are taking a close look at their supply chains.  Complex “Just in Time” global supply chains have revealed their fragility, especially when it comes to certain kinds of medical goods.   

The United States government is certainly looking carefully at these issues, and so is the U.S. private sector.  Some companies may ultimately seek to “near shore” or “on shore” more facilities, but it is too soon to say what changes we will see.  Some such supply chain adjustments may be to the benefit of our regional neighbors poised, through efforts to foster business and investment, to seize the initiative.  

It is precisely in such challenging times when we must hold on most tightly to our core shared values of responsible governance, transparency, and respect for democracy and human rights. These are the shared values that will enable us to restore and expand prosperity. 

And we will promote these values in a variety of fora, including discussions such as this one today.   

Seeking out private sector input and policy recommendations is something the United States government takes very seriously.  This is why the United States supported the creation of the Americas Business Dialogue (ABD) following the 2012 Summit of the Americas in Colombia.  The ABD coordinates private sector perspectives across the region to inform regional policy dialogues, including at the the highest-level.  This input along with input from civil society help keep the Summit process focused on practical solutions.  

In 2021, the United States will host the Summit of the Americas, just as T&T did in 2009.  I assure you as host we will work hard to take private sector perspectives into account as we lead the Summit of the Americas process.  

Thank you.  And I now look forward to your questions. 

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

at the

27^th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Delivered by

Patricia Ghany, AMCHAM T&T President
(Wednesday, June 10^th, 2020)

BUSINESS IN THE NEW NORMAL

On behalf of the newly elected Board of Directors for 2020, I would like to welcome you to “Business in the New Normal”.

Let me first thank the members and Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) - for the confidence and faith placed in re-electing me as your President for another term. 

In preparing for this speech, I revisited some of my previous speeches at AMCHAM T&T events. It’s tempting to say that the coronavirus has propelled us into a world of radical uncertainty where “none of the old rules make sense.” We would all, I’m sure like to take comfort in believing that macroeconomic forecasts at the start of 2020 are now out the window given the impact of a  black swan event that has  altered the trajectory of governments, economies and businesses.

But if we do so, we would be fooling ourselves. The old, fundamental rules do apply and COVID-19 was not a black swan event.

But, hey, don’t take it from me, here is what the Managing Director at McKinsey wrote 12 years ago at the end of the Financial Crisis in 2008, “It is increasingly clear that the current downturn is fundamentally different from recessions of recent decades. We are experiencing not merely another turn of the business cycle, but a restructuring of the economic order. The question is, “What will normal look like?” While no one can say how long the crisis will last, what we find on the other side will not look like the normal of recent years.

Bill Gates, numerous scientists, and even former U.S. President Barack Obama have been talking about the need to prepare for a pandemic for decades.

THE RULE OF LAW

So, what do I mean about fundamental rules? Well, one of AMCHAM T&T’s core principles is the promotion of the rule of law. Fairness and access to justice are key to developing a conducive business environment but so too are they to building a resilient and cohesive society. In the old normal or the new normal, strong adherence to the rule of law is key.

And so too are the development and articulation of a vision for both the society we want to create and role we want our companies to play in it. Our success as a country cannot be measured simply by GDP growth. Neither can our businesses’ success be measured only by profit. From what I have seen in my more than two decades as part of AMCHAM T&T and in my own business, for the most part, the business community has always taken an interest and supported both fence-line communities and the national community. Now, we may need to do a little more and, quite frankly, communicate what we do a little better. This is beyond CSR. It’s about building resilient communities and contributing to the overall sustainability of the country and, hopefully, the region.

In terms of vision, at our Economic Outlook event in January 2020, which now seems like a lifetime ago, I shared with you what we at AMCHAM T&T envisioned as a better future for our country. “We see a country that will be safe for all our young people to live, work and grow.  We see visionary leaders and good governance.  We see a flourishing business community where investors and entrepreneurs work together to create a booming economy that works for all our citizens. We see high levels of social mobility and equality.”

And that last point is where I want to tie it all together. As a country, we need to do a better job of fixing the systems that inhibit social mobility and perpetuate inequality. We cannot fool ourselves by talking about outliers who emerge successfully from structural inequity and try to hold them up as examples that can be easily replicated. As citizens, we should have a vested interest in making our society better. And as businesses, we should see that if the rule of law is assured for those who are often most invisible and on the “margins of society” it will be assured for business too, making the entire economy more efficient and attractive.

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INNOVATION

So, more specifically, during the past three months we have seen a wave of innovation unleashed by companies, government, non-profits, and individuals as we quickly tackled COVID-19 challenges.

For example, Angostura began producing hand sanitizer for our healthcare, CSP is producing fire-resistant face masks, engineers at UWI are developing ventilators. Supermarkets, food delivery services and logistics have come up with ways to ensure a safer experience for their customers and employees. None of these tasks have been easy, but individuals and organizations have demonstrated the motivation and behaviour mind shifts needed to research, innovate, and act quickly.

How do we continue to fuel and foster and reward this innovation going forward? How do we enhance our innovative capacity to take advantage of global supply chain re-alignment? This will require a paradigm shift, promoting an environment that stimulates creativity, creating the right regulatory environment to incentivize investment so that we can expand our markets regionally and internationally.

ACCELERATION OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

It will require an acceleration of our country’s digital transformation. So, let’s imagine, a digitally-enabled Trinidad & Tobago.

Over the past two months, we have seen signs of a shift in how consumers and businesses behave. Some of these changes are direct, short-term responses to the crises and will revert to regular levels once COVID-19 is contained. However, some of these shifts with remote learning, entertainment, and consumption will continue, creating a long-term digital disruption that will generate valuable business opportunities. The COVID-19 situation has ripped the band-aid off the need across the public and private sector to enable teleworking and remote learning across most households. To support this new normal, gaps need to be closed in ICT availability, affordability and adoption for a large cross-section in society, through public and private sector policies and initiatives.

Now, more than ever, there is a need to promote and accelerate the use of alternate, technology-based channels for the delivery of Government services and enabling integrated government, with a view to improving cost efficiencies and service quality. We congratulate the GOTT on accelerating the offerings of e-payments for statutory tax payments such as Corporation tax, Green Fund.

We look forward to the implementation of a unique National Identification Number system which will allow for the provision of government services in a less disjointed manner and instant verification of information provided by the customer. This is something that we have been speaking about for years and was a key recommendation in my AGM speech last year.

We encourage the GOTT Recommit Trinidad and Tobago to the Open Government Partnership and provide more data available in manipulatable format to allow the private sector to extract economic value from our Data with the appropriate privacy protections supported by data privacy and data transparency laws including the full proclamation of the Data Protection Act.

We also need to urgently address the deficiencies in the education system as it relates to

1)     the appropriate use of IT in the teaching-learning process,

2)     the teaching of teach-related skills specifically and,

3)     at a base level, differentiated approaches to teaching to most effectively facilitate learning across the widest group of students.

ENERGY SECTOR

As the energy sector remains the mainstay of our economy, and will continue to be in the short to medium term, it is imperative that we address issues around the energy value chain. I am not being alarmist when I say that continued inaction and reluctance to make decisions is putting the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate in jeopardy. We need to act and act fast on this but at this point, I prefer not to say more.

We also need to transition to renewable energy, leveraging both our natural assets but also the technology and expertise of the multinationals already operating and invested in T&T.

We need to accelerate initiatives around energy efficiency to reduce local wasted consumption.

And of course, the Government and private sector have to work more closely to further develop the export capacity of the energy services sector, in recognition that if our petroleum resources were ever to be depleted, we could still have a vibrant, foreign exchange-earning energy services sector.

CLIMATE CHANGE & RESILIENT ECONOMIES

My final point is that the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities into business strategy will be more important than ever as we build the “new normal.”

While the impact of COVID-19 has resulted in a worldwide disruption and lockdown, what has also emerged is the positive impact on the environment.

It also poses a unique opportunity to build economies that are more resilient and to engage in sustainable business practices. Protecting the environment is not a luxury, nor is it something we can leave for our children to fix. The cost of COVID-19 can be dwarfed if we do not deal decisively with climate change, which affects the most vulnerable in society. If we do not take action to protect sensitive habitats and species; conserve water, forests and other natural resources; and lobby for more stringent environmental protection enforcement, our ecosystems will collapse.

At AMCHAM T&T, we are cognizant of the role we play in society and believe that we need to tackle this problem head-on.

Last October, AMCHAM T&T signed an MOU with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and is the coordinator of the ARISE network in Trinidad and Tobago. AMCHAM T&T has a solid 23-year track record of providing strong direction and leadership on HSSE compliance for the sustainable future of companies, communities, and our nation. Through the work of our ARISE, we have been actively seeking to build resilience amongst the SMEs in Trinidad and Tobago. We are also cognizant that we have just started an active hurricane season so this year we will be working on disaster preparedness, BCP and early warning systems. AMCHAM T&T is also working with PREPARE TT on assessing the probable impact of an earthquake disaster in the country’s capital and would facilitate advocacy and planning around strengthening seismic disaster risk reduction and preparedness measures.

WORK IN PROGRESS

In these challenging times, the way in which individuals and companies, organizations have leapt into action with a clear sense of priority, urgency, and community gives me hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

AMCHAM T&T's vibrant internal culture has allowed us to leverage the current crisis as a catalyst for change in our organization. We remain confident that our ability to be nimble during this time will allow us to continue to be relevant to our members in the years to come.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to our C.E.O. Nirad Tewarie for his vision and leadership during these unprecedented times. Thank you to Secretariat, the staff at AMCHAM T&T, who work so tirelessly to building this organisation and maintaining contact and communication with our members.

To my fellow Board members, Officers of the Board and committee members, please know your hard work, passion, commitment and dedication is greatly valued.

And, to our most loyal and faithful sponsors and members thank you for the generous support and unflinching loyalty you have shown to this organisation over the past twenty-eight years.

Thank you for your time and attention and I sincerely look forward to our journey together over the next year as your President.

Stay safe, connected, and healthy,

Thank You.

United Nations World Environment Day 2020

Remarks from AMCHAM T&T President
Patricia Ghany

The United Nations (UN) World Environment Day 2020 is widely celebrated worldwide as a global day for positive environmental action which we at AMCHAM T&T strongly support. Just last year, we celebrated this day hosting a Clean-a-thon which saw over 300 members of AMCHAM T&T cleaning the Queen’s Park Savannah in POS.

This year, business as we know it has been interrupted by the pandemic, but it has also provided us with an opportunity to focus on our environment and to make some decisive actions on climate change. While the impact of COVID-19 has resulted in a worldwide disruption and lockdown, what has also emerged is the positive impact on the environment - the air and water quality of our rivers, lakes and seas have improved, even our wildlife has started to flourish. But these small improvements in our environment have come at very heavy costs to people and economies. We are experiencing the worst recession since World War II and there is no doubt that the effects of this will continue to be felt for years to come.

While COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our lives and economies, it also poses a unique opportunity to build economies that are more resilient and to engage in sustainable business practices. Protecting the environment is not a luxury, nor is it something we can leave for our children to fix. The cost of COVID-19 can be dwarfed if we do not deal decisively with climate change, which affects the most vulnerable in society. If we do not take action to protect sensitive habitats and species; conserve water, forests and other natural resources; and lobby for more stringent environmental protection enforcement, our ecosystems will collapse. When we alter or destroy aspects of the ecosystems, there are negative consequences, for example – species extinction; water shortages; sea-level rise; zoonotic diseases and natural disasters, including loss of lives.

The time has never been more immediate for us to promote investment in green businesses and green technologies. We must tackle plastic pollution decisively. At AMCHAM T&T, we are cognizant of the role we play in society and believe that we need to tackle this problem head-on. AMCHAM T&T, through its environment sub-committee, has created an environmental charter which organisations have signed onto to demonstrate to other business players their commitment to environmental conservation. It also enhances the competitiveness of businesses, both locally and internationally, by letting potential clients know that they conduct their business in a sustainable and regulatory compliant manner. AMCHAM T&T also hosts the premier annual HSE Awards which is attended by a wide cross-section of business and industry leaders. This is a platform for us to recognize organizations who uphold and achieve the highest levels of sustainable operations focused on environmental conservation

Last October, AMCHAM T&T signed an MOU with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and is the coordinator of the ARISE network in Trinidad and Tobago. AMCHAM T&T has a solid 23-year track record of providing strong direction and leadership on HSSE compliance for the sustainable future of companies, communities, and our nation. Through the work of our ARISE, we have been actively seeking to build resilience amongst the SMEs in Trinidad and Tobago. We are also cognizant that we have just started an active hurricane season so this year we will be working on disaster preparedness, BCP and early warning systems. AMCHAM T&T is also working with PREPARE TT on assessing the probable impact of an earthquake disaster in the country’s capital and would facilitate advocacy and planning around strengthening seismic disaster risk reduction and preparedness measures.

In closing, we urge everyone to not only reflect on the United Nations World Environment Day 2020 Theme - “Time for Nature” but take action to show respect and appreciation for biodiversity. Join the challenge for the month of June and do any or ALL of the following:

• Start your kitchen garden (if you haven’t already) and post the photos on social media with the hashtag: #timefornature
• Plant fruit or beneficial trees around your home or workplace and post the photos on social media with the hashtag: #timefornature (a mature tree can absorb 22kg of CO2 from the atmosphere).
• Start a compost heap with vegetable peelings, grass cuttings
• Engage in an activity that will reduce your carbon footprint, for example: don’t drive (work from home if possible), turn off all power for 1 hour, refuse single-use plastic and make that change onwards. Deadline for submissions – 26th June 2020 and these will be posted to all AMCHAM T&T’s social media platforms for recognition.

Remember, the time for nature begins today. Happy World Environment Day, everyone.

AMCHAM T&T, through surveying its members, was able to compile a submission for the Road Map to Recovery Committee, put together by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. This committee was founded to develop a plan for the recovery of the economy after the COVID-19 crisis.Comparison of AMCHAM Recommendation and RtR Report.pdf

This submission is a point of advocacy for our members and the business community. The information provided by members in the survey was critical to informing this Submission and representing your views and needs to the government and the wider national community as we all work towards accelerating T&T’s recovery from this crisis.

To view the Road Map to Recovery Recommendations, please click here.

To view the recommendations by our members accepted by the Committee, please click here