Contact Magazine Tourism Issue by Eureka Communications Limited

Contents

A quarterly publication of The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce

T&T Tourism 2013

Positioning T&T for Tourism

Unlike many of the Tobago has tackled this other islands in the challenge by C a r i b b e a n promoting its various archipelago, Trinidad festivals, such as has never had to rely Heritage Week, the on tourism for its Jazz Festival, and the well-being. The Blue Food event, as transition from a colonial plantation state to well as international sports competitions. independence was a relatively easy one, The island has also maintained and upgraded having found the coin that remains our its historical sites. mainstay – oil and gas.

Tribe - a Carnival Business Success Story

Magic in the Air “A visit to Yerette is a step into the land of the hummingbird. You get up close to these amazing creatures and have a very informative session from Theo who provides you with all the facts of these exceptional birds….A must for wildlife photographers or nature enthusiasts.”

Today Tribe Carnival is not only a powerful brand that attracts thousands of masqueraders from as far as Japan and Australia, they are a diversified commercial entity with business units involved in event management, equipment rental and even online shopping and courier service.

Editor: Halima Khan Editorial Board: Communications Committee: Moonilal Lalchan, Catherine Kumar, Tricia Henry, Anthony Agostini, Andrew Johnson Design & Layout JG Design Caribbean Published by Eureka Communications Limited Suite #2 No.9 Avenue First, St. James, Trinidad W.I. Tel: (868) 622-2017 • (868) 628-1555 Fax: • (868) 622-4475 E-mail: • contacteureka@yahoo.com • lanny5052@gmail.com • jasong@tstt.net.tt For The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, P.O. Box 499, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago W.I. Tel: (868) 637-6966 Fax: (868) 637-7425 E-mail: chamber@chamber.org.tt • Website: www.chamber.org.tt For this magazine contact: Tel: (868) 637-6966 Tobago Division:Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce 2nd Floor ANSA McAL Building, Milford Road, Scarborough, Tobago Tel: (868) 639-2669 Fax: (868) 639-2669 E-mail: tobagochamber@chamber.org.tt

An Appetite for Innovation: Derek Chin

Tobago on a Plate - Fine Chocolate, Gourmet Cuisine Draw Tourists

Desiring to be an industry

Making History Together Nanan’s & the Scarlet Ibis

Treasures of South Trinidad

Great Potential in the Great Race

Tourism and ICT - the Hidden Opportunities

Booming Domestic Tourism

The World’s Melting Pot: Can a Nation make a Tourist Attraction of Food?

A Balancing Act: Tourism and Climate Change

Exploring Medical Tourism

Trinidad and Tobago’s Heritage Assests Tapping into economic potential and instilling national pride

Adaptive Reuse of Historic Structures

Economic and Financial Statistics

Economic Outlook

Nine Month 2013 Review

Deep Water - the Last Frontier?

Energy Statistics

Drilling Deep - Rebooting T&T’s Energy Sector

The EITI Report 2011

An interview with the IDB’s Michelle Cross Fenty, Esq.

Carlton K. Mack

Harry Sooknarine

Victor E. Mouttet

The Chamber’s Events

Tobago Division Report April-September, 2013 What Every Business Person Should Know

From Advocate to Advisor: The role of the Lawyer in Mediation

The Dispute Centre’s Quarterly Report

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Maracas Beach, Trinidad

Information on Trinidad & Tobago

rinidad and Tobago (T&T) has a population of approximately 1.3 million people who inhabit 4,827 square kilometers (1,886 miles) in Trinidad and 300 square kilometers (117 miles) in Tobago. Trinidad is located between 10º 2’ and 11º12’ N latitude and 60º 30’ and 61º 56’ W longitude or 11 Kilometers (6.8 miles) of the eastern coast of Venezuela. Tobago is located 32.2 Kilometers (20 miles) to the north-east of Trinidad. There are two international sea ports in Trinidad, Port-of-Spain and in Point Lisas. The International airports are located in Piarco, Trinidad and Crown Point, Tobago.

Trinidad’s economy is primarily dependent on the petrochemical sector, while the island of Tobago is mainly dependent on tourism. According to the Key Economic Indicators of Trinidad and Tobago the Real Gross Domestic Product declined by 2.0% (year-on-year) in the first quarter of 2012 and improvement from the fourth quarter of 2011. Energy sector performance improved when compared to the previous quarter due to a price surge of 9.5% to US$102.88 per barrel. The non energy sector remained flat heading into the first quarter of 2012, anecdotal evidence indicated a slight increase in

entertainment and retail due to the lifting of the state of emergency. On a year-on-year basis to March 2012, headline inflation rose to 9.1%. The increase in headline inflation over the last few months was the result of accelerating domestic food prices. Food price inflation measured 14.0 % in January 2012 ending the quarter at 20.3%. Core inflation, which excludes food prices, remained below 2%. In the twelve months ending March 2012, core inflation measured 1.8% and the Central Bank increased its projection of average inflation from 5 percent to 7 percent. The twin island republic boasts a multi-ethnic people, diverse culture and unique cuisine. As a result of its cosmopolitan population, the country celebrates a significant number of festivals around the year including carnival, Phagwa or Holi, Divali and Eid-Ul-Fitr. Tobago the smaller island, has a population of just over 54,000 and has an interesting history in that, during the colonial period, French, Dutch and British Forces fought for the possession of Tobago and the Island changed hands more than 22 times – more than any other Caribbean Island.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce

VISION STATEMENT We are the Voice of Business. MISSION STATEMENT To be the voice of business in the development towards a strong, sustainable national economy. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Moonilal Lalchan, President Andrew Sabga – Immediate Past President Robert Trestrail – Senior Vice President Christopher Mack – Vice President Ronald Hinds – Vice President Rakesh Goswami – Vice President Wade George – Director Luana Boyack – Director Paula Rajkumarsingh – Director Jacqueline Francois – Director Jean-Pierre Du Coudray – Director Reyaz Ahamad – Director Diane Hadad – Chairman, Tobago Division Catherine Kumar – Corporate Secretary & Chief Executive Officer COMMITTEES - TRINIDAD • Communications • Corporate Social Responsibility

• Facilities Management & Maintenance

• Crime & Justice • E-Business, Information Technology & Telecommunications (EBITT) • Energy • Health, Safety & Environment

• Industrial Relations • NOVA • Trade & Business Development • Legislative

COMMITTEES - TOBAGO • Business Development & Tourism • Inter-island Transport

• Security • Environment

HOW TO CONTACT US Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, P.O. Box 499, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago W.I. Tel: (868) 637 6966 Fax: (868) 637 7425 E-mail: chamber@chamber.org.tt • Website: www.chamber.org.tt Contact: www.contact-tt.com Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce 2nd Floor, ANSA McAL Building, Milford Road, Scarborough, Tobago Tel: (868) 639 2669 Fax: (868) 639 2669 E-mail: tobagochamber@chamber.org.tt To purchase copies of CONTACT magazine please call 637-6966 ext 227

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Are you looking for an ideal location to host your Private Meetings, Training Sessions, Product or Media Launches, Christmas Cocktails or even your Wedding Receptions?

Then your Chamber is here to meet your needs!

Duncan Campbell Meeting Room

WM Gordon Gordon Board Room

Leon Agostini Conference Hall

Events have become the hallmark for many Corporate Communications and Marketing Divisions and finding that ideal venue is perhaps one of the most important aspects to the success of all activities. At the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce we pride ourselves in providing rooms for small and medium sized functions. Our venue, at Columbus Circle, Westmoorings, has been rented by many members and non-members.

Named after the Chamber’s first President, our Leon Agostini Conference Hall, accommodates Theatre seating up to 200 persons and Banquet seating of 180 (rectangular tables) or 120 (round tables). Our Duncan Campbell Meeting Room can accommodate Theatre seating up to 40 persons and Round table seating up to a maximum of 16 persons. Our special offer to weekend clients is the WM Gordon Gordon Board Room which accommodates up to 14 persons in comfortable executive style.

As a “One Stop Shop” we provide complete services - Wheel-chair access, Parking, High Speed Internet access, Catering, Audio and Video, all in our air- The Chamber’s staff stands ready to assist and will work with you in ensuring the conditioned facility. Our rates are among the lowest, given our secure and scenic success of your event. Upon request we will assist with the coordination at a location. As a member of the Chamber your rental fee is discounted by 10%. reasonable fee.

We invite you to contact Eustace Pierre at 637-6966 ext. 286 or epierre@chamber.org.tt so that a tour of our facilities can be arranged. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you.

An Editorial Note from the President

Positioning T&T for Tourism By Moonilal Lalchan

Moonilal Lalchan, President, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce

uring 2012, the Chamber’s Board decided, under the overarching theme of Diversification, to select four areas on which to focus the four issues of Contact magazine. The themes we selected (Agro-processing and Food Security, Energy, Creative Industries and now Tourism)- were aligned to the sectors targeted for development but which we feel, for the most part, are still not receiving the attention they deserve.

Unlike many of the other islands in the Caribbean archipelago, Trinidad has never had to rely on tourism for its well-being. The transition from a colonial plantation state to independence was a relatively easy one, having found the coin that remains our mainstay – oil and gas. This opened the door to ongoing industrialization, development and along the way, Trinidad barely spared a passing glance at Tourism. For our sister island of Tobago however, the picture is quite different and the once-thriving tourist economy plummeted following the global financial crisis which began in 2008 –

a crisis from which it is only just beginning to hope for recovery. The Chamber, through its Tobago Division, has been working with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Central government to realize a solution for Tobago’s private sector and finally found some success with the adoption of measures out of the debt restructuring plan presented in 2011. An update on this is provided in the Tobago Division’s quarterly report. This issue presented some particular challenges. For as long as we can remember, tourism has been talked about as a desirable sub-sector to help to diversify our economy, though the talk never translated to action - as is demonstrated in our lead story assessing the present-day tourism picture. In spite of what might appear to be a pessimistic analysis, we noted that over the years, a few brave souls have ventured into the tourist market, sometimes more by accident than design. In roughly half our stories therefore, we have profiled a few of these successes, which demonstrate how the combination of vision and initiative led to triumph in an environment that offers very few incentives.

In the other half, we took a sample of some of the challenges that affect the tourism sector today – environmental degradation and risk to our heritage assets. We also explore the potential of niche markets such as food, festival and medical tourism as well as the underestimated value of domestic tourism – and the crucial role of ICT to the entire sector’s development. But as we pondered the tourism conundrum, what emerged was a picture of a country that has managed to capture a tourist niche almost in spite of itself. The businesses that we feature have survived and maintained their clientele solely by great customer service, word of mouth and repeat business. It is clear that what exists of tourism in Trinidad and Tobago today is in the main, private-sector driven, and if it is to go further, private enterprise must fearlessly take the lead. What remains to the Government, now as then, is to recognize the potential of this sector and provide the necessary enabling environment. Are we up to the challenge? Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

T&T Tourism 2013 By Kevin Baldeosingh

f you were from America, Canada, or American tourist who comes to the Caribbean Europe, why would you want to come to is “no longer particularly rich nor particularly Trinidad or Tobago for a vacation? well-educated, although some specialist tour operators still attract a more moneyed First of all, it is unlikely that you would know clientele. British tourists remain somewhat about T&T when you start searching the more upmarket.” So marketing was always Internet for flights, accommodations, and going to be a problem, and that difficulty was events. Instead, you would just have the exacerbated by an even more basic issue: Caribbean in mind as a general destination what, exactly, was Trinidad going to market and you’d be thinking about which island or to this upscale clientele? islands would provide the best experience. You might also be considering your budget Tobago has tackled this challenge by but, as a tourist from the rich countries of the promoting its various festivals, such as world, this would probably not be the decisive Heritage Week, the Jazz Festival, and the factor in your eventual choice. And, if you’re Blue Food event, as well as international considering the Caribbean, you’d probably sports competitions. The island has also want what could be termed the three “S”s – maintained and upgraded its historical sites. sun, sea, and sand. Even so, tourism still struggles in Tobago, in part because of limited direct flights from So here is the first problem faced by Trinidad Europe, but mostly because the facilities and and, to a lesser but still significant extent, attractions of the island have not yet been Tobago: when it comes to these three, we developed sufficiently to attract enough cannot compete with our smaller neighbours, tourists for financial viability. Instead, Tobago like Barbados, St Lucia, even Grenada. Our still depends on its four to five percent seas are too green and our sands too brown. allocation of the national Budget and the No doubt understanding this, the Vision 2020 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is still the sub-committee on tourism, building on a main source of employment for Tobagonians. master plan commissioned since 1995, decided in 2003 that Trinidad would not target the Trinidad has the Carnival, and cultural events tourists seeking the three “S”s. such as Emancipation and Divali. But only the first attracts tourists, and those visitors Instead, according to its report, there would are not the cohort targeted by the Master Plan. be “a sharp focus on the high end of the global The Trinidad Carnival continues to be the travelling community.” That kind of tourist island’s main attraction, as shown by the was described as “Well-educated, well- above 90 percent occupancy rate hotels and travelled individuals with high disposable guest-houses in the weeks preceding Carnival, income”. For Trinidad, the focus would be on but a year-round average of just over 50 Culture and Business, while for Tobago the percent. Moreover, T&T still has the leakage focus would be Culture and Leisure Tourism. problem which plagues all Caribbean tourism, which is to say that, for every US dollar But, as British travel writer Polly Pattullo earned, 70 pennies are lost in import costs. notes in her book Last Resorts, the average Such figures do not make for a thriving tourist Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

industry. And, as Table One shows, the Master Plan has not increased the number of visitors to T&T. TABLE ONE: Tourists coming to T&T 1998-2010 Year Visitors 1998 470,981 1999 552,032 2000 391,616 2001 363,101 2002 384,212 2003 409,069 2004 442,555 2005 463,191 2006 436,879 2007 449,452 2008 438,016 2009 430,631 2010 387,559 Source: Central Statistical Office The groundwork for the Business Tourism part of the Master Plan has been laid, however. Trinidad’s hotels have been marketing themselves as conference centres, and certainly the “3S” image of the Caribbean make our islands an attractive destination for business persons who want to relax after their work is done. But this cohort is almost antithetical to the Culture Tourist targeted in the same Master Plan. Contrary to the concepts which seem to be embraced by T&T’s politicians and policymakers, such travellers are not really interested in song-and-dance. They are thinking tourists, who want experiences and information in one cultural package. They want to visit wellpreserved natural and historical sites, see theatrical productions, and go to concerts where local music is featured. This has already been demonstrated, as pointed out in this issue of CONTACT, by the niche successes for

Feature T&T tourism, with eco-tours, sporting events, and even business development. And, almost paradoxically, local events, particularly those which target children such as the Science Fair and the Wildfowl Trust, provide templates for overseas marketing. Additionally, the Artists Coalition of T&T has drawn up a plan to create cultural attractions, but successive administrations have neither put out the document for public d e b a t e n o r, h a v i n g i g n o r e d i t s recommendations, offered any reasons why the projects may be unworkable or unsustainable. Meanwhile, the private sector has financed events such as the Bocas Literary Festival, while the T&T Film Festival with inadequate government assistance has become an annual event. It is such initiatives which get the attention of the well-educated well-travelled tourist. In recent times, the repairs and building of infrastructure on Nelson Island, and the naming of VS Naipaul’s childhood home as a national monument has demonstrated some progress in this regard. But, although an official heritage spot, the Banwari site, where the 7,000-year-old bones of one of the Caribbean’s first inhabitants was found, remains unmarked and unremarked. Despite its world-wide fame in scientific circles, no effort has been made to promote the Asa Wright Centre nor to facilitate the scores of scientists who visit there annually and whose work is constrained by outdated local laws (which, for example, unreasonably limit the specimens they can take for their research). But the basic problem for T&T’s Cultural

Tourism is not infrastructure but, ironically, culture – not in the sense of arts, but in the sense of values. Thanks to the anti-colonial rhetoric which was the master narrative of our Independence, we confuse service with servitude. We pat ourselves on the back for tolerance, but have laws which criminalise homosexuality. We claim to be peaceful, but have one of the highest homicide rates in the world. The well-educated and well-travelled tourists often shun such societies, unless the countries offer other attractions.

quarrying, complaints by villagers against illegal logging, and public protests by fishermen against seismic surveys, may all indicate a shift in how such environmental issues are treated with by politicians. If this trend continues, then, in the not-too-distant future, the well-educated well-travelled tourists will be coming to a twin-island Caribbean nation with informative historical tours, where they will be able to buy highend art and crafts, in a society marked by openness, tolerance, and creativity – a place both stimulating and relaxing. At present, We do not have such attractions. Ours is not though, that country does not exist. a society which sees value in history or science or other intellectual pursuits, and that also turns away the well-educated tourist. In The Chamber’s Group Health & a newspaper column in 2000, the late Accidental Death & Dismemberment Plan naturalist Julian Kenny wrote: “Physical The Chamber’s Group Health & Accidental degradation of a site such as a forest reserve Death & Dismemberment Plan, launched in or slaughter of wildlife such as the scarlet 2003, is a highly flexible Plan with Sagicor ibis or the leatherback turtle in front of with guaranteed protection against local and tourists, not only revolts them but conveys foreign emergencies. The Plan specifically the negative message that we as citizens do targets member companies and results in not actually care much for what we have. favourable contributions for participants due Not long ago a European visitor and his to the size of the Group. companions when being guided along the La Laja Brasso Seco was visibly aghast at the As a CariCare Plan member you will also presence of hunters and their dogs within a receive your personal International Medical forest reserve. And during the past few years Card affording you enhanced protection many voices, both local and foreign, have against emergencies while travelling, or complained at the logging of the upper assistance for overseas treatment. Your card elevations of the Northern Range and the ensures the payment of all your eligible seeming indifference of the authorities to the medical bills related to your emergency negative effects of such practices not only anywhere in the world. If you are interested on ecotourism resources, but also on water in joining the Plan, please send written resource management.” However, the recently confirmation of your interest to the Chamber’s imposed two-year ban on hunting, the arrest Marketing and Communications Department of a scarlet ibis poacher, investigations into at marketing@chamber.org.tt. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Magic in the Air By Nazma Muller or weeks before the two-day visit of China’s First Lady, Peng Liyuan, to Trinidad last May, the hills of Maracas, St. Joseph were crawling with Chinese security officials, sniffer dogs and bomb detectors. On the second day of her visit, the entire neighbourhood of Valley View was “locked down” and helicopters flew overhead as the wife of the China’s leader was escorted to the home of Theodore and Gloria Ferguson.

Most of the massive entourage had to park in nearby streets as the Fergusons’ driveway can hold only four cars. Usually, Theo, as he is known, calls his guests by their first name, but on this occasion he bowed to diplomatic protocol and called the First Lady Her Excellency. Peng Liyuan was accompanied on her visit to Theo’s yard by the First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago, Reema Carmona, as well as the wife of our Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Dookeran. They had all come for tea with Theo. But, although he is a delightful and entertaining host, the ladies had really come to see his birds. From the moment you step onto the Fergusons’ porch, you step into the wonderland known as Yerettê. Dozens of hummingbirds whizz past in all directions, making a beeline for one of 30-odd feeders filled with sugared water. Their wings glitter and gleam like jewels as they zip around, inches from your face. You feel you have entered a 3D Disney animation – a cross between Rio and Free Birds. As you sit, stunned – by the beauty of these tiny acrobatic birds, the flowers, and the mountain peaks across the valley – you think: this is so simple and ingenious. Just put out dozens of feeders with sugared water and presto! There’s magic in the air. In three short years the Fergusons’ home has become known to birders and nature enthusiasts all over the planet. People have visited from every corner of the globe to experience the “Home of the Hummingbird”, as it has been wonderfully branded. Yerettê is

an Amerindian word for the hummingbird. It was the Amerindians who first named Trinidad Iere, meaning “Land of the Hummingbird”, in honour of the fact that the island is blessed with 17 species of these tiny acrobats. And it was to them that Theo turned for a name for what has quietly become the number one ecoattraction in the country – without any marketing or advertising whatsoever. No massive capital investment, no construction, no billboards, no advertisements on TV or in magazines, no social media blitz, nada. Just good ole word of mouth. Of the 58 reviews of Yerettê on TripAdvisor.com, 47 rate it as excellent, 10 as very good, and one as average, the last from someone who lives here. But a visitor from Singapore who came in August wrote: “A visit to Yerette is a step into the land of the hummingbird. You get up close to these amazing creatures and have a very informative session from Theo who provides you with all the facts of these exceptional birds….A must for wildlife photographers or nature enthusiasts.” As Theo tells it, he took up photography about eight years ago. A passionate naturalist, he got it into his head to try to photograph the hummingbird, the smallest, fastest and most difficult of birds to capture on film. To lure them into sitting still for a shot, he would put out feeders filled with white sugar and water that had been boiled and cooled. One day, about three years ago, as he sat in the garden, surrounded by hundreds of hummingbirds and others (you can also find gorgeous purple honeycreepers hanging out as well), the idea came to him to share the magic with the rest of the world. He turned to Gloria and asked her what she thought of the idea. “She didn’t answer me for two days,” he recalled. Her main concerns were security and how to share what had been their family home for more than two decades with complete strangers.

would not advertise. Visits would be by appointment only. No signs in the streets giving directions to the house. “Our business model is simple,” explained Theo. “Create a wonderful product, make sure that the experience is fantastic for your visitor and they will go blabbing to everyone they meet about it.” And so far, it’s worked. Even during the traditionally slow periods in October and November, they still receiving bookings for almost every day. You can choose from three “tours” – one at 8 a.m., the second at 11 a.m., and the last at 3 p.m. For US $25, they offer a light or heavy breakfast, lunch or tea, with all juices and meals made from local ingredients so visitors get the added pleasure of sampling sorrel or guava juice with their provisions and stewed chicken. Theo says, in addition to the First Lady of China, he has had visitors from every state in the US, every province in Canada, as well as the UK, Asia (India, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka), and Africa. There was even a man from Afghanistan. In addition to the sheer awe and amazement you experience in the presence of the hummingbirds, whose wings create a sound and vibrations that are quite calming and therapeutic, Theo also shares his encyclopaedic knowledge freely, and gives a slide show of the 13 species that he has photographed in his yard (there are 17 in total in Trinidad and Tobago). His images, which adorn the living room, magnify the brilliance of the hummingbird’s colours, the exquisite details of their plumage, and the gravitydefying aerodynamics that they perform so effortlessly.

In the centre of the main wall of the living room, in pride of place, hangs a delicate painting of a bird – a gift from Her Excellency Peng Liyuan. Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, and this was perhaps her only chance in a lifetime to see Together the couple worked through the pros one so close up. Through her interpreter she and cons, and came up with a solution. They declared, “This is cool.”

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Feature

Tribe - a Carnival Business Success Story By Joel Henry

he name “Tribe” has become synonymous with modern Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. In less than 10 years this mega-band has not only established itself as one of the largest and most profitable bands in the history of masquerade, they have also revolutionised the Carnival experience, introducing hospitality-level allinclusive service to mas’. Today Tribe Carnival is not only a powerful brand that attracts thousands of masqueraders from as far as Japan and Australia, they are a diversified commercial entity with business units involved in event management, equipment rental and even online shopping and courier service.

CONTACT sat down with Dwayne Nobrega, Event Director and a founding member of Tribe, at their Rosalino Street mas’ camp in Woodbrook to discuss the band’s remarkable success story.

DN: We are all passionate about Carnival. We are first and foremost masqueraders so we understand what the masquerader wants. I have played Carnival for close to 11 years before Tribe was formed and my sisters even longer. So we knew exactly what was needed. CONTACT: What happened next? DN: After about five years as a section and three years as a j’ouvert band we merged our skill sets and brought on other components such as additional designers. Eventually three sections from Poison came together to form Tribe. At that time mas’ camps were more “mom and pop” type operations and we came at it with a much more entrepreneurial outlook.

Yes, our main aim was to improve the Carnival experience and make it more enjoyable for masqueraders, but we also wanted to make a profit. It was going to be a business. We put not only enormous time and effort into the CONTACT: Good day, Mr Nobrega. Firstly, venture, we also invested a lot of money. It who is Tribe? was a huge risk. But we were so in touch with DN: Tribe is made up primarily of former the industry that we knew it was going to masqueraders from the band Poison. Many of score. us are family. This includes me, my two sisters, my brother-in-law (bandleader Dean Ackin) CONTACT: How did you know? and his two cousins. Gail Cabral and Melissa DN: It took a lot market research. It wasn’t James are also members. formal research but it meant talking to people one-by-one and asking them the correct CONTACT: What led to the creation of Tribe? questions about what they wanted, what they DN: We were all in the mas’ industry. Initially, were looking for and if they were willing to Dean and I formed the j’ouvert band Red Ants, make the move (to a new band). We carried which also hosted events. My sisters, who this out over two years and spoke to hundreds loved costumes and design, had a section in of people. We would ask questions in casual Poison. We began working together and made conversations. People love to talk about our section (Pleasures Carnival) one of the Carnival (laughter). most popular in Poison. Out of this we saw there was a potential niche for an all-inclusive CONTACT: When did Tribe launch? mas’ experience. People wanted better service DN: The initial idea was born around 2003. and security. There were a number of other At that point we saw things moving in the reasons but these were the main two. right direction even though the market wasn’t ready and we weren’t ready. The first band CONTACT: It sounds like you all love launch was in July-August 2004. Our first Carnival. Carnival as a band was in 2005 under the

theme “Tribal Fantasy.” Our last section in Poison was themed “Tribe” and people latched onto the name. It was a good name so we went with the flow. CONTACT: When did you realise you had a hit? DN: When we came out the first year we were very popular and reached our target numbers. By the second year they were literally breaking down the gates. The first section sold out and the second section sold out 15 minutes later. By that point we had 1,000 people outside and they just wanted to get in. They broke down the gates at 20 Rosalino Street. CONTACT: Has that growth been continuous? DN: It has. When we developed online systems to try and streamline the costume purchasing process it showed the extent of the demand. One year the entire band (thousands of costumes) sold out in 8 minutes. The band can be totally sold out in 5 minutes online. CONTACT: Super bands tend to get bigger and bigger and then split. How has Tribe avoided that? DN: We were getting bigger because everyone wanted costumes and we do not like to refuse people, particularly those with which we have built relationships. Some people feel overwhelmed by the numbers and it begins to affect the masquerader’s experience. That is why we formed Bliss (Tribe’s second band). CONTACT: That is a very proactive solution to a potential market challenge. DN: In this industry you are constantly being challenged to adapt. We are trying to maintain our market share and the competition is very aggressive. Many times we are required to adapt several times within the given season. Our competition comes at us and they come at us hard. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature CONTACT: Why has Tribe been so successful in the marketplace? DN: Apart from beautiful and vibrant costumes, the main thing is service and value for money. People pay so much for their costumes that they have a right to demand a certain level of experience. That is key for our masqueraders. They know they get value for money. Also, by providing an all-inclusive experience we have made enormous in-roads into the male demographic. Traditionally mas’ has been about 75% women and 25% men. Men aren’t that in to costumes but when you provide them with all-inclusive service they can relate. Now the ratio is much closer to 50-50 in the band, which means a lot more men are taking part. We are also very innovative in the services we provide. We are constantly looking for new ways to satisfy our masqueraders. Just

this year we introduced snow cone carts, CONTACT: Why have you pursued this which allowed them to mix their beverages diversification strategy? with snow cones. It was an enormous hit. DN: Carnival is a very volatile industry so we wanted to diversify. By planting our feet CONTACT: Apart from mas’, what other in other areas we do not have to rely on this business activities is Tribe involved in? one aspect of the entertainment industry. DN: We have always been into events, even before we got into mas’ under the Red Ants CONTACT: Mr. Nobrega thank you for your brand. We also do Tribe events and through time, is there anything you would like to say that we have started to do events for clients. in conclusion? Our client event management services are DN: We value or masqueraders, think of them handled by our Ultimate Events brand. We first and foremost in our decision-making do events for clients like Blue Waters, and try to make their carnival the ultimate Monster, Red Bull, Coca Cola, Digicel and carnival experience – which is our tagline. Witco. We have had the Miss Universe franchise for the last two years, Miss T&T (Readers may also see Joel Henry’s article Universe. We have an equipment rental “Season of Plenty – Can the Carnival industry company called Ultimate Entertainment achieve its potential while preserving its Rentals which provides light and sound. And culture?” in the last issue of Contact REDXpress is an online shopping courier magazine, Vol 13 No. 3) service.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Feature

An Appetite for Innovation: Derek Chin By Sandrine Rattan

erek Chin is no stranger to the business environment both at the regional and international levels. An entrepreneur since 1980, Chin has been the first to launch many of the successful endeavours which Trinidad and Tobago currently enjoy.

Chin alluded to the fact that “The start of the MovieTowne experience was not an easy one as I spent a lot of time and effort in convincing Banks and other financiers that the creation of MovieTowne was not just about movies but rather a world-class experience for patrons. I urged all to give me a chance.”

The MovieTowne experience The construction of Derek Chin’s brainchild, Movie Towne started in 2000, (a time when the cinema industry in Trinidad and Tobago was at an all-time low), with the opening of the Port-of-Spain location in 2002. Chin is a seasoned entrepreneur who has always had a huge appetite and passion for not only the unearthing of new and innovative ideas, but also bringing those ideas to fruition.

He believes that in order to be creative and successful in business, one has to think ‘outside the box’. He further stated that the film industry in Trinidad and Tobago, has gone beyond just a movie - MovieTowne has provided, and continues to provide a level of experience that the country had never benefitted from, and in so doing, has changed the lifestyle and landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. He further stated that “…the bar of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company was raised as a result of the intervention of MovieTowne.” Chin was happy to share that currently two MovieTownes are being established, one in San Fernando - and the other in Guyana.

According to Chin “I am involved in many other businesses, such as Telecom Security and Sign Tech; Texas de Brazil and the US Casual Dining Restaurant concept. Not only did I start the revolutionary kids’ arcade in Trinidad in the 1980’s, but I was also the main person involved in introducing the now lucrative on-line lottery business to Trinidad and Tobago…now known as LOTTO. I also brought G-Tech Corporation from Rhode Island to be the main supplier of the technology.” Chin further stated that “the lottery contributes some 1.6 billion dollars to the Treasury. We continue to grow our businesses, with projects in South Trinidad and Guyana valued at over $300 million TT dollars, and employ over 1,300 persons.”

‘Streets of the World’ Chin’s entrepreneurial wit does not stop with MovieTowne. His latest initiative is “Streets of The World” which is a thematic concept aimed at showcasing a variety of cultural traditions and heritage of various countries. Chin was quite exuberant in sharing this initiative “We would be taking what we’re good at and showcasing it to the world; the “Streets of The World “ concept is designed to create a truly world class destination in Trinidad that would solve many of the tourism

woes of this country...you have to create meaningful attractions to bring tourists to your shores..it’s no longer sun sea and sand..we don't have a world class product here... Streets takes our Carnival and cultures to create a thematic city advertising and showing off our cultures by way of thematic streets representing each of our cultures..so there is an Indian street an African street and China Town , a European street and so on...there will be our main Frederick street of old with tram car...a carnival street with the main WAX Carnival Museum displaying all our carnival history with wax figurines of our famous calypsonians, bandleaders, costumes and steel band; also our sportsmen; then there is the aquarium - the best in the Caribbean featuring all our main marine life... added to this will be Children’s Street, Rodeo Drive and many attractions, restaurants, etc., all presented in a thematic mode...it would be like our present Bourbon Street Fiesta PLaza. When we put all together with the existing MovieTowne facility you can just imagine how impactful it would be! At the moment, everything is still a dream...but I’m working at making it happen at least the first phase. Tourism a positive or negative for T&T? Chin seemed very concerned about T&T’s current tourism thrust which he believes is misunderstood? He quipped that “…tourism is beyond building hotels and guest houses, as these cannot make Trinidad and Tobago a destination of choice.” But what are some of the challenges and/or ills which affect T&T’s

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature image? Chin stated that “There needs to be a concerted and synergistic plan to holistically address tourism – currently lots of money and energies are wasted. Persons must have good reasons to visit Trinidad – The government needs to be serious about tourism, so that visitors can have a different experience.” Chin also believes that the country’s tourism plan must include set targets in terms of what and who you’d like to attract. When asked whether Carnival is our only attraction that can influence tourists to visit our twin island republic, Chin replied that “Carnival is a unique experience which attracts a large influx of visitors annually. However, it is currently the only tourist attraction which exists.” As a progressive businessman, Chin feels extremely passionate about T&T becoming a tourist destination. According to Chin, “In order to boost tourism,

the government needs to create destinations to encourage visitors.” He believes that “this is a good place to start and identified ‘Streets of the World’ as a unique example of a tourist destination which would encourage heavy international visitor traffic on an on-going basis. Because of its cultural diversity, there is no one set direction for developing tourism. T&T’s cultural heritage is also poised to start the change process for developing our tourism thrust.”

country, he noted that “There are a lot of opportunities for both further development and enhancement of T&T as a world-class destination. However, the task becomes a major challenge, as the powers that be do not clearly understand what it takes to be ethical and moral. Our strategic thrust as a country is lacking direction, and therefore, service delivery has failed. We need to urgently review our approach to service delivery, in the context of time and budgets.”

He alluded to the fact he has indeed started the change process with the MovieTowne experience, citing the extremely positive feedback he receives from patrons and stakeholders alike as evidence of its success.

Despite the challenges and pitfalls which may be affecting different areas of national development including our tourism thrust, Chin, as an experienced and successful entrepreneur who has braved the deep to venture into some risky businesses. Chin believes that he has a lot to contribute towards the enhancement of T&T’s national development - and is willing, once called.

Going forward beyond tourism Though Chin believes that there is a lot of untapped (and undiscovered) potential in the

Communications Committee The Communications Committee is a Boardappointed Committee of the Chamber, chaired by the sitting President. Its role is to conceptualise and execute the Chamber’s communications strategy as guided by the Board of Directors. As such the committee oversees the publication of CONTACT magazine, three weekly newspaper columns, a weekly radio programme, media releases and other electronic newsletters and bulletins. Each CONTACT magazine is thematic so that two thirds of the articles explore the issues related to the particular theme. The magazine is distributed free of charge to Chamber members. Complimentary copies are given to Members of Parliament, diplomatic missions, hotels and subscribers to the

Guardian newspaper. CONTACT may be read online at www.contact-tt.com. The weekly “CONTACT with the Chamber” radio programme airs on I95.5 FM at 7:25 a.m. each Tuesday. It represents a Chamber editorial and is voiced by the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Kumar. Programmes are available on the Chamber’s website www.chamber.org.tt. The main issues that form the basis of the Chamber’s lobbies are largely reflected in the newspaper columns. Since 2004, the Chamber has maintained three weekly newspaper columns - Wednesdays in the Business Express and Thursdays in both the Guardian Business and the Newsdays Business Day. Writing on the premise that all issues which affect the

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national landscape also affect business, the columns serve to express Chamber opinion and policy. Topics for articles have included the economy, trade, crime, education, agriculture, health, the environment and culture. The committee encourages Chamber members to submit columns or ideas for columns on topics of interest. Columns may be between 700-900 words in length and the Chamber reserves the right to publish, subject to review by the Committee. The weekly columns may be accessed on the Chamber’s website at www.chamber.org.tt. For further information on this committee kindly contact Halima Khan, Communications Officer, Marketing and Communications, at 637-6966 x 227 or email hkhan@chamber.org.tt.

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Tobago on a Plate - Fine Chocolate, Gourmet Cuisine Draw Tourists By Camille McEachine ood tourism is an integral part of Tobago's tourism package. As part of a twin island state, the island shares many culinary delights with its sister isle, Trinidad - pelau, roti, calaloo and macaroni pie, to name a few. Tobago's signature dish, however, stewed crab and flour dumpling, is a must have for local and foreign foodies as they soak up this delicious dish cooked in coconut milk, and with or without curry.

Chocolatier Dove creates a bean to bar chocolate at his factory that is sold nationally and internationally and which has won several international awards. Robinson-Sealey is well known for serving fresh food from local ingredients to over 80 persons, on a daily average. Her restaurant is rated as a four-star operation and was rated in 2013 as the best restaurant in that area, by TripAdvisor - an online travel site which airs the reviews of travellers on travel-related information.

A lush tropical island, Tobago is home to a variety of fruits, vegetables, ground provisions and tree crops. Most famous among them is undoubtedly the finest flavoured cocoa bean in the world, the Trinitario bean. The Trinitario bean - a hybrid bred from the Forastero and Crillo cocoas - used to flavour other types of cocoas. Another local produce worthy of mention is the dasheen- a local ground provision that is white when peeled but turns blue when cooked.

Tobago Cocoa Estate West Indies Ltd Mr. Dove, a chocolatier cum sommelier, honed his craft of making bean to bar chocolate to the point where, for three consecutive years, 2010-2013, his chocolate has received international acclaim. Calling cocoa, ‘the other black gold’ (the first black gold, oil, is a mainstay of the twin islands' economy) Dove says it is the next best thing to develop the agricultural sector to contribute to the economy. In terms of managing the product produced by Tobago Estate West Indies Ltd, Dove is responsible the entire process - from the growing of the bean to the marketing of the finished goods. Based in Stockholm, Sweden and he spends the summer months in Tobago at the Roxborough estate. Dove sees his enterprise as building a bridge between Europe and Tobago.

This product is such an important part of the island's food tourism offering that it has its own annual gala event, the Blue Food Festival. This event attracts thousands of visitors to the coastal village of Bloody Bay where patrons can have a taste of products made from dasheen - from sweets to liqueurs. Additionally, the cassava, another ground provision is gaining popularity among epicureans as it too is a main ingredient in many locally prepared dishes. Interestingly, foodies have come to know the term, ‘a Tobago portion’. It is a term coined to describe the generous size of the portions served on the island.

During the months he is at Roxborough, Dove plants secondary crops and prunes the cocoa trees. He also takes tourists on tours of the estate where they taste the chocolate and partake in a local lunch, part of which is cassava bread baked in a dirt oven fashioned from the days of the Amerindians. The rest of the year he spends in Europe, traversing the trade shows, promoting the chocolate and his estate as a destination for tourists.

Within this rich and culinary diverse environment, two Tobagonians, Duane Dove and Jemma Robinson-Sealey, stand out as success stories in the business of food tourism. Dove trades as Tobago Estate West Indies Ltd, a chocolate-making enterprise while Robinson- Jemma's Sea Food Treehouse Restaurant Sealey is Speyside's famed Jemma's Seaview Mrs Robinson-Sealey says her Treehouse Kitchen Treehouse. restaurant was borne out of the actions of

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customers, some thirty years ago. They regularly climbed a large tree stump, situated close to her small shop, to eat the fish and chips lunches which she had prepared. The stump stood perched over the seashore in the waters of Speyside. Almost thirty years later patrons to the restaurant dine in a large wooden treehouse, on the same spot, as they watch the waves break on the seashore. She, like Duane Dove, takes a hands-on approach to the management of her business. The restaurateur says she never advertises her establishment in the media. All advertisements are done by word-of-mouth as her clients are referred to the restaurant by other patrons. She feels the TripAdvisor.com best restaurant award for 2013 is evidence of this. The seventy year old lady who formerly cooked and cleaned in another hotel in the area, prides herself in the quality of service, and local delicacies made from fresh local produce, for which her restaurant is known. She points to the establishment's humble beginnings and rise to international fame as an example of what can be attained when a dream is pursued relentlessly with hard work ,dedication (and in her case, a supportive husband). In conclusion, Duane Dove and Jemma Robinson-Sealey are dealing with the challenges they face in their businesses and are planning for the future. The chocolatier is having his estate certified by an international body from Holland to improve the product's image abroad while the restaurateur is passing on her skills to her daughter. Mr. Dove says his estate will be the first to be certified in Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs. Robinson-Sealey hopes her restaurant will maintain its standard for a very long time as she will continue to go to the establishment until she is satisfied her daughter is upholding the standard she has achieved over the years.

Feature

Desiring to be an industry By Vaneisa Baksh

bout ten years ago, as the region was being wooed to host the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, a major point of persuasion was that the millions of dollars that would be spent in the venture would be quickly recouped as it would open a new brand of tourism related to sport.

leaving some new stadia like abandoned goats and Anisa Mohammed leading all West Indian grazing on lonely hillsides. (The stadium in bowlers ever. Tarouba never even got its finishing touches before being put out to pasture.) Even the men seemed to be trundling along with six consecutive wins against New On the heels of this unfortunate combination Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe (before came the global tremors of collapsing India knocked off the streak in the first Test economies. Few have truly risen from the at Eden Gardens in November). rubble. Naturally, tourism has taken the hardest hit in this region. Public support should have been curving sharply upward out of the doldrums where it But you know, they say cricket is the game has lain sourly for a long time. But the almost of glorious uncertainty and an unexpected imperceptible flutters suggested that cricket, twist can turn things around at any moment. even T20, really was a lost cause.

While the majority of national expenditure would go directly towards constructing, refurbishing or renovating stadia, the supporting infrastructure - better roads, facilities such as hotels, guest houses, improved customs and immigrations procedures, and so on - would be enhanced to the overall benefit So along comes T20 cricket, sweeping away of tourism economies. opposition as it saucily takes its stance, making it clear that it is prepared to voop its way into The niche markets could include healthy, sport- Caribbean hearts. Was this going to become related packages: ultra-luxurious spas, catering cricket’s new breadwinner? for elite athletes; training camps for cricketers, footballers and other groups who might use a Its first few years saw interest growing, but stadium for their activities; seminars and it was mostly in the Indian dominated leagues. workshops… things like that. The ICC World T20, first held in 2007, really caught the West Indian eye when West Indies An increase in sporting events based on the won the title in 2012. availability of stadia in around 11 territories across the region was predicted, and so, eyes But the Trinidad and Tobago team, the Red alight at the prospect of screaming fans packing Force, had captured enough of the cricket every tier at every stadium every week, national world’s imagination with its fabulous showing leaders invested in the Cricket World Cup and at the Champions League T20 tournament sat back and waited for the screaming to begin. underdogs who became darlings under the Six years have passed. Have the investments captaincy of Daren Ganga. The team has paid off? participated in that tournament four times now, coming tantalizingly close to the title in With only ten Test teams in the world, it hardly their last showing. They have also had a tight matters how intense and tight schedules are, hold on the Caribbean T20 championships. there just has not been enough international cricket to keep a regular show going. Worse, There’s been enough success to have piqued with the West Indies team low down the all-round interest. In recent times, the West rankings, even Test cricket could not draw Indies Women’s team has been having half a crowd. Added to that, with reduced tours consistent successes, with Stafanie Taylor to the Caribbean - both in duration and the having the unprecedented role of heading number of matches - the fight for the right to both the ICC batting and bowling rankings, host an international game has become intense, Deandra Dottin having the fastest T20 century

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Then came the inaugural Caribbean Premier League, the first of its kind in this neighbourhood, and it blew the place apart. Wherever the tournament unpacked its bags - up and down the region, night after night people flocked in. The diaspora came home in droves; families came out as one; parties, photo opps, fireworks, cameras everywhere, music and dance… What put this show in the middle of the road? It was so well conceptualized that even if the premise of a league with teams that were not national didn’t sit down well early in the game, it quickly drew support as it gathered steam. It gathered steam because it was strategically marketed, with lots of funding. It may have been an overnight success but it certainly was not an overnight idea, clearly the planning had been long and detailed. Afterwards, Chief Executive Damien O’Donohoe, was quoted in the Stabroek News as saying, “We have exceeded every benchmark we set.” The paper went on to say that, “He and his associates had every right to be pleased: sell-out crowds; 37 commercial partners, including Hollywood actors, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, an apparel

Feature partner and four national tourism boards; and a global television audience to ensure that the carnival atmosphere reached beyond the region.” The signs suggest that with proper planning, there can be substantial value added to the sport tourism market through cricket, locally and regionally. The vision has to be big; the homework has to be done in terms of research and a strong team must be assembled. It is still not clear whether the latest president of the West Indies Cricket Board, Dave Cameron, has assimilated the needs. In an interview published in October 2013 by The Gleaner in Jamaica, he is quoted as saying that he has not quantified the full commercial potential of West Indies cricket, but “I have

a vision of what it could be.” “In the West Indies, we have blamed the lack of commercial success in cricket on our inconsistent on-field performance, but there’s more to success than that. The moral of the story is that vision, properly executed with consistent performances, can go a far way to creating the success we have been looking for,” he said, with the report saying improving merchandising rights and licensing efforts and playing top teams were high on his agenda.

day we are taking the necessary steps,” Cameron reportedly said. And at the beginning of November, Brian Lara was at the World Travel Market in the UK, where he and Dwight Yorke represented Trinidad and Tobago as sports ambassadors. He was very optimistic about the role T20 was playing in revitalizing cricket in the region. It wasn’t just affecting tourism, he said, “also the youngsters, there is a new interest in the game. Something that was waning in the past has been revitalized. They’re out in the streets again; they want to be like Chris Gayle, “Six months in, I am happy and proud to Darren Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Sunil Narine,” report that we are on track to achieving our names associated with modern cricket and objectives. Those objectives - to increase big money. participation in the sport, to grow revenues, and to establish cricket as an industry in the The question still remains as to how to turn region - will not happen overnight, but every these desires into a thriving tourist industry.

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Making History Together Nanan’s & the Scarlet Ibis By Nazma Muller

f there’s anyone who knows how to capitalise on Trinidad and Tobago’s ecotourism potential, it’s Winston Nanan, the owner of Nanan’s Eco-Tours. Along with his father, Simon, they have made a thriving business – and quite a name for themselves – out of the 40 square miles of swamp on Trinidad’s west coast known as the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. The name Nanan is synonymous with the sanctuary – and not only because of the huge billboard in the car park that Winston himself built.

swamp for the day. The blazing-red beauty of the birds as they glided in their thousands across the sky prompted Simon to start running tours. “It proved to be more lucrative than fishing or hunting, and so I was taken out of school to help him with what was becoming a growing business,” said Winston.

When Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962, the Scarlet Ibis was selected as Trinidad’s national bird. Although it can be found in South and Central America, it usually takes a few days of searching, and The vast, eerie cathedral of towering sighting is not guaranteed. What makes mangroves, the serene, glassy waters and Caroni Bird Sanctuary so appealing to bird hundreds of marine, reptilian, amphibian and watchers and nature enthusiasts from around avian species of the Caroni Bird Sanctuary the world is its easy access. “Trinidad put would not have protected status were it not the species on the map,” Winston claims. for Winston’s father, who died in 1968. Simon “It’s the only place in the world where you Nanan was the one who, without any degree can be sure to see them, and the only place in ornithology or biology, understood the which doesn’t require a day or more of travel intrinsic value of the scarlet ibis (Trinidad is to reach their roosting and nesting grounds. the only Caribbean island where it is found), Here, they’re half an hour from town.” and convinced hunters coming into the swamp looking for dinner that it would be more From the age of 11, Winston has been beneficial to all if the ibis was protected. It studying the Caroni Swamp. When his father was due to this effort, helped by his young took him out of school to help with the son, Winston, that a petition with 200 budding tour business, he soon realised that signatures, including influential expatriates he would have to learn a lot more than just and leading members of colonial society, how to steer the boat. “The people we took resulted in the Caroni Bird Sanctuary being out started asking things about the area, the declared a wildlife reserve in 1948. vegetation, the species of birds and wildlife which lived here,” he recalled. That intuition – or just love of nature – that Simon Nanan followed has paid off big time “I knew nothing, and I felt very foolish.” So for his family: tours of the Caroni Bird armed with books from the library, binoculars Sanctuary have provided the Nanan family and cameras, the youngster set about doing with a livelihood spanning three generations. his research, recording everything he saw: Simon used to take people into the swamp the habits and life cycles of the hundreds of on fishing and hunting expeditions. Many species in the swamp, including 186 species people started bringing their families along of birds; fish such as groupers, mullet, snook, at weekends to look at the scarlet ibis at snapper, tarpon, catfish and tilapia; crustacean sunset, as they returned to roost for the night like oysters, crabs, mytellas and barnacles, from feeding on all the delicacies of the which you can see on the roots of the

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mangrove when the tide is low. Mammals include silky anteaters, marine opossums, mongoose, caiman and crab-eating raccoons. Then, there are the snakes, like the macajuel and Cook’s Tree boa constrictor, which can be spotted snoozing peacefully on branches above your head. By 1956 Winston had started to document things seriously and scientifically. He built a library of theses about wildlife in the tropics, analysing how the work was done, and did his own research using these methods. When he was just 16, National Geographic published an article that he had written, along with photographs that he had taken. He also had his work published by the Smithsonian Institution and in the Encyclopedia of North American Birds. In time the tourism authorities began directing visitors, including travel writers and agents, to Nanan’s for tours of the Caroni Swamp. Wildlife photographers and film-makers, including the BBC, have all been taken on tours of the bird sanctuary, including the legendary David Attenborough. This pioneer of eco-tourism in T&T is now an internationally respected ornithologist and wildlife photographer, and one of the world’s leading experts on wetland habitats. As ecotourism attractions became more popular worldwide, he invested a lot in the business: he now has nine boats with a capacity for 300, and each tour is run by a trained guide and an engineer ensures that the trip goes smoothly. He also constructed restrooms for visitors in the car park, and recently introduced kayaking, for the intrepid who wish to explore the swamp on their own. The range of services in the Caroni Bird Sanctuary has evolved and expanded over the years beyond the traditional two-and-a half hour evening trip to see the scarlet ibis. In addition to tours for schools and special groups during the day, Nanan’s also accepts bespoke bookings from

Feature researchers, fishing, photographers and film- “While we encourage the schools to come makers, and brides-to-be looking for a very because it’s such a wonderful experience, special setting to say their vows. they have to apply to the Ministry of Education to take the children out of school,” Winston laments though, that following the explained Winston. “Teachers are not going worldwide economic crisis, tourist business to go through the hassle of that process, and dropped sharply. Whereas they hoped to keep parents have to be asked to sign for their child afloat from domestic trade, even this has been to go.” The company has now branched out affected, despite being priced at a mere TT of the Caroni Swamp and offers tours to the $50 per adult. For example, apart from the rest of the country – from the well-known competition from other operators, the special attractions (ASA Wright Nature Centre, the tours for schools have been affected by ‘red Nariva Swamp in the Heights of Aripo, Little tape’. Tobago, the Main Ridge, Buccoo Reef and

the Bon Accord Lagoon, Maracas, turtle watching, and the Pitch Lake) to their own tailored tours of Port of Spain and the Magnificent Seven (called city tours), and the Hanuman Murti in Carapichaima (dubbed a religious tour). Nanan’s, in true Trini style, even offers a unique performance of African and tassa drumming that can be done on board cruise ships, or in a pan yard. Their business model banks on the beauty and diversity of these islands; but the key, as the Nanans have shown, is to protect and preserve our natural wonders – and they will bring the bucks in. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Treasures of South Trinidad By Brian Ramsey

any residents of Trinidad and Tobago when asked by a visitor what attractions can they see in south Trinidad, immediately say the Pitch Lake. The sad aspect is that when the visitor asks what else can I see many residents of this twin-island Republic cannot provide an answer. Undoubtedly the Pitch Lake is a fantastic asset for Trinidad and Tobago both in terms of the direct economic benefits that are derived from the processing of the “pitch” and the economic benefits that accrue from this site as a visitor attraction. This natural upwelling of tar is the result of large quantities of asphaltic oil having seeped centuries ago into a great quantity of mud under great pressures and gases. The lighter portion of this mixture evaporated over the course of centuries, leaving a thick viscous residue; the tar. The La Brea Pitch Lake is the largest in the world, being approximately 100 acres (40 hectares) and 250 feet (75 metres) deep at the centre much larger than the two other known lakes at Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela and at the La Brea Tar Pits at Los Angeles, California. The entire region surrounding the lake derives its name, La Brea, from the lake which is a Spanish word meaning tar. Trinidadians however have always referred to tar as "pitch" and so called it the Pitch Lake. The "lake" has been mined and its fine asphalt exported since 1859.

When one stops along the Southern Main Road in La Brea and looks out onto the scene it really appears as a vast lake of black tar. At first sight it seems as though nothing can survive on the Pitch Lake surface and yet herons are everywhere, along with hummingbirds, sandpipers and kingfishers. There is a small museum at the site that houses Amerindian artifacts recovered from the lake along with the remains of prehistoric animals such as the mammoth.

The Pitch Lake is indeed a “must see” attraction for any visitor to Trinidad, but there are many other attractions both natural and man-made for both the visitor and resident in south Trinidad. In this article we will look at a few of these attractions. Trinidad is one of the countries that have a preponderance of mud volcanoes and they form another of the natural attractions of the country. The term is usually given to areas where there is an extrusion of watery mud or clay, accompanied by or sometimes forced by methane gas. Occasionally these volcanoes extrude material with violent force, throwing rocks hundreds of feet into the air. Commonly the activity of a mud volcano is simply a mild surface upwelling of muddy and usually saline water accompanied by gas bubbles. These volcanoes are sometimes known locally as "Bouffe" (French for swelling), "Morne" or "Yard." The original Amerindian inhabitants of Trinidad called these areas “Guaico”, meaning "mud-stream".

conical shaped volcanoes while among the pool type volcanoes L' Eau Michel on the outskirts of Penal and at Lagon Bouffe in the Trinity Hills are among the larger of this type. In some instances such as at Devil’s Woodyard in Hindustan and Columbia Estate in Cedros it is not a single mud volcano but more of a mud volcano field with several vents scattered across the area with the Columbia mud volcanoes covering several acres. The Wildfowl Trust, located within the PETROTRIN petrochemical complex at Pointe-a-Pierre, is a wildlife reserve, which encompasses two lakes and about 25 hectares of land. The Trust is actively involved in the research, breeding and the re-introduction of endangered wetland birds into existing natural wildlife areas in Trinidad and Tobago. The Trust has a Learning Center that houses information dealing with living organisms and their habitats, a unique mollusk collection and a small but comprehensive Amerindian Museum.

A walk along the trails is a most relaxing experience and an opportunity to closely observe wetland birds in their natural habitat. Some of the species that can be seen include; Black Bellied Whistling Duck, White-faced Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, White-Cheeked, Wild Muscovy Duck, Digity Mud Volcano in Debe Olivaceous Cormorant, Anhinga, Purple Gallinule, Black-crowned Night Herons, These mud volcanoes stretch almost in a Great Blue Heron, Tri-coloured Heron and band across south Trinidad from Manzanilla the Common Moorhen. on the east coast through Hindustan and Piparo, into Palo Seco and Erin to Cedros The St. Joseph Statue which is on the St. on the west coast. The shape of these mud Joseph Estate in Mayaro is believed to have volcanoes varies with dry mud extrusions been erected in the 1860’s by Francois forming conical volcanoes and wet mud Alphonse Ganteaume, the grandson of the resulting in depressions. The villages of original founders of the estate who had arrived Piparo and Digity contain some of the larger in Trinidad in 1793. What makes this statue

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Feature interesting and an attraction is that, according to Fr. Anthony de Verteuil in his book “Great Estates of Trinidad”, there was a large storm one year and the statue was washed out to sea. Several years later there was another storm and the statue reappeared on the beach. The Triveni Mandir is an impressive site, sitting on a hill with spires reaching for the sky and manicured lawns spread around. This large temple complex is truly beautiful with detailed workmanship. Located on Sister’s Road in the village of Hardbargain, the mandir is sometimes called the Sister’s Road Hindu Temple. The name Triveni was given to the mandir because it was the meeting place of three villages, Sister’s Road, St. Julien and Dyers Village and in India the meeting point of three sacred rivers, the Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati was called Triveni. The economic prosperity of Trinidad and Tobago has for a long time been based on the petrochemical sector and petroleum or oil has had a colorful

history in Trinidad. The history of oil exploration in Trinidad begins in 1857 with the drilling by the Merimac Company of an oil well in La Brea. That first producing well went to a depth of 280 feet. It is interesting to note that the first producing well in Trinidad was drilled two years before Drake's well in Pennsylvania in the United States of America. Today, although the majority of the petroleum and gas is found offshore, there is still oil production on land in Trinidad. Many visitors find it interesting to see where and how that precious liquid which powers most of the world comes from. As you drive through areas of south Trinidad, you can still see many of the old oil fields releasing the black gold that has driven the Trinidad economy for over 100 years. In areas such as Penal, Moruga, Palo Seco, Forest Reserve, Tabaquite, Point Fortin, Erin, Fyzabad, and Siparia, pumping jacks still work up and down and pipelines snake across the countryside.

In this article we have only touched on some of the attractions of south Trinidad as there are yet others that include beaches and other natural attractions as well as those that provide both a glimpse into Trinidad’s past. All of these treasures provide the opportunity for both the visitor and resident to spend some quality relaxation time. About the author Brian Ramsey operates the web sites, Outdoors Trinidad and Caribbean Outdoor Life plus he is also the author of the CD, Discovering the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Great Potential in the Great Race By Garth Marshall, Trinidad and Tobago Power Boats Association

ne of the Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association mandates is to continue to encourage the powers that be to look into the proposals that have been presented over time to provide a marketable solution regarding the hosting of an International event in our “twin island” state. The emphasis on the “twin island” refers to our event, “The Great Race” which has become the ‘longest continuous running offshore event in the worlds’. This year marked the 45th running of this prestigious race. The idea for this race was born 42 years ago during Easter of 1969 between Ken Gordon and Ralph Gibson while in Grenada for the Girl Pat Trophy race. This event was a yacht race where boats departed from the Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club (or as it then was the TYC - Trinidad Yacht Club) in Trinidad to the final destination the GYC (Grenada Yacht Club) in St. Georges, Grenada. During the race powerboats also traveled the course as support boats, giving rise to the thought of a powerboat race to Tobago.

As participants and organizers of powerboat races in the Caribbean, Venezuela, Guyana and the US over the years the Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association (TTPBA) has

built business and personal relationships with many of the power players who have shown interest both personally and collectively to take part in our annual major event, or even a totally separate event. Now branded the Carib Great Race, it is a result of the 13 year collaboration between the Powerboat Association and Carib Brewery, one of the country’s largest business houses. Through Carib’s marketing, there has been growth in the public recognition, with the latest being the co-branding of its premier lager a couple months prior to the Carib Great Race as well as the sale of consumables such as jerseys, hats, beach towels and other merchandise to the public. The collaboration between the business community and the Powerboat Association has been very cyclic over the years. The sport from the perspective of the business community is viewed as a nonprofit because there are very little monetary returns, if any, to be gained. However, over the years there have been many sponsors who have given of their time and monies towards ensuring this event continues to grow in both participation and excitement locally and abroad. The interaction with the government is a work in progress, although the Ministry of Sport

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

and the Tobago House of Assembly have been receptive through their initiatives with regard to partnering with the Powerboat Association. Approaches have been made to persons in the tourism sector and other associated government entities with plans for hosting international events in Trinidad and Tobago. The issues of the returns on the dollar have been very hard to overcome as well as the ability to encourage the restructuring of some the Customs Department tax and duties infrastructure. Trinidad and Tobago has the ability to host an event that would come very close to if not equal The SBI’s annual World’s Championships held in Key West Florida. Within the membership of the Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association, there are persons that are fully capable of overseeing the hosting an event of this size. From the Association’s perspective it would be prudent if the relevant authorities provide the impetus to help make this proposal viable. From a national perspective such an event once successful, will not only provide another avenue for growth in the tourism sector as well but also provide that much needed push towards world recognition of our sportsmen and women.

Feature

Tourism and ICT - the Hidden Opportunities By Atiba Phillips, Principal Consultant, INFOCOMM Technologies Ltd.

n many of the smaller tourism-focused islands of the Region, during the peak tourist season, the number of tourists on the island rivals the size of the citizen population. The total contribution of travel and tourism to the 2012 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Caribbean was 14 percent, the highest for any region in the world (WTTC 2013). Tourism's contribution to GDP in 2012 was 27.1 percent in the British Virgin Islands, 22.9 percent in Anguilla and 22 percent in the Bahamas – an indication of the important role of the sector in the Region’s economies.

When one considers that, at its essence, what the tourism industry is attempting to do is attract the spend of geographically removed persons to non-domestic locales, luring them based upon information that they receive prior to making the journey, the value of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) begins to become evident. Indeed ICTs are pervasive throughout the travel and tourism space, as all stakeholders, destinations, hotels, airlines and visitors, send their information ahead of them so as to optimize efficiency, facilitate value creation and enhance the transaction experience on all sides. The Experience Economy The experience economy is a term that is used in the IT industry to describe the premium that consumers pay for a positive or differentiated user experience. User experience is the reason why Apple Computers Inc. (with its ipad, ipod, iphone, etc.) is one of the most profitable companies in the world; as the experience of using their devices is seen to be superior to that of their competitors. The concept can be readily applied to the tourism sector. Indeed it is the experience, (and the expectation of that experience, based

on the information available) that travelers commercial offerings available, there are pay a premium for, and get excited about even other areas which though less visible, present before they arrive. great opportunity to the Caribbean to increase the value derived from the tourism sector as In this regard, ICTs are used to exchange well as to reduce the risks associated with advance information among potential market regard to ensuring on-going sustainability of actors so as to encourage eventual economic the industry. / financial exchanges. Destinations will send information on heritage sites, upcoming Tourism and the Food Value Chain festivals, events, cuisine options and fun water What linkages are there between the tourism sport activities available. Hotels will send sector and the agriculture sector on our islands information with respect to package deals and i.e. “Agri-tourism”? For e.g. a chat with the specials. Travelers will send to their airline, General Manager of Divi Southwinds Hotel preferred seating and travel dates. All of this Barbados revealed that many tourists information exchange happening prior to the anticipate in their minds the bounty of the purchase of a ticket (the financial exchange). fruit harvest of the Caribbean but are disappointed at the quality and variety of As competition among destinations increases local fruits that they are able to access when and the complexity and sophistication of the they stay at Regional hotels. industry advances, ICTs will play a more and more important role. In many cases, the Mechanisms to ensure that information on presence or absence of connectivity / ICT demand (both actual and potential) for services itself is becoming a “make or break” regional agricultural produce from the tourism decision-point in the tourist purchase decision. sector is channeled to domestic agricultural For e.g. internet access in hotels, the ease of producers for action, is critical. Customers accessing seamless cellular service, and the such as boutique hotels, hotel chains, the ability to check e-mail at an airport or coffee cruise ship industry, and restaurants present shop, are key differentiators in the minds of an enormous opportunity for Caribbean a growing number of travelers. farmers as an outlet for “export” of their produce, though sold within local shores. Now available are mobile apps which help This is a high value and sustainable demand the user identify the nearest type of restaurant market which currently is under-engaged and or site of interest, some offering directions, can be greatly facilitated by the enlightened bookings, ticketing and ratings, in an application of ICTs. interactive format conveniently pakaged on the user’s personal device. All of these ICT Mitigating against Disasters based applications support tourism activity Disasters are occurrences which have the by enhancing the tourism experience and possibility of reversing hard gained assisting to delight the customer. development advances and threaten the reputation of organizations or livelihoods of The Road Less Travelled people/nations. Natural disasters esp. in the While these are areas which are well studied Caribbean are simply a fact of life as the and in which there are vibrant business/ Region is among the world’s most vulnerable

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Feature in the world. The data also suggests that the tourists) along with guidelines for best impact of these disasters on the tourism sector response can be critical. For e.g. it is estimated that of • gather, visualise and process information approximately 420 places of accommodation to inform (tourist) development zoning, on the island of Barbados in 2007, 90% were building codes as well as planning sited on the coastline (ECLAC 2007: 29). As guidelines to enable the “build back such, the need to put in place measures to better” principle reduce the vulnerability and impact of these hazards on Tourism is most critical in this Travelers may be more confident to visit sub-region. certain destinations over others based on the destinations innate ICT capability. In the The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) untimely circumstance that their stay cofunction throughout the world relies heavily incides with a disaster event, they are much on information collection, storage, processing, more likely to survive and be in continuous visualization and dissemination in order to: communication with both family abroad as • quickly and accurately determine (e.g. well as local officials in destinations in which weather) patterns which may indicate the ICTs such as remote sensing, GIS, satellite onset of an impending disaster phone, hazard mapping, robust Broadband • disseminate early warning information to Internet and mobile phone services are in vulnerable populations (inclusive of place.

The very survival of the on-island tourist industry itself may be impacted with respect to how countries deal with the routing and presentation of information regarding not only their response, but also with regard to the measures which are taken to harden (communication) infrastructure and disseminate relevant information prior to events. When assessing and planning for tourism in the Region, is the application of ICTs (in these contexts) taken in to consideration as key factors? Cross pollination between ICT for Development experts as well as sectorbased participants is critical. This will ensure that the industry achieves a superior tourist experience and optimal domestic capture of value-added, while at the same time protecting the future of this vibrant Regional industry.

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Booming Domestic Tourism

f the 2012 Exit Survey: Domestic Visitors Report, 2012, conducted by the Division of Tourism and Transportation at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is anything to go by, Tobago owes much of its tourism revenue to domestic tourism. The survey defines a domestic visitor as a resident of Trinidad who visits Tobago for more than a day. The survey, conducted between August 6 and 12, 2012, says: during the seven-day period, 950 questionnaires were completed, which represented 3,704 visitors, or four percent of the total number of passengers who traveled to Tobago during August 2012. Approximately 80 percent of the visitors were Trinidadians. This compares to 85 percent in 2010. The survey gets more detailed as it notes that most domestic tourists - 48.9 percent, which was 4.2 percent lower than that for 2010 - were from the East/West Corridor and west Trinidad, namely Diego Martin. And the second largest group of domestic visitors was from south Trinidad, which increased from 21.5 percent in 2010 to 26.4 percent in 2012. Domestic visitors from central Trinidad also increased by 3.2 percent from 17.1 percent in 2010. Numbers always tell interesting stories. The survey tellingly indicates that by August, most domestic visitors had made up to two trips to Tobago. The popular times to visit are Christmas vacation, Easter, school vacation periods and long public holiday weekends. More than that, the number of visitors who made those trips grew by nine percent over the two survey periods (45.2 percent in 2010 compared to 54.2 percent in 2012. Based on the criteria for direct expenditure, that is, accommodation and meals and drinks, the average visitor spent $713 a day. A big attraction for domestic tourists to Tobago was its beaches, with 51.5 percent saying they liked the island’s tranquility, and 43.4 percent rating the beaches as excellent. Eco-tourism got high numbers, with 37.5 rating it as excellent. Topping the list of beaches was the THA-owned Pigeon Point Heritage Park. While the beaches were a draw for them, the

respondents, 27.6 percent, said they would Range, east of Arima. The physically fit Rooks like to see an improvement in customer is one to go into the bush or forest with a service. cutlass tucked inside a scabbard to clear a passage for hikers. Domestic tourism exists in Trinidad, too, though not in the same numbers as those that Some people don’t mind an intense hike while make the ferry or air visit to Tobago. others want something more sedate. The braver Trinidadians from far and wide visit Maracas of the two groups might not mind experiencing Bay for a refreshing salty dip, a must-have the Macqueripe Bay Zip Line that the Richard’s highly-seasoned bake-and-shark Chaguaramas Development Authority topped up with every condiment from launched in June 2013. The zip-line takes tamarind sauce to pineapple, and perhaps a about an hour to complete and is comprised local beer. Go in another direction, and you’ll of seven lines, the highest being 100 feet. find Trinidadians talking about wanting to go for a drive in the direction of Debe in As for hotels, to borrow the TDC’s former south Trinidad, where such Indian delicacies promotion tagline some choose to ‘stay to get as phulourie, saheena, kachorie, doubles and away’. It’s not unusual to hear about families aloo pies can be freshly ordered to eat there and couples going to the Hyatt Regency or take away. Trinidad hotel at Dock Road, Port-of-Spain, to enjoy a five-star weekend stay at local rates. The same can be said for the attraction of St Eighty percent of the guests at another hotel, James’ nightlife or the entertainment value The Chancellor in St Ann’s, are locals and of many a watering hole of varying standards regional visitors, mostly due to the of elegance along Ariapita Avenue in international tourism market having shrunk Woodbrook. The culture of liming on ‘D’ since the 2008 global financial crisis, said Avenue encourages patrons to visit several Lisa Shandilya, who owns The Chancellor of the bars which exist in close proximity. along with her husband Rajiv. Many of them have a wooden outdoor deck, which is a popular feature of bars nowadays. “I keep one rate of $650 per night. Locals Bar hopping or traversing many miles in (who come here) are business people from search of tasty doubles, T&T’s domestic south Trinidad or from Tobago. The business tourists have other options to spend their people may have a meeting in town. They leisure time. normally stay two nights and book for weekends. People from Tobago come during There’s the eco-tourists who might hire the the week to shop at PriceSmart and sail back likes of Nanan’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tours home,” Shandilya said. in the Caroni Swamp, where the national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, and the white egret rest Interestingly, The Chancellor has when the evening is nigh. Proprietor Winston unintentionally been catering to a new Nanan said that unfortunately, tours to the development: medical tourism. Shandilya Caroni Bird Sanctuary are not as frequent as explained, “We have southerners - people in the 1980s and 1990s, but the company from Penal, Siparia, Rousillac - mostly couples conducts guide-led tours into the swamp for and their children, who stay here when they families and schools. have to go to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital or St Clair Medical Centre for Tour operator and guide Courtney Rooks dialysis. “Sometimes people want to go to the leads groups of Trinidadians searching for a Botanic Gardens, the zoo or to a party in Portdifferent experience, a natural adventure, to of-Spain and stay here. “We rely on the local the Guanapo Gorge located in the Heights of market to keep us afloat,” said the effervescent Guanapo in the foothills of the Northern Shandilya.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Feature

The World’s Melting Pot: Can a Nation make a Tourist Attraction of Food? By Dixie-Ann Dickson everal stakeholders within the local and international tourism industry say that tourism is an experience. How do we achieve this experience? Among several factors, food has become a key component in making a tourist visit a memorable one. According to World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the cuisine of the destination is an aspect of utmost importance in the quality of the holiday experience. Culinary tourism is becoming a growing phenomenon globally.

What is culinary tourism? According to Ontario Culinary Tourism Association referenced in a 2012 research document entitled Agro and Culinary Tourism - Getting to the Next Level by Ena Harvey, Management CoordinatorCaribbean and Agro Tourism Specialist, defines it by saying that Culinary tourism includes any tourism experience in which one learns about, appreciates, and/or consumes food and drink that reflects the local, regional or national cuisine, heritage, culture, tradition or culinary techniques.

life. Any Trinbagonian can take a tourist to Arima, one of the main towns, where several people converge to for “liming”.” Close to and around the Dial vendors are seen selling doubles, bake and shark and local tasty burgers. There are local chicken and chips restaurants flavoured with the “Trini” blend of seasoning and spices that are very competitive with similar type international restaurants. Further down that stretch, corn soup and punches. made with local fruits like barbadine and soursop are available.

Driving further east to the fringes of Valencia is the finger licking bar-b-que pigtail. Leaving east and heading south side, one can enjoy at the Debe junction an array of delicacies that are a legacy of East Indian indentureship. Vendors sell from doubles and pholourie to aloo pies, which are served with condiments made from local fruits like tamarind, pommecythere and mango to make what Trini’s call “sweet sauce.” Cucumbers are grated into a “chow” and a chadon beni (culantro) mixture is also added to complement the taste of the doubles or aloo As such the document states that 60 percent pie. There are sweet treats ranging from gulab of American leisure travellers indicate that jamun, sahina and kurma to barfi. they are interested in taking a trip to engage in culinary activities. It says travel enthusiasts Heading in a Westerly direction into the main are even willing to pay big bucks for insider capital of Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, just around tips, immersive cooking classes, wine and by the Queen’s Park Savannah on the eastern agricultural experiences, as well as authentic side, you will be treated to most of the “Trini” cultural exchanges. flavours and a touch of the Caribbean dishes. Similar to the offerings in Arima, there is a UNWTO says in the tourism world there are mix of local cuisine. Additionally, boiled and influential destinations whose brand image is roasted corn, local juices like five fingers connected, with varying levels of intensity to (star apple), mango and guava and even home gastronomic values. Some of these countries made ice cream with similar fruits can be are Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, USA, South found. Other vendors seek to whet the palates Africa and Japan. Could Trinidad and Tobago of those who may be craving for the Jamaican use its unique local cuisine to brand its jerk. This has become a hot spot where friends destination or make a tourist attraction of food? and family converge in the evening to night The answer is yes! The table is set! to just sit, eat and chat with a little music in the background. As a matter of fact one just has to stroll along any major causeway in our urban and rural St James, once called the city that never sleeps areas to be exposed to a wide variety of food has a similar structure, but a longer stretch that indicates the multifaceted nature of “Trini” with bars and clubs where old and young

congregate just at the mouth of the bars, on the pavements and along the roadway socializing, eating and listening to music. The “Trini liming” culture has taken on this new look and food has played a major conduit in socializing and entertainment. As such there is a new emergence of dining and eating out, which has gone beyond just a “Trini” local cuisine, but a reflection of Trinidad and Tobago’s cosmopolitan culture. Actually, one may travel around the world simply by traversing the length of Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain for the sheer variety of food available. History bears out the many different paths that has led our forefathers to these lands and their influence is still seen everywhere from district and street names to the racial mixtures and the abundance of tasty dishes. It is this wide variety of food that throws a delicious twist to the term 'melting pot' as it pertains to T&T’s unique blend of foods. There is enough quality to satisfy the palate of the most discriminating taste buds belonging to both local and foreigner alike. The explosion of Ariapita Avenue as a focal point in the cultural landscape is nothing short of staggering. Now known simply as The Avenue', home and foreign based locals, as well as visitors alike are awestruck by the rapid development that has occurred there as the liming crowd has migrated from all over the bustling city to cram themselves into the bars, diners and dance spots that seem to litter that stretch of the city. Starting from the eastern end of the Avenue one can enjoy 'Jalapenos', which offers a savoury taste of Mexico. One door down and across the street is the eatery known as 'Relish' that serves a buffet meal, which mainly consists of local 'creole' dishes. Lower down one can find the first of many restaurants 'Grillers' that offers grilled and barbequed dishes. ‘The Cow Heel Soup Centre' and 'Sweet Lime' adds a sizeable seafood menu Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature to the creole cuisine, along with the ambience of the street side dining experience as the tables are located parallel to the curb. Walking in a westerly direction, one has the option of having Italian food by Angelo’s, creole cuisine at Melangé, Chinese at Stir Fry or just stand at the roadside to get your hands dirty with doubles or the popular Arab treat - a gyro.

the evening to 4am next morning. But can this same melting pot culture of food, which can be replicated in other countries, threaten the idea of what is unique to a country’s food tourism? Well, Greg Rawlins, IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago and Coordinator, Regional Integration, Caribbean Region, believes that once the drag at the Queens’ Park Savannah, which is more geared to local offerings, is replicated, These gyro carts are very popular and have promoted and marketed well in other parts taken over the roadside. For those who love of the country, food tourism can be sustained sushi, a variety may be enjoyed at either More in T&T. Vino or Level’s. In between these eateries or dining clubs and bars, patrons stand on the He says once the country’s local unique food pavement or lean on their cars parked at the is showcased and marketed more than the side of the road with a bottle in hand dancing, new age cosmopolitan dining out experience, chatting and liming from as early as 6pm in there are great opportunities for food tourism.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

As Ena Harvey outlined, there are spin offs to food tourism; it includes a tourist visiting farm markets and stands, tours of artisanal farms, wineries and dairies. She says when done properly, culinary tourism tells the story of the heritage, the people and the landscape of a geographic area. It reflects 'place', enriches experiences, and can be a valuable tool to boost economic, social and community development. “The Caribbean has all of the ingredients for success. We now need to package the offer; link the marketing to the products and by working toward better coordination at the regional level and designing incentives locally, each Caribbean country could offer something distinctive.”

Feature

A Balancing Act: Tourism and Climate Change By Tony Deyal

he recent global economic crisis underlined that Tourism is the most fragile and vulnerable of industries. A strike, a steep jump in the murder rate, an attack on a tourist, an airline or cruise ship pulling out of the route, increases in landing or departure taxes – any or all of these could seriously, if not irretrievably, damage the economies of countries dependent on tourism for their survival.

Unfortunately, most of the countries of the region fall into that group and over the years tourism has replaced King Sugar as the mainstay of their economies. More, agriculture has declined substantially in these countries so that in addition to the dependence on tourism there is also an almost total reliance on imports for everything from food to “native” souvenirs. This is part of a vicious cycle that is increasingly affecting tourism. Tourists have to pay more to travel to the Caribbean because of the increase in air-fares caused by the rising cost of fuel. They have to pay departure taxes in their country of origin and in the destination country. Several Caribbean countries have increased departure taxes because they are broke and need every cent they can get. Even if the taxes are added to the ticket so they are virtually invisible, the cost of the tickets have increased. In the Caribbean, tourism, like mangoes or avocadoes, has a “season” when the same room and the same amenities double in price. That price has increased because the costs of labour, food, maintenance and insurance have gone up. To all this is added a significant decline in the work ethic and an increasing hostility to tourists. We see more and more cases of tourists being attacked or murdered because crime is up. Crime is rising because more young people are on drugs and need the

money which, they believe, tourists have in abundance. Underlying the attitudinal problem is that many people in the region believe that tourists exist to keep them employed and “dey bong to come” to that particular country. Whatever the country, the government is the major employer so that the direct link between tourism and the weekly or monthly paycheck is not made or, if it is, it is still not appreciated by the population. There is also a belief, in almost every country in the region, that it is “God’s country” and despite the evidence of hurricanes, flood and earthquakes, virtual bankruptcy and falling currencies, every country believes it is impervious to harm and that God will protect it forever and ever amen.

change. Buccoo Reef in Tobago is an example of what tourism, including internal tourism, can do to what attracts it. I first visited the reef in 1963 when it was magnificent. I went out there with the man credited with discovering the reef, Mr. Cecil Anthony. Every subsequent visit to the reef since then has brought me closer and closer to tears. My last visit was thirteen years ago and I will never return. It is far too depressing. Buccoo Reef is just one example of the damage done to our natural environment by tourism. There are places on every island that were “tourist” attractions which no longer attract many visitors. Perhaps the biggest danger from tourism’s power to destroy is what it does to the culture of a country. In Trinidad, the “rum and coca cola” tourism that came from the soldiers and sailors based or passing through the country changed life here forever. It certainly changed the culture of the country. Beach gigolos in Tobago are not a new phenomenon. Generally, social scientists believe that tourism creates a “bastard” culture where the impact of the tourists and their culture changes significantly damage the culture of their hosts. Saying grandly “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” just disguises the reality of the impact of planeloads of people bringing pollution, practices and expectations that lead to environmental and cultural degradation, crime, drugs and prostitution.

Unfortunately, there are two forces or “laws” that affect tourism generally and not just in the Caribbean. The first is the law of intervening opportunities. It has a very simple premise. If between my country and yours there are other countries that offer me more value for my money or more benefits for my buck, all other things being equal I will go there. If your country is one in which I was insulted, attacked, humiliated, robbed or ripped-off, I will go to a place where the crime statistics are lower and where I feel safer and more comfortable. If you are far away in the Caribbean and I can go to Spain or the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos or the Caymans, I will go there. Climate change seems to be the last nail in the coffin of Caribbean tourism. Increasingly The second law, and the one that is really an there is no distinct “dry” or “wet” season. “iron” law that is irresistible, irreversible, What we are experiencing now are long unbreakable and unassailable, is that tourism periods of drought followed by short sharp inevitably destroys whatever attracts it. That’s showers that encourage several mosquito it. In the Caribbean we are in a situation of “seasons” so that we have year-round dengue double jeopardy because our tourism is fever. The damage to the ozone layer leads founded on an environment that is under to a brighter sun that burns through the suntan severe threat from both tourism and climate lotion and causes cancer. Sea temperatures

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Feature have increased, coral reefs are bleaching out statistically significant impact on tourism and coastlines are being eroded by higher demand in the Caribbean, a change in climatic waves. features …could lead to destination substitutes.” The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in a policy brief Yet, all these fears, threats and impending recognizes the negative and destructive effects disasters have not caused any sense of of climate change, “Changes in global climate urgency among the islands of the Caribbean. can have a significant impact on tourism and One of the reasons is that it might take almost therefore on the future sustainability and a hundred years for our actions to reduce viability of the industry. Indeed, through the greenhouse gas emissions to take effect. Liliendaal Declaration1 many Caribbean This fact alone lulls many people into a false Heads of State and Governments expressed sense of security that is compounded by the grave concern that sustainable development ongoing debate about whether climate change (particularly as expressed through the is, in fact, a reality or what we are seeing are Millennium Development Goals) could be millennial cycles that will soon pass away. threatened due to the effects of climate change It is as difficult to fight fatalism as to conquer and sea-level rise, which have led to indifference. ‘increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, damages to the biodiversity, In the meantime a vast global industry has coral bleaching, coastal erosion and changes grown up around climate change. in precipitation patterns’. The evidence for this lies in the significant, fundamental Professor William M. Gray of Colorado State changes taking place in global air and sea University in a BBC News “Viewpoint” surface temperatures and sea levels.” entitled “Get Off Warming Bandwagon” says, “Our global climate's temperature has ECLAC has also pointed out, “Apart from always fluctuated back and forth and it will temperature and precipitation and its effects continue to do so, irrespective of how much on the tourism sector, there are other climate or how little greenhouse gases we put into variables that have the potential to negatively the atmosphere. Although initially generated affect the tourism sector, in particular, by honest scientific questions of how humanincreases in the occurrence of extreme events, produced greenhouse gases might affect sea level rise, and extreme destruction of global climate, this topic has now taken on ecosystems due to ocean acidification.” a life of its own. It has been extended and In terms of intervening or competing grossly exaggerated and misused by those destinations for tourists, economist Winston wishing to make gain from the exploitation Moore points out, “Climate features have a of ignorance on this subject.

This includes the governments of developed countries, the media and scientists who are willing to bend their objectivity to obtain government grants for research on this topic.” What we are seeing in the Caribbean, even in Trinidad where tourism was never a major sector, has been the growth of experts and organisations, and the proliferation of studies and projects, all aimed at exploiting the fear of climate change. This has now replaced HIV/AIDS as the sexy launching pad for scientific studies. It is true that whether people believe in climate change or not there are phenomena associated with weather and climate that must be managed. They pose a threat not just to tourism or to our way of life but to life itself. Instead of having people flying around the globe wasting money and polluting the atmosphere with conferences we need to treat these issues as urgent and take the actions necessary to protect ourselves and our environment. It is a balancing act – to believe or not believe, to do something or do nothing because you and your government will be long gone before the effects are felt, to limit tourism or to milk it for its short-term gains. The best option for me is to manage our tourism industries better, build hotels away from the shoreline, protect our few reefs and mangroves, deal with the toxic chemicals in our water supply and stop paying consultants huge fees which could be better spent on activities instead of useless advice.

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

Exploring Medical Tourism By Natalie-Annes de Silva - Development Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries edical tourism is one of the high growth industries of the last decade. According to Tourism Research and Marketing, an international research organization, the global value of medical tourism was over US $40 billion in 2010. Suffice it to say; the medical tourism industry is changing. Several Caribbean states have begun to develop medical tourism, partly building on existing tourist-oriented economies.

In the past, medical tourism occurred when wealthy people living in countries with subpar healthcare services travelled to North American or Europe when the need for healthcare arose. Today, medical tourism has boomed in several states in Asia and in Central America. Many developing countries such as the Bahamas, Barbados and the Cayman Islands have been building up world-class healthcare facilities and exemplify different strategies for medical tourism aimed at generating foreign exchange and new employment, and reducing advertising costs through overseas referrals.

Nevertheless, they share common problems According to the draft strategy, there are numerous opportunities for growing this not limited to: unique segment of the services sector. • Inadequate healthcare systems that are Establishment of T&T as a medical tourism sometimes not as complete or up to date hub as part of a wider economic development strategy can not only attract investment into as some of the target countries • General concerns over quality of care and healthcare services and encourage retention of medical staff, it can also present a range aftercare • Marketing of the potential for adequate of long-term benefits for nationals too. and quality aftercare • Strong regional competition from Mexico, The strategy further highlights the national Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica and others, capacity for medical tourism in T&T. The where travel and care costs are lower. existence of ten private hospitals in the country (all registered by law with the Ministry of Success is possible for some, but others have Health under the Private Hospitals Act) and little hope of breaking in unless logistical the capacity of private hospitals (estimated at constraints, such as exorbitant transportation 39,000 patients per year with current utilization costs, in addition to institutional and other of 31,000 per annum) present an opportunity constraints are adequately addressed. Offering to increase the flow of patients and to earn specialties that are not readily available in additional revenue. Similarly, a look at the US, Canada or local countries is the most Dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago, a wholly likely route to success; but numbers will private sector area, reveals that there are always be small compared to elsewhere, based approximately 1,000 dental practices, many on capacity limitations, which Small Island of which undertake surgery as well as more routine treatments. States would obviously face.

The motivating factors behind this global trend in healthcare services are low costs and medical expertise. Though business principles rather than healthcare dominate development strategies, the number of island states seeking to develop medical tourism continues to grow, despite the problems, and the challenges of breaking into an overcrowded and competitive global market where price matters and experience is critical.

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has identified the health tourism sector as a niche for potential growth and is implementing strategies for promoting and developing products and services. Given its close proximity to the U.S., the potential ROI in a health tourism industry in Trinidad is high. To capitalize on this market, T&T, the most industrialized Caribbean country, is developing a plan to expand its existing market and promote medical tourism in the twin Most Caribbean islands have some potential islands. for medical tourism as a result of: Under the project “Strengthening the • Familiarity to tourists from North America Competitiveness of Services in Trinidad & and Latin America Tobago,” CTA Economic & Export Analysts • Relatively easy access by the target Ltd., an international consulting firm Americas markets specializing in the trade development, has • Heavy tourism oriented economies and prepared a Draft Strategy for Medical infrastructure Tourism. The strategy is being undertaken • Main language being English through funding by the Commonwealth • Relatively modern healthcare systems Secretariat on behalf of the Trinidad and • Diasporic tourism (locals and their Tobago Coalition of Services Industries descendants who live abroad) (TTCSI).

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

From a government perspective therefore, medical tourism presents an avenue to earn foreign exchange, increase tax revenue and to also develop local medical expertise. According to the Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago has excellent capability and a track record (higher than average success rates) in three of the main market segments for medical tourism: joint replacements, cardiac surgery and dentistry. This translates into the proposition that if managed well, these benefits can trickle down to the general population and assist in bringing the healthcare system up to international standards. Although some regional and Diaspora medical tourists come to T&T for treatment, the medical tourism sector is inadequately regulated and marketed (if marketed at all). Given the potential of the sector, and the work being done by TTCSI, the organization looks forward to Government support in addressing constraints and ultimately to a thriving medical tourism sector in the near future.

Feature

Trinidad and Tobago’s Heritage Assests Tapping into economic potential and instilling national pride By Michele D. Celestine (Attorney-at-Law), Citizens for Conservation

any do not appreciate how our unique and diverse multi ethnic history has translated into rich heritage assets that can become the resource for a thriving sector of the economy. In the absence of the normal Caribbean tourism attractions of sun, sea and sand, Trinidad and Tobago has always looked to its Carnival – the world’s largest street party - as its main tourist attraction. There has been some emphasis on eco tourism and that seems to be very successful however, judging from the neglect of our historic buildings and sites it is clear that we have overlooked the revenue stream that could flow from celebrating our historic patrimony.

There are tremendous rewards to be earned if we were to restore and maintain our historic sites and buildings and put them to adaptive re-use as museums and places of interest. Reform of the National Trust (NT) is underway in this country with the assistance of the International National Trust Organization (INTO). This reform will include a large measure of future strategic planning as well as management and administrative changes. It shall also mean the putting in place of the physical infrastructure to facilitate the following: The City tour: Every one of our cities should offer a “City tour”. These can be run by the public bus service or by private entrepreneurs. Either way, such a tour should direct the tourist’s mind to the wonderful history of each city, for instance, amidst the buildings where administration of the city took place such as the old Town Hall and the Courthouses, there are also the places of worship built by our diverse immigrant population. The old libraries, post offices and the train stations can offer more than a sense of nostalgia. All of these buildings possess a hint of classic European design tailored to suit the Caribbean climate. Within them are the numerous plaques dedicated to prominent members of each congregation and the fascinating stories of their lives the homes they resided in and the cemeteries where they are

buried and their role in other aspects of the vacancies have been filled. The Indo-Caribbean city’s development. museum in Carapachaima which has an informative and useful display for viewing, Country style community tourism: inclusive of the very rare “leepay” house in its Our villages can bring into focus a specific immediate grounds. type of tourism known as “Country style Community Tourism”. Regional expert, Mrs. Soon to be opened is the Freetown Foundation Diana McIntyre-Pike, describes it as “..both museum in Belmont with a collection of original an integrated approach and collaborative tool artifacts passed down through the generations, for the socio-economic empowerment of but originally brought to this country by the communities through the assessment, freed African slaves. There is however no development and marketing of natural and National Art Gallery, despite the abundance cultural community resources which seeks to of local art which should be on permanent add value to the experience of local and foreign display and no Carnival museum to house the visitors and simultaneously improve the quality rich legacy of genius. The Maritime and of communities”. Military museums in Chaguaramas, both highlight the important part this country played There are already certain villages that have a during World War II as a strategic American heritage value that is well known, e.g., Paramin base for the protection of the free world - a for its parang festival and its herbs; Lopinot fact which is not emphasized enough. for the historic dwelling place of the infamous Count Lopinot, which fortunately, has been Often forgotten though, is the observatory of relatively well maintained. The promotion of Spanish Admiral and astronomer Cosme this form of heritage tourism will be beneficial Churruca in Laventille, for which Observatory to our rural and remote communities since it Street was named. It was from this point the can be developed in a holistic manner to include western hemisphere was plotted into the rest the use of green energy and organic farming. of world by longitudinal and latitudinal points, Recently, a film was made featuring the slaves by this genius of a man. In Tobago, the sugar that fought alongside the British in the war of factories represent a generation of industrial Independence in the United States. In exchange revolution. There are windmills, water wheels, for their services the “Merekins” were given coppers, aqueducts, steam boilers etc., their freedom and offered land in this country representing all the transitions in use of upon which to settle. This gave rise to what equipment and energy. The island is also are known as the Company Settlements of dotted with forts representing the numerous Moruga. This fascinating history, the old times it changed hands during the colonial barrack-type houses and the stories of the wars. This makes for a fascinating experience families that lived there are an attraction for allowing one to trace the history of each the descendants of those families. Interestingly Country’s influence on the tiny sister isle. enough, many of them have since left Trinidad Our decision makers would do well to focus and made a full circle to return to reside in the on the untapped potential of a vibrant heritage USA. tourism economy in T&T and the objective of diversifying the economy. The opportunities Museums & Art Galleries: are endless. Heritage Tourism will also give Our National Museum is in a deplorable state rise to hundreds of new careers in conservation with the remaining artifacts (many have been for young and old alike. Time is against us pilfered), not properly displayed or secured. but let us not start on the left foot as we aspire An upgrade should be one of the priorities of to meet this objective by embarking on a road the reformed National Trust, once the necessary less travelled in Trinidad & Tobago. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature The building now houses several offices one of which is Rejane Ltd., Interior Design Consultants.

Adaptive Reuse of Historic Structures By Rudylynn De Four Roberts (Restoration Architect), citizens for Conservation “The adaptive reuse of a historic building should have minimal impact on the heritage significance of the building and its setting. Developers should gain an understanding of why the building has heritage status, and then pursue development that is sympathetic to the building to give it a new purpose. Adaptive reuse is self-defeating if it fails to protect the building's heritage values.

history we can feel and touch. They provide an anchor for our collective memory and give us a sense of belonging to a particular place or neighbourhood. Historic preservation therefore is not only about saving buildings. It is about saving communities.

The most successfully developed heritage adaptive reuse projects are those that respect and retain the building's heritage significance and add a contemporary layer that provides value for the future. Sometimes, adaptive reuse is the only way that the building's fabric will be properly cared for, revealed or interpreted, while making better use of the building itself. When buildings can no longer function in their original use, a new use through adaptation may be the only way to preserve their heritage significance.” (Excerpted from Adaptive Reuse: Preserving our past, building our future. 2004. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Environment and Heritage)

Lobby- Rejane Ltd., Rapsey House Internationally, old buildings are considered re-usable resources. They also add charm and Sometimes this is achieved by traditional human scale to our cities and neighborhoods. restoration of a building’s exterior, but gutting the interior to create adaptable space with a Recycling has become second nature to more modern look and the sort of amenities modern communities as we strive for tenants would expect in a new property. Of environmental sustainability. Aiming to course this depends on the historicity and reduce, reuse and recycle waste, we find new grade of protection assigned to the building life in everything from bottles and boxes to by the National Trust. Just as often the interior clothes, vehicles and buildings. Adaptive spaces are respected while upgrading reuse is a process that changes a disused or electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems ineffective item into a new item that can be for a contemporary use. We see former used for a different purpose. warehouses transformed into attractive and competitive Class A workplace environments, “Recycling” our old buildings has therefore and design solutions that have given historic become of major importance in the historic but obsolete buildings a marketable and revitalization of cities around the world. It sustainable future. is a key strategy for government agencies, institutions and communities to achieve more sustainable patterns of development. Through recycling old buildings architects have created integrated solutions that carve out exciting new spaces in unlikely building shells.

In a rapidly globalizing world, heritage has become a focal point of regional identity and has increasingly become a resource in the field of local development, job creation and promoting the image of a region, rendering it attractive to companies that are considering establishing themselves in a new place. The major actors in the field of development, particularly the World Bank, use heritage as a strategic instrument in the struggle against poverty within the framework of the United Nation’s millennium goals.

Adaptive re-use is a process that adapts buildings for new uses while retaining their historic features.

Are we using our Heritage buildings and sites in a profitable way? Preservationists recognize that our buildings often outlive their original purposes, and believe that old buildings have a far more enduring importance to society as educational examples The elegant old building on Stanmore Ave. and tools than they do as modern dwelling and in Port of Spain was once the grand home of working places. They are living history - Horatio Edwin Rapsey.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Scrip-J designed by Architect Geoffrey MacLean, is located in one of the historic Fernandes Warehouses which have all been converted to new uses and given exterior facelifts. For some, saving an old building is a response to the dehumanization caused by the monoliths, technology, and institutions that dominate our culture.

Feature

Miami Skyline

Port of Spain skyline It is the response to the interchangeable skylines franchises, and shopping malls, the commercial and monumental buildings that intrude on our landscapes…and take away our comfortable feeling of “home” and make our surroundings unidentifiable from anywhere else in the world. Contemporary architecture has become so “universal” in its style, choice of materials and the manipulation and controlling of room environments that there is often little to distinguish one culture from another in a typical modern office space.

Is it aesthetics then that drives the need for preservation? Is it the charm of a bygone era and style? Form and function do seem to complement each other in old buildings, with a depth and beauty that has been left behind by our rush into modernity. Internationally, older buildings are now often saved and reused instead of being demolished and replaced. . Adaptive re-use is a golden opportunity to Mayler House Belmont Circular Rd preserve our neighbourhoods and offer the Originally a Family home, now an elegant community something it desperately needs, conference centre a cultural connection that can help to create leaders who will promote harmony, cooperation, pride and self-worth. Historic buildings, modernized and reused can then continue to create history and be relevant to our children and grandchildren by teaching them,empowering them, by bringing their neighbourhoods back full circle, reinforcing the legacy of those who toiled and strove to create the wider family in “the good old days” when the village raised the child, and the child cherished hope and dreams of a successful future.

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Finance & Economy

Economic and Financial Statistics Trinidad and Tobago Table 1: Summary of Economic Indicators (Annual Percentage Change) Annual

INDICATOR 2010

2011

2012

2013p

DOMESTIC ECONOMY Real Sector Activity

(annual percentage changes, unless otherwise stated)

Read GDP

-0.2

-2.6

0.2

2.5

3.2

-3.9

-1.9

1.8

Non Energy

-2.6

-0.5

1.6

2.8

Headline Inflation (end-of-period)

13.4

5.3

7.2

5.3

Headline Inflation (average)

10.5

5.2

9.3

5.8

5.9

4.9

5.0

Energy

Unemployment Rate (average) Fiscal Operations2

(in Percent of GDP)

Central Government Fiscal Balance Public Sector Debt3

0.1

-0.8

-1.1

-4.6

39.2

36.5

44.5

47.6

3.9

6.8

Money and Finance (annual percentage changes) Credit to the Private Sector

0.5

External Sector

6.5 (in Per cent of GDP, unless otherwise stated)

20.2

12.3

3.8p

11.9

9,070.0

9,822.7

9,200.7

9,747.0

13.1

13.5

10.4

10.8

Current Account Balance Gross Official Reserves (US$million) Gross Official Reserves (in months of imports)

Source: Economic Bulletin July 2013, Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago P: Preliminary Estimates 1: Unemployment rate for second quarter 2012 2: On fiscal year basis (October â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September) 3: Represents balances at the end of the fiscal year and excludes OMOs, Treasury Notes and Debt Management Bills

Regional Indicators Table 2: Ease of doing business Country

Rank

St. Lucia

DB 2014 Reforms 0

Trinidad and Tobago

Antigua and Barbuda

Dominica

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Bahamas

Barbados

Jamaica

St. Kitts and Nevis

101

Grenada

107

Guyana

115

Dominican Republic

117

Suriname

161

Haiti

177

Source: Doing Business 2014 Rankings on the Ease of Doing Business

International Indicators Emerging Economics - Quarterly GDP Growth (Year-on-Year Per Cent Change) 2011 III

2012 I

III

2013 IV

China

9.1

8.9

8.1

7.6

7.4

7.9

7.7

7.5

India

6.5

6.0

5.1

5.4

5.2

4.7

4.8

n.a.

Brazil

2.1

1.4

0.8

0.5

0.9

1.4

1.9

n.a.

Sourced from Bloomberg by Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

Contact â&#x20AC;˘ Vol.13 No.4 2013

Finance & Economy

Economic Outlook Inflation Core inflation reduced from 2.9 per cent in September to 1.9 per cent in October 2013 and is expected to remain stable for the rest of the year. Food inflation rose slightly to 3.7 per cent in October 2013 from 3.0 per cent in September 2013. In the twelve months to October 2013, headline inflation decelerated to 2.7 per cent from 3.0 per cent in September and 5.1 per cent in August 2013. Monetary Policy Liquidity levels in the banking system remain high and business lending contracted for the tenth consecutive month in September 2013. The Central Bank continues to maintain the “Repo” rate at 2.75 percent. Consumer lending increased by almost 6.0 per cent in September 2013, slightly lower than the 6.3 per cent growth posted in the previous month but up from 2.3 per cent at the end of 2012.

Business lending, fell by 3.7% in September 2013 compared with a decline of 5.8 per cent in August 2013 and growth of 1.0 per cent a year earlier. A sectoral examination of commercial banks’ business loans showed contractions in lending to the finance, manufacturing and petroleum sectors. Energy Sector Performance Large scale maintenance activity in the natural gas and downstream industries in September resulted in a sharp contraction of just over 4.0 per cent (year-on-year) in energy sector activity in the third quarter of 2013. The fall-off in natural gas production impacted the entire energy sector, with the production and exploration, and refining sub-industries contracting by 5.0 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively. With the majority of the maintenance work completed production in the energy sector is expected to return to more normal levels in 2014. Source: Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

The Chamber’s “CONTACT with the Chamber” radio series The Chamber's "CONTACT with the Chamber" radio series is a five minute programme which airs every Tuesday at 7:25a.m. on the I95.5FM morning show. This programme is voiced by the CEO of the Chamber, Catherine Kumar and is one of the means by which the Chamber communicates with members and the public at large. The series focuses on business-oriented subjects, social responsibility and other issues affecting our country.

views on matters affecting our community. They are: Pereira & Co. Ltd. for October 2013, First Citizens for November 2013 and Unicomer (Courts) for December, 2013.

We also open our doors to all members interested in coming on board as short-term sponsors of “CONTACT with the Chamber”, for packages of one, two or three months. Sponsorship is at a cost of TT $900.00 per programme. Your organization will be credited on I95.5FM and recognized through The Chamber wishes to thank the most recent other communications produced by the sponsors of its programme which have made Chamber. it possible for us to continue expressing our

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

For more information on sponsorship and branding opportunities please contact: Malika Rouff, Members Communications and PR Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Columbus Circle Westmoorings P.O Box 499 Port of Spain. Tel: (868) 637-6966 Ext. 289 Fax: (868) 637-7425 Email: mrouff@chamber.org.tt Website: www.chamber.org.tt

Finance & Economy

Nine Month 2013 Review Local Market Summary For the Nine Month period ended September 30, 2013 (NM13), both the Composite and All Trinidad and Tobago Indices gained momentum while the Cross Listed Index closed the period lower. The Composite Index advanced 7.38 per cent or 78.64 points to end NM13 at 1,143.62, the All Trinidad and Tobago Index increased 12.06 per cent or 204.40 points to 1,898.67 and the Cross Listed closed the period under review at 50.87, down 9.69 per cent or 5.46 points. In the Third Quarter (Q313) alone, the Composite Index and All Trinidad and Tobago Index posted gains of 1.46 per cent and 4.00 per cent respectively and the Cross Listed Index slipped 8.87 per cent. Overall in NM13 there were 18 stocks advancing and 11 declining.

33,149,828 shares (Q313). When compared to the previous quarter (Q213), trading activity was also up a significant 37.99 per cent from 24,022,574 shares. The value of shares traded increased 43.88 per cent from $577,430,948.28 in NM12 to $830,822,776.88 in NM13. For NM13, Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) dominated the market accounting for 31.32 per cent of the total volume traded with 23,079,494 shares. Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited (JMMB) followed with 14.80 per cent of the market or 10,904,607 shares traded. The third volume leader was Sagicor Financial Corporation (SFC) with 12.61 per cent of all trades or 9,296,497 shares.

For NM13, declines were led by L.J. Williams ‘B’ Limited (LJWB), which fell 26.97 per cent or $0.24 to close at $0.65. This was followed by National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCBJ), down 21.53 per cent or $0.31 to $1.13. The third major decline was Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL), which slipped 18.86 per cent or $3.49 to On the TTD Mutual Fund Market, a notable $15.01. 19,912,802 CLICO Investment Fund (CIF) shares traded in NM13 valued at Dividend Payments $436,194,266.42. The share price closed NM13 at $21.57. In addition, 96,215 Praetorian Property Mutual Fund (PPMF) shares traded valued at $352,525.90. PPMF’s shares price declined 25.87 per cent or $1.19 over the nine month period to close at $3.41. The major advance for NM13 was First Citizens Bank Limited (FIRST), up a remarkable 59.14 per cent or $13.01 to end the period under review at $35.01. The second major advance was TCL, rising a significant 48.32 per cent or $0.72 to $2.21. Next was National Flour Mills Limited (NFM) which posted a 43.33 per cent gain or $0.26 to close NM13 at $0.86.

Market activity on the First Tier Market for NM13 amounted to 73,694,368 shares changing ownership, up a noteworthy 86.23 per cent when compared to the 39,571,657 shares traded in the corresponding period in 2012. Q313 on Q312, volumes traded more than doubled, up an outstanding 164.59 per cent from 12,528,537 shares (Q312) to

First Citizens Bank Limited Initial Public Offering (IPO) The Offer: 48,495,665 Ordinary Shares of no par value in First Citizens Bank Limited at a price of $22.00 per share. Subscription Details: The offer for sale received 12,435 applications for 151,557,147 Ordinary Shares resulting in an over subscription of 2.125 times the Ordinary Shares being offered for sale. As a result of the IPO, 251,353,562 shares in First Citizens Bank Limited (FIRST) were listed on the Stock Exchange effective

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Finance & Economy

Monday September 16, 2013 at a price of • Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited $22.00. For the period September 16, 2013 to informed the Stock Exchange that the September 30, 2013, a total of 2,383,175 7.50% and 7.25% Cumulative Redeemable FIRST shares traded valued at $84,927,069.11. Preference Share Offer was listed on the As previously indicated, the share price Jamaica Stock Exchange on September appreciated 59.14 per cent to $35.01 during 27, 2013. that period. • Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited informed the Stock Exchange that the Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2013 Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago September 2013 (CBTT) has completed its assessment of • Following its initial announcement on April their application to acquire an additional 3, 2013, GraceKennedy advised that it will fifty (50%) percent of the shares of be proceeding with the buy-back of up to Intercommercial Bank Ltd. and 2.5% of the Company’s shares in issue over Intercommercial Trust and Merchant Bank a period of up to one year following the Ltd., and has granted its approval for expiry of 21 days from the date of notice to Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited the Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago stock (JMMB) to acquire those shares and exchanges, on which the Company is listed. become the 100% shareholder. The notices were issued on September 27, • FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited 2013. The decision to proceed with the share informed the Stock Exchange that buy-back follows confirmation from the Executive Chairman, Mr. Michael Ministry of Finance of a tax waiver Mansoor, a member of the Company’s applicable to tax which would have been Senior Executive Team, will retire effective otherwise payable on the repurchase of October 31, 2013. Mr. Mansoor will remain shares by the Company. on the board as a non-executive director. The repurchase of the shares will be conducted on the open market through the July 2013 Company’s stockbrokers in Jamaica and • Sagicor Financial Corporation (“Sagicor” Trinidad & Tobago. The Company’s cash or “the Company”) announced that the flows will be the source of funds for the Company has entered into an agreement repurchase of shares. to sell Sagicor Europe Limited (“SEL”) GraceKennedy has further announced that and its subsidiaries, which include Sagicor it will not be setting a fixed price for the at Lloyd’s Limited (“SAL”), to AmTrust shares repurchase, and that the price for the Financial Services, Inc for approximately acquisition of the shares will be the market GBP56 million, which is GBP15 million price at the times of the repurchase. The above SEL’s net asset value as of Company also reserves the right to decline December 31, 2012. SAL is the managing any offer above the ceiling that the Company a g e n t a n d o w n e r o f L l o y d ’s may from time to time determine in its sole property/casualty insurance syndicate 1206 discretion. with stamp capacity of £200 million and In keeping with the requirements of the life insurance syndicate 44 with stamp Companies Act of Jamaica, within 30 days capacity of £7 million. SEL is a Cayman of the dates of the repurchase of shares, Islands domiciled holding company and GraceKennedy will advise its stockholders the sale also includes a reinsurance entity of the number of shares purchased, names and two Lloyd’s corporate members. The of stockholders from whom they were transaction is expected to close in the purchased and price paid. fourth quarter of 2013, pending regulatory • Republic Bank Limited informed the Stock and other necessary approvals. Exchange that it purchased an additional • On July 11, 2013 the Board of the Trinidad 7.98% shareholding in HFC Bank Ghana and Tobago Stock Exchange (the Limited from Union Bank of Nigeria PLC. Exchange) approved the de-listing of BCB The transaction involved 23,638,340 Holdings Limited (BCBTT) subsequent ordinary shares at a price of GHS 0.67 (USD to which the Exchange submitted an 0.31) per share and increases Republic application to the Trinidad and Tobago Bank’s shareholding in HFC Bank to 40%. Securities and Exchange Commission to Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

have BCBTT de-listed. In light of this trading in BCBTT was suspended with effect from Monday July 22, 2013. • Further to its acquisition of 32.02% of the shareholding of HFC Bank Ghana Limited, and its application to the Securities and Exchange Commission in Ghana for a waiver of the Code on Take Overs and Mergers, Republic Bank Limited was informed by letter dated 24th June, 2013, that the Commission has denied its application for a waiver. Republic Bank has been advised to comply with the mandatory takeover requirements and make an offer for 42.98% of the shareholding in HFC Bank Ghana Limited. Republic Bank is currently engaged in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Ghana and the Bank of Ghana regarding the next steps. Fixed Income Market Summary The latest data released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) revealed that Headline Inflation stood at 5.10 per cent in August 2013. This represented an increase from the prior month’s rate of 3.80 per cent and a decline from 7.90 per cent a year earlier. Food inflation was the main driver of the rise in the headline inflation rate, increasing to 7.70 per cent in August 2013 from a low of 4.80 per cent in the previous month. Core inflation, which excludes the impact of food prices, rose just above 3.00 per cent in August 2013. In September 2013, the yield on the 1-year Open Market Operations (OMOs) fell to 0.30 per cent from 0.62 per cent in August. The Central Bank has maintained the Repo Rate, the rate at which it lends to commercial banks, at 2.75 per cent. Key Rates

Jamaica Market Summary For NM13, the major benchmark, the JSE Market Index, declined 7,601.02 points or 8.25 per cent to close the nine month period at 84,500.20. Trading volumes in NM13 resulted in 964,504,767 shares crossing the floor of the

Finance & Economy

Jamaica Stock Exchange. NM13 on NM12, Energy Prices market activity declined 19.54 per cent from 1,198,668,674 shares in NM12. Comparing Q313 on Q213, the volume of shares traded increased 3.46 per cent from 305,587,720 shares in Q213 to 316,174,070 shares in Q313. The value of shares traded for NM13 amounted to J$8,743,337,880.09. The major advance for the period under review was Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCC), which rose 108.00 Global Market Indices per cent or J$1.08 to close NM13 at J$2.08. The second major advance was Ciboney Group Limited (CBNY), up 100.00 per cent or J$0.03 to J$0.06. Following was Palace Amusement Company Limited (PAL), up 58.33 per cent or J$35.00 to end the nine month period at J$95.00. For NM13, declines were led by Radio Jamaica (RJR), which fell 34.17 or J$0.68 to J$1.31. This was followed by Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited (S), down 25.25 per cent or J$5.59 to J$16.55. The third major decline was National Commercial Bank of Jamaica Limited (NCBJ), which slipped 21.40 per cent or J$5.12 to J$18.80.

Contact â&#x20AC;˘ Vol.13 No.4 2013

Energy Update

Deep Water - the Last Frontier? By David Renwick, Energy Journalist HBM (Gold)

brand new oil and gas province could be in the making in Trinidad and Tobago if the current exploration programme in deep water (1,000-3,500 metres) proves to be successful.

Deep water will then join the Southern Basin on land, the Gulf of Paria nearshore, the shallow water East Coast Marine Area (ECMA), the North East Coast Marine Area (NECMA) and the North Coast Marine Area (NCMA) as distinct contributors to the hydrocarbon industry that buttresses the Trinidad and Tobago economy. Deep water is considered a fossil fuel play in its own right because it presents challenges – and potential riches – that differentiate it from the more traditional sources of oil and gas. An increasing percentage of the world's hydrocarbons now emanate from deep water and Trinidad and Tobago is vigorously trying to join that select group. A brief effort in the late Nineties-early 2000's in the shallower part of the deep water (750-1,500 metres on what is known as the continental slope) produced only one sub-commercial find of natural gas (by Royal Dutch Shell and Agip in block 25a) but no oil. The current effort in the “real” deep water, sometimes called the “ultra deep”, will – it is hoped – produce a much better result. Certainly, there is no shortage of optimistic forecasts, if only because the deep water acreage, which sweeps from the Trinidad and Tobago-Grenada maritime boundary line north west of Tobago, right out into the Atlantic Ocean, finally terminating at a point south east of Trinidad, has been much better defined since those days.

No fewer than seven studies of the area have been undertaken since the early 2000s, during which the Cretaceous source rock has been identified. Oil and gas shown have also been noted on the sea floor. One leading geologist told CONTACT: “The one imponderable I would say – and it’s a big one – is whether that source rock was thick enough and rich enough to have generated big amounts of oil and gas.” Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs (MEEA) technocrats seem to think so. The two deep water blocks – 23a and Trinidad and Tobago Deep Atlantic Area (TTDAA) block 14 taken on by the BP Exploration Operating Co., though really under the control of BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT), could contain between 4.7 to 8.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas resources, according to Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs, Kevin Christian Ramnarine. He has given no estimates for potential crude oil resources or for the condensate that may, or may not, come with the gas.

for (TTDAA 5, by Norway's Statoil) which never progressed towards the signing of a formal production sharing contract (PSC). The six blocks mentioned above were awarded to BP and BHPBilliton following the deep water block auctions of 2010-2011 and 2012, respectively. BHPBilliton was also recently awarded in partnership with Spain's Repsol, block 23b, a holdover from the 2010-2011 round, after it agreed to improve its work programme to the satisfaction of MEEA. That makes seven deep water blocks currently under an exploration blitz in Trinidad and Tobago – an unheard of achievement and one for which minister Ramnarine deserves high praise, particularly so if any discoveries are forthcoming. What's more, another six deep water blocks are currently out for bids, up to January 31, 2014 and any of those subsequently awarded would bump up the deep water exploration initiative even further.

It would be a crying shame if this massive effort were not attended by success, considering the amount of money being The assessment of resources in the four deep lavished on it. water blocks awarded to BHPBilliton Trinidad and Tobago (BHPBilliton T&T) – TTDAA BP Exploration Operating Co. is slated to 5, TTDAA 6, TTDAA 28 and TTDAA 29 – spend US $176 in its two blocks in the is more expansive and includes possible oil obligatory first-phase exploration period and finds: 2.4 to 23.6 tcf of gas and 428-4,200 around US$224 million if it goes into the million barrels of crude. Any discovery optional phases. remotely approaching the upper limit of the latter range would, of course, be phenomenal For its part, BHPBilliton is committed to and put an end to the country's concerns about forking out US $565 million in the obligatory the level of oil production for all time. phase one and a further US $459 million So the mood on this occasion is much more should it choose to go further. positive than it was back in 1996, when four blocks were taken up on the continental shelf That's a potential grand total of US $1,424 – 25a, 25b, 26 and 27 – with indifferent results m i l l i o n , n o t i n c l u d i n g w h a t and obviously more so than in 2006 when BHPBilliton/Repsol will spend on 23b. Not eight blocks were offered and only one bid exactly small change in anyone's language,

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Energy Update so it’s encouraging to know that the prognosis infrastructure and we can run a pipeline that As for the TTDAA 30 and 31, they are far is on the positive side. distance.” away to the north-west, on the maritime boundary with Grenada and, points out the Minister Ramnarine himself observes that The opinions of the companies actually Minister, “30 km away from the highly“there is a whole new province out there spending the money are, of course, the ones prospective block 22, which is a gas-bearing waiting to be tapped, which has the potential to take most seriously but MEEA itself is block under a production sharing contract to radically reshape the economic landscape equally optimistic about the possibility of a (PSC) with Centrica Energy.” He describes of the country in the coming years.” discovery in the deep water. the geology of TTDAA 30 and 31 as Vincent Pereira, Country Manager of “generally undeformed, Plio-Pleistocene and BHPBilliton Trinidad and Tobago, insists MEEA's Permanent Secretary, Selwyn younger parallel layers in the shallower part that the Anglo/Australian multi-national has Lashley, has declared on many occasions that of the basin with minor faulting to complex been a “long standing advocate of the deep he believes Trinidad and Tobago is finally contractionally deformed strata in the deeper water in Trinidad and Tobago. We see the going to “crack the code” for the deep water part. The possible reservoir targets are basal, deep water as the next frontier for hydrocarbon and identify “resources some estimate in the near-Miocene age clastic reservoirs, with a discovery. I am convinced about that. I am order of millions of barrels of oil and combination of structural and stratigraphic very, very hopeful that there are hydrocarbons significant volumes of gas as well.” trapping mechanisms.” Water depth is over on the deep water.” He prefers not to stick BHPBilliton's approach to “cracking the code” 2,000 metres. his neck out, however, and predict whether is to attack two different geological plays at it will be oil or gas. the same time. Of the four blocks for which If this description of the geology attracts it has signed-up, TTDAA 28 and TTDAA 29 bidders, then they should welcome the fiscal Although oil is a more valuable commodity north east of Tobago are, says Perreira, “an incentives attached to deep water blocks as because of the price it attracts on an energy- Oligocene sort of play, like the rocks we an added bonus. These have progressively equivalency basis with gas, CONTACT produce from in the Greater Angostura been made more generous and currently stand suspects that BHPBilliton would not mind development in block 2c but, we hope, a little as follows: finding gas, since it has already established less complex.” Blocks TTDAA 5 and TTDAA • Cost recovery prior to profit splits under a gas income stream by virtue of its sales 6, east of Trinidad in the southern part of the PSCs – 80% contract with the National Gas Co.(NGC) for deep water acreage, is “a Miocene play, more • The profit share to the government covers gas from the Aripo discovery in its block 2c. the normal type of play you have locally.” the company's liability for supplemental It is about to develop the Angostura gas Of the six exploration wells the petroleum tax (SPT), payable only on oil discovery in the same block, so clearly it is Anglo/Australian company has agreed to drill production, petroleum profits tax (PPT) – confident that the gas market in Trinidad and across its four blocks, the majority are believed 35%, royalties, unemployment levy (5%), Tobago will provide on-going business to be in TTDAA 28, into which, as Perreira green fund levy (0.1%), oil impost and opportunities for the long-term and any gas implies, the Angostura geological horizon petroleum production levy (4%-oil only) finds in its deep water blocks could simply may trend. • Uplift of 40% on the cost of drilling each be fed into that market. exploratory well. As far as the next set of deep water blocks for Norman Christie, bpTT’s regional president, take-up are concerned – TTDAA 1, TTDAA There are certain charges the company will Trinidad and Tobago, is a little more cautious 2, TTDAA 3, TTDAA 7, TTDAA 30, TTDAA have to pay directly to the exchequer that are in his remarks but nonetheless agrees that 31 are the ones now available in the current not subsumed into the government's profit “the deep water certainly holds the promise deep water auction – Minister Ramnarine also share: withholding taxes on repatriation of of becoming a new hydrocarbon frontier for sees geology as a key factor. profit, minimum acreage payments, the country but its wildcat exploration, subject administrative charges, training contribution, to the vagaries of wildcat exploration.” “TTDAA 1, 2, 3 and 7 are characteristic of research and development contribution, BP would be “happy” with either oil or gas, reservoir sands that can sustain the higher provision of scholarships and technical support he insists, “if they were material in quantity delivery rates required for commercial deep and production bonuses. and the geoscientists think they could be water exploration,” he says. “These objectives material quantities of both. Oil would be range from Upper Miocene to Middle As an inducement for companies to sink more good, obviously, based on price but, because Miocene, with depths ranging from 3,300 to exploratory wells outside the formal bidding of our extensive infrastructure, we can 6,000 metres, in water of 1,780 to 2,000 structure for deep water, drilling in water monetise gas, which not many other metres. These blocks have potential for both depths between 400 and 1,000 metres also companies would be able to do.” BP's blocks oil and gas.” They also happen to completely qualifies for the same fiscal reliefs as are 23a and TTDAA 14 are, Mr. Christie points surround BHPBilliton's blocks TTDAA 5 and extended to exploration in waters beyond that out, “200 km to our nearest platform TTDAA 6. limit.

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Energy Update

Energy Statistics In this FOURTH quarter issue of CONTACT for 2013, we continue our evaluation of the current statistical data arising from Trinidad and Tobago’s prosperous energy sector. We place special emphasis on crude oil, and natural gas production under both time-series and cross-sectional circumstances. Table E.1 – Crude Oil Production by Companies for June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (Barrels of per day) Company BG REPSOL

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

Table E.3 – Natural Gas Utilization by Sector June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (mmscf/d) Sector Power Generation

1,348

1,329

1,358

747

973

786

11,954

11,730

11,917

10,066

10,203

12,451

Ammonia

6,821

7,431

7,221

7,819

10,501

12,009

Manufacture

22,039

22,815

22,497

20,995

21,603

22,286

Methanol

1,708

2,040

2,002

1,488

1,384

1,327

Refinery

EOG

2,501

2,310

1,064

1,994

1,876

1,617

Iron & Steel

BHP

13,058

12,453

12,385

10,137

9,887

9,888

Manufacture

380

387

389

401

385

405

13,741

13,925

13,761

13,245

13,546

13,175

479

719

BPTT TRINMAR BAYF TEPGL

PRIMERA PETROTRIN TEPL TRINITY BGCB

Manufacture

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

318

314

313

308

304

582

595

577

523

542

531

567

560

549

516

562

550

124

123

109

122

124

Cement Manufacture

Ammonia Derivatives

508

493

461

Small Consumers

1,109

1,037

1,027

1,181

1,267

1,187

Gas Processing

Liquified Natural

NHETT

117

102

NMHERL

131

122

123

114

135

123

Gas (LNG)

2,265

2,402

2,364

2,240

2,342

2,321

PETROTRIN (FO)

925

1,239

1,237

910

961

870

TOTAL

4,028

4,155

4,085

3,844

4,018

3,969

PETROTRIN (LO)

5,319

5,956

5,637

5,885

6,490

6,049

319

326

405

720

887

852

PETROTRIN (IPSC) TED

195

230

186

331

429

342

LAND SUBTOTAL

22,005

23,115

22,685

22,558

23,754

22,753

MARINE SUBTOTAL

60,133

60,831

59,092

54,054

57,336

61,424

TOTAL

82,138

83,946

81,776

76,612

81,089

84,177

MORA

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 Nos 1-2 & Vol. 50 No. 1-7

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 Vol. 50 Nos 1-7 *Figures in red are preliminary

Table E.4 - Ammonia Production for June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (Tonnes) Company

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

YARA

22,388

25,983

25,430

2,586

18,928

21,377

TRINGEN 1

34,376

32,270

33,823

23,085

17,412

27,696

TRINGEN 2

35,572

36,824

37,641

41,759

30,166

40,871

161,668

183,066

175,998

158,130

164,070

170,521

NITROGEN

49,166

55,373

43,940

50,308

50,469

55,403

CNC

47,591

43,458

53,377

42,594

52,416

51,230

NITROGEN 2000

53,803

54,021

51,934

45,109

39,779

45,764

PCS NITROGEN POINT LISAS

Table E.2 – Natural Gas Production by Company for June 2102 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (mmscf/d)

AUM-NH3 Company BPTT TRINMAR PETROTRIN EOG BG BHP REPSOL TOTAL

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

2,139

2,294

2,315

2,170

2,361

2,362

639

610

481

491

478

494

1,083

1,079

1,114

1,013

992

885

419

440

428

425

398

410

4,328

4,471

4,388

4,145

4,274

4,197

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 Vol. 50 Nos 1-7 *Figures in red are preliminary

TOTAL

6,320

2,642

1,626

12,189

787

161

410,884

433,637

423,769

375,760

374,027

413,023

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 Vol. 50 No. 1-7

Table E.5 - Ammonia Export for June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (Tonnes) Company

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

YARA

37,189

12,516

24,641

21,605

22,001

TRINGEN 1

51,313

33,212

34,602

32,591

8,001

16,600

TRINGEN 2

52,235

36,233

30,852

41,696

31,341

26,273

136,002

107,680

177,673

169,293

134,087

130,479

NITROGEN

70,424

25,275

59,587

43,017

66,036

20,506

CNC

26,062

58,698

44,375

56,018

23,358

100,315

NITROGEN 2000

68,020

61,093

46,000

36,424

25,008

55,614

441,245

334,706

417,730

379,039

309,437

371,789

PCS NITROGEN POINT LISAS

AUM-NH3 TOTAL

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 Vol. 50 No. 1-7 Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Energy Update

Energy Statistics Table E.6 - Methanol Production for June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (Tonnes) Company

June

July

August

June

July

2012

2013

Chart E.2 Natural Gas Production by Company (mmscf/d)

August 2013

TTMC I

33,092

31,715

29,130

29,673

26,800

24,290

CMC

41,827

41,560

44,038

37,878

34,256

37,862

TTMC II

42,980

45,615

47,717

32,292

35,938

28,775

MIV

45,130

44,832

41,828

40,266

43,799

41,753

TITAN

65,496

65,239

57,018

58,889

62,748

64,772

ATLAS

139,798

145,102

140,408

96,975

132,852 135,543

M5000

135,672

138,226

135,370

138,558

159,959 146,875

TOTAL

503,994

512,288

495,510

434,531

496,352

479,870

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 & Vol. 50 No. 1-7

Table E.7 - Methanol Exports for June 2012 to August 2012 and June 2013 to August 2013 (Tonnes) Company TTMC I

Chart E.3 Natural Gas Utilisation by Sector (mmscf/d)

June

July

August

June

July

August

2012

2013

30,752

38,581

25,573

38,577

10,342

154,971

164,555

280,260

203,251

160,031

196,540

12,961

26,941

13,992

28,775

TITAN

85,586

63,817

44,808

46,178

87,636

62,117

ATLAS

148,168

170,531

97,635

60,449

177,142

98,470

M5000

112,815

111,624

39,153

104,625

94,378

TOTAL

545,252

576,050

448,276

387,608

553,768

480,280

CMC TTMC II MIV

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol 49 No. 1-12 & Vol. 50 No. 1-7

Table E.8 - UREA Production and Exports for March 2012 to May 2012 and March 2013 to May 2013 (Tonnes)

Chart E.4 Ammonia Production (Tonnes)

PCS NITROGEN (Tonnes) PERIOD

Production

Exports

June 2012

59,057

61,650

July 2012

28,186

54,455

August 2012

48,709

43,705

16,158

July 2013

38,765

32,267

August 2013

38,765

44,169

June 2013

Source: Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Vol. 49 No. 1-12 & Vol. 50 No. 1-7

Chart E.1 - Crude Oil Production by Companies (barrels per day)

Chart E.5 Ammonia Export (Tonnes)

Contact â&#x20AC;˘ Vol.13 No.4 2013

Energy Update

Energy Statistics Chart E.6 Methanol Production (Tonnes)

Chart E.8 (a) Urea Production (Tonnes)

Chart E.7 Methanol Exports (Tonnes)

Chart E.8 (b) Urea Exports (Tonnes)

Corporate Social Responsibility The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee was established in November 2007 as one of the Chamber’s special focus committees providing support and assistance in areas relevant to its members. The Committee’s mission is to build a platform for learning, advocacy and technical assistance that enables every business to be an active partner in creating a socially and environmentally sustainable Trinidad and Tobago.

The Committee’s mandate is to serve the learning needs of its members, as well as to provide advocacy and technical assistance using practical, realistic and adapted approaches that enable these organisations and individuals to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness with which they undertake CSR activities. This approach encompasses working not only with members, but engaging other Chambers, civil society, public sector and international organizations.

Corporate Social Responsibility is a commitment by companies to contribute to sustainable development by working with employees, their families, other organisations, communities, government, and the society at large, to improve the quality of life and the environment in ways that are good for both business and social development.

Objectives: • Learning The CSR Committee provides members and other stakeholders with access to relevant CSR related course materials to assist in developing an understanding and appreciation of CSR, both conceptually and in practice. This enables members to better incorporate

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

CSR into their organisations and foster more responsible business practices. • Advocacy The CSR Committee provides a forum for advocacy with key stakeholders to facilitate an enabling environment that encourages private sector investment in CSR related activities. • Technical Assistance The CSR Committee is working with its members through outreach forums, workshops and individual meetings to assist in the implementation of CSR activities and initiatives that are strategic in nature, in line with their core business practices and focused towards sustainable development.

Energy Update

Drilling Deep - Rebooting T&T’s Energy Sector By Anthony E Paul

his is a pivotal time for the oil and gas industry of Trinidad and Tobago. As a nation, our energy sector is faced with several challenges, both external and internal. Yet at the same time there are enormous opportunities to extract both direct and indirect value from the sector. These are urgent times but they are also hopeful, provided that we can come together collectively with the optimum strategy, enthusiasm and most importantly, a new paradigm for unearthing the maximum benefit from oil and gas. Henceforth, this space will be used to “drill deep” into Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector. It will take a critical look at its many facets, outlining the difficult issues that are hampering the sector and providing potential solutions and alternate approaches. It will demystify this crucially important sector in order to give all stakeholders – which includes every single citizen of Trinidad and Tobago – a better understanding of how it works and how it should work. This, more than any other, is the unifying idea that guides the outlook and content of “Drilling Deep” series: This nation’s oil and gas reserves and any revenues they generate belong first and foremost to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Though stewardship of these resources may be given over by the people, ultimate ownership, oversight and responsibility resides only with them. Therefore they must not only be included in the conversation but given the relevant information and perspectives to make a substantive contribution.

Some of the overarching areas within our energy sector which require urgent evaluation are: Policy: What are the policies that determine how the sector operates? When were they created and are they still appropriate for the current local and international conditions? Are there facets of the sector that operate without a well-defined policy? Are the existing policies actually being followed? What should a 21st Century energy sector policy look like? Governance: Is the governance structure of our energy sector as effective as it could be? What kind of oversight mechanisms are in place and are they good enough? What is the framework under which our energy resources are managed? How do we ensure that we develop our human resources to create the next generation of policymakers, leaders and managers for the sector? Specific areas in need of evaluation include: Overseas investment strategy: Can Trinidad and Tobago leverage its experience, knowledge and capital into new investment opportunities in other markets, particularly emerging markets like Africa? Do we have a well-articulated investment strategy? Is our approach aggressive and agile enough to seek out new opportunities and facilitate agreements in a timely manner? Attracting new investment: Are we doing enough to attract new energy sector investment? Apart from fiscal measures, what else can we do to make Trinidad and Tobago an attractive destination for foreign investment? Licenses and taxation: As the main mechanisms through which Government manages the industry and collects revenues, are our systems of licensing and taxation working to the optimum advantage of the nation? How are license arrangements determined? Are we collecting the tax revenues we should be collecting in the proper time frame? Oil and gas exploration and production: Where can we find new oil and gas? How can we extend the life of the sector and create new economic opportunities? Can we increase profitability by making better use of our smaller and land-based fields?

Putting the sector under a microscope At this stage in our energy industry’s development it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its structure and workings. In fact, it could be argued that this kind of critical analysis should be a constant component of our national policy. Not only is our energy sector central to the economy, it must compete in an ever-evolving global marketplace. And though there are several incisive and outspoken voices that examine the sector from many different perspectives, we need to do more. We need to raise national awareness to the point that new ideas have the momentum necessary Time for a reboot Trinidad and Tobago has an outstanding legacy to make an impact on policy.

as a pioneer in the global oil and gas business. Whatever challenges we face today should in no way detract from the important accomplishments that our country has achieved during it’s over 100 year-involvement in energy. Instead, we should look at that legacy as a guide to the kind of forethought and dynamism required to engineer a successful energy industry. There have been several occasions on which our leaders – be they political or within the sector – have paused, taken a hard look at the environment and embarked upon a new path. This is what is required of us once more. In this space we will highlight many different areas of concern within the sector, but at essence these are all symptoms of a single issue. At the policy level our energy industry has stopped evolving. The technology evolves, the market grows, the capabilities of local and international players expand, the competition adapts – but our policies remain the same. Systems that do not change and grow will eventually be subject to deterioration. We are already experiencing this to a certain degree. It is time for a reboot. In 1963 our policymakers pursued a strategy crafted to use the energy industry to help build our economy and by extension, the nation. They asked the important, big picture questions – how do we get more value out of the sector? How do we get more oil out of the ground? How do we improve the investment climate? That vision drove us successfully for three decades. Now we need a new vision. Let us regroup and see how best we can take the sector forward. Many of our post-Independence senior professionals have moved on from the industry. This new era of professionals is wellpoised to develop their own innovations and build a new legacy. In addition, the unparalleled knowledge sharing tools provided by the Internet can help us to better include the general public in this crucial discussion. They are already more educated and better informed than any preceding generation. Collectively we can address these concerns and advance Trinidad and Tobago to the next phase of energy sector development. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Energy Update

The EITI Report 2011 T&T’s first EITI Report recommends improvements to Energy Sector Revenue collection By victor Hart, Chair, TTEITI Steering Committee

he Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TTEITI) Steering Committee released Trinidad and Tobago’s First Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report on Monday 30 September 2013. The EITI Report which is available for download at www.tteiti.org.tt/eiti-reports is the first independent reconciliation of the country’s energy sector revenues. It was prepared by an independent “EITI Administrator” comprised of a local – foreign accounting firm partnership BDO Trinity Limited and the Hart – Nurse Group of the UK. The Report reconciles revenues reported to have been paid to the government by the major oil and gas companies operating in the country with the revenue reported to have been received by the government. The reconciliation exercise took place between March and September 2013. Although the overall or aggregate contribution of the oil and gas sector to public revenues has long been public information, via the annual budget statement, this report shows for the first time the exact contribution of each of the country’s major oil and gas companies. Trinidad and Tobago’s first EITI Report, which covers Government’s fiscal year 2011 (October 1 2010 to September 30, 2011), found that Government reported receiving TT$ 23.182 billion (US$1 = TT$6.45) in revenue from the countries major oil and gas companies. The biggest contributor to revenue was Petroleum Profit Tax ($9.1 billion) which is levied on both oil and gas production. Supplemental Petroleum Tax, which is only levied against oil production, was the second highest ($4.2 billion). In terms of individual tax paying companies, bpTT was the single largest contributor to Government revenue in fiscal 2011 with payments totaling more than TT$9.9 billion followed by Petrotrin with

contributed revenues totaling more than TT$3.5 billion.

(MEEA) to produce the revenue information required for EITI reconciliations on a continuing basis should be examined and, where appropriate, improvements made.

Government’s reported revenue collection figure of TT$23.181 billion was TT$73 million less than the TT$23.254 billion reported as paid by the 17 reporting oil and gas companies. 4. As this was the first Report, there was This difference represents 0.3% of the some uncertainty on the part of companies reported payments. In reporting Government agencies and companies over this outcome of the reconciliation exercise, the type of information to be provided the independent EITI Administrator advised under certain of the headings on the data that the differences found “...relate to (i) collection templates, or misunderstanding differences arising from the use of different of what was to be reported. exchange rates by the Government and companies in converting foreign currency 5. In some cases there was inadequate care payments and (ii) a timing difference on the over the completion of the data templates. receipting of a payment made by a company to the Government before the end of the fiscal 6. The timeliness of response to reconciliation year which was receipted by the Government queries was in very many cases slow, with after the fiscal year. Payments made in foreign many entities not providing information currency were reconciled in the currency of until shortly before or even after the first payment”. The Administrator reported that review of the reconciliation by the TTEITI “no unadjusted differences” were found during Steering Committee. the reconciliation exercise. Key recommendations in the report focused In addition to the financial reporting, the other on three central themes: (a) the conduct and key findings of the report include: scope of future reports, (b) the oversight of the TTEITI Steering Committee over the EITI 1. The timing of production of information process and (c) the extent of the EITI’s reach by the Board of Inland Revenue caused in Trinidad and Tobago. considerable delay in the progress of the reconciliation and complicated the selection With respect to the conduct and scope of of companies for inclusion in the future reports, the Administrator reconciliation. This was the result of the recommended that the TTEITI Steering need to first remove administrative Committee considers the following: constraints under the Income Tax Act before the information could be released 1. All qualified companies should report by the BIR. fully. The first EITI Report involved only a sample pool of the largest tax paying 2. Progress on the reconciliation was delayed companies that agreed to participate in the pending signature of the stakeholders’ EITI process. Memorandum Of Understanding on 7th June 2013. 2. Expansion of the tracking of revenue streams to include withholding tax on loan 3. The information systems used by the interest, insurance premium tax, fees for Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs assignment of Production Sharing

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Energy Update Contracts (PSC’s), offshore companies, PSC holding fee and payments into environmental escrow accounts.

and the Economy to ensure that the Auditor 5. Ensures that the Ministry of Energy and General carries out appropriate audit work Energy Affairs publishes a list of extractive on their revenue accounts. industries license/contract holders on the MEEA website and that the list be 3. Small companies be required to provide 2. Introduces appropriate computerized regularly updated. evidence that their local accounts covering systems to record and control information the period of the reconciliation are audited relating to the production and finances In presenting Minister of Energy and Energy and that the larger multinational firms be from the oil and gas sectors. Affairs, Sen. Kevin C. Ramnarine, with a asked to provide a confirmation letter from copy of the report, I noted thatå “The Trinidad the companies’ external auditor that that 3. Ensures that the obligations to make the and Tobago extractive industries sector and the information they have submitted is payments under a PSC, as it relates to the amount of revenues it generates have long comprehensive and consistent with their training support, are in honoured and been sources of contention, simply because audited financial statements. payments made directly to the Ministry of detailed information was not available to the Energy and Energy Affairs. general public. The Administrator also recommended that the Government: 4. Ensures that the Petroleum Pricing With the release of this report, the public will Committee meets regularly to set the Crude finally know how much each resource 1. Review the audit practices applied to the Oil Transfer Price for oil transferred company paid to each government agency. accounts of the Ministry of Energy and between the upstream and refining This is a huge step forward in Government’s Energy Affairs and the Ministry of Finance divisions of Petrotrin. accountability to the citizenry.”

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Stakeholder input for Strategic Planning

“

ATT has regulated an industry in which most of its markets are burgeoning. We have come a long way from when the State was the primary provider of telecommunications and broadcasting services”. This was stated by Dr. Ronald Ramkissoon, at the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s (TATT’s) 14th ICT Open Forum titled “Telecommunications and Broadcasting: taking us to the future”.

the telecommunications as well as broadcasting sectors over the next three years, TATT needs to know the experiences of consumers of telecommunications and broadcasting services that would guide the development of its 2013/2016 strategic plan including determining deliverables for that period.

The 14th instalment of TATT’s ICT Open Forum was therefore aimed at eliciting views of the average individual consumer of telecommunication and Noting growth in the sector as documented in TATT’s broadcasting services along with some Non“Review of the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Governmental Organizations and corporate bodies Sectors for the period January to December 2012, to guide the development of the strategic plan. Dr. Ramkissoon, who is a Board Member of TATT, told the audience that the local Telecommunication Since its inception TATT has developed two threeand Broadcasting industry continues to thrive with year strategic plans spanning the period 2007 to total revenues, estimated at TT $5.3 billion in 2012. 2013. These plans have encompassed inputs from stakeholders which have been valuable in guiding He said the telecommunications sector, which yielded the development of the local telecommunications TT $4.1 Billion in revenue last year, continues to be and broadcasting industry. On this occasion in the primary contributor of total revenues with the addition to soliciting views of corporate stakeholders mobile market accounting for over 50 percent of TATT sought to also hear from individual and these revenues. Revenues for the broadcasting sector corporate consumers. stood at TT $903.7 million. Based on comments emanating from the In his opening remarks Dr. Ramkissoon also told the consultation process, emphasis will be placed on audience that in order to continue to expertly guide the following pillars of focus upon which TATT will

continue the process towards developing Trinidad and Tobago’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors during the period 2013 to 2016. These pillars are: Sector Transformation - Strengthening TATT’s leadership position in emerging areas of sector development while creating and maintaining an enabling framework that promotes competition, affirms our regulatory presence and stimulates a robust investment climate in Trinidad and Tobago. Advocacy - Protecting, empowering and engaging TATT’s stakeholders through increased social inclusion, enhanced service proposition and the strengthening of strategic partnerships. Institutional Strengthening - Strengthening TATT’s institutional capacity through the fostering of an organizational environment that is governed by accountability, financial prudence, operational efficiency and knowledge driven behaviour that embraces innovation and cultivates stakeholder confidence in our operations TATT’s ICT Open Fora are hosted several times per year, and are aimed at educating and informing stakeholders about various contemporary ICT issues in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, both in Trinidad and Tobago and beyond.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN

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The Provider of Choice for Professional Mediation & Arbitration Services: Corporate, Commercial, Construction, Engineering, Medical Negligence, Personal Injury, Intellectual Property, Human& Industrial Relations, Insurance, Debt Recovery, Sport, Land, Estate & Family Business Disputes

For more information contact: THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRE, Ground Floor, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Building, Columbus Circle, Westmoorings. Tel: (868) 632 4051 or 637 6966 Fax: (868) 632 4046 or 637 7425 E-mail: drc@chamber.org.tt

Amalgamated Security Services

Controlling the Four Es of Efficient Fleet Management: A Guide to Selecting a FirstRate Fleet Management System By Kerry-Ann Thompson Head of Geographic Information Systems Department, Amalgamated Security Services Limited

here are four Es that fleet managers should aim to achieve in their operations: economic viability, efficiency, emission reduction and employee safety and these should be foremost when selecting a fleet management system. Pre-requisites for a sustainable fleet management system are that it be easily accessible, GPS enabled, web-based, userfriendly, extensible and customizable, and most importantly based on accurate and up-to-date spatial data. However, the pre-requisites will not mean much if they do not enhance performance in the substantive domain of fleet management. This article can be considered a guide on features that every fleet management system should have and aspects of the best systems that fleet managers should look out for. Efficiency Features Routing and dispatching. A suitable fleet management system allows for the creation and monitoring of route-based rules including stop locations, time intervals between stops and expected idle times at each stop. Furthermore, a fleet management system should provide the ability to dispatch a vehicle that is closest to a particular location. What to pay attention to. It is important to receive real-time alerts whenever a vehicle goes off route, idles for too long, stops at an unauthorized location, or arrives at a customer late. You should look for a fleet management system that maintains accurate and detailed mapping data as a fleet management system with inaccurate spatial data can put your vehicle off-route—literally.

Vehicle service scheduling. Company vehicles are generally driven for greater distances and for longer hours than the typical vehicle on an average working day, which contributes to quicker wear and tear to the vehicle. Fleet managers need a system that will enable them to create and monitor service schedules, so that vehicles get serviced in a timely manner. What to pay attention to. A fleet management system should offer the ability to create not only time-based, but also distance-based service schedules, which is suitable for vehicles that cover large distances per day. Service schedule parameters should be customizable for each vehicle. Report generation. A fleet management system records a wide range of vehicular data. The challenge

is producing meaningful information from the data that can aid in decision making. A fleet management system that provides several useful reports as a part of its standard offerings will help to streamline vehicle monitoring, and help to focus on specific concerns. Standard reports should include: speed report, journey report, service schedule report, mileage report, and unauthorized driving-location report, to name a few. What to pay attention to. Look for the following features: the ability to produce a variety of reports on the fly; the ability to produce reports in printable formats, such as PDF; the ability to sort or categorize data according to time and date, vehicle number or speed; the ability to request customizable reports, if necessary, to ensure that the system stays meaningful. Emission Reduction Features Vehicle navigation. Accurate vehicle navigation is essential for helping vehicles find the best— and usually the quickest—route to a location from another location. A vehicle navigation feature will aid in reduced fuel consumption through decreased drive times, which is good for the environment and for managing costs. What to pay attention to. An appropriate system should enable you to find directions between locations, taking consideration of elements like one-way roads and turn restrictions. Mapping data must be continuously updated to prevent traffic violations. Employee Safety Features Speed monitoring. Regardless of the cause and source, fleet managers—along with health and safety personnel—have an imperative to reduce the likelihood of vehicular accidents by monitoring employees’ driving behavior. Any good fleet management system should enable users to monitor speeding and other signs of accident-causing behavior. What to pay attention to. Look for a system that can maintain real-time tracking of high-speed vehicles. The ability to generate speed reports after the fact will enable the fleet manager to analyze trends and justify disciplinary action, if necessary. Despite best efforts, accidents may occur, and a system that can allow fleet managers to accurately locate the scene of the accident is imperative. Again, the accuracy and recency of spatial data is critical when giving address information to first-responders and when providing directions. Optimally, look for a provider that also offers emergency response or

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

roadside-assistance as a part of their package. Monitoring unauthorized driver location (geofences). The geofence feature of a fleet management system can serve as a useful complement to the routing feature. While the routing feature is designed to ensure that drivers adhere to prescribed roads and stop locations, the geofence feature ensures that a vehicle stays within –or outside of—a designated area(s) at all times. This can be useful for several reasons, a very relevant one being safety. Some potential routes may be attractive to drivers because they may offer shortcuts or a means out of rush-hour traffic, however the areas that these routes traverse may make the driver more susceptible to robbery or kidnapping. What to pay attention to. The fleet management system should allow the user to create geofences of any shape or size. All the expected outcomes of the previously discussed features aid in ensuring economic viability. The fourth E therefore is in fact the overarching E, as it drives and is driven by efficient fleet management imperatives. Conclusion A truly superior fleet management system works toward the big E: economic viability. And it does so because it is supported by accurate data, is userfriendly and has customizable features. Many existing fleet management systems rely on commercial mapping applications, such as Google Maps, which are far from error-free, and can lead to poor navigation and asset location outcomes. When seeking a fleet management system, ensure that the provider is responsible for making their own map updates, and that they do so in an accurate and timely manner. Finally and for efficiency, check if your fleet management system provider could also assist you in monitoring assets other than vehicles, as well as employees and their personal devices. About the Author Kerry-Ann Thompson is the Head of the Geographic Information Systems Department at Amalgamated Security Services Limited. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and is presently pursuing a PH.D. in Geomatics Engineering and Land Management plus has several years of experience in the area of fleet management and GPS-enabled vehicle tracking systems. You may contact her at kthompson@assl.com

UWI

Room at the Inn

f you’ve driven alongside The UWI recently, on its eastern perimeter, just past Carmody Road and the Catholic Chaplaincy, you might have noticed that the Senior Common Room, known fondly as the SCR for donkey’s years, has been dismantled. What you might not have observed is the building to its north, innocuously tucked away amidst the greenery. This is the University Inn, one of the more recent additions to the St. Augustine campus, as part of the thrust towards creating more of a University town in those environs. The Inn is meant to be a boutique bed and breakfast, offering top quality accommodation primarily to the visiting academics and other guests of the University, but open, of course, to the public. It has been taking in guests for just a couple of months, and its General Manager, Lisa Blake-Williams, says the formal opening should be soon. She explained that while the main building is complete and fully appointed, with 16 staff members, there are plans to expand with an entirely new block, designed to also accommodate long-stay guests. Most of that new block is finished and furnishings are being installed, she said.

reflection. It must also be a place of learning, she said, as she pointed out that students in various hotel management, tourism and other service programmes can come there to do internships. Students from UWI’s BSc in International Tourism Management can do two-month internships at the Inn before beginning their third year. The programme, offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences, is a mixture of courses in financial management, tourism planning and development, integrated service management, event management, and so on. It also requires a two-month internship at a local hotel, and a fourmonth international one. Ms. Williams, who is herself a graduate of UWI’s BSc in Tourism Management programme, provided a tour of the facilities, first of the central building, which was once the home of the Harnanan family. The structure remained essentially intact, she said, and one is struck by the graceful and comfortable design of the house, which blends so harmoniously with the exterior garden.

accommodate guests with disabilities, and who might need a wheel chair, for instance – the two peepholes on the door, one at seated eye level; the bathroom with a special drainage feature so that a chair can roll right in; the special built-in controls on the bed head to allow for easy access to fixtures – despite her serene demeanour, her pride was obvious. On the other side, her colleague was all exuberance and confidence. I love my name, he said, so I’m telling you all of it: Colin Christian Dickson, and he launched into an account of his eventful life, littered with happenstance, that led him to this quiet neck of the woods. One of his recent stints has been for four years at Disney (where he became one of their certified trainers) and his creed is theirs – excellence in service delivery. To watch him move around guests, anticipating their needs and filling them quickly and confidently is to watch a man who revels in what he does. With the sophisticated polish of GM Lisa Blake-Williams, the calm efficiency of Williams and the energetic solicitude of Dickson, there is obviously a great team waiting to give guests a true, boutique experience.

There is an air of tranquillity that seems to invite pause and reflection – a place that suggests that The SCR too will form part of this expansion project; you stop and smell the roses (while you write an What you get one that Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, academic paper!) with a steaming cup of aromatic There are Standard Queens, PVC Junior Suites and even a Vice Chancellor Suite, with all room rates Professor Clement Sankat, says has been very dear coffee nearby. quoted in US currency and under $150. The rates to his heart. He said he had long wanted to see the SCR transformed and be updated and the Inn itself The reception area opens to the small dining area, include, newspapers, coffee and tea, and a full buffet was not only a welcome addition to the campus which overlooks a patio and garden. It also leads to breakfast and are paid on arrival. There is a small facilities, but it filled a long-standing need for proper the rooms on the lower floor, while a wooden kitchen on the premises, and as the place expands, accommodation within close proximity for guests of staircase climbs to the tastefully appointed rooms there are plans to include a casual dining menu. the university. above. There is a distinctly Caribbean feel to the décor: warm, earthy tones and much of what looks They also provide printing, copying and fax services, Although run by a company specially set up by The like indigenous material form the furnishings. airport transfers, laundry and taxi service, and are UWI to look after its affairs, the University Inn has The rooms each carry a different colour theme, and willing to help arrange sightseeing tours. been branded as a place affiliated to the campus it much care has been given to the details that travellers The rooms are air-conditioned and contain mini overlooks. Assistant Manager, Philena Williams, will tell you are what can make even a simply fridges and safes. They also have HD flat screen, says that its culture should offer respite, comfort furnished space feel like home. Williams was so wall mounted televisions with cable, and internet and an environment conducive to research and pleased to show off the room specially designed to access.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN

An Approved Mediation Agency registered with the Mediation Board of Trinidad & Tobago The Centre’s Mediation Programme is Accredited by the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago

The Centre provides public and customized in-house training in ADR & related fields, such as Mediation, Negotiation, Arbitration, Conflict Resolution, Stress & Anger Management, Self Management for the Busy Executive, Dealing with Difficult People, Critical Thinking For more information contact: THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRE, Ground Floor, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Building, Columbus Circle, Westmoorings. Tel: (868) 632 4051 or 637 6966 Fax: (868) 632 4046 or 637 7425 E-mail: drc@chamber.org.tt

ACCA

Accountant and Corporate Governance By Brenda Lee Tang, FCCA Head of ACCA Caribbean

hen companies take steps to improve their standards of corporate governance their actions are usually seen as being prompted by a desire to provide assurance to shareholders and regulators that the companies concerned are arranging their affairs in a suitably responsible and transparent manner which promotes trust and confidence. In ensuring, for example, that decision-making at the top of the company is not dominated by one strong-minded individual, that the board comprises a good balance of skills and experience that is relevant to the company’s business, and that the company’s external reporting processes can be relied upon to provide credible and transparent information, a company will be acting to persuade outside parties that the company is being run in the right way and is capable of achieving its objectives, and is thus worthy of continuing support. Being able to communicate messages of this kind to major stakeholders is certainly a core rationale of corporate governance: good governance is ultimately about serving the interests of a company’s stakeholders, especially its owners. It should however also be viewed as an essential tool to enhance the quality of a company’s internal management, and as such is a concept that is highly relevant to all accountants working within companies, whether in a financial accounting capacity preparing historic financial information or in other capacities which are more actively concerned with managing the operational side of the business. A key area of any governance plan is risk management: while an entrepreneurial business in a free market economy is entitled to take risks – in fact its investors will expect it to – it should nevertheless manage its risks in a controlled and responsible way which avoids reckless and uninformed actions. In the course of managing its approach to risk it is vital, first and foremost, for any company to determine who, within the company, determines its risk appetite, that is to say what sort of risks it is willing to take in order to achieve its business objectives, and how much risk it is willing to take. There are no simple answers to these questions since they will always be influenced by the sort of environment in which the company operates and the sort of financial

resources available to it. But what is crucial is that there is an acknowledged source of authority for making that important decision – in practice, the decision will invariably be taken the company’s main board. Thereafter, good governance usually insists on there being suitable arrangements for reviewing the effectiveness of the way that the company manages risk on a day-to-day basis. There should also be procedures in place for ensuring that the official who has operational responsibility for the company’s risk management practices is able to report any concerns he may have directly to the board: while he will be expected to implement the policies agreed at board level, he may have information relevant to the company’s risk management position which needs to be shared at the highest level within the company, or he may feel that he is being pressurised by his manager to follow practices which have not been authorised by the board and which may undermine the agreed board policy. This is accordingly an area of governance which impacts directly on the work of accountants. They take their lead from the board on what the parameters of the company’s attitude to risk is and then take that agreed corporate policy into account in the way that they assess business opportunities and produce plans and budgets. Management accountants will also be conscious that ultimate responsibility for risk is likely to lie with the board and that operational practices will be kept under regular review.

emphasis often placed on the importance of the board receiving accurate and expert input from within the organisation. The OECD principles on corporate governance state that ‘in order to fulfil their responsibilities, the board should be provided with access to accurate, relevant and timely information.’ The point here is that, although the board may have the constitutional power to make the important decisions about the company’s future, the quality of those decisions will invariably be dependent on the quality of the information on which they are based. And given that many if not most of the important decisions that are made about the company’s business will incorporate financial assumptions and calculations, the role of the accounting function in feeding into the board-level decision-making process is crucial. Those same OECD principles hold that the board’s functions should normally include reviewing and guiding annual budgets and business plans, overseeing major capital expenditures, acquisitions and disposals, and ensuring that appropriate systems of control are in place, particularly financial and operational controls and those relating to compliance with the law and relevant standards. In all these specific matters, while authority will rest with the board, it will not be in a position to exercise that authority in the right way without being able to count on good and reliable information being provided to it by management, and that includes accountants working within management.

All those who work within a business, whatever their position, need to be aware of how decision-making occurs within that business, who wields the power and in whose interests the business is being run. Accountants are no different from any other employees in those respects. But internal accountants, because of their specialist skills and professional training, occupy a crucial position in the governance process and they should be aware of quite what potential they have for adding value to their employer’s activities. If corporate governance is essentially about encouraging shareholders and regulators to have trust that the people running the company can be relied upon to comply with its obligations, and to have confidence in those persons’ ability to achieve the company’s objectives, then accountants’ combination of professionalism and technical competence has much to offer to any Another, more general aspect of good governance company aiming to enhance its standards of guidance which affects corporate accountants is the governance. An area of increasing importance in corporate governance is the audit committee. The audit committee is a group of usually non-executive directors who have a special function to monitor the company’s financial reporting and auditing processes and to ensure their integrity. As such the committee is expected to take a special interest in the company’s internal financial controls, including its risk management systems, and can be expected to be given the power to demand access to information and demand changes to current practices where it feels that is necessary. Accountants working within companies thus need to be aware that oversight over financial and other controls is likely to be coming, increasingly, not only from line management but from the audit committee as well.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

TDC

Ten tips for planning your international meeting in Trinidad and Tobago rguably one of the most business friendly destinations in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is the perfect location for international meetings. The destination’s expanding portfolio of hotels and meeting facilities are amply complimented by an attractive capital city with historic buildings, a modern waterfront and a diverse leisure product, including health spas, golfing, bird watching, spectacular reefs, glorious rainforests, majestic mangroves, friendly people and enough festivals and excitement to make any visit unforgettable. Perfectly complementing this buzzing destination is the Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau, which provides international meeting planners with all the expertise and local knowledge required for the execution of successful events.

A one-stop-shop for meeting planners, the Convention Bureau provides unbiased and professional advice and support, along with providing customised solutions that meet the specific needs of an event or group. Below is a list of 10 Destination Tips for Meeting Planners from the Convention Bureau 1. Be Informed Contact the Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau to start familiarising yourself with Trinidad and Tobago as a meeting and event location. The Convention Bureau can provide comprehensive information about Trinidad and Tobago, including flights, venues, transportation and tour options.

via telephone is often a more effective way to get the ball rolling. The dedicated people at the Convention Bureau are ready to chat with you and are always responsive to enquires. We can also provide contacts, introductions and comprehensive destination information, in addition to providing support with conference marketing and promotion. 5. Set the Mood Destination collateral and images can go a long way in getting delegates excited about your meeting, conference or event. The Convention Bureau can provide a wide range of images, video clips, articles and other marketing materials for your conference website, publications and brochures. We also provide welcome kits for delegates.

Tobago to ensure a smooth entry process. We can also arrange meetings with the Customs and Excise Division to explore duty, customs and excise charges (where applicable) or put meeting planners in touch with experienced customs brokers to provide assistance and advice. 8. Quality Service and International Experience The Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau is a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Meeting Planners International (MPI) and the International Society of Special Events (ISES).

9. Get Ready for a Great Time Pre and post event, Trinidad and Tobago has amazing entertainment, festivals and attractions, from thrilling eco-experiences to sumptuous exotic 6. Think about Accommodation After you have determined the type of culinary fare and the Caribbean’s biggest Carnival. accommodation which best suits your meeting or The Convention Bureau can help meeting planners event, the Convention Bureau can assist in sourcing and groups enjoy the destination’s best experiences. a wide range of options. We can also facilitate the RFP process and act as a liaison between meeting 10. Relax in Idyllic Tobago With Tobago just a 20 minute flight or two and a planners and hotels. half hour ferry trip away, the Convention Bureau can help you plan your amazing Tobago getaway. 7. Get the Paperwork Done Remember to consider visa and passport Whether pristine beaches, fabulous dive adventures requirements for all attendees. The Convention or world-class golfing is your fancy, the Convention Bureau can help by providing information on Bureau can facilitate a Tobago retreat that will be passport and visa requirements for Trinidad and truly unforgettable.

2. Know the Culture Knowing the cultural norms and etiquette, or having a local facilitator, can make transacting business easier. The Convention Bureau can facilitate negotiations between meeting planners and local hotels, transportation, tour operators and other service providers. 3. Get an Insider ‘s View To get a feel for the available venues and experience the tour offerings as well as sites and attractions, it is advisable to plan a site visit. The Convention Bureau can coordinate and arrange site visits for meeting planners. We can also arrange tailor-made tours by working closely with the Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association and assist in sourcing local speakers and other resources. 4. Get Connected For more information, please contact us at: conventionbureau@tdc.co.tt or 1-868-675-7034 or visit our While emails are quick, interpersonal communication website: www.gotrinidadandtobago.com/trinidad/meetings

Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Feature

An interview with the IDB’s Michelle Cross Fenty, Esq. By Vernon Khelawan

estled cosily in a modern and imposing building at the corner of St Clair Avenue and Alexandra Street, St Clair, are the wellappointed offices of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). Occupying the executive office in that building is the petite and personable Country Representative Michelle Cross Fenty who heads up the operation.

To the man in the street, the IDB is probably best known for its ability to lend money to developing countries, in other words an international lending institution, mainly to assist in sustainable developmental projects. Since Trinidad and Tobago is a developing country interaction and dialogue among her staff and representatives of Trinidad and Tobago determine how the country’s priorities coincide with the Bank’s strategies. In a major re-engagement with Trinidad and Tobago, the IDB has articulated a country strategy that would see some US $1.5 billion being approved and disbursed over the period 2011 and 2015 for developmental projects in this country, with the average annual disbursement of US $210 million. However, it might not be as easy as it seems. It is not just a matter of deciding how much money is needed for any particular project. It is much more than that. For instance, Ms Fenty, speaking to CONTACT, explained that the IDB “…is a development partner of Trinidad and Tobago and has been for the last 40 years. “We offer a broad range of products,” she continued, “which includes grants, sovereign loans, as well as conduct research and on the private side we provide lending to banks for on-lending and we can also provide loans to private companies. Further, we can leverage our team of technical experts, who are located all over the world. “So that basically,” pointed out Ms Fenty, “the goal of the IDB is to develop, design and

finance projects that will help to accelerate yielded great results in Trinidad and Tobago, sustainable development and there is a strong said the CSP comprised three components – commitment to transparency, integrity and accountability and we expect our intervention 1. Establishment of a Community Action to have measurable results.” Office in high crime areas, because she explained it was necessary to develop a She said that Trinidad and Tobago was a good rapport with the community through developing country, “…pretty much a middle dialogue. She said Cabinet had already income country, along with Barbados and the approved the extension of the CSP to eight Bahamas, however, the need for sustainable (8) additional hot spots in East Port of development projects was still present.” Spain. Ms Fenty said that while Gross Domestic 2. Institutional strengthening of the police Product (GDP) levels were good there was service and national security generally; still much social need, need for strengthening and of institutional capacity and she insisted there 3. Corruption. was a lot of work to be done to improve the business climate in the country. She noted that in the latest Global Competitiveness Index ratings Trinidad and She explained that the IDB had a mechanism Tobago had dropped several points and she it used to arrive at the articulation of any listed possible areas of concern as “high crime, eventual country strategy and this included government’s bureaucratic inefficiency and an overview of the country’s current economic corruption,” although she insisted that while situation, which takes into consideration the corruption was not unique to Trinidad and analytical work that has been carried out by Tobago it was rather a question of the degree the Bank and other parties on a wide range of the corruption. of economic and social sectors such as education, health, government modernisation, Fenty said, “Corruption prevents sustainable transportation, trade, the environment and development and serious efforts must be made rural and urban development, public sector to create policies to better the situation.” management and development of the private To assist in this area, Ms Fenty disclosed that sector, citizen housing and citizen security. the IDB had already provided a grant to assist the government with its new procurement In the particular case of the Country Strategy legislation and “I understand that Cabinet is for Trinidad and Tobago, which covers the expected to review the legislation and the period 2011-2015, proposes a significant Bank hopes that the legislation would contain increase in lending which reflects the mutual several provisions consistent with international agreement to a more vibrant and close best practice.” engagement. The priority areas include-: (1) financial sector regulation and supervision; This should include-: (1) competitive tender (2) public sector management; (3) education; for all procurement; (2) oversight body to (4) social protection; (5) climate change; (6) monitor and review; (3) application of the energy; (7) water and sanitation and (8) procurement rules to all government entities, transport. Tobago’s development challenges including State-run enterprises and (4) would be addressed in a cross cutting manner mechanisms to address complaints and with a special focus being given to the priority appeals. areas of energy, climate change and water and sanitation. The IDB head, speaking about Having said that however, the local IDB head the IDB’s Citizens’ Security Programme pointed out that there has been some recent (CSP) which was established in 2008 and had development, which indicated that Trinidad

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Feature and Tobago was moving in the right direction to improve its business climate. She said, “The Public/Private Partnership (PPP) with the IDB signals a commitment from the government to enter into a transparent and competitive procurement process, based on international practice.” She added that just recently the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) provided an independent reconciliation of Trinidad and Tobago revenues derived from the energy sector. And even more recently there was the launch of

the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute, which advocates improved corporate governance to encourage transparency and accountability.

reserves equivalent to more than a year of imports and its exchange rate is stable.

The country’s robust growth, solid reserves and high standard of living are due mainly to In the eyes of the IDB Trinidad and Tobago the energy sector that dominates the economy is one of the more prosperous countries in and accounts for 42 percent of GDP, 80 the region with per capita income of US percent of exports and 90 percent of foreign $15,000 and its social results are exchange earnings. correspondingly positive. Trinidad and Tobago grew at an average annual rate of In spite of this very positive situation however, seven percent for the 15 years preceding the the IDB maintains that the country still faces global financial crisis and has international significant risks. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Business Hall of Fame Inductee 2013

Carlton K. Mack (1911-1995)

arlton K. Mack made his way from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada in 1932, crossing the Pacific by ship, then travelling by rail to Montreal before boarding another ship to Trinidad. It was a world away from Hock San in the Chinese province of Guangdong where he was born on July 30, 1911 and given the name Mack Chuck Kong. At age 13, he left school to follow brother James to Hong Kong where he laboured as a porter for a company owned by the Allum family – distant relatives with commercial interests in Trinidad, half way around the world.

On evenings, after a hard day’s work, he took English classes at the YMCA which would later prove invaluable. His first job in Trinidad was as a grocery attendant at the Allum-owned Kwong Hing Company Limited. Within two years he was managing the newly purchased J.T Allum as a minority partner with a one-ninth share. During this period, he married Iris Aching, but their happiness was short-lived when Iris died in 1938 during child-birth, along with their twin daughters. He re-married in 1943 – to Elaine Assing and was appointed Managing Director of the newly incorporated J.T. Allum and Company Limited. One of his first decisions was to

accept Caroni Limited’s offer to operate its food commissary in the sugar community of Couva. Five years later, Couva became the location for his first supermarket In 1955, with the business growing and his family expanding to welcome four children - Carl, Carol, Carlyle and Cyril - Carlton Mack agreed to buy J.T. Allum & Co. from the Allums under a ten-year payment arrangement. Despite stringent terms, he kept the J.T. Allum name out of respect for its founder, John Thomas Allum In 1961, with four years left on his loan he struck out courageously into property development. A year later, he opened South Trinidad’s first mini-mall Allum’s Shopping Centre. Throughout this intense period, he painstakingly negotiated the purchase of several plots of land from small property owners between High Street and St. James Street in San Fernando, astutely recognising the commercial potential of the location. In 1964, he dazzled south Trinidad with the launch of the sprawling Carlton Centre, which connected High Street and St. James Street. Carlton Centre was his proudest commercial achievement. In 1976, he commissioned his third mall, Cross Crossing Shopping Complex, with a fourth branch of Allum’s Supermarket.

In 1978, he entered a ten-year arrangement with the McEnearney Alstons Group under which the operations of Allum’s Supermarket were sold to the conglomerate, while remaining a tenant of J.T. Allum & Co. Ltd. The agreement ended in 1988. Until his passing at age 84 in 1995, Carlton Mack held the reins as Chairman of J.T. Allum & Co. Ltd. and J.T.A. Supermarkets Ltd. He made several trips to China and dedicated time, money and energy to building the China Society in Trinidad and Tobago, which he served as President from 1968 to 1991. He gave willingly to the Red Cross, Family Planning Association and, above all, the YMCA, in gratitude for the English classes he had received. Among his many honours were the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) in 1975 and the Scarlet Ibis Medal in 1971. Outside of business, he was passionate about farming his 25-acre agricultural holdings at, Princes Town. For the man who had been orphaned as a boy of seven his hard work and vision allowed him to leave a solid legacy for his family, community and nation. The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is proud to posthumously induct Carlton K. Mack into its Business Hall of Fame. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Criteria for student selection - Each student must: • Be unable financially to pursue further education upon graduation, • Demonstrate potential and a willingness to learn, • Attend all scheduled training sessions, and • Complete a data entry form outlining goals, skills & identifing areas requiring development. The Chamber’s NOVA Committee’s Jumpstart Programme was established in 1998 and seeks to assist school-leavers to learn about the working environment and to access opportunities for employment. Selected schools and institutions across the country are invited to nominate graduating students to participate in this highly regarded ‘youth development programme’.

Participating company requirements - Each company must: • Pay a weekly recommended stipend, • Assign a mentor to the apprentice and • Complete an assessment review at the end of the apprenticeship.

Further information is available on the Jumpstart Programme from the Chamber’s Secretariat or Cheryl-Lyn Kurban, Project Assistant at 637-6966 ext 228 or ckurban@chamber.org.tt

Business Hall of Fame Inductee 2013

Harry Sooknarine

orn on August 9, 1933, to a cane farmer, Harry Deosaran Persad Sooknarine and his nine siblings were imbued with a sense of responsibility an early age. A youthful marriage to hometown beauty Kamla Ramroop, enhanced his drive to prove himself by success. After leaving Brazil E.C. School he joined his mother selling vegetables by night at the Port of Spain Central Market. There, among the vendor stalls, he learned the art of the sale, sizing up customers, identifying their needs, negotiating prices and making the deal. In 1961, with a loan of $563 from Chase Manhattan Bank, he and Kamla opened a little shop, Red Spot, in California, Central Trinidad which soon developed into a booming roti shop and chicken depot. By 1965, the Sooknarines had done well enough to return to Kelly Village and buy a grocery store with about $15,000 in stock from Kamla’s uncle, Basdeo.

Sooknarine’s Grocery and Bar operated with the business rhythm of the sugar-cane harvest. Customers settled their bills during the croptime and racked up credit in the off season. With business thriving, Harry Sooknarine soon acquired a bigger and more modern supermarket. Eventually, however, the culture of a sugarcane community based on part-time employment

began to take its toll on the business with an expanding list of debtors. Anticipating the future, Harry Sooknarine set out doing door-to-door insurance sales for Combined Insurance It was during this period, following a trip to the United States in search of a better concept, that he came up with the idea for door-to-door cosmetic sales. It was the right idea at the right time. Tight foreign exchange conditions and the changing consciousness about identity in postcolonial Trinidad and Tobago was opening new opportunities in make-up for women of colour. Thus was born Caribbean Pride Cosmetics in 1972, the business that would bring Harry Sooknarine his first one million dollars. The door-to-door sales strategy, with the sales team under his wife Kamla, was so effective that by 1974 demand for Caribbean Pride products required a sales force of over sixty persons. It was cosmetics that led Harry Sooknarine to the enterprise that propelled him into the top ranks of business innovators of Trinidad and Tobago. Sooknarine was not happy with the black and white labels that were available to local manufacturers which he found crude and unappealing. Further, having to glue them on was time-consuming and irritating. he went to the United States for training in label design at Pell’s Art School and ended up adopting pressure

(1933-2010)

sensitive adhesive labels and buying a threecolour flexographic press. In 1974, he launched a second company, Caribbean Flexographic and Foil Printers. It took the market by storm by concentrating printing, adhesives and cutting into one single, seamless operation. In 1992, he purchased T&T Printing and Packaging Limited, one of the first state-divested companies. Two years later, the company’s name was changed to Cariflex (1994) Limited. Visiting the US in 1980, a dry packaged concrete mix excited his interest and out of this was born Harricrete Ltd., with the famous tagline ‘de hardest hard’. While his business grew into an empire, Harry Sooknarine was simultaneously battling his greatest personal challenge. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1974, a degenerative condition which weakened his limbs and eyesight. But his indomitable spirit would not allow him to give up. He adapted his management methods to the demands of wheelchair mobility and in the process increased his success. Although he passed away in May of 2010, the legacy of Harry Sooknarine endures today in the family and business that he and his wife Kamla built. The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is proud to posthumously induct Harry D. Sooknarine into its Business Hall of Fame. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Business Hall of Fame Inductee 2013

Victor E. Mouttet

t 81, the undaunted spirit his pioneering French forebears who set foot in the Caribbean 140 years ago, shines brightly through the eyes of Victor E. Mouttet. Born in Belmont on September 1, 1931, Victor spent his early childhood on Picton Street and Brieves Road off Long Circular Road. School was at Miss Boucaud’s in a converted stable which ran from Cipriani Boulevard to Stanmore Avenue.

After completing a three-year programme at St. Mary’s, he headed to Loyola High School in Canada, bound for a life in medicine. But it was obvious to his teachers, both at Loyola College and later in Ireland, that his destiny lay elsewhere. In 1950 he surrendered medicine and joined his father’s wholesale provisions business, Mouttet, Horne and Company, but it didn’t take him long to realise that his destiny was elsewhere still. Within two years, at age 21, he had accepted Sonny Fraser’s job offer in the food distribution side of young Anthony Sabga’s new company, Standard Distributors. It would set the course for his personal and professional life. It was there that Victor Mouttet met Sally Janoura, the woman who would become his partner in love, life and business. In 1958, with $1,500 between them, Victor and Sally took the bold step of establishing a business of their own, adding the name VEMCO, to the business landscape of Port of Spain operating from a tiny room in the Fernandes Building on Henry Street.

Right from the start, Victor E. Mouttet saw himself working as an independent company in the distribution business, trading internationally branded products. And then, by a combination of accident and circumstance, he landed in the manufacturing business. Victor Mouttet bit the bullet, bought some equipment and established Multifoods Corporation Limited in 1976. Taking the leap into manufacturing, the first product was peanut butter followed by mayonnaise and mustard initially under the Buffet, Sunrich and French’s brands. The company’s flagship brand, Swiss would later be developed into a prolific range, producing ketchup, jams, pasta and mauby, among other things. Victor E. Mouttet’s inventiveness under challenge would later emerge again when, faced with the rising cost of imported powdered milk, his Multifoods Corporation developed a packaging innovation with American National Can Company and in 1978, powdered milk in a pouch made its world debut under the Kerrygold label. With Sally at his side, Victor Mouttet diversified into pharmaceuticals, restaurants and real estate. Today, the business that began with an investment of $1,500 has grown to almost $3 billion with a business family of over 4,600 employees. Key Victor E. Mouttet Ltd. acquisitions along the way has allowed it to become one of the largest suppliers of food and grocery products in Trinidad and

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

Tobago, with a large distributor presence throughout the Caribbean. Victor E Mouttet Ltd. footprint in the region’s restaurant landscape is gigantic through its publicly traded restaurant management subsidiary, Prestige Holdings Limited. Prestige today operates a chain of over 100 restaurants under franchise agreements for the KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, and T.G.I. Friday’s brands. The company was also an initial investor in retailers PriceSmart, Payless Shoe Source and the Marriott Courtyard. Along the way, Victor E. Mouttet always made time for civic activity. He is a founding member and Past President of the Lion’s Club of Trinidad and Tobago. He served on the Board of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association and as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He followed this with a term as an Independent Senator. He supports the Catholic Church through the SERVOL Life Centre, FEEL and Hannah’s Christmas Bazaar among others. Every day, Victor E. Mouttet responds to the call of business at VEMCO headquarters in the Diamond Vale Industrial Estate, enjoying the thrill of a business engine in full throttle while finding time for the other loves of his life, reading, traveling and, above all, Sally. The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is proud to induct Victor E. Mouttet into its Business Hall of Fame.

The Chamber’s Events Information Session on ICT Legislation The E-Business, Information Technology and Telecommunications Committee of The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce hosted a Breakfast Session on I.C.T. Legislation in Trinidad and Tobago and the Impact on Business Operations on September 4, 2013. Presenters discussed the features, current status and implications of the following pieces of legislation: Cyber Crime Legislation; Data Protection Act; Electronic Transactions Act and the Telecommunications Act. This information session was the first of its kind held for the business community and aimed to close the information gap and uncertainty surrounding implementation and enforcement. Presenters included Nigel Chinapoo – EBITT Committee Chair; Lisa Agard – Legal & Regulatory Consultant, Ministry of Science & Technology; Kerry-Ann Barrett and Antoniette Lucas Andrews – Ministry of National Security; Nevia Ramsundar – Corporate Secretary, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and Ronald Hinds – E-Business Roundtable. Partnering with the Chamber for this session was Blink/Bmobile.

Conversations with Business Leaders Addressing the Challenges of the Labour Shortage The Chamber hosted Conversations with Business leaders - Addressing the Challenges of the Labour Shortage on September 27, 2013, which was arranged as a result of the major challenges with attracting and retaining semi-skilled and unskilled employees which the Private Sector in Trinidad and Tobago has been experiencing in recent years. Panellists include the Honourable Errol Mc Leod - Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development; Nicholas Lok Jack - President - Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturer's Association; Rene Seepersadsingh Hospitality Services Sector; Laurence Richardson - Energy Chamber. The Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development partnered with the Chamber for this event.

Chamber’s Annual Post Budget Panel Discussion 2013 The Chamber hosted its Annual Post Budget Panel Discussion, "Value For Money in Government Spending", on September 10, 2013 at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Port Spain, welcoming, as has become traditional the Minister of Finance and the Economy as the Feature Speaker. Topics discussed included Revenue Generation vs Expenditure; Measures to stimulate Growth; Energy Recommendations and Where Are We in Crime Reduction. Panellists included Allyson West – Partner Tax Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Gervase Watner – President and Group CEO, Neal and Massy Holdings Limited; Anthony Paul – Principla Consultant, Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Limited and; Corrine BaptisteMcKnight – Former Independent Senator. Moderating the session was Wade George – Partner/Regional Tax Service Line Leader – Ernst & Young. Partnering with the Chamber for this session were Platinum Sponsor – Columbus Business Solutions; Diamond Sponsor – Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Centre and Gem Sponsors ACCA, BG Trinidad & Tobago, YellarDirect and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Debates The Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission made the commitment in 2010 to change the political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago and increase the democratic rights of the electorate by staging debates. They have once again upheld this commitment. On October 10 the Commission staged for the third time a Debate in preparation for Local Government Elections 2013. Each political party was given a platform to respond to questions by the public and to debate their intentions.

Welcome to New Members BENJAMIN DE LA ROSA Address: 34 San Francisco Settlement, Upper Carapichima Tel: 683-4874, 391-9482 E-mail: delarob_2000@yahoo.com

Tel: 468-0649 Website: khbclimited.com

SYNERGY RESOURCES LTD. LP #9 Harmony Hall Road, Gasparilo Tel: 650-3912, 708-9354 Website: www.synergyresourcesltd.com

LIVEWIRED GROUP LTD. Address: 26 Alison Park, Coalmine, Sangre Grande Tel: 749-6027 SYNERGISTIC COACHING FOX COURIERS LTD. Website: www.livewiredgroup.com Address: Lot 8 Homestead Gardens, Sam Address: # 24s Las Lomas #3 Boucaud, Santa Cruz Tel: 628-1774, 290-1037; Fax: 628-1774 MAGDALENA GRAND BEACH RESORT Tel: 358-6883 Website: www.foxxcouriers.com Address: Tobago Plantations Estate, Lowlands, Website: www.florencedesilva.com Tobago GLOBAL FINANCIAL BROKERS LTD. Tel: 660-8500; Fax: 660-8503 UNIVERSAL PROJECTS LTD. Address: Corner Chancery Lane and Albion Street, Website: www.magdaleangrand.com Address: LP #139, P.O. Bag 991, Balmain Road, Port of Spain Couva Tel: 627-6748; Fax: 624-4516 NOVUS TECH LTD. Tel: 679-6959 / 697-3439 ; Fax: 679-5787 Website: www.globalfinancialtt.com Address: 143 Long Circular Road, Maraval Website: www.universalprojectsltd.com Tel: 223-4836, 632-7283 INK OFFICE SUPPLIES LTD. Website: www.novustechltd.com VENDING MASSAGE CHAIRS LTD. Address: Shop 3A, Shrivan Plaza, Shrivan Road, Address: 3 Alpine Drive, Grand Central Park, Tobago SASHA COSMETICS LTD. Phase 2 , John Peters Rd., Charlieville, Tel: 660-8152 Address: 1-3 Eagles Crescent, Mission Road, Tel: 689-1568, 797-8532; Fax: 665-1173 Freeport Website: www.vmctt.com JOHN’S PLUMBING AND MAINTENANCE Tel: 673-3333, 673-4316; Fax: 673-1029 SERVICES LTD. website: www.sashacosmetics.com VAGUS MRI LTD. Address: 13 Dutch Fort., Scarborough, Tobago. Address: 3 Park Avenue, Queens Park East, Tel: 639-1304, 354-9581; Fax: 635-0180 STRATEGY EXECUTION SERVICES Port of Spain Address: 87 Paradise Place, Paradise Gardens, Tel: 222-9325, 223-6379 KHBC LTD. Tacarigua Website: www.vagusmri.com Address: 119 Mineola Boulevard, Orchard Gardens, Tel: 640-1739; Fax: 640-1739 Chaguanas, Trinidad Website: http://strategyexecutiontt.com Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

Chamber

Tobago Division Report April-September, 2013 s part of an awareness campaign about the dire situation facing Tobago’s private sector, the Tobago Division utilised a sensitisation strategy on key issues which are negatively affecting economic performance on the island. These issues had already been identified in the earlier ‘Let’s Invigorate Tobago’ document and, in the following months they were consistently re-iterated to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Government Ministers, relevant agencies and supporting institutions.

In July, the Chamber was pleased to receive an invitation from the THA’s Tourism Division, to work with them to roll out the Comprehensive Economic Development Plan 2.0 (CEDP 2013-2017) for Tobago. The Division was pleased to see many of the concerns outlined in ‘Let’s Invigorate Tobago 2013’ identified in the CEDP 2.0. As part of the said awareness campaign, the Division sought to capture the full spectrum of Tobago’s stakeholders in enterprise through an active recruitment programme. Additionally, in April a Research Assistant was contracted to assist with documentation, strategic analysis and its related functions which would be utilised in the Division’s future planning.

In June, taking advantage of the launch of the Government’s Loan Guarantee Fund (an initiative in which the Chamber lobby had played a major role), Tobago businesses were encouraged to access the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Business Development Company’s (TTBDL) offer of restructuring debt stricken entities, and/or financing new ones.

regarding other projects in the coming year.

In the third quarter, significant effort went into developing a document outlining what the Division believes is necessary for Tobago’s development and the proposals contained therein were made available to the THA for inclusion in its 2013-2014 Budget, presented During the second quarter, the Management to Central Government. Committee, in consultation with the membership, furthered plans for the launch The Division in this quarter also participated of three income-generating activities: (i) The in meetings and other fora with key agencies Chamber Can Cook (ii) a Trade Show and such as the Port Authority, the Tourism (iii) a Tobago Business Directory. The first Ministry, Air Caribbean, the Customs was held on Republic Day (September 24) and Excise Division, the Office of the Chief and had a commendable turnout. The latter Secretary, the Police Complaints Authority two are planned for rollout in March, 2014. and the Trinidad and Tobago Energy and Extractive Industries Institute. Further, active The Chamber will keep members updated as steps were taken toward deepening plans unfold. Income realised from these relationships with other civil society groups projects will be utilised to partially meet the on the island. Division’s expenses over the 2013/14 period and to assist with future activities. At the end of the period, it can be assessed that the Tobago Division made an enormous It is also noteworthy in this quarter that the leap in the quality of its interaction with the Division reached out to partner with another Tobago House of Assembly and the Central NGO, Environment Tobago, in the agricultural Government. This augurs well for sector which was seeking project grant funding private/public sector relationships in the from the IDB, and a decision is currently coming months, especially since the island’s being awaited from the IDB. However, it is tourism drive needs every encouragement and the Chamber’s intention to approach the IDB assistance possible.

What Every Business Person Should Know • The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment continues to roll out new eservices during phase II of the MTII’s TTBizLink initiative. Employers and Employees can now apply online via www.ttbizlink.gov.tt for their NI 1 (Employer) and NI 4 (Employee) registration numbers from the National Insurance Board (NIB). The process remains the same as previously shared for the other e-services. Persons who have been registered to use TTBizLink can log

on to the portal/website via www.ttbizlink.gov.tt using their ttconnect identification number and password to complete and submit applications for the aforementioned. Information on this and other services is available via www.ttbizlink.gov.tt

information to be submitted electronically to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise and for other related matters. • Upcoming Trade Shows, 2014 (identified by ExportTT) • Get Energy Trade Show, Panama • Summer Fancy Food Trade Show, New York • Anuga Trade Fair, Germany

• The Customs (Amendment) Act No.6 of 2013, amends the Customs Act, Chapter 78:01 to enhance border control by providing for advance passenger and cargo For further information visit the ExportTT website www.exportt.co.tt

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

The Dispute Resolution Centre

From Advocate to Advisor: The role of the Lawyer in Mediation

he Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago recently initiated its second CourtAnnexed Mediation Pilot Project, managed by the Dispute Resolution Centre. It involves 200 non-family civil disputes. The objective of the Pilot is to learn whether mediation of such disputes is an efficient, cost-effective alternative to judicial intervention and what types of disputes are most likely to be resolved by mediation. For many of the attorneys participating in the Pilot Project, it is their first direct experience of mediation. They are discovering that, in mediation, disputants speak for themselves. The process itself is simple and informal, and does not depend on specialized rules and procedures. As well, and perhaps most importantly, they are learning that their most effective role is as advisor rather than as advocate. To be helpful to their clients and advance the goal of mediation, attorneys need to shift gears, adopt different strategies and emphasize different skills. Making this transition can be awkward and, at times, unsettling. How then, can attorneys, trained and experienced in trial advocacy, effectively work within mediation? Answering this question begins with an understanding of the distinctions between mediation and litigation or arbitration. Mediation is a confidential, private process in which a neutral third-party guides disputing parties in a constructive conversation— essentially an assisted negotiation. The mediator helps the parties express their positions and proposals, listen thoughtfully to one another, clarify issues in dispute, search for solutions that address the needs of all and work toward a fair, workable settlement to the dispute. The parties themselves are the decision-makers. This attribute, known among professional mediators as self-determination, is what makes mediation unique. Arbitration and litigation also involve a neutral thirdparty, but can be distinguished from mediation in several respects. They are more formal and

structured processes involving the presentation clients may choose to speak on their own of testimony and production of documents, behalf and are directly involved in making strictly according to sets of rules and decisions with respect to the dispute. procedures that can be enforced by the • By explaining the differences between arbitrator or judge. The third-party neutral mediation, litigation or unassisted is also responsible for determining the final negotiations, attorneys may explore whether outcome of the dispute. participating in mediation is likely to be a positive and fruitful exercise. In arbitration and litigation attorneys can • Attorneys and their clients should decide question witnesses, produce documents and who will speak during mediation and, if other evidence and present legal arguments. clients will be speaking on their own behalf, Their knowledge of relevant case law and when the attorney will speak and for what statutes and their familiarity with the rules purposes. Attorneys should also inform and procedures place them in a central position their clients of the opportunity for private in these two processes. Mediation, by contrast, discussions either with the mediator or with is a less formal and relatively uncomplicated the attorney and client only. process involving the disputants in discussions • With respect to the issues in dispute, directly and indirectly with one another and attorneys and clients should discuss empowering them with the responsibility for opportunities for resolving the dispute, the the outcome. range of possible outcomes, the issues on which the client may have greater or lesser Given the more central role of disputants, flexibility for settlement and the minimum what then, are the tasks and responsibilities terms and conditions the client will accept. of attorneys in mediation? To answer this Attorneys should also have a frank question, it is necessary to examine the role discussion of the alternative to settlement of attorneys in two phases—pre-mediation and, in particular, the cost, time and risks and during mediation. of litigation. • As they would in litigation or arbitration, Pre-Mediation attorneys must ensure that all documents As with litigation and arbitration, adequate and other materials essential to a complete preparation is vital to a successful mediation. discussion and resolution of the issues are Attorneys who appreciate the importance of prepared, reviewed and available at (or groundwork, spend time with their clients sometimes exchanged prior to) mediation. discussing a range of topics, including the Resolving the dispute will depend in following: significant measure on the completeness • They describe mediation and how the of information available. process is conducted. Where appropriate, they may contrast mediation with other During Mediation processes familiar to the client. They point The greatest shift in the attorney’s role and out that mediation is essentially a problem- responsibilities arises once mediation begins. solving process that has as its goals a During mediation, attorneys typically assist thorough discussion of all issues in dispute, their clients in some of the following ways: the exchange of information, ideas and • They acknowledge the client’s central role proposals and the opportunity to seek and, in particular, do not speak for the creative solutions to the dispute. client; instead, attorneys offer advice, • They explain the role of the mediator, as guidance and information. a manager of the process, a facilitator of • They do not challenge or cross-examine negotiations and a guide in the effort to the other party, spar with the other attorney secure a full settlement. In particular, or, in other ways, treat mediation like attorneys emphasize that, in mediation, litigation.

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce • www.chamber.org.tt

The Dispute Resolution Centre • Attorneys maintain a supportive, cooperative demeanor and demonstrate commitment to the mediation process by words and behavior. They do not treat mediation as an adversarial process or as a means for finding the truth; instead, they acknowledge the importance of searching for solutions. • Attorneys assist in defining the issues to be resolved. • They provide normative information, usually in private, about the benefits and risks of specific proposals. • They act as an agent of reality, helping the client to balance the risks of accepting or rejecting settlement offers and the potential complications of presenting the case to a third party for decision as well as the time, stress and expense of a trial. • Attorneys help manage the process by asking for breaks, for opportunities to speak privately with the client or for a private meeting with the mediator. • They assist clients to communicate by summarizing discussions or clarifying matters that are confusing or where

miscommunication is preventing constructive problem-solving, or worse, leading to increased conflict. • They help clients stay focused on the issues at hand, the information presented and options for settlement as well as remain calm as they deal with frustration over the pace of progress or feeling overwhelmed by direct confrontation with the other party. • Attorneys encourage clients to find creative solutions that will resolve the dispute. • They draft documents as required. Those attorneys who view mediation genuinely as an opportunity for their clients to participate actively in discussions about, and settlement of, their own disputes are valued allies in the process. At times, the shift from advocacy to advice collaboration can be awkward and unsettling for many attorneys. Recognizing that their clients benefit from this collaborative role, and that mediators appreciate their constructive participation, attorneys should utilize mediation as they would any other dispute resolution process—wisely and with due

regard for their particular role in making the most of its unique attributes. In managing the transition to mediation advocacy, attorneys may benefit from additional educational programs and seminars where they can learn to use their knowledge, experience and skills in support of their clients’ participation in this helpful and constructive process. The transition from trial advocacy to mediation advocacy may be challenging, but the rewards are worth the investment of time and energy. To help attorney’s transition from attorney to advisor in the Trinidad and Tobago experience, the Centre offers a one day workshop on “Getting Real about the Attorney’s Role in Mediation and Judicial Settlement Conferencing.” We invite readers to contact us for upcoming dates. This article has been modified from its original version which was written by Professor Michael Lang for the Dispute Resolution Centre and appeared in a previous issue of the Contact Magazine.

The Dispute Resolution Centre’s Quarterly Report

ver the last quarter, the Dispute They learnt skills on how to influence others Conflict Management with an Introduction to Resolution Centre’s services and turn conflict into co-operation and to Negotiation and Mediation. This programme focused on three main areas: successfully deal with difficult people. helped participants who are engaged in various levels of negotiations, to better utilise their Mediation: The Centre is pleased to be the In September the Centre hosted the Forty conflict resolution and mediation skills towards Approved Mediation Agency for the 2013 Hour Mediation Skills workshop, which is positive outcomes. Court Annexed Mediation Pilot Project. The accredited with the Mediation Board of Judiciary is in the process of referring 200 Trinidad and Tobago. The popular Attendees actively participated in the training randomly selected Civil High Court matters programme, designed to suit the needs of through discussion and group exercises where to mediation for the duration of this one year busy professionals and to minimise workplace they learned about their own personal conflict project. Thus far, the Centre is glad to report disruption, is offered one day per week for management styles as well as that of their a settlement rate of 70% of cases referred and five weeks. The Programme was well attended colleagues. Role-play exercises were also a its experienced staff will continue to ensure by individuals and groups alike, from private highlight for this group as they practiced the expeditious processing of all cases. and public sector organisations as well as resolving conflict through the use of personnel from various ministries. The Centre Negotiation and Mediation Skills. Training: During August the Centre hosted remains committed to working with a Difficult People, Difficult Conversations participants as they progress towards Facilitation: The Dispute Resolution Centre workshop attended by a cross section of certification by the Mediation Board and to also offers a premier service for parties wishing Ministries, public and private sector becoming professional Mediators. to locate a private, secure location for mediation or arbitration. It is privately located organisation personnel and individuals. Participants were taught practical skills to Also in September the Centre conducted a and, during mediation and arbitration sessions, assist in diffusing strong emotions and how three-day workshop for personnel of the the Centre can be entirely reserved for parties to prepare for difficult conversations. Environmental Management Authority on and their attorneys, providing optimal privacy. Contact • Vol.13 No.4 2013

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Pg 61

Le Grande Almandier

Pg 80

TSTT/Blackberry

Pg 79

MBM

Pg 40

UWI

Pg 63

Movietowne

Pg 17

Voila Gourmet Catrering

Pg 71

Monix Grill & Lounge

Pg 67

Women Only Workout

Pg 26

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce â&#x20AC;˘ www.chamber.org.tt

Inside Back

Inside Front Pg 27

Pg 57 Outside Back