TTCSI Quarterly 19 by TTCSI

ISSUE 19 JUL - SEP 2014

QUARTERLY KEEPING SERVICES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Mr. Ansel Wong Dr. Gypsy Achong Mr. Paul Look Kong

By Yaisa Andrews-Zwilling

DIASPORA UNLOCKING A WORLD OF POTENTIAL

The Diaspora and Trinidad & Tobago Development

Camille Sears-Carter Wells Her Journey to becoming TTCSI's ﬁrst female CEO

National Services Week 2014 - Building Bridges

The article provides insights into how the Diaspora can contribute to the development of Trinidad and Tobago.

Camille tells about her life and professional career.

TTCSI's annual signature event, which highlight and showcases stakeholders that have contributed signiﬁcantly to the Services sector.

www.ttcsi.org

Table of Contents PRESIDENT’S EDITORIAL

NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 BUILDING BRIDGES

LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN

SOME OF T&T'S TOP LEADING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

ANGELA LEE LOY TAKING LEAD IN CORPORATE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

CAMILLE SEARS CARTER WELLS... HER JOURNEY TO BECOMING TTCSI'S FIRST FEMALE CEO

WOMEN AND THE PROVERBIAL GLASS CEILING??

By Angela Lee Loy, TTCSI’s President

THE DIASPORA AND TRINIDAD & TOBAGO’S DEVELOPMENT By Dr. Ronald Ramkissoon

DIASPORA ENTREPRENEURSHIP

By Aurelia Bruce

GIFT A FEAST

By Gypsy Achong

SMARTY CEREAL BOOMS IN CHINA

By Paul Look Kong

NEUROSCIENTIST LIVES HER PASSION

By Yaisa Andrews-Zwilling

KEEPING T&T ALIVE IN UK

By Dr Camille Samuel

BUSINESS CONTINUITY 18

By Ansel Wong

TATT PARTNERS WITH THE UWI ON CYBER SAFETY AWARENESS

T&T'S SERVICES SECTOR AT A GLANCE

By Keith Greaves

FINDING MAGIC AT STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

MEMBER’S CORNER TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION

WHAT’S GOING ON

By Aurelia Bruce

EDITOR- Dixie-Ann Dickson ASSISTANT EDITOR- Tori-Ann Haywood PUBLISHED BY- Eidetic

CONTACT US Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries 45 Cornelio Street, Woodbrook, Port of Spain Tel: 622-9229 Fax: 622-8985 Email: info@ttcsi.org Website: www.ttcsi.org

The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) is an umbrella, non-governmental, business support organization established to encourage the growth and development of the services sector. b In particular TTCSI: assists service providers to identify and exploit market opportunities; lobbies government and international agencies on behalf of services providers; develops capacity among local services providers; assists in the development of standards and certification to access foreign markets and ensures that member interests are represented in trade negotiations.

We are also the local body responsible for issuing the CARICOM Service Provider Certificates. Our membership includes associations in the fields of financial services, hospitality, construction, ICT, midwifery, cultural industries, customs brokerage, human resource management, T&T Cosmetology Association, and pest management. b Services account for more than 51% of GDP and contribute an average of TT$43 billion annually to the local economy.

The views and opinions expressed or implied in TTCSI QUARTERLY are solely those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by TTCSI.

All info herein is the property of TTCSI and may not be reproduced without prior consent. 03

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Angela Lee Loy, TTCSI President

services sector, whose contribution to our national GDP steadily continues to grow, making it one of the largest contributors and the largest employer among various sectors throughout the country. However, we will do significantly better if we utilize the untapped resources we have, one being the diaspora. As your new President, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve over the next phase of TTCSI’s journey. I commend both Danny Jaggernauth our immediate Past President, and Nirad Tewarie, our former CEO, on a job well done. To our Secretariat, none of our milestones could have been achieved without your diligence and professionalism. I take this opportunity to also recognize the former Board for their vision of excellence. “The Diaspora”, the theme of this quarter’s magazine, is quite timely and comes at a period where our country continues to be recognized internationally in the energy sector. But the Trinbagonian story is not only about our energy resources. We have the

With that said, the world continues to change at warp speed. The business jargon that has become so frequent in our everyday language is “globalization” or “global market”, but do we really understand what it is to compete globally? While on a national level we are making significant socio-economic strides, in order to capitalize on international development, we must engage the diaspora and use specific strategies to increase investment in our local economy outside of Carnival. To our advantage, we have an open economy that can only reduce the challenges for foreign investment. However, we must address the issues that first pushed our locals abroad and we must have a keen understanding that our professional role does have an effect on the wider economy.

These factors combined will give us the edge that we need to successfully compete or collaborate with business leaders from around the world. As the year 2014 comes to a close, The TTCSI looks forward to further engaging the services sector and tapping into our resources. This year, the theme of our National Services Week, “Building Bridges” will be held from 3-7 November at the Trinidad Hilton. Our focus is on connecting business leaders with fellow entrepreneurs, and we will award the best in the sector. This is our annual signature event as it provides an improved platform for strengthening and growing the industry. Do enjoy our last Quarterly magazine for 2014 and I look forward to meeting everyone at our upcoming National Services Week NSW2014. I take the opportunity as this is our final issue for 2014 to wish our readers and their families a safe and enjoyable Christmas Season and a New Year filled with good health, hope and prosperity.

DEVELOPMENT

THE DIASPORA AND TRINIDAD & TOBAGO’S DEVELOPMENT Written by Dr Ronald Ramkissoon

ARE WE CREATIVE AND FOCUSED ENOUGH IN WHAT WE PRESENTLY DO?

All countries have a responsibility to optimise all of their resources in the process of development. In this vein, looking to the Diaspora for help is not new. Large and small countries alike, from China to Barbados, have always appealed to their Diaspora population for assistance, especially during hard times in home countries. Not surprisingly, organisations and individual researchers are increasingly seeking to better understand, measure and exploit the contribution of this resource to social and economic development. Closer attention to several factors might be useful in optimising the undoubted potential of this resource.

I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS NO.

First, we need to understand the factors that will cause migrants and their descendants to want to maintain contact with their home country. All encompassing “culture” first comes to mind. For Trinidad and Tobago, Carnival easily stands out for this country’s Diaspora, but there are other festivals, that might not have received the kind of attention, which this festival attracts, but that might also be high income generating. Our varied religious festivities, which can attract disciples from the four corners of the globe to this country, readily suggest themselves. Well thought out packaging and marketing of these and other festivities to the Diaspora are likely to bring good returns. Second, I am not sure that strategies employed up to now have been adequate in creating maximum value for Trinidad and Tobago. What seems to be needed is deliberate action in networking, strategising, and in promoting value-creating programmes. And what about the observation, that some countries seem to deliberately embed their citizens in developed countries to work and live there and to direct

the intelligence gathered there, back home? This intelligence can be of great value in improving the nature of economic and other activity in Trinidad and Tobago – from the provision of higher standards of public service to more innovate business ventures. Third, in seeking to tap into the Diaspora it is important to understand that our citizens might have become “diasporic” because of serious failures at home that led to a feeling of hopelessness. No amount of “sweet talk” will change their perceptions of what occurs at home. If the goal is to have them return to contribute to nation building, then we must fix the problems that pushed them out in the first place. Pervasive crime and nepotism are two “push” factors that come readily to mind. A reduction of these scourges may reduce the rate of migration, especially of highly skilled migrants, which is usually the largest component of migrants. Very often home countries consider investments by the Diaspora population as a beneficial lever for them to tap into. Hence for example, the excitement over “Diaspora Bonds”. However, if corporate governance in financial institutions and elsewhere is weak as was the case with CL Financial, then investments will not flow in. Small countries like Trinidad and Tobago and in the Caribbean in general must ensure that they maximize every single resource in their struggle towards socio-economic development. In this regard maximum use of the human resource, which resides abroad must be a major imperative. Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean can do much better in this area if they were to be more deliberate in identifying the Diaspora in any strategy for socio-economic development.

DIASPORA

2/3 of Caribbean people live outside of the Caribbean Region

In 2000, emigration rate of the tertiary-educated population was 79.3%.

World Bank Migration & Remittances Fact book 2011 358.6 thousand or 26.7% of T&T population represented the number of emigrants in 2010

Although remittances have proven essential, a more sustainable way to affect change has become necessary. More than just sending money to their families, diasporas can assist in the thrust for development through entrepreneurship, skills and technology exchange, increasing trade links, philanthropic foundations, investment, creating heritage and tourism links, and creating diaspora groups in host countries. Individuals and networks can give back in ways that are geared toward more meaningful support for the local economy and society.

To that end, governments need to be proactive if they are to reap concrete benefits from the diaspora. Diaspora entrepreneurs are using their transnational experience and understanding about business to invest in new ventures in home countries. Apart from leveraging networks of fellow â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diasporasâ&#x20AC;? to gain knowledge about market opportunities and infrastructural gaps that they can fill, members of the diaspora have firsthand experience in working in two business environments, making it easier to tackle the hurdles of doing business in home countries.

Diaspora capital in its human, social, and financial form, is a useful development resource and investment for capital-constrained, migrant-sending countries. Entrepreneurs can be agents for innovation, economic stimulation and job creation. So, why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Diasporas extend their role across borders and expand human welfare in home countries?

DIASPORA

Diaspora Entrepreneurship Written by Aurelia Bruce

THE TOP DESTINATION COUNTRIES THAT TRINBAGONIANS WENT TO INCLUDED US, CANADA, UK, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, VENEZUELA, US VIRGIN ISLANDS, BARBADOS, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY AND GUYANA.

Usually, diaspora savings exceed annual remittances. For Trinidad and Tobago, a similar investment by 10% of the diaspora could raise in excess of 35.86million. The government and private sector could create targeted development programs and raise funds for financing these projects through the diaspora. A diaspora with a strong sense of connection to the homeland would be more willing to contribute time and money to such initiatives. Therefore, the fundamental questions facing policymakers is not If diasporas can benefit their home countries, but how, and also what types of policies would generate this assistance.

“IF ONE IN EVERY 10 MEMBERS OF THE DIASPORA COULD BE PERSUADED TO INVEST $1000 IN HIS OR HER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AFRICA COULD RAISE $3BILLION…FOR DEVELOPMENT FINANCING”.

ACCORDING TO A WORLD BANK 2011 REPORT. 09

protection from contingencies arising out of pregnancy/delivery, illness or injury, retirement and even death. In so doing, we have the privilege of serving over 600,000 customers for over 42 years; and with perseverance, we continue passing year. NATIONAL INSURANCE BENEFIT CATEGORIES Maternity • Retirement • Sickness • Survivor’s Employment Injury • Funeral Grant • Invalidity

DIASPORA

gift a feast Gypsy Achong

PROFILE

The colours and textures of fabrics and the community of quilting with friends brought her back to childhood trips with her grandmother to Frederick Street fabric shops overflowing with brightly colored textiles. Producing beautiful quilts by combining numerous pieces of fabric is evidenced in the colorful packaging aesthetic of Gift A Feast.

Dr. Gypsy Achong

native of Trinidad and an environmental microbiologist and engineer, made the ultimate career switch when she exited the corporate world in 2012 to start Gift A Feast. Previously a consultant at San Francisco, CA based Solazyme, a publicly held alternative energy company specializing in microalgae-based oil production, Gypsy decided to follow her passion for food and inspired gift giving and have more control over her schedule after the birth of her second child. Growing up in Trinidad in the 1970s, Gypsy attended Holy Name Convent primary and secondary schools through CXC, when she joined a small cadre of girls at St. Mary’s College to pursue her love of mathematics and physics. She only knew ‘local, handcrafted’ food. From the cacao plantations that sourced some of the world’s best chocolates, to the fishermen who targeted their daily catches around families’ dinner plans, fresh food was an everyday part of her life. These local ingredients and the vibrant, intense, tropical hues of the Caribbean proved to be long-lasting influences. In 1992, after winning a national scholarship, Gypsy left Trinidad for the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, where three years later, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Applied Science. From there, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to study at Stanford University, earning a Master of Science in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology and a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology. She worked as an engineer at an Oakland CA- based global engineering firm and then as a consultant for Boston Consulting Group before joining Solazyme.

Always looking for creative gifts, Gypsy was increasingly irritated by the poor quality of online gift options and wanted to find a way to return to more traditional, thoughtful gift giving. And so Gift A Feast was born. Gypsy does the shopping, saving hours of time for the gift giver. She sources handcrafted artisan treats from the San Francisco Bay Area’s thriving food scene, discovering new, small batch toffee, fruity or spicy chocolates, ice cream toppings, seasonal jams and more. Gift A Feast wraps each product by hand into a gorgeous package and delivers it nationwide complete with a handwritten note card with the customer’s personal message. Launched in January 2013, Gift A Feast has been featured in gift guides in nationally recognized newspapers, including USA Today and the San Jose Mercury News, news programs, including FOX and NBC, and on the radio. While starting one’s own business is a lonely endeavor, Gypsy relies on her ability to continually prioritize competing demands on her time and willingness to face each challenge with a positive outlook. In 2013, Gift A Feast proved that people wanted its products. The challenge of 2014 is to build on its success to better serve its customers. To that end, Gift A Feast opened its first showroom in San Francisco in April 2014, with additional service improvements in the works. Join the email list at Gift A Feast to keep informed of our progress. Gypsy lives in San Francisco with her husband, 3-year old daughter and 21-month old son.

In need of a creative outlet, Gypsy took up quilting as an alternative to her more abstract work.

DIASPORA

ALL NATURAL CEREAL BOOMS IN CHINA Written by Paul Look Kong

DIASPORA

was born in Trinidad, but moved to Shanghai in 2002, after living in Hong Kong for six years. Four years ago, in November 2009, I started my company with my business partner. While living in Shanghai it was always very difficult to find quality healthy foods at a reasonable cost, particularly granola, which I usually eat for breakfast. Sure - you can pay double, or even triple for imported foods, but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like doing that. After doing market research and creating a simple business plan, my business partner and I decided to produce and distribute all-natural granola in China. For many local Chinese, eating granola is somewhat foreign. Of course they are familiar with and eat whole grain oats, which is my productâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main ingredient. However, they use oats as porridge. My main challenge is to educate the Chinese population about granola and teach them methods of preparation. Fortunately, they already eat whole grain oats so the transition from porridge to granola is not very difficult. Unfortunately, there is a big gap between the cost of oats and the cost of granola. Oats is simply oats, whereas my product is a combination of whole grain oats, natural flavours, nuts and dried fruits, all of which are toasted, which creates the difference in cost. But in the Chinese culture both oats and granola are considered the same product. I am in the process of opening my own factory. Prior to this, I used an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) factory to produce the all-natural granola, but that was a challenge. Doing business with Chinese factories is more difficult than one would think. For foreigners interested in doing business in China, it is important that they have a firm understanding of the Chinese business culture, and understand that they will encounter monstrous challenges along the way. Sometimes it is better to hire an agent or consultant to assist in the application of starting a new company in China.

Paul Look Kong

As with doing business anywhere in the world, patience and sustainability are crucial for success.

Conducting business in China has become somewhat easier over time. Over the past few months, China has come under heavy international scrutiny after some factories and restaurants violated its food-safety laws. These violations have caused food regulators to closely monitor the food industry, which practically affects who can enter or remain in the food industry. For example, applying for a food license has become more stringent because the health and safety standards are now more rigorous. Time is a factor because approvals take even longer than before. For instance, seven months ago my factory began inspection and today it is yet to be completed. Usually this would not take very long. Hopefully, in two months the factory will be approved and open for business.

DIASPORA

A NEUROSCIENTIST LIVES HER PASSION

DIASPORA

I have always been fascinated with the human brain. How do we learn? How do we remember? And how do diseases of the brain steal our memories? As a student at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, in Trinidad and Tobago studying biochemistry and chemistry, I knew I wanted to continue my studies to understand the human brain. Luckily, I won an amazing scholarship opportunity to work towards a PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Germany. This institute, one of the most prestigious in the world, allowed me to delve deep into the innerworkings of the brain, where I examined precisely how individual brain cells, or neurons,

Written by Dr. Yaisa Andrews-Zwillings

talk to each other, forming so-called neural ‘networks’ that form the underlying matrix of the brain. While I was studying in Germany, tragedy struck

Today, as a staff scientist at Gladstone, I’m working to develop drugs that block the harmful effects of apoE4 on brain cells.

my family back home. My beloved grandfather suffered a stroke, and subsequently began to

Despite researchers’ best efforts, there are as of

suffer from neurodegeneration, in which brain

yet no effective drugs that can prevent or cure

cells become degraded and die. This incident

Alzheimer’s. My hope is that the work that we do

completely changed my career path. Instead of

at Gladstone can contribute to a much-needed cure.

simply wanting to understand how the brain works, I now wanted to focus my attention on the

I have been so fortunate to have the opportunity

debilitating causes of neurodegeneration—and

to build a career around finding ways to fight brain

how we may be able to prevent it. Luckily, I was

disease. However, living away from Trinidad and

able to translate my studies into my new passion;

Tobago and my family and friends has been the

as an understanding of normal interactions

biggest challenge. The fact that our two young

between neurons, helped inform our

sons are growing up with no cousins, aunts and

understanding of how disrupted communictions

uncles or grandparents nearby has by far been the

could be associated with brain diseases such as

most challenging part of living and working abroad.

Alzheimer’s disease. While in Germany I not only earned my PhD setting the stage for the next phase of my career, but I also met my husband, a fellow neuroscientist interested in diseases of the brain. Together, we left Germany to embark on a new journey to the United States, to the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco. There, I began my research into a gene called apoE4, the most significant genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s.

That being said, I take pride in the fact that I am able to represent my home country on the frontlines of brain disease research. I am proud that my childhood and education in Trinidad and Tobago laid a strong foundation for my career as a scientist, and I’m thankful that my children, though they live in the United States, are forever connected to my homeland. 17

DIASPORA

KEEPING TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ALIVE IN THE UK Ansel Wong migrated from his country of birth, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1965 to attend university; a well- worn and traditional pathway as Trinidadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education system assumed progression to university abroad or to The University of the West Indies. Wong choose abroad. He left his Alma Mater, Naparima College, to attend Hull University in Yorkshire - a University that is renowned for its scholarships in Caribbean Literature - to read English and American Studies. His contemporaries during this time included Deryck Murray, Tony Martin, Colin Prescod, Dorothy Lightbourne and several other Caribbean nationals who all returned to their countries of origin to find careers in professional cricket, academia, politics, sociology and animation. Wong was the only one of this group to remain in the United Kingdom, continuing his studies at the Universities of London and Brunel, then settling down to have a family in London. From then to now, he has had an extensive engagement with Black communities and British society as a combatant, advocate and beneficiary. Ansel Wong

DIASPORA

This took several forms, from the prodigal son in the Mother Country to an afro-haired student revolutionary; a locks man in community work at the fringes of criminality; a stentorian community voice labelled “an ungrateful recipient of British hospitality”; a local Magistrate, an artist combating stereotypes and fostering pride in blackness; and now, a Pensioner, tired, disappointed, but drawing solace from his beloved Arsenal who may yet win the Premiership League this year. But Trinidad and Tobago has always been an inspiration throughout Wong’s sojourn in the United Kingdom. On one hand, he struggled to promote the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, as he fought to be an Ambassador despite his inability to sing a whole calypso, play pan, or make a roti. But, on the other hand, he found his niche in supporting others to put Trinidad and Tobago at the centre of their universe by creating a Carnival Band, lecturing in Caribbean literature and promoting Mas in China and Malta. In retirement, Wong can look back with satisfaction at some of his major accomplishments that included driving the establishment of Black History Month in the United Kingdom,

staging the performance platform to choose the very first Universal Carnival Queen, Managing Editor of the Gold Book to mark the Golden Jubilee of Trinidad and Tobago, the first Chair of the London Health Commission, Equality & Diversity consultant to the UK’s major blue chip companies and serving as a Trustee in several charitable and Third Sector organisations. In addition, Wong has collaborated with other leading “Trinis”, Dame Jocelyn Barrow, Lord Pitt, Jacqui Chan, Lady Hollick and Rudolph Walker, to champion the arts and culture of their country of birth. He has not been afraid to push the boundaries or challenge government officials to achieve this and notwithstanding any failures, he continues to be inspired by these “Trini” icons in the UK, all of whom, together with several others, have been an inspiration and exemplar. The importance of such impromptu alliances fostered among individuals from “back home” cannot be over emphasised, as they make coping bearable, provide justification for action and create the milestones for the next generation.

CYBER SAFETY

TATT/UWI LAUNCH CYBER-SAFETY AWARENESS PROJECT Submitted by TATT

The primary objective of this project is to improve the safety of children in Trinidad and Tobago by educating both children and their parents of the risks associated with the inappropriate use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), including the Internet. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed in this regard. Signing on behalf of TATT was Mr. Cris Seecheran, Chief Executive Officer, and Principal of The UWI, St. Augustine Campus, Professor Clement Sankat, signed on behalf of the University. Providing advice on how children can be protected Mrs. Hoyte stressed “we need to change the dialogue we have with our young people”. Applauding The UWI / TATT initiative, Mrs. Hoyte told the audience that today’s technology cannot be compared with what existed years ago and the model of forced compliance will not meet the need for teaching how to navigate the dangers of overuse and misuse of modern technology. In his opening remarks, Mr. Selby Wilson, Chairman of the Board of TATT told the audience that according to ITU statistics “by the end of 2014 there will be almost 3

billion Internet users. This figure accounts for approximately 40% of the world’s 7 Billion population”. Mr. Wilson said Trinidad and Tobago stands solidly within that mix. He quoted statistics released by TATT a few weeks ago which reveal that approximately 51 out of every 100 persons in Trinidad and Tobago had either a fixed Internet subscription and/or a mobile Internet subscription at the end of 2013. Also addressing the opening was Mr. Shiraj Mohammed, UWI’s Manager Transformational Projects and Commercialization. Mohammed said cyber safety and the appropriate use of the Internet should be of utmost importance to all of us, but particularly our young people who may be considered the most vulnerable in our society. Noting that young people spend “an overwhelming amount of time on the Internet everyday” Mr. Mohammed pointed out that while in cyberspace some young people “post personal information and pictures that strangers can view, some enter chat rooms and speak to people they do not know”. He said some young people add individuals they do not know as friends on different social networking sites.

“WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP IN A WORLD WHERE ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF GOOGLE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS DELETE!” This said Mrs. Alicia Hoyte, Clinical Psychologist and keynote speaker at the launch of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and The University of the West Indies’ (The UWI) (St. Augustine Campus), Cyber Security project on Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

The project was developed by The UWI’s Campus Information Technology Services (CITS) Department and was spearheaded by Mrs. Claire Craig, Senior I.T. Officer, Enterprise Applications Support Manager, at The UWI. TATT and The UWI will work in conjunction with CyberSafeTT on the project. CyberSafeTT is an organisation that already promotes cyber-safety awareness in South Trinidad. TATT’s involvement in Cyber security commenced in 2009 with this organization’s commemoration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The theme for that year was “Protecting Children in Cyberspace”. WTISD is an annual themed event observed by many ITU signatory bodies globally. In 2009, TATT developed a range of related audio visual and print material including a 45-minute video titled “Cyber Danger”. This video continues to be a valuable source of online protection information for children, parents and guardians. Since then, TATT’s staff have been involved in conducting cyber security seminars for children and teenagers upon requests from a wide variety of entities including schools, libraries and youth groups. 21

INDUSTRY

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO’S SERVICES SECTOR AT A GLANCE

Written by Aurelia Bruce

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE CARIBBEAN. ALTHOUGH THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR CONTRIBUTES TO ALMOST HALF OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) AND MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF ITS MERCHANDISE EXPORTS, SERVICES HAS ALSO BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GDP OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. BETWEEN 2011 AND 2013 SERVICES CONTRIBUTED AN AVERAGE OF 50.2% TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S GDP. IN 2013 THE SERVICES SECTOR WAS ALSO EXPECTED TO GROW BY 2.6%. INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL, THE CONTRIBUTION OF SERVICES TO THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN IS BEING RECOGNIZED AND THE WORLD BANK REPORTED THAT SERVICES ACCOUNTS TO 70% OF THE WORLD’S GDP. ICTS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, TOURISM, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, ENERGY AND MARITIME SERVICES ARE AMONG THOSE SERVICES SECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTIVE AND EXPORT BASE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

+ Finance, insurance and real estate up to 13, 795.7 million tt

TOURISM SERVICES

+ The total number of persons visiting Trinidad and Tobago by air and cruise grew moderately between 2008 and 2012, from 481,784 persons to 503,958 persons, a rise of 4.6 percent. + The largest increase in arrivals occurred in 2012, when the number of passengers landing grew by 2.6 percent from 491,278 persons in 2011. + The positive 2012 outturn reflected an increase in air arrivals, which was partially offset by a decline in cruise arrivals (MoF).

CREATIVE SERVICES MUSIC

+ A study on the local music industry has shown that it is estimated to generate TT $169million annually, + Employ some 5600 persons. + At a national level, our carnival remains by far the largest generator of revenues within the music/entertainment sector, producing TT $154 million and employing over 3,500 persons 22

CREATIVE SERVICES ANIMATION

+ There are currently 350 animators in Trinidad and Tobago (and at least another 50 will graduate yearly in 2D animation). + The animation industry benefits from import duty exemptions; economic free zone studio space; and 35% rebate from the TT Film Company for local production costs (subject to eligibility criteria). + The long-term objective is for the country to become a preferred destination for near shore animation operations. + The major segments of the industry include computer and video games, feature film character animation, advertising/commercials and TV shows.

AIRLINE ARRIVALS

+ According to the latest data from the Immigration Division, Trinidad and Tobago received approximately 454,683 air passengers in 2012. This represented a 5.5 percent increase from the 430,922 passengers, which arrived by air in 2011. + A comparison with historical Central Statistical Office (CSO) data indicates that airline arrivals had steadily risen between 2010 and 2012, with the largest increase occurring in 2011 (12.0 percent). + Air arrivals are expected to continue its upward trajectory during 2013 into 2014 as several new airlift agreements with foreign airlines and tour operators, took effect.

INDUSTRY

YACHTING

AIRLINE ARRIVALS

+ The number of yachts visiting Trinidad and Tobago increased for a third consecutive year to 1,471 vessels in 2012, a 15.7 percent increase from the 1,271 vessels which anchored in 2011. The greatest number of yachts arrived in April 2012 (184 vessels), which was 44.9 percent higher than the year before. October, however, registered the lowest number of yacht arrivals (60 vessels), a decline of 32.6 percent from the previous year. + Approximately 551 yachts visited Trinidad and Tobago during the first four months of 2013, representing a 6.8 percent decline over the comparative 2012 period. Of these, Trinidad received 393 vessels whilst Tobago received 158 vessels. + According to TTCSIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Draft Strategy for Export of Yachting Services , the aim is to increase the number of yacht arrivals by 500 and attract 100 charters to base in T&T contributing an additional US$12.5million to services exports and the economy with 10% per annum growth thereafter.

+ In November 2012, the Canadian airline, WestJet, launched a daily non-stop service between Toronto and Port-of-Spain. + Scandinavian based tour operator, Kuoni/Apollo, was also scheduled to provide a weekly winter air service from Scandinavia to Tobago, during the December 2013 to April 2014 period.

CRUISE SHIP ARRIVALS

+ A total of 69 cruise ships moored in Trinidad and Tobago in 2012, a 16.9 percent increase from the 59 cruise ships that harboured in the previous year; + The number of cruise passengers however fell by 18.4 percent to 49,275 persons in 2012 from 60,356 persons in 2011. This decline reflected a 29.5 percent drop in the number of cruise passengers visiting Tobago to 31,530 persons in 2012, which outweighed a 13.4 percent rise in the number of cruise passengers visiting Trinidad (17,745 persons); + Trinidad received 11 vessels in the four-month period to April 2013, half the number of ships received in the corresponding period of 2012, whilst Tobago received 14 vessels, which were 11 fewer than the equivalent 2012 period.

SOURCE OF INFO: TTCSI National Draft Strategies for Yachting

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

+ The aim is to increase the number of foreign contracts won by firms from Trinidad and Tobago by 50, which will contribute an additional US$12.5million to services exports, hopefully growing by 10% per annum thereafter + There are 835 registered engineers + Around 100 registered architects and several hundred surveyors and project managers/planners + There are approximately 40 firms practising in T&T with 50% sole practitioners and around 5 large firms.

MEDICAL TOURISM

+ The aim is to increase the number of foreign patients visiting Trinidad and Tobago by 6,500 contributing an additional US$37million to services exports as a whole after three years and then growth of 20% per annum thereafter; + There are 10 private hospitals in T&T; + The capacity of private hospitals is estimated at 39,000 patients per year, with estimated current utilization of 31000 per annum, meaning there is capacity; + Dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago is wholly private sector owned; + There are approximately 1000* dental practices; + 3 main market segments of focus for medical tourism: joint replacements, cardiac surgery and dentistry.

SOURCE OF INFO: TTCSI National Draft Strategies for medical Tourism

MARITIME

The Maritime Industry enjoys: + Import duty concessions + VAT exemptions + Tax allowances and investment incentives

YACHTING

+ Approximately 180 companies locally cater to the yachting industry. + About 140 of them are located in Chaguaramas.

SOURCE OF INFO: TTCSI National Draft Strategies for Professional Services

EDUCATION

+ There are five universities/colleges in Trinidad and Tobago (UWI, UTT, COSTATT, St. Andrews University and USC) as well as 70 private tertiary education institutions. + Across these institutions less than 5% are foreign students + TTCSIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Strategy for Export Education Services is to increase the number of foreign students studying in T&T to 7,500 students contributing an additional US$62.5million to exports and the economy as a whole per annum. + Promoting English Language Training, Technical & Vocational Education

CONCLUSION

+ The services sector was projected to grow in real terms by 2.6 percent in 2013, up slightly from 2012 when the sector expanded by an estimated 2.4 percent. + This performance reflects positive growth projections for all services sub-sectors. + The strongest growth (5.3 percent) is expected in the largest services sub-sector, finance, insurance, and real estate etc. primarily on account of an expansion in banking activities. + Moderate growth of 3.0 percent is also expected in the construction and quarrying, and the electricity and water sub-sectors. + Transport, storage and communication, the third largest services sub-sector, is projected to grow by 1.4 percent in 2013, the same as in 2012. 23

BUILDING BRIDGES

NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK NOVEMBER 3RD 7TH 2014 3RD-7TH The TTCSI believes ves that the Services Sector will be dominant across economics worldwide. Service providers face a challenging operating environment far removed from its manufacturing industry counterpart and this is why National Services Week was created; to bring awareness to the general public about the sector, the operators within it, and the importance of the need for all citizens to become aware of the opportunities that can be derived from the sector.

annual celebrations for N annual Na National nal Services Week. This year the theme is “Building Bridges” as TTCSI continues to create the relevant platforms to strengthen and promote the services sector. For National Services Week 2014, TTCSI’s focus is to establish the right linkages and form strategic partnerships to build and empower the services sector and create the right opportunities through education, innovation and motivation.

This year from November 3rd to 7th, 2014, the TTCSI will once again host a series of events as part of its seventh

THE EVENTS INCLUDE:

NOV 3

FOURTH ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN SERVICES AWARD National Services Week kicks off with its much talked about Excellence in Services Awards, where the organization highlights and honours those in the Services Sector. The objective of the of TTCSI’s awards is to inspire more innovation, while recognizing role models in the Services industries for their outstanding performance and contribution to the sector. This would be held at the Grand Ballroom Trinidad Hilton Hotel.

NOV 4

The Categories Include: • Best use of Innovation in Services • Best New Services Provider of the Year award • Young Service Provider of the Year • Service Association of the Year • Service Exporter of the Year • Best Services Sector Feature (Media Award)

THE ART OF BUSINESS- UNDERSTANDING VENTURE CAPITAL Raising money in today’s environment is easier said than done. But prioritising your needs and avoiding deal killers should be the focus for anyone operating in the Small Medium Enterprises(SME) sector. The most prevalent obstacle for any SME, is access to ﬁnance. Plans for growth and operations, are all hindered by the challenge of ﬁnancing. The TTCSI recognises this barrier and it is for this very reason we are hosting a Venture Capital workshop. The aim of the workshop is two-fold: It will provide an innovative and information driven session that will

stimulate and encourage critical thought by entrepreneurs on understanding and accessing venture capital; Secondly, entrepreneurs will be able to engage in one on one sessions with venture capital experts who will be able to advise on their business, their goals, and just what is needed to make “the next step”. At the end, participants will be able to provide an overview of venture capital ﬁnancing and have actionable advice to prepare them for raising capital from venture capital funds.

BUILDING BRIDGES

NOV 4 NOV 5

THE ART OF BUSINESS- UNDERSTANDING VENTURE CAPITAL Participants will beneﬁt from a comprehensive workshop, which includes the following topics: • Understanding venture funds and how they operate; • An overview of venture capital term sheets and ﬁnancing terms;

I AM SECONDARY SCHOOL GREEN BUILDING COMPETITION This is TTCSI’s second annual I AM secondary School Green Competition. This Green Building challenge is a call to 3rd and 4th form school teams to identify, document and analyze a challenge related to energy efficiency at their school and to present a solution incorporating Green Building principles. The objectives for this year’s competition are to empower students, foster teamwork, and promote awareness of energy efficiency and a culture of research and critical thinking, as well as an appreciation for the use of energy buildings.

NOV 6

• Understanding the stages of a venture capital ﬁnancing; • Learning common terms used in such transactions and what they mean • As well as one on one sessions with leadings experts in the venture capital ﬁeld.

THE VALUE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

Last year the judges were highly impressed and commented on the high quality submissions they received, which made their jobs tougher than anticipated. 2013 Winners were: 1ST PLACE - St Joseph Convent, San Fernando 2ND PLACE - Bishop Anstey High School, Port-of-Spain 3RD PLACE - Naparima Girls High School BEST DRAWING - Queen’s Royal College MOST ORIGINAL PRESENTATION - San Juan Secondary School

NOV 7

PROMOTING SERVICES GLOBALLY

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN NETWORK FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN OF THE SOUTH (NEEWS) TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2015. “Yes, another good workshop… perhaps even a great workshop! But that’s not what we want… That’s not what I want! I want something practical that I can use!” These were the concluding remarks of a participant in a women’s empowerment workshop. The participating women were largely from the Arab and African regions, but also included women from Latin America, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Russia. In spite of their different cultural backgrounds, the women unanimously agreed on the desire to be equipped with tools that they can use when they return to their different workplaces or countries. They want to network for results! They want to break barriers! They want new business opportunities! This was the challenge for our office, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The participants were our constituents, women from developing countries. And the request was made to us. How can we turn this ‘feedback’ into a meaningful product that can address the needs of women in business in the global South! This led to a survey of approximately one hundred and twenty participants in women empowerment workshops over a two-year period. The results from the survey indicated that the needs of women were not fully addressed in ‘empowerment workshops’. Whilst there were excellent presenters, there was little networking. Over 75 % were interested in Training, Networking, and Mentorship. They, in turn, were ready to: • Provide mentorship to young entrepreneurs; • Create new job opportunities; and

• Connect with other women globally to deal with the “soft issues” and other challenges that women face. The majority identiﬁed ﬁnancial support for their businesses as important, but emphasized the need for negotiation skills as critical. The data also showed that only 6% were engaged in manufacturing whilst over 80% were engaged in services or service-oriented sectors. Interesting women-oriented business services included: - Taxi services fully conceptualized, developed and managed by women for women. (This also included repairs & maintenance by women). - Provision of support for women in prison. - Provision of used computers to train women. - Communications and advocacy to raise women’s issues. These however, seemed to be structured more as non-government organizations. The idea was to consider a way to support women who were already in business and facing real challenges of how to grow their businesses to achieve ‘breakthrough success’ and address the ‘glass ceiling’ for women in business? This was the context in which the Network for Economic Empowerment of Women of the South (NEEWS) emerged.

NEEWS

The overall goal of NEEWS is “to create a Network to further opportunities for women’s economic empowerment through establishment of a Business Accelerator to underpin the

growth of business women of the global South”. NEEWS will represent the 6 regions of the global South - Africa, Asia, Arab States, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The focus will be to strengthen women in business with information and expertise on value chains and technical standards, ﬁnancial services, and access to technology to help move women-led enterprises to take better advantage of market opportunities. It will be an opportunity to grow export markets intra and inter regions of the developing world, as women connect with each other virtually using social media tools and through face-to-face events, such as the upcoming forum to be held in the ﬁrst quarter of 2015. All, women and men, are invited to be part of NEEWS. Let’s Make it Happen for 2015. SOME FACTS: - More than a billion people live in poverty worldwide - approximately 70% are women. - Nearly 800 million people cannot read or write - two-thirds are women. - Women hold only 21.4 % of the world’s parliamentary seats; - In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, 80% of jobs for women are in the informal work sector; - Globally, 3 out of every 10 women report having experienced physical and / or sexual violence by an intimate partner; - Despite progress in some countries and regions, approximately 800 women die every day from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth; - While men spend 30% - 40% of their earned income on their families, women spend 90%. 25

SOME OF T&T'S TOP LEADING WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROFILE

CHER-MÉRE ON ITS WAY T TO O BRAND BECOMING A GLOBAL BRA AND Cheryl Bowles left her top executive job at Nestlé to become an entrpreneur in local hair and skin products. As sudden as it was, especially with no previous experience working with herbs, Bowles decided to trust her instincts and develop the products. Inspired both by her mother, Merle, and the beauty of the Caribbean, Bowles commenced research on indigenous botanicals to create solution oriented natural herbal eco-friendly cosmetics and Spas under the trademark “Cher-Mere”. A brand, which is derived from a collaboration of both her and her mother’s name. As an entrepreneur the terrain was difficult at times. One of the key challenges experienced in Cher-Mere’s development was overcoming the limited perception of local cosmetics and its financing. However, Bowles persevered and today, almost 30 years later, there are six Cher Mere Day Spas among Trinidad, Barbados and Canada, 40 manufactured products, and 50 employees. Some professional successes include an invitation by the United States White House to attend the first women’s entrepreneurial conference, which was held in Canada, and an invitation by UNDP to participate in business forums in Ghana and Switzerland. Bowles’ daughter, Dr. Aba Bowles-Mortley, PhD, has taken the baton to continue the global expansion of the Cher-Mere brand, as assistant General Manager of International Marketing.

CHERYL BOWLES

EVERY ICON HAS HA A STORY When locals hear the W th he e name ‘Meiling’ they tend to think of o a high-end h fashion but many icon, con, b y do not know kn no ow the intriguing g g historyy of this local loca al entrepreneur. entre trepreneur. When designer in Trinidad and Tobago, TTCSI spoke to Meiling, a veteran v To obago, she s provided a peephole couturiers peep phole into her story: story y: “My mother was one of the top cou uturiers in Trinidad so from fashion has h always been in n my m blood. Even as a little girl, I was making clothes clo the scraps of materials for my dolls,” do d olls,” said Meiling, as she identified the root of her he talent. Unlike to today, oday, during the 60s s there were no opportunities to formally form mally study fashion fashi hion in Trinidad, so Meiling Me eiling studied fashion fashiio on design in London and returned to o Trinidad in the early ea 70s. 70s Upon returning, retu urning, she launched urning launche ed d one of the first local designer boutiques bou utiques in a renovated renovate ated garage, which incorporated Ltd, hi h eventually t ll became b i po t d in i 1982 as MEILING Inc. I Ltd and d has h evolved l d into i tto the sophisticated brand it is today. Looking back Meiling stated that it has not been an easy road, but she kept focused. When asked what kept her motivated, she stated, “I believe that the three things that have kept me going is the creativity, my education and willingness to keep on learning, and my tenacity to keep on doing.” Many would say that her tenacity has definitely paid off since she is locally and internationally known for her work. Meiling has collaborated with other famous designers, and she is a recipient of one of the country’s highest national awards, the Chaconia Silver Medal for meritorious service to Trinidad and Tobago’s business sector. Her journey is definitely inspiring to many young entrepreneurs and it seemed breathtaking for Meiling herself, as she quipped, “Forty years plus, I am still here!”

MEILING

Clearly, there is no ceiling for Meiling, as she does not plan to stop until the MEILING brand is on the global stage. “Even though I have received many awards, I believe no designer should rest on laurels, and I am only as good as my last collection.”

THE CARIBBEAN WOMAN WO OMAN It was the late 1970’s and Claudia Pegus bega began an importing clothin clothing ng from London for retail sale s in Trinidad. The realization that the European E cu ut was no fit for the C aribbean body awakened awakene ed her cut Caribbean bega an recreating recreatin ng garments. Soon Claudia’s Claudia’s company went from ffr entrepreneurial skills and she began creatin ng its own designs. des signs. selling imported clothing to creating udia Pegus is s an eclectic busine esswoman who stands apart ap Now more than 30 years later, Clau Claudia businesswoman epreneur with witth fierce ambition, no nonsense business as a resilient and passionate entre entrepreneur charis sma. This Tr sma rinidadian couturiere e has ventured to, to and smarts and a down to earth charisma. Trinidadian i the h highly hi hl competitive i i global l b l fashion f hi industry. i d Wi h built a strong and reputable name in With a design company, which bears he her name and focuses on an exclusive niche market, she caters to a cosmopolitan of lo local, regional and international dignitaries, public figures, models and celebrities. Some of her awards run from “Top Female Owned/Managed Export Company” at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards in 2004; and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence and Remarkable Contributions to the Caribbean Fashion Industry by Caribbean Style @ Culture, Washington, DC in 2011. That same year she won Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries’ award for Service Provider of the Year.

CLAUDIA PEGUS

PROFILE

TAKING LEAD IN THE CORPORATE WORLD Angela Lee Loy ABOUT AEGIS

Aegis is a regional provider in outsourcing and advisory services in Accounting, Tax, Audit, Payroll, Human Resources, Corporate Secretarial and we are embarking on our Corporate Finance division. The company was formed to fulfil a growing need to encourage innovation through entrepreneurship for both local and foreign investors. Outsourcing services for businesses was definitely needed when we started in 2001.

OUR TEAM

We are a team of 81 professionals who cater to businesses and investors who prefer to focus on developing their core product or service and let us manage their back office operations. Sixty-two percent of my team are women of which my leadership team is mostly women. This was not a strategic decision, but a result of our work-balance culture at Aegis and in keeping with our outsourcing vision to be a dynamic, rewarding and socially responsible advisory and service provider.

MAIN CHALLENGE

My main challenge in developing Aegis was that the concept of outsourcing was relatively new in Trinidad and Tobago fourteen years ago and not well-known in the marketplace. I had concerns and questions such as – “How was my audience going to react to this new idea?” “Was it going to be successful?” “How would businesses feel about letting an external provider manage their operations?” 28

Psychologically it is hard for business people to let go of their operations and I was uncertain how many would actually do it. We recognised there was a need and we had to build trust and good customer relationships with prospective businesses.

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS My strategy continues to be going out and meeting clients on a one to one basis. In the beginning I did a good amount of networking to individual companies in order to better understand what their needs are and how Aegis could enhance our services to facilitate their business. Once we understood the needs of the market, it opened our eyes and we increased staffing to meet the demand for our services. We continuously reinvested profits into the company to fulfil these resourcing needs and ensured training where necessary as people are our greatest asset.

FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Kick-starting a new business is no easy task and often we are hesitant to hit the ground running. But we must take risks. You have to take calculated risks and work out in your mind how you think it may pan out. It is important to understand that it may not. A back up plan is needed and you have to decide how and when to cut your losses, make a decision to come out of an investment and salvage it. If you have entrepreneurial spirit, plan and go for it. From Richard Branson to Oprah Winfrey,

these business leaders do not sit still. My best piece of advice for young entrepreneurs is to constantly network and that it all boils down to how you deal with people in the marketplace. People resonate with you if you are genuinely interested in who they are and what they do. Often it is not all about talking business and many people feel networking is all fluff. It is fluff if you put on a persona that is not you. Be genuinely interested in talking to people and find out about them, how you can help and if there is something you are unsure about. My rule is - When in doubt? Ask. Building trust takes time and it means being genuine in your everyday actions and sticking to your word. TTCSI will be hosting venture capitalists to speak at its Natioanl Services Week 2014 and it will be an opportunity to hear their learning experiences. Local entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch their business idea and make their presentation.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES I succeeded in a man’s world. It is different today. There were many instances where I was the only female. I was so into my work I never noticed the difference. Today there is more acceptance of women in leadership positions than there would have been in my time.

PROFILE

AFTER TTCSI’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON JUNE 10TH, MS ANGELA LEE LOY WAS NAMED PRESDIENT OF THE SEVEN YEAR-OLD SERVICES SECTOR BODY. MS LEE LOY IS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT FOR TTCSI, WHICH SIGNIFIES A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE ORGANIZATION. SHE ALSO SITS ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF AEGIS, A REGIONAL PROVIDER FOR OUTSOURCING AND ADVISORY SERVICES IN THE CORPORATE FINANCE SECTOR. SHE TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE HER JOURNEY OF PROFESSIONAL DISCOVERY IN A MAN’S WORLD, PROVIDING TIPS FOR YOUNG ENTRPRENEURS AND FOR WOMEN IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.

Businesses globally are recognising that qualified women on Boards bring diverse perspectives to the organisation and have an advantage to highlight critical better decision making and ultimately a competitive advantage.

FAMILY AND CAREER I don’t have kids of my own, but I have a lot of kids through my friends and family. I am one of seven siblings and have developed the best friendships over time. If it is one thing I can say - seeking support from friends and family is important. Striking the right balance is also important, not necessarily easy. You also need to see about yourself. It also depends at what stage in your life you are at. I used to sew all my work clothes, but now I don’t. You need to strategically think about what you can do to make your life easier. At different stages in your life you have different levels of support. Change throughout life is constant and women need to continuously ensure they ask for help at home and they build the support systems in place for their family and their career.

MY ROLE AND VISION AT TTCSI The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (ICATT) is a member of TTCSI and prior to my leadership roles I was and still am the representative for

ICATT. I asked a lot of Finance questions at the AGM and this raised interest among the existing Board members. I joined the Board and served as Treasurer before accepting the role of the President. I thought about it for a while and realised TTCSI helps our people of Trinidad and Tobago to export their services and both ICATT and Aegis are in the service industry. My experiences from both organisations can add value to the Association. I am eager to collaborate with the Board to determine how the Association can help different service sectors export their services. With my business experience, I can bring people with diverse backgrounds together, give them the forum to make their points and leverage on their ideas. This is what we need for TTCSI and with such a large membership, our tenacity and approach is important. Our goal is to establish more Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with different countries depending on the industry, for example, aggressively targeting the architectural industry to European markets because there are opportunities there. We can also facilitate developing strategic plans for some of our smaller service organisations.

OTHER LEADERSHIP ROLES • Chairman of Social Justice Foundation • Chairman of Music Literacy Trust • Non-executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Prestige Holdings Limited (Public Company) and Gulf Insurance Limited • Former Audit Partner at PwC • Former partner of Learning & Education at PwC

PAST LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS • First female President for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) • First female President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad & Tobago (ICATT) • Trinidad & Tobago representative on the International Assembly of Association of Chartered Certified (ACCA) for 6 years • Chairman of National AIDS Coordinating committee (NACC) • Chaired the Advisory Committee of the Private Sector Forum at both the 2009 Summit of Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

PROFILE

CAMILLE SEARS-CARTER WELLS….

AS A MANAGER, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPOWERING MY STAFF AND GIVING SUPPORT.

HER JOURNEY TO BECOMING TTCSI’S FIRST FEMALE CEO Written by Dixie-Ann Dickson

Many female professionals continue to fight against all odds to gain recognition and prominence in what is a very competitive corporate world. This is no different for the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries’ (TTCSI) newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Camille Sears-Carter Wells. Along her journey to success, like many women, she has had to battle with several challenges to prove herself. Challenges like gender inequality have proven to be a hurdle to her and many others. Even though she did not state any specific examples, she admits, “I have encountered gender inequality and sometimes this can be very subtle. The corporate world is highly competitive, replete with challenges”. Asked how she dealt with some of these challenges, she says, “I would first assess the situation and then decide on a course of action, relevant to same”. 30

Issues like gender inequality have been a stumbling block to some women in attaining their goals and achieving success at the highest level, however, through hard work and perseverance, Camille made her way to the top. While she notes that leading women continue to climb the corporate ladder, particularly in the services sector, from her observation, the ratio of leading women to leading men is 30:70. Sometimes challenges are disguised as opportunities, Camille says. She further notes that timing is always a key factor to success especially in the corporate world. This has led to a very successful career path.

PROFILE

SO HOW DID SHE DO IT?

ACHIEVEMENTS

Her successful career began with the acquisition of professional qualifications. Camille holds a BA in French and Spanish from the Carlton University in Ottawa and MSc. in International Trade Policy from The UWI Cave Hill, Barbados, but she didn’t stop there. She continuously upgraded herself to remain relevant in her field and completed an Advanced Mediation course. She strongly believes in keeping abreast of the changes in one’s environment and remaining relevant by always acquiring new knowledge. This is definitely no easy task. She says, “This requires continuous reading and obtaining information from a wide range of sources and also engaging in continuous dialogue at local, regional and international levels with individuals and organizations.”

She was also successful at organizing incoming and outgoing trade missions regionally and internationally with a strong focus on business-to-business matchmaking initiatives and has managed to leverage on her language skills for increased successful business arrangements at a regional and international level.

Another key factor, she advises, is keeping the organization and the staff at the forefront at all times. Her personable and affable nature reflects the value and esteem she places on human resources. She opines that both emotional and social intelligence are two important management tools for the work environment. “As a manager, I know the importance of empowering my staff and giving support.”

Given her successes, she was asked what could she bring to the position of TTCSI’s CEO, Camille says, “My previous experience, which is pertinent to industry and my vision and passion for the development and success of the services sector in Trinidad and Tobago, which is geared towards sustainable development. “ She also states, “ I saw this as a way of fulfilling my passion, i.e. to lead the charge for a sector, which has a myriad of possibilities. My focus, which is in keeping with the TTCSI’s mandate, is to exploit these opportunities for services growth and exports that would create a sense of certainty within the sector.” “ Years ago, I was introduced to the TTCSI concept during my tertiary level studies and I believed then as I do now its raison d’être,” the new TTCSI head says.

THE OTHER SIDE… HER JOURNEY Camille’s journey as a professional really kicked off during the early 1990’s as an Export Representative to the French and Spanish speaking Caribbean for a leading food manufacturing firm, which eventually led to her becoming the Industrial Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA). After which she became the Marketing Manager of the Export-Import Bank of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd. Her last experience before taking the leap to become TTCSI’s CEO, was at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, as the Trade and Business Development Manager for seven and a half years years. During her tenure at TT Chamber, she acted with distinction on several occasions as the CEO.

ACHIEVEMENTS Acquiring her academic qualifications and attaining top management positions were not all for Camille, she has much more to show for her accomplishments. Coupled with her great charismatic leadership skills and humble persona, she achieved successful export marketing initiatives regionally and extra-regionally, which positively impacted the various firms’ (she worked for) bottom line.

Words can’t describe the love Camille has for dogs. She truly believes that dogs are really man’s best friends, but as cliché as it sounds, you can’t convince her otherwise. “I think that dogs have such an innate sense of who we are”, says Camille pointing to the fact that “we all have heard where dogs have literally saved people’s lives.” Her love for dogs grew with her from childhood into adulthood, where she has always dreamed about opening a health facility in Trinidad and Tobago that involves animal-assisted therapy for citizens. Yes, this is how deep her love is. In many parts of the world, she says researchers have explored and proven the therapeutic link between humans and animals, developing programs and institutions that would facilitate animal companionship. So while she may not be a member of any animal network - she supports their initiatives, but also has her own vision - an institution that involves animal assisted therapeutic healing. “It has been proven time and time again, that when patients interact with animals their healing is expedited,” Camille says. Of course, with her background, she is a strategist for the continued development of health and wellness sector, so looking at the business side of her vision for animals, she says, “We (Trinidad & Tobago) have some competitive advantages – we don’t have rabies and we have the right climate, and given the government’s mandate to diversify the economy this could be “a health/tourism approach.”

BUSINESS

WOMEN AND THE PROVERBIAL GLASS CEILING? Written by Dr. Camille Samuel, Vice President - Student Affairs College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT)

The understanding that hierarchical gendered relations in the workplace are appropriate is well entrenched and women have come to accept this gendered ordering and in many instances have upheld practices, which underscore the irrelevance of women regarding pinnacle leadership positions and their lack of true influence in corporate settings.

There can be no doubt that the world has advanced significantly from Aristotle’s position in the year 1259, that “the male is more fitted to rule than the female”. Over the decades, we have also noted advancements regarding the number of women actually leading public, private and political organizations. The dominant image of women during the 1960s and 1970s, as depicted by Harvard University’s Moss Kanter (1977) as “stuck in the lower [clerical] echelons of…corporations”, seems hardly relevant today as women are visibly seen to be heading Fortune 500 companies, leading countries and dominating the tertiary education sector globally. In fact, we can very well argue that women’s leadership and economic character have been gaining legitimacy locally, regionally and of course internationally.

Regardless of these advances though, traditional notions of the man as leader and the woman as follower still characterize the dominant relations within organizations today.

Perhaps this is best depicted by the American cartoonist, Liza Donnelly, through her depictions of the relations of gender in workspaces. Despite women’s visibility in leadership positions and their absolute domination of the education sector as teachers as well as students, they still hold just about 15% of top leadership positions in Fortune 500 companies and 13% of parliamentary seats globally. Women are still seen as better suited to nurturing and caring role and not pertinent to boardroom discussions. What is even more surprising is that both men and women conspire (consciously or unconsciously) to maintain the status quo and preserve the historically naturalized connectivity that “masculinist” rule and men have had over economic resources and by extension, organizations. Further, both men and women have been making economic use of women’s technical skills while simultaneously seeking to remove women and their bodies from legitimate association with leadership and corporate success.

In a relatively recent series of interviews held with male and female top executives in the Caribbean, the authenticity of the position that women are extraneous to the corporate setting, is made even more lucid when we take note of some of their comments.

MALE LEADER 1 A woman runs a home - a home requires a great deal of organization and in a lot of cases, all the man does is to provide the money…my wife runs my home... she has her Masters and everything too but she is a fantastic mother and home maker and cook and everything else… - but…she couldn’t run this… People are more accustomed to a man [leading] so you are going to have less people having a difficulty with a man doing it than a woman… boys could fight today - this morning and by after lunch they are palsiwalsie. But when two girls fight, they ain’t getting back together in under a week. They could stay enemies for life and girls tend to take it more personal.

BUSINESS

MALE LEADER 2

MALE LEADER 5

FEMALE LEADER 2

There are a lot of areas here that our women have to handle. The women in our organisation… they look after us… they are more emotional…a man would be more… susceptible to dealing with the facts.

Men would support you and give you…accurate information…men are logical…a woman[’s] logic is different, they are on a different wavelength, their priorities are different to men…a man…would be more susceptible to dealing with the facts.

Women are afraid to communicate and express, they are a bit too timid in the work place, they want to stay in line kinda thing…eh want to mash no corns, they eh want to rock the boat, all kinds of crap.

MALE LEADER 3 Very often, in my industrial relations experience, coming out of some of the matters that I would have conciliated upon in the Ministry of Labour and so on, very often you’ve heard the allegations through accusations by workers who felt aggrieved against female executives, you know, to put in local parlance, “the worse ting is a woman boss”.

MALE LEADER 6 I think men tend to be a little more analytical and women tend to be a little more intuitive…. A lot of women can see around corners. I don’t know men who can see around corners.

MALE LEADER 4

FEMALE LEADER 1

Well it seems as though women are harder to work for…I get a lot of complaints about the female executives… from other females that work for them… we [also] had a couple [of complaints] recently from men. [These executive women are] rough, unfair and authoritarian. I don’t think that they are problem executives…

There is a difference [between male and female executives]. I think the jury is out on which one is more effective, but there definitely is a difference and I think it’s by nature because we are different…the women brings with her, more of a maternal instinct and therefore you often find a lot more caring for the employee…women brings with her, more of a maternal instinct and therefore you often find a lot more caring for the employee…

They’re good. I work well with them; one of them has a problem because she’s too frank. If I had to say anything, is that if you have a pack of women together there's trouble.

In summation, the concept of the glass ceiling is more complex than it appears and still ever present. Both men and women have played significant roles in reinforcing the notion of the ceiling on the basis of difference and as long as these differences are upheld and women continue to ingrain the ethic of difference in their corporate lives, women will always find themselves having limited influence over economic resources and excluded from decision making.

Both men and women must work together to dismantle the historical gender bonds, which inherently limit the potential of both men and women.

INDUSTRY

BUSINESS CONTINUITY Written by Keith Greaves

BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT (BCM) IS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES RISK, THREATS AND VULNERABILITIES THAT COULD IMPACT AN ENTITY'S CONTINUED OPERATIONS AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE AND THE CAPABILITY FOR AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE. THE OBJECTIVE OF BCM, THEREFORE, IS TO MAKE THE ENTITY MORE RESILIENT TO POTENTIAL THREATS AND ALLOW THE ENTITY TO RESUME OR CONTINUE OPERATIONS UNDER ADVERSE OR ABNORMAL CONDITIONS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF APPROPRIATE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD AND IMPACT OF A THREAT; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS TO RESPOND AND RECOVER FROM THREATS THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED OR MITIGATED. A pro-active and robust BCM Program successfully connects critical people to critical systems in order to keep critical business functions operating, so that the business can continue to generate revenue and meet customer needs – during a disaster event. Though the methodology may differ among vendors/providers, Business Continuity Plans will generally address the major business continuity phases. • PREVENTION PLANS address measures that enable an organization to avoid, preclude, or limit the impact of a disruption. • EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS deal with the immediate reaction and response to an emergency situation. • RECOVERY PLANS outline activities and programs designed to return conditions to a level that is acceptable to the organization. • RESTORATION PLANS focus on the repair or replacement of the damaged asset or organizational capability and returning to normal operations at the permanent operational location. Each phase is influenced by the results of the Risk Assessment/Business Impact Analysis, commonly referred to as the foundation upon which plans are developed, implemented and continually maintained. The corporate plan is a compendium of division and department plans, each reflecting the requirements of its owner. Therefore, any plans created in today’s world must be modular and extensible, allowing coordination and interoperability with other business unit plans as these are completed. Subsequently, through a change management program, plans must always 36

be current and must reflect a constant state of preparedness by the organization. Initially, Business Continuity Plans must be built upon solid project management to facilitate development in a way that will become a core competency of the organization and to ensure that each component is completed accurately and comprehensively. It cannot be overstated that simplicity is the most important characteristic of a plan if it is to be successful. Complicated plans are more “fault prone”, complex to administer, more likely to be out of sync with the current state of the organization, and more difficult to control and execute than simple plans. Also, many successful plans use DRI International’s Planning Model, a well documented, industry standard methodology, using a top-down approach. That Planning Model facilitates the planner’s role by formalizing and documenting the process. Added advantages include the likelihood that significant gaps and deficiencies will not be present in the program; the various parts of the program will work cohesively in an actual event; and, serve as a tool for conducting reviews of an existing program. DRI International certified Individuals, who are trained using the Planning Model, are leading BCM Programs in businesses of all sizes, across multiple industries, worldwide. To assist your organization in preparing your cross-functional business continuity team in obtaining the required knowledge, Trinidad & Tobago Coalition of Services Industries will

be hosting the DRI International 4.5-day Business Continuity Management Course that addresses the Planning Model with focus on the following subject areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Program Initiation and Management Risk Evaluation and Control Business Impact Analysis Business Continuity Strategies Emergency Response and Operations Plan Implementation and Documentation Awareness and Training Programs Business Continuity Plan Exercise, Audit, and Maintenance 9. Crisis Communications 10. Coordination with External Agencies

DRI International is a Non-Profit Organization founded in USA in 1988. More INDIVIDUALS are certified by DRII than all other organizations in the BCM industry combined. DRI certified INDIVIDUALS are leading BCM Programs in businesses of all sizes, across multiple industries in more than 100 countries. Cooperative Education Credit Sharing is in effect with ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association) and ISC² (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc.) “Get the Knowledge - Gain the Experience - Become Certified with DRI International” “International Glossary for Resiliency” is available at www.drii.org

EDITORIAL

DRIVING REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS GROWTH THROUGH

From a sub-national context, the private sector is considered by many to be the champion of innovation. However, limited access to finance, low labour productivity, high crime rates and government bureaucracy continue to constrain corporate resources and business growth throughout the region. To address these issues, this year’s Forum will feature, an inaugural event, the Forum for Partnership in the Americas. This space specifically targets private sector collaboration and discussion, centred on the theme ‘Tapping Imagination for Sustainable Business Innovation’ and will identify tangible solutions and actionable results aligned to the general theme of ‘using imagination to drive competitiveness.’ Participants will also be introduced to ConnectAmericas: an online community of companies in Latin America and the Caribbean facilitating connections across all industries dedicated to international trade and investment; InvestAmericas: a bilingual network that will strengthen interaction between investors, third party service providers and enterprise support organisations and Business Networking sessions: specialised sessions that will target specific business sectors to facilitate strategic business matchmaking.

THE VIII AMERICAS COMPETITIVENESS FORUM To succeed in this new global space, where nations vie to become technologically superior knowledge economies, the ability of individuals and institutions to innovate, has to become the new driver of sustainable competitive advantage, economic transformation and long term growth. This year the VIII Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) will provide the impetus needed for Latin America and the Caribbean to improve its competitiveness and diversify its productive structure by bringing together the main actors involved in developing and implementing innovation policies, boosting productivity and business growth, seeking out ripe investment opportunities and expanding the regional market. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will host this hemispheric undertaking from October 8-10, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain. It will emphasise the importance of the human imagination in building innovation systems and developing infrastructure through the theme, ‘The Human Imagination at Work, Driving Competitiveness, Powering Innovation’. In a global business environment dominated by the effects of rapid globalisation and the digital revolution, the Forum will also address the exigent need for Latin America and the Caribbean to boost innovative capacity for value creation and national competitiveness.

Creating an innovative society also falls within the responsibility of Government, academia, civil society and a country’s citizens. By understanding the role of each stakeholder, the conversation on innovation and competitiveness can be changed. The discussions on innovation and competitiveness will focus on six intellectually rich panel discussions focused on: • • • • • •

Energy Competitiveness and Innovation Financing Business, Investment and Growth Creativity, Innovation, Research and Application Breakthrough Innovations and the New Generation Services Industry as a Driver of Innovation Innovation in Education

As the largest gathering of international speakers in the English Speaking Caribbean, the VIII ACF will provide an opportunity for countries of the Americas to collaborate and develop solutions to pertinent regional challenges; a venue for companies to explore emerging and expanding markets and a platform for all stakeholders to share their ideas on building prosperity within the Americas.

ALL ARE INVITED TO BE A PART OF THIS PREMIER EXPERIENCE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT HTTP://COMPETITIVENESSFORUM.ORG/, LIKE US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VIIIACF OR FOLLOW US ON TWITTER WWW.TWITTER.COM/VIIIACF FOR MORE INFORMATION. 37

ARTS

FINDING MAGIC Written by TTCSI

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO COALITION OF SERVICES INDUSTRIES (TTCSI) HAD STUMBLED UPON MAGIC WHEN IT HOSTED THE FIRST-EVER STREET ARTS FESTIVAL (SAF) 2014 IN T&T. THE ARTISTES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SAF SHOWED UP IN DIFFERENT PACKAGES OF PURE, IMPRESSIVE TALENT. THEIR ABILITY TO CAPTURE A FRACTION OF SOMETHING UNIQUELY MAGICAL AND EXPRESS IT WAS SIMPLY REMARKABLE. FROM THE PERFORMERS TO THE VISUAL ARTISTS, EACH ARTISTE UNDERSTOOD HIS OR HER OWN TALENT AND SET A STANDARD THAT PRODUCED A WAVE OF MEMORABLE MOMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. BELOW ARE THE STORIES OF SOME WHO PARTICIPATED:

STEPHEN JOHN Stephen John is a gospel singer/songwriter who has been on the scene for more than a decade. His music was awarded the prize for Best Composed and Best Arranged Song at the Local Full Gospel Song Festival 1998. He has received awards for Best Gospel Performance at the Trinidad and Tobago Music Awards hosted by RIATT in 1999. In the same year, he was also nominated for Best Male vocalist. He was nominated for the Marlin Awards 2008 and 2014. Stephen and his band have been together for approximately four years. They have conducted several of their own concerts as well as participated in other events throughout the country. The most recent was at the Street Arts Festival and at the Tobago Jazz Experience “Jazz on the Hill” 2014. Stephen’s goal is simple “To create high quality music that will cause the listener to develop a better relationship with Christ and others.”

STEPHEN JOHN’S BAND

Stephen John: Lead Vocals Melissa Diaz: Background Vocals Sade Sealey: Background Vocals Andre Jack: Bass/Music Director Jerome Birch: Drums

Shurlon Patrick: Keyboard Kevin Inniss: Trombone Brendon Moore: Trumpet Brigid Sam: Alto Sax Earl Browne: Manager

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THE MOOREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MUSIC PRODUCTION In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. Eva Burrows Trinidadian born siblings Vanessa (base guitar) Eleanor (piano), Spud (drums), Diana (congas drums) and Candice (tenor steelpan) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Music Production (MMP) instrumental Family Band was founded on the core values of love, honestly, harmony, discipline and dedication instilled by their parents Edrian and Eunice Moore.

AYODELE ROSEMAN The venue chosen for the Festival presented artists with an open public space that was more inviting to audiences than Art Galleries. It also provided a highly interactive space where artists were present to inform attendees about their message behind their art pieces. In addition, the event comprised a more diverse audience, from children, to art students, senior citizens, potential and existent art collectors and those who have never been or would not usually go to art galleries.

Hailing from San Fernando the band has been managed by Edrian and Eunice for the past three years. Edrian a former member of a music band has over 30 years experience in the music industry. The four sisters and brother have learned to incorporate music in their daily lives by their unwavering drive to keep the band alive. The band first started showcasing their music at homes for abandon children across the country bringing joy and smiles to children. MMP now performs at private and government functions, birthday parties, weddings, concerts and more. The band specializes in different genres of music ranging from classical jazz, pop, R&B, calypso, chutney, soca and other genres. The family hopes to continue their musical journey and travel to other countries representing Trinidad and Tobago.

The event validated what artists do and made it more visible to the members of the public. Even the police officers and sanitation workers passed and watched in awe at the magical process of painting. One lady approached me to find out how to co-ordinate colors and I gave her an impromptu lesson on coordinating colour combinations with use of my colour wheel. I also learned that that I Hindi (a dye powder) could be used to paint on canvas while watching another artist. Watching my fellow artists, the well-accomplished graphic designers, airbrush the huge bus was exhilarating. The SAF is indeed useful and innovative and could help to elevate the Visual and Performing Artists economically and socially and in turn the national economy.

The first Street Arts Festival, a collaboration of Visual Artists and Performing Artistes of different styles, was a gratifying experience. Ayodele Roseman, Visual Artist at the 2014 SAF

A view through Fretwork by Ayodele Roseman, Oil painting created at the Streets Arts Festival 2014

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W.I.R.K - NEW FIRE West Indian Rhythm Konnection (W.I.R.K) is a music band from Trinidad and Tobago. W.I.R.K was founded in 2012 by self-taught guitarist/lead-singer and composer Gerry Anthony, as a vehicle to express his views and ideas on local and global issues using indigenous West Indian musical genres such as kaiso, reggae, rapso and soca to carry the band's messages to the world. Anthony’s musical influences include Bob Marley, David Rudder, Brother Resistance and international artists. The legacy of these iconic musicians is fused with the diverse and eclectic musical tastes of W.I.R.K’s members to create a sound that is internationally appealing and content relevant. Anthony says he is not really a musician, but he “makes songs” as a tool to aid him in his life’s work. He is considered more of a social and political activist and is very passionate about the transformation of human civilization beginning in his own region, hence the name West Indian Rhythm Konnection. One of the newer initiatives he has embarked upon is a concert series called New Fire. This is a series of monthly concerts, which takes place at Mas Camp Pub aka D Nu Pub. Started in January 2014, the New Fire concert series is as Anthony puts it: “an inevitable development within a new positive and powerful artistic and cultural movement among the country’s youth. This movement of diverse young creative people has been growing steadily over recent years and remained undetected by the majority of the society.” Now New Fire is acting as a further catalyst for this movement by serving as an organized central point around, which the movement could further solidify. “Throughout history, it was always in times of deepest crisis that the most creative minds found opportunities to create the most inspiring stories of perseverance to help turn things around. History will show that New Fire is among the most celebrated of those moments as it pertains to our unique story,” says Gerry.

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ALIXZANDAR MORLE I have been fascinated with street art since high-school (Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal College). I discovered it in a tattoo magazine, which was themed towards graffiti. For the first time, I was exposed to large murals of colour that had the capacity to communicate to a group of people travelling within an urban environment; this was a concept I was immediately drawn to. My fascination derived from the size and the mystery behind the craft, seeing graffiti as an art form, a way of life, a culture and most importantly, a sport. With eight years of experience, I have shared my artwork locally, regionally and in the United States.

Alixzandar, one of the artists who painted the bus.

Street-art, like most art is pretty unorthodox and radical. Public space in my opinion belongs to the public and if something looks unpleasant i.e. an abandoned lot, quarantined trailer, random galvanize rusting in a row, more than likely I am going to adjust the aesthetics towards a more satisfying result. I think about what I want to present to the public before I paint a piece. For certain pieces I spend weeks, sometimes even months designing and working out the grid and application strategy. As a designer I see myself as a communicator, as a street artist, I see myself as a vigilante. I have a relentless passion, and will continue collaborating with other creators to beautify my country hoping to contribute to this untapped, yet emerging style of art.

Regardless of the natureâ&#x20AC;Ś Positive or negative, I am inspired by the interactions of street-art. Alixzandar Morle, Graffiti Artist at the 2014 SAF

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SAF 2014 CHALK ART WINNERS

1ST PLACE: Rohan and Johan

2ND PLACE: Darren Walcott and Risa R.

3RD PLACE: Rohan

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Our mission is to provide services, facilitate and support the development and networking of professionals in Trinidad and Tobago. TTGPA is run by a Management Council of fourteen (14) persons, ten (10) of whom are nominated and elected annually by representatives of member organisations, one (1) appointed, and three (3) selected. The current Executive team (2014 -2015) is Eng. Richard Saunders (President), Camille Cumberbatch-Dhoray (Vice President), Neville Sandy (Secretary), Leslie Nelson (Treasurer) and Je-Anne Borneo (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer). The Professional Centre provides facilities for its members intending to promote local professional cooperation, thereby, encouraging a joint professional approach to problems of education, training, relations with schools and universities and foster collective advice to the Government in the fields of legislation, manpower development and planning. TTGPA's work is funded by Members' contributions, rentals of grounds and conference facilities and other fund raising activities such as the Professional Development Series (PDS). The PDS is a means of offering professional development and enhancement

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These Workshops and Seminars are tailored to helping the small and medium sized businesses develop and expand whilst setting a professional standard at an international level within Trinidad and Tobago.

opportunities to the TTGPA Membership and the wider professional community in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Trinidad and Tobago Group of Professional Associations Limited (TTGPA) is a Non-governmental organization, whose membership is open to Professional Associations of Trinidad and Tobago. It was registered in 1974 under the Company’s Act Chapter 31, No. 1 as a Company, Limited by Guarantee and continued under the Companies Act, 1995 as a not-for-profit organisation.

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THE PDS SETS ITSELF APART BY OFFERING A MORE HANDS ON APPROACH, PRACTICAL PROFESSIONAL TIPS AND STEP BY STEP GUIDES TO BUILDING THE PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL, THEIR PROFESSIONAL BRAND AND/OR BUSINESS.

MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS Advertising Agencies Association of Trinidad and Tobago Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago Association of Real Estate Agents Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago Dental Council of Trinidad and Tobago General Practitioners Association of Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago ISACA Trinidad and Tobago Chapter Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago The Institute of Internal Auditors, TT Chapter The Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry The Pharmacy Board of Trinidad and Tobago

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The Safety Council of Trinidad and Tobago S FA AK

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Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association

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Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects

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Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association

Trinidad and Tobago Reading Association

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Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association

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Trinidad and Tobago Society of Planners

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INDUSTRY

WHAT’S GOING ON EXPORT TT • Packaging & Labeling in the US and EU Markets - Sep 29 - 30 • Launch of eBSI Online International Trade Specialist Programme - Oct 1 Introduction to Export Market Research - Oct 8 Developing a Service Export Plan- Oct 15 Introduction to Export Marketing (Goods) - Oct 20 Risk Management (Food & Beverage) - Oct 27 Doing Business in Florida - Oct 29 - 30

• • • • • For further details visit www.exportt.co.tt

THE CARIBBEAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN PORT OF SPAIN DATE: Oct. 1-3, 2014 VENUE: The event will be at the Carlton Savannah Hotel CONTACT: 868.633.6596

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS LTD. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS WORKSHOP

DATE: Oct. 08, 2014 VENUE: Arthur Lok Jack, Graduate School of Business Uriah Butler Highway, North West Mt. Hope TIME: 8.30 A.M. - 4.00 P.M. (Registration begins at 8 a.m) ADMISSION: $1,500 DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Friday 3rd October, 2014 CONTACT: 623-5434. 776-4682 or Register online www.ttgpa.org

NATIONAL CHUTNEY FOUNDATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (NCFTT) 17TH ANNUAL DIVALI CELEBRATION

DATE: Oct. 17, 2014 VENUE: The Siparia Shiv Mandir, Lakshmi Pooja TIME: 4:00 p.m. - Lighting of Deyas - 6:00 p.m. Singing, Dance, Tassa & much more CONTACT: 868.624.1024

HOLY NAME CONVENT PTA DISCO INFERNO THE HOTTEST BACK IN TIMES PARTY OF THE YEAR

DATE: Oct. 18, 2014 VENUE: The Anchorage, Chaguaramas TIME: 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. VISIT: https://www.facebook.com/events/556258041145155/

LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS OF OPTOMETRY AND OPTICS 2014 DATE: Oct. 3, and Nov. 1- 2, 2014 VENUE: UWI School of Optometry/Hyatt Regency Hotel TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CONTACT: Roxanne St. Rose @ 663.5841 to Register

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO COALITION OF SERVICES INDUSTRIES EXCELLENCE IN SERVICES AWARDS NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 DATE: Nov. 3, 2014 VENUE: Ballroom Hilton TIME: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. COCKTAILS: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

THE ART OF BUSINESS NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 DATE: Nov. 4, 2014 VENUE: Ballroom Hilton TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

“I AM” SECONDARY SCHOOL GREEN BUILDING COMPETITION NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 DATE: Nov. 5, 2014 VENUE: Ballroom Hilton TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

THE VALUE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 DATE: Nov. 6, 2014 VENUE: Ballroom Hilton TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

PROMOTING SERVICES GLOBALLY NATIONAL SERVICES WEEK 2014 DATE: Nov. 7, 2014 VENUE: Ballroom Hilton TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

FASHION ENTREPRENEURS OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (FETT) VOIR CARAIBE III - DIAMONDS

DATE: Nov. 30, 2014 VENUE: Ste. Madeleine Regional Complex ADMISSION: $125

LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN ! THE LAUNCH OF THE NETWORK FOR THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH (NEEWS) DATE: 2015 VENUE: TBA TIME: TBA

ASSOCIATION OF FEMALE EXECUTIVE OF TT • • • •

Suit Me Up! - TBA Carnival Cruise - Jan. 2015 International Women's Day Luncheon - Mar. 2015 Mothers' Day Brunch - May 2015

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