COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
Our committees have grown from strength to strength and play an integral part in achieving
AmCham's vision and mission. The work of the committees assists in setting AmCham firmly
on the path of recognition where it will be regarded as a leading and responsible businessman's
organisation playing an important role in the sustainable economic development of the nation.
HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL (H.S.E.) COMMITTEE:
Board Champions:
Chairperson: To be determined
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide direction and leadership and proactively promote environmental, safety and health values
for the sustainable future of our companies, communities and nation.
OBJECTIVES
Positively influence Health, Safety and Environmental legislation, policies and procedures
to the benefit of AmCham members, founded on the principal of sustainable development.
Foster Health, Safety and Environmental consciousness and awareness throughout the AmCham membership and the national community.
Maintain and continue to build effective relationships with key Ministries, Agencies, NGOs and Associations.
Engage in projects to further H.S.E. purposes.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AmCham's H.S.E. committee members consists of highly qualified and experienced professionals
in the Health, Safety and Environmental field from approximately 40 AmCham T&T member
companies. The H.S.E. Committee shares excellent information and best practices among
themselves and also makes this available to the wider AmCham membership.
THE COMMITTEE AT PRESENT HAS SEVEN (7) PROJECT GROUPS:
- H.S.E. Conference Working Group
Rationale - It was determined that to directly achieve the Committee's mission as well as
build national H.S.E. awareness and education, an annual H.S.E. conference and exhibition
targeted at a variety of audiences was necessary. As a result, the H.S.E. Conference Project
Team was formed in 1996.
- Road Safety Working Group
Mission - To positively impact road safety in Trinidad and Tobago while working
towards a goal of substantially lowering the loss of life, injury and
property damage.
- Regulatory Advocacy Working Group
Mission – To maintain and continue to strengthen relationships with government agencies/ministries with responsibility for National Health, Safety and Environmental Policy and Legislation proactively influencing the direction and development of National H.S.E. Legislation and Policy in a manner that will support the sustainable trade and commerce of Member Companies. Also to inform and educate Member Companies on new and pending HSE Legislation and Policy and the impacts of such both on individuals and organisations.
- National Projects Review Working Group
Mission – To communicate shared experiences from past and present projects to be
used to guide new projects in industry best practice. We will achieve this
by conducting reviews for projects undertaken by AmCham Member Companies.
Our findings will be categorized and documented in a handbook that will be
circulated among all the Member Companies. Confidentiality will be maintained.
This team believes that the handbook will be an integral tool in assisting young
H.S.E. personnel in the implementation and maintenance of sustainable projects in
Trinidad and Tobago.
- School’s Forum Working Group
Mission - To promote the understanding and appreciation of our Natural and Human Resources by sharing and providing H.S.E Awareness to our country's future generation – the leaders and movers of tomorrow.
- Engagement of/ Communication to Member Companies Working Group
- Learning and Professional Development Working Group
To join the H.S.E. committee contact Céline Lestrade: committees@amchamtt.com
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:
Board Champion: Alan E. Cunningham, ExxonMobil Trinidad.
Chairperson: Kent Jeary, MCS Software/Matrix Designs Ltd.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide professional knowledge, assistance, and guidance for AmCham's
printed and electronic publications.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Communications Committee is responsible for the publication of the
bi-annual Business Guide / Membership Directory, the quarterly trade publication,
Linkage, the bi-weekly enewsletter, Quik News Brief and maintenance of
the Chamber’s Website.
Those wishing to contribute articles or advertise in Linkage contact Melissa
Pierre at the Secretariat.
To join the Communications Committee contact Melissa Pierre at the Secretariat
at trade@amchamtt.com.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
Board Champion: Nicholas Galt, Trinidad Systems Ltd.
Chairperson: Prakash Bhaggan, Insurance Brokers West Indies Ltd.
MISSION STATEMENT
To be exemplary Ambassadors for AmCham. To sustain and improve the image of the
Chamber as proactive, energetic and vibrant, by continuing to attract the
highest quality members and by encouraging existing members to participate
in AmCham activities.
To join the Membership Committee contact Sonelle Gibson at members@amchamtt.com.
PROGRAMMES AND EVENTS COMMITTEE:
Board Champion: Patricia Ghany, ESAU Oilfield Supplies Co. Ltd.
Chairperson: Kieran Thompson, G4S Security Services Ltd.
MISSION STATEMENT
To anticipate and facilitate the efforts of AmCham and its committees towards providing a
diverse range of value-added programmes and events to promote and build
business for member companies.
OBJECTIVES
To design and coordinate business and social activities that would be of interest to
the membership and assist other committees in organizing their own events.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AmCham's Programmes and Events committee comprises some 12-member companies,
and meetings are held once a month.
AMCHAM'S P&E COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES COMPRESS OF THE FOLLOWING:
• Host the Ambassador's Reception with the U.S. Embassy
• Host AmCham's Citigroup Linkage Golf Tournament
• Conceptualize AmCham's 11 monthly meetings
• Host events with the media to profile AmCham
• Work with other AmCham committees on their projects
To join the Programmes & Events Committee contact Sonelle Gibson at
members@amchamtt.com.
TRADE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE:
Board Champion and Chairperson: Hugh Howard, Hugh L. Howard &
Associates
The Board sees the Trade & Investment Committee championing a number of initiatives that will help promote economic growth for both the nation and AmCham members.
This committee works with other relevant bodies to determine the types of business best suited to Trinidad and Tobago focusing on employment creation. To achieve this goal, the Committee:
* uses industry surveys to determine opportunities for investment;
* works with the Tourism and Industrial Development Company (TIDCO) to
target labour intensive industries and specific companies to formulate
a plan to encourage them to set up business in T&T;
* observes "best practices" in other developing countries in
the area of employment creation and explore implementation possibilities.
A second key goal is to identify opportunities for investment and export in the U.S. and T&T and the rest of the world. To achieve this, the committee and AmCham's secretariat together maintain a database of importers/exporters in T&T, US, Latin America and Europe; maintain contacts with chambers of commerce in other markets; work with TIDCO and T&T overseas missions to organise trade and investment missions to T&T and the U.S.; encourage members to join AmCham in country delegations to hemispheric business meetings and conventions to market T&T and seek overseas opportunities; and work with TIDCO in further developing its trade database - Trade Point.
Relatedly, the Committee will be doing more to promote the success of the trade and investment relationship between T&T and the U.S. One concrete plan to achieve this is a seminar highlighting the best practices and opportunities for investment between the two countries.
The Committee will also continue initiatives to ensure this country is getting the best possible deal in its trade negotiations, to ensure AmCham has input into these negotiations, and to keep members and the business community at large informed of developments that could impact on their business and on the economy and society in general.
To join the Trade and Investment Committee contact Melissa Pierre at trade@amchamtt.com
OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) :
Board Chairman and Chairperson: Curt Cadet, PowerGen
MISSION STATEMENT
To encourage American investment abroad by facilitating a dynamic exchange
of information which can be used to make informed corporate decisions
on how best to protect assets in an inceasingly competitive and global
economy.
To join the OSAC Committee contact Céline Lestrade:
committees@amchamtt.com.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Board Champion: Mark Hansen, Algico
Chairperson: Stephanie Daly, Pollonais Blanc de la Bastide &
Jacelon
OBJECTIVES:
The Committee's strategic objective is to be a resource to member companies
and other committees.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Commenting on and lobbying with respect to proposed legislation.
Reporting on Bills laid in Parliament and their potential impact on member
companies.
Host an annual workshop on critical pieces of legislation.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The top priority is to work with the government to design and implement
incentives for investment in targeted industries that would deliver growth.
More generally, the Legislative Committee will have to be ahead of the
game in knowing what business related legislation is being developed and
ensuring this is closely monitored and that the government receives timely
feedback.
To join the Legislative Committee contact Melissa Pierre at trade@amchamtt.com
