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 Building Resilience
AMCHAM T&T Hosts Business Continuity Workshop for SMEs

 
LINKAGE Q2 (2025) - SUSTAINABILITY: FROM INTENTION TO IMPACT
AMCHAM T&T, in partnership with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) and ARISE Trinidad and Tobago, hosted its annual Business Continuity Workshop on May 16th, 2025, at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.

The workshop was specifically designed to equip SMEs with practical tools and strategies to deal with disruptive events. 30 participants representing 16 companies made this year’s session the highest attended to date, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of business continuity planning.

“Planning is no longer a luxury. It’s a must,” said Arianna Gayadeen, Projects Officer at AMCHAM T&T, in her opening remarks. “The risks of an increasingly connected and unpredictable world are coming at us faster and hitting harder. Many of us have felt that firsthand—whether through flooding, cyberattacks, supply chain disruptions, or the effects of economic instability. Waiting until a crisis hits is no longer an option.”

The workshop was facilitated by Wendy Dickson, Business Continuity Coordinator and a dedicated member of AMCHAM T&T’s ARISE Committee. Participants were guided through core concepts of BCP, including risk identification, continuity planning, crisis communication, and recovery frameworks. A strong emphasis was placed on the need for executive-level buy-in and on adopting practical, actionable strategies that can be integrated into day-to-day business operations.

Importantly, the session created a collaborative space for SME leaders and risk managers to share insights, challenges, and best practices across industries. This peer exchange aligns with AMCHAM T&T’s ongoing commitment to fostering a resilient private sector through cross-sector partnerships.

Lt Cdr. Kirk Jean-Baptiste, Training and Education Specialist at the ODPM, echoed these sentiments and stressed the need for readiness as the nation enters the rainy/hurricane season. “It’s important that we ’S.O.A.R.’: Strengthen Our Awareness/Attitudes in order to be Resilient.”

Looking Ahead
AMCHAM T&T, in collaboration with ODPM and ARISE, will be launching a Business Continuity Self-Assessment Survey on AMCHAM T&T’s website, which will provide companies with targeted resources, templates, and guidance to build or strengthen their business continuity frameworks.

The Chamber will also host a free online seminar for its members facilitated by José Ignacio Quirós, Director of CEPA, the Panamanian-based Accident Prevention Centre, on “Why Business Continuity is Non-Negotiable for Companies”.
(l-r) Peter Kalicharan - Mitigation Manager | Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management; Tracey Ann Ramkissoon - Risk Officer | NDPPM; Arianna Gayadeen - Project Assistant | AMCHAM T&T; Wendy Dickson - Business Continuity Coordinator; and Lt Cdr. Kirk Jean-Baptiste - Training and Education Specialist | ODPM