Good evening,
It is both an honour and a privilege to join you for AMCHAM T&T’s National Excellence HSE Awards, a celebration of dedication, ingenuity and resilience in safeguarding the well-being of our workforce and communities. I extend heartfelt congratulations to AMCHAM Trinidad and Tobago on the remarkable milestone of the 15th anniversary of the National Excellence in HSE Awards. AMCHAM T&T must be applauded for its steadfast commitment to advancing Health, Safety and Environmental standards across all sectors.
This annual event stands as a clarion call to action, a premier platform for bench-marking excellence, celebrating innovation and fostering the exchange of best practices.
Cicero, the Roman statesman and philosopher, once declared, “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” His words resonate across centuries, reminding us that the protection of human life is not merely a regulatory duty. In every policy we design, every system we implement and every standard we uphold, the well-being of our people must remain our highest priority.
This evening, as we honour those who have made health, safety and environmental stewardship their mission, we reaffirm a shared commitment. A commitment to building workplaces where safety is embedded in culture, where innovation drives prevention and where every individual returns home healthier and stronger than they arrived.
The International Labour Organization(ILO) estimates that poor occupational safety and health practices cost the global economy approximately 4% of its Gross Domestic Product each year. Moreover, the ILO’s latest report (2023) reveals that nearly three million workers lose their lives each year due to work-related accidents and diseases. These staggering figures reflect the human and economic toll of preventable illness, injury and death. In Trinidad and Tobago, we must view this as a challenge that we are called to meet with urgency and resolve.
Recent health crises, have underscored the critical importance of robust HSE systems. They exposed vulnerabilities and reminded us that health and safety are not optional, they are foundational. According to recent research published in the Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, HSE risk assessments play a pivotal role in mitigating occupational hazards and curbing the spread of infectious diseases. These assessments can be utilized as dynamic tools that help organizations identify risks, implement controls and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
As such, I am proud to say that the Ministry of Health continues to work collaboratively with stakeholders to strengthen workplace health policies, promote mental wellness and ensure that our national frameworks align with international standards. Nevertheless, we cannot do this alone. We need the private sector, civil society and every individual to champion HSE as a shared responsibility.
In this regard, we must also confront the silent threats that compromise workplace safety and community well-being namely, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), mental health challenges and substance use. NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are not only leading causes of mortality in Trinidad and Tobago. Beyond their toll on health, these illnesses significantly affect workplace productivity, increase absenteeism and threaten long-term workforce sustainability. Employers have a vital role to play in combating this public health challenge by offering wellness resources, such as access to gyms, health screenings and educational programs that promote healthier lifestyles and support employee well-being.
The Ministry of Health is proud to lead by example, with an on-site gym available to staff. I also take this opportunity to mention that we will soon launch a National Campaign which will encourage citizens to Step Into Wellness.
Mental health, too, must be treated as a cornerstone of occupational safety. Stress, anxiety and depression are often invisible hazards that can undermine employee well-being and organizational performance. Addressing these challenges demands proactive policies, empathetic leadership and accessible support systems such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) that foster resilience and promote a culture of care within the workplace. To truly safeguard employee well-being, we must invest in strengthening individual EAPs, ensuring they are responsive, confidential and equipped to support a wide range of mental health and personal challenges.
Moreover, smoking, alcohol misuse and drug abuse pose significant risks to both individual health and workplace safety. These behaviours can impair judgment, increase accident rates and undermine team cohesion. Therefore, as a nation, we must foster environments where healthy choices are supported and harmful behaviours are addressed through education, intervention and rehabilitation.
In light of these challenges, there is a growing imperative to evolve from a traditional Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) framework to a more holistic model: Health, Wellness, Safety and Environment (HWSE). The inclusion of wellness is not merely an enhancement, it is a critical component that acknowledges the interconnectedness of physical, mental and social well-being in sustaining a safe and productive workforce.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing health and safety across all sectors. Through inter-ministerial collaboration, we continue to strengthen legislation, enforce compliance and promote a culture of prevention. We are actively working to modernize Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) frameworks, an effort led by the Ministry of Labour, to better reflect emerging workplace risks and align with global best practices.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it would be remiss of me not to highlight one simple yet powerful act of health stewardship, blood donation. Every unit of blood donated can save up to three lives. It is a gift of life, a gesture of solidarity and a vital component of our emergency response systems. I encourage all eligible citizens to become regular donors. In times of crisis, whether natural disasters, accidents, or public health emergencies, having a robust blood supply can mean the difference between life and death. It is a quiet but profound way that ordinary citizens can contribute to extraordinary outcomes.
I also extend a heartfelt invitation to all corporate entities to join us in championing the national blood donation drive. By supporting this cause, you not only invest in the health of our communities but also demonstrate leadership in building a culture of care and resilience.
This ethos of proactive care and community responsibility is precisely what we celebrate tonight. Tonight’s awardees exemplify what is possible when safety becomes a core value. You have shown that investing in people’s well-being yields dividends in productivity, morale and reputation.
Let us, therefore, use this moment to reaffirm our commitment to creating safer, healthier and more resilient workplaces. Let us continue to innovate, educate and collaborate. Let us remember that every life protected, every hazard mitigated and every system improved brings us closer to a future where occupational health is not a privilege, but a standard.
In closing, I extend congratulations to all the honourees. May your achievements inspire others to follow your lead.
Thank you and may we all continue to walk the path of excellence in health, safety and environmental stewardship.