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TTMA presents its New Board of Directors
The TTMA elected a new Board of Directors at its 51st Annual General Meeting, which took place on Wednesday April 11, 2007.
Heading the new Board is Mrs. Karen de Montbrun. Mrs. de Montbrun is the first woman to hold the position, and promises to continue with the TTMA’s thrust to promote the manufacturing sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Greig Laughlin has been named Vice President for a second term, and joining him to serve in this position is Dr. Trevor Townsend.
Seated left to right – Nicholas Mouttet, Natasha Mustapha Scott, Karen de Montbrun, Gita Sakal Standing left to right – Sieunarine Persad Coosal, Allan de Boehmler, Dominic Hadeed, Lyndon Guiseppi, Greig Laughlin, Dr. Smith, Dr. Townsend
The other Directors are:
- Mr. Krishna Narinesingh
- Mr. Lyndon Guiseppi
- Dr. Peter Smith
- Mr. Nicholas Mouttet
- Mr. Dominic Hadeed
- Mr. Charles Ross
- Mr. Sieunarine Persad-Coosal (newly elected)
- Ms. Gita Sakal (newly elected)
- Mr. Allan De Boehmler (newly elected)
TTMA elects first female President
 The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association announces that Mrs. Karen de Montbrun has been elected to serve as President of the Association for the period 2007 – 2008.
Mrs. de Montbrun was elected during the TTMA’s 51st Annual General Meeting, which took place on Wednesday April 11, 2007 at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre.
Mrs. de Montbrun, who is Regional Logistics Manager at Bermudez Biscuit Company, is the first woman to hold the position.
She promises to continue with the TTMA’s thrust to promote the manufacturing sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
“It won’t be an easy task, but I’m ready to fight the good fight – to assist T&T’s manufacturing sector in overcoming the challenges that lie ahead, in ensuring our competitiveness and ultimately our global market access,” Mrs. de Montbrun says.
In acknowledging the significance of her election to the top post of the TTMA, she said, “It clearly shows that the TTMA understands and acknowledges that women are equal to their male counterparts in the business world, and are fully capable of adopting leadership roles.”
The newly elected TTMA President stressed, however, that gender should not be an issue. “I want to be judged by my achievements during my tenure as President of the TTMA, and not merely by the fact that I am a woman,” Mrs. de Montbrun added.
The TTMA also elected a new Board of Directors at the 51st AGM:
- Mr. Greig Laughlin
- Mr. Krishna Narinesingh
- Mr. Lyndon Guiseppi
- Dr. Trevor Townsend
- Dr. Peter Smith
- Mr. Nicholas Mouttet
- Mr. Dominic Hadeed
- Mr. Charles Ross
- Mr. Sieunarine Persad-Coosal (newly elected)
- Ms. Gita Sakal (newly elected)
- Mr. Allan De Boehmler (newly elected)
TIC 2007 Launched To Diplomatic Corps
At the first official event leading up to The Trade and Investment Convention 2007, TIC Chairman Anthony Aboud hosted members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Government, including Minister in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), the Hon. Kenneth Valley, at a Special Briefing, held on November 28th 2006 at Joseph's Mediterranean Cuisine in Maraval.
The Briefing was specifically geared to achieve the goal of maximising international business participation in next year's Convention. A major sponsor of TIC 2007 for the second consecutive year, MTI, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of overseas embassies and trade missions, have played a key role in expanding the trade potential of TIC by bringing buyer and exhibitor missions to the Convention. More than 25 countries mounted overseas exhibits and brought buyers to TIC 2006.
Mr. Aboud presented a brief overview of TIC and, working with a team of TTMA representatives that included Members of the Board and Past Presidents, entered into detailed discussions with guests regarding the benefits and opportunities of participation in TIC, specific arrangements for regional and extra-regional buyer and exhibitor delegations, and potential country pavilions.
TIC, the TTMA's flagship trade event, is sponsored by MTI and RBTT. Over the past eight years, it has grown exponentially. In 2006, TIC more than doubled in size from 118 exhibitors and 102 booths in 2005, to 247 exhibitors, 205 booths, and three Pavilions in 2006. TIC 2007 takes place from May 16th to 19th, 2007 at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Trinidad. Bookings for TIC Booths are available now, with special Early Bird pricing. Booths are selling fast!
Contact:
TIC Secretariat
TTMA Building, 2nd Floor
42 Tenth Avenue,
Barataria,
Trinidad, W.I.
Tel #: (868) 675 8862
Fax #: (868) 675 9000
E-mail: tic@ttma.com
www.tic-tt.com
TTMA urges Government to put the brakes on Proposed Rapid Rail Project
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association calls on Government to hold on its decision to follow through with a Rapid Rail system in this country until the findings of the Comprehensive National Transportation Study are submitted and put out for public consultation.
Click here to download the Position Paper in PDF format. 
TIC 2006 a Resounding Success
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association is pleased to report that its annual flagship event, the Trade and Investment Convention, was a resounding success.
TIC 2006 doubled in size, moving from 118 exhibitors and 102 booths in 2005 to 247 exhibitors and 205 booths, plus three Grand Pavilions.
Buyers from the Caribbean , the US, UK, Europe, Latin America and Asia attended the Convention in record numbers, including Special buyer contingents from Bonaire, Jamaica, Martinique, The Jay Molina International Group, the Miami Dade Trade Commission, and The Trinidad and Tobago Business Association of Miami.
TIC 2006 generated an estimated US$30 million in deals done on the tradeshow floor and subsequent to the Convention. These ranged from large contracts for equipment supply, to orders for containers of goods, to new overseas distribution channel orders.
Once again, RBTT joined the TTMA in sponsoring the event, and for the first time, the Ministry of Trade and Industry formally joined the team.
During the opening ceremony, Trade and Industry Minister Kenneth Valley said he was impressed with the level of participation, the quality of products, and the many new companies present at this year’s convention.
TIC provides a unique and effective forum to bring together manufacturers, service providers, buyers and distributors, financial institutions and investors, and has become the Caribbean’s most successful business-to-business event.
TIC includes a Trade Show featuring local, regional, and international exhibitors from all sectors, which attracts thousands of local, regional, and international buyers. Participants can explore joint venture and business partnership opportunities with companies from around the world in a structured business networking environment, and can attend TIC’s top notch Business Education Programme.
With all the buzz generated from this year’s Trade and Investment Convention, TIC 2007, which will be held from May 16th to 19th, is expected to be even bigger. Bookings for TIC 2007 are available now. Contact the TIC Secretariat at (868) 675-8862 ext 247, via e-mail: tic@ttma.com, or visit the TIC website: www.tic-tt.com, for further information.
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association
Celebrating 50 years of service to the manufacturing sector
Established in 1956, and now 400 members strong, The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association is a powerful voice for business enterprise. Indeed, the TTMA’s membership is the single largest driving force of sustainable employment in Trinidad and Tobago, second only to the government in terms of job creation.
A private sector organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of local industries, the TTMA is an integral part of Trinidad and Tobago’s manufacturing sector.
Trinidad and Tobago is the most open market in the Caribbean; our largest external markets - the countries of the Caribbean - are liberalising rapidly. Competition is fierce and it is here to stay. This is the daunting reality faced by existing manufacturers and new entrants to the sector alike.
The TTMA exists to answer the challenge. We consolidate the strength of our members into one united – and powerful – voice. By acting on behalf of all manufacturers, we lend strength to individual manufacturers.
TTMA’S ANTI-CRIME INITIATIVE CONTINUES
Over the last three (3) years the TTMA has adopted a collaborative and leading role as representatives of the private sector to pressure the relevant authorities into accepting a leadership role and addressing the alarming rate of crime.
Ever since December 2002, the TTMA has participated in a continuous cycle of meetings and letters with the then Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee, The Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the various Police Commissioners, Deputies, Chief Justices etc. We have reviewed and submitted numerous recommendations and crime plans and have always worked collectively with the other private sector chambers and associations. Last year we jointly called on all thirty-six Members of Parliament and their thirty-one colleagues in the Senate to put the country first and to implement both legislative and non-legislative measures.
The TTMA also called on the Hon. Prime Minister to adopt a leadership role and accept the responsibility for leading this country out of the present situation.
The graph below shows a dismal picture for our country’s future; There has been a 49% increase in murders in 2005 from the previous year; a staggering 222 % increase in the annual murder toll over the last six years!! The kidnappings and other violent crimes tell a parallel story as crime continues, frighteningly unabated.
Crime affects all of us, and while the increases in transport, distribution and security costs may be calculated, there are immeasurable costs to our employees’ morale, productivity and safety. There is the intangible but real price to pay of reduced freedom of movement, loss of liberty to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle and the inability to benefit from the fruits of labour.
Source: Modus Operandi & Records Bureau
Our Constitution declares that our fundamental human rights and freedoms include the “… right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property…” Our country’s Constitution is not being upheld.
Too many of our citizens, members and employees have been robbed, kidnapped and murdered. The TTMA intends to continue this lobby, to pressure the Government; that is the ruling party and the Opposition, and all other authorities and stakeholders to treat crime as the main issue facing this country and to address it seriously, swiftly and effectively. It is our civic duty to speak out on all issues that affect the business and investment climate here in our country; a responsibility which we intend to meet.
As you must appreciate these efforts incur substantial costs and we are therefore appealing to our members for financial support to assist us in representing you, the private sector. We urge you to be generous in your support for this most necessary cause. Letters together with pledge forms were addressed individually to each member and sent via mail.
For further details kindly contact Ms Sonja Jardine at the Secretariat - 675-8862 Ext 240 or e-mail promotions@ttma.com
The TTMA remains true to its Vision and committed to its Mission to strongly represent the interests of its members, their employees and this country.
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