On Wednesday 21st November 2018, the Joint Chambers gave three national non-governmental organisations TT$200,000 each, to fund their continued work in flood relief and rebuilding. Cheques were handed to the three organisations in a brief ceremony at First Citizens Bank branch in Gulf City, San Fernando. The three organisations receiving the grants were:
Living Waters Community
SEWA, and
Is There Not a Cause (INTAC)
These funds will be utilized by the NGOs to support their efforts in communities affected by flooding across the entire country.
The funds distributed have been donated by member companies of AMCHAM T&T, the Energy Chamber, the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber and the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers Association in the aftermath of the recent flooding. The major donor to the Joint Chamber accounts was Atlantic, but many other member companies and members of the public have also given generously.
The four major national business organizations have been working closely together on disaster relief efforts since the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and have been coordinating activities being taken by their members and other stakeholders, mobilizing volunteers and other resources and assisting NGOs.
In the next stage of the Joint Chamber’s relief and rebuilding activities, funds are going to also be directed towards small community-based businesses badly affected by the recent flooding. The objective will be to help small business-owners get back on their feet and help restart economic activity in the affected communities. The mechanism for this support is currently being developed and the Joint Chambers will announce further information on this initiative in the future.
In the meantime, the Joint Chambers strongly encourage all member companies and the wider community to continue donating funds to the established accounts to help the ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts.
