Chief executive officer of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) Nirad Tewarie has cautioned against making attacks on groups in society “without proof”.He said this yesterday in response to questions from the media on statements made by Attorney General John Jeremie in Parliament on Wednesday, when he said the United States government had revoked the visas of certain members of the “1%” in T&T.
‘rebuild trust’: AMCHAM T&T president Anna Henderson.
Jeremie also cited the Anti-Gang Act and noted that a gang was defined as a combination of two or more people, saying, “There are also gangs who describe themselves in terms of percentages. For example, the 1%.”Following AMCHAM T&T’s 33rd annual general meeting and business forum at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port of Spain, Tewarie said: “But I think that attacks without proof, and certainly on any group of people, do create difficulties in ensuring that we are all moving in the same direction, because all of us are here and all of us want a better T&T.“There will always be outliers in any group of any kind, however you define a group, but I think by and large, the business community is invested in T&T, and is invested in the success of T&T, and we’re going to continue to work to make T&T as successful as it can be, now and in the future.”AMCHAM T&T also renewed its call for successful prosecution of white-collar criminals, arguing that greater accountability was needed to restore public confidence in national institutions and the justice system.Chamber president Anna Henderson said she believed a handful of high-profile convictions would go a long way towards rebuilding trust, at a time when many citizens are questioning whether institutions are functioning effectively.“A few high-profile, successful prosecutions of white-collar criminals will engender greater trust in the system. Over the years, we made proposals to strengthen the FIU, implement public procurement legislation and improve the criminal justice system,” she said.Former AMCHAM T&T president Stuart Franco, in January 2024, had also made the call for stronger action against white-collar crime during his tenure, arguing that accountability and transparency were essential to strengthening investor confidence and public trust.Henderson stressed that the Government must also move urgently to address staff shortages within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).“Again, we urge the Government to ensure that the DPP’s Office is fully staffed as a critical and necessary step to be able to have a properly functioning criminal justice system, in which justice is delivered on time and fairly,” she said.Referencing recent public comments by DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, she noted that the office continues to face significant staffing challenges.Declining confidence, growing frustrationHenderson said the call for accountability formed part of a broader concern about declining confidence in institutions and growing frustration among citizens.“Families are struggling with the rising cost of living. Young people are questioning where opportunity exists for them. Communities remain concerned about crime and safety. But beyond the numbers and headlines, there is something deeper taking place. It is this overwhelming feeling that progress is becoming harder to see,” she said.She said crime, economic insecurity, distrust, and social frustration were interconnected issues that required coordinated responses from both the public and private sectors.“At the heart of it, people want to feel that the systems around them are still working, that leadership still carries credibility, and that effort and hard work can still lead to opportunity and progress,” she said.Henderson argued that restoring confidence would require greater transparency and accountability across institutions.“Trust cannot exist without transparency. And confidence cannot grow where accountability is absent. If we want citizens to believe in institutions again, then institutions must demonstrate that they are worthy of belief. If we want businesses to invest confidently, then policy environments must be stable, transparent and efficient,” she said.‘Opportunity alonenot enough’Turning to the economy, Henderson said T&T was entering a critical period as prospects emerged for increased gas supplies over the next three years.While diversification remained important, she said the energy sector would continue to underpin the economy for the foreseeable future and represented an opportunity that must not be squandered. We have a critical window of opportunity. But opportunity alone is not enough. We must act now to convert possibility into certainty. That means creating the conditions that make investment viable.“That means ensuring there is a reliable market for that gas. That means working collaboratively, across borders, if necessary, to ensure that upstream producers, LNG operators, downstream industries, and participating countries all benefit,” she said.
