TONI SIRJU-RAMNARINE has been named the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago's (Amcham) president, making her the second consecutive woman voted into the post.
Sirju-Ramnarine, who serves as vice-president of corporate operations at Atlantic, addressed the membership for the first time at the end of the chamber's 28th annual general meeting and business forum.
She thanked the outgoing Patricia Ghany, who had served since 2018, "for the visionary leadership you brought to (the organisation)."
Sirju-Ramnarine highlighted one of Ghany's milestones during her leadership – "her commitment to empowering women in business and society... (That was) in achieving gender parity on our board.
"I am pleased to say this is something that we have maintained with this current board," she said.
"In 2021 and beyond, we will continue to lead with a commitment to diversity at the heart of our operations and publicly advocate for measures to create a society with fewer inequalities and more opportunities for all."
Saying she looks forward to meeting the membership in person, Sirju-Ramnarine noted that Amcham, together with other chambers and private sector organisations, had undertaken a pro-vaccination campaign which is intended to encourage citizens to "Take d Jab Jab"– the slogan being used for the initiative.
"This is not the time to allow fear to take control...It is a time for collaboration – a time for solving problems collectively; a time to put all else aside and to move forward together.
"Today, we must 'take d Jab Jab' because we want to eat a bake and shark at Maracas Bay or watch cricket at the Oval or play mas, celebrate Divali and Christmas or Eid and Emancipation, or just simply hug an old friend or family member we have not seen in a while. Of course, the value of having the nation’s workforce and productivity levels ramp back up to optimal levels cannot be understated.
She said, "Amcham TT will continue working with the government’s vaccine administration process," adding that, "While we recognise it is a personal choice, we hope those of you who can, when it’s your turn, that you too will do your part and (get vaccinated).
Despite being in a time of crisis, she added, the country must be optimistic for a brighter future.
"It is a time for a new vision, for long-term strategy and long-term planning and for collaboration."
The incoming president highlighted AmCham's three main areas of strategic focus it considers key to "future-proofing our economy," namely the recovery of the economy, the use of technology and the" preparation of the youth and the current workforce to the future."
She said, "A key element to recovery will be attracting additional foreign direct investment.
"It will also require significant local investment. Liquidity in the financial system is high. Local companies are listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, and some are even moving their headquarters there. We have to make TT a more attractive place to do business.
"One of the ways in which we can do thi
