global young leaders program

8/3/2019 Global Young Leaders Program

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/global-young-leaders-program 1/23

Trinidad and Tobago

2011

6/3/2011

Corporate Social Responsibilityin Action



2

Content s _Toc294858513

Abstract ....................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ................................................................................................. 4

Methodology ............................................................................................... 5

Discussion .................................................................................................... 6

Conclusions .................................................................................................. 8

Recommendations ....................................................................................... 9

APPENDIX .................................................................................................. 10

YARA TRINIDAD LTD ................................................................................ 10

BHP BILLITON TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES .... 14

METHANEX TRINIDAD LIMITED – A RESPONSIBLE CARE COMPANY ........ 17

REPSOL’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ................... 19

BPTT and Development in Trinidad and Tobago ..................................... 20



3

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide an overview of the current level of Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) of companies in Trinidad and Tobago and gives special attention to

the Energy Industries where this sector is considered one of the most developed. It willshow mainly that charity is the main approach to CSR as a strategy for achieving

sustainable development. Also it will assess some of the CSR approaches highlighting

weaknesses that exist and which should be addressed in the future. Subsequently, there

is need for government to become more proactive in delivering a credible and incentive-

appealing national strategy on CSR. In a nutshell, CSR in Trinidad and Tobago is a

growing initiative and there are many missed opportunities that need to be assessed

and evaluated carefully in order to build long-term sustainability and benefits.



4

Introduction

In the global marketplace where reputations matter deeply, business leaders have come

to understand the importance of practising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as this

affects their corporate reputation and brand image. However, up until a few years agothe concept of CSR has been a growing development within the Trinidad and Tobago

Economy and is mainly driven by foreign companies. On the other hand, for local

companies there has been a general lack of understanding and ownership. CSR in

Trinidad and Tobago has generally been focus on areas such as youth and community,

sports, small business development, coaching clinics and culture in the form of steel

band as a means of developing youth talent. Recently, CSR is fast becoming a tool for

evaluating and assessing industrial projects in the energy sector.

In relation to the Energy Sector, the Energy Chamber has been the primary vehicle

through which CSR activity continues to be highlighted in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago CSR continues to permeate

the business landscape of Trinidad and Tobago with the recognition that CSR policies

and frameworks lend itself to more competitive and sustainable businesses, corporate

image, reputation and brand building, greater transparency within organizations and

corporate best practises.

Historically the Energy Chamber was the first indigenous organization to sign on to

United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary compact which adheres to 10 universal

principals based on ethics and transparency. In 2007, the Energy Chamber conductedthe fist ever baseline study in partnership with the UNDP, to map CSR activity in Trinidad

and Tobago: 2007 STCIC_UNDP CSR Mapping Report.

A key point to note is that the Energy Chamber continues to promote and highlight CSR

activities locally through its annual CSR Leadership Awards Ceremony which aims at

recognizing the efforts of companies pioneering in the areas of CSR and those which

have established sustainable CSR programmes and policies. As a major influence in CSR,

the Energy Chamber continues to remain committed to all CSR services towards the

sustainable development of Energy Sector, businesses, communities and the country as

a whole.

Furthermore, the impact of globalization plays an influential role in the drive to

developing CSR policies as it raises questions on the use of labour, concerns for

environmental protection the need to reduce poverty and to promote sustainable

development. By and large, these are all directly related to the progression of CSR

initiatives which are practised all over the world.



5

Methodology

This report was conducted through the process of contacting business organizations via

email for the purpose of collecting data on CSR initiatives that was implemented. Each

company was asked a standard question as it related to CSR and responded accordingly.

The companies that were selected represented a random portion of the Energy Sector

of Trinidad and Tobago. The final sample was comprised of the following companies:

1. BHP Billiton

2. BP

3. REPSOL

4. YARA

5. Methanex Trinidad Limited

6. NEC7. NGC

These companies were selected based on the annual CSR Leadership Awards ceremony

as its main intension is to heighten the awareness of CSR among companies that have

established CSR programmes and polices. Currently, five (5) among the seven (7)

companies responded. In some cases, information had to be retrieved from the

websites which basically gave general information. One major limitation involved was

the lengthy time in receiving responses. Nevertheless, this report provides significant

information on the level of CSR related practises and activities from 2008 to current in

Trinidad and Tobago.



6

Discussion

In general, the companies under investigation are mainly engaged in social and

environmental programmes both at the community and national level. The programmes

discuss above were concentrated in the areas of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture andthe Environment. To a lesser extent companies were involved in initiatives relating to

Health. It is clear that the Energy Sector Industries showed the greatest involvement in

projects on a national level. While at the community level, there are some

districts/areas in which social and environmental programmes are highly concentrated

where most of the fence-line1 communities are located e.g. Guayaguayare, Mayaro,

Couva, Point Fortin. This is explained by the fact that many of these companies’

administrative headquarters are located in these areas. Thus, this presents a major

drawback as many other areas in Trinidad and Tobago are being neglected from these

social and environmental programmes.

In the case of Tobago, the high level of social and environmental projects was as a result

of the companies operating in the island, particularly from the sectors of Service,

Tourism, and Distribution. Nevertheless, most of the environmental initiatives in Tobago

were undertaken by companies from the Energy Sector, probably as a result of increase

activity in off-shore areas close to Tobago.

Important to note, while these social and environmental programmes has benefited

many areas throughout Trinidad and Tobago there are other opportunities which exist

that is often left on the side burner by these companies. For instance, crime is perceivedto be an important issue that affects business activities, to date none of the companies

have invested in any specific activity to facilitate the rehabilitation of crime apart from

the few programmes which indirectly targeted rehabilitation and education. Other areas

of missed opportunities as it relates to social problems in society are corruption and

prostitution. This is a clear indication that these companies still view charity as their

main form of social responsibility and focus of companies’ strategies to promote

sustainable development.

Furthermore, existing programmes are not always aligned with the country’s

developmental goals and can be seen as stand-alone initiatives. The involvement of

Government in the practise of CSR is still limited. However, in an article by Richard

Braithwaite – Director of Association of Energy Specialist highlighted that the Minister of

Energy and Energy Affairs, has identified several criteria to be used as a ‘new valuation

mechanism’ in assessing industrial based projects in the energy sector. This list included

1Fence-line is defined as the physical boundaries or communities that surrounds a facility



7

an assessment of CSR as part of the evaluation process which is in keeping with the

modern business trends.

There are few fiscal initiatives for companies to undertake CSR-related initiatives and

there is no set framework to coordinate CSR initiatives at the national level. There are

also limited cross-corporation partnerships; Partnership among corporations is still

limited, resulting in a duplication of similar projects and a lack of coordination amongst

initiatives that target similar objectives. These are some of the findings highlighted by

report titled “Mapping Corporate Social Responsibility in TT”. The challenge therefore, is

to design more realistic and locally concentrated CSR programmes that have a direct

and long-term impact on the problems confronting the surrounding communities.

Nonetheless, the overall impact of CSR initiatives by the Energy Industry has provided

positive impacts to many communities. For instance, the Mayaro Initiative Private

Enterprise Development (MIPED) project sponsored by BPTT has successfully createdsustainable employment for many Mayaro residents. Most noteworthy is the

programme’s empowerment of woman particularly in its HOPE (Helping Ourselves

Prosper Economically) arm. Together HOPE and PROFED, the other arm of the MIPED

programmes, have advance over 1,000 loans worth TT$12,86 million up to December

2006, while approximately 500 jobs has been created.

The achievements of these companies do not go unnoticed as every year since 2008 the

Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago have been involved in the annual CSR Awards

to honour their achievements. The awards are meant to heighten the awareness of CSR

through healthy competition among companies who have successfully implemented CSR

programmes and policies On November 15, 2010, seven companies were honoured

under different categories depicting their contribution to the Trinidad and Tobago

economy. Methanex Trinidad Limited won an award for ‘Recognising the Value of

People’, BG Trinidad and Tobago received an award for ‘Strengthening Communities

through Social Investment” and Atlantic LNG for their ‘Commitment to Transparency’.

Currently there are CSR committees or initiatives in all major business associations.

There is a CSR Center at the Lok Jack Graduate School of Business – something which

the Chamber played a very direct role in creating. However, one must not be mistaken

with corporate responsibility and philanthropy as there are many companies place

emphasis on activities that have a connection with their core business. The experience

here is that investment in society and the environment rather than handouts is more

sustainable and has a greater impact in the long run.



8

Conclusions

Despite the abundance of social and environmental programmes, CSR is still very much

in its premature stages of development in Trinidad and Tobago. The Energy Sector,

which comprises of foreign companies, plays a major role in the promotion of social andenvironmental programmes. The consciousness of CSR is becoming far more significant

as many companies are seeing the importance of giving back to the economy. While

there is a trend towards philanthropy in Trinidad and Tobago much consideration

should be given to long term benefits. Widespread issues of geographic saturation of

external social and environmental programmes are important issues to be considered.

Communities such as Mayaro, Guayaguayare Couva, Point Fortin are by far the main

beneficiaries of social expenditure in Trinidad and Tobago. In fact it implies that

geographical distribution of these programmes tends to reflect the areas where

companies generate their revenue.

Apart from this, the involvement of government is still limited as there are few

public/private partnerships and joint programmes undertaken by the Government and

private companies. Therefore, it can be noted that the perceived level of CSR

engagement is higher than the actual level of CSR that occurs in reality. The duplication

of CSR problems is another area where careful consideration must be given. Many

companies due to limited cross-corporation then to target similar objectives leaving

many areas overly compensated.

All in all, CSR will continue to play a significant role in the Trinidad and Tobago economysince issues of globalization are seen as a function of CSR. Given that the impact of

globalization is unavoidable this will suggest CSR can be used a tool for dealing with the

“blacklash against globalization”.



9

Recommendations

Based on the information presented in this report, there are some lessons that Korea

can benefit on their quest to become involved in CSR in Trinidad and Tobago. In this

regard, the following recommendations can be instrumental:

- In relation to the environmental aspect, there are opportunities to focus on

issues such as the reduction of emissions and waste management.

- Make most of Green Opportunities - the production of environmental friendly

products and processes.

- Implement a local network of the UN Global Compact in order to improve the

practise of CSR in Trinidad and Tobago. Such network will promote CSR

awareness at the national level; facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best

practises.

- Develop avenues for knowledge transfer where foreign companies shouldsupport local companies in the implementation of CSR by transferring knowledge

and capabilities towards creating a development dynamic in the country.

- Ensure CSR policies are aligned with national development goals.

- Focus CSR initiatives on outcome rather than the process – In this regard, in

undertaking social and environmental impact assessments of the programmes a

necessary step would be to assess its Return On Investment.

- Avoid saturated already focus areas of CSR programmes and policies.

- Lastly, implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure social and

environmental programmes by conducting Impact Assessment Exercises.

The implementation of these recommendations can go a long way towards the success

of CSR in Trinidad and Tobago, resulting in positive outcomes for both businesses and

the society.



10

APPENDIX

The information presented below highlights the CSR initiatives that have been

implemented by each company. It also draws on on-going programmes that take place

on an annual basis.

YARA TRINIDAD LTD

Corporate Social Responsibility Activities

1. Corporate Social Responsibility

Yara Games: Yara holds the belief that the development of the individual is not limited

to the classroom. For this reason, Yara supports other initiatives that are targeted to the

holistic development of the individual. Sponsorship of track and field events for primary

schools in the environs of the Yara Trinidad Ltd.’s plant site began over 45 years ago,

with the baton passing from predecessor companies Fedchem and Hydro Agri to Yara

Trinidad Ltd. Over 20 primary schools participate in the Yara Games, bringing children,

teachers and parents together for an exciting event that promotes teamwork and

discipline.

Beaches and Bays: In 2004, the comprehensive book “A guide to Beaches and Bays of

Trinidad and Tobago” was handed over to primary and secondary schools and libraries

across the nation to educate and train people how to conduct their activities in an

environmentally responsible manner. The guidebook is a project of the Institute of

Marine Affairs (IMA) which Yara Trinidad Ltd. readily supported. It is filled with manyphotographs, descriptions, safety factors and detailed directions to 53 of our country’s

beaches.

Am Cham Health, Safety Security and Environment Conference : The American

Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)’s HSSE Conference and Exhibition gives an

opportunity to member companies to showcase their Health, Safety, Security and

Environmental policies, products and services. For 7 consecutive years, Yara Trinidad

Ltd. has been an avid supporter of the conference, showcasing Health, Safety and

Environmental initiatives. In 2009, Yara positioned itself as a Platinum Sponsor in the

event.

Skiffle Bunch: On June 12, 2005, Yara Trinidad Ltd. handed over the deed to the primeproperty located on “Coffee Street” to the Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra. The handing -

over ceremony was witnessed by then Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and

Tobago, Hon. Patrick Manning.

The Marabella Family Crisis Centre (2009-Present): The Marabella Family Crisis Centre

has been in existence for the past eighteen (18) years, three (3) of which Yara Trinidad

Ltd. has been a key sponsor and loyal supporter. Many services offered at the Centre are

aimed to assist persons with family and relationships, healthcare, education and



11

training, scholarship and funding and employment. Annually, the Centre orchestrates a

planned function during the Christmas season where toys are distributed by Yara’s

resident Santa Claus bringing joy to the little ones.

2. Cooperation with Universities and Technical Institutions

Yara believes that the most important contribution it can make to the development of Trinidad

and Tobago and the improvement of its human capital is through education and culture.

Bursaries: Outstanding academic achievement and financial need are the criteria used

to award bursaries to students of the University of the West Indies in undergraduate

programs – Electrical & Computer Engineering, Chemical & Process Engineering,

Mechanical Engineering and Agriculture. These awards have been made annually to four

students. The current monetary award is $7000 TTD per student. A fifth bursary is

reserved for an employee’s child based on outstanding results in the ‘A’ Level

Examination and is application at any recognized institution of higher education. Music Literacy Trust (2005): Promotion of culture from an educational perspective is

the basis of the Music Literacy Trust, an initiative conceptualised by Yara Trinidad to

help young musicians hone their talent and become world-class musicians. Undertaken

in conjunction with The University of the West Indies’ Centre for Creative and Festival

Arts, scholarship recipients pursue degree and certificate programmes, with the

steelpan (Trinidad and Tobago national instrument) as the main instrument. Younger

children in community classes are motivated through financial support for the ABRSM

(Associated Board of the Royal School of Music) exams. Yara Trinidad Ltd. is among the

initial corporate contributors to the fund. Also incorporates the scored and recorded

compositions of Ray Holman, Jit Samaroo, Junior and Edwin Pouchet and Lennox‘Bobby’ Mohamed.

MOU Signed with UTT / E-View Launch: A Memorandum of Understanding (signed in

2006) between Yara and the University of Trinidad and Tobago fosters the development

and use of cultural and technological resources. The first product of this partnership was

the E-view DVD, The Ammonia Process, (launched in 2008) which is used as an

interactive teaching aid at the University and an internal resource at Yara.

Yara UWI Community Assistance Programme in Agriculture (YUCAPA) (2008): a

partnership between the Department of Food Production at The University of the West

Indies Trinidad and Yara International ASA / Yara Trinidad Ltd that focuses on

agricultural research, education, training and outreach. It also provides for greatercooperation between Yara’s Hanninghof Centre for Plant Nutrition and Environmental

Research in Dulmen, Germany and the Department of Food Production, access to the N-

tester, a fertilizer application technology developed by Yara, and education of local and

regional farmers on environment-friendly fertilization practices for a range of crops.

Yara Trinidad Ltd. also awarded an MPhil scholarship to the value of USD 10,000 for 2

years, from September 2008.



12

Yara Auditorium at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (2008): The Yara

Auditorium at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (formerly UWI Institute

of Business) stands as another symbol of the benefits that can accrue to a nation when

the private sector partners with educational institutions to contribute to the national

good. A TTD 3 million contribution was made towards establishing this premium

conference facility that benefits business managers and leaders as they hone their skills

to operate in an increasingly competitive global business environment.

V.S. Naipaul DVD Launch (2008): Partnering to preserve our culture and history in the

literary artwork of West Indian Literature was one of the projects Yara Trinidad Ltd.

pursued in 2008 with a DVD launch as a tribute to the Nobel Prize winner, Sir V.S.

Naipaul.

Yara-Agritech Expo at U.W.I. (2008): Yara Trinidad Ltd. made a donation towards the

University of the West Indies 60th Anniversary Celebration. As part of their celebration,

the University embarked on a series of activities to aid in the restructuring and

revitalization of the agriculture industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the region with the

aim of achieving food security, poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

Global Young Leaders Conference (2008): Yara Trinidad Ltd. provides assistance to

some of the students selected to represent their respective schools to attend the GYLC –

Global Young Leaders Conference held annually In Washington, D.C. USA. These global

scholars are selected basis on their outstanding leadership skills and exceptional

academic performance. The conference allows the students to learn from experts in the

field of politics, journalism, finance and international diplomacy while interacting and

socializing with other scholars from over one hundred countries.

Donation of Scanner/Printer (2008): Yara Trinidad Ltd. recently donated an OCE' 9400

Printer/Scanner to UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago), Pt. Lisas campus. This wide

format printer will be excellent for UTT's technical courses that require duplication of

existing 24" x 36" drawings which are not in soft copy. This device can also be upgraded

to scan documents, which can then be stored electronically for digital archiving.

UWI World of Work Seminar (2008-Present): For the past 5 years, Yara has fostered

professional development through the University of the West Indies’ WOW Seminar.

This career fair allows Yara to conduct brief informal interviews and recruit potential

graduate trainees. Employees who attend are also given an opportunity to not only

share information about the company but highlight its operations and core values.

3. Cooperation with Government Agencies

YaraMila (2009): Provision of 2000 MT of compound, low cost fertiliser to local farmers

via 25kg bags distributed by National Flour Mills, delivered over the period December

2009 to January 2010. Project carried out under the aegis of the Ministry of Food

Production, Land and Marine Affairs.



13

Research Centre visit: Yara Trinidad to sponsor the visit of a member of the Ministry of

Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs to Yara International’s Hanningh of Research

Centre in Germany.

Additional CSR Initiatives

Yara’s extends its developments to its neighbours and partners in development. Sponsorship of

the Couva/Preysal Primary School Zonal games, now knows as YARA games, continues inot its

48th year. Yara Trinidad ltd. collaborates with the University of the West Indies to develop local

agriculture via technology and research. Yara also provides bursaries to students of agriculture

and engineering.



14

BHP BILLITON TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO COMMUNITY

PROGRAMMES


1. Oiled Wildlife Response Training Seminars in Trinidad and Tobago

Conducted in association with the Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabiliatation Center, the seminars,

the first of their kind ever held locally, focused on the rehabilitation of wildlife affected by oil

spills. Participants learned such things as the rules and regulations concerning wildlife and safe

work practices for on oiled wildlife facility. The rehabilitation of wild animals was illustrated,

including a live demonstration of the treating of oiled birds. The training was conducted by Tri-

state Resuce and Research Inc and benefited 139 persons from various NGOs, CBOs and

environmental groups.

2. Tobago’s Coastal Atlas

In the conduct of its activities in Tobago, BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago did research on the

entire coastline of the island, mapping the ecological and cultural systems, as well as nothing the

physical features and natural resources assets. The information gathered was published in the

form of an interactive environmental coastline atlas, and has been distributed to the Tobago

House of Assembly, schools, NGO’s, CBOs, fishermen and other interest groups on the island.

3. Archaeological Digs in Guayaguayare and Mayaro

When BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago found out that certain archaeological dig sites were

located within the company’s planned lease area, due consideration was given to avoiddisturbance of these sites by development activities. As a result, a proposed tank farm site was

positioned to leave a dig site untouched. Further, assistance was given to the Archaeological

Committee of the History Department, UWI, for dig sites throughout Guayaguayare and

Maryaro.

4. Welding Programme in Mayaro

The need for persons in the industrial sector to attain proper levels of competencies is more

critical than ever. Mindful of this, the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme

(YTEPP) in association with BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago runs a certified welders and

frabricators project for welders who wish to be certified, and for persons interested in becomingwelders. Not only does the project provide a ready source of skilled labour for the energy

industry, but also opportunities for youth development and reduced unemployment in the area.

5. Cassava Cultivation in Guayaguayare

The community of La Brea Village, Guayaguayare, wished to see real growth in the area. They

came together and after much discussion, and in partnership with BHP Billiton Trinidad and



15

Tobago, decided on a project in sustainable farming. The Ministry of Agriculture then came on

board to train farmers in effective cassava cultivation. Eight months later the farmers reaped a

bumper harvest of cassava – the first; it is expected, of many.

6. Crane Operations in Mayaro and Guayaguayare

In April 2005, a number of skilled but uncertified crane operations from Mayaro and

Guayaguayare approached BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago with a view to becoming certified,

and took part in a crane operator training programme. 15 operators attended the course and

after five days of comprehensive training, all successfully completed the final exam. Now they

have improved their marketability not only within the energy industry, but beyond.

7. Music CD in Mayaro and Guayaguayare

The musical talent of the young people of our nation is known to be tremendous, and the youth

of Mayaro and Guayaguayare are no exception. Recognising this, BHP Billiton Trinidad and

Tobago decided to assist in the production of a CD featuring the talents of youngsters from thearea. The exciting end result and the national airplay received are proof positive that, as far as

our music is concerned, the future is in good hands.

8. Legal Aid Clinic in Toco

Every third Saturday of the month, the people of the north east coast get the benefit of the

services of professional attorneys who hold legal aid clinics in Toco. Villages are able to get

advice on a range of civil matters from property to business issues and beyond.

9. Servol School in Toco and Mayaro

The education organisation, Servol, met with oil and gas companies that operate in Mayaro and

Guayaguayare to explore programmes that could benefit young people of the area. BG Trinidad

and Tobago, BPTT, EOG Resources and BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago decided that, jointly,

they would renovate and refurbish the St. Andrews’s Regional Life Centre in Sangre Grande. The

centre now provides an adolescent development programme, early childhood care as well as

number of skills training programmes including air conditioning, catering, computer literacy and

home health aid.

10. High School Recycling Programme in Guayaguayare

Thinking green is something we must all do if we are to preserve this world for futuregenerations. What better way to do this than to get our youth involved in initiative aimed at

maintaining our environment. The recycling programme, started at the Guayaguayare High

School, is one such initiative that has proved very successful in getting students thinking about

the importance of conserving their environment.



16

List of all the Community Projects initiated by BPH Billiton Trinidad and Tobago



17

METHANEX TRINIDAD LIMITED – A RESPONSIBLE CARE

COMPANY


2008/2010 Main Projects:

1. "Mentoring Our Children" continuation

Employees volunteer time and talent in mentoring high potential students from low-

income families, encouraging them to think about the possibilities that exist with sound

education, strong values and responsible choices.

2. Habitat for Humanity partnership for 2 houses

This programme is in collaboration with the mentoring programme which is to enable

comfortable living space for qualifying families of participating students. Employees joined the Habitat for Humanity team in painting a home at Basta Hall, Couva which was

extended with funding from Methanex.

3. Eco- Heroes walkathon for 14 primary schools in Central Trinidad

Over 500 participants took part in Methanex Trinidad Limited’s first Eco -Heroes

Walkathon on November 08, 2009, raising close to $140,000 for projects that will

enhance the environment of six primary schools in Methanex’s fence-line community

(Point Lisas and environs). Methanex engaged the schools’ principals, teachers,

students and parents as well as its employees and Community Advisory Panel, in raisingfunds through pledges. Further, Methanex matched the funds raised to a maximum of

$10,000 per school. The partnership will grow as Methanex monitors the completion of

projects ranging from playground upgrades and better sound systems to library

enhancements and other learning initiatives.

This was repeated for a second time on November 14, 2010. Supported by teachers,

parents, Methanex’s employees and community donors, they achieved $223, 500 for

projects that will enhance each school’s learning.

4. Establishment of a seven member Community Advisory Panel (CAP)

The highly engaged seven-member Community Advisory Panel (CAP) continues to be a

vital link to Methanex’s fence-line community and a conduit for sharing information

with local residents, This alliance has grown to include collaboration on workshops such

as Fabric Design for children; Self Esteem and Career Guidance for teenagers; and Anger

Management, Personal Safety Awareness and First-Aid training for adults.



18

5. Primary and Secondary school initiatives

Twenty-one primary and secondary schools in Tobago participated in Environment

Tobago’s ‘Keep a Clean School’ Competition 2008, with Methanex as the exclusive

sponsor, investing close to $100,000 in this important learning initiative. Focusing on

Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle and Re-think principles, students, and teachers engaged in

creative and practical projects to enhance the environment of their schools.

Secondly, Methanex actively supports Dow Village Government Primary School. In

addition to establishing the Methanex Library and upgrading the schools, play ground,

they have also provided fire extinguishers, guidance on emergency response; and

continue to provide first-aid supplies and support from our site nurse for the school’s

hygiene workshops.

6. University programmes

Methanex partnered with the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) to host a

Distinguished Lecturers Series over three years, allowing students and faculty members

to benefit from the world’s best minds in technology, engineering, science and business.

Also, four (4) University Scholarships sponsored by Methanex.

Among these programmes, here are some of the other CSR activities that were conducted by

Methanex

- Coastal clean-up of Vessigny Beach as part of international coastal clean-up

exercise

- Repainting of kindergarten nursery and classrooms + donation of child-sized

furniture. -Kindergarten for children from low income families operated bygovernment ministries.

- Certified First Aid/CPR training for 40 residents in our fence line community.

- Several small donations through our Social Responsibility Committee for

Education, Health, Safety, Environment and Community Outreach

- $400,000 to Haiti and Chile Earthquake Relief Funds

- Introduction of plastic recycling bin at "adopted" primary school



19

REPSOL’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT


Corporate Responsibility Model

The efforts taken on by the company, beyond the legal requirements, are focussed on

maximising the positive impact of our activities and on preventing, mitigating, restoring and

compensating the negative impacts within the ethical, social and environmental framework that

we have built in line with the expectations of our stakeholders.

1. Education and skills development are the key to success

Repsol recently hosted its third Greenhouse Technical Training Programme in the

community of Mayaro/ Guayaguayare. This on-going project is one of the company’smain social development programmes and is geared specifically to implement and

promote agriculture through the use of protected structures or greenhouses among

small farmers. The five day intensive workshop was facilitated by representative of the

University of Maryland Eastern Shore and accommodated many participants from

Mayaro/Guayaguayare and environs, all eager to learn about the methods and

techniques on what is considered to be the future of agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago.

2. Farmers reap the rewards, from training to implementation

In 2008, Repsol’s commitment to the economic growth of the communities in which

they operate resulted in providing 4 farmers with training on greenhouse technology in

Jamaica followed by the construction of 3 greenhouses in Mayaro/Guayaguayare. With

a clear vision and direction to reach more farmers who can benefit form this agricultural

technology, Repsol implement 3 additional units in 2010, all of which are very

productive to date.



20

BPTT and Development in Trinidad and Tobago


1. EDUCATION

Education has a powerful impact on human progress and bpTT’s investment in our nation’s

youth covers a range of educational initiatives – from remedial programmes, to the provision of

scholarships and incentives for outstanding performance. This includes awards for the top

performers (students scoring 95% and above) in the national Secondary Entrance Assessment

(SEA) examinations at the primary level, bursaries at the tertiary-level and sponsorship of

technical/vocational skills training and development. Our education programme also includes

collaboration on SEA instructional software.

- Fighting Illiteracy

We support the Centre of Excellence in Teacher Training (CETT), a national reading programme

for primary schools, but our emphasis is on improving academic achievement levels in Mayaro

and Guayaguayare. BPTT is tackling illiteracy at all levels in these areas through primary and

secondary schools and adult education programmes.

We are currently engaged in a joint literacy programme with the Adult Literacy Tutors'

Association (ALTA) and the Mayaro Literacy Improvement Committee to raise the average levels

of literacy in the community of Mayaro and Guayaguayare. We have trained tutors and offered

programmes at four community sites and at both of the secondary schools in the area. One site

is the BP Trinidad and Tobago-funded Mayaro Resource Centre (MRC).

- MRC

The MRC is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility that accommodates academic, vocational

and sports training along with cultural and social activities. In 2002 it was transformed from the

bpTT Sports Club into a public facility and is a gift to the people of our home-base community -

Mayaro.

- Scholarships

BPTT supports student-development with the provision of annual university bursaries andscholarships. We partner with the British High Commission and the American Embassy to award

Chevening and Fulbright Scholarships respectively.

We have also implemented “Brighter Prospects,” a scholarship and award programme to

provide opportunities for technical/vocational and tertiary-level training for residents of Mayaro

and Guayaguayare – our rural home-base of operations. To date over 116 students have

received Brighter Prospects scholarships which have enabled them to further their studies.



21

- The University of the West Indies (UWI)

The UWI and bpTT have a long tradition of collaboration. We have contributed significantly to

the development of accredited petroleum geosciences programme at The University of the

West Indies St. Augustine (The UWI). The company has made a financial commitment to the

programme and also offers annual scholarships to attract the best and brightest students tobuild the geosciences capability in the country. Members of bpTT’s staff have lectured full

semester courses, served as guest lecturers in specialised areas and also coached and mentored

students during summer internships and final-year projects. Additionally, bpTT provides 10

bursaries annually at a total value of TT$100,000 to students of The UWI. These bursaries are

awarded in the faculties of engineering and the social sciences.

BPTT now sponsors the MSc programme in reservoir engineering. Reservoir engineering focuses

on maximizing production from mature reservoirs and gaining a better understanding of

depletion and reservoir behaviours in complex subsurface formations. Beginning in 2007, bpTT

will be contributing $800,000 a year towards the programme.

- The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)

The UTT is designed to become a world-class training institution, focused on applied science and

technology. With our donation of $60 million towards the establishment of this University, bpTT

has agreed to provide support to research and development in renewable energy resources;

marine sciences projects; an animal production laboratory (buffalypso, as a key protein source

for food security); and sponsorship of post-graduate research students.

2. ENTERPRISE AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT

- MIPED

The Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development (MIPED) is a $7.2 million development

fund intended to stimulate micro-enterprise and economic diversity and assist with skills

training in Mayaro. The objective is to help decrease the unemployment levels in the community

and assist with diversification of the local economy. Since its inception in 2002, over 1372 loans

have been disbursed, over 800 new micro-enterprises established and over 1000 permanent

jobs created.

3.

BPTT CHARITY PRO AM GOLF

BPTT has joined the fight against cancer in Trinidad and Tobago and actively supports public

education efforts related to cancer through its annual fundraiser – the bpTT Charity Pro Am Golf

Tournament. 2007 marks the event’s seventh successful year. Golfing professionals are brought

to the Moka Golf Course in Trinidad from around the world to play with nationals and to coach

the country’s young golfers. The tournament’s popularity is growing and funds are raised

through corporate sponsorship by business-sector participants. The current recipient of these



22

funds is the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society. We have provided support in the past to the

Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Cyril Ross Nursery.

4. ENIVORNMENT

We are united around a vision of environmental leadership and recognise that the challenge to

develop cleaner energy must be met. We are committed to the proactive and responsible

treatment of our planet’s natural resources.

- Solar Water Heating

We have formed a partnership with local and international NGOs as well as government

agencies to introduce a pilot solar water heating project within the tourism industry in both

Trinidad and Tobago. The project is being implemented mainly to provide the Government of

the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with first-hand information and knowledge on system

performance and efficiencies to be obtained from this solar energy application. The information

will influence the formulation of a national renewable energy policy and programme for the

country.

- Community Environmental Awareness Training

This programme focuses on Mayaro and Guayaguayare. It uses education on environmental and

legal tools to enable residents to effectively manage their environment and influence the rate

and pattern of development in their community. The programme covers basic and advanced

concepts in Environmental Management as well as the local legal framework for Environmental

Management in Trinidad and Tobago. Members of the community were invited to join the

programme on a voluntary basis and 45 community residents have participated in theprogramme to date.

5. MEDIA EDUATION

- Media education on energy

The Media Education Programme is a workshop for journalists that enable them to provide

better informed reporting, analysis and commentary on energy matters. By extension, it is

aimed at heightening public awareness of the energy industry.

The principal aim is to create an understanding of the petroleum industry and associated issues

on the part of the public through educating key personnel in the national news media. The

programme is now in its third year and is driving the development of a knowledgeable cadre of

media energy specialists. It is administered through the University of Trinidad and Tobago

BPTT is the first energy company to embark on such a programme locally. Over 20 journalists

have passed through the programme since its inception.



23

Graduates of the programme are armed with a combination of facts, figures and varying views

from experts to put context to the issues and that, in turn, leads to a more robust national

debate on the topics. It also fosters an appreciation for further learning among journalists,

giving them the tools to increase their energy reporting knowledge and skill on their own.

It is envisaged that the enhanced coverage of the sector would lead to a better understandingand coverage of the operations of BPTT and the sector as a whole, with particular importance on

safety and operations integrity.

The modules cater to the need to create performance-driven graduates with not only a passion

to investigate and report on energy related activities, but to also do so with confidence boosted

by a greater understanding of the energy industry and key activities in it. In that way, the

programme also benefits the national community.

Overall, even though the Energy Sector has known to play a dominant role in CSRprogrammes there other companies which have been involved in such development. For

instance, through the “Guardian in Education” programme, the Trinidad Guardian

Newspaper helps to promote literacy and instil awareness of social issues among

secondary school students. In doing so, the newspaper attracts the next generation of

readers, builds circulation and market share, enters into new business partnerships; and

gains recognition as a leader in directing positive social change. To add, the Unit Trust

Corporation (UTC) is also very conscious of its social responsibility. In 2008, the UTC

changed their approach to CSR from financial benevolence to active social investment in

the following areas: improving the standard of living, literacy and youth development,cultural enhancement and the promotion of healthy lifestyle. However, many have

argued that most donations from private companies are demand-driven in that various

organizations and individuals request donations without proper needs assessment.

Some even companies also view social and environmental programmes as expenditure

rather than investment. However, today many other companies are becoming more

involved in social responsibility making it the gateway for many reasons. All in all, CSR

plays a major role in promoting sustainable development.

global young leaders program

Documents