Bish­op of the An­gli­can Dio­cese of Trinidad and Tobago, The Right Reverend Claude Berkley was the featured guest to the Penthouse of the Division of Finance and the Economy, Victor e Bruce Financial Complex when the Division held its annual ‘Thanksgiving Service’ on Monday November 4, to start the activities for Finance Month 2019.

The theme for this 17^th edition of the Thanksgiving Service was Appreciating the Times and Seasons’ to which Bishop Berkley focused his sermon on. He thought that Tobagonians have lost and are losing appreciation of their own inbred hospitable nature, a characteristic so naturally gifted to Tobagonians and most evidently witnessed during harvest festivals. Now, he lamented that sociologist will have to proffer an explanation for the development whereby bad customer service is cry in Tobago.

Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Joel Jack thanked all the stakeholders for their support throughout the year, for their recommendations and at times criticisms because the support and feedback assist the Division and the Assembly’s policy.

He said the work of the Division is critically important and the reason why it is tasked with managing and mobilising the resources of the Assembly for the people of Tobago, to ensure the developmental momentum is not constrained.

Secretary Jack praised the work of the Finance Month Committee and in extending Finance Week to Finance Month. He also thanked the media for its presence and the coverage ahead of the Finance Month events.

Administrator of the Division, Ms Denese Toby Quashie stated that the theme was relevant and timely as it touches on the economic challenges that confronts the country today and the energy sector clearly reflects that.

The service had contributions from a worship team led by Simone Woods, Violinist David Frank, a special song by Mariska Melville and singing tributes from the Finance Choir.

Secretary Jack formally declared open Finance Month 2019 as the Thanksgiving Service came to an end.

A media launched was held for the very first time to signal the start of Finance Month (FM) 2019 by the Division of Finance and the Economy. The media launch became necessary as the activities were expanded from the prior ‘Finance Week’ (2 wks) to a month-long activity.  

On Friday November 1, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Division of Finance and the Economy, Joel Jack formally opened Finance Month before the invited media and members of staff in the Penthouse of the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex under the theme ‘Advancing Our Economic Growth Through Innovation, Industry and Investment’.

Secretary Jack believes that the Division’s FM calendar has the most significant events from among the list of activities by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). He noted that persons in the past have come from Wall Street to attend for instance, the ‘Business Outlook Conference’ (BOC) as well as persons from the region. He vividly recalled a message from Ken Gordon at the very first BOC which said ‘think big, make it happen’ which he said embraces what the Assembly is attempting to do, in addition to new and innovative things based on the challenges we now face and those to come.

Following brief remarks from Administrator, Ms Denese Toby Quashie, managers of various units in the Division responsible for the major Finance Month events made their presentations: – Ms. Afeisha McKain, Financial Literacy Secretariat (FLS) and host of the ‘Breakfast Meeting’ Nov 7; Ms Tricia Beckles, Strategic Business Support & Development, Tobago Business & Economic Outlook Conference on Nov 12, and the Youth Empowerment Forum on Nov 15. All three events were held at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort. Added this year is a new event under the Youth Energised for Success (YES) entitled ‘Building Opportunities for Sustainable Success’ (B.O.S.S) which will be launched at the Fairways Restaurant.

Secretary Jack praised the work of the organising committee in the Division that has worked tirelessly over the past few weeks in planning the FM 2019 related events. He also paid tribute to the late and former Secretary of Finance, Dr Anslem London who started Finance Week as it then was.`

SMALL and medium-sized agro-processors in Tobago will get the opportunity to explore the viability of exporting their products to Canada when that country’s Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) leads a workshop for businesses interested in penetrating the Canadian marketplace.

The workshop, which takes place on Thursday, February 2, will offer participants information on the Canadian market, intelligence on specific sector opportunities and guidance on relevant issues, ranging from how to connect to Canadian importers and the standards and requirements that products need to meet.

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