Sonji Pierre-Chase has become the first attorney to lead the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce in its 146-year history.
Pierre-Chase was the senior vice president before being unanimously elected as president in March by the chamber’s board of directors.
Delivering her inaugural address at the chamber’s annual business meeting on April 2, she extended her gratitude to outgoing president Kiran Maharaj, commending her for her unwavering dedication and leadership over the past two years.
Maharaj was ineligible to continue in the role after serving for two consecutive terms.
Pierre-Chase vowed to turn words into action and said her primary focus will be stability, a key principle she noted was also highlighted by Prime Minister Stuart Young in his address at the meeting.
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Reiterating comments he made at the Shipping Association’s annual general meeting on March 28, Young said stability and credibility are just as important to businesses as they are to governing a country when he spoke to business leaders on April 2.
“You know the formula for success in the business world and to be quite frank, it shouldn’t be different to the formula for success in the government,” Young said.
“One of the main ingredients has to be that of stability and another is responsibility. You would understand how critical these are to the successful running of any venture…You also know how important it is when aiming for success to have credible reputations and relationships.”
In a thinly-veiled reference to the April 28 general election, Young said the public has an “important decision” to make in coming weeks.
“You have to decide who you want to lead TT and whose reputation and credibility can go into the boardrooms across the globe and negotiate with the most sophisticated negotiators in the oil and gas sector and earn the respect and credibility to continue to have millions of US invested in TT.”
Young also pointed to his efforts to address the foreign exchange shortage and said relationships will be key in this area.
“The energy sector is a very critical part of the landscape of TT. It still is the largest earner of forex.
“Many of the businesses depend on forex, which has declined. But to keep it stable and to look for the upward growth depends on a stable energy sector and the type of relationships that exist there.”
Addressing the forex issue is also among Pierre-Chase’s top priorities, alongside reinforcing the chamber’s advocacy for business development and economic resilience.
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“It is our intention to continue working with the government and the Central Bank, as the forex issue remains a significant concern for businesses.”
Pierre-Chase also pointed to the chamber’s food security committee as a means of addressing the country’s dependence on imported food amid foreign exchange challenges.
The ease of doing business remains a priority, she said, noting the chamber’s introduction of a digital business and technology committee, which aims to collaborate with the government to digitise the business landscape.
She pointed to the chamber’s longstanding commitment to lobbying for changes in policies and legislative reforms, including its successful efforts in securing VAT refunds for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) earlier this year.
Highlighting the chamber’s work in diversifying the economy, Pierre-Chase underscored efforts to strengthen the SME sector, which now comprises more than 66 percent of the chamber’s membership.
She added the focus on creative industries, also called the orange economy, which seeks to leverage the cultural and entertainment industries for economic growth, remains a key initiative under her leadership.
On the issue of crime, she reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to working alongside police and other stakeholders through its crime and justice committee.
Pierre-Chase also pledged to strengthen the chamber’s Tobago division, ensuring it remains the leading voice for business interests on the island.
“My motivation is simple,” she concluded. “I am committed to building a stronger and more resilient Trinidad and Tobago.”
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