Amalgamated Security Services Ltd was named Service Provider of the Year (Large) at the 8th Annual Excellence in Services Awards Ceremony hosted by the T&T Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The awards ceremony was one of the highlights of the group's National Services Week.
Amalgamated also won the award for Best Use of Innovation In Services, which was among eight top honours presented on the night, while Caribbean Ideas was Service Provider of the Year (Small).
Musician Yohan Chuckaree and his team at Indigisounds won the Young Service Provider Award for their work on a pan and percussion sample library and the T&T Association of Midwives was named the Service Association of the Year�Community Service.
In the feature address at the ceremony, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon praised TTCSI for its work on behalf of a wide cross-section of services organisations and associations. She said in light of falling energy revenues, the group must redouble its efforts, particularly in maritime and aviation services, creative industries, financial services and ICT.
"To achieve the success we desire, there are a host of challenges that will need to be surmounted. Some of these include market access restrictions, capacity constraints, unreliable and unavailable data, and balancing domestic, regional and international requirements and realities. In spite of these challenges, a mature and organised services sector offers a myriad of opportunities in the way of diversification, enhanced manufacturing capacity, sustained economic growth, and increased investment and trade opportunities," she said.
Gopee-Scoon said there is need for an appraisal system, as well as improvements in standards used by local bodies and services. She added that Government, as a major provider and consumer of services, needs to partner with a vibrant, competitive and innovative private sector to meet the needs of the national and international community.
"In addition to work to develop policies and strategic plans for film, fashion and music industries, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is looking to the ship building, ship repair, dry-docking and yachting services to provide growth, employment and invaluable foreign exchange.
"The ministry is also developing the services components of our trade agreements with Costa Rica and Cuba, whilst also maximising the benefits of our Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. The value proposition of services is that it can be traded regardless of geography.
Therefore, I urge the businessmen and women here today to find those opportunities and exploit them at every turn," said Gopee-Scoon.
The minister said the growth of TTCSI's Services Week over the last eight years is indicative of the growth and interest in the services sector.
"The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been a part of that growth and remains committed to the expansion and development of the sector. We are ready to chart the way forward, but we need you–the service providers–to inform policy formation and the national services agenda. The acknowledgement of excellence in services speaks to the recognition that innovation is imperative to creating and maintaining local and international competitiveness," she said.
Awards
Best Recent Service Award–Design Works Ltd
Young Service Provider–
Yohan Chuckaree
Best Use of Innovation in Services–Amalgamated Security Services Ltd
Service Exporter of the Year�Ken Valley Award–Kee Chanona Ltd
Service Association of the Year�Business Category–Association of Real Estate Agents
Service Association of the Year �Community Category–T&T Association of Midwives
Service Provider of the Year (Small) �Lawrence Placide Award–Caribbean Ideas
Service Provider of the Year (Large)–Amalgamated Security Services Ltd