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In the face of social issues plaguing Trinidad and Tobago, private organizations and NGOs are partnering to provide the youth of our nation with hope and direction. One such partnership is between Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL) and The Heroes Foundation (HF).
The Heroes Foundation (HF) founded in October 2002, is responsible for nurturing the next generation of heroes through the creation and promotion of mentorship activities by the youth and for the youth. Since its early days, PPGPL has provided financial support to the Foundation enabling it to pursue youth development progrmames and spread the message of true heroism as demonstrated by local citizens over the years.
In an effort to promote the work of the Heroes Foundation in the Central communities, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited recently donated $60,000 to the HF for the establishment of a Central office. This office will enable the Foundation to broaden its reach to the youth in that part of the country. It will also facilitate the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters which is an arm of the HF and which focuses specifically on mentorship. At the launch of the company’s 2011 CSR initiatives, Eugene Tiah. President, PPGPL expressed his company’s commitment to contribute more to the personal development of the residents of the Couva Children’s Home through special projects.
Employees of PPGPL have been invited by Big Brothers Big Sisters to participate in their voluntary mentorship programme which is seeking to recruit ‘Bigs’ for one year to work with the residents of the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery. It is hoped that other companies on the Pt. Lisas Estate will join PPGPL in volunteering to mentor children of the Couva HOME.
At the close of the Christmas season, children of the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery (formerly Phillips Children’s Home) received a gift of education from one of their corporate sponsors Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited. On January 6, PPGPL’s president Eugene Tiah presented a cheque for $15, 722.71 to Beverly John, Chairman of the Home. Mrs. John expressed her deep gratitude for PPGPL’s unwavering support of the Home and remarked on the difference that past projects have made in the children’s lives. This recent donation was the result of a novel project initiated by Mr. Tiah in August 2010 and completed in December 2010.
The president invited employees to place ‘small change’ in a transparent box which was specially built and placed in the company’s main meeting room. The funds were to be donated to establish an education fund for the children of the Home. The fund would cover the cost of extra lessons and special tutoring required by the children to improve their performance at both the primary and secondary school level.
Following the launch of the initiative, for four months employees dropped coins and later larger sums of money in an attempt to fill this large box. Little did anyone realize how valuable “small change” was until it was counted. Interest in collecting a large sum of money escalated on the morning of the counting as employees from two departments spontaneously went around the office collecting ‘small’ change before the deadline. In less than two hours over $1,500 was collected and added to the pool. One of the most remarkable demonstrations of good will was a donation of $1200 made by the Maintenance department. This donation was the prize money they won for placing second in the annual interdepartmental football competition.
The total funds collected by employees was $5,722.71 and a further $10,000 was contributed by the company. Children of the Home and PPGPL employees enthusiastically participated in counting the money. For the children, the experience was overwhelming as they witnessed firsthand the heart behind this corporate giving and met the employees who participated in the initiative.
For several years, PPGPL has supported the Home through annual funding of school supplies, computers and Christmas treats. In 2009, the company funded the psychological and mental assessment of all the children, an effort which has already begun to bear fruit. It is PPGPL’s commitment to contribute more meaningfully to the overall development of the children at the Home by providing them with much needed guidance and support that all children need to be happy, well adjusted members of society.
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited has already started another ‘small change’ exercise for 2011 which would be donated to another children’s home- Casa De Corazon in Sangre Grande.
PPGPL has done it again, securing the 2010 Risk Innovators Award in the Energy/Utility Category of the annual Risk and Insurance Journal. The Risk Innovator Award recognizes winners across different industries who have demonstrated excellence in risk management and companies who see risk differently and have resolved risk related problems in a unique or innovative way.
If Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited took a roll call of its permanent employees, the tally would come to 163. The number of safety officers would also be the same. One hundred and sixty three (163) is also the full complement of the company's risk management officers.
This novel approach to safety has already earned PPGPL huge rewards in the arena of safety management, garnering the company respect, recognition and awards both locally and internationally.
PPGPL's approach to risk is as unique as its approach to safety, which has ensured that the company has gone without a lost work day case for 19 years. This is almost unheard of in the energy industry. Just as maintaining this safety record involves every employee, so too does the company's Enterprise Risk Management strategy (ERM).
But it didn't start that way according to Eugene Tiah, PPGPL's President. Tiah describes the initial ERM project which began in 2004, as not having met the company's high standards despite some promising early progress. Tiah says "the language that the project management group used to identify and manage risk in its work differed, for example from the language and approach that other operational areas used to identify and manage risk."
Another PPGPL executive, Dominic Rampersad, who led the implementation of the ERM system, says the success of the second ERM system which was started in 2008, lay in the top to bottom involvement of all departments and staff in its creation.
Rampersad’s role in this new ERM process was critical. He is the vice president of PPGPL's Finance and IT department, which was able to create a computerized risk management system that workers across departments could use to determine and factor in the cost of risk in their day to day operations. He says Tiah’s role as project champion was crucial.
"By having him in that role, we were able to quickly and effectively mobilize different resources across different departments in the organization to move the project." Rampersad says. He adds that, “having cross functional teams also helped to eliminate resistance that may have otherwise materialized if the project had solely been managed by one department for example.” With this in mind the role of the ERM Committee was a critical success factor to what has been achieved thus far. This committee, which is chaired by the Risk Management Specialist, comprises employees from each department of the organization thereby ensuring full participation from all which is critical to the long-term sustainability of the system. With the help of AON Risk Solutions, PPGPL was able to tie together its winning ERM strategy.
PPGPL worked closely with the external consultant to differentiate itself by ensuring its approach was characterized by 'executive buy in' and cross functionality extremely early in the project. At Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, we are living and breathing the need to be aware of and manage risk.
PPGPL also did not adopt foreign strategies for its ERM processes. Risk management at the company is very culture specific. Tiah says of the company's IT risk register, "We have never had to retrofit something to meet out unique needs. Instead, we developed an in-house application that is ideally suited for our particular purposes.
The benefits of this homegrown system are apparent. Tiah and Rampersad say if an employee on the shop floor wants to access information about the company's risk profile, he can log on to the system and find out. The result is that employees are better educated about the company, its various functions and the risks involved.”
Additionally, the incorporation of the principles of PPGPL’s corporate excellence framework into the ERM system ensured alignment with the company’s culture of excellence and has positioned PPGPL to achieving excellence in its risk management activities.
However, the benefits do not stop there. According to the president, PPGPL's robust ERM system has helped it get lower insurance premiums, a tough feat in today's economy, especially for an energy company and very consistent with the company’s strategy of establishing a cost competitive business.
The Risk and Insurance Journal, the magazine which runs the awards, says that given its size and production capacity, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited stood out as a beacon in the energy industry when managing the risk involved with such enterprises.
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited is jointly owned by NGC NGL Company Limited, Conoco Phillips Inc. and Pan West Engineers and Constructors Inc. It has an A-/Stable outlook credit rating from Standards and Poors and was one of the first companies in Trinidad and Tobago to secure such a rating. PPGPL has also earned first place in the Gas Processors Association (GPA) "Accident Prevention Award Division II -- International Classification" for the past 11 consecutive years.
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited continued to sweep the industry awards when it was recognized by the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AmCham T&T) for its Excellence in Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management in the energy and manufacturing category. The HSE award came on the heels of the gas processing company winning the 2010 Risk Innovators Award in the energy/utility category of the annual Risk and Insurance Journal weeks prior to AmCham T&T’s recognition.
“PPGPL is unique in the local environment. Everyone in the company is a safety officer, it is in each employee’s job description and work portfolio and it is ingrained in all of us. Safety goals are driven by company policies and procedures, there is a leadership aspect to it and there is a culture aspect to it” said Fyzal De la Rosa, a safety superintendent who has been with the company for two decades.
The Chamber, as part of its annual conference and exhibition, recognized those business models who’ve made a success of upholding HSE as a key business value. Companies were judged on how well they had integrated HSE as a key organizational value, the process by which they measured the performance of their HSE operations against internationally tested systems and the rigorous and systematic review process that they put in place to evaluate success. At the Hyatt reception, PPGPL shared the AmCham T&T Excellence HSE Trophy with energy giant BPTT.
“When you consider the size of both our companies and the amount of expenditure that BPTT puts into HSE, it was a good feeling to share the award,” added De La Rosa.
Contributing to the PPGPL’s win was the organisation’s ESH Management system that provides direction to all activities related to Environmental Management, Occupational Safety and Health and Process Safety Management. The company’s award winning enterprise approach to managing risks as well as its focus on wellness was also important components of the company’s win.
PPGPL is jointly owned by NGC NGL Company Limited, Conoco Phillips Inc. and Pan West Engineers. It has an A rating from Standards and Poors, one of the first companies in Trinidad and Tobago to secure the rating and it has already earned safety awards from the Gas Processors Association and the Conoco Phillips "Spirit of Performance Award. Its vision is to be the number one NGLs business in the Americas by 2020.
The Click for Life Caravan continues to move across Trinidad with two more mall tours carded for Trincity Mall on Saturday September 11th and Gulf City on September 18th. The caravan is part of a national road safety campaign sponsored by Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited in partnership with Arrive Alive. It is one of PPGPL’s efforts to reduce the carnage on our nation's roadways.
The mobile public education programme kicked off on Saturday August 21st at the City of Grand Bazaar, where visitors to the booth received vital information on how they could prevent vehicular accidents and had safe driving techniques demonstrated to them by the campaign team. of PPGPL and Arrive Alive staff. The caravan moved to Movie Towne where persons from all walks of life met with the team and participated in interesting activities that drove home the message of road safety.
The next stop for the caravan was the University of the West Indies during the orientation week where several young drivers cam face to face with the realities of drinking and driving among other topics. “The Caravan is an expansion of the 'Click For Life' media campaign launched in June. The overall aim is to reduce road accidents and fatalities by encouraging changes in driving behaviour through information and education,” said Elsa Lara, Public Relations Coordinator.
Click For Life's special areas of focus have been getting drivers to buckle up and use child seats since statistics show these measures drastically reduce injury and death in an accident. However, it also places emphasis on accident prevention through defensive driving training and knowledge of several accident 'hotspots' around the country.
The initiative is an outgrowth of PPGPL's safety record of 17 years without a lost time incident. Every year the company goes without an accident or incident that records a lost work day, the company embarks on a project entitled Gift to the Nation to improve the lives of citizens.
The company feels that with this safety achievement behind it PPGPL has established the credibility to share its safety philosophy with the population in the hope that accidents of all kinds can be prevented. Safety is a way of life for PPGPL employees and it was they who came up with the initial concept for the road safety campaign.
Movietown and the University of the West Indies are to become the next sites of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited’s efforts to reduce the carnage on our nation's roadways.
On the 4th and 8th of September respectively, the company is moving onto the second phase of its national road safety campaign, with its Click For Life caravan at these locations. The mobile public education programme kicked off on Saturday August 21st at the City of Grand Bazaar, where visitors to the booth received vital information on how they could prevent vehicular accidents and had safe driving techniques demonstrated to them by PPGPL staff and Arrive Alive, the company's partner in the initiative.
“The Caravan is an expansion of the 'Click For Life' media campaign launched in June. The overall aim is to reduce road accidents and fatalities by encouraging changes in driving behaviour through information and education,” said Elsa Lara, Public Relations Coordinator.
Click For Life's special areas of focus have been getting drivers to buckle up and use child seats since statistics show these measures drastically reduce injury and death in an accident. However, it also places emphasis on accident prevention through defensive driving and knowledge of several accident 'hotspots' around the country.
The initiative is an outgrowth of PPGPL's safety record of 17 years without a lost time incident. Every year the company goes without an accident or incident that records a lost work day, the company embarks on a project entitled Gift to the Nation to improve the lives of citizens.
The company feels that with this safety achievement behind it PPGPL has established the credibility to share its safety philosophy with the population in the hope that accidents of all kinds can be prevented. Safety is a way of life for PPGPL employees and it was they who came up with the initial concept for the road safety campaign.
“Last year when we achieved 17 years without a lost time incident, we invited employees to submit project ideas for consideration. When we collated the projects that were submitted, three of them were on aspects of road safety. We then agreed to develop one project incorporating all ideas” Lara said.
The 'Click For Life' Caravan will also appear at Trincity Mall on September 11th and Gulf City Mall on September 18th.
Making the roads of T& T safer, this is the challenge that Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited has taken up with a recently launched national road safety campaign- Click for Life. The campaign which will run from June to September is an initiative in recognition of the company’s 17 year safety record of no lost time incident.
Since 1997, PPGPL has tied its annual safety achievement to a national project entitled –Gift to the Nation. Whenever employees and contractors work for 12 months straight without a lost time incident, the people of T&T benefit. For staying true to its safety motto, “Our work is never so urgent or important that we cannot take time to do it safely and in a manner that preserves the environment” employees are asked to submit projects for consideration.Three employees chose road safety for its latest record. Their ideas have formed the basis of this national road safety campaign- Click For Life.
In launching the project last Friday Eugene Tiah president, PPGPL stressed the significance of creating national awareness about road safety in light of the frequent loss of lives on the nation’s roads. He further stated that PPGPL chose to partner with Arrive Alive on this project because both organization firmly believe that all accidents can be prevented.
Kirk Waithe of Arrive Alive commended PPGPL for being one of the first companies to support the work of his organization when it was established. He is eager to see the benefits of this latest collaboration to the national community.
The Click For Life campaign is intended to introduce a different approach to driving for young and inexperienced drivers who have not yet developed bad driving habits. It encourages the use of seatbelt and child car seats for every journey, every day. The campaign also pays attention to danger zones that are prone to fatal accidents.
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited is committed to the safety of employees and contractors and we are now spreading the message of safety to the rest of T&T.
The company is extending an invitation to all drivers to join in making the roads safer and Click for Life.
The students of Orange Valley Government Primary School can now boast of a modern library thanks to the generosity of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL). As part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, PPGPL donated $200,000 to FEEL to develop a special project focused on upgrading and refurbishing primary school libraries that were most in need of assistance.
FEEL was given the mandate to identify schools in rural areas and those that are not often supported by corporate funding and administer the project on behalf of PPGPL. The four institutions that responded positively to the project, each received $50,000 to improve their libraries depending on the specific and unique need of that institution. Orange Valley Government Primary, Tortuga Government Primary, Bethlehem Boys R.C. and St. Vincent De Paul were the recipients of this grant.
At the opening of the library at Orange Valley Government Primary, the principal, Mrs. Gabriel applauded PPGPL for its interest in education and sustainable development. She took the opportunity to also thank the company for another substantial donation which it made to renovate a classroom to create an enhanced learning environment for one of the Standard Five classes.
Joanne Salazar, Vice President Strategy and Corporate Services, PPGPL stressed the company’s commitment to national development through meaningful partnerships and initiatives. Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited chose to partner with FEEL because it felt confident that the organization had the capability to execute the project with the level of transparency, accountability and enthusiasm that the project required.
The library was fully repainted and refurbished with full multimedia system, charts, mats for the smaller students, new books, shelves and reupholstered furniture. This upgraded facility will be used by the students for learning. It will also be used by the teachers for developing their skills in the use of Information Technology for teaching.