Community Relations
Respect Rally in Mayaro/Guayagayare
The BHP Billiton Education Caravan rolled into Mayaro Composite on October 30, 2003, with an interactive workshop on Respect.
Vision
BHP Billiton is committed to the well being of current and future generations through the sustainable development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and protection of the country's environment. Our efforts will be distinguished by:
- Processes marked by consultative and transparent communication
- Outcomes that demonstrate creativity and innovation
- Initiatives that are focused, leverage resources, and can be measured
- Projects that empower communities, employees and individuals
- Implementation driven by flawless execution, with results that reflect what we said we would do.
Areas of Focus
Our Community Programmes are focused largely on three local communities most proximal to our operations:
- The Mayaro/Guayaguayare region, near our onshore terminal site in southeastern Trinidad
- The Toco region, the northeastern corner of Trinidad which is due west of the Greater Angostura Field
- Tobago, due north of the Greater Angostura Field (Angostura will be the closest oil and gas development to both Toco and Tobago).
Community Activities
Defensive Driving for Key Stakeholders
In an effort to engage key stakeholders in our communities, BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago has been hosting sessions in Defensive Driving. These sessions, were organised in the hope of engaging our stakeholders in the community on safety, more specifically road safety, and in an effort to promote a greater safety culture within their organisations, and by extension, within their community.
Stakeholders came from such organisations as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Tobago, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Tobago Youth Council, among others.
Schools Emergency Awareness Programme
The Schools' Emergency Awareness Programme aims to, firstly, sensitise students about the nature of the oil and gas business, and then outlines safety issues, as they relate to all types of emergencies.
In addition, as part of the programme, each of the 7 schools in the Mayaro/Guayaguayare area will receive assistance in developing an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for the school, as well as bullhorns and high visibility vests. Teachers will be assisted in developing emergency drill schedules and it is expected that students will be more aware of what to do and where to go during any emergency while at school.
Aqua Fitness Programme
Recognising the importance of physical activity in everyone's life, BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago, in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee implemented an Aqua Fitness Programme for Senior Citizens in the Mayaro/Guayaguayare community.
The natural buoyancy of water reduces weight bearing stress, allowing greater ease of movement with less strain on bones, joints, and muscles, which made this programme a perfect fit for the senior community of Mayaro and Guayaguayare.
Thirty three participants from the community participated in the programme and they boasted of weight loss, decreased blood pressure and sugar levels, and greater energy levels at the end of three months, making it a resounding success.
Welding Programme
BHP Billiton has partnered with the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) to facilitate a welding programme for the residents of Guayaguayare – both semi-skilled and unskilled trainees. The programme aims to equip trainees with the modern techniques necessary for industry and also boasts of a Career Enhancement and recruitment aspect, which assists in preparing them for the world of work.
Post-SEA Skills Project
BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago, the South Eastern Education District, and YTEPP have partnered for the past two years on the Post-SEA Skills Programme. This programme was established to counter the low attendance rates at primary schools in the region among those students who had completed the SEA examinations, as well as to expose them to technical-vocational areas, in which they would not normally be instructed. Over 200 students participate each year, and are trained in such areas as plumbing, cake decorating, grow-box and beauty culture.
Livestock Rearing Programme
We partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture in a livestock rearing programme in the community of Mayaro/Guayaguayare, which introduced the participants to goat and kid production and husbandry. At the end of this rigorous programme, 37 participants received a herding pen and a pair of goats or sheep, as per their preference.
Cassava Cultivation
In keeping with our agricultural/entrepreneurial focus, we partnered with the community on the North East coast and the Ministry of Agriculture in the training of 28 villagers in sustainable cassava cultivation. Again, at the end of this training period, the farmers were provided with the basic raw materials with which they could begin small-scale farming within their communities, in addition to technical support where necessary.
Agricultural Partnership Programme
BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago has lent its support to the Travel Foundation and its Agricultural Partnership programme in Tobago, which seeks to create a supply chain between Tobago farmers and the hotel sector for the supply of fresh produce.
Through our support, the programme was able to benefit from two shade houses, which will provide a controlled environment for vegetable production, as well as provide an avenue to produce ‘specialty' crops requested by the hotels, such as certain types of lettuce. As a result, farmers in Tobago are able to have greater economic participation in the tourism sector, and can develop their agri-business skills.
Turtle Village Trust
Following consultation with the various turtle groups on the North-East coast, the Turtle Village Trust was established. The Trust seeks to use the leatherback turtle industry as a catalyst to tourism and economic development across the North East coast of Trinidad.
The Turtle Village Trust would create a complete tourism experience, ranging from turtle watching, nature tours, enjoying local dishes, cultural shows, visiting the local museum, staying with a local family, visits to the sea aquarium and the region entertainment centre, a day by the beach, visit to Tobago and a visit to the wildlife park. However the most amazing experience is the opportunity to interact with the local communities.
Ultimately, the success of this plan would lie within the communities themselves and Partnerships will be leveraged with community groups to provide the main framework for product development and service delivery.