“The adage stands that no crisis should ever be wasted, and this certainly holds powerfully true for what we are facing. There will be significant financial impact, not only for ourselves, but our competitors. But here we have a catalytic possibility to re imagine a new way of doing business and our service and delivery to our customers. “– MR ANTHONY N. SABGA III – Group Chief Executive Officer

In the last few days, the impact of the coronavirus has really hit home in the way it has disrupted the daily routines of hundreds of millions of people around the world, especially in our neck of the woods, as this is our home, our country, our region and our Caribbean people.
Given this extraordinary time, we have been closely monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and note with grave concern that proven instances of the illness are on the rise in the region.

The ANSA McAL Group has been in reset and emergency mode since the latter part of February 2020.

As a matter of principle and with my personal commitment to the health, safety and security of our 6000 employees, as well as our associates, consumers, customers and communities, I continue to emphasize that preservation of life remains our number one priority. This is not a time to panic, but certainly a time as a family, to be proactive, take the necessary precautions and play a part in protecting ourselves and each other.

Given the fluidity of the situation, cascading plans and actions continue to be developed and implemented by our Management and Leadership teams across our companies, in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts, Jamaica and the USA.

Mr Anthony N Sabga III, ANSA McAL Group CEO with members of the Group Response Crisis Management Team diligently working behind the scenes during a skype call with the Group Leadership team from across the region

This is what the Group has done to date in what is described as an extraordinary time:

 We formed a Crisis Management Team who have been diligently working behind the scenes to best protect us against COVID-19

 Developed an Emergency Response, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan

 Cascading plans and actions continue to be developed and implemented by our Management and Leadership teams across our companies and territories where we operate

 Our Group HSSE team first issued a group-wide ‘Coronavirus Protocol for the ANSA McAL Group’ on 2nd March 2020

 Since the outbreak of the virus, we have ramped up deep-cleaning and have set-up health monitoring mechanisms throughout the Group.

 We issued a Travel Ban on Sunday 14th March 2020 on both incoming and outgoing business travel until further notice

 Implemented isolation protocol for employees returning from abroad

 Activated Remote Working with special consideration for colleagues over the age of 60 and those who have pre-existing medical conditions

 Established Working from Home (WFH) Protocols and Management

 Support Child Care needs in that we have asked our Executives to exercise discretion by allowing colleagues who have childcare needs to work from home given the closure of schools

 Triggered a procedure for any employee displaying symptoms at work through our medical service provider

 Supported information sharing of the virus through an ANSA McAL Employee Guidelines, Prevention and Protocol – COVID-19

 Created and distributed the “Keeping our ANSA McAL Family Safe” posters on Hygiene, Social Distancing, Protocols for Employees on the subject of School Closure and contact numbers for our Sector HR Managers and Emergency Resource Information

 Developed Business Continuity Plans to ensure continued operations in all sectors of our business

 Our flagship company, Caribbean Development Company Ltd, one of our largest taxpayers in the ANSA McAL Group, has already made a significant and early payment of quarterly corporation tax and prepaid excise tax

 Put our employees’ needs first by granting approvals across the Group for our Management teams to initiate and issue salary payments no later than Monday 23rd March 2020

 Gave a commitment to our Standard Distributors Ltd customers that we will work with each of them to create individualised and customised repayment solutions, that will carry them through this difficult time

 Creating a shared platform for ANSA McAL operational manuals, templates and documents that would assist and benefit the public and the business community

Additionally, we can seek to lend further support in any way possible through the Regional Distribution side of our business. We are strategically positioned to perform key functions of distribution for a wide range of food, household items, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment and supplies.

We can also be of value through our Manufacturing Sector – specifically ANSA Chemicals, the largest producer of sodium hypochlorite in the English-speaking Caribbean. Our plant produces over 3 million litres of chlorine, caustic and bleach per month. We also produce Chlorine Gas and Sodium Hydroxide for Water Treatment Plants and industries. We are also the agents for the Ecolab and Kemira products which supplies chemicals to the Food and Beverage Sectors and Municipal Water Plants across the region.

The adage stands that no crisis should ever be wasted, and this certainly holds powerfully true for what we are facing. There will be significant financial impact, not only for ourselves, but our competitors.
But here we have a catalytic possibility to reimagine a new way of doing business and our service and delivery to our customers.

TATIL and TATIL Life Board Meeting attended electronically by its Chairman and Directors of the Board

I would like to powerfully acknowledge and commend the leadership of our regional governments including Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley and that of his frontline key players in the handling of the coronavirus in Trinidad and Tobago, thus far. We agree with his sentiments that we are all in this Together, which ties into the ANSA McAL maxim of, “Together, We Are Family”.

Now, more than ever, we need; to stay calm, be resourceful, focus on supporting each other and trust that the decisions we make are in the best interest of our employees, customers and communities.
I know that we will get through this TOGETHER.

Corporate Communications Department
ANSA McAL Group of Companies
Thursday 19th March 2020
868-223-2672