Astrid Franchiska Kowlessar's Page

As we observe the global fallout of our economic crisis, the question begs – where did the due diligence and strategic planning process get lost in our organization and corporate core processes? Within every organization, at least one status meeting is held, whether at Board or Supervisory level. Therefore, if each organization in or global corporate chain can boast of progress and planning meetings, how could entire corporations then crumble before our very eyes?

Short term, profit driven plan… Continue

Trinidad & Tobago is currently gearing to become the Caribbean’s top International Financial Centre (TTIFC). According to the Oliver Wyman August 2007 report, which recommends Trinidad as ripe for this opportunity, three types of financial services are to be focused on:

1. Capital Markets – where Trinidad & Tobago is currently the CARICOM leader in debt capital markets.
2. Credit Card Collections Centre.
3. Middle/back-office – Trinidad & Tobago’s local banks and insurance companies… Continue

There are certain business phrases and adjectives that conjure very specific meanings…strategic planning, supply chain management, auditing, risk assessment…the list goes on.

And then there is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). What is it, really?

Via attendance of the V Summit of the Americas regional Civil Society Forum held in October 2008, we learned from many grassroots organizations the trials and tribulations of dealing with the public and private sectors. At the end of this two-day… Continue

In Business Guardian’s January 8th 2009 issue, CEO Johnathan Adams of Trinidad’s Small Enterprising Business Association estimated a decrease in national Small Micro Enterprise (SME) activities by 60% for 2009 and beyond. It is noteworthy that Trinidad & Tobago is considered a high income country having comparatively more resources than other smaller nation states to support the SME sector. This gives clear indication as to the more dire expectations for the smaller OECS countries for SME gr… Continue

A friend from the US Information Services of Trinidad & Tobago sent photos of Colonial Trinidad via e-mail, two of which I've shared below with a modern juxtaposition. While the photos bring back nostalgia and patriotism, they also bring to my mind questions on sustainable infrastructure and the cultural aspects of such, in Port-of-Spain.

I have heard my elderly relatives say they wish Colonialism never ended in Trinidad. I would of course scoff at this (and still do), but now I understand… Continue