Angostura’s vision is to proudly grow for the betterment of the environment and the people of Trinidad and Tobago. While carefully and secretly managing its core business practices and guarding recipes handed over through legacies, Angostura legacy wraps around its Corporate Social Responsibility footprint. The sustainability of our legacy and growth as a company depends, not only on the profits we make, but the social impacts we leave behind.
With the onset of the ravaging and deadly COVID-19 virus that plunged the world into economic and social despair, some businesses had to revert its operations to withstand the ramifications of this dreaded coronavirus.
As a corporate citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, Angostura saw the need to intervene and provide aid to those impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Angostura adopted several initiatives to assist frontline workers, the fence-line community of Morvant/Laventille and the rest of Trinidad and Tobago.
Combatting COVID-19
Angostura operations were realigned to accommodate the production of 50,000 of 375ml and 20,000 1.75 litre bottles. The hand sanitizers were manufactured according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations and formula. The hand sanitizers were donated to public hospitals, for healthcare workers, the Ministry of National Security including first responders such as the Police Service, Defence Force, Prison Service, Trinidad & Tobago National Petroleum Company, the Ministry of Public Utilities, the Attorney General’s office, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, WASA, T&TEC, the surrounding communities of Morvant/Laventille, NGOs and other entities with direct public interaction.
Angostura also extended it arms to protect the future generation of Trinidad and Tobago and donated over 7,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago, each school received 12 bottles just in time when students were returning to write the CAPE, CSEC and SEA exams.
COVID-19 and the wider society
As COVID-19 continued to economically displace families, Angostura employees took a decision to pool funds to provide relief to families in their communities. The employees donated $1M from their paid vacation entitlements to purchase groceries for families who were financially impacted by the pandemic. Employees sourced, packed, and delivered hundreds of boxes throughout the country. Each hamper was valued at $1200 and included canned foods, dry goods, fresh produce, meats, dairy products, cleaning supplies and toiletries.
In addition, hampers were given to NGOs and groups including the Loveuntil Foundation, Serving Women and Youth, National Family Services, Inter-Agency Task Force, the North-Eastern Division Community Policing Unit, and councillors from the Morvant/Laventille communities.
Fenceline support during COVID-19
Angostura further equipped primary and secondary schools within in the Morvant/Laventille communities with a number of supplies inclusive of hand washing sinks, thermal temperature scanners, soap dispensers, liquid soap, paper towels, health and safety signs, cleaning detergents and water tanks. Our efforts and continued assistance to the fenceline community reflects Angostura’s vision to grow for the betterment of Trinidad and Tobago.
Angostura also donated bottles of hand sanitizer to the fenceline community of Morvant/Laventille.
Social Commitment as a Corporate Citizen
In July, Angostura stepped in to help families in Morvant/Laventille whose roofs were blown off by heavy winds. Angostura helped by purchasing building materials to replace their roofs.
In August, as part of Angostura continued support of education, book vouchers and stationery supplies were donated to six NGOs to assist children in preparing for the new school term.
In September, Angostura collaborated with several regional artistes to produce an anthem of unity, harmony and strength called “Resilient”. The purpose of the song was to celebrate the resilience of our people, especially when faced with many social barriers.
Also, in September, Angostura partnered with the Coosal’s Group of Companies to assist three siblings, aged 12, 18 and 21 to complete their home. They were left on their own to construct their house after being evicted by relatives following the death of their parents. Persad’s D Food King Group, TSTT, Memory Bank Computers Limited, Unicomer Trinidad Ltd, Blue Waters Products Limited and Nigel R. Khan Bookselling Group and Kaleidoscope Paints Limited joined with Angostura and Coosal’s to offer the children assistance such as furniture and appliances, food and book vouchers, internet services, tablet devices, paint, and bottled water.
Additional support in the form of Book vouchers and stationery supplies were given to 17 SEA students from primary schools within the fenceline community of Morvant/Laventille to assist them in preparation for Secondary school.
Angostura also hosted a 2-day virtual workshop to provide teachers from the four Secondary schools in Morvant/Laventille with coping mechanisms needed to adjust to the “new normal” of online teaching.
In November, approval by the board was granted to purchase and donate 55 laptop devices to 18 Secondary schools across Trinidad. The laptops were given to the schools for students in Forms 4 and 5 who did not have access to a device to facilitate remote learning while schools remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Angostura purchased the laptops from Memory Bank Computers Limited who in turn donated a laptop bag for each device.
Angostura also donated thousands of dollars’ worth food, books and toy vouchers to NGOs and families.
Employees of Angostura donated funds to purchase laptops, food, and book vouchers to assist families in need through a charity drive held for Christmas.
In December, Angostura held is 2nd biennial Angostura Champions Award which celebrated and awarded benevolent citizens who give of themselves to a noble cause. The winner, Elizabeth Aleong, has been working with children with disabilities and providing therapy and support services for them regardless of their family’s income level.
