No bias in bpTT’s social investment

THE EDITOR: bpTT is deeply concerned with the views expressed this week by Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha executive member Parsuram Maharaj in his weekly Newsday column under the headline “Insensitivity of bpTT”. Before addressing our concerns we would like to thank Mr Maharaj for publicly commending bpTT for “attempting to reinvest in the community: and for applauding us for an advertising campaign that ensures the programme is known nationally. But Mr Maharaj seems to have misunderstood the policy guidelines and the intent that inform our social investment strategy. He makes reference to Dr Suruj Rambachan’s daily radio talk show Panchayat, which, he said, highlighted the “in built bias against Indo-Trinidadian culture with (sic) bpTT’s ‘Spirit of Community Awards’ (SOCA)”. Nothing could be further from reality.

Our policies, and all our efforts, have been formulated to eliminate the possibility of bias, not just in SOCA, but in all our relationships, be them with the community, the Government, our customers, our suppliers, or our partners. Perhaps our position had not been properly articulated. It is not that bpTT does not support religious-based organisations; we don’t support projects that would benefit only the members of a given segment of the society, whether that segment is defined by race, religion, ethnicity, or politics. If, for example, a religious organisation submits a proposal that will have broad-based national impact, we would gladly support it. Our position, that we will not support any project that is politically, ethnically, racially or religiously biased is one that we stand firm and proudly behind. We will not be involved in any activity that will cause or deepen the divisions in our society. Our Spirit of Community Awards (formerly Leader Awards) was started in 1998 with the expressed purpose of creating positive change in our society by affecting the lives of the less fortunate. Projects that have the potential for self-sustainability and to create/generate the greatest impact on the largest audience are given preference. All non-Governmental and Community-based organisations in Trinidad and Tobago are invited to apply for our financial support to undertake self-determined programmes.

Independent selection committees comprising representatives from relevant government agencies, bpTT staff and experts in the relevant fields select winning projects in the respective categories — Youth in Education; The Arts and Culture; the Environment; Social Support Services. So far, we have made 58 Awards to organisations ranging from Persons with Visual Impairment to the Cedros Women for Family Empowerment. Mr Maharaj also cites our support for the Marionettes Chorale as evidence of “pro-Christian bias”. Our association with Marionettes dates back some 30 years. It is not a religious-based organisation, and we are not their sole sponsors. We cannot prevent them from participating in fund-raising ventures of any form, be them Christian or otherwise. That is their prerogative. The same obtains for the bpTT Renegades. We do take Mr Maharaj’s point that it is indeed difficult to say exactly where Hindu culture ends and Indian culture begins. But it is equally difficult to say which group represents national Indo Trinidadian culture, and we seek his input in this regard. We invite Mr Maharaj to come in and review our social investment policy and programmes. We would welcome constructive criticism to ensure that our programmes are robust, transparent, and generating social transformation, especially in light of his stated concerns.

DONNA RAMSAMMY
Vice President
Government and Public Affairs
BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC