分类： business

Michelle Baptiste, a 48-year-old entrepreneur from Chaguanas, Trinidad, is redefining the future of women through her Caribbean shapewear brand, Selecfit. Her journey is one of resilience, independence, and self-belief, inspiring women across the region. Baptiste’s early life was marked by instability and hardship. Growing up in a single-parent household, she faced numerous challenges, including frequent relocations and emotional scars from abuse. Despite these struggles, she found solace in books, which nurtured her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Baptiste’s family background in tailoring and her early ventures into entrepreneurship laid the foundation for her future success. After years of selling internationally made shapewear, she identified a gap in the market for products tailored to Caribbean women’s unique body types. This realization led to the creation of Selecfit in 2009. Despite financial constraints and personal losses, Baptiste persevered, expanding her brand to multiple locations and introducing complementary products like Slim Tea and Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies. Her commitment to quality and authenticity has earned her a loyal customer base, and she now aims to manufacture locally and expand regionally. Baptiste also uses her platform to promote body positivity and mentor aspiring female entrepreneurs, encouraging them to embrace their potential and take bold steps toward their dreams.

Garvin Cadogan, a 61-year-old entrepreneur with a diverse career spanning stock trading in New York to owning one of Trinidad’s most popular Korean BBQ restaurants, exemplifies the art of seizing opportunities. His journey began in Brooklyn, where he taught a Korean student how to trade stocks. Grateful for his mentorship, she encouraged him to open a Korean BBQ restaurant in his homeland, Trinidad. With her support, including menu development and staff training, Cadogan launched Gui Korean BBQ in November 2024 at Ariapita Avenue’s Food Square. The restaurant quickly gained popularity, offering authentic Korean dishes like BBQ meats, rice bowls, and dumplings. Despite initial resistance, Cadogan introduced fried rice to cater to local tastes, leading to the creation of the Gui Fried Rice Factory. The open-concept kitchen allows customers to interact with chefs, customizing their meals. Cadogan’s success has spurred expansion plans, with a new branch in Valpark set to open in December and future locations in Chaguanas, South Trinidad, Arima, and Tobago. His philosophy of seizing opportunities and adapting to customer demands has been key to his thriving business. Cadogan’s daughter, Leah, plays a pivotal role in managing and marketing the restaurant, with plans to diversify into retailing frozen dumplings and wontons. Despite challenges, their commitment to consistency and innovation ensures Gui Korean BBQ remains a beloved culinary destination in Trinidad.

Hadco, a leading food company, unveiled its new Pasture Fresh lamb range at a high-profile event held at The Forge in El Socorro on November 7. The launch aimed to highlight the superior quality of grass-fed lamb, sourced from New Zealand, and its potential to elevate culinary experiences. The event was attended by Hadco officials, restaurateurs, culinary partners, and media representatives. Marc Clarke, Hadco’s marketing manager, emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering not just food but culture, joy, and quality. He described the Pasture Fresh lambs as pasture-raised, free-roaming, and naturally fed, ensuring tenderness and exceptional flavor. Brandon Harry, the brand manager for Pasture Fresh, likened the product to the ‘Wagyu of lamb,’ promising unmatched quality. Chef Khalid Mohammed, one of nine global brand ambassadors for Pasture Fresh, prepared six innovative lamb dishes for the event, showcasing the versatility of the product. The dishes included spicy lamb chorizo tacos, Persian grilled lamb burgers, and Trinitario cacao-crusted rack of lamb. The Forge’s state-of-the-art kitchen allowed guests to witness the culinary process firsthand. Hadco’s new lamb range will soon be available in various cuts, including lamb chops, sausages, and patties, catering to both professional chefs and home cooks. The launch reflects Hadco’s dedication to raising industry standards and providing consumers with responsibly sourced, high-quality products.

Economist Indera Sagewan has urged the Trinidad and Tobago government to address the billions of dollars reportedly owed to contractors, emphasizing that delayed payments have severely undermined confidence, crippled businesses, and weakened one of the nation’s most vital economic sectors. Speaking at the Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association’s (TTCA) annual awards dinner on November 15 in Port of Spain, Sagewan highlighted the construction industry’s resilience in weathering financial and logistical shocks, while stressing the need for immediate action to restore its health. She clarified that her remarks were made in her personal capacity as an economist, not as a representative of the Central Bank, where she serves as a director. Sagewan described the sector as being at a critical juncture, with immense opportunities ahead but also deep-rooted structural issues that must be resolved. She pointed to the post-pandemic era, where contractors faced skyrocketing costs for materials and shipping, prolonged supply chain disruptions, and significant payment delays from the government. “The billions owed to contractors are not just numbers on a ledger. They represent deferred livelihoods, stalled projects, and broken confidence,” she asserted. Her comments resonated with long-standing industry grievances, as contractors have struggled with months-long delays in receiving materials and government payments, leading to downsizing and project closures. Sagewan called for a reset in the relationship between the State and the construction industry, particularly as the new administration implements its Revitalisation and Economic Transformation Blueprint and the projects outlined in the 2026 national budget. She described the blueprint as a “long-awaited injection of big vision,” positioning the construction sector at the forefront of a decade-long development agenda. However, she cautioned that credibility would hinge on execution, not just policy declarations. Sagewan urged contractors to uphold high standards of delivery, transparency, and workmanship, while also expressing frustration with past failures, such as poorly constructed roads and homes. Housing Minister David Lee echoed Sagewan’s concerns, acknowledging the government’s commitment to reversing years of stagnation and unreliable payment cycles. He emphasized the construction industry’s pivotal role in national revitalization, noting that the Revitalisation Blueprint includes 129 major projects expected to generate 50,000 jobs. Lee also pledged to address past housing delivery failures, with plans to build 20,000 affordable homes using innovative construction methods. While he did not specify the exact amount owed to contractors, Lee signaled the government’s intent to improve payment reliability and strengthen partnerships with the industry.