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It’s hard to believe that five years have gone by since we launched the T&T Corporate Social Responsibility Review. This edition is now our fifth in an annual series which examines and profiles the contribution of business to society and how those initiatives are creating shared value and driving sustainability.
In our very first 2012/2013 issue, we looked at the correlation between CSR and Brand – the Triple Bottom Line. Our second issue (2013/2014) focused on Corporate Governance – strengthening local capability and capacity through education, training and knowledge transfer. In 2014/2015, we examined Citizen Safety and Security and the role of business in supporting programmes that mitigate crime and violence in society. Last year in our 2015/2016 issue we highlighted Investments in Sports to mark the Olympic year. This issue explores the Value of Volunteerism – to business and society.
In this publication, we have made some changes to our name and look. We have modified our name to broaden our remit and refreshed our cover design. Instead of the T&T Corporate Social Responsibility Review (TTCSR), we have renamed ourselves The Corporate Sustainability Review (CSR) to include some of the work being done in neighbouring territories and also to reflect the evolution in terminology from social responsibilitytowardssustainabilityandshared-value. It is with this in mind that we have reproduced a humorous article byJames Epstein-Reeves, a Chicago-based expert on corporate social responsibility, philanthropy and cause-marketing who talks about his struggle to describe his work with the constant changes in terms used in the discipline.
Consultant Kyle Santos, who chaired a series of breakfast chats at VYTT in February, also addresses this in his feature on Shared Value and how important it is for CSR strategies to be more fully aligned to business objectives. His firm, Kyle Santos Consulting believes that public/private partnerships can build a better future for all. Santos’ vision is that “T&T’s largest companies will be recognised as the most responsible/ socially relevant in the region, acting as exemplars for others to follow and using their influence to catalyse positive change.”
We also have contributions from young professionals, Monique Mata, Saarah Khan and Jaysen Francis, who provide perspectives on environmental issues. Our contributing writer Robert Clarke explores the world of life behind bars and what it takes to reintegrate into society once offenders have served their time. His story is a timely follow up to our interview last year on the TT Archbishop’s call for an amnesty in Remand Yard.
As we travelled through the Caribbean this year to see how CSR is being interpreted and delivered, there were common themes of concern being echoed – the breakdown in family life, increase in violence against women and children, drugs and gun crime, institutional corruption, failed leadership, graduates without work and the growing intra-regional migration for food and jobs. In this issue we give you a glimpse of corporate responsibility at work in Guyana.
If we wish to see stronger, sustainable communities, it is clear that we can’t simply depend on governments. Collaboration and partnership are needed to drive change. If we want a better world for our children, we can’t sit on the side-lines. We must get involved by giving of ourselves and our resources. We must volunteer to make a difference.
Our team of writers were inspired by the generous people across the Caribbean who are volunteering to make change possible.
Donna Ramsammy
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF