Community Outreach

We believe in the potential of people, in their ambition to grow, excel and live responsibly. At Methanex Trinidad Limited our goal is to implement and support initiatives that provide long-term benefits for the people and communities in which we invest. This rationale guides our social responsibility efforts in Responsible Care, Education and Employee Partnership. Some of Methanex’s social responsibility efforts in Trinidad and Tobago are included the initiatives below: 

• Symphony & Steel - A collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Music Literacy Trust for an original music competition that integrates the Symphonic Orchestra and Trinidad and Tobago’s Steel Orchestra. Scores will be used by UWI in the Degree and Certificate Music programs.
• Mentoring Our Children - An employee volunteerism initiative now in its third year. Employees coach secondary school students on life topics, social skills and academics. Methanex provides funding for uniforms, books, transportation and workshop materials.
• Habitat for Humanity – Methanex Trinidad has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to add several rooms to the home of the Mohammed family at Basta Hall. This initiative is a natural ‘next step’ of our ‘Mentoring Our Children’ program to create comfortable living space for families of participating students.
• Vacation Interns Help the Hope Centre - Through a community outreach program, our 2009 vacation interns assisted the Hope Centre by providing items the Home needed as well as school supplies for the children.
• Recognizing the Value of People Award - Methanex Trinidad was awarded the best local employer for “Recognizing the Value of People”, in the South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s CSR Leadership Awards 2009. The award recognized the company that has placed emphasis on internal CSR, based solely on employees’ opinions about the company.
• Small Steps, Big Benefits - Over 500 participants took part in our first Eco-Heroes Walkathon, raising close to $140,000 for projects that will enhance the environment of six primary schools in Methanex’s fenceline community. The partnership will grow as we monitor the completion of projects ranging from playground upgrades and better sound systems to library enhancements and other learning initiatives.

Community Advisory Panel (CAP)

Established in 2003, Methanex Trinidad's Community Advisory Panel (CAP) consists of seven members from varied backgrounds, consisting of two fire services officers, a retired social worker, a health, safety and environment professional, a business operator, a student and a retired plant operator. CAP meetings are held onsite at least four times a year. CAP members receive information on several aspects of Methanex’s business including Responsible Care, plant reliability, improvements to business performance and social responsibility initiatives.

The productive partnership with CAP has facilitated communication and outreach with Methanex’s fenceline community, including interactive learning workshops for teenagers and adults on personal safety, fabric design, anger management and certified first aid/CPR training.

Methanex Trinidad also reaches out to the community through its participation in the Point Lisas Industrial Estate's Community Awareness and Emergency Response program (CAER). The CAER committee interacts with youth groups, local village councils and the community to address education, health, safety and environmental concerns.