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engage. excite. empower.
President & Chief Commissioner’s
Messages on the
112th Anniversary of
Girl Guiding in Trinidad and Tobago
GGATT PRESIDENT – TANYA WESTERN ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL OF THE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2026 AT THE GRACE ANDERSON GIRL GUIDES HEADQUARTERS, 8 RUST STREET, ST. CLAIR
Good morning, everyone, It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our Annual General Meeting, as we reflect on a year of steady progress, important lessons, and a renewed commitment to the future of Girl Guiding. We began 2026 with something symbolic yet powerful — a new wall. More than just a physical improvement, it represents rebuilding, restructuring, and forward momentum within our organisation. Coming approximately two years after the motor accident that caused the damage, its completion is especially meaningful. This work is a direct reflection of the dedication of our Property Committee, led by Gregory Bourne. Since taking up their role in May, the committee has been actively engaged, beginning with site visits to nine properties and placing focused attention on our Rust Street, Arima, and Tunapuna locations. At Tunapuna, work by the Rural Development Company had previously been halted, and the property was vandalised. Following successful negotiations, the RDC has agreed to repair the damages and replace the vandalised items. We now await a new handover date and are seeking urgent assistance to have WASA reconnect the property. At the same time, we must acknowledge that long-term improvements are still needed at several of our properties, including Siparia, Toco, Zoo Road, Chaguanas, Scarborough, and San Fernando. The committee’s efforts have strengthened OSHA compliance at Head Office, addressed longstanding issues, and included the removal of outdated IT equipment, along with the initial decluttering of our spaces. I would like to acknowledge Gulf Insurance for assisting with the removal just last week—perfect timing for today’s AGM. These may seem like small steps, but they are critical in creating a safer and more efficient environment for our members. In tandem with this, we have made meaningful strides in upgrading our IT systems. This has improved how we operate and communicate, and better positions us for the demands of a modern organisation.
On the financial front, I must commend the work of our Finance Chair—what has been accomplished, can only be described as remarkable. We are now fully up to date. Inaccuracies identified in the 2021 audited accounts have been corrected, and we have achieved a clean audit, as you have heard. This progress is due to the dedication and collaboration of our Equipment Centre Chair, Jacky, our recently retired Joanne, and our part-time assistant Akilah, all working under the leadership of the Finance Chair. Because of their efforts, our financial reporting is now in a much stronger and more reliable position. With the audits now complete, we have begun streamlining our banking arrangements, including the closure of our UTC and other accounts, and the opening of a US dollar account. Our 5K event generated approximately US $2,000 through a registration system that allowed us to receive funds in US currency. We have also begun rationalising our investments. A surprising challenge has been that some of our stocks and bonds remain in the names of previous trustees, may they rest in peace. Significant progress is being made in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Central Depository to resolve this. In 2024, we were actively engaged in several key events, including having five of our young members attend His Excellency’s Pan Camp, participating in the Republic Day Parade at Skinner Park under the auspices of the Mayor of San Fernando, observing World Thinking Day, and hosting our annual 5K. While we celebrate these successes, we must also be honest about our challenges. The Equipment Centre continues to face high operational costs and inadequate mark-ups. We are exploring alternate suppliers and testing adjustments such as reduced operational days and the inclusion of Saturday openings. Questions remain about its long-term viability, and we must address these realistically. We have also received requests to reprint our handbooks. However, rather than simply reproducing existing material, I have challenged the Uniform Section to review and localise our content. We will begin with the Brownie handbook, with the goal of releasing an updated version in September 2026. Our Constitution is another critical area that must be brought into the 21st century. Financially, cost management remains a key concern. Many of our events have not broken even, and this is not sustainable. We are therefore working toward more effective budgeting practices to ensure that our activities are both impactful and financially viable
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