Capacity Building & Training Workshop - July & August 2025

As part of the ongoing commitment of TTALGA’s training and education initiatives, the Centre for Corporate Responsibility (CCR) hosted the first part of a Capacity Building & Training Workshop from July 5th to July 6th at the Trinidad Hilton. The objective of the Workshop is to provide practical insights and tools to help local government leaders - Mayors, TTALGA Executives, and corporation Chairmen - build and sustain high-performing teams in council and administrative settings.

The opening address being given by Chairman & Executive Committee Member Akeilah Glasgow Warner Mayor, Alderman: Diego Martin Borough Corporation

The two-day workshop was well attended by local government representatives from the 14 municipal corporations and the active participation of all 19 attendees contributed to lively and enjoyable presentations, brainstorming sessions and breakout groups and cross-functional teams.

Chairman, Alderman Richard Walcott (San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation) makes his contribution at the Hilton session

Some of the key topics at the Workshop included Trust and Accountability in Teams; Conflict Management in Local Government; and a practical session on Political Dialogue and Debates. This latter session was by far the most animated and participatory of the Workshop, with the aim of providing practical tools, key concepts, and frameworks that can help local government leaders enhance their ability to communicate persuasively, handle disagreements respectfully, and lead with integrity in public discourse.

Mayor, Councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo, Siparia Regional Corporation on his feet at the Hilton session

Part I of the Workshop concluded on Sunday morning.

The second part of the Workshop was held on Saturday August 16, 2025 at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation. TTALGA remains deeply appreciative to His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Faaiq Mohammed and the Corporation for making this venue available.

The second session, held at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation. Curtis Toussaint, standing, as facilitator

TTALGA and Local Government representatives unanimously expressed their deep gratitude for this initiative by TTALGA as they identified several benefits. Upon completion, TTALGA was pleased to present the facilitators with gifts of appreciation; and participants with completion certificates, who were now empowered with the tools they need in their municipalities.

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About the Facilitators.

Ronda Francis, MBA: trained mediator, change practitioner and accredited partnership broker and crisis communicator. Ronda also serves as the Head of Investigation and Compliance at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services where she supervises a multidisciplinary team of compliance officers, financial analysts, legal professionals, quality assurance experts and IT specialists. She has earned 14 years of experience as a police officer and 20 years as a Corporate Responsibility professional with a leading oil and gas multinational entity, managing relationship and non-technical risks between government business and other stakeholders.

Local Government representatives complete their first day of the workshop. CCR facilitators are Ronda Francis (left) and Curtis Toussaint (right).

Curtis Toussaint, MBA: has over 20 years of management experience such as leading social initiatives and government stakeholder engagement strategies. He is highly experienced in public policy and implementation of projects and programmes; and is a subject matter expert in Corporate Social Responsibility, Personal and Professional Productivity, Social Investment, and the monitoring and evaluation of community impact assessments. He is an ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners) member and is currently serving as the Compliance Team Lead.