Chairperson of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, Mala Baliraj, said the Chamber will change how its Safe to Work program is structured following concerns raised by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The decision follows the government’s withdrawal from the 2026 Energy Conference, citing concerns.
Baliraj addressed the issue during her opening remarks on Monday, January 26, at the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference. She acknowledged criticism from government and industry stakeholders over the contractor safety certification system administered by the Chamber.
“We have listened to the message,” Baliraj said. “We have committed to reflect, review and make changes as needed.”
The Prime Minister announced last week that government and state-owned enterprises would no longer participate in the conference, citing concerns about the Safe to Work program and its impact on local contractors.
Baliraj said the Chamber accepts that the program has, at times, acted as a barrier for smaller companies seeking to pre-qualify with major operators. She confirmed that the current structure will be changed.
“Given the clear position of the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, this configuration of contractor safety management certification and contractor pre-qualification will not be maintained in its current construct,” she said.
According to Baliraj, the Chamber will now focus on determining what comes next for contractor safety management through consultation with its membership and wider stakeholders.
“What comes next must be built on the best elements we have as an industry and improve the areas that do not work well,” she said. She stressed that safety standards will remain non-negotiable, even as reforms are pursued. “Maintaining high safety levels is not optional,” Baliraj said. “It is simply how business must be done.”
Baliraj also responded to claims that the Energy Chamber is dominated by multinational companies and large local firms, saying the organisation’s roughly 400 members span global corporations, small businesses and micro-enterprises.
“We hear this perception, and it is understandable where it might come from,” she said.
She said the Chamber will review its internal governance to ensure balanced representation and broader engagement across its membership. Baliraj said the Chamber intends to re-establish structured engagement with the government over time and hopes state entities will eventually return to the conference.
“We hope to be able to reposition and create a space for open and structured engagement with the government that supports the best outcomes for the sector,” she said.
The Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference runs until January 28 and brings together local, regional, and international energy stakeholders.
See more about the event here: T&T Energy Conference 2026 | OilNOW
