Message from the Chairman, Peter Gillette, on the occasion of the celebration of Twentieth Anniversary of the Gillette Group
Twenty years ago we were young enough to be brash and arrogant and believed that we could conquer the world. We believed that Trinidad and Tobago was the land of opportunity, and it was ours to revolutionize and change. This was the dream that was the genesis of the Gillette Group.
From our parents, both businesspersons in their own right, we learnt simple truths that had great depth of meaning. We were taught to think and then think again. From our Father an avid reader of the magazine "Popular Science", we learnt to embrace the world of science and technology. We learnt to look towards the future to build the things of today.
The Gillette Group an ICT Company
This dream started with Computers and Controls and the mission statement of that company is a reflection of that dream, "Where Vision is reality!"
Over these last twenty years we have shared this dream with many, our first business partner Johnny Chin Yuen Kee, our first employees Sharon Sabga and Robert Boodoo. This year we honor all those employees that have together formed the foundation of the Gillette Group. Some have been with us for twenty years. Both Sharon and Robert are here tonight not just celebrating the Company's 20th Anniversary but celebrating 20 years of dedicated service to this Group.
Computers and Controls quickly expanded into the Caribbean arena. It happened fast and furious, Barbados first, then Guyana, and eventually Jamaica.
Open Telecom and the three ISP's were natural extensions of a vision that sees Information and Communication technology converging to produce solutions that will continue to revolutionize the way we process and distribute information, as well as the way we communicate one to one, one to many or many to one.
The Launch of the Government's new "Fast Forward" initiative for the implementation of the ICT sees Telecom liberalization begin next year, the introduction of the Internet in 50% of all businesses by 2006 and 50% of all households by 2008.
It envisions that all government services will be accessible to the Public via the Internet by 2008. It is a bold and ambitious plan and it speaks to fiscal incentives and government subsidies for training and computer acquisition. It is my belief that the Gillette Group ICT assets stand ready and poised to capitalize on this tremendous opportunity.
In and around 1989 we applied to the Government for a Cable TV and a radio license. We were granted both. We started the cable company then and 5 years later Radio Vision was also born. The talk radio format implemented at Radio vision has been an incontrovertible success, controversial and borderline rude but relevant. "Power 102" is once again number one in the morning and Gladiator rules the airwaves.
The Gillette Group - A Conglomerate of Interests
In 1998 the Group moved away from its technology roots and diversified into the Service industries.
Our first foray into this area began with the purchase of ValleyVue Hotel, which at the time was in its second receivership. The Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre was born and what a tremendous success it has become.
The Group partnered with Mega Insurance then GTM Life to develop 72 luxury townhouses that were called the Greens. The project was a success and out of this project was born Baron Developers. Baron has just successfully completed 8 luxury townhouses in Cascade, Coblentz Villas, and is about to embark on the construction of 16 townhouses in Diego Martin.
To Conquer the World
The ultimate test of our mettle as a business was born out of the dream to play with the big boys and we knew that to compete successfully in the North American market was the final frontier.
It was in 1993 after we had established ourselves in the Caribbean market place, that the Group began its foray into the North American Market. It was out of this thinking and execution that Retrofit was born. We acquired a controlling interest in a company called CPI that had a patent for building retrofits of exit signs that replaced incandescent bulbs with LED's. Retrofit started as a joint venture with CPI to build these kits. The project was a success, but the product was under a lot of price pressure from patent infringers and rising R & D costs due to new safety standards. Retrofit was called upon to reinvent itself, the challenge was to find new customers and it was rough going for a while. Today they stand proudly as a manufacturer of Tyco Electronics.
To Conquer the World Again-Call Centres
Another member of this Big Dream was the establishment of our Call Centre business. DirecOne is now the preeminent Call Center in the entire English speaking Caribbean. Its brand is well known to the US market and it stands proudly as probably the only Caribbean based Call Center with a Tier 1 US customer namely Sprint. We have just signed a contract with our partners Accent that will see us expand DirecOne to triple its size in about 6 months. Another great example of what can happen when you apply hard work and persistency.
To the newest member of the Group Voiceworks, our medical transcription service I would like to say welcome. Welcome to a culture that encourages you to risk and make mistakes. For how else would we learn. It is my understanding that Government stands ready and committed to continue to promote this industry and we are making great strides towards productivity and ultimately profitability.
The Gillette Group a Business
So where are we? Well we started in computers, we are in communications, the hospitality industry, manufacturing, and IT enabled services, Land development and more to come.
After twenty years the Gillette Group has reinvented itself. What can we say about that invention? A prospective partner who was exercising his due diligence on the Gillette Group once asked me what were our core competencies and without missing a beat I said "business".
I think it was there and then that I really came to understand what we were all about. In that one instant I was forced to ask myself the question what is it that we were really good at and the only right and fitting answer was business. The application of our passion into ideas has been the fuel that has built the Gillette Group into what it is today and it is what has made the Gillette Group's vision statement, "To continually invent an organization that will challenge the minds of this and future generations" an applicable motto.
Tonight we celebrate 20 years in Business. I hope it has challenged the minds of at least one generation. Congratulations and thank you to all the Management and Staff of the Gillette Group. We wouldn't be here if not for you. Keep up the good work and I hope to celebrate another 20 years with you all.