Port of Spain, Trinidad. April 1st, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought global economies to its knees, with many grinding to a halt. Here at home, in Trinidad and Tobago, it has had a negative impact on many industries. Our employees, customers, suppliers, partners and communities are suffering due to this pandemic.
To the healthcare workers and all other first responders, thank you for taking care of everyone in our country, and risking your lives daily to ensure that the coronavirus does not spread in T&T. We will never be able to repay you for the sacrifices you are making to save lives. However, as a corporate citizen of T&T, we cannot sit by and watch those who support us suffer at the hands of this dreaded coronavirus. It is our responsibility to do what we can to fight COVID-19 from taking over our country. One of the products desperately needed at this time is hand sanitizer and, we were able to produce pharmaceutical grade alcohol to produce it. Angostura® has transformed some of its distilling capability to deliver all our pharmaceutical demands while also producing hand sanitizer to donate.
Starting from April 1st, 2020 and continuing in the coming days and weeks, Angostura® will be donating 50,000 bottles of 375 ml and 20,000 bottles of 1.75 litre hand sanitizer to public hospitals for healthcare workers, the Ministry of National Security including the Police for its first responders, National Petroleum, The Ministry of Public Utilities, The Attorney General’s office, The Ministry of Energy, The Ministry of Finance, WASA, the Prisons, T&TEC, the surrounding community and other entities with direct public interaction.
Our employees have been working tirelessly to ensure that we deliver the best quality of hand sanitizer. It comprises of 80% ethyl alcohol and small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and glycerin. The hand sanitizer is made according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations and formula. This is not the first time Angostura® has stepped in to give assistance to the nation. In fact, the Company has a long history of supporting its communities, employees and partners. We, at Angostura®, have taken account of the need of our citizens for help in the fight against the virus and accordingly have altered our production line to assist the community.
CEO Peter Sandstrom said, “We felt it was crucial to manufacture and donate hand sanitizer for frontline healthcare workers and other first responders. These are workers who are putting their lives on the line to combat the spread of COVID-19. It is important to us that they are protected from this virus. We, at Angostura®, appreciate their sacrifices and we salute them for their contribution.”
Sandstrom added, “Angostura® is a business built for people and by people. In times like these, it is essential, we deliver what the country needs. As an executive team, we took the decision to begin producing high-grade alcohol for sanitizing liquids to ensure that we could support the nation’s fight against the coronavirus, by preventing the spread of the virus with the very effective and powerful hand sanitizer. At a time when our plant was down, we have made modifications to increase, as far as we can, our alcohol production capacity. The excess alcohol though limited, has been distributed for sale to those licensed to produce hand sanitizers. Angostura® is here to support the nation and we are making every effort to do this.”
To say these are uncertain times is an understatement. COVID-19 is having a marked impact on all businesses. We, at Angostura®, have been able to sustain our operations so that we can maintain all our employees at this time, but this is being done through strict and stringent safety measures to protect everyone. While we have secured our personnel, we are constantly reviewing our supply chains to maintain business continuity. We don’t know what lies ahead, but what we do know is that Angostura® will remain loyal to our supporters, you the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
We salute you our people. We salute the very pro-active steps being taken by our Government. We walk together with our people hand in hand to conquer this virus in the hope that our people are protected in every way that we can. We say our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and we ask that our citizens observe the strictest protocols for combating the virus. We are aware that the closure of bars and recreational facilities has had an impact on our people but rest assured that such measures are absolutely necessary and in the short term these measures will go a long way towards stopping the further spread of the virus.
Together, we can all fight this and rise as a country to see the dawn of a new beginning freed from the shackles of this virus.
