While officials at the T&T Insurance Institute (TTII) are clear that its ability to attract new talent is critical to its survival, Ulric Miller, president of the council of trustees, admits that funds to retain such talents remain a challenge for the organisation. Even though the TTIII has been fortunate to get the support of its members, the smaller ones too, he expressed concern that a new source of legitimate funds was vital to the organisation being able to progress.
Miller made the remarks at Friday's Diamond Jubilee Dinner and Awards held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, which was attended by Douglas Camacho, chairman of the board of governors at TTII and Dr Alexander Scott, chief executive officer at the UK-based Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
He said, "The CII has the advantage in enjoying vast financial support through its own exams and the TTII will have to find some way to generate similar funding mechanisms. The TTII has been fortunate in enjoying support from even our smallest members who came into the industry at a time when we first celebrated our country's independence with a determination to make education a cornerstone for our fledgling local industry. As they reached the highest level in their new organisations, their commitment to education and to the TTII did not waiver."
However, he said, these members, many of whom were present, are asking for others to takes up the mantle. "The leaders of tomorrow must demonstrate the same commitment to education as the TTII's pioneers if we are to compete effectively in this environment," he added. Miller said it was fitting to have Dr Scott in T&T for the TTII Diamond Jubilee, citing that both countries were faced with changes in legislation. The CII, however, responded with a framework focusing on education for all levels of persons employed in the insurance industry and received overwhelming support from the sector.