In joining the national community in paying tribute to national icon, Mrs Therese Mills, I would like to fill a significant gap which is missing in her published resume.Trinidad Tesoro Petroleum Company Limited of Santa Flora, had the honour and privilege of obtaining the services of Therese Mills as company Relations Officer during the 1970s. It was from Trinidad Tesoro that Mills was approached and invited to become editor of the Sunday Guardian.
Mrs Mills edited the company's in-house newspaper, the Trinidad Tesoro News, and it is recalled that its readers eagerly looked forward fortnightly to Mills' research pieces on the origins and development of the villages in the company's areas of operations.These villages extended from Siparia along the Siparia-Erin Road to Erin/Cedros, taking in villages at Santa Flora, Los Bajos, Rancho Quemado, Los Charros, Bennett Village, Buenos Aires, Palo Seco and La Brea.
Apart from being editor of The Trinidad Tesoro News, Mrs Mills was responsible for the co-ordination of activities of the several social and sporting clubs owned by the company at Fyzabad and Palo Seco as well as the many cultural groups which were sponsored by the company.Prominent among these groups were:
Trinidad Tesoro Starlift Steel Orchestra
Trinidad Tesoro Third World Steel Orchestra
Siparia Deltones Steelband
St Patrick Voluntary Corps and Brass Band
Trinidad Tesoro Players
Trinidad Tesoro Folklore Parang Group (with Daisy Voisin)
Trinidad Tesoro Los Caballeros Parang Group
Trinidad Tesoro Southernaires Choir
Trinidad Tesoro Vin Courtney Ballroom Orchestra
Indira Mahatur Dance Troupe
Mills' influence had a considerable impact on the cultural life and community spirit of the various communities in deep south, as exhibited by the successes in the Prime Minister's Best Village competitions.She was insightful in her perspectives and creative in her endeavours. It was a pleasure to work with her and the company benefited greatly from her many talents.
In leaving the company, Mills expressed satisfaction in the company's working environment and appreciation of the company's forward-looking policies in community development and relations. But the journalist, par excellence, informed the company's management that it was her career ambition to become editor of a national newspaper and that the Guardian's invitation was a lifelong opportunity which she wished to grasp.
We share the loss and offer our condolences to her family and staff in their bereavement. May she gain everlasting peace.
David Mcknight,
Former administrative manager,
Trinidad Tesoro Petroleum Co Ltd