More than 70 businesses were honoured last Tuesday for their contributions to various sectors in Trinidad and Tobago at the Ministry of Trade's gala awards ceremony themed "Celebrating 50 years of business in Trinidad and Tobago" held at the Hilton Trinidad, Port of Spain.

Certificates of recognition were distributed to recipients in various categories namely: Services; Printing, Packaging, Publishing; Electronics; Vehicle Sales, Maintenance and Service; Construction; Clothing & Textiles; Book Dealers; Jewelers; Distributors; Equipment Suppliers; and Manufacturers.

Trade Minister Vasant Bharath distributed ten special awards to businesses across the sectors.

In his feature address, he congratulated the award recipients who "have navigated the turbulent course and traversed the terrain of astute leadership thus demonstrating business acumen".

Other speakers included Sandra Indar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade; Dominic Hadeed, president, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association; and Andrew Sabga, president, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Also present at the ceremony were Mervyn Assam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with responsibility for Trade, Catherine Kumar, CEO Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and other heads and representatives of various stakeholder organisations, including the Supermarkets Association; Food Distributors Association; American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago; Arima Business Association; British/Caribbean Chamber of Commerce; Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce ; Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Penal/Debe Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Point Fortin Chamber of Industry and Commerce; San Fernando Business Association; San Juan Business Association; Sangre Grande Chamber of Commerce; Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries; Energy Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Tobago Chamber of Commerce.

Live entertainment was provided by Samaroo Jets and the Alternative Quartet while guests enjoyed a sumptuous all-local meal.

The full list of awardees:

1. Abel Building Solutions

2. Abigat Bargain Centre

3. Ace Printery

4. Alstons Marketing Company Limited (AMCO)

5. Alstons Shipping Limited

6. Alstons Travel Limited

7. American Stores

8. Angostura Limited

9. ANSA Coatings Limited

10. ANSA Technologies Limited

11. AS Bryden & Sons Limited

12. Bajnath Sports Centre

13. Bermudez Biscuit Company Limited

14. Bhagan's Drugs

15. Bhagwat Jewelers

16. Burmac Machinery

17. Capil's and Company Limited

18. Carib Glassworks Limited

19. Caribbean Development Company

Limited/Carib Brewery

20. Caribbean Radiator Works Limited

21. CGA Limited

(formerly Coconut Growers Association)

22. Charran's Bookstore

23. Chee Mooke Bakery

24. Chief Brand Products

25. Diana Candy Company Limited

26. Dulip Singh's

27. Eddy's Store

28. Fine Art Company

29. Flemming's Hardware

30. Gordon Grant and Company Limited

31. H. Williams Bookstore Limited

32. Hercules General Supply Store

33. HiLo Food Stores

34. Hilton Trinidad And Conference Centre

35. Hong Wing & Sons Limited

36. Huggins Shipping and Customs

Brokerage Limited

37. IAL Engineering Services Limited

38. Industrial Gases Limited

39. Janouras

40. Jattans Restaurant

41. Jimmy Aboud

42. JN Harriman and Company Limited

43. JTA Supermarket

44. Kalliecharan's

45. KC Confectionery Limited

46. Laughlin and De Gannes

47. Lenny Sumadh Limited

48. Lensyl Products Limited

49. Maharaj Westside Supermarket

50. Mc Enearney Motors

51. Neal and Massy Automotive Limited

52. NM Insertech

53. Parker's Trading

54. Peiping's Supermarket

55. Perreira and Company Limited

56. Rahamuts Motor Supplies Limited

57. Roopnarine Hardware

58. Saran Sampath Limited

59. SM Jaleel and Company Limited

60. Solo Beverages - now known as Bottling

Works and Investments Limited

61. Southern Hardware Supplies

62. Southern Sales and Service Company

63. Sports and Games Limited

64. Standard Distributors Limited

65. Stechers Limited

66. Trinidad Broadcasting Network

67. Trinidad Match Limited

68. Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

69. Turban Marketing (formerly Turban Products)

70. Unilever Caribbean Limited

71. West Indian Tobacco Limited (WITCO)

72. William H. Scott

73. Y de Lima and Company Limited