FEEL gets new chairman after 20 years

THE Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) has a new chairman for the first time since 2000, with Prof Sterling Frost replacing long-time head David Dulal-Whiteway.

FEEL's CEO Elena Villafana-Sylvester issued a statement welcoming Frost to the organisation, which was established by Clive Pantin in 1992 to partner with organisations and communities in the areas of poverty alleviation, disaster relief, recovery education and capacity-building, and medical support.

The reconstituted board also includes Amjad Ali, Anthony Hosang, Alain Laquis, Kristian Govia, Mark Carmino, Marlene Chin, Richard Lewis, Wendell Constantine and Villafana-Sylvester, all of whom Villafana-Sylvester said offer valuable perspectives, well-established records of business accomplishments and extensive service to local communities,

Villafana-Sylvester thanked Dulal-Whiteway, former Republic Bank managing director, saying he "oversaw the phenomenal growth of FEEL which now provides over $50 million annually in donations of goods-in-kind to vulnerable communities across TT."

Frost, First Citizens deputy CEO and board member of several of its subsidiaries, joined the board of FEEL in 2017.

The statement said his past directorships include other financial institutions across TT, as well as Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras.

"He is committed to advancing optimal national development for all sectors through his contribution to various government, academic and civil society organisations.

"(His commitment) was reflected in his chairmanship of the Lydian Singers, as chairman of UWI's Faculty of Social Sciences advisory board, chair of UWI's Institute for Gender and Development Studies external advisory board and chair of UWI's Development and Endowment Fund."

He is also deputy chairman of the Public Service Commission.

In his inaugural address to the board, Frost reinforced the importance of collaborating with civil society organisations (CSO) to assist disadvantaged people throughout the country, and to further assist other CSOs by providing less accessible items.