The Corporate Sustainability Review (CSR) recently launched its 10th annual edition on reporting and telling the stories of corporate action in creating a more sustainable Caribbean. Over the past decade, some 40 companies have been featured in this unique publication that is dedicated to demonstrating how businesses and communities should co-create better societies.

The Review is the signature publication of Virtual Business Services, a discreet boutique resource for business leaders and corporate communications professionals, and has been operating in Guyana since 2020 and in Trinidad & Tobago since January 2010. Editor-in-Chief Donna Singh-Ramsammy creates, describes and shares a philosophy of mutuality for companies and individuals in business. She articulates this as an ingrained conviction that human purpose must be to the highest benefit of the social order, in communities, nations and the planet.

Singh-Ramsammy explains that the publication has evolved to reflect societal changes and corporate responses to critical matters encapsulated in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  It has been “an ongoing seminar in the progress of conscious business – and still growing to reflect the best business practices for the times.”

The 2022 special edition is themed “Aligning business to ESG goals”. Performance on ESG aspirations is increasingly being defined and monitored by various professional bodies, and an indicator of measurable progress toward sustainability goals.

• Environment is currently focused on the reduction of carbon emissions in the race to mitigate climate impact.
• Social relates to equity, well-being, and diversity within the workforce as representative of the community, as well as its policies and relationship with employees, suppliers, customers and communities.
• Governance defines not simply as disclosure and transparency, but an obligation to show and share continuous improvements in auditing and reporting, executive pay, leadership and shareholder rights.

Ramsammy believes that “ new and visionary ideas must be led from the top, the CEO, the Board, and point persons who will help to change behaviors and embed enlightened philosophy and corporate policy.” It’s not about public relations or branding. “Companies that get ESG right will find that their self-image and reputations are enhanced as a by-product. CSR is an indicator, a step in the right direction, taking business for profit towards fulfilling its obligation to benefit society as its true and visionary goal.

In this issue, readers get a glimpse of social strategies being implemented by companies in Banking and Finance, Energy, and Manufacturing. There is also a CSR Honour Role of past participants, most of which are from Guyana and T&T. Locally operating companies featured in the CSR include Metro Guyana, Demerara Distillers, Emtec, ExxonMobil, Republic Bank Guyana, the Massy Group, Nexus Hub Inc, Demerara Bank, Technip FMC and the Guyana Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The Review is both the example and the showcase for companies that understand their value to society; they commit to shared accountability, and participate in collaboration, and in fair and transparent reporting. The 2023 edition will feature what companies are doing in youth development and youth empowerment.

The Corporate Sustainability Review is available in print from the publisher or in digital format @ https://thecsrcaribbean.com