Board of Directors

Mr. Steve De Las is the Production Manager at YARA Trinidad Limited (Formerly Federation Chemicals – FED CHEM). He has worked at YARA for over three (3) decades, with over twenty (20)years experience being at the Managerial Level in various capacities. Mr. De Las is particularly specialised in implementing quality standards, systems and operational procedures; and focuses on analytical objectivity and precision.  He has successfully led teams to accomplish disciplined operational excellence; implementation and integration of software programs in purchasing and warehouse management and the development of a turnaround handbook.  Well known for setting high standards for both himself and others, Mr. De Las is a stickler for ensuring fixed cost is within the budget while increasing equipment reliability to achieve production volumes. As such, projects are completed within constrained budgets, on schedule and within quality standards.  He obtained his Master’s in Business Administration from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business and also holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Henley Management College in England.

Mr. Elvin Edwards is the Technical Assistant to the present Mayor of Arima.   He attended both Ryerson University in Toronto and Algonquin College in Ottawa, where he acquired qualifications in programming and management disciplines.  His expertise in Computer Operations was developed while being employed at the University of Toronto. Subsequently, he worked for twenty-four (24) years at RBTT Bank (Trinidad) occupying managerial positions in Computer Operations, Processing Centre and Business Resumption and Planning.  Mr. Edwards has also served as Mayor of Arima for seven (7) years.  He then dedicated six (6) years as an Information Attache at the High Commission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Ottawa, Canada.  An avid sportsman, Mr. Edwards represented several clubs, local and foreign in the field of cricket and soccer.

Mrs. Yvonne Bullen-Smith has to her credit over fifty (50) years of nursing experience both locally and internationally.  A widow and mother of four sons, the dedicated Mrs. Bullen-Smith has worked as a nurse since 1964.  She obtained qualifications in Nursing Administration, Human Resource Management & Management, at the University of the West Indies.  After graduation from the Nursing Programme as a Registered Nurse in Trinidad, Mrs. Bullen-Smith was assigned to the Scarborough General Hospital for three and a half (3 ½ ) years. She then returned to Trinidad where she completed her midwifery programme and worked at the Port of Spain General Hospital (POSGH), delivering over three thousand (3000) babies including breeches, twins and triplets.  During this time, she also taught Medical Interns and other pertinent staff delivery practices.  Subsequently, Mrs. Bullen-Smith was promoted to Head Nurse at Mount Hope Women’s Hospital (MHWH).  As she continued to develop in her nursing field, Mrs. Bullen-Smith was further promoted to Supervisor and sent to Operating Theatre, San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) for eighteen (18) months and later transferred to the Operating Theatre, POSGH.  Her next post was at the Sangre Grande Hospital (SGH) where she spent one year as Matron.  She returned to MHWH as Nursing Administrator I where spent another six (6) years. Whilst at MHWH however, a number of programmes were initiated by her such as: Prevention Mother to Child Transmission- HIV, Menopause Clinic and Family Planning Clinic with an emphasis on Pap smear.   Being promoted again, this time to Nursing Administrator II, Mrs. Bullen-Smith was assigned to POSGH for another five (5) years. She eventually became the General Manager, Nursing Services, North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) for three (3) years, where she was directly involved in the recruitment of the Cuban and Vincentian nationals, to assist with shortage of medical staff in Trinidad and Tobago.   Ultimately, the Ministry of Health contracted Mrs. Bullen-Smith to manage the Mentorship Team for approximately one (1) year at North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), which was a fitting opportunity for her to impart her nursing expertise and bring her many innovative ideas to life.

Mrs. Ayoung-Chee has extensive experience in senior management positions in the Information Technology industry.  Her expertise in the fields of systems development and operations, quality management and project management were earned at an international financial institution.  She has brought with her forty (40) years of international experience working throughout the globe meeting targets with project deliverables and cost containment.  She also holds the position as the President of the Friends of the Blood Bank Association which is a registered, voluntary, non-profit organization, whose vision is to share life’s best gift, by registering voluntary blood donors, in the hope of building a reasonable collection of blood for use in Trinidad & Tobago.   Mrs. Ayoung-Chee hopes to contribute to the improvement of NCRHA processes, especially in the areas of Tender Approval, Financial Accounting and Quality & Operations.

Dr. Maria Bartholomew is a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist who graduated from University of the West Indies and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians UK.  She pursued training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital.  Dr. Bartholomew has served in the past as a lecturer with the University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medicine and also worked as a consultant Gastroenterologist with the North West Regional Health Authority(NWRHA), she has written publications in leading medical journals. Under the NWRHA, Dr. Bartholomew led the Gastroenterology service for fifteen (15) years, a position which allowed her to further develop the gastroenterology service at Port of Spain General Hospital. Dr. Bartholomew established a paediatric liver transplantation service in partnership with colleagues in Argentina. The first child that was transplanted at age ten (10) and is now a healthy nineteen year old university student. Dr. Bartholomew serves as voluntary faculty for the William J. Harrington Medical Training Program which offers training opportunities at Jackson Memorial Hospital to medical students and physicians from Latin America and the Caribbean. She is also a Director of the National Association of Crohns and Colitis of Trinidad and Tobago and is a member of the International Women’s Forum.

Mr. Kadeem Graham has 9 years’ experience in the financial sector and 12 years’ experience in the field of Information Technology, specialising in networking. Mr Graham is the holder of a MBA in Management, a BSc in Computer Science and an ASc in Business and is currently pursuing further certification in cyber security. He is an extremely motivated young man who has a passion for national development and contributing to the development of his community. Currently, he is a public servant within the St Joseph area. He is also a former student and athlete of Queen’s Royal College who represented the college in track and field in both local and international events. He also represented QRC in the football arena at the intercol level (SSFL). He played football for well-known clubs at the Super League level and presently plays in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro league. Mr. Graham is excited to join the NCRHA team and to contribute towards the Region’s improvement.

Ms. Kimoy Thomas is an Attorney-at-law with over ten years’ experience. Ms. Thomas’ areas of expertise include human trafficking law, refugee law, contract law and general policy formulation. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and an International Master of Business Administration (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization).  Ms.Thomas has been very instrumental in providing research and opinions for the amendment of many laws which govern Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to her portfolio as Legal Counsel, Ms. Thomas is a member of a number of specially appointed committees all of which are tasked with improving the lives and services offered to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. In her spare time, she volunteers as a motivational speaker for secondary school students. Ms. Thomas also enjoys reading, physical exercise and spending time with her family and friends.

Ms. Anita Sohan is International Relations professional who has been developing her expertise in the industry for approximately 12 years.  Ms. Sohan’s tenure at Ministry of National Security, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and presently the Ministry of Health, have been critical to the level of expertise that she holds to date.  Her proficiency in strategic and operational planning and implementation, relationship management, research reporting and presentations in both local and international arenas were achieved in prominent industries such as Terrorism and International Organized Crime and Border Security, Cybersecurity and Global ICT and now Foreign Healthcare Professionals Management.  Ms. Sohan’s responsibilities exposed her to extensive interaction with multiple governmental and international entities which developed her aptitude for cross-cultural management and negotiating with multidisciplinary teams and global bodies.   She also has a high analytical acumen that corresponds with strong problem solving skills.  Her extensive experience in her field is predicated by a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies with International Relations and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from the University of the West Indies, Trinidad; as well as a Master of Arts in International Security Studies University of Leicester, United Kingdom.  Ms. Sohan has also been affiliated with six other board and committee appointments since she began her career in 2009 and also received a Fellowship awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.