Service Above Self in Action: Rotary Club of St Augustine and the GTCIC Legacy
The Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GTCIC) stands today as a vital pillar of business advocacy and economic development along Trinidad and Tobago’s East–West Corridor. Its history is deeply intertwined with the values, leadership, and service ethos of the Rotary Club of St Augustine (RCoSA), whose members were instrumental in the Chamber’s formation and have continued to shape its growth and governance for more than three decades.
The origins of the GTCIC can be traced to the late 1980s, when visionary business leaders recognised the need for a unified voice to represent the interests of enterprises in Tunapuna and its surrounding communities. Among the early unifiers was Harish Udharamaney (Past President, RCoSA), whose leadership helped mobilise business owners and catalyse the formation of what would become the GTCIC. He was joined by Chandricka “Chanka” Seeterram (Past President, RCoSA), who became the Chamber’s inaugural President, providing early governance and strategic direction and anchoring the organisation in principles of collaboration, advocacy, and service.
Posthumous recognition has also been accorded to distinguished Rotarians and Past Presidents of RCoSA, including Harry Charran, founder of Charran’s Bookstores and a respected philanthropist, and Max Senhouse, an award-winning photographer and entrepreneur. Max Senhouse’s pioneering work contributed to the establishment of national identification systems across the Caribbean and laid the foundation for Pat & Max Ltd as one of the region’s most trusted identification-services companies.
Rotary leadership has remained a defining influence within the GTCIC. Over the past 34 years, numerous Rotarians have served on the Chamber’s Board, with several going on to become Presidents of the GTCIC. This continuity of Rotary leadership has ensured strong ethical governance, community-centred advocacy, and service-driven decision-making, helping the Chamber evolve from a local business association into a nationally respected institution with growing regional relevance.
Among the Rotarians and Rotary-connected leaders whose contributions continue to shape both the Chamber and the wider business landscape are Ajay Khandelwal, Melissa Senhouse, Kiran Maharaj, and Maria Mohammed-Maharaj.
Ajay Khandelwal (Past President, RCoSA) is widely recognised for his principled and effective advocacy on behalf of the business community, most notably his seminal role in championing the Dishonoured Cheques Act of 1998. This landmark legislation significantly strengthened commercial trust and accountability and remains a cornerstone of business protection in Trinidad and Tobago.
Melissa Senhouse (President, RCoSA), Managing Director of Pat & Max Ltd and Past President of the GTCIC, provided steady, compassionate leadership during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—one of the most challenging periods in the Chamber’s history. Her continued focus on business resilience, community safety, and youth development reflects a people-centred approach to enterprise and leadership.
Kiran Maharaj, a respected media executive and Immediate Past President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, has played a transformative role in advancing regional media development, strengthening influential communication platforms, and contributing to creative-sector policy and national discourse through innovation and strategic leadership.
Maria Mohammed-Maharaj (Past President, RCoSA), a communications strategist and long-standing Rotarian, has contributed significantly to strengthening the Chamber’s public image and stakeholder engagement through her service as Director, Secretary, and longest-serving Public Relations Officer of the GTCIC. Her work bridges strategic communications, civic leadership, Rotary service, and academic research, reinforcing the importance of informed public dialogue and ethical leadership in sustainable development.
As the GTCIC continues to champion growth, innovation, and opportunity for businesses across the East–West Corridor and beyond, the Rotary Club of St Augustine proudly celebrates this shared legacy—one rooted in Service Above Self, strengthened by collaboration, and sustained by leaders who believe that strong communities and ethical enterprise go hand in hand.
