LAURA SONIA WILLIAMS
St. Augustine
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience in real estate and property management, notably at the Property and Real Estate Services Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited and Land Management Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Excelled in policy development, urban planning, and land acquisition, achieving a nationwide audit of 1100 State properties. Skilled in communication and problem-solving, significantly reduced company expenses by 45% at PSAEL, showcasing exceptional organizational leadership and asset management.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Property and Real Estate Officer
Ministry of Public Administration
Port Of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago
04.2021 - Current
- Supervises the operations of the Estate Management Unit and activities of the Property and Real Estate Officers assigned thereto; Conduct direct research and analysis of State and private property data for compliance with Government criteria for private property lease/rental, acquisition for a public purpose and disposal of Government quarters; conduct site investigations to verify property data for the lease, rental, sale and acquisition of properties and for monitoring occupancy and vacating properties; Liaise with State agencies and property owners with respect to property reports, execution and registration of new and continuing leases and property transfers;
- Prepare Draft Cabinet Notes for consideration of the Cabinet in respect of, inter alia, property allocations, retrievals, private treaty acquisitions, demolition, lease and disposal;
- Develop policies and guidelines for lease, rental, sale and acquisition of properties and communicate and build commitment to organizational policies, directives and procedures among key internal and external stakeholders;
- Ensures that legal framework is adhered to for the assignment, lease, sale, acquisition, eviction and retrieval of Government real estate and properties;
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, participating in professional societies, maintaining affiliations with networks and reporting on trend.
- Manage all State-owned Office Space including International Waterfront Complex, Residential Apartments such as Prada Street, Apartment Complex, Units at Victoria Keyes, Diego Martin; and Units at Flagstaff Hill Residential Development as well as over 1100 Government Quarters that are used for mixed purposes such as residential, office, commercial and institutional.
- Accomplishments: Managed and executed a nationwide audit of 1100 State properties consisting of residential and Office properties in a period of one (1) year and five (5) months in a bid to update the existing record of properties, make informed decisions and facilitate the more efficient management and allocation of these properties
- This task involved planning, mapping and scheduling field investigations, the conduct of property investigations, property verifications, collection of data from multiple sources, collation of primary and secondary data, preparation of summary reports by area/district, preparation of detailed layout maps of the properties, making critical inferences and recommendations to treat with the management of the properties holistically, liaising with stakeholder state agencies inclusive of the Commissioner of State Lands, Director of Surveys, Commissioner of Valuations, District Revenue Offices, Municipal Corporations, Utilities companies (Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC)), Town and Country Planning Division, Land Settlement Agency, all Government Ministries with an interest in state properties among others
- Audit the occupancy and status of office space at the International Waterfront Complex, with both Towers C and D comprising in total 52 floors which improved the overall management, communication and facilities maintenance of the floors in a period of one (1) week
- With regards, the Residential State-owned properties, achieved the improved and efficient management of the Units at Flagstaff Hill Residential Development and Victoria Keyes Housing Development through verification of the occupancy, streamlining the allocation processes and institution of new allocation for accommodation procedures
- In one week, I have coordinated and executed the relocation of furniture and furnishings of sixteen residential units at Federation Residential Development, and handed over the development to the intended agency.
- I have also conducted the negotiations in the acquisition processes to acquire, on behalf of the State, by virtue of Private Treaty acquisition, five (5) privately owned buildings in Port of Spain and environs to facilitate office accommodation for ministries, departments, and agencies requiring office accommodation in a period of one (1) year and six (6) months.
- Achieved the allocation of over 250 State-owned Properties for use for Residential, office and institutional purposes after sufficient and meticulous screening, assessments, and processing of their user requirements and requests for facilities to function.
- Achieved the review and completion of the Ministry's Disposal of Real Asset Policy.
Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL)
02.2019 - 03.2021
- Managed the affairs of the Company with a total of twenty-five (25) employees by directing its operations in accordance with approved policies and procedures, Ministerial directives and Statutory provisions; monitored and reviewed annual budgets of the Company and prepared and submitted requisite reports and assurances to the Board of Directors; Represented the Company at meetings with State Agencies and other organizations seeking to utilize the Company’s services and directed the negotiation of business arrangements with such agencies; established and maintained effective business relationships with government agencies and key stakeholder agencies such as Petrotrin, Trintoc, Trintopec, Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited, BHP Billiton, Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Siparia Regional Corporation, relevant Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and heads of other State agencies inclusive of the Town and Country Planning Division, Director of Surveys, Commissioner of State Lands Office, Land Settlement Agency among others to facilitate achievement of the Company’s objectives
- Worked closely with the Chairman of the Board of Directors in setting the Board agenda and provided timely and relevant information and reports to the Chairman, the Board and Committees to assist in the review and decision-making processes
- Implemented policies and decisions of the Board and its Committees to ensure socially responsible and ethical behaviour of the Company and its employees and overall success of the Company
- Routinely reviewed human resource requirements of each department and developed and maintained overall program for succession planning in the respective Departments
- Ensure overall compliance with HSE
- Developed strategies and work plans for the respective Departments in accordance with requirements of the strategic plan
- Actively pursues all accounts receivable and payables to ensure same are current
- Ensure that the Company is compliant with all statutory reports and payments (BIR – PAYE and Health Surcharge- NIS, VAT, Green fund and Business Levy)
- Guide the overall functioning of the Company in keeping with the Strategic plan and any other Ministerial Directives
- Identify and pursue business opportunities which are consistent with the Business vision and strategic plan of the Company
- Prepare the Company’s annual Administrative report and other statutory reports for submission to the relevant government agencies
- Accomplishments: During the period of my tenure in the Chief Executive Officer’s position I was able to reduce the Company’s expenses by approximately 45% by reevaluating and restructuring the functioning of the Departments and cutting cost of irrelevant and redundant expenses
- Accounts receivables were also reduced significantly through consistent and unrelenting pursuit of debtors and recovering sums that were over 90 days due and more
- In keeping with the mandate of the Company, 60% of the existing land assets with occupants thereon were monetized by securing Board approvals and issuing two and three (3) year licences in the short-term until all the lengthy processes of survey and valuation and approvals were sought
- Moreover, the processes of the Company were restructured and streamlined which increased the efficiency and accountability of the Departments
- Led the Company with the existing limited resources in the preparation and submissions of required reports to the 34th Public Account (Enterprises) Committee Meeting and represented the Company together with the Chairman and other Board members before the said panel which commended the Company for its survival as a Special State Enterprise entity without a subvention from the State
- Adopted and implemented an aggressive approach to regularization of occupants on Company’s lands which resulted in approximately 40% of dormant applications advanced to approvals
- Significant culture shifts in the Company were implemented by instituting open door policy, focusing on the concerns of employees and promoting team work/spirit to get the job done which has resulted in a reduction of issues encountered as it relates to staff dissatisfaction and premature resignations even in the midst of significant challenges in the organization and work overloads
- Professional relationships have been formed and restored in some cases and linkages created with certain key stakeholder agencies over the period
- The Company also were propelled into two new business ventures and were in the process of securing approvals from key stakeholder agencies for two major land management projects for which business proposals and representations made
Estates Supervisor
Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited
07.2016 - 01.2019
- Managed the functioning of the Estates Management Unit with a compliment of six (6) Officers and one (1) Administrative Assistant
- This entailed planning, organizing and directing the activities of the Unit pertinent to use and management of the non-core land assets of Petrotrin, Trintoc and Trintopec inclusive of PSAEL’s own land holdings; conducting land inventory management, surveillance and maintenance of the land assets in accordance with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs guidelines and policies for setbacks distances from oil installations, well sites and right of ways and Company’s policies regarding rights of ways, reserves, state traces and private lease holdings; divestment of these lands pursuant to Statutory, Ministerial and Cabinet directives; preparation of land policies, procedures and work/flow management systems, attainment of policy approval and endorsements and implementation of policies and procedures/workflow management systems to facilitate the efficient and proper functioning of the Estate Management Unit; conduct and review lease/licence management, renewal and transfer processes Maintain communication and linkages with all key stakeholders including Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Siparia Regional Corporation, Town and Country Planning Division, Land Settlement Agency, Director of Surveys, Commissioner of State Lands, Water and Sewerage Authority, Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Service Commission, Environmental Management Authority, Ministry of Works and Transport Division, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries among others
- Preparation of estimates of expenditure and income for the Unit
- Accomplishments: Institution and implementation of a new Land Policy and new Procedural Workflow structure in the Legal and Estates Services Department for the efficient and effective management of the land assets
- Formation and implementation of several Regularisaton projects including Squatters with Concrete Structure on PSAEL’s lands and Statutory Tenants with expired Leases for the regularization of squatter areas within Palo Seco and Coora, Siparia
- Improvement of public relations between PSAEL’s clientele by streamlining and simplifying PSAEL’s land application processes and procedures to ensure clarity, transparency and efficiency in information conveyed and transactions conducted
- Implementation of Squatter removal strategies to treat with wanton occupation and destruction of Company lands
- Conducted special land verification and squatter identification projects geared to determining the occupancy status and magnitude of squatting on the Company’s landholdings in a bid to assist with policy direction and development of monetization approaches to the Company’s lands
Demonstrator (Research)
Blue Space Caribbean (Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management)
01.2017 - 10.2017
- Conducted research and prepared reports on Project entitled: GLTN Research and Training Cluster work plan and projects 2017_2017, within the Global Land Tool Network Phase 2 Programme (2012-2017)
- Provided technical assistance to Dr
- Asad Mohammed and Dr
- Charisse Griffith-Charles of the Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management of the University of the West Indies in the research and preparation of reports on Land Governance in Case Study Countries using several model of land governance
Senior Lands Officer
Ministry of Agriculture, Land & Fisheries
05.2015 - 06.2016
- Managed the Land Acquisition & Land Reclamation Units of the Land Management Division with a staff compliment of fifteen (15) Officers and performed the functions consistent with the following operations: management and coordination of the compulsory land acquisition processes for lands for public purposes, resumption processes, reservation and regrant of land processes in Trinidad and in Tobago, preparation of PSIP expenditure estimates and processing of licenses and leases of reclaimed lands and other coastal structures
- Undertook training of a team of fifteen (15) Officers in both Units and undertook training of new staff and engendered consistent implementation of motivational strategies for staff
- Conducted appraisals of staff for both mid-term and annual review periods
- Preparation and submission of quarterly, semi-annual and annual divisional /departmental reports as requested by requisite Ministerial agencies
- Maintained communication and linkages with key stakeholder agencies such as: Town and Country Planning Division, Commissioner of Valuations, Director of Surveys; Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs; Water and Sewerage Authority, Tobago House of Assembly – Land Management Department, Drainage Division, Ministry of Works and Transport, Environmental Management Authority, Institute of Marine Affairs, All municipal Offices throughout the Trinidad; Chief State Solicitor’s, Office of Ministry of Attorney General; all agricultural county offices under Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries, all District Revenue Offices/Warden Offices in Trinidad and Tobago among others
- Represented the Land Management Division in several Ministerial, Heads and stakeholders meetings and consultations
- Accomplishments: Establishment of a procedural workflow that assisted in improving efficiency in the existing procedures and output of matters processed
- Contributed in the preparation of the Updated State Land Policy with other key stakeholders; contributed in several state land reclamation projects including proposed established of new San Fernando Board Walk Project; Creation of new data collected methods that aided in the updating of the existing land acquisition database
- Actioned over one hundred (100) dormant lands matter and advanced same to approval stage/ completion
Land Management Officer I
Ministry of Housing, Land & Marine Resources then Ministry of Land and Marine Affairs
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Managed the processing and distribution of tenancies (Leases/ Licences/ land Agreements) for State Lands in respect of Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Institutional land uses
- Manage the processing of applications for mega/commercial-farms; preparation of complex reports on land matters to requesting Ministries including and Divisional annual and monthly performance reports
- Assisted in the processing of approximately 1019 leases to former Caroni workers by leading teams in a project to advance the processing of the tenure instruments to ex-employees in respect of former Caroni (1975) Ltd lands
- Conducted in lands management training exercises with junior staff on the management and administrative procedures of the Land Management Division
- Took part in several consultancy exercises with key stakeholder for allocation and processing of lands ministries, agencies and other private entities such as lands to Evolving Tecknologies of Trinidad and Tobago (eTecK), Water and Sewerage Authority, Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, a host of government agencies among others
Land Assistant Officer
Ministry of Food Production, Land & Marine Resources
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Responsibilities included processing of applications for leases and licenses for lands for agricultural, residential, commercial, institutional and recreational uses among others
- Actively pursue processing of applications by liaising with external stakeholders and statutory agencies for requisite approvals
- Assist in the administration and management of State lands which included the preparation of complex reports and Draft Notes for Cabinet
- Represented and assisted the Land Management Division in special functions including organizing and coordinating lease distribution functions and assisted in the actual allocation processes for State Lands which included drafting of advertisements, collating and screening application, obtaining approvals and planning and implementing land distribution exercises/functions
Economics Teacher and Part-time Business and Accounts Teacher
St. Augustine Community College
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Responsibilities included educating and edifying form six students on the CAPE syllabus for Economics; grading Internal Assessments, marked examination papers and also taught Business, Accounts and Economics both ordinary and advanced levels at St
- Augustine Community College’s Improvement Classes
Administrative Assistant
Ministry of Public Information and Administration
01.2005 - 12.2005
- Provided extensive Administrative support to the Permanent Secretary Secretariat.
Education
Certificate in Real Estate Practise -
EduQual via PRETES
10.2024
Seminar on Public Policy Management for Government Officials -
Sponsored By The Ministry of Commerce of The People’s Republic of China And Organized By The International Cooperation And Exchange Centre of Department of Commerce of Hanian Province
China07.2024
Principle of Real Estate Practice -
Practical Real Estate Training and Education Services (PRETES) Centre
06.2024
Certificate in Principles of Real Estate Sales -
University of the West Indies ROYTEC
08.2023
MSc - Urban and Regional Planning
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
St. Augustine01.2017
Diploma - Biblical Studies
Trinidad Bible Institute
01.2012
Certificate in Project Management -
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
St. Augustine01.2010
BSc - Economics minor in Finance
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
St. Augustine01.2009
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level -
Lakshmi Girls Hindu College
01.2003
Bachelor of Laws Degree (In Progress) - LLB
University of London
Skills
- Leadership
- Real Estate Management
- Property Management
- Compulsory Acquisition
- Land Reclamation
- Land Acquisition
- Policy Development
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Landlord/Tenant Management
- Lease Management
- Client relations
- Land Governance
- Land Management
- Land Administration
- Audit of Properties
- Asset Surveillance
- Monitoring of Assets Expertise
- Divestment and Disposal of State Property
- Management of Non-core Oil Property Assets
- Squatter Containment and Management
- Workflow management
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Organizational Leadership
- Effective writing
- Report writing
- Drafting of Cabinet notes
- Computer Literacy
- Microsoft Office suite
- Microsoft Project
Training
- Training Workshop - Cabinet Note Writing, Public Service Academy, Ministry of Public Administration, 07/19/22 - 07/22/22
- Executive Workshop: “Crafting an Agile Organisation Through Critical Thinking”, Institute of Critical Thinking, University of the West Indies, 03/23/15
- Leadership Training - Mastermind 10 week study of John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” & “The Invaluable Laws of Growth”, 02/19/15
- Certificate in Sustainable Cities, Organisation of American States, Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management & Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development, 12/01/14 - 12/05/14
- Training Workshop - Cabinet Note Writing, Ministry of Food Production, 07/09/12 - 07/13/12
References
- Mr. Lionel Wayne De Chi, Chief Executive Officer of Caroni (1975) Limited, Former Chairman of Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited, (868) 329-2405, ceo.caroni@gmail.com
- Mr. Esric Huggins, Land Administrator, Heritage Petroleum Company Limited & MRICS Licensed Valuer, (868) 717-5500, Esric.Huggins@Heritage-tt.com
Timeline
Senior Property and Real Estate Officer
Ministry of Public Administration
04.2021 - Current
Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL)
02.2019 - 03.2021
Demonstrator (Research)
Blue Space Caribbean (Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management)
01.2017 - 10.2017
Estates Supervisor
Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited
07.2016 - 01.2019
Senior Lands Officer
Ministry of Agriculture, Land & Fisheries
05.2015 - 06.2016
Land Management Officer I
Ministry of Housing, Land & Marine Resources then Ministry of Land and Marine Affairs
01.2010 - 01.2015
Land Assistant Officer
Ministry of Food Production, Land & Marine Resources
01.2008 - 01.2010
Economics Teacher and Part-time Business and Accounts Teacher
St. Augustine Community College
01.2006 - 01.2008
Administrative Assistant
Ministry of Public Information and Administration
01.2005 - 12.2005
Certificate in Real Estate Practise -
EduQual via PRETES
Seminar on Public Policy Management for Government Officials -
Sponsored By The Ministry of Commerce of The People’s Republic of China And Organized By The International Cooperation And Exchange Centre of Department of Commerce of Hanian Province
Principle of Real Estate Practice -
Practical Real Estate Training and Education Services (PRETES) Centre
Certificate in Principles of Real Estate Sales -
University of the West Indies ROYTEC
MSc - Urban and Regional Planning
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Diploma - Biblical Studies
Trinidad Bible Institute
Certificate in Project Management -
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
BSc - Economics minor in Finance
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level -
Lakshmi Girls Hindu College
Bachelor of Laws Degree (In Progress) - LLB
University of London
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