Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

33 ABDOU YUSSUF SABGA (1898-1985) H e, along with his father, Syrian-born Joseph Isaac Sabga , were the pioneers of the local Syrian-Lebanese business community. Many have followed in their footsteps establishing various niches for themselves in business. Along with the Sabga names some others are the Aboud, Elias, Moses, Hadeed and Fakoory families, who have established themselves in various businesses such as fabric, clothing, building supplies and sewing materials. The ANSA-MCAL group has evolved into one of the largest group of companies in the West Indies involved in many businesses such as newspaper, printing, insurance, banking and car sales. EDUARDO SA GOMES (1893-1955) B orn in Portugal, he arrived in Trinidad in 1916. One of his first jobs was as the manager of the Portuguese Association. In 1930, he started Sa Gomes Radio Emporium and also built a reputation as the top calypso promoter in Trinidad and Tobago, sending calypsonians to the United States to record for the American Record Corporation. In 1938, he established his own local recording studio. NORMAN SAMAROO (1920-2011) L ike most other business men, he started off in general goods but later found his area of specialty in the supply of Carnival materials, soon becoming the number one supplier of materials for making costumes and growing to the point of supplying Trinidad and Tobago-styled carnivals around the world.