The Government today announced the board appointments of four major State-owned companies. 

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, at the Office of the Prime Minister, in St Clair, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie said the appointees to the boards of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), the
Housing Development Authority (HDC) and the Educational Facilities Company Ltd. 

Cuffie defended the selection of former managing director of the HDC Noel Garcia to the chair Udecott board. He said the former HDC executive director's role in the controversial Las Alturas Housing Development project in Morvant would not affect his new position.

Garcia is expected to be called as a witness in the ongoing Commission of Enquiry into the project, which was initiated by former administration after it was found that two multi-storey apartment buildings in the project were constructed on shifting land leading to their demolition. Garcia is yet to be summoned by the commission. 

"The Udecott matter does not involve the Las Alturas enquiry, that is into the HDC and the construction of apartments there. The enquiry is a fact-finding issue and there are no charges against Mr Garcia. I think he was asked to be a witness and being a witness does not preclude still being on a board," Cuffie said. 

Cuffie also said that more State boards will be appointed as soon as appointees under the previous administration tender their resignations. 

"Several board members have offered their resignations. There have been cases were resignations have been offered by some members of the board and not the entire board. We go about we are filling those vacancies as they arise," Cuffie said. 

​The present state of affairs of the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) as measured by the experience of taxpayers remains sub-optimum. 

Given the current economic climate where structural changes are occurring in the global energy markets coupled with the uncertainties which exist with regard to the remaining oil and gas reserves, we can ill afford for one of the most important institutions of Government to remain in such a dysfunctional state. 

This raises the appropriate question of what can be done to improve the present system and whether the solution is the Revenue Authority as proposed by the People’s National Movement (PNM) in its 2015 election manifesto.

The BIR, a division of the Ministry of Finance (MOF), is responsible for the administration and collection of taxes in Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), as well as the enforcement of revenue law. It is a multi-billion dollar organization grappling with complex issues both within T&T’s borders and with cross border transactions across multiple sectors. 

Due to the BIR’s fundamental revenue collection role, it is arguably one of the most important apparatuses of the T&T Government, because without it there would be no public funding for national security, healthcare or education systems. 

In the context of the deteriorating performance of the T&T economy, it is absolutely appropriate for the citizens of the country to ask questions of the Government and the BIR specific to its performance and its current structure.

Before we proffer any solution there is a need to critically examine some of the underlying problems within the present system:

1. The physical infrastructure of the Government buildings housing the employees of the BIR is in a state of disrepair. The move to the Government campus has been delayed for 5 years due to lack of outfitting. This problem can be solved once outfitting the Government Campus is addressed and the BIR is allowed to relocate to its intended accommodation. 

2. The human resource management and the industrial relations situation of the department is a far more complex problem. It is common knowledge that in this regard the BIR is impacted by a number of issues:

a. There is an inability to recruit the talent necessary to properly administer the tax system. The BIR is hampered in this regard by its reliance on the Public Service Commission which executes the BIR’s recruitment function and also the Ministry of Finance which allocates the financing necessary to pay salaries that are commensurate with those of the private sector.

b. There is also an inability of the BIR to retain the talent within the tax system and to properly implement a robust merit-based system of promotion and incentives. In this regard, the BIR uses the same performance management system as other public institutions. This system is said to include merit-based assessments but in practice is often driven by seniority and tenure, especially at higher levels.

c. There is a lack of accountability throughout the organization. In this respect, although there are systems in place to measure performance, the methods are heavily bureaucratic and onerous to administer making it almost too difficult to dismiss an underperforming employee. Further, this lack of accountability resonates throughout the system. 

d. There is inadequate management capability, and training.

e. There is inadequate staff development, and training.

3. The revenue law has not kept pace with the current business environment and there is therefore a requirement for the BIR to play a greater role in researching and recommending changes for the consideration of Parliament.

4. There is a need to broaden the tax base and streamline tax collection and enforcement to ensure all citizens are contributing their fair share.

In summary, the problems of the current system can be defined as follows:

• A heavy reliance on external bodies to provide funding and perform the vital talent recruitment function;

• A manifest lack of robust performance management systems in place; 

• A need for the BIR to play a greater role in ensuring via recommendation to Parliament that tax legislation is refreshed to keep abreast of the current business environment, along with publicizing its policies, and procedures and promulgating more tax rulings; and

• A need for increased tax law enforcement that touches all citizens 

Can the Revenue Authority (TTRA) provide the much sought after cure for this malaise?

The question then arises as to what is the philosophy behind the TTRA. The TTRA was originally proposed prior to 2010 by the PNM Administration to replace the existing BIR and Customs & Excise Administration (C&EA).

Its stated purpose is to reform and modernize revenue administration to ensure quicker and more efficient operations. It effectively removes the BIR and C&EA from the public service and establishes a management board for oversight and accountability, facilitating the introduction of more modern human resources and other administrative practices.

Since there are various models which a Revenue Authority can take, the key in our view would be to determine and ensure that the model adopted, by whatever name, addresses squarely the following issues: 

• The body should be autonomous from the public service but at the same time remain insulated from Government interference vis a vis specific tax payer matters;

• The body should, however, be made accountable to the Ministry of Finance and Parliament on broader policy and operational matters;

• The body should implement best-in-class corporate governance, which includes internalizing high professional values, ethics; transparency; equity; integrity; accountability and probity in the core of the organization and having the right people in the right places;

• The body should have access to sufficient financial resources to properly carry out its function in the form of Government allocations and later, once instituted, out of the proceeds of collection;

• The body should have the ability to institute a sustained performance management system which addresses pay for performance and accountability; 

• The body should develop an internal audit department which has the resources, skill, competence and authority to perform an effective risk management function. This should provide organizational support to achieve good corporate governance objectives;

The body should have a human management function which should facilitate effective recruitment and selection of appropriate personnel; career planning; promotion and advancement; learning, growth and development; performance management; rewards and compensation;

The body should have access to appropriate information emanating from the Customs Department whilst respecting the border protection function of the latter;

• The body should be able to track and enforce the tax compliance of all citizens and broaden the tax net

The end-product of the model being adopted should:

• Aspire to sustainable excellence, whereby the focus is on customer satisfaction and productivity through people; 

• Reduce the cost of doing business both at the service provider level and the taxpayer level

• Ensure that the Revenue Authority plays an active role in recommending changes in the tax legislation and that the tax paying public is aware of its policies; practices and rulings 

• Allow the human resource function the ability to set academic/technical qualification standards for categories of recruits; to recruit, discipline and dismiss staff; 

• to establish and operate staff training/development programmes; 

• to negotiate staff remuneration packages which are aligned to that of the private sector

• Institutionalize the process of continuous learning and growth of its employees

• Ensure greater compliance of all persons with the tax laws of the country

There are model Revenue Authority systems around the world which can be tailored to meet all of the above requirements. Examples exist in the case of our Caribbean neighbor Barbados which implemented the body in early 2014 and in Jamaica where the Government is reportedly in an advanced stage of adopting its version of an Authority. It is perhaps too early to pronounce on the success of the Barbados model but anecdotal evidence suggests that it has resulted in increased revenue audits and enforcement activity.

The other critical success factor of any Revenue Authority would be the adoption and execution of a plan to address the following issues: However, even if these items were adequately addressed other critical success factors would be:

• Managing the transition process in which the current employee complement of the BIR is transferred into the new system. This would require consultation, participation and effective communication with the relevant stakeholders, including significant effort in industrial relations to ensure that persons are given the certainty of outcome deserved and their legal rights as current employees of the State are respected;

• Consultation and participation of all stakeholders including employees and employee representatives;

• Change management processes to allow for the unfreezing of established unwanted culture and freezing of desired culture and beliefs;

• Ensuring a proper job analysis is conducted and having the appropriate job specification and job description.

As can be determined from the above, the Revenue Authority, in whatever manifestation, is not an easy solution to implement. Further, if it is not carefully planned and transitioned it can result in significant industrial relations problems. Nonetheless, it seems clear that the present system is working sub-optimally and therefore is in need of fundamental reform.

Q.: I own a bridalwear business, and I’d love to get your advice on how we can put the right leadership in place and get to the next level. We are thinking of bringing someone onto our board of directors who has a lot of experience, but we’re concerned about choosing the right person and about how much it would cost to persuade her to join us.

— Sarah

Your question reminded me of some of the lessons we learned in the 1990s; a time during which we expanded the Virgin brand into many different sectors, including clothing, cosmetics and even wedding services through Virgin Brides.

Those startups were founded by passionate leaders and offered interesting products and services. What some of them lacked, unfortunately, was the ability to survive and thrive over the long term.

We started up Virgin Brides after a member of our Virgin Atlantic cabin crew pitched me the idea of a one-stop wedding service. She envisioned a business where customers could arrange all aspects of their nuptials: pick a wedding dress, reserve a venue, choose catering and flower arrangements and, of course, book the honeymoon. Planning such an important event can be very stressful, so the idea was that our customers could rely on Virgin to bring the best suppliers and services together in one place. (I also loved the cheekiness of the Virgin Brides name!)

We launched our Brides shop just off Trafalgar Square in London; a location that showed not only that we meant business when it came to the wedding business, but also that we were bringing a touch of glamor to the industry. Of course, our public relations team followed my No 1 rule of launching a business by generating headlines about it. This time, with a noteworthy (and some would say arresting) picture of me in a wedding gown. I even shaved off my beard!

Sadly, Virgin Brides did not have the impact we had hoped for and, after a few years, we decided to wind down the operation. The staff, the service and the products were all excellent, but the cost of growing the business was not proportional to the slice of the market such an effort would attract. We had misjudged the business model, and Brides needed to be big enough to deserve the Virgin brand.

With that experience in mind, along with the challenges you face in the same sector today, let’s revisit four key rules for building a business, and examine how they could take you to the next level:

1. Research your market

The best ideas are often sparked by an entrepreneur’s frustration with a product or service that’s already on the market. When you spot a gap like that, you can create something that you yourself might want, and others will, too.

With a wedding business, look into what your competitors in your region are offering, and also at the sector as a whole. What do you think is missing? How can you address that need?

2. Decide on how your business will stand out from the crowd

This might mean refocusing your efforts on a particular area of the weddings sector. 

How is your business different? 

Do you provide a one-stop shop for would-be brides? 

Do you specialise in a particular type of wedding, for instance, country hotel weddings? 

Differentiating your company from its rivals will help you to attract customers.

3. Get your online strategy right, and promote yourself effectively

In order to draw customers to our London store in the 1990s, we relied on foot traffic and on our PR team to create headlines in the papers. We also bought ads in key lifestyle magazines.

But today, a new business is not bound by geography or traditional advertising, so make sure to create a well-designed website that is easy to use. 

Build a strong social media following and then maintain it. There is a natural churn in your customers, but if you offer special deals and interesting content such as how-to advice on weddings, you will find new followers through word-of-mouth recommendations.

4. Bring on great people and partners.

Your business’ success will not be based on your work and passion alone. In addition to a strong leadership and solid core staff, a wedding business needs a small group of experts to help with areas like planning, tailoring, catering, photography or travel. You’ll also need a loyal bunch of suppliers who will give you great deals.

So you must think hard about who you bring into the company, and how they can drive its success. While I can’t offer specific advice about your board, sometimes you do need to hire people with specific skills. When we started our airline at Virgin, I recruited people like Roy Gardner and David Tait, both talented airline executives who knew how to help me build the business from scratch. Such executives may cost a little more, but their firsthand knowledge and experience can help you to avoid costly mistakes, saving you money over the long term.

If you can get these four steps right and bring on people who can offer the right advice, your business will have an excellent chance of surviving and thriving.

(Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group and companies such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, Virgin Mobile and Virgin Active. He maintains a blog at www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/richardbranson. To learn more about the Virgin Group: www.virgin.com.)

(Questions from readers will be answered in future columns. Please send them to RichardBranson@nytimes.com. Please include your name, country, e-mail address and the name of the Web site or publication where you read the column.)

IAN NARINE

The decision last week by the US Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates at the zero bound is a stark reflection of the state of the global economy and one that we would do well to take note of as we seek to determine both fiscal and monetary policy over the next few months.

On August 26, I offered readers this suggestion: “Prior to the latest decline in oil prices I expected the US Federal Reserve to introduce their first rate hike in September. I am now revising my view to December.”

A December hike is now in play. However at this stage permit me to further adjust my outlook. The only reason I would go with a rate hike in December is because the US Fed has suggested some time ago that they wanted to come off the zero bound this year and December would be the last opportunity to do so.

If they were to hike rates this year I would deem it a policy mistake since I do not think it is warranted. One aspect of the Fed stance that has now been clearly communicated is that the pace of rate hikes is going to be slower than what has obtained in the past so even if there is a rate hike this year investors in fixed income should continue to expect very low interest rates going forward. There are now even whispers of another round of quantitive easing (QE4) in years to come. 

These views are finally getting some traction in the mainstream but have been put forward in this space since July 2013. 

As you read below the areas in quotations and italics were published here in on July 4, 2013.

(T)he suggestion is to be on the look out for more QE. So that we are clear a lot has to happen before the US Central Bank engages in another round of quantitative easing, …… but my investment thesis is as follows.

Dependency

The current rate in the US is at the zero bound and is likely to continue to be at that level for the foreseeable future (at least the next two years).

Note: this view expressed two years ago has proven to be correct bettering most Wall Street analysts.

Despite previous endings of quantitative easing programmes, the US has had to re-engage similar as the US economy has failed to generate the levels of sustainable growth required.

The last round of QE was instituted despite the absence of any major crisis conditions. It became necessary because (of the lack of) … the necessary structural reforms to propel the US economy towards the escape velocity necessary for a more permanent growth path. This is where, in my view, the Fed is likely to be challenged yet again.

As we saw back in 2001-2004, low interest rates for a prolonged period produced a level of dependence on such an environment. As rates rose, the instability intensified, eventually leading to the crash of 2007/08.

Appreciate that this time around low rates have been around for twice as long as the last time and set to continue. The mispricing of assets back then was in the housing market, today I would suggest that there is mispricing across almost all asset classes and all asset classes are artificially elevated.

Another lesson from 2001-08 was that while the instability was building, the stock markets kept on rising, and this is likely to happen again on the back of the aforementioned zero interest rate policy at the short end of the yield curve. It is my view that the current stock market rally still has legs and the recent pull backs are more likely to represent buying opportunities as opposed to the start of a down trend.

This has also proven to be true as the past two years from July 4, 2013 to the peak of the market a few months ago the US stock market rose 57 per cent. 

Managing risk going forward is crucial for investors because while it is my view that asset prices, including stocks are artificially elevated it is likely to continue to be so for some time to come. Hiding your cash under a mattress as people have been wont to do for the past nine years is nothing short of a recipe for poverty. 

The current business cycle is long in the tooth and so there are cyclical as well as structural headwinds down the road. Then there is the issue of inflation. Many, myself included, had expected US inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, to be more elevated at this stage than the current levels given the extent of liquidity injections taking place over the past five years. 

Inflation has not picked up which, to a large extent, highlights the depth of the economic malaise as the liquidity injections have produced very little in terms of a multiplier effect and increased velocity of money. 

A low-inflation environment, coupled with clear and present cyclical and structural economic headwinds, means the US is just one slow down or hint of recession away from disinflation or even deflation. 

This deflation risk is exacerbated by surplus capacity in emerging markets and the fact their economies are not producing the required benefits, leading to growing discontent among the masses.

That is, in my view, the greatest challenge for the US Federal Reserve to manage and the approach as it has been in the past is to engage in a programme of asset purchases (known as QE) in order reflate asset prices the trickle down impact being inflation in the real economy.

The basic point is that with each round of QE so far, the market has become more dependent on the Fed action. However, with each incarnation, the effect of the QE programme is dampened, requiring more liquidity injections to achieve the same result. Extracting from this environment on a permanent basis is, in my view, the real challenge.

Relevance

Two years on, that investment thesis still remain relevant. As we seek to frame the 2016 Budget and as individuals look at their investment portfolio all need to appreciate the global macroeconomic environment that we are operating in. 

When unconventional policy is being used the convention of the textbook analysis falls away. 

Our budget planners and individual investors need to appreciate that the US Fed is not raising rates at present and is unlikely to do so to any great extent going forward because the US economy is still too weak to justify doing so and there is the increased emphasis on foreign risks especially in the emerging markets that has to be considered.

While some may argue that the US Central Bank should only be concerned about the US economy the fact is that by virtue of holding the global reserve currency they are the defacto global central bank and has to view policy in global terms. 

A further point to appreciate is that while the Central Bank of T&T have embarked on a series of repo rate hikes in T&T it should be clear that US rates are not going to rise quickly because to do otherwise would cause economic and financial instability. 

The problem that we face in T&T is that our TT dollar liquidity is so high that it has pushed TT rates below that of the US across some parts of the yield curve. This is one of the contributors to capital flight and structuring an orderly increase in interest rates in the face of global pressures is going to be a defining action for the new administration and the CBTT.

The final point speaks to investment returns over the medium to long term. Appreciate that if Central Bank policy action has increased asset prices (read: stocks, bonds, real estate) then what that means in simple English is that returns from the future have been pulled forward to the present. 

If, therefore, you have not participated in the markets but have been hiding your cash in a bank account for the past few years then you have a problem. It also means that your expectations for medium to long term returns on your investment portfolio should be benchmarked at around three to four per cent. 

This has implications for your retirement planning, the way inflation is managed going forward and Budgetary proposals to deal with the growing retirement population in years to come.

Ian Narine can be contacted 

via email at ian.narine@gmail.com

The concept of total cost refers to the overall opportunity cost incurred by a business to produce what is sold. 

The term “produce” is used loosely as this approach can also be adapted to the business consultant giving a service. We may view this total cost concept as consisting of a variable cost, which is dependent on how many of the items are produced, and fixed costs, which do not change in relation to the quantity produced.

Through its interaction with SMEs, the Chamber’s Nova Committee’s has observed that while access to finance continues to be a challenge for many SMEs, equally important is the ability to adequately manage, analyse and understand such business’ finance. 

Another major challenge is crafting the most appropriate selling price for products or services. This may be because the ability to set an appropriate selling price is often dependent on one’s understanding of the concept of total cost.

Let’s use an example of the fictitious business, Sugarcake.com, a manufacturer of the most scrumptious coconut-based delicacies. The total cost incurred by this entrepreneur in a production run can be divided into our two components of fixed and variable. 

The fixed cost of the production run will be opportunity cost of production that does not vary with the quantity of sugarcakes produced. 

For every business there will always be a fixed level of overhead expenses that may include rent, administrative salaries or even interest on the small business loan taken for equipment purchase. It is important to note that whether Sugarcake.com produces one sugarcake or one hundred their fixed cost will not change.

The variable cost is that cost of production that does vary with the amount of sugarcakes made.

In our example, if production increases then variable cost increases also as most variable costs are based on the use of variable inputs. Sugarcake.com will incur different variable costs when it buys greater quantities of coconut, sugar and vanilla essence, depending on the increased need for additional labour this can also factor in. 

All of these increased inputs will be the end result of needing to make greater quantities of actual sugarcakes. 

We can conveniently summarise this division of total cost into fixed and variable cost by the formula: Total cost = total fixed cost + total variable cost

Why does Sugarcake.com need to know this? 

Quite simply, it is only after the total cost of production has been arrived at can an appropriate selling price be crafted. This, of course, is done by the addition of your mark-up. 

It has been said that worldwide, as high as 90 per cent of SMEs fail. This is, of course, due to multiple factors but it is a fact that too many do not factor in the real costs of operations and set their prices appropriately. 

The T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, through its Nova Committee, has engaged in a number of activities that target the development of SMEs, for we recognise the potential of this sector. This is a goal to which we remain committed and towards which we will work diligently.

The T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce extends congratulations and best wishes to the nation as we celebrate the 39th Anniversary of the Republic. 

In 2011 the United Nations Broadband Commission set a goal to get 60 per cent of the world’s population online by 2015. Today, is seems unlikely that the target will be achieved before 2021, at the earliest.

The State of Broadband 2015 Report by the UN Broadband Commission, released on Monday, said that growth in Internet access was predicted to drop further this year as rich economies reach saturation point, while 90 per cent of people in the 48 poorest countries had no chance to go online.

The report confirms the role of broadband internet access as vital enabler of social and economic development. At the same time it points strongly to the need, particularly in developing countries for clear, structured, multi-stakeholder approaches to improving both the quality of and access to broadband services. 

Internet growth challenges

Some 57 per cent of the world’s population, more than four billion people, still did not use the Internet regularly or actively, according to the report. That figure falls well short of the UN’s target of having 60 per cent of the world online by 2020.

The report attributed the shortfall to the high cost of extending infrastructure to include rural and remote customers, and a dramatic global downturn in the growth of mobile cellular subscriptions. 

The report said that the access growth rate was expected to drop to 8.1 per cent in 2015, as compared with 8.6 per cent in 2014. Growth had been in double figures in the years up to 2012.

The challenge is particularly acute in the developing world. Only about 34 per cent of people are connected in households within developing countries. This is in stark contrast to the developed world, where Internet penetration is approaching saturation, with 82.2 per cent of the population online.

Household Internet access in developed countries is close to saturation, with more than 81.3 per cent of households connected. However, Internet user penetration in the developing world is unlikely to achieve the Broadband Commission target of 50 per cent before 2020. 

While the proportion of households in the developing world with Internet access increased from 31.5 per cent at the end of 2014 to over 34.1 per cent a year later, the figure is still well short of the Broadband Commission target of 40 per cent by 2015. Women in poorer countries and language minorities are among those most likely to remain offline, according to the report.

Mobile growth slowing

Growth in both mobile cellular subscriptions and Internet usage has also slowed sharply, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN agency responsible for global telecommunications policies and standards.

The good news is that there is strong growth in mobile broadband and Facebook usage. In fact, the room for connectivity improvement in emerging markets is seen as a key growth opportunity for companies such as Facebook and google. Facebook’s Internet.org and Google’s Project Loon initiatives are part of those companies strategy for extending their reach worldwide.

Broadband prices falling

Another noteworthy reveal in the report was that fixed broadband prices as a share of gross national income (GNI) per capita have dropped by 65 per cent on average worldwide. By 2014, most countries in the world had reached the commission’s target of basic fixed-broadband service at less than five per cent of monthly GNI per capita.

By the end of 2014, a basic fixed broadband subscription cost less than five per cent of average GNI per capita in 111 countries, of which 44 were developed nations and 67 were developing countries compared with 57 developing countries at the end of 2013, and 48 developing countries at the end of 2012.

Broadening broadband access

Broadband Internet access is a critical component in any modern national development agenda. It has a positive impact on economic development, civic engagement, education, business competitiveness, healthcare and public safety. 

For this reason, public policy is key enabler for accelerating broadband adoption and fostering the economic and social development opportunities it affords.

In addition to effective public policy, broadband adoption hinges on digital literacy, public sensitisation and local content development efforts. There is a definite role for both public and private sector actors to play in supporting these efforts.

For example, Governments can provide support through modernisation of legislation; updates to operator licenses and spectrum allocation policies; establishment of targets for minimum broadband speeds; and development of national broadband strategies. Service providers can also be encouraged and incentivised to invest more heavily in deployment of network and technologies that support high speed broadband services to extend coverage and increase bandwidth. 

The private sector can also play a greater role in public education and capacity building initiatives to support the development of new digital services and innovations. This is key if developing markets are to make the shift from net content consumers to net content producers.

The proliferation of smartphones and increasing demand of online services like video and music streaming, is already forcing operators to increase investments in broadband networks to increase bandwidth and quality of services to handle increasing traffic. However, there’s always more that can be done. 

Broadband Internet access plays too crucial a role in development of modern society and economy to leave to chance. 

After all, broadband is the foundation of the digital economy and cornerstone of the knowledge society. It will take a collective effort to ensure that the foundation is well laid, and well secured.

Bevil Wooding is an Internet Strategist with Packet Clearing House (www.pch.net) an international research and capacity building non-profit organisation. He is also chief knowledge office at Congress WBN (www.congresswbn.org), responsible for its technology operations and outreach initiatives. Follow on Twitter: @bevilwooding

Northern Division police believe they may have uncovered a human trafficking ring after raiding an illegal brothel in Tacarigua on Wednesday night. 

According to reports, around 9.30 pm officers from the Arouca CID led by Senior Supt David Abraham and Supt Hendron Moses raided the property on the Eastern Main Road in Tacarigua near Jubilee Street after they received several reports from neighbors of hearing screams coming from the house. 

Police found two Venezuelans, a Guyanese and a Trinidadian woman, ages 28, 26, 24 and 21 inside. 

Investigators said the Venezuelans could not speak English but the Guyanese and Trinidadian women told the police they were being held captive by a group of men. They women appeared to be healthy but were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope and medically examined. 

While investigators initially believed at all four might have been victims of human trafficking, the Guyanese and Trinidadian became suspects after a Spanish translator was brought in to interview the Venezuelan women yesterday. 

The Venezuelan women reportedly told police they entered Trinidad illegally several months ago and were brought to the location, which is sometimes is used for illegal gambling and prostitution. They both claimed that the two other women supervised the operation and would ensure that the house was clean, that they were fed and that they did not try to escape. 

Officers of the Ministry of National Security's Counter Trafficking Unit and Northern Division Police were interviewing the victims up to late yesterday in an attempt to obtain more information on the operation. The victims are expected to be placed in a secure custody and will receive counselling while investigations continue. 

The Guyanese and Trinidadian women were being detained at the Arouca Police Station up to late yesterday as police were considering charging them under the Trafficking in Person Act. 

The legislation passed by Parliament in 2011 criminalises trafficking and exploitation of persons. The minimum punishment for one of several offences under the legislation is a $350,000 fine and 12 months in prison. 

Anyone with information on this case or any other suspected incident of human trafficking are asked to contact the Counter Trafficking Unit at 800-4CTU. 

Government needs to constitutionally entrench local government in order to give it more power and autonomy says political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath.

As it stands, Ragoonath says, Cabinet can, at the stroke of a pen, do away with local Government altogether.

Ragoonath was among a panel of speakers discussing local government reform at the National Library on Abercromby Street yesterday.

The discussion was part of the Constitution Reform Forum (CRF) Republic Day forum, entitled Bringing Local Government Closer to the People.

Ragoonath, who was part of a two member panel with former councillor in the San Fernando City Corporation Daren Mc Leod, said corporations had the control over policy and could not make decisions on their own.

“We treated local government in the past, simply as an administrative arm of the government. We need to move further away and give local government a lot more autonomy and a lot more strength to do what they need to do.”

Ragoonath said local government reform didn’t necessarily need constitutional reform but it would be better if it was constitutionally entrenched.

“In that way, that central government doesnt have the power to simply do away with local government.”

“I am almost certain if the government goes to the opposition and say we want to amend the constitution to entrench the local government, they will get the support.”

Ragoonath has been part of discussions on local government reform since the topic first gained traction in the early 2000s and said the issue had not moved much further than discussions and papers on the issue.

Mc Leod, who spent three years as a councillor, said the current local government system was problematic in that there was redundancy regarding the role of the MP and the role of councillors.

He said the role of councillors were not clearly defined and so councillors found themselves doing work, which the MP would then take up.

Mc Leod said funding constraints as well as human resource issues also contributed to a system that wasnt working. —Kalifa Clyne

Both Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar have expressed their sorrow over the hundreds of deaths during yesterday's Hajj stampede in Mecca.

Rowley made the comments during the Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, which took place at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah on Republic Day. (See page A6)

The PM called on all citizens to observe this day.

Saying T&T had a lot be thankful for Rowley also called on citizens to be grateful for their everyday blessings.

“ As I left home this morning (yesterday) the news was that 400 persons had been killed in Mecca. But the time I got here the numbers had risen to 700 and God knows how many more,” Rowley said.

Persad-Bissessar, who also expressed sorrow over the incident, said she too was saddened.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy that unfolded today in Saudi Arabia resulting in the deaths of more than 700 Muslim pilgrims,” Persad-Bissessar said.

According to international media reports there was a stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj season that killed hundreds and injured many others. 

The fatality figure is expected to keep growing.

Tragedy struck as pilgrims were engaged in the ritual known as “stoning the devil” in the tent city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

Persad-Bissessar said it was always devastating to learn of such incidents but especially as the Muslim community celebrated Eid Al Adha, marking the end of the Hajj.

“I pray for the families of the victims of this unfortunate incident. I also pray that our pilgrims who have gone to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj are safe and would soon return home,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She added that the tragedy occurred as T&T was praying collectively for peace and harmony as the country celebrated its 39th anniversary of becoming a republic.

“As you offer prayers today I urge you to think of the victims of this tragedy and offer prayers on their behalf so their souls would find peace as they reunite with the Creator.

“While they might have been strangers to us, we must recognise they were our brothers and sisters, God’s children, meeting to pray for a better world for all humanity,” Persad-Bissessar said.

​Imam: Stampedes can happen easily

Maulana Sheraz Ali, Imam of the Nur-E-Islam Mosque in El Socorro said most of the groups who had organised local pilgrims for Hajj had so far reported that no T&T nationals were hurt or killed in the stampede.

He said most pilgrims would have undergone some type of Hajj training in their respective country before the journey.

“But often this is only centered on how to perform the rituals and not how to deal with a mass of more than a million people moving at the same time. With so many people in one place trying to move around, stampedes can happen easily, sometimes set off by a loud noise that people might mistake for an explosion,” Ali said.

He added that although there was usually security in the form of hundreds of officers and guards, with so many different people speaking different languages, sometimes instructions could be misunderstood and cause confusion or even result in hundreds of people to start moving in another direction.

Yesterday marked two months since the Port-of-Spain jailbreak and the investigations have seemed to go silent.

Body scanners, jammers and surveillance cameras are also still outstanding to be installed throughout the nation’s prisons, as promised by the then minister of National Security Carl Alfonso and current Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart.

In an interview general secretary of the Prisons Officers Association (POA) Gerald Gordon said since the suspension of three prison officers the association had not heard anything on how far the investigations have reached and whether or not any more officers would face suspension.

These officers were identified during a fact-finding exercise headed by investigating officer deputy Commissioner of Police Glen Hackett.

“We are here just waiting in hope that it is not one of the things that has died a natural death. It is important for us, for officers, especially the citizens of T&T to understand exactly what happened on that day,” Gordon said.

“It is also important that when we know, we should be guided as to the necessary work that could be done now to ensure that something like this never happen again in T&T,” he added.

When asked when the body scanners are expected to be installed, Gordon said in about six weeks time.

He said the cellphone jammers had already been purchased but there was a slight delay in the installation given the fact that they were trying to work out how they are going to install it in conjunction with the inmate telephone system.

With respect to the surveillance camera system, Gordon said that he understood that the contract had already been awarded but the actual installation was yet to be finalised.

On July 24 at about 12.30 pm, Hassan Atwell, Christopher “Monster” and Allan “Scanny” Martin escaped from the Port-of-Spain State Prison.

PC Sherman Maynard was shot and killed. Martin was shot dead by police on the hospital’s compound.

Atwell and Selby escaped but Atwell was gunned down on Saturday night at East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. On Sunday, Selby surrendered at the Barataria Police Station.

Hackett, who was contacted on Tuesday, said he was in a meeting. He asked what the T&T Guardian wanted a comment on and when told “an update on the investigations into the prison break,” he said to call back. 

He, however, did not answer calls from the T&T Guardian after.

Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart was also contacted for comment on Tuesday and said he was unable to speak because he was in a meeting with his band.

Stewart also did not answer calls made to him after.

This year has seen a number of high profile initiatives aimed at improving the capacity of T&T’s music industry and putting our music on the international scene. With the help of entities like MusicTT, there’s been a buzz about how the music community can pull together and grow. The T&T Guardian spoke to people from many levels of the music industry to hear their views on how we can improve and move forward. Today, in the second of a seven-part series, we look at some of the issues raised by music artistes and sector workers during the MusicTT public consultations held in late July and August, a few weeks before national elections.

Government state enterprise MusicTT, over the last couple months, criss-crossed T&T—POS, Arima, San Fernando and Tobago—to participate in stakeholder engagement meetings to listen to artistes/musicians, producers, promoters and other interested parties on what they were looking for in a T&T music industry of the future. 

This coincided with the recently revamped request for proposals for the development of a strategic plan for the music industry, as managed by MusicTT, to guide the sector earmarked to help diversify the economy away from oil and gas. 

As a subsidiary of CreativeTT, MusicTT encompasses the larger mandate which is “to stimulate and facilitate the business development and export activities of the creative industries in T&T to generate national wealth,” but focuses on accomplishing this specifically within the music sub-sector. MusicTT therefore exists “to strengthen the capacity of the local music industry in T&T as well as to explore avenues for business and trade by a commercially-viable music sub-sector.” 

Former trade minister Vasant Bharath noted that “CreativeTT was born out of Government’s firm belief that the creative sector has the capacity to become one of the most important sectors of the economy in terms of investment, revenue, trade and employment generation.”

The minister showed possible hubris in insisting this model would catalyse the existing industry to expand towards a global economic standard. Cabinet approved its formation before October 2012, a board was selected by September 2013, only to be fired in less than one year—with no publishable positive results—and a return to the stakeholder consultation phase. Music stakeholders were understandably skeptical about the success of state intervention over the last two years of the existence of CreativeTT. 

They were also apprehensive, as seen during the initial consultations at the company's formation back in late 2012. MusicTT was not formalised with a board until November 2014.

Today, stakeholders complain publicly—directly during the engagement exercises, and on social media afterwards—that their needs are not being met by government intervention.

Fissure on State’s role

A critical look and listen at comments by stakeholders, however, reveals a fissure between what MusicTT offers and what stakeholders believe it should offer. In addition to the jargon-heavy mandate outlined above, MusicTT and by extension CreativeTT have functions that were outlined in documents presented to stakeholders that plainly outline specific roles and goals for the subsidiary companies. 

In addition to providing technical and sector specific advice to the CreativeTT board, MusicTT is supposed to identify creative capital (talent), to develop the creative product to compete internationally (build capacity), and administer an incentive programme (fund projects), among a dozen identified functions. 

What stakeholders want is different.

Stakeholders raised a number of issues at the MusicTT consultations, including lack of performing spaces, issues of professionalism and standards of product quality. 

At the Port-of-Spain consultation, Brother Resistance noted the diminishing number of performing spaces in communities, while Ozzy Merrique spoke of the desire for “state funding between gigs” to supplement income. 

There was also general frustration about the lack of funding to make a difference for individual projects: it was revealed in the Arima consultation that the budget for the current quarter for project funding is $300,000 for all stakeholder submitted projects. MusicTT chairman John Arnold said the organisation was working towards building capacity in quality and quantity. 

Enforce those copyright laws

In general, stakeholders would really like Government to provide a better enabling environment for the creation and fair distribution of their creative content. That especially includes: 

• Active enforcement of the existing Copyright Act to prohibit physical and online music piracy. Piracy has suppressed and transformed consumer engagement in a big way over the years.

• Legislative solutions for increased local content quotas to counter the current limited broadcasting exposure, despite nearly three dozen radio stations.

• Feasible solutions to access scarce financial resources for the industry. 

According to an outline provided to stakeholders by the Ministry of Trade at the beginning of the stakeholder consultations, MusicTT can advise the CreativeTT board on the appropriate incentives for the music industry, but it does not have any implementation functions to directly make a difference. 

COTT via its CEO Josh Rudder spoke of growing the music publishing segment of the industry to redirect revenues away from royalties from broadcast media towards licensing and placement of content in new areas like television, video games and branded marketing. Despite this approach, which is becoming the norm in global markets, one hears local complaints about not hearing one's music on the radio. The impact of radio plays on increased demand for a song ignores the suggestion by Rudder that royalty payments for a song for a year are dwarfed by the lucrative song placement deals. 

However, for a long time, fair airplay for local music has been a huge problem. Many music artists may still feel they earn more money from radio airplay than from product placement, merchandising, or other income streams—despite evidence to the contrary from other countries.

Local content laws?

Some stakeholders spoke of the need for local content legislation. Rubadiri Victor of the activist NGO Artists’ Coalition of T&T (ACTT), members of the dormant Recording Industry of T&T (RITT), and other organisations have, for over a decade, been championing the legislative implementation of a 50 per cent local content quota for broadcast media.

Broadcast policy is set by Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT). In 2003, the existing broadcast policy spoke of the then government’s unwillingness to legislate quotas, preferring to “enter into dialogue with the broadcasting industry to decide on a voluntarily imposed quota for local content on the television and radio stations of the country.” 

The statement continues: “The Government proposes to provide very significant exposure and development for local culture through the development of a Public Broadcasting Service.” 

CNMG was created, but there are no increased quotas for local content on its stations. The current Broadcast Code, which is still in final draft mode since 2014, makes no mention of local creative content nor quotas. 

Need for linkages, training and services

Stakeholder engagements are a way for Government to gauge feedback. The problem, as defined by some stakeholders, is that there have been too many “talk shops” holding out the promise that individual offerings would be seriously considered. 

Stakeholder cynicism, apathy and disgust evident during some of the recent consultations may reflect an unwillingness to acknowledge the role of wider consultation and the critical analysis of any suggestion before uptake at official level. The sense of entitlement of some music sector workers—which can be read between the lines of the long discursive engagements criticising the consultation process—may actually be a desire to be heard and acknowledged. 

An ECLAC study of creative industries in the Caribbean from 2012 noted that “a major shortcoming of the Caribbean music sub-sector is that upstream creation has not generally been matched by a strong downstream network of music training, publishing, digital delivery, marketing and linkages with film, fashion and other sectors. As a result, the potential to increase value added in the sub-sector has been under-exploited.” 

Lamar “Beebo” Pollard, recent graduate from UTT Academy of Performing Arts, concurs: “Figure out how to integrate Carnival (the festival), steelpan, the other musics, ICT, fashion, and film (including animation), into a coherent ecosystem. None of those industries, except ICT, will thrive (creatively or financially) without proper, fluid interaction with the others.”

While local stakeholders are talking about building a viable local industry, MusicTT is talking about an exportable one. To get the State and the stakeholders on the same page is a goal that is still being worked out in the coming weeks, as the population awaits to see if the Government continues on its path or a new government eschews the re-branded state enterprise for a new version. 

After TIDCO, EIDECO, TT Ent and CreativeTT, the adage “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result” takes on a relevance that should not be ignored if the goal of diversification is to become real with the creative industries. 

•The Business of Music continues on Monday

The John O’Brien trained Guineas winner War Maker turned the prestigious Grade One NGC CNG Trinidad Derby, over 2,000 metres into a procession in front of a large holiday crowd yesterday at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

Ministers of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon and Minister of Sport and Youth, Darryl Smith were both present.

On the biggest day in racing, turfites sent the Baskaran Bassawh owned chestnut colt off at odds of 6/1 and the son of War Marshal did not disappoint, tanking along for the first furlongs before Nobel Abrego gave him the office going down the back. The colt quickly opened up an unassailable lead and never looked likely to be caught.

Bassawh, who was chasing his second Derby success in three years was very confident of victory before the event and his confidence was rewarded with an impressive performance.

Punters sent the the Jamaican raider Kronus and Man To Come off as the joint favorites and neither could land a serious blow.  Shaffique Khan’s Bergeron Rodeo was third favorite at 3/1 in the field of 12 in the 85th running of the Grade One event which carried a purse of $500,000.

When the horses were sent on their way after a 15-minute delay caused by Royal Pioneer, which was withdrawn, Barbadian Poetic Licence was first to show from Bergeron Boy and Star Sapphire with Criminal Intent and WarMaker close up. Legal Adviser followed by Charismatic Groom as Morning Calm trailed the field.

Going down the back-stretch, Bergeron Boy came to challenge for the lead but no sooner had Badrie made his move, Abrego sent War Maker into the lead.

At the far turn, War Maker poached a four length lead on Bergeron Boy, Star Sappihre and Cloud Nine as Kronus and Charismatic Groom began his run at the leader.

At the corner in the “Run For The Roses” War Maker was given a breather by Abrego. Stablemate Charismatic Groom ranged up alongside as Bergeron Boy came under pressure. Kronus was keeping on at one pace while Morning Calm was running on sternly on the outside of the field.

Inside the final 200 metres, Abrego asked his mount to go win his race and he quickened impressively for a six-and-three-quarter length success from Charismatic Groom, to celebrate a great training success for champion trainer John O’Brien.

Morning Calm came from a long was back to 

snatch third, ahead of the well fancied Anthony Nunes trained Kronus.

O’brien was very happy with the performance saying: “It was a great run. We expected him to go well and Abrego rode him with confidence. I must compliment our stable staff for the amount of work which they put in to get this colt to be at his best today. He had his problem but he won well. Abrego is a master.”

Bassawh was a happy man. “I thought he would win and he did. Abrego had him well positioned and he knows he can outstay them. He took up the running and that was that. I am so happy to win another derby.”

Horse of The Year 2013/14 Bigman In Town destroyed his rivals in the co-feature Grade Two-NGC Diamond Stakes over 1,350 metres. Abrego settled him for the first 400 metres before assuming command at odds of 1/9. At the corner, Control Unit launched an attack and came to the champion as the roar emanated from the crowd anticipating an upset, but Abrego asked the favourite for his effort and he raced clear for an impressive 4 1/2 length win in the time of 1:18.3. He thus registered his ninth consecutive Grade One victory, a first in this country since centralisation. Control Unit finished second with Thisoneisforron in third.

In the Derek Cozier Classic (GR II) for West Indian bred three-year-olds over 1,200 metres, The Glenn Mendez trained Swept away lived up to his name as he swept away his opposition to win by 2 1/4 lengths in the time of 1:12.2. Blue Oracle stayed on for second with Delightful third. Favourite Turn Me Loose finished a disappointing tenth in the twelve horse field.

The leading rider today was Wilmer Galviz who rode three winners.

Training honours were shared between O’Brien and Gobin who both saddled two winners apiece.

Central FC coach Ross Russell has blamed a lapse in concentration for allowing LA Galaxy’s equaliser in their final Group D match of the 2015/2016 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday night.

Central FC went ahead as early as the third minute through Willis Plaza, but with eight minutes left in the match, LA Galaxy minus its star quartet of Ireland and former Tottenham forward Robbie Keane, former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, former Barcelona forward Giovani Dos Santos of Mexico and Brazilian midfielder Juninho salvaged a draw when US international Alan Gordon grabbed an equaliser.

Speaking after the match, Russell, in his first stint of coach of the reigning T&T Pro League and Caribbean Football Union Club Championship title holders, said even though it was not the result he wanted he could not point any blame because his side was  playing against one of the confederation’s top sides, in  LA Galaxy.

Russell said, ‘My team answered the bell. They answered the call. We are happy that we could come back and get the result we got. First team or not, that’s LA Galaxy we played.”

Commenting on the missed chance by striker Nicholas Dillon, Russell a former T&T international goalkeeper said, “I know he (Dillon) missed an easy chance but he was nervous, It was a big game for him. I can’t chastise him for it.  

He played well for us.”

Central FC goalkeeper and captain, Jan-Michael Williams added, “I am disappointed because we played well.”

“We got the early goal and I think we could have held on for the win.”

Williams, who was also brilliant during his team’s 1-0 win over Guatemala’s Comunicaciones a week ago at the same venue, continued,  “The high point for us (in the CCL), is that we didn’t lose a home game. But (the low point is that) we didn’t prepare well on and off the field from the beginning. We could have done better against Galaxy (even in the first-leg).”

Williams believes the introduction of a Caribbean professional league will help raise the standards of regional clubs against the powerhouses of North and Central America. 

He also said that the current domestic league dates puts T&T clubs at a disadvantage being out of season when the CCL kicks in.

Russell also thanked the turnout, adding, “Thanks to the support from T&T. We know it’s because of LA Galaxy that they turned up  because this is not what we usually get in the Pro League.”

Meanwhile, LA Galaxy coach Bruce  Arena defended his decision to leave behind his stars and even traveling with just five substitutes on Wednesday night.

“We had enough,” said the former US men’s coach. “We gave our younger players a chance. We have a game on the weekend and we had a lot of travel for this game. We were aware that we could have got ourselves in trouble, but the issue was to qualify out of the group and we did just that.

With regards to the match, Arena said it was an exciting contest and Central was  dangerous on the break.

“They also defended their lead well and we were just fortunate to get back in the game,” added Arena.

“We dug ourselves a hole in the first couple minutes of the game but I was proud of the team in the way they fought back in the second half, created some good chances.

“We got the point we needed anyway. We won the group. We would have like the three (points) but anytime you go on the road, these matches are difficult and it was a good experience for some of our young players as well. It’s nice to know we are (still) in the competition next year.” 

Arena voted goalkeeper Williams as his “Player Of The Game” and also had high praise for Willis Plaza, Ataulla Guerra, and 40-year-old veteran Marvin Oliver, while applauding the general effort of Central. 

Stakeholders in Trinidad & Tobago will have their opportunity to state their views on the state of the game in the region directly to president of the West Indies Cricket Board, Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron and vice president Emmanuel Nanthan tomorrow.

The WICB leadership has been engaging stakeholders through a series of town hall meetings around the region since May this year. 

This latest meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation from 7 to 9 pm.

“We are looking forward to this town-hall meeting in the two-island republic,” said Cameron. “The meetings have been an excellent way to meet with our stakeholders up close and personal, and hear their concerns which most of us share.”

“These town-hall meetings have helped us, the leadership of West Indies cricket, to get the pulse of the people of the region on topics ranging from governance to cricket development, and most importantly, the performance of our flagship team.” 

Cameron emphasised that the region’s cricket required all of its partners to work together in a coordinated approach to improve the product.

“We face many important issues and it is important for the entire region to merge our efforts to make the cricket industry more viable than it has been in recent times,” he said. 

The questions to the WICB leadership have been typical of town hall meetings and wide-ranging in nature.

The WICB has so far met with stakeholders in Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Guyana, Jamaica and Antigua.

Former champions, Defence Force and St Ann’s Rangers will get the 2015/2015 Digicel T&T Pro League going when they meet in the lone match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 6pm this afternoon.

Now in its 16th season, the T&Pro League will feature ten clubs with former champions, DirecTV W Connection, North East Stars, Police FC,  Central FC, San Juan Jabloteh, Moprvant Caledonia United, Pt Fortin Civic and debut Club Sando being the other competitors.

Last season, Defence Force, led by the league’s top scorer Devorn Jorsling, the record all-time scorer with 134 goals ended in third spot behind first time champions Central FC and runner-up DirecTV W Connection and under the leadership Marvin Gordon will be fancied to get off their campaign with a win as they seek to reclaim the title  they won in two straight 2010-2011 and 2012-2013.

On the other hand, St Ann’s Rangers have acquired the services of Angus Eve who will take charge of the club’s Pro League outfit for the upcoming 2015/2016 season after his stint with North East Stars ended with the Sangre Grande club claiming the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy title.

Rangers, rock-bottom finishers in the last two seasons, are coming off their worst ever campaign with just five points from one win and two draws from 24 matches in the 2014/2015 Digicel Pro League championship. 

Eve joins Rangers as replacement for former national player and coach Ron La Forest, who finished the 2014/15 season as head coach of Rangers during a brief one-month stint.

His local coaching experience includes serving successful spells at San Juan Jabloteh (2006-2009) and Ma Pau SC (2009-2011) as assistant coach to Terry Fenwick and Michael Mc Comie respectively.

He also boasts international coaching experience, having been appointed manager for the Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 team for the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers.

Tomorrow, defending champions, Central FC will travel to face Point Fortin Civic from 6 pm at the Mahaica Oval while last year’s runner-up DirecTV W Connection  host Police FC from 4 pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella  and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, North East Stars faces debutants Club Sando. 

Round One Match Day One will culminate on Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo  when neighbouring rivals Morvant Caledonia United and San Juan Jabloteh meet from 4 pm.

BRIDGETOWN—Principal of the University of West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau, says tomorrow’s Celebrity Twenty20 game will be a fitting way for the educational institution and the West Indies Cricket Board, to throw their support behind embattled Dominica.

The small Caribbean nation was devastated by the passage of Tropical Storm Erika last month, sustaining widespread infrastructural damage and loss of life.

UWI and the WICB subsequently collaborated on a T20 game carded for Kensington Oval here, with the proceeds going to the Dominica Relief fund.

“The T20 game … is a tangible and most fitting expression of our oneness as a region, a oneness always articulated by our vice-chancellor (Sir Hilary Beckles),” Professor Barriteau said.

“We can think of no endeavour more appropriate than cricket, to rally the region for his worthy cause, for it is cricket historically that has united our region.”

She added: “The UWI and WICB are the very essence of regionalism in its finest forms. These two institutions exemplify the excellence that is attainable through our collective energies and it is fitting that these enduring symbols of regionalism should be united in the effort to bring relief to the people of Dominica.”

The T20 will see Sir Hilary Beckles leading the UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI against the WICB President’s XI, who will be led by Test captain Jason Holder.

Legends Brian Lara and Sir Curtly Ambrose, along with former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke and Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake will turn out for the UWI side while West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy, former Test wicketkeeper Courtney Browne and a slew of current Windies players, will suit up for the WICB XI.

Professor Barriteau said the response by UWI and the WICB was testament to the sense of regionalism still alive in the Caribbean.

“We were galvanised to pledge whatever assistance we could, not only to the deeply disturbing images of the devastation, dislocation and death which Tropical Storm Erika left behind in Dominica,” she explained.

“But also by that firmly embedded shared sense of kinship which we feel as Caribbean citizen, that intrinsic West Indian trait made manifest whenever any single member of our regional family is hurting, we all feel the pain.” CMC 

Arun Roopnarine had two wins and Alaric Humphrey the decider as the University of T&T rallied past Solo Crusaders 3-2 in possibly the best match of the T&T Table Tennis Association Premier Division Table Tennis League on Wednesday night.

In the lone match at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Roopnarine put UTT ahead when he battled past Terry Corbin 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 but Anthony “Sandfly” Brown got Crusaders level by humbling 11-9, 11-3, 

11-6.

Corbin and Andrew Alexander then put Crusaders ahead with a tense 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9 over Humphreys and Corbin.

But with a chance to seal victory, Alexander was upended by senior national men’s player Roopnarine, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-13 to send the tie into a fifth and deciding encounter in which Humphreys stunned Brown 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.

The win was the sixth in 11 matches for UTT to move to 22 points, the same as Crusaders who have played two matches more.

At the top of the eight-team standings is WASA with maximum 30 points, five ahead of Arima Hawks. 

Standings

Teams    P    W    L    F    A    Pts

WASA    10    10    0    30    3    30

Arima Hawks    11    7    4    26    15    25

Solo Crusaders    9    7    2    23    12    22

UTT    11    6    5    24    22    22

D'Abadie    9    5    4    17    22    19

Blasters    7    2    5    10    16    11

Gladiators    8    1    7    8    22    10

PowerGen    11    0    11    7    35    10

As the legendary steel orchestra celebrates its 75th anniversary, CAL Invaders deserves kudos for hosting an impressive week of celebrations, and especially for staging its symposium and exhibition—T&T Steelband: The Way Forward—on Monday at the Queen’s Park Oval, Woodbrook. 

The Oval’s Century Ballroom was the venue for the event and it was well attended by a number of pan luminaries and academics, Pan Trinbago officials and students of St Francois Girls’ College. In attendance were Pan Trinbago vice president Byron Serrette, Pan Trinbago North Region president Gerald Mendez, bpTT Renegades manager Michael Marcano, Sandra Awai, Rudolph Ottley, Peter Aleong and representatives of Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, White Oak Starlift, Power Stars and St James Tripolians.

Symposium presenters included Joanna Shortt, Michael Dinchong and Dr Jeannine Remy and the discussion panel moderators were Serrette and Ottley. 

The complete exercise was moderated by veteran Massy Trinidad All Stars member Denise Hernandez.

Short, a UWI graduate student, seemed to hit a responsive note with the students there as she elucidated on the participation of women in steelbands, stimulating many questions at the end of her 15-minute presentation. 

Shortt opined that while there is more managerial power in the steelbands for women today, as compared to years of yore, women are still seen as the maternal custodians of steelbands. 

She suggested that steelbands are still very much male dominated entities, especially in upper management.

Dinchong was very comprehensive in his presentation, titled Steelband Management in the 21st Century—Managing the App Generation. 

He said that a steelband was a unique, complex organisation to manage, with three distinct generations of membership. 

He added: “Most steelbands in T&T would have been formed in the last century. Many leaders of these bands, having no formal training in management, would have had to acquire their managerial skills from experience along the way. 

“These skills would have been developed to different degrees of effectiveness. It is the view of the author that with the influx of the new generation and its culture, the time has come for leaders and managers of steelbands to revisit their approach to management in order to progress in the new millennium.

“Not many organisations comprise members whose ages span three generations. This in itself adds to the already complex challenge of group management. The dynamics that take place in an average group becomes more intricate where there exist sub-groups, as in the case of most steelbands in T&T. 

These sub-groups bring with them subcultures that could cause a disharmony in bands if not managed appropriately.

A senior lecturer in music at UWI, Remy expounded on The Way Forward in Steelpan Music. A Panorama judge herself, she raised many eyebrows when she pointed out some of the shortcomings of judging a Panorama competition, and some of the misconceptions in music and arranging held by arrangers and pan musicians. Remy also spoke about the importation of steel drums for conversion into in pan instruments.

Invaders held its 75th anniversary gala dinner and awards ceremony on Tuesday at MovieTowne’s Banquet Hall & Conference Centre. 

•Continues on Page A34

Heading the list of awardees was James Inniss for his 59 years of service to Invaders. Quad pan player Desiree Myers was also awarded for 25 years of stage-side membership. 

Also honoured were corporate entities, youth players, contributors and supporters, and arrangers including Ray Holman, Annise “Haffers” Hadeed, Nervin Saunders, Earl La Pierre and Arddin Herbert.

Invaders brought the curtain down on its week of anniversary celebrations with a Traditional Pan J’Ouvert yesterday morning, from the band’s Tragarete Road panyard and around the Queen’s Park Oval.

Tuco celebrates calypso

Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisations (TUCO) launched Calypso History Month 2015 (CHM) on Tuesday with a Thanksgiving Service at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. Themed By Calypso Our Stories Are Told, the commemoration and celebrations will end on Saturday, November 14 with the staging of Extemporama at the Port-of-Spain City Hall. This year’s event will be officially launched next Wednesday at the AV Room of Nalis on Abercromby Street.

All zones of TUCO are involved in the celebration of CHM and, on Sunday, October 4, TUCO North Zone will host Honouring Our Heroes—Tribute to Bomber and Bill Trotman, at Studio 66 in Barataria. Bomber and Trotman are two living legends of calypso, revered by peers and fans alike.

On Wednesday, October 7 it is the turn of TUCO East Zone to host its calypso prouction at De Nu Pub in Woodbrook. The Tobago Zone gets into the action on the same day with its Vintage Kaiso Symposium & Exhibition at Scarborough Library at 10 am. This event will be repeated on October 16, at the same time and venue.

TUCO North Zone holds its Children’s Calypso Workshop on October 13 at 10 am at Nalis, Port-of-Spain. The workshop will continue on Wednesday 14. On the 14th, the North Zone will stage Real Street Reliever, a humorous kaiso production, at De Nu Pub.

The Community Calypso Monarch Final will be held by the TUCO South Zone on October 17 at 8 pm at Unique Hall, Santa Flora. TUCO South Zone will also hold its Grand Kaiso Bingo on October 18 at the Creative Arts Centre, Circular Road, San Fernando at 2 pm.

Tobago Zone calypsonians will travel to perform in Trinidad on Wednesday, October 21, at 8.30 pm at De Nu Pub. 

Calypsonian Dee Diamond will stage his annual calypso concert on October 24 at the Police Mess Lounge, Long Circular Road, St James at 7.30 pm.

Destiny’s Pub on Malabar Main Road, Malabar is the venue for Bring Yuh CD and Come, an interactive session staged by TUCO East Zone.

TUCO South Central Zone goes north on October 28 to De Nu Pub for De Calypso War Kaiso Show, at 8.30 pm.

TUCO’s Calypso History Month Gala Cocktail & Reception is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, at Globe Cinema, Port-of-Spain, at 6.45 pm.

Departed calypsonians Ras Shorty and Maestro will be remembered in a special tribute show on Friday, October 30, on the Princes Town Promenade, at 2 pm.

The Tobago Zone will stage the Vintage Kaiso Monarch Competition Final on October 31, at Pembroke Heritage Park at 8 pm. That same evening Tuco will hold its annual Calypso Boat Cruise aboard the Coral Vision at 7 pm.

The month of November opens with the staging of the Kaiso, Kaiso, Kaiso concert on Wednesday, November 4, at De Nu Pub at 8.30 pm.

November 8 is being dedicated to all calypsonians, fans, friends and families when TUCO holds its annual Family Day at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, from 10 am.

Another veteran calypsonian to be honoured for CHM is Explainer and he will be the star act at a concert scheduled for Wednesday, November 11 at De Nu Pub.

Hawksmoor ticks enough boxes for a ‘professional special’ punt in the group two Rockfel Stakes (2-y-o Fillies) over seven furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Newmarket this afternoon, middle leg of the three-day(s) ‘Cambridgeshire’ meeting which culminates with the famous 35-runner ‘cavalry’ charge over nine furlongs tomorrow. We may have a surprise!

A ‘favourite’ time of year when several ‘juvenile classics’ dominate the next five weeks; Hawksmoor could become a live prospect for the 1000 Guineas if she replicates her recent time-handicap mark at Goodwood.

Hugo Palmer’s charge absolutely ‘flew’ under Harry Bentley to deny Fireglow in the last stride of the group three Prestige Stakes, over a similar distance, improving her TH rating by at least 7lbs. Reports suggest her work continues to be impressive.

Ex-jockey Michael Hills rides out this progressive Azamour filly, he’s told me several times that Hawksmoor is ‘the real deal’ and you have to heed the advice of a veteran who rode TWO THOUSAND WINNERS! 

Apart from  Richard Hannon-trained Great Page there isn’t a danger to Hawksmoor and her preference, need, is for an easy surface!

Progeny of Dutch Art also seem to act best when there is give underfoot and that’s why Evangelical is selected for the 2-y-o Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Haydock.

Twice-raced Evangelical chased home seven lengths winner Priceless over course and distance three weeks ago; ‘best-in’ on the TH and trained by ‘double centurion’ Richard Fahey!

Say no more, eh?

Sir Michael Stoute’s yard is now firing and Dollar Reward should prove a ‘safe’ each-way bet in the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta, under floodlights!

It’s a spectacular scene, where you can grab a ‘Dollar!’

Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir says independent senators do not conform to a party line and vote according to their conscience. 

He was speaking to journalists after the conclusion of the independent senators' retreat at the Kapok Hotel, St Clair, yesterday.

Mahabir responded to the question as to whether it was possible to be entirely independent in a parliamentary system where there were two dominant parties, and what were the challenges of being an independent senator. 

Mahabir said, “Because it’s nine, we're not one whole bench, we're nine independent republics under a loose federation. 

“And as independent republics we do not conform to a party line, we search our conscience.

“So we always give what is known as a conscience vote on what is in my opinion in the public interest. 

“Now you're in the Senate, your responsibility as an independent senator is not to a political party, your responsibility is to the entire 41 constituencies in T&T.” 

He said each independent senator represented what he or she thought was in the best interests of all the population in T&T.

Mahabir said the independent senator and the independent bench in T&T were unique in the Commonwealth. 

He said the framers of the Republican constitution in their wisdom held the view that from amongst individuals in the society who had distinguished themselves in certain fields of endeavour, the President would draw individuals so that a variety of perspectives on bills brought before the House would be had, which should aid in efficient law making in the public interest.

Also at the table were the other independent senators, Jennifer Raffoul, Melissa Ramkissoon, Taurel Shrikissoon, Sophia Chote SC, Paul Richards, Stephen Creese and David Small.