This year staging of the 28th edition of the Courts All Sectors Netball League (ASNL) opening ceremony will for the first time be held at the Maloney Indoor Arena, Maloney Boulevard, Maloney, from 3pm this afternoon. This is because the League’s traditional home, the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena (ERISA) is scheduled to undergo repairs to its electrical systems and is not available.

Last season the closing of the 27th edition of the competition was also held at Maloney Indoor Arena, however, on that occasion it was because of the T&T Hockey Board usage of the entire facility for the FIH World League Round Two Qualifiers at the National Indoor Hockey, Tacarigua, which is on the same compound.

Today, there will be a parade of teams marching past to the music of the Fire Service band for which the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Darryl Smith, the President of the T&T Olympic Committee, Brian Lewis, and the President of the T&T Netball Association and the Americas Federation, Dr Patricia Butcher have been invited to take the salute. This year 24 teams will participate across the four separate divisions, Premier, Championship, Alternative and Retro.

In the Premier Division, Police led by former national captain and 2017 “Most Valuable Player” Rhonda John-Davis won the title last year, but has been replaced by Police Youth Club who will compete with main rivals Fire Service and the University of T&T (UTT) as well as the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The Law-women will however defend their title in the Championship Division and will once again face strong challenges from other top three finishers Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) and Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT), as well as Bermudez United, Defence Force, San Juan Jabloteh, Las Lomas Academy, and Fire Service, promoted from the Alternative Division.

In the Alternative Division, Fire Service will be on the hunt for a second straight crown but last season’s runner-up UWI and third placed finisher Defence Force will also be up for the title battle along with Police Youth Club, University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), San Juan Jabloteh, and new comers MIC Tigers (Metal Industries Company)

In the Retro Division, the teams are Bermudez, Police, Harlem, Les Enfants, and TSTT. Following today’s the March Past for which UTT are the reigning champions, spectators will witness the Opening Day knock-out competition in the Premiership, the Championship and the Alternative Divisions in which UWI, Police and Fire Service are the respective defending champions. For this season, all the league’s competitions, including the Fast 5 will mostly remain the same with a few variations to the knock-outs, due to time constraints.

“Champagne tastes, but with mauby pocket.”

This is a local saying which captures the idea of people with expensive tastes but not enough money to support that kind of lifestyle.

During the boom period many citizens developed tastes based on the income of that time, but during a recessionary period with less money circulating it is much more difficult to maintain such a lifestyle.

With Christmas now over, many citizens have started spending on carnival costumes, fetes and other expenses associated with this season.

Should people be saving more during a recession instead of heavy spending on consumer items?

T&T already has a shortage of foreign exchange and the carnival period will place more burden on the demand for forex as economist Marlene Attzs told the Guardian last week.

Professionals in the personal finance and investment field spoke to Sunday Business on spending habits and what people should be doing during a recessionary period.

MANAGING YOUR MONEY WELL

Giselle Ferreira, Investment Advisor, JMMB Investments T&T spoke to Sunday Business about how individuals should approach the year from a personal finance perspective.

She advises citizens to assess their financial situation as the year begins.

This could be done by creating a monthly budget based on total income.

“This differentiates what you need to spend on monthly expenses and your disposable income. People can also reduce expenses so as to meet short, medium and long term goals. One must differentiate between their needs and their wants in the current moment. According to the ‘time value of money’ concept, the purchasing power of money can vary over time and have a lesser value in the future.”

She added that savings and disposable income can be used to explore supplementary revenue opportunity.

“Paying bills automatically each month is another way for consumers to live within their budget” she said.

“In this way you will not be tempted to spend out of your means.”

For future personal growth—financial and otherwise—Ferreira advises: “Commence a business friendship for additional revenue streams or invest in your education to improve that future earning capacity.”

She also said it would be wise for people to “research and review” investment plans.

“Of course this would be from your supplementary income towards that.”

Given the current recessionary period the country is in, she cautioned those wishing to invest to take “calculated risks”.

“Consider applying a percentage of your savings to purchase local stocks to obtain superior returns and growth.”

In reply to the question of whether nationals are educated enough on how to manage their finances and budget, Ferreira said “probably no.”

“People think that you need a lot of money to invest to manage their finances. Really, all it takes is starting from that next pay check. Sometimes it is the little changes. Instead of buying produce at the supermarket, growing your own vegetable garden in your backyard could make a huge difference in terms of the monies that you have at the end of the month as opposed to the grocery every time.”

She urged citizens to “live within their means” as she said far too many people are spending more than they earn.

THE INVESTMENT OUTLOOK

Narisa Hosein, Vice President, Investments, Guardian Asset Management and Investment Services Limited told Sunday Business that people should be selective in terms of spending their disposable income given the economic uncertainty that the country is in at present.

“People should ensure that some of their income is allocated to savings. Security of capital is important at this time and investors should seek more stable investments, providing a steady rate of return such as income funds and some bonds. This is recommended over more risky investments such as equities given the volatility that can be experienced as in the event the funds are needed in the short term, values can be depressed.”

She also said investors with a long term perspective however can invest in equities ensuring they are very selective in their choices.

“The investment climate locally will be characterized with relatively low interest rates however we do expect these rates to increase in order to keep pace with increases in rates in the US. We expect the stock market to continue to be muted in 2018 given that companies may be challenged to deliver higher earnings in a slowing economy with less demand, higher costs of inputs in some cases as a result of scarce foreign exchange and higher taxes.”

She pointed out that people’s behavior has been modified because of the current recession.

“As expected, persons are changing their perspectives on investing. They are more cautious because of fears as it relates to job losses, downsizing and cost cuts during the recession so they may prefer to keep their money close at hand either in their bank account or in a deposit that can be easily accessed. There are however those long-term investors who will maintain their discipline of investing over the various economic cycles.”

She also spoke about some of the markets that investors should be watching closely in 2018.

“Locally, fixed income investments may offer a better alternative for return versus stocks as rates may increase in the coming year and stocks may not perform as well given low demand and challenging results.

There may however be a few stocks which may withstand the recession and provide good value in the future. In terms of real estate, this is always a good long term strategy but returns may be challenged in the short term as the rental market has weakened and the income stream may be low especially if there is the cost of a mortgage involved.”

Hosein added that internationally, US stock markets can provide some further opportunities in 2018 as the economy continues to show strength and as US companies benefit from better economic activity as tax policies come into effect which should see better earnings as a result of lower corporate taxes.

She spoke about the importance of “financial literacy.”

“There are some sophisticated investors but a lot more has to be done to educate the general public on investing so they can understand the different types of investments and what is best suited given their personal circumstances. This is increasingly important especially during a time of economic weakness. For those that are not as sophisticated, it is recommended to seek the advice of an investment professional who can guide them accordingly.”

CHRISTMAS INTO CARNIVAL SPENDING

One person, who is a public servant who spent for Christmas and also takes part in carnival fetes and other activities, told Sunday Business that he spent less that $5,000 for the Christmas season but by the end of the carnival season would have spent about $10,000 on carnival activities.

“I’m not big into Christmas but I observe the traditions. Going to the market was stiff for Christmas and prices were higher as the business people locally don’t want to negotiate prices. While the lower income people bought locally, a lot of middle income and upper income people still bought online from what I saw.”

He called himself a “big spender” during the carnival season every year and apart from himself has observed that other people are still spending “like crazy.”

“You saw how much people went to the Moka Fete? It was packed. People are still spending their money. The clubs are full, the bars are full. There are still some bands who sold out their costumes since last September.”

When asked what is responsible for him and other like minded people spending heavily during the Christmas and carnival periods, he said the tradition in T&T is for people to spend money to make themselves happy, recession or not.

The head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick once said, “On a team, it’s not the strength of the individual players but it is the strength of the unit and how they all function together.”

Playing off each other’s energy, best friends and business partners Ave Hull (pronounced “Ah-Vay”) and Ayanna Miguel-Rennie are determined to continue carving out a path of success locally, with the hope of expanding regionally in the coming year.

Since establishing Sperisio Limited, a labour supply company which provides permanent, semi-permanent and contract workers to small, medium and large companies, the two have found themselves inundated with calls from clients ranging from the private to public sector.

Employee placement includes that of warehouse attendants, packers, porters, cleaners, data entry clerks, customer service representatives, store attendants and secretarial/administrative officers.

Miguel-Rennie said the name of the business, when translated meant “successful vision.”

She revealed, “In 2014, an opportunity fell into my lap to provide labour and I took it.”

“After taking Ave’s advice to contact random companies to conduct training for them, I was given a chance by a large company to provide labour for them and I called her and urged her to come in with me to do it.”

With an academic background in Human Resource Management, Miguel-Rennie continued, “Since then, we have just been sailing through.”

Hull chimed in, “We have been so swamped with our current clients that this year will be our first attempt to venture out into the market.”

They both agreed that aggressive social media advertising and word-of-mouth referrals had contributed to the success they had enjoyed thus far.

A mother of a seven-year-old, Miguel-Rennie revealed, “We have always had the dream of owning a business together.”

Hull parroted their respective fathers as she laughed, “They like to say we have been friends since we were in pampers.”

Hull who is herself mother to a ten and two-year old, added, “We actually wanted a bar and restaurant, then we wanted to do containers but it never materialised the way we thought.”

Coming from families with strong entrepreneurial backgrounds, the two also worked together for a short time before Hull left to pursue other professional opportunities.

Specialising in the provision of entry-level labour, Miguel-Rennie and Hull said their desire to ensure their clients received the best level of service had led to them not expanding as quickly.

Hull noted, “I think that this is what has kept us back from expanding to the point where we can handle everybody.”

With an average of 50 persons listed on their data-base at any point in time, they said peak seasons can see this number get up to as much as 180.

In the process of training a selected handful of persons to assist them, Miguel-Rennie stressed, “When you think of Sperisio Limited, we want you to think of a superior labour supply in the sense that you always see me or Ave, to make sure we have a one-on-one connection with our clients so they know we are here and they can depend on us.”

Admitting they are recipients of calls at all hours of the day and night from prospective employers and potential employees, Hull explained the process, “When you call, we carefully assess your needs as a client before we go into our database to find someone who fits the criteria you listed.”

Miguel-Rennie added, “As the person handling the HR side of it, I ask persons for seven to ten working days to recruit and if it’s a larger number of persons, I will require more time to get the persons.”

They said all applicants are required to provide a police certificate of character and also undergo an interview before a panel of officials before they are placed with an employer.

This they claimed helped to maintain a certain level of transparency and security.

Encouraged to extend their services to the companies they serve by training their employees, Miguel-Rennie said, “Persons will tell us they just need a porter but the person has to understand the basics of what he is being hired to do.”

“Also, there is HSE and First Aid, customer interaction, how to lift heavy equipment properly, how to drive a forklift and lift cargo and so on.”

She continued, “We are also offering this kind of training to our clients so when we go to them, we can train their employees who may not be aware of all the various aspects their job entails.”

Determined to provide more than just an “employment opportunity” for their recruits, Miguel-Rennie and Hull have also started sending persons back to school to learn to read and write by providing grants so persons can improve themselves academically and personally.

Miguel-Rennie stated, “We don’t just want to be employers, we want to be able to ensure our employees know we care.”

Hull echoed, “We want that attitude to be communicated to our clients as well, because it is all about getting employees to feel comfortable at work.”

Pressed to say how they preserved the rights of workers they have placed at external organisations, Miguel-Rennie revealed, “We are advocates for all our employees. We make it clear to our clients, these are Sperisio guys and they come from our culture so you need to show our guys respect.”

“Not because you think they are manual labourer means they can be disrespected.”

Hull and Miguel-Rennie said there have been times they have both had to visit a work-site to address situations involving their employees.

Hull, who is pursuing tertiary level studies in the field of Psychology explained, “We know the persons we are dealing with at the companies. I would analyse the person and advise our workers accordingly. I caution them to take a breather and call us if you have an issue but don’t retaliate.”

She admitted that while they have had to defuse tense situations that have arisen before, they are not about abandoning anyone under their care.

Miguel-Rennie laughed, “I think that’s our maternal instincts kicking in.”

Asked how they were able to balance work and home, they looked at one another sheepishly before Hull piped up, “Not very well.”

Hull said, “We have to actually tell ourselves, it is time to take a break.”

“I am constantly getting blown-out at home about it,” while Miguel-Rennie admitted, “We need to make time for our significant others and ourselves as well.”

Claiming they were both hard on themselves in the beginning, Miguel-Rennie said, “I think we have now started to find that balance.”

Working on their long-term goal to expand Sperisio Limited, Hull said, “Two years from now, because of the way the economy is, we want to see ourselves more involved in a lot of other companies as the middle person supplying employment and contracted employees as and when needed.”

“Many companies right now cannot afford to take on permanent employees, but we want to fill the gaps that exist and still be able to treat the employees the way they deserve and ensure everybody has a fair chance.”

Miguel-Rennie added, “We are pioneers in what we are doing and in two years time, I want us to revolutionise the labour force not only in T&T, but throughout the region.”

Focusing on the current state of the economic climate and what was happening in the job market daily with lay-offs and retrenchment, Hull advised, “We have all kinds and types of people coming to us for jobs right now, begging to do something as they just want to be able to have a little money to do something and there are companies who are not certain themselves about where they are going, but they need to continue for now and we want to be able to fill the gaps.”

Claiming many of the youths today appeared angry and seemed to believe “the world owed them”, Hull said while they genuinely want to help persons, it was virtually impossible to help everyone who crossed their path.

Although their personalities complement each other, the two said while they don’t always agree professionally, it has never led to any major divisions in their friendship or working relationship which they have vowed will only grow from strength to strength.

People who invest generally believe that they have found a vehicle (a business) capable of providing sufficient returns on their invested capital.

Truthfully, making judgements about how “good” a business is, is perhaps one of the toughest decisions an investor will have to make.

The notion of “good” to begin with is highly subjective and can be confirmed or refuted from person to person - even when looking at the same information.

So what then, is a good business?

Broadly speaking, a good business is one that is blessed with good economics that can be purchased at a good price with the likelihood of producing good/great returns over time.

By that definition, finding good businesses requires the intersection of multiple factors - no easy feat.

That said, there are instances when the prices of businesses with poor economics make them attractive buys - though not necessarily “good” businesses in a traditional sense (Warren Buffett refers to these as “cigar butt” businesses)

Choosing these type of businesses however offers no end of hazards and potentially, quite limited upside.

Ultimately, however, a good business can also be viewed as one that is able to take in a dollar of investable capital and generate something more than a dollar consistently and sustainably.

To complicate matters, measuring the performance and potential of a business is a complex endeavor - the metrics used to do so depend on who is measuring what.

For example, if we focus on the market dominance of a business, as a barometer for assessing its “goodness”, then we must clearly define those markets.

If we focus on financial performance, then a decision has to be made on which specific measures should be used and why (returns to shareholders or cash flows?, market returns or accounting measures?)

One thing is clear though: a good business produces strong financial performance over time.

In the end, well-defined business model, competently executed will always remain the foundation upon which good businesses are built.

Andre Worrell

We love them dearly and it always seems as if they grow up so fast.

Schools teach our children a range of wonderful subjects but sadly, they never teach them how to manage money.

In fact, many of us probably look back on our own childhood years and wish we’d been taught a lesson or two about personal financial management.

Here are a few tips we can share with our kids to help them manage their money as they grow older.

Set examples

Our children are like sponges and in many respects what they see us do, they will often mimic If for example they see us paying with credit cards everywhere we go, they will notice.

Also if they see their parents haggle over money at the end of every month they will also discern subtle cues about the power and influence of money.

If however we set a healthy example for them as parents with how we manage, save and even invest our own money, they’ll be much more likely to follow it when they get older.

Remember from our example they will learn.

Show them that stuff costs money

Teaching our kids about money involves more than just showing them price tags. We must show them how money is transacted and goods and services are exchanged for money. For example, having them grab a few dollars out of a savings jar, taking it to a store, and physically paying the cashier for an item can do more for them than a five minute lecture from their parents. Experiencing the real-world exchange of money can do wonders for their understanding of its value.

Connect work & rewards

We should never just give our kids money for simply existing and being good.

Inculcating in them the work-reward relationship will help them understand that money is earned, not simply given.

So for example, paying them for chores they do around the house will give them an appreciation for the virtue that hard work quite literally pays off.

Connecting for our children that earning money comes from real effort is vital.

Develop a giving spirit

While it’s important to teach our kids about earning, and saving money, it’s equally important to stress the importance of giving. Having them pick some charitable cause, or even someone who may need a little help to give to will show them how valuable what they’ve earned is not just to them, but to society at large. Eventually they’ll notice how having a giving spirit doesn’t just affect the people they give to, but affects the giver as well.

Set them up for life

The road to having our kids make sound financial choices is a long and winding one, but this is a good place to start. The more conscious we are about how what we do affects them and the power we have to guide them along the right path, the better prepared they will be to live life beyond payday.

ANDRE WORRELL

During an individual’s working years, the idea of “putting something aside” for life in retirement is often a primary consideration for many. Most times, the primary vehicle for survival beyond one’s career is a pension. Simply defined, a pension plan is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee’s employment years, and from which payments are drawn to support the person’s retirement from work in the form of periodic payments.

The pool of funds is invested on the employee’s behalf, and the earnings on the investments generate income to the worker upon retirement. A pension plan can come in two forms: defined benefit or defined contribution. In a defined benefit plan, the employer guarantees that the employee receives a “defined” amount of benefit upon retirement, regardless of the performance of the underlying investment pool.

With a defined contribution plan however, the employer makes specific plan contributions for the worker, usually matching to varying degrees the contributions made by the employees. The final benefit received by the employee depends on the plan’s investment performance. Some companies offer both types of plans and some plans may have features of both forms, defined benefit and defined contribution. That said, not all employers offer pensions. Government organizations usually offer a pension, and some large companies offer them. A number insurance and investment companies also offer pension plans (usually called deferred annuities) that an individual can choose to contribute to if one is not offered by an employer.

In effect, an individual’s retirement income can come from three different sources: Employer Pension Plans, Personal Savings and Government Benefits/Social Security Benefits.

Pension income upon retirement is typically viewed as any other form of income and as such is taxable. Understanding the relationship between pension and income and how each affect one another is extremely important. In essence, an individual is putting aside disposable income now in exchange for a future pay out (in the form of pension income). When considering how pension plans work, it’s important to remember that the earlier one starts, and the more an individual contributes, the better prospects of a comfortable retirement one can expect. Carefully choosing when to start your pension can greatly reduce your risk of running out of money during retirement years.

In T&T, a number of laws govern the administration of pension in the country (example, the Pension Act, the Senior Citizen’ Pension Act, and the Old Age Pensions Act). The National Insurance Board also makes pension payments to citizens in T&T. Every employee who has paid National Insurance contributions is entitled to a Retirement Benefit which can take one of two forms: A Retirement Pension payable for life to persons who have 750 weekly contributions or more - the minimum requirement for a basic pension; or a Retirement Grant, which is a one time lump sum payment, subject to a minimum sum of $3,000.00 paid to persons who have made less than 750 weekly contributions—the minimum requirement for a basic pension.

For the Christmas season, crime was a major concern for businessmen and ordinary citizens alike.

Women especially fell prey to robberies, carjackings and home invasions and unfortunately, the attacks have not abated, violent domestic abuse cases are on the rise. As the country enters the Carnival season with fetes, concerts and Carnival Monday and Tuesday dominated by thousands of female masqueraders, the Guardian on Sunday asked self defence and karate instructor Sensei Brian Chin Leung to provide some tips for women as well as men to stay safe during the reign of the Merry Monarch.

Speaking at his training studio at Belle Smythe Street, Woodbrook, last week, Chin Leung, an eighthdegree black belt in Shotokan karate, who also teaches combat karate, said, “Without a doubt women in the country are under attack. You can’t blame some of them for being a bit paranoid, crime has restricted when and where they can and can’t go.”

• The first stage is situational awareness, consciousness of your environment, self and people around you. “If you have been attacked physically, your assailant has gotten to you and starts pulling you into a car or hitting you, that means you have dropped your guard, been caught off guard; that is the second stage, the attack has started.”

• Women should be responsible for their own security and not depend totally on their boyfriends or companions.

Chin Leung said many women had a false sense of security in their husbands or boyfriends if they are big and strong and look intimidating. The irony is, he said, some men might run out in a crisis situation.

“Muscles are no indication of bravery,” he added.

• Follow your instincts, “vibes” or gut feeling about avoiding a place or people that make youuncomfortable.

• Even if you are skilled in martial arts and have the ability to defeat ten men, it would be more prudent to avoid a confrontation.

• Keep strangers at arms length, avoid them invading your personal space right up in your face.

If “talk” gesticulating with your hands that can be used to block and strike.

• When leaving your bands, do not do so alone, ask a friend or a few of your friends to accompany since there may be unseen eyes on you.

• If you must use the ATM, look for one preferably in a mall, where there is security, traffic and well lit. The ideal situation would be to withdraw whatever cash you need before venturing into your party or band and, of course, earlier in the day.

• Avoid taking drinks from strangers and do not even trust some of your friends because if they are intoxicated someone can spike their drinks, get the drink for yourself and observe what the bartender pours for you.

• Do not sniff or use perfumes from strangers, they may in reality be drugs that can make you unconscious.

• The Carnival whistle is ideal for raising an alarm when attacked. You may also want to carry a personal alarm, a noise maker or screamer.

• Some women might want to consider stepping down in their fashion style in the name of safety. Consider playing mas in sneakers rather than high heels shoes or boots.

• Turn everyday items such as car keys, newspapers, aerosol sprays, a rock in a jersey, umbrellas, pens, screwdrivers and bottles into weapons.

• When returning to your vehicle, hold the ignition key in a knife grip to thrust into an attacker’s eyes and to trigger the car alarm.

• Avoid wearing earphones or being distracted with a cellphone.

• Generally women are not as physically strong as men, but this should not matter since training in the Shotokan-style of karate offers good techniques and well placed strikes (banned in tournaments) to vulnerable target areas such as the throat, groin, kneecaps and eyes.

PART 1
The Christmas season often results in the addition of a new family member! But care for your older pets is just as important as fussing over a puppy. You, your dog and your veterinarian become a team from the moment you take your new pet for his first veterinary check-up. The main goal of this triangular relationship is to ensure that your dog has a healthy, happy and balanced life for as long as possible.

Dogs today are living longer and better quality lives due to advancements in veterinary medicine, improved nutrition and more educated owners. A longer life means that there are more dogs reaching an older age and more owners that will have to understand the special demands and problems associated with the ageing process to be able to provide the best possible care for senior pets. Veterinary clinics and hospitals now offer special preventive care programmes for older animals, often called geriatric wellness programmes. These focus on owner education and the early detection and prevention of disease through regular check-ups and routine diagnostic testing.

Your pet’s wellness starts at conception. Your dog’s health today is partly determined by the health of his father and mother on the day that he was conceived; in combination with the care you have provided through nutrition, vaccinations, worming, parasite control and exercise throughout his life. The healthier start your dog has, the more likely he will continue to be in good health as he grows older.

Not all dogs age at the same rate. Generally, smaller breeds live longer than larger breeds and mixed breeds usually live longer than pure breeds. Small breed (under 20 pounds) dogs are considered geriatric between nine and 13 years old. Medium-sized (21 to 50 pounds) dogs are considered geriatric between nine and 11 years old. Large breed (51 to 90 pounds) dogs are considered geriatric between seven and ten years, and giant breed (over 91 pounds) dogs are considered geriatric between six and nine years old.

Ageing itself is not a disease; it is simply a stage of life. Many changes occur in dogs as they age, and older dogs should receive regular physical examinations. Two or more veterinary check-ups per year are recommended. A physical exam should include an examination of the mouth, gums, tongue, teeth and throat. Your older dog may suffer from dental disease which needs to be treated as bacteria from an infected mouth is likely to enter his bloodstream causing irreparable damage to his heart, liver and kidneys. Consider a soft diet if your geriatric pet has lost most of his teeth or can no longer comfortably chew hard, solid foods. Every veterinary visit should include a measurement of your dog’s weight. Unexplained weight gain or weight loss may be first signs of disease. Obesity is one of the most common preventable diseases in older dogs as they become less active and changes in metabolism occur so they require less food as they age. A rectal exam is also important. As dogs age they may be more prone to constipation and incontinence. If your male dog has not been neutered he is at greater risk of prostate cancer, and if your female dog has not been spayed she is at greater risk of breast cancer.

Look out for Part 2 of taking care of your elderly pet on January 21.

Copyright © Kristel-Marie Ramnath

I got nuff respect for sustained contribution and commitment beyond a news cycle, for it shows when care is real. So, I was deeply humbled to hear of the Rebuild A Home project, aimed to re-establish the stability of houses, schools and communities in Antigua, Dominica, Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

It gave me hope that we could do more than express horror at others’ fate and offer help briefly, but ultimately far too ineffectually. Remember, just a few months ago, hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked over three billion dollars in damage, and mangled life chances in ways only the heartbreak of individual stories can convey.

I kept hearing Rudder in my head while the project’s organisers spoke. Rudder is rallying round lovely cricket, but those lyrics are like oxygen in your lungs when you want to sing and shout and bawl about “these tiny theatres of conflict and confusion/Better known as the isles of the West Indies”. Centuries repeatedly show we can only collectively survive if we support one another, rather than be at “somebody’s mercy”, whether colonial ruler, local politician or donor agency.

The Rebuild A Home project is spearheaded by the Living Water Community’s Mercy Foundation, and its team is a range of corporate supporters, including the Global Business Leadership Forum, the Joint Chambers of Commerce, Digicel, Beacon, Shell and BP. There are international allies such as Qnary and Align Entertainment Group, which are heading international social media campaigning and fundraising.

And, there’s Build Change, which has to lead construction of hurricane-resistant homes during our brief dry season.

Corporate Caribbean stepping up and in where governments don’t or can’t, will be absolutely key in our precarious future. More than anything else, post-independence governments across the region have shown more failures than successes, unless pressed to do better by ordinary people, business influence or aid conditionalities.

With dire circumstances seemingly everywhere at once, from Yemen to Venezuela, the lesson to take into this initiative is that the West Indies cannot wait for aid. Instead, anyone with a connection to the Caribbean, whether through literature, music, ancestry or blessed baptism in our blue sea, has to live by the philosophy of love for our region. Then and now, we are a unique crucible in which the histories of far flung continents have been enduringly forged together. This has been our strength and our vulnerability, and up to this second we are being presented with the opportunity to choose.

You can choose to sponsor a home or make a donation to help meet a $10 million USD project goal. You can donate $1 or $100, the equivalent of one fete ticket or as much as one mas costume. Or, you can get your mas band and fete promoter to donate for every ticket or purchase, turning your disposable consumer dollars into a boundless solidarity economy.

The project’s website and fundraising platform, www.rebuildourhomes.com, reports that, among other ongoing volunteer actions, 35 containers were shipped to affected islands, a warehouse was constructed to store supplies, and vehicles were sent to help with distribution. The plan ahead is to rebuild a minimum of 200 homes and start constructing schools. From within my crease, I’m also thinking about contributing post-disaster healing methodologies developed especially for Caribbean children.

Rudder’s pen seems to say it all: “Little keys can open mighty doors”.

As always, there is more if we want to move from adaptation to mitigation, which ultimately we must. The burning of fossil fuels, CO2 increase and climate change is the number one spiraling threat to the Caribbean. Small as we are, we have to be brave enough to think and act big so that long-term

Sokah music was created in Piparo, South Trinidad by the late Garfield “Ras Shorty I” Blackman in the late 1970s, but since then, the genre has evolved, matured and has largely been promoted, celebrated and marketed up North in the capital city of Port-of-Spain.

Over 40 years have passed since this hybrid music form originated, but in 2018, soca is returning to the Southland as Jay Upscale and 66 Entertainment collaborate to host a grand event on Carnival Wednesday, February 7 entitled Big Bad Soca. This revolutionary event will be held in the carpark of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba and will feature a special performance by the ViKing of Soca Bunji Garlin, his ViQueen wife Fay Ann Lyons and their Viking band.

Also performing on the night will be the jump-up boss from Port Fortin Iwer George; reigning International Soca Monarch King Aaron “Voice” St Louis; the ladies champion Orlando Octave; the ‘Big Girl Now’ singer Patrice Roberts; US-based hit-maker Devon “Lyrikal” Martin and popular radio personality/artiste Stevenson “Shal” Marshal.

“The concept behind this event,” explained Jay Upscale, “is one designed to bringing soca back to South and to its roots with both the vintage and established soca acts like Bunji and Iwer, as well as the rising stars such as Orlando, Lyrikal and Patrice Roberts…and also the international appeal of Grammy-nominated rap act and daughter of the soil, Cardi B.” Yes, you read it correctly: the chart-topping female artiste known as Cardi B, who was recently nominated for both Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for her Billboard Hot 100 No 1 hit Bodak Yellow, will be present to host the Big Bad Soca event on Carnival Wednesday.

Big Bad Soca headliner Bunji Garlin is understandably excited about this event and is looking forward to welcoming Cardi B to the Trinidad Carnival stage: “Honestly, I welcome all good energies,” he said, “and I’m known as an artiste that likes to push the envelope—I like to try new stuff…musically…and visually and I’m always of the firm belief that new beginnings always present an opportunity to create new history.

They also challenge you to be more creative and find new avenues or new ways, new streams and new routes—to find something new about yourself even though the audience you’re catering too may want something familiar.

“So, how do you be familiar and new at the same time? These are the tests that new events provide for us the artistes. Every new event is like a new stream to the whole river of creativity that is happening…
“Having a prominent artiste like Cardi B host this event makes it extra special because as far as I know she’s a daughter of the T&T DNA and this is a homecoming of sorts for her and her first time on a Carnival stage. Everyone who is a national has a birthright and is entitled to return and get involved, or be a part of what is going on where they came from…so we’re looking forward to making this Big Bad Soca experience a memorable and momentous one from everyone present on Carnival Wednesday night.”

Jay Upscale Management and Promotions is a top-rated artiste management and Event Promotion company founded and based in New York and is responsible for hosting a multitude of Caribbean-themed events for over a decade. Most recently, Jay Upscale staged the Busshead NY Tour which featured Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and a number of guest acts. This company is renowned for attracting the NY and Tri-State Caribbean community to unique upscale venues and for always keeping the “authentic Caribbean elements and vibes.”

66 Entertainment is headed by clothing store owner and entrepreneur, Rondell Roberts and is most famous for their BaeWatch beach party series, which brought reality and social media stars Amber Rose and Black Chyna to Trinidad during Carnival 2015 and 2016.

He’s a provocateur who’s said to love a brawl and once bemoaned the glare of the spotlight— and the bigger disappointment of watching it move on.

“You think, well, what am I, chopped liver?” author Michael Wolff said in 2009 about coverage of his divorce, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Obscurity is a threat to Wolff no longer.

His explosive new book on President Donald Trump is drawn from what he said was regular access to the West Wing and more than 200 interviews, including with Trump.

It blew open what seems an inevitable feud between the publicity-loving president and his former adviser Steve Bannon, who is quoted extensively and unflatteringly describing Trump, his family and advisers.

Shell-shocked White House aides scrambled to control the fallout of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House last week as excerpts were published ahead of the book’s scheduled January 9 release.

The publisher announced late Thursday that it would move up the release to Friday because of “unprecedented demand.”

“Thank you, Mr President,” Wolff tweeted.

Trump tweeted late Thursday that Wolff’s book was fiction and reliant on fake sources.

“I authorised Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book.

“Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist. Look at this guy’s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!” Trump wrote.

“Complete fantasy” is how White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders described Wolff’s book Thursday, as the president’s allies increasingly raised questions about Wolff’s credibility. Trump’s lawyers sent Wolff and his publisher cease-and-desist letters, as they had to Bannon.

The book, Sanders continued, contains “mistake after mistake after mistake.”

She said the White House had rejected some two dozen of Wolff’s requests for an interview with Trump.

The 64-year-old author and blogger has given Trump’s allies fodder, particularly with an acknowledgement in the introduction that he could not resolve discrepancies between some accounts in a White House riven by rivalries.

“Many, in Trumpian fashion, are baldly untrue,” Wolff writes of some accounts. “Those conflicts and that looseness with the truth, if not reality itself, are an elemental thread of the book.” He says he “settled on a version of events I believe to be true.”

For example, Wolff writes in the book that Trump didn’t know who former House Speaker John Boehner was on election night 2016.

Sanders disputes that, pointing to public photos that show the golf enthusiasts had hit the links over the years. Two people close to Boehner confirmed that and said they had spoken before and after the election.

Sanders also derided Wolff’s contention in the book that Trump and his family had not wanted to win the election. For his part, Trump went after Bannon in an unusual White House statement. Wolff and his publisher did not respond to a request for comment and an interview.

Wolff writes on the rich and powerful Wolff built his four-decade career writing about some of the world’s rich and powerful people—including Rupert Murdoch—in seven books and across a wide range of newspapers and magazines.

Sometimes, he critiqued the media.

And often, he got scathing reviews back on his writing style, his focus on atmospherics and his factual mistakes.

“One of the problems with Wolff’s omniscience is that while he may know all, he gets some of it wrong,” wrote the late David Carr in The New York Times, noting some discrepancies in dates in Wolff’s 1988 book about Murdoch, The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch.

But Wolff was getting support from other corners Thursday.

Janice Min, an owner of The Hollywood Reporter, tweeted that she was one of the few guests at a dinner reported in the book at Roger Ailes’ house in January last year.

According to Wolff, Bannon discussed Trump’s plans for appointing Cabinet and other advisers and Ailes warned him about the qualifications of some. “It’s not a deep bench,” Bannon acknowledged, according to the book.

“So I was one of the six guests at the Bannon-Ailes dinner party in January 2017 and every word I’ve seen from the book about it is absolutely accurate,” Min tweeted. Nearly a year ago, Wolff disparaged news outlets covering their own industry even in the time of Trump. “The media should not be the story,” he said on CNN in February. Around the same time, Wolff also wrote a prescient Newsweek column about how the still-new and struggling Trump White House and the media might reach a balance or detente. At the time, Wolff had been spotted multiple times by a reporter who now works for The Associated Press on the White House grounds with a “blue badge”—instead of a traditional press badge—that gave Wolff wide access to the West Wing.

One former White House official said Wolff was known to camp out for hours in the West Wing lobby after meetings, sitting on a sofa as he waited to talk to staffers passing by. (AP)

T&T will be missing out on the Women’s World T20 later year, but fans can take heart with the news that this country will be hosting the finals of the 2018 Digicel Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Guardian Media Sports was reliably informed that there will be no bidding process for the championship weekend, as this country has already locked that in since last year. T&T hosted a successful CPL T20 2017 finals at the Lara Stadium in Tarouba and during the negotiations one of the conditions was that they got the rights to host the finals this year as well.

It is understood that due to the scarcity of Forex, the government will be paying the fees in T&T dollars.

The government GML was told will be making every effort to keep the money circulating right here during the course of hosting the event, as it will be paying the bills for food, hotel, transport and other incidentals. It is understood that hosting the finals weekend will cost this country a total of US$850,000, (an estimated TT$5,763,000) which was the sum paid to owners of the CPL, Digicel last year.

The preliminary round matches for defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders has nothing to do with the CPL owners or the government of T&T. This is all in the hands of the Red Chillies Entertainment group which owns the franchise. The team owners will have to meet with Udecott officials and Queen’s Park to negotiate prices for use of the facilities for the team to play its home matches here. There will be a total of five home games for the TKR and it is expected that these will be shared between Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

Guardian Media Sports understands that TKR will not be getting the Brian Lara Academy free. TKR will have to rent it as well, so it will be down negotiations as to which venue will hosts the CPL preliminary round matches.

Negotiations are expected to begin soon between the officials of both venues and TKR, as the CPL takes place in October, with the finals at the end of the first week of September. The normal cost of renting the venues is in the range of US$40,000 (an estimated TT$272,000) per match and now with two available, it puts TKR in a better position to negotiate.

TKR is the defending champions after it defeated the St. Kitts/Nevis Patriots in the finals of the tournament last year at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The National Under-20 Women’s team is getting additional support from members of the T&T Senior Men’s team technical staff as it get ready for the upcoming CONCACAF Under 20 Women’s Championship which kicks off on January 18th with a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, from 5pm.

Men’s Senior Team trainer Saran Joseph and physic Dave Isaac have been drafted as head coach Jamaal Shabazz attempts to get his players in the best possible shape for the eight-nation competition which will see the best in regional women’s youth football assembling at the TTFA Home of Football until January 28th.

Joseph, already trained to operate the GPS/Heart Rate Monitor system used by the Men’s Senior Team, is overseeing similar operations with the Under-20s along with managing the players strength and conditioning training. The other members of the current staff include Marlon Charles (Assistant Coach), Desiree Sarjeant (Assistant Coach), Glennon Foncette (Goalkeeper Coach), Steve Frederick (Equipment manager), Shakira Thompson (media liaison) and Ricarda Nelson (team manager).

Shabazz has continued to explore all options available with an aim to having the team comprehensively prepared. TTFA technical director Anton Corneal is also offering his expertise having previously worked with the 2014 team that narrowly missed out on qualification after losing to Costa Rica in the third place playoff.

Player Dennecia Prince, who hails from Point Fortin, said she is particularly excited about the upcoming tournament because of the opportunity to play in front of home support.

“So far the preparations are good and every one has to work hard to gain their picks. I have been in the national team since I was 12 years old at the Under-15 level. I am very excited to be part of the team for the tournament especially because we are at home and I am looking forward to see all my family members and friends come out and support me and the team,” Prince told TTFA Media.

Prince said, “I’ve been playing since I was seven. I grew up around boys and I didn’t like football at the start until one of my friends came and asked me to go to training and he continued to beg me until I gave in and I haven’t looked back since.”

Prince’s team-mate Malaika Dedier, one of the goalkeepers contesting for the number one pick, grew up playing the game with her father and brother as well as friends from church.

“My family in general got me involved in football. On a Sunday afternoon my father and brother would take me to play with my church friends and then I started to take it more seriously when I went into Form One at Bishop’s Anstey,” Dedier said.

“I am very intrigued about this opportunity and our first game on the 18th against Haiti. The team is ready and we are just coming together more and build the team chemistry. We have to stick with each other even when we are making mistakes and continue to encourage each other. I think we will get the support with all the marketing being done and then the talks among family members. We are aiming to work really hard together and come out with the results we need to advance to the World Cup,” Dedier added.

Haraz and Cliffs of Capri, both rejects from formidable trainers, could well complete a successful double for in-form Jamie Ossborne on Wolverhampton tapeta today.

Obviously the one-time shrewd and extremely proficient National Hunt jockey gets his card marked, regarding purchases at sales, and ‘Ozzy’ must view this pair as potential meal tickets, on my time-handicap Haraz is a snip for division one of the ‘aged’ Apprentice Handicap over seven furlongs and Jamie has produced a trump card. Jason Dinsmore is a stable apprentice and claims 7lbs.

I’ve watched this lad and he looks the part. Hopefully he’ll be more successful than Haraz, a loser thirty-three times since making a winning debut at Gowran Park, Ireland, on June 21st, 2015.

Haraz must retain enthusiasm because recently he’s been a model of consistency, placed in all four outings last month, culminating with a best effort for a very long time over six furlongs of Lingfield polytrack eight days ago. Dropping back in trip often sharpens ‘aged’ racehorses and Haraz is clear ‘best-in’ judged on that last run, a dead-set trier and nigh on guaranted to be placed, Haraz is the most interesting runner on an eight-race ‘twilight’ programme which includes a ‘penalty-kick’ for ex-Simon Crisford- trained Cliffs Of Capri, one of five ‘decs’ for the Novice Stakes.

There has been a waning in the interest of horse racing over the past five years and it has been reflected at the betting windows. To make matters worst local horse racing stands on the cusp of an uncertain future. Over the last 24 months, with a recession in our country, a number of decisions have been taken which have severe ramifications for the T&T Horse Racing Industry.

In addition to this, it is quite clear that people have just changed their recreational habits. This is a world-wide phenomenon today and everyone could see the major difference in the turnout at the Breeders Cup at Del Mar in the United States two weekends ago. Time has changed many things and when you looked at the crowd on hand, it’s clear that the racing industry is not only in crisis in T&T, but worldwide.

If you look at racing in the United Kingdom you will see the same trend due to financial constraints, it is understood that the Betting Levy Board (BLB) took the decision to cut the premiums paid to local breeders based on the performance of locally bred horses in the various races. This decision puts a further nail in the coffin of the local breeding industry and comes at a time when racing could least afford it.

It comes on the back of what many have accepted as a decision by most local owners to discontinue the purchase of quality American bred horses due to the decision by the authorities to significantly reduce prize moneys in local horse racing.

The 2017 Yearling Sales had one of the lowest turnout in recent history and it is likely that future Sales will be worse. Clearly, a few breeders will invest sufficiently in the acquisition of quality sires and dams as in the past, as there is now very little incentive for any breeder or even the few remaining commercial Stud Farms to do so.

There are many challenges facing the industry and the primary challenge remains funding. It will be interesting to see what those responsible for the sport have planned for 2018.

The 2017 racing season was an eventful one for numerous reasons. While it would be easy to focus on the off the track events which usually dominate the headlines, this review will focus primarily on the horses, trainers, jockeys and grooms and what they accomplish. After all is said and done, with all the problems the industry is undergoing, the memory of the thoroughbreds that will remain with the turfites.

Many of these memorable memories were shared with champion trainer John O’Brien and his staff along with the two top thoroughbreds of the past year - Thisonesforron and the aptly named Leading Lady.

The opening day

Glenn Mendez drew first blood when he saddled the SIR Stable owned speedster Control Unit to win the Sian’s Gold Sprint for the second consecutive time. Control Unit had to pull out all the stops to beat

Thisonnesforron which won the Gold Cup but missed by 3/4 length to win the Stewards Cup and the Sian’s Gold Sprint.

ARC revokes O’Brien licenses

During season, a couple of young three-year-olds staked their claim to be the top three-year-old in training and to win the ‘Triple Crown.’ Among them were leading juveniles of Battlecry, Ceasar Country, Valorous and Leading Lady. O’Brien had his licence revoked for three months early in the year for a drug infraction in 2016. He would have been chasing a hat-trick in this year’s blue ribbon, which will be run off on September 24.

His suspension stemmed from the positive samples returned by Desert Dancer, who finished second to Mint Condition in the Royal Colours Classic and second to Trini Navigator in the Sugar Mike Stakes. The gelding tested positive for stanozolol, a prohibited drug (steroid). O’Brien started the New Year behind his peers giving all his fellow trainer ‘a distance’.

However, his son Jake O’Brien training for stalwart Merlin Samalalsingh struck first and he made history by becoming the youngest trainer to win the Guineas. Valorous upstaged the more vaunted John O’Brien trained runners to win with Ceasar Country and Leading Lady following. The rest is history as from the second leg of the ‘Triple Crown’ a woman became boss.

The Leading Lady

The local three-year-old season was arguably dominated by the fairer sex. Again, this was after things appeared to be heading in a different direction earlier in the season.

However, the Chevan Maharaj owned Jamaican bred filly Leading Lady became just that and beat everything in sight for the next two legs of the Triple Crown. She was simply imperious in the Midsummer Classic when rider Carlos Montalvo was flown in to partner the filly. Montalvo had his charge tracking the early pace and when he pressed the accelerator button at the corner, the result was immediate, she quicken clear for an emphatic success.

Leading Lady had no peers in her sex and won all her races with consummate ease. However, BANWARIEthe Trinidad Derby was different. Montalvo had her tracking the pace on the sloppy track but when he asked her to go win the richest event on the Calendar she did not quicken up as expected and was made to fight all the way to the line by outsiders Hello and Battlecry.

Clearly, the precocious Jamaican bred filly was the best three-year-old in training during the year.

Indefatigable Thisonesforron

He could be down on the ropes but he is never fully beaten. After a delayed start to his campaign as a consequence of an injury which resulted in him being off the track from January to August, Thisonesforron came back to the track with a vengeance. On his return he was beaten by the Shivam Maharaj owned Stockyard, Whisper Light and Conquest Bespoke. He was beaten some 18 lengths into seventh position.

He came back on Republic Day and ran a blinder when third behind the Glenn Mendez trained Whisper Light in the Diamond Stakes with Conquest Bespoke a short-head ahead of him in second.

He won for the first time for the season when he beat Errazuriz over 1750 metres under Kerron Khelawan before going on to short-head the best horse to ever grace the track and Santa Rosa Park, Bigman In Town. Against Bigman In Town, he was a short-head to the good at the line and Bigman In Town connection could be arguably upset that the horse suffered interference but fortune favours the brave.

In the Gold Cup, Thisonesforron scored convincingly by 3 1/4 lengths from Bigman In Town which he had beaten for the second time in two starts. Again, Bigman had excuses as he lost both front shoes in the race and still finished second. Thisonesforron closed the year with three wins out of six starts. His first three race upon his return in September saw him record a second, third and seventh place finish.

The West Indies recently concluded disastrous and humiliating tour of New Zealand reconfirmed its weakening Test and ODI status and even more alarmingly highlighted emerging fissures and cracks in its T20 performance. After losing 3-0 in both the test and one-day series, the WI were unable to salvage any pride losing by 47 runs and then 119 runs with one match being washed out.

As a result of their losses, the defending World Champions have slipped to 5th place in latest ICC T20 ranking. Since being crowned World Champions in 2017, the WI have won eight of its 17 matches.

They have lost all their series against higher-ranked teams.

The view that the absence Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Evin Lewis is the reason for the defeats is not acceptable. The strength of any team is strong as its bench. The reserve players have had the experience of the CPL and should have put their hands up to be counted. Other than Evin Lewis, no player has consistently presented themselves as the next group of to replace the ‘Big’ 7. The opportunity was there in New Zealand to show talent and skills but there were only glimpses.

The development of any organisation whether sporting, business or non-profit is predicated upon succession planning and the continued supply of resources. It will be foolhardy to believe that the players who have dominated T20 cricket over the past 10 years will continue forever.

Haven’t we learnt any lessons as to why West Indies have struggled in Test and ODI after years of consistent dominance?

As T20 cricket continues to grow with domestic leagues attracting the top players, coaches and support staff across the cricketing world, the carefreeness that once characterised it is given way to a more rigorous strategic approach. This strategic approach requires mastering the exhibition of batting, bowling, and fielding skills in 3 hours of demanding cricket.

If the administrators of CWI do not respond strategically to yet another example of a glaring failure, the T20 format that currently keeps the WI flag fluttering happily with pride will soon plummet to the same low levels of the test and ODI teams.