As the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) moves to fine-tune its approach to teaching and learning among emerging professionals, its global chief executive officer Helen J Brand has lauded the reputation of the organisation’s Caribbean associates. 

“ACCA is extremely proud of the high reputation it enjoys in T&T and across the Caribbean,” she said in an address at an ACCA recognition ceremony to welcome new members  at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre.

Brand said ACCA qualification provided the foundation for successful careers but it is the passion and commitment of members that enable them to fulfill their potential and make significant contributions to business and society. 

“Everything we do as ACCA employees is focused on developing the professional accountants the world needs. 

“We work with employers and academics to create the highest calibre, most portable qualifications so organisations everywhere want and need our members and students,” she said.

“We constantly refresh our continual professional development offerings so we are keeping pace with the needs of an ever-changing global business environment. 

“And, through our work with employers, learning providers, government and regulators, we make sure that the ACCA brand is strong, known and trusted.”

Brand said through its new careers website, ACCA hopes to create a new global destination for accountancy and finance jobs, while offering advice to help practitioners bolster their employability. 

To ensure its efforts yield timely results, she added, ACCA-sponsored research had found that for senior finance positions, employers want candidates with solid qualifications. It was because of this reality the organisation began working with universities to ensure members have access to academia.  

“This commitment to thinking ahead and anticipating change has never been more important. 

“The pace of change we all have to contend with is astonishing and we need to make sure the profession keeps up. We need to ensure the profession keeps up. 

“We need to ensure we evolve and adapt so that professional accountants continued to be relevant and valid. 

“While we can’t predict the future, it seems certain that the role professional accountants will continue to widen, as generations become more complex,” she said.

Brand  said the responsibilities of ACCA members extend far beyond traditional compliance, financial reporting and governance roles. 

“Over the next decade, we believe they will broaden even more, as businesses rely on accountants to help them be resilient and competitive. It’s our role to ensure you remain fit for purpose in this changing world. 

“Of course, to do this effectively we need to have an active and on-going dialogue with our members because ACCA is, first and foremost, a membership body and it is only as strong as the links it has with members and future members,” she said.

The success attained by premier insurer T&T Insurance Limited (Tatil) could not have been realised without the quality customer service delivered by its sales force, says Ronald Milford, managing director of the Tatil Life.

Speaking at the company’s 2015 Sales Awards ceremony at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference, he said the company could not enjoy the reputation it had if the people they employed were just about getting the consumer to buy a product without follow up service.

Because they endeavoured to do more and be more, Milford said, the Tatil brand continues to soar and mature. 

“In most cases, we sell a product that is considered a commodity and most insurance companies have the same suite of products, with changes here and there, with a slight difference in pricing and maybe presentation. It is my opinion that the product that we sell as a company is service. That is the product! As financial advisors, we must become more service oriented by developing long term relationships with our customers,” he said.

Milford continued: “I challenge you, our agents, to become more long term in your thinking, as it relates to relationship building. The difference between a salesman and a financial advisor is one of relationship. If you aspire to be a salesman, then after the product is sold, chances are you will never see the customer again. However, if your desire is to be a financial advisor, where you can grow and build long term relationships with you clients through needs based selling, you are now a financial advisor and cherished member of the Tatil team.” 

Milford said to solidify Tatil’s leadership role in the insurance industry the team had to possess a greater ability to set long term goals and take care of the clients’ needs. He said the brand was built over the years on a reputation of integrity and the delivery of extraordinary service and it was because of these qualities, it was one of the most recognisable in the country.

“We are also fortunate to be part of one of the most powerful brands in T&T and the leadings conglomerate in the region. By setting long term goals, one is assuring the future success of our business. I am certain when our founder, Dr Anthony N Sabga was building his empire his thoughts were not on the short term gains,” Milford said.

Four-time Olympic medallists and coach of sprinter Khalifa St Fort, Ato Boldon, is convinced she is ready to take on the Caribbean’s best at today’s start of the 2016 Carifta Games in Grenada.

Citing the work they had put in and her consistency on the track, it was now up to the young athlete to decide how badly she wanted to be in winners’ row.

He told the T&T Guardian her Carifta trials time of 11.39, was better than the team expected. They had her timed to run 11.40.

“The reality is, that my athletes are never going to run fast in January, February, March, April, May, not relative to what they’re going to run in the summer. Last year, she started at 11.80 and eventually got down to 11.19. So this year, she is starting at 11.39, so we feel very good. Beating the Jamaicans would be tough; that’s every year, but I also don’t put my athletes in a situation where they are going to fail,” Boldon said.

“So, we are ready for the challenge from the other islands and I am particularly looking forward to the challenge from the young Bajan who just ran 22.61, a second faster than she (Khalifa) has ever run in her life. She has her work cut out for her and like I tell her all the time, if it was easy anyone could do it. This is not going to look like the Carifta trails. This is the Caribbean’s best and we know how strong the Caribbean is in track and field. She will be challenged, but she is ready for it.”

In a direct response, St Fort underscored her commitment to the task and assured the people of T&T of her clear desire to make them proud.

 “The mindset I have is the same mindset I have for every single race. I go out there and perform my best. I put in the work during practice. I pray on it. All I can do is go out there and run my best,” she said.

Boldon recalled his early days with St Fort almost two years ago, after meeting her father. Back then only St Fort’s father and Boldon could see her potential.

“Khalifa came from a situation in South Florida where she was actually the overlooked and forgotten one on the team. She was the one kind of cast aside as the step child. When I saw her and met her, saw her work ethic, saw her passion and her commitment for what she wanted to be, it changed the entire direction of my life. At the time I was getting offers to go and do other things in television. I had to essentially make a decision to commit to her or pursue my own goals,” he said. 

“It’s the best decision that I could have made because she has not only proven me right, but more importantly and more rewardingly, everybody has sort of figured out what I have always known about her. So now, more than she ever she has ever felt before, she is one of us and the people who she represents are firmly behind her.”

Revisions to the Industrial Relations Act aimed at developing an improved work ethic is a priority for the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Chamber president Robert Trestrail said consultations are ongoing with the Labour Ministry and he is optimistic about a successful conclusion.

Trestrail told the T&T Guardian: “The Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development is spearheading on-going consultations on the amendment to the Industrial Relations Act. As part of the Joint chambers initiative we continue to advocate for more modern legislation which conforms with the ILO Conventions which T&T has signed. These conventions facilitate decent work and protection of workers’ rights, while simultaneously allowing business the flexibility to be competitive in the markets in which we operate.”

Trestrail said the T&T Chamber contributed to last month’s two-day National Tripartite Consultation  hosted by Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, along with other local chambers, trade unions and employee associations. 

“Considerable strides are already being made towards the restructuring of the Industrial Relations Act, with the National Tripartite Advisory Council being launched by the prime minister,” he said. 

“Through the council, the T&T Chamber intends to continue creating an enabling environment that facilitates joint dialogue and consultation, to promote consensus building and democratic involvement on national development issues.”

Trestrail said given the critical need for focused attention in the areas identified, the chamber established an Employment and Labour Relations Committee last year. It also put emphasis on creation of new commercial opportunities for the private sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Intra-regionally, said Trestrail, the chamber represented its memberships’ interest at meetings of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Guyana. Because of this, T&T has maintained its position as the lead trading partner in Caricom.

“We have also played a pivotal role in exploring increased market access opportunities throughout Latin America, by actively participating in negotiations for Partial Scope Trade Agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama. Moreover, the chamber has led the private sector into new and under-exploited markets via trade missions,” said Trestrail.

He continued, “Last June, our fully-subscribed fact-finding mission to Cuba, with approximately 20 participating companies, spoke volumes about our ability to facilitate entry into new territories and break down barriers to trade. 

“Plans are already in train for June this year, when we will lead a similar trade mission to Panama. Targeted mainly towards the agricultural sector, the mission will offer valuable benefits.”

President of the Co-operative Credit Union League of T&T (CCULTT) Joseph Remy has described the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) as a triumph for T&T’s 500,000 credit union members. 

He said so after the official signing of the MOU with Helen Brand, chief executive officer of ACCA Global at a ceremony held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre.

“This is indeed a significant hallmark in the life of our League and the credit union movement, which was assets of $12.5 billion. This means, I am sure, that our members are also your members. Many of your members are also employees at our league and credit unions. This initiative, therefore, is indeed timely and one that we are elated about.” Remy said.

“For a long time, the league has been at the forefront of many significant educational, social and financial initiatives as we have consistently sought to empower our people to take charge of their finances, their lives and futures.” 

He added that every year, the CCULTT professionally trains more than 500 persons from all walks of life in a wide and varied range of leadership courses/workshops. 

“The fundamental principle that underpins this approach to social financial development has been that individuals, acting in concert, can achieve beyond their wildest dreams. 

“The principle of relationship building in demonstrated as the League prepares to take the ACCA on our educational journey for 2016 and beyond,” he said.

In today’s ever-changing environment, Remy said, it is important to form alliances and partnerships not only add value to organisations, but also members, their families and the country. He said the league pledged its commitment to the leadership of the ACCA to ensure this new working relationship is properly leveraged.

“We strongly believe that integrity, accountability, diversity and innovation are necessary. But, these cannot go without the need for transparency and good governance standards. We know that the ACCA mentors its members along this path and we commend you. And, because we do the same, we feel assured that our country is well on its way to a stronger governance base,” said the League president.

Brand, said having local partnerships, as well as those globally, are among the ways the ACCA expands its offerings.

“I’m delighted that we are adding to these through our latest agreement with the Credit Union League. It’s wonderful that we are formalising our relationship so we can work even more closely through joint events, information and guidance. The role that credit unions play in supporting communities and nurturing enterprise cannot be underestimated and I’m very much looking forward to ACCA contribution to this,” she said,

“All of this is about listening and responding to the needs of the members and markets we serve and making sure we are at the forefront in embracing new opportunities. The responsibilities ACCA members hold already extend far beyond the traditional compliance, financial reporting and governance roles. Over the next decade, we believe they will broaden even more, as businesses rely on accountants to help them be resilient and competitive. It’s our role to ensure you remain fit for the purpose in this changing world.”

To help stimulate the T&T economy, Southern Sales and Service Limited is moving ahead with infrastructure plan to boost employment, says it chief executive Imtiaz Ahamad.

Delivering remarks at the launch of the 2016 Kia Sportage on the grounds of Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, he said: “T&T is at a turning point. We as a people need to change our mindset. Further, businesses must re-engineer and focus on the competitive advantage in order to support staff and the national economy in these challenging times. 

“We expect Government to stimulate the economy, but the level of spending will be determined by its revenue and commitments. There must be more interest and conversation on public-private partnerships and diversification and this time let us be serious and take meaningful action to drive the next cycle of growth.”

Ahamad said the company is upgrading and modernising of its service departments in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain. 

“I am pleased to inform you that designs are completed and first phase infrastructure works have begun in Port-of-Spain and started in San Fernando. These projects and others planned will contribute to the economy and will provide value added services and employment in the area of after sales to our many customers,” he said.

At the launch, Southern Sales and Service Limited together with its business partner the Kia Motor Corporation rolled out the 2016 fourth-generation Kia Sportage. Ahamad said over the last three months, Kia had introduced two new models to the T&T market, the Optima and the Sportage.

He expressed his delight that the company, which is celebrating its 64th anniversary in the automobile business, has enjoyed a 23-year relationship with the Kia Motor Corporation.

“The relationship was born at a time when the country had just opened its doors for importation of completely built vehicles or CBUs as it is known in the industry. I’m certain some of you don’t know or just barely remember models such as the Pride, Avella and Ceres. 

The current models which you are more familiar with are Rio, Cerato and K2700. The brand, much like the dealership has grown by leaps and bounds. Kia models have been showered with praise around the world,” he said.

“Over the 23-year relationship, both Kia and Southern Sales and Service have seen the coming and going of models and personnel, the improvement and modernisation of facilities and the rebirth of the brand. 

Over the years the brand has grown, it has evolved and it has blossomed into the remarkable automotive manufacturer we know today with accomplishments both locally and internationally.

JH Yang, deputy general manager at the Kia Motor Corporation’s regional headquarters in Central and South America, said with more than 1.6 million units of the third generation Sportage sold worldwide between 2010 and 2015, expectations are high regarding the sales projections of the latest addition to the line.

“With the launch of these all new generation models, we are targeting around 3.12 million annual global sales in 2016, after second consecutive-year three million-vehicle sales mark. We are on track to post our 13th consecutive year of global sales growth this year,” he said.

“Speaking of our sales in Latin (America) and Caribbean region, despite the challenging market conditions, we aim to sell around 150,000 vehicles in 2016. I have no doubt with annual sales target of more than 26,000 units (in T&T) the all new Kia Sportage will contribute significantly to our success in this year. And, for this our continued growth and progress, I’m quite confident Southern Sales and Service Company Limited will play a leading role in the Caribbean region, as one of the most co-operative and excellent Kia distributors.”

As Finance Minister Colm Imbert prepares to deliver his mid-term budget review next week, an insurance executive is appealing to him to make sure the long-delayed Insurance Bill is high on Government’s legislative agenda.

Robert Soverall, managing director of Scotia Life of T&T (Scotia Insurance) said even as the Government seeks to devise new strategies to cushion citizens from the effects the recession and the impact of falling energy prices, making the Bill law is too important not to be a priority. 

He said more than five years after revisions to the Bill were made and the document put out for public comment, it is time, for key steps in the process to be completed so that insurers can begin conducting business under modern rules. 

Citing the fallout from the Clico and Hindu Credit Union debacles, Soverall said there are increasing calls for new capitalisation measures for insurance companies among the suite of recommendations for the protection of policy holders. 

Soverall, a director on the board of the Association of T&T Insurance Companies (ATTIC), said the Central Bank had consulted with industry players for more than 60 months, during which time insurance officials were co-operative and participative with practical suggestions on the way forward for the industry.

“We fully support the most recent draft that is available and all the provisions within that Bill. For various reasons, we have not been able to pass that piece of legislation but I am sure that the new insurance legislation will be high on their priority,” he said.

“The Bill was last laid in Parliament (in July). When Parliament was prorogued in July it lapsed. What will be required now is for that Bill to be re-laid, there will probably be a Joint Select Committee (JSC) appointed to review all of the technical aspects of the Bill, because insurance legislation is very technical and Members of Parliament would probably want somebody to look at it in detail. Once the JSC reviews it, they would then recommend for both Houses to approve and I suspect that approval will come quickly thereafter,” he said. 

Soverall said the industry currently operates under the Insurance Act of 1980, which had been drafted many years before it actually came into force. He said there have been many new developments in the financial services sector and in the insurance industry since then. 

“That legislation would not necessarily have anticipated all of the developing areas, particularly with regards to products and how they are serviced and how they operate, so that legislation certainly needs to be updated. 

“There have been several amendments to that legislation, the most recent being in 2009 citing the challenges a couple of insurance company found themselves in. There were two sets of amendments in 2004 and 2007 but I believe that there is a need to have a full overhaul of the legislation. We will be very happy to see that passed quickly,” said.

About the Bill

The Insurance Bill 2015 provides a new regulatory framework for the insurance industry and provides for the regulation of privately administered pension fund plans. 

When it becomes law it will repeal the existing Insurance Act, Chap 84.01.

The Bill was introduced in the Senate on April 21, 2015 by Finance Minister Larry Howai and was debated over four sittings in the Upper House. In piloting debate of the legislation, Howai said the process of legislative reform had started several years earlier in 2001 and over that time the Central Bank can conducted extensive consultations with industry stakeholders.

At that time he told the Senate: “What we have sought to do is introduce a Bill that is fairly comprehensive. A lot of work has gone into it, a lot of feedback from their industry, a lot of participation by stakeholders, a lot of time and effort by the regulators to get to the point where we think we have a fairly comprehensive piece of legislation.”

The Bill was passed by the Upper House on May 26, with 23 voting in support, none against and four abstentions.

Howai laid the Bill in the House of Representatives on May 27 and it was debated at the sitting of May 29 but lapsed on June 17, 2015.​

Samsung has committed to modernising T&T’s education system through its Smart Classroom initiative, the technology giant’s regional marketing manager, Jennifer Donley announced on Thursday evening.

“We are actually working on focusing and enhancing and ensuring that those Smart Schools are successful in 2016 and hopefully be able to expand later in the year and of course in 2017,” she said as Samsung unveiled its latest mobile handsets and associated gear before the local media at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre.

“T&T is one of our primary markets in the Caribbean. We launched in other markets, as well, but we always launch in T&T. People in T&T are always looking for the next best thing. We have become Samsung grown here and we have a lot of followers and we have done very well, so it’s definitely a core market for us. 

“We will continue to have our launch events here. We will continue to support it. It’s very welcoming to the Samsung brand and we will continue to support the market as long as the market supports us and that’s where we are at right now.”

The Smart Classroom initiative uses tablets and educational tools to connect teachers and students. The digital classroom allows teachers to keep track of students’ progress in real time, which enables them to adjust their teaching instantaneously if they see that students are having trouble with a specific topic.

Commenting on the company’s other projects in the country, Donley said the Samsung Experience stores at Gulf City Mall, Westmall and Trincity Mall are very appealing to the public. 

She said the company takes pride in listening to its customers and many of the new features available in the next generation handsets were developed and included based on consumer request. In a deliberate effort to transform the lives of its customers, she added, Samsung introduced handsets with sleeker designs, advanced camera functionality, as well as streamlining of software aimed at pushing the limits of what traditional smartphones are capable of.

The company also addressed issues related to storage by adding an extra micro SD card slot, while increasing battery capacity and wireless charging capabilities.

Donley said gamers would be delighted to know that the Galaxy 7 and S7 include features such as Game Launcher and Vulkan API.

“We were listening to them and those were the things we incorporated back into the devices, so I think it’s a mix of new research and development, always staying innovative as we have been with these devices and it’s also about listening to our customers. I think with those two things together, we will continue to stay relevant in the market,” she said.

Donley said Samsung’s decision to establish a local office underscored its commitment to the T&T market. See Page A16

Having a clear sense of purpose as well as passion for humanitarian work are two defining traits of members of the Rotary Club of Sangre Grande. 

Dr Cyril Paltoo, the club’s first president, made the remarks while delivering the feature address at the charity’s tenth anniversary celebration, held at Hayley’s Restaurant at the Shops of Trincity, on March 20. Celebrating events in decades, he said, conveyed a sense of strength and togetherness. 

“What started off as a mere idea from the president of the Rotary Club of Maracas/St Joseph, Dr Hari Narinesingh, in 2005 has blossomed into a strong and dominant club that had begun as a provisional club in November 2005.” he said. 

“The club became eligible for full membership status with Rotary International in less than six months, a feat seldom achieved by other provisional clubs around the world, and in March 2006 we were fully chartered as the Rotary Club of Sangre Grande.”  He urged Rotarians not to lose focus on the Herculean task ahead, to assist the indigent in the community and bring smiles to the faces of those who have long forgotten what happiness means. 

Meanwhile, club president Seunarine Kumar Hardath said the one thing he had learnt was that Rotary makes a difference in lives, the lives of the less fortunate. 

“From polio eradication worldwide, bringing potable water to residents whose circumstances deprived them of this precious commodity; bringing comfort to those with physical disabilities through the provision of wheelchairs; engaging in education through literacy projects; the provision of pacemakers through Heartbeat International, we are making that major difference to those whose lives we have touched.”
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Renewable energy objectives set out by Caricom will become the saving grace of members states saddled with high energy cost, says to Niebert Blair, project officer with the Energy Caribbean Community Secretariat. She said benefits of those plans could yield results as early as next year, based in the organisation’s Caribbean Sustainable energy targets for renewable power and energy efficiency. 

The renewable energy agenda set out in the short term plan, with progress to be realised with the next ten months, includes 20 per cent renewable energy generation. Five years after that, in the medium term, the projection for development of this energy source based on calculations would be 28 per cent, with a 19 per cent hike by 2027.

Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre said laws governing the operations T&TEC and the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) will be amended to facilitate government’s renewable energy agenda. 

Despite lower global energy prices, she said, energy efficiency continues to be a priority as Government is committed to a development strategy which promotes conservation and efficiency, as well as the manner in which resources are managed. 

To ensure that the life of T&T’s resources extends to meet the needs of future generations, a target has been set that by 2030 ten per cent of T&T’s electricity generation will come from renewable sources. Blair said with importation of petroleum and related products became an even greater burden for Caricom countries, renewable energy will be an even greater priority for regional leaders.

“Energy plays a vital role in the economic development of any society. Energy is the engine for the production of goods and services across all economic sectors,” she said.

“A critical issue is that the majority of Caricom countries import petroleum in high volumes, which is the chief source of primary commercial energy. Paradoxically, the majority of countries have vast renewable energy resources which remain to be developed. They are ideally suited for development of cost effective renewable energy systems, with ample wind, biomass, solar and other resources.”

Blair said energy systems across the region continue to depend on expensive, imported fossil fuels, with electricity and transport sectors  characterised by small volumes and inefficient fuel use which result in high energy prices. 

“In essence, the confluence of the aforementioned actions will likely empower Caricom countries to transform their energy situation from their current state of inefficiency with dependence of mostly expensive, imported fossil-fuels to one in which their domestic and productive sectors are powered through cost effective, efficient indigenous sources,” she said.

She said other benefits to the plan include  reducing the volume of GDP while preserving foreign exchange resources spent to pay for energy imports.

Blair said in April 2008  the Caricom Secretariat embarked on the Energy Programme which is a departure from the traditional “project approach” and facilitates greater responsiveness in carrying out the energy related mandates through a harmonised approach.

“In March, 2013, Caricom member states adopted a regional energy policy. The policy called for a transformation of the energy sector in the region and identifies a number of common strategic objectives. Key among these are energy efficiency; secure energy supplies; and trade in energy, especially as this related to the impact on relative competitiveness in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and purchasing and transportation arrangements,” she said.

Carifta Under-18 gold medallist Tyriq Horsford and sprint champion Akanni Hislop will return to competition in two weeks, to display their remarkable athleticism at the Secondary School Track and Field Championships.

They will show off their skills at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook during the two-day meet from April 20 to 21. The meeting is expected to attract more than 500 athletes from state and privately-funded education centres.

Philip Allard, president of the Secondary Schools Track and Field Association, expressed his excitement about Horsford’s and Hislop’s participation under the banner of the Tobago Zone of the organisation.

Anticipation related to the Championships had been heightened with news that defending champions Toco Secondary School indicated that its athletes intended to represent the school with merit, again, this year.

“Our sport at this point in time is a zone sport. Even though we have top girls school and boys school, it’s a zone sports and Tobago is the defending zone for the longest while. So they are always looking forward to come, to participate and win again. They have about two Carifta gold medallists.

So they have some really good athletes in there. They are coming with as many athletes as have qualified.

“A meet is a goal where they could test themselves to see where they have reached, where they can test themselves by their compatriots and the other athletes. So, this is a big step for all the athletes in schools to test their abilities with other athletes, those who are coming from Carifta. If I were an athlete, certainly, I would be testing my ability to compete with those athletes,” Allard said.

He continued, “The Ministry of Education is very happy for anything that could be done to develop students holistically. The ministry of education has been our major sponsor for the longest while. We still need other sponsors, however, for other types of prizes, other than medals that will motivate students. We want to give schools prizes in relation to helping them fix their sporting facilities, that kind of thing. 

“So, whereas the ministry of education has been doing quite well for medals and for refreshment and the like transport, there are other things we think would be necessary from a sponsor. So the winning school may get new equipment, that kind of stuff. That is the way we would like to go.”
The organising committee had cause for further excitement citing a deal to be signed with regional broadcaster Digicel SportsMax.

Allard was convinced that the latest development would bolster the reputation of the Secondary School track and field circuit. 

He said his team welcomed this latest development, citing the slow pace of corporate assistance for the staging of the meeting, which had been around for more than three decades. Despite issues related to supporting sponsors, however, the education ministry remained the title sponsor of the event. 

Allard continued, “We want to bring more excitement. That is why we have started a process of having a media launch, marketing. What I have seen, in T&T we are not a paying public.

“Most of our sports suffered from a lack of spectators. We believe we may be able to start a process of filling a stadium through secondary school sports, through proper marketing. There must be sponsorship of course, and an organisation like Digicel Sportsmax to televise it globally. That may spur on students to participate. It may motivate people to come to the sports knowing that this thing is being televised.”

Asked about his organisation’s relationship with the governing National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA), he said it was a work in progress.

Scotia Life of T&T (Scotia Insurance) earned more than $100 million for its parent company Scotiabank of T&T in 2015, strengthening the financial institution’s position, while improving dividends to shareholders. The nation’s third largest insurer posted another strong performance for the period under review to boost after tax profits, said managing director Robert Soverall. 

Financials announced at Scotiabank’s Annual General Meeting held at the Hyatt highlighted the subsidiary’s financial health. In the 12 years since it commenced operations, Scotia Insurance has grown at an annual rate of 20 per cent per. 

Soverall said: “In 2015, we contributed 20 per cent of Scotiabank’s after tax earnings in T&T. So, from the public financials, you would see that Scotiabank made $566 million. Scotia Life contributed 20 per cent of that. 

“Scotia Insurance made $110 million after tax in fiscal 2015. It’s a business we have found to be very complementary to the banking business and customers are already very comfortable with the risk profile of Scotiabank.

“Scotiabank is one of the top 20 banks in the world. We found that the insurance business is just another financial services product customers’ need in their financial planning. Our customers have found us to be very attractive.”

Soverall said Scotia Insurance started in April 2004 “at ground zero” and has grown gradually.

“We haven’t acquired portfolios from anybody. It’s all been organic growth, so that we have been growing at fairly high double digits to the point where we have now surpassed a number of the smaller insurance companies.

“There are only two life insurance companies with gross premium income larger than Scotia Insurance.” 

Soverall said the organic approach was working well for Scotia Insurance. There are challenges when acquiring the portfolios of other companies, he said, but Scotiabank is always on the look-out for good investments and will consider them, without any commitment, if they add value to the business. 

While the company’s retirement savings and children education products have done well, there is also the universal life–which allowed clients to accumulate funds and have insurance protection and a retirement product that could be registered with the board of Inland Revenue. Policy holders get the tax relief up to $50,000 on a registered annuity. 

Soverall explained, “We believe that in times when people are concerned about the economy, there is a role for insurance companies to play in helping people to prepare for those difficult times that may lie ahead. 

“What you might find is, for pure protection products: life insurance and funeral insurance, customers may see that as an expense that is discretionary and in difficult times they may cut back on those products. But the saving type products like universal life, which is a combination of protection and saving, people tend to gravitate towards those products and may invest more in those products. They can build a larger emergency fund or a nest egg for the future.” 

There are no plans for a roll out of new products in the immediate future but Scotia Insurance agents are educating existing and potential clients about the policy which addresses final rights without burdening children or dependants. 

“That’s selling very well. We also started a high coverage universal life product with a critical illness rider, because a lot of people –while deaths benefits are important to take care of their dependents.

“A lot of our clients are also concerned about living benefits, so in the event they were diagnosed with critical illness they can take care of the medical expenses and have a comfortable life,” said Soverall.

Officials of Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF), producer of the National Schools Soca Monarch (NSSM) competition,  have received the best validation for their efforts towards the cultivation and promotion of the art form from the artistes they cater to.

Stefan Camejo, winner of the primary category of the contest, his brother Sergio Camejo, runner-up in the secondary school division, and Osei David, who placed fourth in the latter category, lauded the vision and commitment of the CPF at the prize distribution ceremony held at the National Lotteries Control Board Hospitality Suite at the Queen’s Park Oval on Tragarete Road in Port-of-Spain.

Stefan said he thought the competition was tight,  especially in the secondary school category.

“My category was tight too, but not as tight as the secondary school’s. I was really frightened for my brother, Sergio.

“The results for primary schools was first. So when the results (for secondary) was coming I was like, please, please, please, please. And when he came second, I was like, oh gosh, right. I thought that the competition was a really good competition…really good entertainment,” he said, confidently.

David, runner-up in the secondary class, followed the theme of Camejo and declared this year’s production of NSSM as “really nice.”

“I really enjoyed it. It just shows the talent we have in the Schools Soca Monarch. I think we can stand up together as youths and squeeze out those older guys in a couple years.”

Peter Scoon, chairman of CPF, intervened, smiling, and said: “Not squeeze out, join them. Don’t squeeze them out.”

Guests erupted in peals of laughter.

Up next was the elder Camejo (Sergio) who appealed to masters of ceremonies to ease up on the suspense they create when calling competition results. He told the audience he did not believe his heart could have dealt with the drama associated with the process. 

Camejo called on the organisers to increase the number of rehearsals with the band contracted to provide musical accompaniment with the deliberate aim of enhancing the presentations. 

“But the musical content of this competition, this year was beautiful. People had a lot of (good) lyrical content and the music was amazing. I have to commend you all for that,” he said.

Scoon, in delivering the feature address, expressed his frustration over the absence of Education Minister Anthony Garcia from the distribution of prizes to competitors in this year’s event.

“The Minister, Anthony Garcia cannot make it. He’s actually tied up in a meeting at the university. He sends his...I’m very disappointed anyway, because it seems like this is happening over and over; that the children, the most important part of the country, and the industry are being ignored. 

“There is no other representative here from the Ministry of Education, unfortunately, but let’s trod on because we have a very important bunch of youths in front of us who are taking soca to the next level in T&T.” 

He went on to express gratitude to the education ministry, however, for the state agency’s financial contribution, hoping that the minister was seeing the value of the competition to the society at large.

Citing the quality of the competition and texture of the content, the CPF official hinted at plans to streamline the development of the nation’s artistes over the next 15 years, in the interim, starting by the middle of the year and with new investment from the State. 

“Soca is the number one export product in the entertainment industry. We will also like to use this as a tool to keep the children off the streets and to give others a career path. 

“NSSM started as a National Schools Soca Monarch, but we intend next year to drop the (word) schools totally and make it the National Junior Soca Monarch, because there are a lot of young people who are not part of the school system who want to get involved also; who are very talented and come from a lot of depressed areas. 

“We would really like to help to get them off the streets,” said Scoon.

Leaders of three business groups have applauded efforts to reduce the bureaucracy in accessing goods and services from the state. They did so following the recent launch of the TTBiz Link platform.

Ramesh Ramdeen, CEO of the T&T Manufacturer’s Association (TTMA), Ravi Suryadevara, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of T&T (AmChamTT) and Shiva Roopnarine, president of the Penal/Debe Chamber of Commerce said the portal is in keeping with recommendations made by their respective organisations.

Now in its third phase of development with more than 6,500 registered users, TTBiz Link hosts 45 transactional e-services administered by 24 government departments across nine separate ministries. It has reduced duplication of information across multiple agencies and improved information sharing among statutory organisations.

Government will be working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for further development of the system.

Ramdeen said he expects the new servicest to enhance the business environment by reducing the length of time it takes to get business done.

“The only concerns we have is the back-up systems in place, because our experience with the TTBiz Link framework is that sometimes when it shuts down it creates havoc. They need to have a good back-up system in place,” he said.

He called for an the system to be expanded to include on-line applications for passports and driver’s permits.

“In the United States for example, you can stay home and get your driver’s permit. We would like to see TTBiz Link move in that particular direction,” Ramdeen said.

Roopnarine, meanwhile, is calling for access to TTBiz Link to be expanded.

He said: “You had to fill out eight forms for the maritime services. That is now condensed into one form that goes out to different people. The information you submit to one agency can be shared among others. In business, there is a lot of red tape in doing stuff. Sometimes simple things like this could take you days. Now, you are talking about a matter of minutes you could get it done.”

Suryadevara, described the unveiling of the service as a tremendous step forward that had been long awaited.

“This, in addition to the work we have been pushing the Government to do with the Exchequer Act to facilitate on-line payments, will help with compliance and collection,” he said.

A decision by officials at the House of Angostura to host a biennial Global Cocktail Challenge bolstered both the brand and T&T internationally, says the company’s senior manager for corporate communications Giselle Laronde-West.

The contest, which saw mixologists from around the world matching skills, using blends under the Angostura label, helped those products to successfully trend the global spirits market, while securing places against more established rival brands.

Speaking on the topic Becoming a Global Citizen and Brand Ambassador at a Powerful Ladies of T&T (Plott) monthly cocktail event at the Angostura Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, La Ronde-West said over the years it had been “awesome” to see rums distilled by Angostura move from being “a little Trini ting” to featuring well-known bars like Limantour in Mexico, The Nomad in New York, USA, and The Rum Exchange in Toronto, Canada.

The biennial Global Cocktail Challenge proved to be an ideal strategy in the promotion of brand Angostura

“Every year, Angostura spends thousands of dollars ensuring that those who sell our products or use them to create exciting and exotic cocktails really understand that they come from this twin-island Republic–T&T.

“We do more than create products. We build an army of ambassadors who go out and represent Angostura and by extension, T&T. 

“This year alone, we had finalists from South Africa, T&T, USA, Latin America, Canada, St Maarten, New Zealand, Sweden, Russia, South Korea and the United Kingdom. They each have become brand ambassadors in their countries for the House of Angostura and all our products; same with all prior finalists,” Laronde-West said.

“This year alone, globally, we had 900 entries for the competition from 36 countries, which was whittled down to 287 global finalists competing in their regions and eventually to the 12 finalists who competed here in Trinidad. 

“I am sure most of you do not know that our own Neal Ramdhan won this competition. So T&T has yet again been put on the map for the second time; Daniyel Jones being our last Trini winner. Angostura is truly a global citizen and brand ambassador of T&T and because of our exposure, we really feel connected to the world.”

Laronde-West said Angostura was no longer just a company based in Trinidad selling rums and bitters, but one with products in more than 170 countries around the world. 

“We have certainly become a global citizen, residing in far-off lands, in hundreds of bars, where the name Angostura is almost common as the word bar itself. Every bar we go into has either heard about our Angostura aromatic bitters or is using it. So it is easier to tell them about our rums as they already know the quality of our bitters,” she said.

“The journey had not been easy. It took years of trial and error, both in the taste of our products on a variety of international native palettes and the creativity of our packaging, understanding that what may work in our colourful island may not work in a city like Milan. 

“From the shape and style of the bottle to the cover that protects its contents, our production and sales and marketing teams worked and continue to work, tirelessly and meticulously to produce high quality, competitively priced and unique products that are worthy of selling to the wider human race.”

The time has come to cultivate beach cricket and the eventual marketing of this version of the sport, in an effort to boost this country’s sport tourism efforts says Baldath Mahabir executive member of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB).

But he did not stop there. He even suggested a name for the championship: T&T’s World Famous Easter Beach Cricket Festival and went on to declare it could be another opportunity to brand T&T as having the World’s First Beach Cricket Facility.

“Our Ministry of Sport has recognised windball cricket and is putting on a big windball show in the Diego Martin area. As we look futuristic and the role of cricket as a contributor to economic diversification, beach cricket comes to mind. Our Caribbean is historically well known for our beaches and now we are the best T20 team in the world. Let’s act now as a people to make T20 our own.

Kenya owns distance running, Jamaica is a sprint sensation, India, owns IPL, now T&T owns T20. We may be struggling in the longer format, but we are undoubtedly the kings and queens of the shortest format,” he said.

Mahabir continued, “What if we combine our beaches with cricket? Say a facility about 250 by 250 with an all weather cricket pitch and the outfield is total beach and sand, ringed with coconut trees and other tropical flora and fauna overlooking Maracas, Mayaro and one of Tobago’s beautiful beaches? Young men and women, engaged in beach cricket entertaining spectators in our beautiful, engaging tropical locations, to the sound of the sea, mixed with the rhythms of pulsating Caribbean music.”

The TTCB official expressed the view that cricketing nations should not let the successes of the U-19 50-over team, as well as the T20 men and women teams be allowed to go by quietly.

He said the Azim Bassarath-led TTCB executive lauded the tremendous performances delivered by the World champions and that plaudits were not reserved for the players, but extended to team officials and technical staff, as well.

Words, said Mahabir, were not enough to describe the feat of the Windies cricketers, citing that winning one title was difficult; two was a dream; and although the third seemed impossible, it was achieved. 

He reminded guests of the U-19s success in Bangladesh which set the course for the wave of success that followed. But Mahabir was careful not to undervalue the crucial level of investment from the National Gas Company (NGC), BGTT and PowerGen have and continued to make.

Mahabir hailed NGC for its unswerving partnership with the TTCB as the men and women team sponsor at the Caribbean T20, Champions League and now the Nagico Super50, while BGTT’s role in the inter-zone youth competitions across four age groups since 1995 won company officials kudos.

In the case of PowerGen, its tribute was for ensuring that Secondary Schools cricket was alive and energised, while creating opportunities for students to participate and develop for national, regionally and international duty.

“Let’s go back a bit and trace how all this became possible: Standford T20 into the Caribbean T20 and then the World Champions 2012 and now CPL. T&T is a major force in Caribbean and World T20 at all levels. As (the) Red Force, we qualified for three of four, Champions League: reaching the final once, then (the) semi-final another time, while the weather affected us the third time out in South Africa. At that time, the Red Force was the winningest T20 team in the world with a success rate of over 70 per cent,” he said.

Mahabir added, “It is T&T that gave the world the Bravo brothers, (Kieron) Pollard, (Samuel) Badree, (Denesh) Ramdin, (Sunil) Narine, (Lendl) Simmons, (Ravi) Rampaul and (Evin) Lewis as world champions. And, now we are following suit with the women Merissa (Aguilleira), Britney (Cooper), Stacey-Ann (King) and Anisa (Mohammed) and our youth Jyd (Goolie) and Kirstan (Kallicharan).

None of this would have been possible without a vision, a plan and execution of that plan. The many successes of the TTCB’s development plans are well documented. Every one of our World Cup champions has represented T&T at youth level. Ramdin and Narine were captains.”

As the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) prepares to mark the 100-day count down to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games this August, champion shot putter Cleopatra Borel is clear as to her approach in the run up to the prestigious championships. 

“I am taking responsibility for my (Rio 2016) Olympic experience and I am doing my very best,” says the five-time First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year recipient.

Borel said: “That’s all I can do. I can’t control anything else. I’m going to do my very best and where that puts me, I’ll be happy with it, because I worked extremely hard to get to this point. My coach and I are getting ready for World Indoors and we have a solid plan going into Rio. So based on how things have gone thus far, I am really happy. 

“This year, I am working on my strength and trying to make sure that I do the things that I do well…that I am doing them great. So I am working on my technique and all the little things that make my shot-put goals go a little bit further. I’m working on being the best Cleo I can be, not really trying for perfection, but for being the best at what I do, well.” 

Borel, the 2015 Pan American gold medal winner, is in Havana, Cuba, at the Pan American Stadium, as part of an annual training camp for local athletes. London 2012 gold medal winner Keshorn Walcott; Shakeel Waithe (javelin), Quincy Wilson (discus and shot put) were also there with coach Ishmael Mastrapa Lopez.

The Sportswoman of the Year said being the first woman to bring home a Pan Am gold medal was undoubtedly her biggest accomplishment last year.

“2015 was a good year for me, more so because I felt I became more and more consistent. I’ve been working on my consistency so that when I get to Rio, God’s willing, it’s going to be easier for me. I spent the last four years working extremely hard, so that the actual Olympics will be easy in terms of training hard and competing easy. 

“I am looking forward to being consistent; being consistent technically and going out there and doing my best. In 2015, I was really happy to have a couple meets over 19 metres: to win some meets; to have my best throw of 19.26 metres; my best throw in a number of years,” Borel recalled. 
She added: “I retain my top ten ranking in the world and to win the Pan American Games (gold medal) was just tremendous. It took a lot of work from me, my coach, and the entire team. It was just tremendous. I’m really happy that things are coming together and the work of a lot of people and support of a lot of people is really coming together. 2015 was important to my career because when you are at this stage of the game you need to be consistent. It’s really tough for me to go through a bad year and keep going. So 2015 was so great, it set me up mentally to take on 2016 and to do whatever is necessary, from a legal stand point of course, to perform well in 2016. And, it really helps with your motivation, just being able to go out there and do your best.”

About her FC Sportswoman of the Year nomination and ultimate win, the shot putter said no one should underestimate the power of the award. It felt really good, she said, to still be in contention for the top female athlete award, citing that it had become a lot more competitive over the years.

She recalled being at the elite athlete gym at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook, when she received the call about the nomination. Borel said an expression of surprise and feeling of delight gripped her on hearing the news, citing 2015 was a good year for accomplishments among women in sport.

Asked if she had commissioned the building of a cabinet to house her awards, the champion shot putter replied, laughing, “I have not built a cabinet to hold my new trophies. I will like to have a house first. Home ownership is something that I have been attempting to achieve for a very long time. 

“First I have to own a home and then I can build a cabinet to hold trophies. When I received word that I was nominated for the FC Award, I was grateful that I did not retire after the 2012 Olympic Games, because really since then, I’ve had some of my best times in track and field. So, I really enjoy going to the awards ceremonies because it’s really a time to take a moment and reflect on the year. Sometimes as athletes, we forget about past accomplishment and we’re always looking forward and grinding and trying to get better for the next meet.”

Describing herself as a “very forward looking athlete” Borel said, awards ceremonies gave her and her entire team the opportunity to look back and be grateful, as it was important to retain gratitude on life’s journey.

“When life and training is difficult, it motivates you, but it also helps you to keep going. I have learnt to have a lot of fate in my abilities, fate in who I am and where I come from and all the amazing things and people that are behind me and are supporting me; and all the knowledge that if you put your mind to something and you are willing to do the work and work at it, you can really accomplish anything,” Borel said.

She continued: “For me it’s incredible because I did not have that kind of fate prior to the last half of my career. I always worried about my future and different things. But now I know that I can take the discipline and work ethic that I’ve developed in track and field into other areas of my life, post (my) track and field career.” 

Southern Sales and Service Company Limited has increased its share of the T&T’s car market from 17 to 23 per cent and brand director Shiraz Ahamad said this achievement during 2015 came about even as other automotive companies were reporting declines.

In addition to the popular Kia range for which Ahamad has specific responsibility, Southern Sales also sells the Audi, Mazda, and Isuzu brands locally. 

He said the company’s growth is the result of its leadership model where its owners are involved in the company’s daily operations. He told the T&T Guardian: “Southern Sales, started from very small and humble beginnings in San Fernando. 

 there we grew to three generations strong with over 60 years of continuous successful business and now proudly represents four strong international brands—Mazda, Isuzu, Audi and Kia—all very widely accepted and successful in both T&T and internationally. 

“In addition to having two locations in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain and an agent in Tobago, we can also boast of having the number one corporate car rental and leasing division in T&T. Southern Sales employs over 400 members of staff to support our sales, after sales, car rental and leasing and other divisions in the group.”

Ahamad said the company’s  success is due to the vision of his father, the late Nazir Ahamad. He spoke fondly of his father’s passion for the automotive world and his unique and result oriented business savvy which earned him the respect and admiration of the business community.

“In 2010, Kia held a market share of 8.5 per cent in T&T. Today Kia controls a commanding 14 per cent market share and growing, making it one of the fastest growing auto brands in T&T. 

“Customers love Kia’s innovation and its detail to meeting the changing needs of today’s customers. Customers love Kia’s innovation and its detail to meeting the changing needs of today’s customers. 

The result has been total satisfaction from our customers who love the car’s dynamic and different look, with lots of features and benefits all put together giving the customer more for less,” he said.

Ahamad said Southern Sales is focusing on customer development and retention programmes, upgraded service facilities and experiences for the customers as the long term relationship begins after the sale.

“The future looks very bright for Kia, for this company, our customers and T&T, as we continue to make our dream cars easier for our customers to own and enjoy,” he said.

“Today, Kia is represented in 172 countries with over 43,000 employees and produces 1.5 million vehicles annually from its manufacturing and assembly plants in eight countries. Over the past few years, we have experienced one of the most successful periods in Kia’s history, highlighted by Kia’s twelfth consecutive year of worldwide sales growth and first place ranking among non-premium brands in JD Power’s initial quality study in 2015.”

By a vote of seven to three, Chad Appoo beat out Chenelle Dookeeram for the 11th and final spot for travel to Spain, on Monday, ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Manchester United and Real Madrid. 

A panel of judges comprising winners of the ten previous spots in the Heineken 2016 UEFA Champions League (UCL) promotion titled ‘Join The Team’ gave Appoo the honour as the 11th man bound for Europe.

Guardian Media Ltd’s Kevaughn “Lerbz” Savoury and independent DJ Patrick Anthony made the announcement at Wednesday’s season finale of the contest held at All Out Sports Bar on Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain.

From a slate of five finalists, it came down to Appoo and Dookeeram. To get to this stage of the contest, however, contestants with the hope of being drafted had to prove their knowledge of the sport as witnessed during a question and answer segment. Later, hopefuls were seen speed walking around the establishment awaiting Heineken models with items of clothing to be worn as their team uniforms.

Contenders had to demonstrate superior footwork by juggling the ball five times without having it touch the floor. Appoo and Dookeeram were neck-and-neck.

Then, before a panel that comprised the ten previous drafts in this year’s campaign: Kendal Latchman, Damian Baboolal, Shahinder Singh, Clive Thomas, Sheldon Chong, Adrian Foncette, Luzanne Fadahunsi, Chema Mark, Sheldon Augustine an Sherkifa Baptiste, Champions League hopefuls had to make a case, articulating what made one more deserving than the other.

At the end of the process, Appoo emerged winner and brought down the curtains on the exciting process to complete the selection of the Heineken T&T team off the UEFA Champions League 2016. 

Jamaican Chadwick Walton and countrywoman and badminton star Katherine Wynter were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 2016 at Wednesday’s inaugural RBC Royal Bank sponsored University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice-Chancellors Sports Awards.

Held at the Daaga Auditorium, St Augustine Campus, UWI, Walton, 30, a right-handed West Indies batsman and wicketkeeper won favour with the panel to beat out Barbados athletics star Fallon Forde, Jamaican cricketer Rovman Powell and T&T Taekwondo champion Edson Breedy.

Wynter, meanwhile, copped the award over St Lucians Abigail Fedee and Nerissa Augustin for netball, and T&T’s Avoni Seymour in the sport of volleyball. Under the banner of the university’s four campuses: Cave Hill, Mona, Open and St Augustine, eight athletes were shortlisted.

Walton and Forde represented Cave Hill, while Wynter and Powell were the Mona Campus champions. Fedee and Augustin flew the flag of the Open Campus, while Seymour and Breedy led the charge for the team St Augustine.

Four special awards were bestowed on the night. The recipients were: West Indies test captain Jason Holder, his teammate Jason Holder, female cricketer Deandra Dottin and 2013 World Athletics Championships 400m hurdle winner Jehue Gordon.

But originators of the awards concept did not base the prize on athleticism alone. The excellence displayed by athletes during competition had to be replicated in the classroom, too.

Walton, in his rise to become the UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Sportsman of the Year was best able epitomise these qualities. In his pursuit of a Masters in Sport Science, with a first degree was in accounting, he served as captain of the UWI Blackbirds cricket team and he led the team to capture all three titles in the Barbados Cricket Association’s elite division in 2015. Walton’s duties on the field also included the West Indies A team, the West Indies Senior team and the Jamaica Tallawahs, none of which disrupted his academic progress. 

Staying true to her academic pursuits did not deny Wynter gold and bronze medals at the recently held Jamaica International Badminton Tournament, either.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, said, each morning when he looked at a photograph of Usain Bolt and Kelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, he wondered why “students had to choose…students with natural athletic ability. Why should they have to choose as to whether they should pursue their God given talent or to go off to college? Why not do both? When I was 17 years old, I have the option of being a professional cricketer or going off to college. And, I had two letters in my hands: an acceptance letter to a university and an offer to be a professional cricketer. 

It was a very difficult decision to make, but I chose to go off to college. I have been a frustrated cricketer ever since, because the fact is, it has been my sole ambition in life to play cricket for the WI.”

Lamenting seeing too many young people forced to make that difficult choice, he declared that the UWI had stepped up to offer young people in the Caribbean and opportunity to do both simultaneously. 

“We love Jehue (Gordon). We celebrated his phenomenal achievement. We all jump off our sofas and said that’s a UWI man. When Jason Holder led the WI test team out on the field, we all said yes! That’s a UWI student. 

It is true that when Carlos Brathwaite struck those four consecutive sixes and the whole Caribbean jumped for joy, the UWI fraternity jumped even higher, because he was the university’s cricket captain. We are citizens of a civilisation that is rich and over blessed with sporting talent. 

In fact, no other civilisation in the world has produced as many brilliant international sportsmen and sportswomen per capita than the Caribbean. It is a phenomenal achievement which we must never take for granted,” said Sir Hilary.

He continued, “But all the time we have taken it for granted. Who could not have imaged 20 years ago, that the WI as a test team would be a lowly test team? It was beyond our imagination. 

“I have asked the Jamaican community to imagine 20 years from today a Jamaican unable to attain a medal in the Olympic 100-metres. Right now that is beyond their imagination, but these things do happen and when they do, we have to ask the question: who should be held responsible? Who should be held accountable when a society losses excellence? My discipline is economic history and I know that the Swiss have been making the finest time pieces for 600 hundred years: en entire civilisation mobilised ensuring that excellence, once achieved is never lost.”