PRASHAD: WILHELMINA SURSATI of 24 First Avenue, Mt. Lambert died peacefully on Saturday 6th December, 2014. Daughter of Finey (dec) and Rampersad Singh (dec). Beloved wife of Stephen Madan Prashad(dec). Devoted mother of Robert, Juliet, Susanna( dec), Reginald, John (dec), Adonis and Sharon. Sister of Chaitan Singh. Sister- in-law of John (dec) Rita (dec) Elaine, Fidelis, Maureen and Wahid Baksh. Mother-inlaw of Estrella (dec), Irma, Rosemarie and Ian Lewis. Grandmother of Peter, Vladi, Genieva, Nicola, Nicholas, Ashley, Sarah, Marie & Robert Jr. Great Grandmother of Allysa, Zachary, John, Xaviera, Gabriel and Talia. Funeral service for the late Wilhelmina Prashad takes place at 10:00am on Wednesday 10th December, 2014 at the Mt. Lambert R.C Church, 8th Street, Mt Lambert thence to the Tunapuna Public Cemetery. Enquiries, Lee?s Funeral Directors, 50 EMR St Augustine, 663-1010.

While it is recognised in law that each state has the sovereign right to determine how it treats with its illegal population either through regularisation of residence, deportation, or any other means, the recent incident relative to the 15 people from Ghana warrants attention, if only on the statement coming from the Attorney General that “no one is above the law.” 

He saw no contradiction in two of his statements when he first said, “The State will remain flexible and open in hearing each case and will be fair, based on the evidence provided,” but later added, “No one is above the law and all illegal immigrants will be treated in the same manner.”  So which is it, Mr AG? Is it that people will be treated fairly? Or will they all be treated in the same manner? Will they all be placed on a plane and sent back to their native land? 

I am also of the view that it is a complete waste of time and energy to question the ridiculous $2.6 million cost of a state airline. Questioning this is analogous to questioning the $57 million guesstimate to rebuild 400 metres of roadway on the Mayaro-Manzan Road before the flood waters receded, the $6 million firetruck fiasco, or the $8 million commission of inquiry on the baby whose head was cut during the botched C-section.  

On one hand we have been told that each ministry was advised of the need to reduce spending by $45 million. Yet we have been told that Christian churches will receive $55 million during this Yuletide season. Meanwhile, we are bombarded with propaganda messages of “your government working for you.” Isn’t that the most basic function of a government? 

But if we are deporting people who are here illegally, then why the focus on Africa and Jamaica? Are Guyanese above the law? Are Chinese and Indians from India above the law? How do you explain illegal Guyanese citizens receiving homes from HDC, when taxpaying citizens of this republic have been waiting in vain, AG?  

People usually leave their homeland in search of better opportunities. Many of our own citizens travel abroad in search of opportunities. A significant number of them in the 1970s travelled to the US of A and worked illegally as domestic help, until they got their employers to “file their papers.” As a result, many of our young people today have opportunities and enjoy a better standard of living. 

T&T is to Guyana, China and many African states what the US of A is to Caribbean people. On one hand we condemn the US for deporting our citizens, yet we fail to hear the cries and the pleas of the less fortunate of our fellow men, simply based on the state in which they were born. Striking a balance of humanitarian concern should be paramount in how we treat with our fellowman, regardless of the information on one’s birth certificate.

None of us chose where we were born, Mr AG. Until the day that law is guided by compassion—a foreign concept to lawyers, who refuse to see our fellow human beings as brothers and sisters, we can give billions to churches, mosques and mandirs to purchase votes and still end up in hell. 

Rudy Chato Paul Sr
D’Abadie

It is an uphill struggle trying to keep the Partnership government looking good. This is a democracy and with both main parties competing for electoral supremacy there is an overwhelming need to jealously guard each word spoken and each ministerial move. 

How does the Prime Minister sharing out Christmas gifts to the nation’s children compare with her approving the deportation of 15 people (not 50, not 150) at great expense to taxpayers? Why charter a plane when for the past few days the price of oil keeps falling? Why deport illegals to only one country which just happens to be in Africa? Why not wait until a fair number of other illegals from other countries have been processed so that this Government does not have to be condemned as racist? 

If there are over 100,000 illegals, how incompetent does this Government make itself look that not even 500 people are being readied for deportation? The flight out to Ghana looks more like an illegal abduction rather than legal deportation. At this Christmas time, why not allow the families to say goodbye? Fifteen families should have been reunited if only for 15 minutes. 

Will there be extra presents for the distraught children? Where is the political profit in this nonsensical and expensive flight? The Government did not save enough money to cover the amount of votes lost.

Lynette Joseph
Via e-mail

First the 11 Ghanaians and now the two Chinese, which is barely the tip of the iceberg. Let’s do the math. If we can deport Nigerians and Chinese who come from thousands of miles/kilometres away, then it should be a lot cheaper to deport the “tens of thousands” of Venezuelans and Guyanese who sell on the streets of our capital and cities and towns who “don’t pay taxes,” as the National Security Minister said so many times recently.  

We can literally see Venezuela from Trinidad, and Guyana is next to Venezuela. More illegals deported means more “water, housing, higher pay in jobs, more healthcare” to access, and the list goes on. Unlike Mr Kambon, who doesn’t seem to be “patriotic” but more concerned about Africans than T&T citizens, I have been advocating for years via various media that we need to fix T&T first. 

Please wake up T&T before its too late. 

M Hernandez

Out-of-favour Soca Warriors defender Julius James and striker Trevin Caesar ended off the season in the North American Soccer League (NASL) on a high after helping the San Antonio Scorpions to the 2014 Soccer Bowl Championships title on Sunday, the club’s first NASL title and the first ever professional soccer title for the city of San Antonio as well.

Founded in 2010, Scorpions made their debut in the NASL in 2012 and playing at Toyota Field, edged Ft Lauderdale Strikers 2–1 in front of 7,847 fans, a modern league record for attendance in the championship game.

For the James-skippered Scorpions, striker Rafael Castillo was the unquestionable man-of-the-match with a second half performance that will go down in Scorpions lore. 

In the 69th minute, Josue Soto sent a cross from the left side of the pitch towards the top of the Strikers’ 18-yard-box where Castillo had run into space. 

Castillo’s back was toward goal, but his eye was on the ball as he leapt into the air, scissored his legs and then struck an overhead bicycle kick that he zipped towards the upper left of the Ft Lauderdale goal past Strikers’ goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky.

Eleven minutes later, Castillo turned creator when he sent rookie Billy Forbes in on goal all alone and the Turks and Caicos native rounded the goalie and neatly side-footed the eventual game winner into the goal.

Just as the crowd started to sense a title, Ft Lauderdale drew one back to make the final ten minutes stressful for the home crowd. 

Former Scorpion Walter Ramirez received the return pass of a one-two with Mark Anderson and finished past Josh Saunders in the 79th minute.

Earlier on Ft Lauderdale had the opportunity to take the lead in the 64th minute when Elizondo was called for a foul in the penalty area and referee Ted Unkel called for a penalty kick to be taken, but it was muffed by Martin Nunez as his attempt caromed off the crossbar and out of play.

Scorpions’ first appearance in a Championship match was earned after it defeated New York Cosmos 2–1 in San Antonio, courtesy of a goal in extra time.

The Strikers finished as runner-up in 1980 and 2011, and headed into the match after upsetting top-seed Minnesota United FC in the semifinal round. 

Strikers forward Martin Nuñez struck a stoppage-time equaliser to force the match into extra time and eventually a penalty kick shootout, where Kamil Contofalsky came up with two big saves to send the Strikers into The Championship Final.

The newly crowned historic Soccer Bowl Champions were also runners-up in the 2014 Woosnam Cup and is coached by Canadian-born Alen Marcina.

November 29 was one of the most memorable days in racing in T&T. For the first time in my generation, six renowned UK jockeys rode on our shores. The last time that happened was when legendary Lester Piggott rode in the 1960s. Lanfranco Dettori and his companions are household names in every betting shop and turfite home in this country. While the sextet did not win in the Championship Series, turfites were thrilled to witness Dettori and Kieron Fallon both scoring bloodless victories. 

In the series, turfites saw the six top jockeys but would have been thrilled by the rides of Ronald Ali, Brian Boodramsingh and Omar Walker. The rides of Ali and Walker in particular are worthy of mention. The former withstood the patented power-packed finish of Fallon on the well fancied The Tactician to win the first race on the hitherto maiden, Kodo. Kodo had previously failed to finish higher than third in 15 lifetime starts, but the quality ride from Ali made owner Reyaz Ahamad a smiling man. The fact that a lesser fancied horse was able to hold off a more fancied rival spoke volumes for the riding acumen of the jockey.

In Walker’s case, he produced outsider Lang Amour to wear down favourite Thisonesforron, ridden by Tom Queally in the final 50 metres. Again, here was a Caribbean rider outfinishing a more illustrious international rival. Photos of them getting the better of their international rivals will surely adorn the walls of their living room for eternity. In the case of Boodramsingh it is not his fault that the mounts of the international sextet did not figure in the finish but he also showed his skill by outriding his Barbadian and Jamaican counterparts in the final 100 metres of the second race of the series. The satisfaction, I am sure, would have been that much greater if Convoy and Just Honest had been ridden by the UK based jockeys. He could do no more than win though. 

The raceday, however, was not only memorable for this.

There was a Bigman in Town who stamped his authority, not only on his six hapless rivals in the Caribbean Champion Stakes, but also on the racing industry with his imperious win under Dettori. Clearly, he did not need Dettori but it must surely have been more gratifying to connections to have someone of Dettori’s stature in all future photos of the occasion. While we clearly did not see the best of Princess Popstar, it was reported that she bled heavily through the Lasix, it is very unlikely that even at her best, she would have been able to get close to the Bigman. Momentum had previously had his limitations exposed by Urban Knight and once again raced as though not quite in the same league as the very best horses in the land – even with a hefty weight for age concession. He remains an exceptionally talented colt but not a great one. Bigman in Town has certainly turned a corner. Prior to this year, comparisons with Bruceontheloose seemed fallacious but his indefatigable owner kept faith and alienated a lot of turfites in the process. Such comparisons no longer seem daft however. After a fairly subdued start to the season, with defeats in his first two starts, a change of stable signaled a dramatic change in fortunes for this colt. A comprehensive four length victory over the top class in the Santa Rosa Dash, his third start of the year, was devalued somewhat because he was in receipt of in excess of six kilos from his main class rivals. When he was then defeated in the ARC Cup by Readbetweendlines and Jouvert, the naysayers were back out in full force. 

It is not clear what happened between June 20 and August 1, but a different horse re-appeared in the President’s Cup over 1900 metres. That horse proceeded to destroy the opposition, winning on the bridle by six lengths. When the same horse proceeded to slaughter the best horses in the country in the Diamond Stakes over 1350 metres by 10 lengths, we were clearly in the midst of something special. That Bigman would subsequently treat the Triple Crown winner and the 2013 Jamaica Horse of the Year with disdain in the Champion Stakes winning by 10 lengths eased down was not the only spectacular feature. He also broke the track record for 1800 metres in the process returning a time of 1.51 flat, a time 1.3 seconds faster than when he was defeated into third on June 20. 

We also saw a very smart performance by two-year old Serengeti. This filly, which was imported in utero, lit up the early morning with a sparkling romp on her debut. Her style of racing reminded one of the impressive debut of another youngster with similar connections, Headline News. This filly is owned by the Ladies Syndicate, a partnership that includes Joan St. Omer Smith, wife of Ruthven Smith, the owner of Headline News and Diane Scott, the wife of Pierpont Scott, one of the legendary families of the turf. While nothing is guaranteed in life, this filly has the size and scope to be among the best of her generation. Her next start is eagerly anticipated. 

In summary, there were a number of notable developments that will linger with turfites. One notable distraction, however, was the distasteful advertisement on the back cover of the racing programme re the source of contribution from a certain individual. Whatever the merits of the feelings on either side, the use of that forum to air the grievance was unfortunate. I hope that all involved would have been chastened by the negative feedback and that, unlike all of the positive aspects, the raceday is not memorable for this, but rather for the quality of racing and jockeyship.

T&T’s Marc-Anthony Honore and SL Benfica continued to keep the pressure on leader AJF Bastardo in the Portugal Volleyball Federation Men’s A-1 Premier Division with a tough straight-sets win over CA Madalena on Sunday.

Benfica triumphed 25–22, 25–21, 25–23 for its ninth win from ten matches and 28 points, four behind ASJ Bastardo which registered two wins on the weekend, first, a 25–14, 25–13, 25–15 victory against Esmoriz GC on Saturday and then 24 hours later, 25–19, 20–25, 25–13, 25–22 over GC Vilacondense.

Up next for Benfica will be a meeting with Esmoriz GZ on Saturday followed by matches against SC Caldas (December 19) and AA Espinho on December 21 before the break for Christmas.

In Denmark, former BIG South East Port-of-Spain player, Akeem Bushe transition to professional volleyball continues on a smooth path after helping his new club, Middelfart Volleyball Club past DHV Odense 25–21, 25–16, 25–17.

It was Middelfart’s fifth win in six matches for second on the eight-team table with 13 points, one behind front-runner Ishoj.

Next up for the 22-year-old Bushe and his new employers is a meeting with Hvidovre on Friday followed by a Landspokal Cup semifinal match with Gentofte on December 20 ahead of the Christmas break.

In the round-of-16, Middelfart blanked Grondal 25–16, 25–20, 25–15 and eased past Arhus 25–16, 25–21, 27–25 in the quarterfinals while the other semifinals pits Marienlyst and Hvidovre.

In the Russia Women’s Super League, T&T’s senior women’s team blocker, Sinead Jack and her Uralochka NTMK squad went under to table leader Dinamo Krasnodar, 20–25, 22–25, 26–28 to drop to seventh on the ten-team table with two wins from six matches for six points, the same as Avtodor-Metar.

The win was the sixth from as many matches for Krasnodar to lead with 17 points, one more than Dinamo Kazan while Dinamo Moskva and Omichka are joint third with 12 points apiece followed by Zarechie Odintsovo, a point behind.

Jack and her team-mates will be hoping to end a two-match losing streak on Sunday when they return to action against Avtodor-Metar ahead of their final match ahead of the Christmas-break against Zarechie Odintsovo on Saturday December 20.

And in the Romanian Women’s Division, former national captain Krystle Esdelle and her CSM Bucuresti team-mates battled to a 25–19, 18–25, 25–21, 24–26, 15–13 victory over Explorari Bala Mare on Friday for their third win in five matches and sith overall on the 12-team table.

Bucuresti now has a 6–3 record after nine matches to lie fifth on the table with 15 points ahead of its meeting with tenth placed GS Phoenix Simpleul Silvanieni on Friday and then Volei Municipal Zalau on Friday December 19 to end of the year before league play resumes on January 16.

At the top of the table is Tomis Constanta with a perfect 9–0 record for 26 points, three clear of Volei Municipal Zalau (8–1) while Dinamo Bucuresti is third with 7–2 mark for 21 points, the same as SCM Craiova, which has 19 points.

LYNCH: We are sad to announce the passing of Laurel Lynch aka Joe St. Louis born on February 1st, 1936 departed this life on December 1st, 2014 in Brooklyn, New York. He migrated to Point Fortin from Arouca with his mother, the late Audrey Lynch. He was also a SRP with the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service. In 1970 he migrated to the USA, where he was employed in the Security Industry at SIAC Industry for 25 years before his retirement in 2009. He will be affectionately remembered as the loving: Wife of: the late Enid Gilbert Father of: Lavan & Laurenda (twins), Curtis & Naomi Lynch and Bianca Richards Relative of: the Roberts, Mc Millian, Charles, St. Louis, Lynch & Baptiste families. Friend of: the Harper, Friday, Branker, Sousa (USA), Baker, Harding, James & Bernard Families & many others Memorial Service at 6:30pm on Saturday 13/12/14 from the St. Mark s Anglican Church, Techier Road, Point Fortin

Cuba and T&T will continue to have close economic ties especially now that the most recent Caricom-Cuba Summit has taken place, Cuba’s Ambassador to T&T Guillermo Vazquez said.

“December 8 is the day dedicated to Caricom and Cuba relations. The last summit was in 2011 in T&T; it takes place every three years. We look at co-operation between Caricom and Cuba, economic, trade relations, medicine and other areas. These projects are for regional integration. The economic integration between Cuba and Caricom increases every year. Cuba is going through an important economic transformation at the moment,” he told the Business Guardian last Thursday.

On Monday, the fifth summit took place. Vazquez reminded that Cuba and T&T have had diplomatic relations for the last 42 years.

He spoke about the Mariel Economic Zone in Cuba and said it is open to T&T businesses.

During the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) in T&T in July, representatives from Cuba were here promoting the Mariel Economic Zone.

According to ExporTT’s Web site, its CEO Christopher Lewis paid a visit to the zone in September with the local delegation being exposed to doing business there.

The blog on ExporTT’s Web site stated on the way back to the hotel from Mariel Economic Zone, the T&T delegation took the opportunity to stop at a few retail outlets and restaurants in Cuba and were pleased to see Sacha cosmetics and Angostura Bitters prominently displayed.

The Mariel Special Zone is a project directed to encourage Cuba’s economic development by attracting foreign investment, technological innovation and industrial concentration while, at the same time, ensuring environmental protection. It covers an area of 465.4 square kilometres and is located some 45 kilometres west of Havana. It connects the rest of the economy. 

The zone promotes and protects enterprises, industrial, agricultural, metal-mechanical and tourism projects and all types of activities permitted by Cuban law that use clean technologies and produce value-added goods and services based on knowledge and innovation.

“This is an opportunity to strengthen relations in the economic area between T&T and Cuba and also Caricom. There are Caribbean companies there but we want to see increased participation,” Vazquez said.

He also said T&T businesses took part in the Havana International Fair in November, which he said will open opportunities for both countries.

According to information Vazquez provided, the Cuban Ministry of the Economy estimates that growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2014 will be 1.3 per cent, well below the predicted 2.2 per cent. The sugar and manufacturing industries’ failure to meet projections had a significant impact on economic growth.

Growth in the GDP for 2015 is projected as just above 4.0 per cent, with which we return to previous modest rates, with the greatest growth in manufacturing, construction, commerce, agriculture, livestock and forestry.

Vazquez spoke to the Business Guardian last Thursday at the Cuban Embassy, St Ann’s.

T&T and Cuba Co-operation

Vazquez thanked T&T for supporting Cuba at the UN in the annual vote on the US Embargo against Cuba.

“The meeting on Monday is a good opportunity for the growth of relations between the two countries. Cuba was very happy with the support given at the vote in the United Nation in October against the US embargo. Caribbean countries are obviously against these policies of the US against Cuba,” he said.

Apart from the economic co-operation, Vazquez said there are more than 1,000 Cuban doctors in Caricom countries and 315 doctors in T&T.

There are also eight sports trainers in T&T helping local athletes, he said.

In the area of tourism, he said both countries are discussing how they can co-operate.

“It is possible that both countries will establish links for multiple destinations. So a tourist from T&T can go to a number of Caribbean countries and end up in Cuba. There are different options,” he said.

He also said Cuba is having talks with the secretariat for introducing Spanish as a second language in T&T.

Results of Caricom-Cuba Summit

Some of the highlights of the Caricom/Cuba Summit on Monday include:

1. Progress in the negotiations to expand market access and improve economic co-operation under Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement and encourage officials to continue to work in the spirit of solidarity and goodwill that has characterised their efforts to date, in order to conclude the negotiations by the end of the second quarter of 2015.

2.Cuba will finance the Caribbean Regional School of Arts in Jamaica, and the Centre for Treatment of Physical Disabilities to assist physically challenged children and youth, to be based in Guyana, during the upcoming triennial period.

3.Emphasise that the updating of Cuban economic model, its Foreign Investment Law and the Special Mariel Development Economic Zone, provide additional opportunities, on a much broader scale, to accelerate and strengthen Caricom-Cuba economic ties.

4. Recognise the importance to the Caribbean countries to take advantage of the potential offered by the regional and subregional mechanisms such as CELAC, ACS, ALBA-TCP, PetroCaribe, as well as international mechanisms such as BRICS.

5. Caricom recognise the support and solidarity of the Republic of Cuba in sending doctors and medical personnel to the countries of West Africa affected by the epidemic, and in training qualified personnel in other African countries to prevent it from spreading and be prepared to confront it.

6. Demand an immediate end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the government of the United States of America against Cuba and, especially, to its extraterritorial nature and the financial persecution of Cuban transactions, whose severity increases daily; the inclusion of Cuba on the List of States Sponsoring Terrorism, prepared and published unilaterally by the US State Department, and all undercover actions that the US government is carrying out to subvert domestic law and order in the Republic of Cuba, including those that involve the illegal use of information and communications technologies, that constitute violations of Cuban sovereignty and its people’s right to self-determination. 

7. Decision to hold the Sixth Caricom-Cuba Summit on December 8, 2017, in Antigua and Barbuda and the Fifth Ministerial Meeting in Havana in the month of June of 2016; Adopted in Havana, Cuba, on the December 8, 2014.

Entrepreneurs are natural problem-solvers, which means that we always have ideas for new businesses popping into our heads. Having a lot of options is great, but sometimes it can be hard to focus on one when you are keen to move onto the next.

At Virgin, when we’re thinking about starting a new business, we look into whether the new project meets a series of criteria before we invest any time or money into it. Here are three questions that will help you decide which idea to pursue.

1. Would you do this for fun?

Starting your own business isn’t just a job: it’s a way of life. You’ll likely have to make personal sacrifices in order to ensure your startup’s success. This could mean taking a pay cut, since any money earned from your new business might have to be reinvested right back in, or you may find yourself stuck answering emails and dealing with customer problems late in the evening. 

With that in mind, it’s essential that you launch a startup in an industry or sector that you love; that’s our philosophy at Virgin.

So it’s no surprise that our first business was Virgin Records. The people on our team were teenagers and really into music, which meant that we didn’t mind working late nights, or chatting with customers about new bands or working hard to sign up-and-coming artists to our record label; we would have been chatting about music and listening to new bands even if we weren’t doing it for a living. 

An analogy that occurred to me after we held our Necker Cup tennis tournament recently: Figuring out which idea you should develop is like juggling a lot of different types of balls in the air, because fairly quickly, you need to decide which ball is most important.

Or consider a dog that loves to chase tennis balls. No matter what’s going on or what it’s doing, if you throw a tennis ball, the dog will chase it. What’s your tennis ball? What immediately captures your attention, no matter what you’re doing?

2. Does it make a positive difference in people’s lives?

A focus on people and the planet, as well as profit, also helps our staff feel empowered. This means that our customers don’t come to us just to buy a product or service; they believe in our ideas. 

Build a likeminded community around a business, and customers will return, spread the word and support you during tough times. 

This strategy has helped plenty of startups to disrupt established industries over the last few years. 

One example is Gandy’s, which donates a percentage of their profits from sales of flip-flops to projects for orphans all over the world. Another is Toms, which donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair that they sell.

And this is why two of our newest companies are Virgin StartUp, which provides funding for entrepreneurs, and Virgin Racing’s Formula E Team, which is raising the profile of environmentally friendly transport by focusing on electric car technologies.

3. Will it be profitable enough to sustain?

You also need to consider your finances when rifling through your options. Research shows that 8 out of 10 new businesses fail in the United States within the first 18 months, and the No. 1 killer of startups is a lack of cash flow. If your business doesn’t turn a profit, you will be unable to make the positive impact you’re striving for. It’s rare for a startup to make money immediately, so you need to make sure that you have enough saved, or that you have another income stream that can support you.

If your favourite idea will take longer to turn a profit, it might be better to focus on one of your smaller ideas first. Afterward, you can use the smaller business’s success—and profit—as a springboard to launch a bigger project. But remember, starting a business for the sole purpose of making money usually ends in failure.

So figure out what your tennis ball is, and work out how you can connect that passion to helping your community. Offer customers a reason to support your cause, then make sure your margins allow for some profit to keep that business afloat. Good luck, and remember to have fun along the way.

​

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

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

In today’s landscape of telecom sector consolidation, fragile economies and regulatory and political challenges, the region’s telecommunications sector finds itself at an interesting crossroads. 

User appetite for digital content is experiencing a surge globally. This puts a strain on services providers to keep pace by upgrading their underlying infrastructure and improving quality of service. As businesses and consumers clamour for faster Internet speeds at lower prices, mobile and Internet service providers strive to increase their margins and their profitability. 

The emergence of Internet-connected mobile devices as the primary point of access to the digital world is particularly significant. With mobile penetration rates in excess of 100 per cent in several Caribbean countries, mobile broadband access and affordability can catalyse innovation and increase options for the delivery of services in critical sectors such as education, commerce, health and security.

The double-digit growth in global IP traffic of the past few years is expected to continue over the coming years. A CISCO state of the Internet report forecasts that growth will be driven by mobile device proliferation, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, diversification of video streaming services, file-sharing networks and other media-rich content. 

It will also be fueled by the rapid take-up of Internet protocol (IP) based messaging. Free-call services such as WhatsApp, Line and Viber, will be increasingly disruptive to the business of traditional telecom operators. As fixed and mobile internet penetration rates rise and as broadband speeds increase, video streaming, photo-sharing and bandwidth-intensive multimedia services will put further strain on mobile and fixed-line network operators, as well as on scarce spectrum resources. 

The pace of private sector investment in critical Internet and telecommunications infrastructure can reasonably be tied to private sector calculations of return on investment. In small markets like those in the Caribbean, this can present a serious challenge where market demand or size may not easily justify infrastructure spend that keeps pace with consumer demand or with global trends. 

The region has already seen this evident in the slow and uneven pace of deployment of mobile broadband services across the region. A similar predicament is possible in the roll out of affordable high-speed (100Mbps and higher) Internet services. 

To realise an optimal pace of infrastructure upgrade, and affordable rates for services, the interests of private sector service providers have to be constantly regulated against the needs of consumers and larger national and regional development objectives.

Evolving market oversight

Within this context, policy-makers and regulators must carefully consider how legal and regulatory frameworks can best evolve to address the changing landscape; ensure non-discriminatory practices and stimulate growth and development, while safeguarding the interests of consumers.

Regulatory reform has been used effectively in the past in the Caribbean to introduce competition and stimulate growth in the telecommunication sectors. The rapid growth of new entrants like Digicel and Columbus to the Caribbean over the past decade is testament to the lucrative nature of the relatively small markets in the Caribbean. 

The investment decisions of the dominant regional providers is also a clear indicator that the markets still have room for growth. However, recent market behaviours, in the form of acquisitions, service-blocking, pricing and infrastructure build-out, also signal a growing need for consumer protection and more comprehensive sector oversight. 

Approaches to policy reform and market protection must ensure that new entrants can easily enter the markets and that consumers can actually benefit from greater choice. This is fundamental to the competitiveness of the Caribbean. 

Barriers to entry should be sufficiently low to put pressure on mobile and broadband operators to diversify their service offerings and innovate in the areas of services and pricing; and consumers should be allowed to switch between providers with minimal effort.

Balancing diverse interests

The changing environment will not only require regulatory reform, but also increased regional analysis to better understand the implications and impact of changes in the sector. 

The adoption of a coordinated regional approach, combined with appropriate national regulatory mechanisms will be key. Policy-makers and regulators must balance the requirement to implement checks and balances to control improper behavior, with the need to create incentives and opportunities to stimulate market growth. 

Telecommunications in the Caribbean is at an important crossroads. A real opportunity lies before regulators, politicians and private sector actors to define a new model for development. 

The model must balance the unique characteristics of the region with the diverse interests of its many stakeholders, if it is to maintain a healthy pace of development. Of course, the region must do a better job at articulating its development agenda before it can effectively defend it.

Bevil Wooding is an internet strategist with Packet Clearing House (www.pch.net) an international non-profit organisation responsible for providing operational support and security to critical Internet infrastructure, including Internet exchange points and the core of the domain name system. Follow on Twitter: @bevilwooding

CONSTANCE: CAROLANN passed away peacefully on 7th December, 2014. Daughter of Joyce and Carlton Yearwood (deceased). Niece of Elma and Christine. Sister of Joy, Evans and Cheryl. Mother of Roger, Shelly, Brent, Ricardo, Kristal and Diende. Grandmother of 12. Motherin- law of Christelle. Friend of the Marion Helpers and many others. Aunt of many. Funeral at 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 13th December, 2014 at St. Margaret's R.C. Church, Belmont thence to the Western Cemetery. For enquiries, call C&B 625-1170

ALPHONSE: CHRISTINE 'better known as Norma' of Beach Road Chatham departed this life on Saturday 6th December, at Point Fortin Area Hospital at the age of 88. She will be lovingly remembered as the mother of Betty, Marva and Jimmy. Sister of Roslyn, Veda, Fitzroy and many others. Aunt of Carol and many others. Grandmother of Joanne, Janelle, Joleane, Joel and many others Great Grandmother of Talia, Naomi, Samuel and many others. Relative of many. Friend of Shirley and many others. The funeral service for the late Christine Alphonse will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday 12th December 2014 at Chatham Seventh Day Adventist Church, Beach Road Chatham, followed by a Burial at Buenos Aires Cemetery. Enquiries can be made at Belgroves Funeral home at 223- 2178. To extend condolences to the family of Christine Alphonse please logon to www.belgroves.com.

KIDMAN: DALLAS 'Eddie' passed away peacefully on December 8th, 2014. Devoted husband of Lucy. Loving faf ther of Therese, Mark and Jason. Father-in-law of Paul, Sarah Jane and Kristel. Doting grandfather of Joshua, Grace, Duncan and Samuel. Brother of Arthur (Mary) and Johnny (Alison)(UK). Brotherin- law to Samuel (Judy) and Winston (Carol) Wei Lung Chung, Cynthia Jackson and Rose Mohammed. Funeral mass for the late Dallas 'Eddie' Kidman takes place at 11:00a.m. on Monday December 15th, 2014 at St. Finbar's R. C. Church, Diego Martin thence to the St. James Crematorium. In lieu of flowers, a collection will be taken up for his favourite charity. For enquiries, please contact R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223-2007/ 637-2009

​MAHABIR: ZITA passed away on Monday 8th December. Beloved wife of the late Felix Mahabir.Daughter of the late George and Irene Jadunath. Mother of Winston (Souad), Franklyn (Patricia), Rawle, Marilyn (Trevor), Noel, Karen (Ed), Carolyn (George), Judith (Ken), Gerard (Denise). Grandmother of 26, great grandmother of 26. Sister of Lucy, Carl, Kenneth and Michael (all deceased). Phyllis Alexander, Barbara Carter, Yvonne Nunez, Gloria Eccles, June Defour, Patsy Carr, and Anthea de Freitas. Sister-inlaw of Ray, Emmanuel, Brian, Joycelyn, Jenny. Niece of Sylvia Thorpe. Relative of Ramnath's, Rogers, Mahabirs, Banns, Josephs, Marajs. Funeral Mass to be held on Saturday 13th December, at the urday 13th December, at the Church of the Nativity 8:45 am. Cremation to follow at Crematorium, Long Circular Road at 11:00am. Collection to be donated to the Cathedral Reconstruction Fund. For enquiries; call C&B: 625-1170

HINKSON: JEANETTE, née Bain, aged 96 years, on Monday 8th December at the All Saints Gordon Home. Wife of Lennox Hinkson (Dec) Only daughter of Francis McGregor and Anna Clarice Bain (dec). Long ago resident of 21 Richmond Street, Cobo Town, and later of Flanagin Town. Sister of: Frankie, Charlie, Jimmy, Henry, John, Bouch, Don, Nee, Chin, Bungo (all deceased) George and Andy Bain. Mother of Roger, Gregor (dec) Donald (Jackie) , Judith, Kenneth, (Pallie) and Margaret (Tobago). Mother in law of Joy, Caryl, David Patrick and Kathleen. Grandmother of Ronald, Warren, Sean, David, Deborah Verbaan, Dexter, Duane & Darin. Great grandmother of 20. Aunt and friend of many. Special Friend of: Iris Arthur, Olga Ford, Eleitha Browne, Norma Garcia, Bibian Pouchet, Sheila Rajbally, Sylvia Sealy, Daphne Garcia and Ethel Smith. Thanks to Dr. Alan Patrick, Cheryl Gopaul, Mills, Siew, the Rajballys and the Baboolals. Very special thanks to the Matron (Mrs. Margaret Baptiste) and all the caregivers of the All Saints Gordon Home, Newtown. Funeral on Saturday 13th December, 9.30 a.m. at Trinity Cathedral, Followed by cremation at 11.30.a.m.

WESTERN: LARRY A. passed away on December 9th, 2014. Husband of Jacqueline 'Jackie' Western. Father of Tanya, Craig and Kent. Father-in-law of Tania Hernandez-Western and Anna Western. Grandfather of Jessica, Alexander, Caelan, Jake, Eric, Talon, Zac and Axel. Brother of David Western (deceased), Sonia 'Bonny' Cole-Wilson (Bdos), Sandra Ward (deceased) and Christopher 'Kit' Western (Bdos). Brother-in-law of Sherry Western, Philip and Michele Edwards, Kaye and Richard Bradshaw, John Wilson and Brian Ward. Son of the late Ruby and Frank Western. Inspiration to many through DALE CARNEGIE TRAINING. Role model to Sam and Lester Matooram. f Funeral for the late Larry A. Western takes place at 12:00 noon on Friday December 12th, 2014 at St. James Crematorium Chapel followed by cremation. No flowers by request. For enquiries, please contact R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223-2007/ 637-2009.

After looking carefully at electronic games a case can be made that it is not solely to be blamed for the low participation in outdoor activities in our country. “Build it and they will come...” The Government through the Ministry of Sports is the sole authority for financing sports in T&T. While we all love and appreciate cricket, but it is not the only sport that needs national attention or focus. It can start with the financing and construction of sport-specific facilities throughout the country. 

Build more multi-purpose community centres to be manned by locals within the communities. Place the best people in the positions, define their roles, responsibilities, and make them accountable. Leave them to do the job of developing the athletes in the specific sport. It is my belief that the Sport Ministry must encourage, support and facilitate a dedicated volunteer core for outdoor sports. 

Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of recreational and professional sport events.

Orvis Noel,
St Augustine