Following its successful rights issue, which raised more than US$56 million and addressed issues with its balance sheet, Trinidad Cement (TCL) is getting ready for the next stage of its restructuring: the refinancing of its existing US$280 million debt with new loans.

Disclosing this information in recent interviews, TCL chairman Wilfred Espinet said at its close the rights issues will be totally subscribed. 

“I don’t think there has been a rights issue that has been completely subscribed in the history of T&T,” noting that unlike most other rights issues in which new shares are issued at a discount, the TCL rights issue involved shares that were issued at a premium. 

At the end of the rights issue Mexican cement giant has a 39.5 per cent stake in TCL, which means that there will be no need for a private placement.(See sidebar)

He said one of the specific benefits of the success of the rights issue is that cement producer, which is headquartered in Claxton Bay, will receive an immediate reduction in the rate of interest it pays on its existing debt.

Espinet explained that when at the end of September 2014, TCL stopped its debt payments, which meant that its interest charges for the fourth quarter of last year increased from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, in accordance with debt restructuring exercise agreed to by thement from 2012.

He said the total interest charge at the end of Sept 2014 was US$7 million and the increase in the interest rate pushed the interest charge for the fourth quarter was US$8.5 million.

Said Espinet: “One of the specific benefits of the rights issue is that it will result in an immediate reduction in TCL’s interest charge. When we went into the standstill, our interest charge went from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. 

“As a result of us getting in this new capital from the rights issue, our creditors are going to reverse the 2 per cent penalty and have agreed to lower the average interest from 10 per cent to 8 per cent from January 1, 2015.” .

This means that for the first quarter of 2015, from January 1 to March 31, TCL will be paying an interest charge of about US$5.5 million, which means that “as a result of the new capital brought in by the rights issue, TCL’s benefit in interest charges is about US$6 million a year,” said Espinet. 

And he said that assuming the rights issue brings in about US$56 million, this means the return, in terms of the savings on the interest charge, that TCL is getting from the rights issue is about 11 per cent.

He said that what is more important than the rights issue or the resulting savings in debt payments is that those elements of TCL’s plan “set the stage for the real coup de gras,” which is the attempt by the cement company to raise debt to pay off all of the existing debt held by its creditors, amounting to US$280 million.

According to a TCL notice in the Wednesday Guardian, the debt restructuring agreement with its existing creditors gives TCL “the ability to prepay originally secured and unsecured debt on a discounted basis within 90 days of the effectiveness of the restructuring agreements.

The challenge of the board is to find creditors who would be willing to invest in TCL’s debt.

Espinet said: “If the current debt holders are paid off in full, within 45 days of the debt restructuring agreement coming into force on March 30, TCL will save about US$30 million ($192 million).”

Asked whether the refinancing of TCL’s existing debt meant embarking on an expensive, multi-city tour of North America, as was done last year by the dismissed former CEO of TCL, Rollin Bertrand, the current TCL chairman said that the company’s largest single shareholder, Mexaican cement giant Cemex, had tapped its international financial connections to bring investment bankers to T&T. 

He said three or four banks have made debt refinancing proposals to TCL, which are being evaluated by a three-member board committee chaired by Unit Trust Corporation executive Nigel Edwards and including directors Alison Lewis and Alejandro Ramirez Cantu, the company’s acting CEO. 

He said TCL had been trying to tap the debt market for the debt refinancing but that “the initial response is that there is little appetite for it.”

He said TCL is looking for different stages of debt refinancing and will perhaps go for a short-term facility that will allow TCL to benefit from the discount available in the limited time, until May 15, that it has to organise the facility. 

The board will consider a short-term facility with an 18-month horizon that is likely to be converted into a longer-term facility.

The financial restructuring of TCL is not the end of the changes that the group, which has operational subsidiaries in Jamaica and Barbados, will undergo this year.

The cement company’s chairman said the financial restructuring and refinancing are just the first phase of a two-phased operation: The restructuring and strengthening of the holding company will be followed by restructuring of the operational subsidiaries.

“This second phase of operational reorganisation will focus on making cement as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. Our objective there would be to ensure that the cement produced by TCL is internationally competitive.”

Espinet also noted that under the previous administration of the group, TCL announced a moratorium on its debt payments in January 2010 and never completed its debt restructuring exercise until May 2012. He said the result of the negotiations was that TCL a higher interest rate, from 8 to 10 per cent, on an increased principal base. 

As compared to a debt restructuring exercise that took more than two years to complete and which put the company in a worse financial position, Espinet noted that the current board completed its debt restructuring exercise within six months and it has placed the company in a stronger financial position.

The TCL chairman also noted that in order to meet its debt payments, the previous administration at TCL found itself having to forego capital expenditure, which led to higher maintenance costs and lower productivity.

Espinet said the rights issue and the breathing space resulting from the reduction in the quarterly interest charges will allow the group to embark on new and essential capital expenditure, which will result in lower maintenance costs and higher productivity.

Employee training is a multi-million dollar investment for Electrical Industries Group (EIG) and for chairman Dave Ramkissoon who is the owner/operator of the company.

The group produces products with globally accepted standards and sells them to its local, regional and international clients. Products ranging from electrical cables, fluorescent fixtures, switchgear panels, PVC pipes, trunking and accessories and water tanks it offers to various markets including all Caricom member states. 

In February 2011, Electrical Industries Ltd acquired Century Eslon and prior to that in 2009, acquired Agos Lighting which formed Electrical Industries Group. 

An employer of 600, EIG includes skilled and unskilled workers throughout its operation. 

Big on standards and strong on strategy, the group walked away with the 2015 T&T Manufacturers Association’s award for Successful New Market Entrant at the March 5, President’s Dinner and Awards held at the Hyatt Regency hotel. 

The award was granted since within its Costa Rican market, the company moved from revenues of $200,000 in 2012, to $420,000 in 2013 and now $1.1 million in 2014.

Deeming itself as the “preferred employer” chief executive officer and vice-president finance, Andre Mills; executive vice president, strategic management Colin Baksh, and manager, lighting division Lisa Ramsumair, spoke to Business Guardian at its 1, Century Drive, Trincity, head office.

Training is not limited to skills development, but to spiritual and intellectual development, said Baksh. 

From the basics of letter writing, to the fundamentals of philosophy, (life skills) are taught at the company’s innovation and learning centre. Located in Arima, the centre is the cornerstone of developing its employees.

“We also do ‘spirit-centred’ training where we’ve had programmes bringing in religious leaders, for instance, or the School of Philosophy coming to talk to our employees, not about specific religious things but in terms of how you can use the spiritual aspect to enhance your life or become a better employee.

“Training is necessary because we have different types of products, different types of machinery, different levels of technology in terms of manufacturing that are coming out every day, every month, or every year. It’s important to keep up with the highest levels of manufacturing, the highest level of quality engineering and technology. We believe in training,” he said.

Since the global marketplace is EIG’s area for selling its products, Baksh said adopting training techniques which would sharpen EIG’s competitive edge is the preferred option for the company. For example, for the manufacturing aspect of its operations, the company uses a technique called Lean Six Sigma. 

Baksh said: “It is a programme developed by Motorola and popularised by GE (General Electric) which looks at waste, how to eliminate waste and improve efficiency and do cost savings. We have a huge Six Sigma programme, which we started one year ago. We certified in the group about 20 green belts which is what we call the certification. We also have three black belts.

Work ethic is not something which is easily acquired, therefore, it must be taught to people entering the working world. 

“You are not going to find someone coming in and being diligent just like that, out of university. The university does not teach that nowadays. University gives the academic qualification, the on-the-job training is important,” said Mills.

Falling oil prices

Asked about the impact of falling oil on EIG, Mills said copper and resin are price sensitive to EIG.

“The movement in copper mirrors the oil price. The minute the oil price started to go down, the price of copper started to go down. Copper is our main input in cable (production). We buy this months in advance because it takes three to four months to produce a wire. When you buy copper at a high price and that price starts to go down, the market sees that. You buy at a high price and you have to end selling at a low price, you start to experience challenges to maintain your gross profit margins. That has been a significant impact for us.”

Regarding resin, he said: “When resin price falls it means our cost of raw materials starts to fall. If we could maintain our margins then it is favourable for us. That (the oil price) is something which we have to watch on a daily basis: how is this oil price moving? What is it doing to copper and resin? What does it do to the cost of production? What does it do to the different lines of products we manufacture?”

Asked how much copper EIG buys, Mills said: “We buy a ‘significant’ amount of containers of copper. It is difficult to give the exact figure. For instance, with our raw material suppliers, we are a significant partner to them. The cost of a container of copper could be $1 million, we buy dozens of (shipping) containers per month.”

US currency

Having global operations means having a consistent supply of foreign currency, especially US currency. Like most businesses, the problem of sourcing US currency is a challenging one. It has impacted on the credit lines of the business.

“Fortunately for us, a significant portion of our operations is related to exports, so we had to rely and really push for the collection of foreign currency against our export market. That is what has been helping us to sustain our operation. In some cases, you have to find alternatives in terms of other currencies to buy your materials and your products. It then brings a foreign currency exposure for the organisation.”

Mills is not convinced that the decision makers fully understand the impact of a shortage of US currency on businesses which contribute to the manufacturing sector. 

While not naming which manufacturers, he said some have had to shrink their operations because “their line of credit is not as large.”

“On a daily basis we continue to fight with the commercial banks. I have seen a little improvement (in the supply of US currency) over the last few weeks, then, that tends to happen once there is an injection. 

There is turbulence in doing business.

“When a bank is telling you the most you can get is US$5,000 per day and you have bills that are millions and millions, it is going to take forever for you to settle those bills. We have been communicating with TTMA, The Chamber of Commerce and the banking sector to share our concerns.” 

Regional markets

Giving an overview of the markets, Mills said: “We do manufacture a lot of crates for other beer companies regionally. The Eastern Caribbean is highly dependent on us for provision of plastic products and that’s in the PVC line of business. We have eight subsidiaries across Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent, St Kitts and Dominica. Within the Century Eslon brand, that brand is well up the Eastern Caribbean, I guess the smaller islands up the Caricom are heavily dependent on us for our product. We do a lot of exports there. We have partnered with some significant distributors, especially out of Jamaica and we’ve seen our business growing as a result of that.”

Referring to the Dominican Republic, Mills said there are a lot of laws and regulations. Competition is high in that market but EIG is convinced it will survive the competition. The population is about 10 million with a lot of free trade agreements with other blocks in the US and Central America.

Regarding Cuba, Ramsumair said: “We exported two years ago and had to do payments through Curacao because of the payments structure. You couldn’t pay in US dollars. We have been trying in the last couple of years, it requires a lot of energy and resources, frequent visits to the market and developing relationships. 

“Whenever you visit the markets you actually have to go through the Chamber to set up appointments with the companies. We usually use the Tidco office which is part of the Ministry of Trade. They have to get permission for us to visit to set up meetings with the various state companies. 

“Cuba is an exciting market, in terms of business but it is difficult to penetrate the market because of the bureaucracy and regulations and requirements to get into the market. There are few T&T companies that are exporting to Cuba right now, that is, after 10 years of trying.” 

Ambassador of Guatemala in Port-of-Spain, Giovanni Castillo, is sending a message to T&T companies and businesses that they should not to be afraid to do business in Guatemala, which is Central America’s largest economy.

This comes after T&T and Guatemala signed the final document of a partial scope trade agreement in February, which will increase trade and business opportunities between the two countries.

“In a few weeks, we are having a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce of T&T. We want to promote the economy and businesses of Guatemala. Do not be afraid to do business with Guatemala and we are asking Guatemalan companies not to be afraid of T&T. A tourism agreement was also signed with the partial scope agreement. There are many countries that have businesses and embassies in T&T and more are going to come. All this shows the growing importance of T&T in the region,” he said.

He said the agreement between the two countries was signed two years ago but was held back as T&T needed to have consultations with Caricom.

Last month, T&T’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran went to Guatemala to sign the final document and the ambassador spoke about the importance of this act.

“It was one of the first times that a high-ranking official from the T&T Government went on an official visit to my country. It is something that we have to highlight because it has already been 20 years since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. Dookeran met with his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala and also met with entrepreneurs,” he said.

Castillo said Dookeran was accompanied by representatives from the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business, which has a campus in Guatemala.

In a media release last September, the Arthur Lok Jack School said as part of its mission to expand in Central America it officially launched the Master of Small and Medium Enterprise Management Programme in Guatemala.

“The school’s development policy has led to the conception of Central America as a strategic sector to regional business and an ideal supplement to the Caribbean. This is the school’s first encounter with the region and with the country of Guatemala and to date has numerous relationships with companies and Guatemalan institutions such as AGEXPORT, Interbanco, Walmart, Campus Tec, Web Solution, International Consulting and the Ministry of Economy.”

Dookeran also met with senior members of the Government of Guatemala and Guatemala’s export and investment agencies.

“Now that the partial scope agreement has been signed, we need to promote investments and exports on both sides,” Castillo said.

According to the Government Information Service Ltd (GISL) Dookeran officially signed the completion of the partial scope trade agreement between T&T and Guatemala on February 6. 

Negotiations for a Partial Scope Trade Agreement commenced in Port-of-Spain during the period April 11 and were finalised on August 13, 2013 by both parties. 

The agreement was subsequently certified by Caricom and it will provide exporters and service providers of T&T with new markets for their goods and services, and will allow for a number of products and services from T&T to enter the Guatemalan market at either reduced or zero tariffs.

Castillo spoke to the Business Guardian last week Wednesday at the Embassy of Guatemala, Regents Tower, Westmoorings.

Trade expansion

Castillo said the partial scope agreement is important in expanding products traded between the two countries. 

“It will develop our economies, not only on the Guatemalan side but also on T&T’s side.”

He explained that currently there are products traded between the both countries but the Partial Scope Agreement does not cover already traded products but new products.

The reason for this is to give impetus to new areas for growth and diversification.

“Guatemala granted 141 new products under preferential tariffs. The tariffs granted from Trinidad to be exported to Guatemala include vegetables, fruits, concentrated juices, dog and cat food, lubricated oil, oils for agriculture. As for goods to be exported from Guatemala to  T&T, these include cut meats, cheese, a variety of flowers like roses, vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, fruits, and medicines.”

He gave the balance of trade statistics for both countries in 2014 which showed that balance was in T&T’s favour.

In 2014, T&T exported US $81,484,182 worth of goods to Guatemala while Guatemala exported US $15,884,899 worth of goods to T&T.

T&T’s exports to Guatemala include bunker fuel, diesel oil, propane, steel, beverages, metal furniture and housing material.

Guatemala’s export to T&T include sugar cane, water and water minerals, machines, toothpastes and paper products.

“T&T is selling more goods to Guatemala than Guatemala to T&T. The reason for this balance of trade in T&T favour is because of T&T’s export of oil and gas products to Guatemala.”

Castillo said trade with T&T is very important because Guatemala sees T&T as a conduit to the rest of the Caribbean region.

“T&T is an important place to do business in the region and has the most important economy. Our embassy in T&T has been here for 13 years. T&T has had traditional ties with Europe and the United States but needs to look at Latin America. The other day I found Guatemalan coffee in a supermarket in Trinidad, and the owner of the supermarket said he bought it in the United States. So why can’t they buy that coffee directly from Guatemala where it is produced? I also saw soaps made in Guatemala, but the stores in T&T bought it in London. This soap costs TT$60 to TT$80. If it were shipped directly from Guatemala, the business owners here could sell it at a retail price of TT $20.”

He added: “As long as T&T has oil and gas, it is significant to Guatemala.”

He also said Guatemala can help solve T&T’s labour shortage.

Guatemala supplies skilled labour to Canada annually and can do the same for T&T.

“The other day we read in the newspaper of a shortage of labour in T&T. Why can’t T&T look at Guatemala for its labour? We are going to bring up this idea with the T&T Chamber of Commerce. We signed an agreement with Canada where we send workers to work for a period of time and they return to Guatemala. We can do the same with T&T and is closer to us. 

“Digicel needed workers to run their cables and 80 Guatemalans came here and returned home after a couple months when they completed the job,” he said.

He also said not many nationals of T&T can speak Spanish but it is not a big problem for Guatemalans as most of the business executives have been trained in the United States and speak English.

“The people coming from Guatemala must speak English in order to do the work. One of the projects of the Arthur Lok Jack School is that they send students to Guatemala to study Spanish.”

Guatemala’s economy

According to Castillo, Guatemala with a population of 15 million has Central America’s largest economy within Latin America. Globally it is a top producer of many agricultural and manufactured products.

“Traditionally Guatemala has economic and trade ties with Central America, Mexico and the United States. Right now we are working with Mexico on gas projects because we are closer. But T&T also has gas and has the potential for co-operation with Guatemala in this area. Guatemala has petroleum but not as much as T&T.”

According to information Castillo provided, Guatemala is a leader in several exports globally:

• No 1 exporter of snow peas to the United States

• No 1 exporter of cardamom in the world

• No 1 exporter of poinsettia cuttings in the world

• No 1 supplier of Yamaha wooden keys and Gibson guitars

• No 1 supplier of coffee for Starbucks coffee

• No 8 exporter of bananas in the world

Other statistics provided by the Guatemalan Embassy shows that Guatemala’s reserves are US$7.3 billion, it is the least indebted country in Central America with debt being 22.3 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) and its GDP growth was four per cent in 2014 and expects growth of 3.5 to 4.1 per cent in 2015.

On Friday last, the Governor of T&T’s Central Bank and the country’s Minister of Finance made statements on the resolution of the CL Financial/Clico nightmare, which was caused by the collapse of the conglomerate and its insurance company subsidiary in January 2009, more than six years ago.

As someone who has written more extensively on this issue than anyone else, the outline of the rescue plan by the local authorities is a source of some satisfaction, as it represents one of the last steps in ensuring that all of those who invested their savings in Clico and British American will be fully repaid….eventually.

The 18,000 policyholders and investors in the short-term investments of Clico and British American owe a debt of gratitude for their stewardship over the resolution process thus far to Governor Rambarran, Minister Howai and all of the technocrats and advisers who played a role in getting the issue to this point. It is obvious that the 18,000 would be hoping that nothing in the future derails their expectations of being fully repaid. 

It needs to be made clear though, that as far as T&T holders of Clico’s Executive Flexible Premium Annuities (EFPA) are concerned, the debt of gratitude is for the stewardship of the process and not for the monies they will receive as those policyholders are covered by the insurer’s statutory fund. Once the statutory fund is in surplus, those investors are guaranteed to receive their funds.

Of course, there are other classes of individuals and institutions whose investments were not covered by Clico’s statutory fund who would have cause to be grateful for both the process and the monies. This would include: EFPA policyholders who are not resident in T&T, those who invested in Clico’s mutual funds and other investments as well as the British American policyholders (whose statutory fund is going to receive nearly $800 million in state funds).

While there is satisfaction and gratitude at the prospect of a final resolution, some questions remain:

1) Need for fuller disclosure 

In his statement last Friday, Governor Rambarran said: “Clico is now in a position to make payments to its creditors in order to advance the resolution of the company. Clico’s ability to meet its obligations to creditors and policyholders is based on its most recent management accounts as at December 2014 and our up-to-date understanding of Clico’s statutory fund position. These numbers indicate Clico now has sufficient assets to pay its liabilities in its statutory fund. The improvement in Clico’s statutory fund position resulted mainly from the sale of Clico’s shareholding in Methanol Holdings Trinidad Limited (MHTL) in October.”

This statement raises several issues:

a) Would there be any issue if the Central Bank were to publish details of Clico’s statutory fund and its management accounts as at December 2014? 

The publication of those details would indicate to the public the extent to which the assets in Clico’s statutory fund exceed its liabilities and the composition of the statutory fund: the itemisation and value of the shares of the listed and unlisted companies in the statutory fund; the itemisation and the value of the bonds in the statutory fund and the amount of cash in it, especially as the sale of MHTL in October caused the release of just over $7 billion in cash to Clico’s statutory fund.

b) This point is particularly valid as the cash infusion into the statutory fund from the sale of MHTL would have happened in October, which would have been when the Central Bank would have known that the statutory fund was in surplus and the policyholders could have been fully repaid. 

As far as one can deduce, the reconciliation of the statutory fund after the receipt of the MHTL proceeds would have involved adding the cash from the sale of the shares to the statutory fund deficit outlined in Clico’s 2013 financial report. In other words, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance should have known the state of Clico’s statutory fund since October, 2014. 

Did it really take the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and Ernst&Young nearly six months to validate that the monies in the statutory fund could meet the commitments to repay made by the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance, as Finance Minister Larry Howai suggested at a press conference last Friday? Or is it that the resolution plan—which would have involved deciding who gets what and when—took six months?

2) Taxpayers vs CL Financial shareholders?

Governor Rambarran said the Government—which represents taxpayers in this Clico issue—received a payment of $4 billion in cash on Friday “and potentially around $3 billion in lieu of cash through the transfer of Clico’s shareholdings in Angostura Holdings Limited, CL World Brands Limited and Home Construction Limited.” 

The Governor also said that the $7 billion represented 85 per cent of the Government’s claim on Clico’s statutory fund, which suggests that that claim was $8.235 billion.

Now, Clico owns 32 per cent of Angostura Holdings Ltd, (66,971,877 shares), 42 per cent of CL World Brands and 43 per cent of Home Construction Ltd. In Clico’s 2013 financial statement, its stake in these three companies was valued at $1.963 billion (Angostura = $835.139 million; CL World Brands = $747.427 million and Home Construction = $380.975 million). On Tuesday, Clico’s stake in Angostura, which is publicly listed on T&T’s stock exchange, was worth $937.6 million, based on the market price of $14 per share.

Can the Central Bank explain how assets that were valued at $1.963 billion at the end of $2013, escalated in value by more than 50 per cent by the end of 2014? 

As far as I am aware, most of the value of CL World Brands is in cash as a result of the sale of Burn Stewart, Hine and other companies as well as its 45 per cent stake in Angostura, which is held through a company called Rumpro Company Ltd, which is a St Lucia-based subsidiary of CL Financial. 

It seems to me that if the Clico-stake-to-be-transferred-to-Government in Angostura, CL World Brands and Home Construction Ltd is worth $3 billion, “subject to an independent valuation pursuant to section 44D of the Central Bank Act,” then the value of CL Financial shares in these companies—which is 45 per cent of Angostura, 58 per cent of CL World ​Brands and 57 per cent of Home Construction—is probably worth $4 billion. On Tuesday, CL Financial’s stake in Angostura was worth close to $1.3 billion (92,551,212 X $14).

Do the Governor and the Minister think that they can sell a resolution of this issue to the public that allows the shareholders of CL Financial to walk away with shares valued $4 billion, which is more than twice the $1.6 billion Ernst&Young estimated the CL Financial shareholders would have received from the Note that was taken to Cabinet in July 2013? 

When will taxpayers be repaid in full?

According to the Governor: “The second phase of Central Bank’s Clico Resolution Plan will meet the remaining 15 per cent of the claims of the Government and the balance of non-assenting STIPs policyholders on Clico’s Statutory Fund. 

“This payout will be funded from the proceeds of the sale of Clico’s 57 per cent shareholding in Methanol Holdings (International) Limited (MHIL). This sale, which is expected to realize proceeds in the region of at least $2 billion, will be subject to an independent valuation and done in accordance with the MHIL Shareholders Agreement. 

“This second payout will clear Clico’s debt to all its Statutory Fund creditors and leave sufficient assets to fully and appropriately cover the needs of Clico’s traditional policyholders. The timing of this second payout will of course be dependent on the sale of MHIL.” 

The Governor’s three-phase repayment approach envisaged that at the end of phase three it would have accounted for all of Clico’s statutory fund and non-statutory fund creditors. 

The Government would then be left with $5 billion of preference shares along with approximately $1 billion of accrued but unpaid dividends on these preference shares. He said: “The projections suggest the residual assets of Clico would, when ultimately realized, likely be sufficient to fully repay this $6 billion liability to Government.”

The Minister of Finance, on Friday, suggested that this process of repaying the $6 billion could take as long as ten years. Is it fair that the CL Financial shareholders get assets worth $4 billion, while taxpayers have to wait up to ten years to be made fully whole?

Disclosure: The author of this commentary is a minority shareholder of Angostura Holdings Ltd.  

Korie Joseph, 20, is the country's 95th victim of murder for the year.

According to reports, Joseph, of North Road, Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande, was found dead in his neigbour's yard on April 1 at about 8.30 pm. 

Police said residents reported hearing gunshots around that time.

Police are searching for a heavily tinted white SUV, which was seen speeding away from the scene. 

Business along San Fernando's usually-bustling High Street got off to a late start today, after an early-morning fire brought traffic congestion and forced several stores to stay closed.

As Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) prepares for life as a new, enlarged entity, following completion of its acquisition of Columbus International Inc. (Columbus), the Caribbean awaits first signs of how their promise of being “Better Together” will actually play out.

Better Together

Since the deal for CWC to acquire Columbus for US$3.025 billion was announced last November, the two regional telecommunications providers embarked on a campaign to convince consumers, competitors, regulators and investors that their union will be “transformational for CWC and Columbus and beneficial for customers and the wider economies across the Caribbean." It has not been an easy sell.
The message of the two companies being “Better Together” met with cautious optimism in some quarters and in other cases with fear, skepticism and outright opposition. The shadow of Cable and Wireless’ past and the uncertainty of the telecom sector’s future have given occasion for region-wide concern.
In the five countries in which their operations overlapped, the CWC had to make extra effort to convince wary governments and consumers that its acquisition of Columbus would not signal a return to the dreaded monopoly era, with attendant high prices, poor service and limited innovation. Governments and customers sought assurances that they would not be adversely affected post-acquisition.
The March 27th announcement by the Barbados Fair Trading Commission (FTC) of its conditions for the approval the merger in Barbados marked the last major regulatory hurdle for the deal. It cleared the way for CWC to shift its focus fully to integrating the operations of the two companies. However, there are still some regulatory requirements to be satisfied.

Conditions apply

CWC has not received an unconditional blessing. Regulators and governments have either imposed conditions or requested assurances to safeguard consumer interests and to protect the competitiveness of local markets.
In January, Jamaica became the first country to officially approve the merger of local assets of CWC and Columbus. The Jamaican government in a statement indicated that the Jamaican Telecommunications Act did not expressly authorise the imposition of conditions in relation to the transaction. Jamaica’s Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Phillip Paulwell , however, claimed he was able to achieve major concessions for consumers in return for the approval.
Those concessions, Paulwell said, included commitments for CWC to preserve access to Flow's undersea fibre cables, LIME poles, as well as other broadband entry points to the country to Digicel and other competitors. He added that CWC had also agreed to support and be ready for number portability by May 31, 2015.
T&T’s regulator followed with their own pronouncement in March, signalling it would approve the deal with conditions that include CWC’s divestment of its 49 per cent stake in Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT). The local regulator, Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT), has prescribed a timeline of one year, with a possible extension to 18 months, for CWC to comply. In the interim, CWC will be required to suspend its shareholder rights, including the right to name directors. It can, however, continue to collect dividends.
For Barbados, the FTC listed 14 conditions to its approval, including that customers of the fixed voice residential and commercial business and the fixed broadband residential and commercial business "must be released from any contracts, if they so desire, so that they are able to exercise the option to choose a service provider." The FTC also stipulated the divestment of one set of fibre cables in the zones where there exists total overlap of the LIME and Flow networks.

Compete if you can

Competitor Digicel has been one of the loudest critics of the deal. Digicel, the region’s largest mobile service provider, heavily campaigned regional regulators to prevent or impose conditions on the merger. Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said, “The proposed merger between Columbus and CWC also involves the creation of a monopoly and strong potential anti-competitive effects in the markets for landline, broadband and Cable TV in Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
CWC has consistently pushed back against Digicel’s arguments about monopoly concerns, countering that Digicel, with is substantial customer base and sizable investments in cable, fixed-line, and submarine systems, is fully capable of competing for market share.
Digicel’s quest to mobilise support for its arguments against the deal have also been undermined by its own business practices and positions. The company last year angered and alienated customers with its oppositional stance to popular “over-the-top” Voice over IP (VoIP) services like Viber. It has also frustrated regulators with its vacillation and sometimes antagonistic positions on important issues like local number portability and elimination of voice and data roaming in the Caribbean markets in which it operates. A more objective regional watchdog will have to emerge if consumer interests are to be truly safeguarded.
One thing is certain, the region’s telecom sector is forever changed. The merger will trigger transformation not only within CWC, but amongst its competitors. And that should be good news for consumers.

Completing the CWC Transformation

As CWC completes its assimilation of Columbus, it still has a lot to be do.  It has to work out the details of management team composition, branding, service and consolidated product service portfolios, pricing, staffing levels and infrastructure investment.
This leaves several questions outstanding. Will its products and services be better and more affordable? Will the new CWC be able to deliver on its customer service pledge? Will its social commitment increase to match its increase influence as a corporate citizen? Will its drive to realize a return on its considerable financial investment be matched by commensurate investment in human resource capital?
The answers to these questions will not be long in coming.
 
Bevil Wooding is an Internet Strategist with Packet Clearing House (www.pch.net) an international non-profit organization 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

There will be 11 races on National Lotteries Control Board- sponsored day, Easter Monday (April 6) at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Post time is 11.30 am. 

Taking the spotlight, however, will be the co-features NLCB Easter Guineas for three-year-olds over 1,800 metres and the NLCB Champagne Stakes for the three-year-old and over horses over 1,600 metres on the turf course. 

The first jewel in local racing's Triple Crown series will see a match race between the top juvenile of 2014 Blue Tequila and War Maker, winners of St Ann's Stakes and St James Stakes, respectively. Both horses have won impressively on their seasonal appearances with Blue Tequila taking the Ibis Stakes and War Maker winning the Flamingo Stakes over 1,530m. Both horses will be racing around two turns for the first time in their careers.

In the Champagne Stakes, a “battle-royale” is expected between turf champion of 2014 Nominee, and the John O'Brien trained pair of Crime of Passion and Thisoneisforron. 

When entries were received yesterday a total of 127 horses took entry.

Each race on the day’s card will take the name of a betting product of the NLCB. 

There will be the Play Whe Make Your Mark Today; Winners Always Play Lotto; Cash Pot Buss De Pot Every day; Scratch Match And Win; Pick 2 All In A Days Play; Donsai Game For A Lime; Via The Covenant Way To Pay and Pick 4 All For The Money apart from the co-features. 

NLCB DAY AT THE RACES ENTRIES

R1: 10.45 AM - DONSAI GAME FOR A LIME 3 YO & OVER IMPORTED MAIDENS 3 YO & OVER WI BRED HORSES RATED 75-50 - 1,350M - $48,500

Criminal Intent B Boodramsing 46;A Great Moment A Whitehall 52;The Tactician P Morales 56;Blue Mountain Rose L C Seecharan 52; Free Passage 54.5; Gold Rush R Angnoo 51; Thays R Hernandez 55; Darussalam S Rodrigo 57.

R2: 11.25 AM - PLAY WHE MAKE YOUR MARK TODAY 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $15,000 - $13,000 - 1,400 (TURF) - $32,000

Consideritdone E Ramsammy 56; Copa Glory D Butcher 55.5; Saynomore 54.5; Messi D Khelawan 54.5; Lady Sage J Reyes 56; Layla P Badrie 55.5; Bulletproof N Abrego 57; Red River J Boodramsing 57; Unguarded Moment B Boodramsing 57; Ice'D'Gold S Samuel 55.

R3: 12.05 PM - CASH POT BUS DE POT EVERY DAY 3 YO & OVER WI BRED HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,500M - $44,000

Absolutely Chrome E Ramsammy 57; Quick City J Boodramsing 54.5; Against The Odds J Stephen 55.5; Cramers Rule A Whitehall 53.5; Dandridge P Morales 57; Golden Enchantment D Khelawan 56; Our Kashmir P Badrie 53; Enzo B Boodramsing 57; Sweet Genius R Angnoo 51.5; Purple Touch R Ali 52; Allied K Khelawan 53.5; Seeker Of Truth E Ramsammy 53.

R4: 12.45 PM - PLAY WHE MAKE YOUR MARK TODAY 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $15,000 - $13,000 - 1,400 (TURF) - $32,000

Intangibility D Khelawan 56; Gold Coin R Angnoo 56; Pure Happiness N Samaroo 48; Casino Host R Thomas 46; Waka Waka P Badrie 55; Who Is The Problem N Flavenney 56.5; Spectacular Return J Stephen 57; Dazzling Diamond R Hernandez 46; The Cheerleader R Ali 56; The Problem Solver D Boodram 56; Indomeneo J Stephen 56; Danzig's Day K Khelawan 56.

R5: 1.25 PM - PICK 2 ALL IN A DAY’S PLAY 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 55-40 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $24,000 - $22,000 - 1,400 (TURF) - $32,000

My Ari J Boodramsing 57; Painted Buddha A Poon 57; D'Sportsman A Whitehall 55.5; Loan Shark E Ramsammy 55.5; Potiphar's Wife J Reyes 56.5; Princess Warrior R Angnoo 51; Imagine P Badrie 50.5; Just Honest N Flavenney 54.5; Emily's Gold L A Seecharan 52.5; Central Square R Hernandez 57; Aztec Gold 53.

R6: 2.05 PM - NLCB CHAMPAGNE STAKES (GR1) OPEN TO ALL HORSES 3 YO & OVER - 1,600M (TURF) - $150,000

Sacred Trust K Khelawan 54; Thisonesforron N Abrego 57; Slewjero R Angnoo 57; Scotus P Morales 57; Secret American W Galviz 57; Bandwagon D Khelawan 51.5; Nominee E Ramsammy 57; Buffalo Soldier A Whitehall 57; Crime Of Passion B Boodramsing 57; Magic Rust Seal J Stephen 57.

R7: 2.45 PM - WINNERS ALWAYS PLAY LOTTO 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,000 - $10,000 - 1,250 (TURF) - $31,000 

Enigmatic R Hasranah 54.5; Upset D Dance L C Seecharan 54.5; Caspian Sea R Angnoo 57; Best Defence K Khelawan 54.5; Bears And Bulls D Khelawan 57; Measured Response S Samuel 57; On My Own R Ali 53; Always Ready A Whitehall 54.5; Ready And Alert 55.5; Rosie Dream J Boodramsing 57; Bas Choice D Gopie 57; All Is Yours E Ramsammy 54.5; The Conqueror P Badrie 55.5; Really Classy L A Seecharan 50; Third Time Lucky A Poon 48; Super Easy J Stephen 56.5; Poppy Love R Hernandez 55.

R8: 3.25 PM - PICK 4 ALL FOR THE MONEY 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $18,000 - $16,000 - 1,350 - $33,000

Uncle Max J Boodramsing 57; Little Otis J Nava 54.5; Lady Felisha P Morales 55; Chelsi Magic R Angnoo 55.5; Al Kahina A Poon 54.5; U Crazy Diamond J Stephen 52.5; Super Sonic B Boodramsing 54.5; A Great Millennium N Samaroo 57; Amber Sky S Rodrigo 57.

R9: 4.05 PM - VIA THE CONVENIENT WAY TO PAY 3 YO NATIVE BRED MAIDENS - 1,200 - $44,000

Faith R Ali 57; Sweetmaninsouth P Badrie 57; Mikeisback R Angnoo 57; Luminary N Samaroo 55; Argentina S Samuel 54; Princess Britney N Flavenney 54; Lion's Portion L A Seecharan 54; Local Charm L Keizer 57; Red Wine A Whitehall 52; Electrify S Rodrigo 55.5; Don Pedro N Abrego 57; Hurricane Harry W Galviz 57; Man To Come N Samaroo 57; San Antonio J Nava 57; Pay Day J Arneaud 54; Treasure Queen E Ramsammy 54; The Candidate K Khelawan 57.

R10: 4.45 PM - NLCB EASTER GUINEAS (GRI R) -  WI BRED 3 YO - 1,800M - $315,000

Legal Adviser P Morales 57; Hail The Chief P Badrie 57; Beterlatethannever B Boodramsing 57; Root Of Jesse R Ali 57; Blue Tequila D Khelawan 54; Fairyinthewind K Khelawan 54; War Maker N Abrego 57; Serengeti W Galviz 54.

R11: 5.25 PM - SCRATCH MATCH AND WIN - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 60-45 OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000 - $27,000 - 1,350 (TURF) - $41,000

Masterpiece P Badrie 54.5; Royal Empire R Ali 56.5; Mambo Cat R Thomas 52.5; Fire Light R Angnoo 57; Pistons And Rings A Poon 56; Red Howler K Chandler 55; Sea Of Gdansk J Nava 56.5; Wing Commander 57; High Octane K Khelawan 56.5; Maximus D Gopie 56.5; Blue Oracle J Boodramsing 56.5; Big Man J Nava 57.

UK RESULTS

R1: 1 (9) Ride Like The Wind 11-1; 2 (4) Make Believe 9-4; 3 (3) Sir Andrew 20-1. AR

R2: 1 (7) The Royal Rumba 15-2; 2 (3) Hawksworth 33-1; 3 (6) Amber Sail 11-1. NR 4.

R3: 1 (9) Little Nightingale 16-1; 2 (7) Nightflower 4-1; 3 (8) Business Lawyer 12-1. AR

R4: 1 (7) Bodega 6-4; 2 (12) Spellbound 9-1; 3 (10) Mexican Glory 14-1; 4 (13) Belinsky 16-1. AR

R5: 1 (2) Leoncavallo 6-4; 2 (4) Galleano 7-2. NR 7

R6: 1 (5) Sparkling Beam 4-1; 2 (7) Spirit’s Revench 13-2; 3 (8) Elliptique 3-1. AR

R7: 1 (7) Port Melon 3-10; 2 (4) Go Odee Go 6-1; 3 (5) Low Key 16-1. NR 6

R8: 1 (2) Slowfoot 6-4; 2 (1) Jack Frost 6-4; 3 (3) Blandfords Gunner 4-1. AR

R9: 1 (1) Affileo 4-1; 2 (5) Miss Minuty 40-1. NRS 2 & 4

R10: 1 (12) Antonius Charm 3-1; 2 (3) Inala 9-2; 3 (6) Perfect Trip 9-1. NRS 9 & 11.

R11: 1 (4) Classical Art 13-2; 2 (6) Princess Ombu 5-1; 3 (1) Hawdyerwheesht 4-1. NR 7

R12: 1 (13) Chene Boppe 9-2; 2 (14) Athatir 7-1; 3 9()Haya Kan 7-1. NR 12

R13: 1 (5) A Good Skin 13-8; 2 (2) Loose Chips 11-4. NR 6

R14: 1 (2) Ninepointsixtythree 5-4. AR

R15: 1 (4) Isthereadifference 3-1; 2 (6) Green Du Ciel 5-1; 3 (3) All But Grey 5-1. AR

R16: 1 (2) Twilight Tiger 13-2; 2 (8) Usisi 11-1; 3 (10) She’s A Tiger 9-2. NRS 15, 17 & 18

R17: 1 (6) River Prince 10-1; 2 (10) The Divine 10-1; 3 (11) Skating The Park 11-1. AR

R18: 1 (1) Broxbourne 2-5. NR 2

R19: 1 (7) Tizlove Regardless 11-4; 2 (1) Perfect Cracker 10-3. AR

R20: 1 (7) Sporting Boy 16-1; 2 (3) Earthmoves 1-1. NR 6

R21: 1 (7) Rio Milan 5-1; 2 (4) It’s A Steal 5-2. AR

R22: 1 (11) 14-5; 2 (3) Battle Of Alma 17-10; 3 (16) Francois P 20-1; 4 (17) Legal Action 100-1. NRS 4 & 18

R23: 1 (5) Al Muheer 5-1; 2 (6) Dialogue 5-2. AR

R24: 1 (5) Milly Malone 5-1; 2 (4) Typical Oscar 5-2. AR

R25: 1 (4) Bombadero 2-1; 2 (2) Ascendant 10-3. AR

R26: 1 (8) Knockrea 9-2; 2 (12) Tongie 5-1; 3 (16) Silent Wish 33-1. NRS 6 & 15

R27: 1 (5) Sugar Boy 1-1; 2 (3) Dark Profit 15-8. NR 1.

R28: 1 (2) Follow The Tracks 5-2; 2 (5) Midnight Sequel 9-2. NR 3

R29: 1 (7) Tugboat 8-1; 2 (4) Ballytober 11-4. NR 1.

R30: 1 (6) Nickname Exit 8-11; 2 (5) Master Appeal 14-1; 3 (3) Bright Prospect 12-1. AR

R31: 1 (5) Give Us A Belle 7-2; 2 (4) Bogsnog 9-2; 3 (10) Dream Sika 25-1. AR

R32: 1 (1) Murrayana 5-2; 2 (5) Keshi Pearl 4-1. NR 6

R33: 1 (13) Jo Go 20-1; 2 (16) Binowagh Bay 16-1; 3 (4) Claire Pet 33-1 ; 4 (3) Oscar Chimes 9-1. NRS 19, 20 & 21

R34: 1 (3) Deano 3-1; 2 (10) The Herds Garden 9-4; 3 (9) Stonehall Jack 13-2. NRS 15 & 16

R35: 1 (4) Gold Bullet 9-2; 2 (3) Baily Green 12-1. AR

R36: 1 (9) Mallards In Flight 11-2; 2 (14) Five O’Clock Tea 10-3; 3 (10) Bendala Bleu 25-1. NRS 15, 16 & 17 

R37: 1 (6) Myska 4-6; 2 (5) Miss Dynamic 11-2; 3 (11) Tigroney 8-1. NR 7

Anya King and Celine Ramsumair shocked Emma Davis and Emma-Rose Trestrail to win the girls Under-16 and Under-18 combined doubles title on the closing day of the Catch National Junior Championships at Nelson Mandela Park, St Clair, yesterday.

Davis and Trestrail were favourites to take the crown after winning the girls U-18 doubles title last year. The defending champions seemed set to capture the title after winning the first set 6-3. However, King and Ramsumair then bounced back to square the match after snatching the second set 6-4. In a marathon third set, King and Ramsumair prevailed with an 11-9 victory. Earlier in the day, Davis got the better of King in the girls U-16 singles final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Claiming two titles on the final day was Aidan Carter. Carter, the top seed in the boys U-14 singles, got past Aaron Chan in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Carter then teamed up with Adam Ramkissoon to grab the boys U-14 doubles crown with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Edward Laquis and Samuel West.

In a match which saw the top four girls U-14 singles players in action, Yin Lee Assang and Victoria Koylass came out on top in the girls U-14 doubles final. Koylass and Assang, who were ranked fourth and third respectively in the singles, defeated Lily Lanser and Jade Tom Yew 6-1, 6-3. Lanser was the top seeded singles player, while Tom Yew was the second seed.

RESULTS (ALL FINALS)

Boys Doubles U-10

Jamal Alexis/Sebastian Byng def Declan Sheppard/Beckham Sylvester 6-1, 6-3

Girls U-10 and U-12 Doubles

Kaela Frank/Solange Skeene def Maria Honore/Emily Lawrence 6-2, 6-4

Boys Doubles U-12

Liam Sheppard/Nathan Valdez def Kyle Kerry/Ethan Wong 6-4, 6-4

Boys Singles Under-12

David Rodriguez def Alijah Leslie 4-1, 5-3

Boys Singles U-14

Aidan Carter def Aaron Chan 6-4, 6-2

Girls Doubles U-14

Victoria Koylass/Yin Lee Assang def Lily Lanser/Jade Tom Yew 6-1, 6-3

Boys Doubles U-14

Aidan Carter/Adam Ramkissoon def Edward Laquis/Samuel West 6-3, 7-5

Girls Singles U-16

Emma Davis def Anya King 6-2, 6-4

Boys Singles U-16

Kobe James def Scott Hackshaw 6-2, 6-1

Boys U-16 and U-18 Doubles

Timothy Davis/Scott Hackshaw def Nabeel Mohammed/Nkrumah Patrick—walkover

Girls U-16 and U-18 Doubles

Anya King/Celine Ramsumair def Emma Davis/Emma-Rose Trestrail 3-6, 6-4, 11-9

Red Star U-10 competition

Girls

Gabriel McKenzie (winner)

Shana Smith (finalist)

Boys

Joshua Davis (winner)

Yeshowah Smith (finalist)

​

The North Zone topped group B with an exciting draw against East in round three of the BG T&T Interzone Under-19 cricket competition, following strong performances from Fatima students Jean-Paul Rocke and Donovan Clayton.

Batting first at St Mary’s Ground, Rocke scored 79 to guide North to 189. Clayton pitched in with 25, while Stephon Ramdial (3/47) and Joey Samuel (3/35) both grabbed three wickets for East. In reply, East seemed to be cruising to first innings points getting to 104 without loss with national youth players Keegan Simmons and Shaquille McDavid at the crease.

However, East lost a flurry of wickets as it was bowled out for 188, giving North a one run lead on first innings. Simmons top scored with 80 and McDavid contributed 52. Clayton and Jonathan Bootan both snatched five-wicket hauls, taking 5/48 and 5/81 respectively.

In the second innings North posted 205 behind 47 from Brandon Maharaj. Ramdial was the chief destroyer with 5/44, ending the match with eight wickets. Both teams advanced to the semifinal round.

At Happy Hill in a group A encounter, Saiba Batoosingh and Jyd Goolie continued their excellent form. South posted 277, batting first after Goolie cracked 159. Anderson Phillip (3/40) and Batoosingh (3/56) both grabbed three wickets for Central. In reply, Central scored 250 after Batoosingh struck 128 and Suveer Ramsook pitched in with 56. Cafu Chin Sue (3/41), Goolie (3/65) and Jabari Mills (3/56) were all among the wickets for South. 

In the second innings the match was called off when South got to 106/6. The group A qualifiers have not been confirmed as the first round match between Central and South West has not been completed. 

At St Mary’s Ground: North 189 (Jean-Paul Rocke 79, Donovan Clayton 25, Stephon Ramdial 3/47, Joey Samuel 3/35) and 205 (Brandon Maharaj 47, Daniel Brown 29, Joshua Da Silva 29, Ramdial 5/44, Shaquille McDavid 3/47) vs East 188 (Keegan Simmons 80, McDavid 52, Jonathan Bootan 5/81, Clayton 5/48) Match Drawn

At Brooklyn Recreation: Tobago 197 (Ato James 64, Simmons Peters 48, Marcus Scarborough 4/63, Darien Ramdenny 4/54) and 258 (Renaldo Lezama 79, Peters 61, Ramdenny 6/81, Darren Sooklal 3/50) vs North East 158 (Darren Sooklal 58, Darien Sooklal 55, G. Ramlogan 3/20, Jaziel Joseph 3/70) and 116/6 (Ramdenny 50, Joseph 3/25) Match Drawn

At Sancho Recreation Ground: South West 49 and 172 vs South East 259 (Jeron Maniram 114 not out) South East won by an innings and 38 runs

At Happy Hill: South 277 (Jyd Goolie 159, Anderson Phillip 3/40, Saiba Batoosingh 3/56) and 106/6 (Goolie 29 not out, Kyle Phillips 3/25) vs Central 250 (Batoosingh 128, Suveer Ramsook 56, Cafu Chin Sue 3/41, Goolie 3/65, Jabari Mills 3/56) Match Drawn

This country’s swimmers will depart for Bridgetown, Barbados today where they will be hoping to wrest the 30th Carifta Swimming Championship and Open Water title from title-holder Bahamas.

The four-day swimming competition takes place National Aquatic Centre, Wildey from tomorrow until Tuesday while the Open Water events is carded for Carlisle Bay, St Michael on April 8.

Heading the swimming contingent will be the quartet of Jada Chai, Kael Yorke, Jeron Thompson and Justin Samlalsingh as they seek to reclaim the title. 

The four swimmers were all gold medals winners in the T&T team which ended third last year in Aruba with 37 medals (16 gold, 12 silver, nine bronze).

Bahamas captured the title with 56 medals (24 gold, 22 silver, 10 bronze) while Aruba with 53 (16 gold, 18 silver, 19 bronze) was third.

Back to boost T&T’s chances of toppling its rivals are USA-based Tyla Martin, who participated at the 2013 World Junior Championships and Andre Goin, both of whom had missed last year’s staging of the event due to other commitments.

Also in the travelling team are former Carifta champions Amira Pilgrim and Jabari Baptiste, while in the Open Water category which comes off on April 8, top T&T athletes, Christian Marsden who represented T&T at the Pan American Men’s Championship, Shania David and her sister Sabrina are this country’s top medal hopes. 

Chabeth Haynes is coach of the swim team while Hazel Haynes heads the Open Water coaching staff.

In addition to host Barbados, and T&T, other countries expected to compete at the match which is a FINA approved qualifier of the XVI FINA World Championship in Kazan, Russia include Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Aruba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Antigua & Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, St Lucia, French Guiana, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, US Virgin Islands, Grenada, Turks & Caicos. 

Carifita Swimming & Open Water team

Swimming

11-12:

Girls: Jahmia Harley, Jada Chatoor, Adrianna Gooding, Keona Yorke, Naomi Patterson

Boys: Aqeel Joseph, Adrian James

13-14:

Girls: Jada Chai, Racine Ross, Marissa Dickson, Vrisnelit Faure

Boys: Jeron Thompson, Kael Yorke, Graham Chatoor, Luke Gillette

15-17:

Girls: Johnnya Ferdinand, Amira Pilgrim, Ariel Cape, Tyla Martin

Boys: Jabari Baptiste, Adrian Goin, Osaze Riley, Bradley Thomas, Emil Gion, Justin Samlalsingh, Kyle Caracciolo

Technical staff: Chabeth Haynes (coach), Maurice Faria (assistant coach), Laura Goodman (assistant coach), Bertram Blackman (chaperone), Lyder George (chaperone)

Open Water: 

13-14:

Girls: Chisara Santana, Sabrina David, Raven Renee-Tony

Boys: Gabriel Bynoe, Graham Chatoor, Sebastian Marchand

15-17: 

Girls: Shania David, Briana Patterson, Toni Pierre

Boys: Christian Marsden, 

Technical staff: Hazel Haynes (coach), Kim Santana (chaperone)

Well, if you were hoping for a good end to Salman Khan’s infamous 2002 hit-and-run trial, you better start preparing yourself for some not-so-good news from now. 

If you’re new to this story, Sallu was charged with killing one and injuring four other persons when his vehicle slammed into a bakery in the early hours of September 28, 2002. 

On Monday, however, for the first time, the actor gave a statement saying that it was not him, but his driver Ashok Singh who was at the wheel at the time of the incident. Unsurprisingly, by the time Wednesday rolled around, #BollyTalks learned that claim was rejected since its introduction to the trial was too late. What’s more, all along it was stated that there were only three people in the car at the time—Salman, his friend Kamaal and his bodyguard Ravindra Patil. Where did this fourth person come from? 

Mechanical trouble and a “burst tyre” was another claim that was rubbished this week, with the prosecutor saying that if that really happened, the actor would have known since it is a high-end vehicle (Land Cruiser Lexus), that would have alerted him beforehand. “The car is a fully automatic power-loaded one which will not take it away from the road in case of mechanical failure,” he went on to say. 

Things weren’t concluded, but there was no verdict. Wow. Salman, things don’t look good. 

The trial continues on April 6, when hopefully our beloved actor’s fate will be known.

He may be one of the world’s most famous designers but Jean Paul Gaultier seems to be falling out of love with the fashion industry. 

The French couturier—who found fame putting Madonna in a conical bra and helped shape global trends for four decades—shocked the fashion world by ending his ready-to-wear and menswear lines earlier this year. 

And in a candid interview with The Associated Press, the 62-year-old—whose signature peroxide quiff has now rather symbolically grayed—explained why. 

“Too many clothes kills clothes...Fashion has changed. A proliferation of clothing. Eight collections per season—that’s 16 a year,” he said. 

“The system doesn’t work...There aren’t enough people to buy them. We’re making clothes that aren’t destined to be worn,” he added as he stood beside a mannequin sporting one of his giant, pointy bustiers. 

Gaultier gave his grave prognosis on the health of fashion from the newest leg of his acclaimed retrospective, which has travelled from Montreal to Rotterdam to London and is now in Paris. The scope of the exhibit, from top hats made of human hair to bondage outfits and corsets made of ribbon, showcases Gaultier’s brilliance and theatrical flair. 

And his launch party—attended by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Catherine Deneuve and Nana Mouskouri—was testament to his enduring popularity. 

But the retrospective also feels like it heralds the end of an era. The one-time enfant terrible was once seen as the heir to Yves Saint Laurent, but in recent seasons his womenswear shows failed to impress top critics who judged that his designs now lacked coherence. (AP)

It was a big surprise for Adi Guckelsberger to see his photo in the T&T Guardian on February 16, in Indra Dwarka-Koch’s article, Satire in German Carnival—We cannot be silent.

 In her column Dwarka-Koch pointed out that Guckelsberger performed the night custodian role in one of Germany’s biggest carnival shows put on by Mainz Carnival Association. 

Luckily Guckelsberger’s photo was published from among the many sent. Dwarka-Koch took the opportunity to present Guckelsberger with a copy of the T&T Guardian at his insurance office in Mainz.

He praised the Guardian for this form of publicity in a country like T&T where he said: “carnival is the pride of the people, the biggest show on earth.” 

During a short chat at Guckelsberger’s office, he admitted that he loved steelband music and is fascinated that Trinidadians hammered an instrument from used oil barrels with such a sound. He was later presented with a CD of steelband music by the Koch family.

With the recent epidemic of violence in the nation’s schools, especially among teenage girls, Caribbean Insight, a fast-growing Carib­bean news digital magazine and The JEGNA Institute, a community-based NGO in Mayaro, presented US psychologist and author Dr Tiffany Sanders, in the book launch of her new book—My Purpose is For Real. The book was launched on March 27, at the bookstore of Isaac 98.1 Studios.

My Purpose is For Real offers practical yet simple methods for young people to deal with the anger by discovering their purpose in life.

The book will assist teenagers in getting on a more positive path to reach their ultimate goals; through finding their purpose in life and learning how to deal with unfortunate issues that may arise in their lives, instead of resorting to violence.

The book will help in alleviate the negative issues that are plaguing the nation’s youth.

Dr Sanders is a US-based licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist and author, with nine years of experience evaluating and counselling children, adolescents, and adults with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, mood and anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, and learning and non-verbal learning disabilities.

For more information about the book launch or to purchase a copy of My Purpose is For Real, call The Promise Bookstore (628-0904).