Regional cement producer, TCL, which suffered four years of  losses between 2010 and 2014, on Friday reported  half year after-tax profit for 2015 that was more ten times better than it produced last year, according to the company’s unadited results for the period January to June, 2015, which were published on Friday.

For the first six months of the year, TCL’s recorded an after-tax profit of $335.4 million, which was substantially higher than the $32.8 million the company reported in the comparable period in 2014.

The 922 per cent increase in TCL’s profit so far for 2015 was largely due to the $197 million one-off gain that the company took for the restructuring of its debt earlier this year. 

That debt restructuring exercise involved paying off the existing bondholders with a new nine-month, US$245 million loan ($1.57 billion), which resulted in TCL benefitting as a result of early repayment.

In an earlier attempt at debt restructuring, involving an expensive, ten-day, six city roadshow in the US and Canada in May 2014, former TCL CEO Rollin Bertrand attempted to raise US$300 million on the US junk-bond market. That attempt ended in failure as the potential North American investors demanded stricter covenants and higher interest rates than the company was paying at that time. Bertrand was terminated by the board by letter on September 22, 2014 following a review of his performance.

But even without the one-off gain of $197 million, TCL’s earnings seem impressive. While the company reported a marginal increase in its revenue of 1.3 per cent to just over $1 billion, its earnings before interest, tax, preciation, impairment, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and net debt restructuring  jumped by over 54 per cent to $319.4 million from $207 million.

TCL’s operating profit—which includes depreciation, impairment and loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment—soared by 86 per cent to $264.3 million for the first six months of 2015 from $141.9 million for the same period in 2014. 

And the Claxton Bay-based company, which has subsidiaries and operations throughout the region, experienced a 728 per cent hike in its profit before tax, which moved to $368.6 million in 2015 from $44.5 million in 2014. TCL’s taxation charge for the first six months of this year was $33.4 million, which is nine per cent of its profit before tax, while the taxation charge for the same period in 2014 was $11.7 million, which was 26.3 per cent of its profit before tax.

In the directors’ statement, the company pointed out: “In light of the fact that the US$245 million ($1.57 billion) bridge loan has a maturity tenor of nine  months, the full amount of this liability is reflected as current liabilities in the statement of financial position. 

“As a consequence, the working capital has moved from a surplus of $0.6 billion at March 31st, 2015 to a deficit of $0.8 billion at June 30th, 2015. Net cash balance at the end of Q2 2015 was $529.7 million compared to $77.1 million at Q2 2014.”

Contacted for comment on the company’s results on Friday night, TCL chairman Wilfred Espinet told the Sunday BG: “The board of directors feel very excited at the results that have been coming out of TCL since the restructuring exercise began. There is justification for what was done at TCL as the results prove. 

“We are all realistic enough to know that there are headwinds—partly caused by the uncertainty as a result of the imminent general elections and also the international environment—but we feel that the company is better equiped to handle those headwinds than it was previously.”

The TCL chairman said the improved results reflected the substantial changes in how the company has been functioning, since the new board took over in August 2014.

“Stakeholders should take note of two things: the benefit that was derived from the early payment of the debt and the haircut that the company was afforded from our creditors. 

“Secondly, we have already begun to see the benefits from tighter management of the company’s operations. That’s reflected in the fact that we have had savings in energy costs in both Jamaica and Barbados as we have switched our fuel to a less expensive commodity.” 

Espinet explained that TCL was able to leverage its more cordial relationship with Mexican cement giant Cemex, its largest single shareholder, to get access to less expensive sources of petcoke.

“We are using a less expensive fuel in both Jamaica and Barbados, which has reduced our cost of production in both of those countries. These better prices are as a result of Cemex’s buying power. This is one way in which the synergy between TCL and its largest shareholder is working.”

Following a successful rights issue in March—which resulted in TCL raising US$57.1 million and issuing 128.8 million new shares—the shareholding of Cemex in TCL increased from 20 per cent to 39 per cent. The total amount of the rights issue subscribed by Cemex, through a holding company called Sierra Trading, was US$44.8 million. That was 78.5 per cent of the total contributed by TCL’s shareholders to the rights issue.

The decline in the cost of fuel in Barbados and Jamaica has resulted in a reduction in the cost of production at the Arawak Cement in Barbados and at the Caribbean Cement operation in Jamaica. At Arawak, that reduction in the cost of production has led to a decline in the losses reported by the TCL subsidiary in Barbados, said Espinet. In Jamaica, sales have increased, which along with the reduced cost of production has resulted in wider margins.

The TCL chairman also said that while the company’s production performance has been better, its management of cash has improved partly due to the fact that the company is getting better terms from its suppliers.

Espinet said: “Based on the enhanced cash flow from the better management of cash, we have decided to pay off part (US$20 million) of the US$245 million short-term loan. This means that the long-term debt that we are now looking to finance will be a maximum of US$225 million.”

TCL entered into a bridge loan credit agreement with Credit Suisse Cayman Islands branch, Citibank International Banking Facility and Citibank Trinidad as initial lenders. The interest rate of the 9 month loan is LIBOR + 6.25 per cent with quarterly increments of 1 per cent. 

Both Credit Suisse and Citibank have indicated that they are committed to take part in the long-term debt, which would be a syndicated loan.

He said the company is focused on driving further internal efficiency enhancement. TCL is hoping to achieve this by the realignment of all of the stakeholders.

“What we have done so far has been a balance sheet restructuring, but what we need to do in the future is an operational restructuring to enhance efficiencies and to satisfy the expectations of all stakeholders: customers, employees, creditors and the shareholders,” said Espinet.

Asked if the company’s results would cause the board of directors to revise its projection of dividend payments in two years, Espinet said: “We indicated at the special meeting in February that by 2017 we would be back to a dividend environment and we think that that outlook is a prudent one.”

Looking forward to Tuesday’s annual meeting of the company, which will be held at the Trinidad Hilton ballroom starting at 5 pm, Espinet said that TCL is committed to open and transparent disclosure of information.

“We have nothing to hide and we will answer all of the questions asked by the shareholders.” 

What if the Government Assistance for Tuition Expense (Gate) programme were no longer accessible? Or, your child wanted to pursue a career that did not exist 20 years ago and the only place to do this was at a foreign university.

It’s a dilemma any parent could face, no matter the age of their children. 

“A parent should assume that they are going to have to find this money one way or the other,” said Winston Williams, financial planner and Pan American agency head.

According to Williams, parents make many assumptions about how they will fund their children’s education, assumptions that may not be borne out by cold, hard financial fact.

The continued availability of Gate is one, he said. And Williams said it may have much more to do with economics than politics.

“My feeling is, when given the particular environment, the price of oil and gas as well as how fast we are able to diversify the economy, the Gate might be closed.”

“We have to point out to them (parents) that conditions, economic conditions can change,” said Carlyle Fletcher, financial planner and Million Dollar Round table member, “the government may not always be in a position to provide that facility. It is better that you plan as though you don't have it than plan on it and not have it when the time comes.” 

Even if the Gate programme remains on stream, as Fletcher pointed out, there are several other costs associated with tertiary education.

He provided the Sunday BG with a table listing expenses for several local, regional and international universities that are popular with T&T students. Although, Gate is available for degrees within the UWI system, there are still living expenses to contend with. A degree programme at Cave Hill has yearly non-tuition costs of $30,432 that are equivalent to some courses offered at private tertiary institutions locally, even though the tuition is covered by Gate.

Another assumption that parents make, said Williams, is that scholarships earned through sitting the Scholastic Aptitude Test will continue to be available.

However, the Pan American agency head said, with the current US economic reality of students graduating with the highest debt levels ever, American student outcry could potentially see this source of funding shut off.

“Many Americans are saying universities are giving scholarships to foreign students, who don’t stay there. They get scholarships and therefore have no debt and they go back to their country. Meanwhile, they (US students) are saddled with debt for the first ten years or more of their working life. It could be a simple change in the government from Democrat to Republican and their policy shifts.”

There are also other challenges that parents may not have even considered.

How does one plan in the case where one has more than one child, for example? 

Another is simply the lack of variety available when considering funding options. 

“Many parents would utilise a mix of mutual funds and, to a lesser extent, equity investments,” said Williams, “the UTC has a plan specifically for this purpose, but in fact it is the First Unit scheme that is the underlying instrument. There are no tax advantaged savings or education plans in T&T. In the USA and in Europe there are specific tax incentive plans for this purpose, but the reality is that in T&T the most common instruments remains the bank savings account and insurance policies.”

Keith Charles, another financial advisor and branch manager at an insurance company, said other avenues parents can use to save funds for tertiary education include, mutual funds offered by banks, educational savings facilities offered at some credit unions and unregistered annuity products. 

Charles also said the local financial sector “is not necessarily limited, but not enough is  done by the various institutions to promote how their current savings and investment products can be then used as the vehicle for facilitating the accumulation of funds for tertiary education.”

The question remains, therefore, how do parents plan for their children’s financial future with only these tools at their disposal?

Start early

“I always tell people, children aren't born at 18 years old. It didn't happen overnight.” said Williams.

He said the best time to start the financial planning for a child's university education was either at birth, or even before the child was born.

Fletcher said: “From the time they know they are having a child, they should start saving for their child’s education. That will give you the longest possible savings period. People wait until the childred go to secondary school and only then start to think about tertiary education. Some of them, because they are not sure as to what field or endeavour the child may want to pursue think that it is okay to postpone it until later and then it really becomes burdensome with the shortened period.”

Williams illustrates with an example from his own life. He said he took out two generic Clico Life Advantage policies, which paid interest rates of between eight and 10 per cent at the time.

“I think about when my daughter and my son were ready for university. I had started the policies for them, pretty much the day they were born. At that start, I could only afford $125 a month. But as they got older and my fortunes changed, I was able to put $1,000, $2,000 each and so on. And in 2009, when my daughter was ready to enter university in the US, I was able to pay her first two years of tuition from those policies that I started with as little as $125 a month.”

For those experiencing unease at the thought of taking out an insurance policy on their child, Fletcher said: “ People do not buy insurance on their children to provide a death benefit. The parent is not dependent on the child, but the child is dependent on the parent. The main reason people buy insurance for their children is to help create that education fund and give them that start in life.”

But another reason to start early is that it can mean the difference between retiring in comfort and struggling through your golden years. Let's say for example, you are 30 when you have your first child, it means that you will be 48 when your child is turning 18 and ready to enter university. The situation is compounded if you have more than one child.

Williams told the Sunday BG that at an age when workers are supposed to be maximising their retirement savings, those funds have to be diverted or stopped completely to accommodate a child at school.

“It may be a situation where your expenses peak during that period, but your income may have peaked a long time ago. So you are under strain. You can't accelerate contributions because you have accelerated costs already as a result of funding the child's education. So you fall back to the default position, which is to take a loan,” said Williams, who added that this presents its own complications should the parents financial situation worsen.

Plan for inflation

The financial advisors said parents should begin with the cost of the programme. If not sure about what educational path your child might pursue, Williams recommended making an average between the highest and the lowest priced programmes. He said this can be done for local and foreign degrees. After averaging the yearly cost of the programme, Williams applies an annual “tuition inflation rate”.

“In Trinidad, the average tuition inflation rate is 10 per cent. In the US, the average tuition inflation rate is seven per cent,” he said. 

Fletcher, meanwhile, assumes an inflation rate of two per cent every year. When there is more than one child, Williams said he repeats this process for each child. 

In the event that the parent starts accumulating funds late, the advisors say there is not much that can be done beyond trying to maximise the return on savings or investments, a challenge in today’s environment.

“What you need to do is look at the investment product that will give you a better rate of return because savings accounts in banks are not giving anything, or are less than one per cent. Parents should look for what is offering a better return to help grow that fund a lot faster,” said Fletcher.

Both men, who work for insurance companies, suggested insurance products may be one of the ways to resolve this. 

“Savings accounts are not necessarily the best thing, especially if you have regular access to it. I would put it in insurance. I would not put it in an investment because, I would need to make sure that I was always there to pay it. But if I am not there is there a way for it to always continue. That is what insurance does. Therefore, if I run out of time, my children would not run out of money.”

​Canada offers registered education plan

The Canadian government offers the opportunity to access money for tertiary education for those eligible thorough Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). 

Those eligible include children who are Canadian residents. Parents/guardians who are also Canadian residents can set up or make contributions to an RESP. (For information on who is a Canadian resident please see http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/cmmn/rsdncy-eng.html) The RESP is a tax shelter, which allows contributors, usually parents or guardians, to place money into a tax-deferred savings plan.

Financialpost.com says of RESP, “Similar to other registered plans, the RESP is in essence a wrapper in which you can hold various eligible investment products, such as mutual funds and even individual stocks and bonds. The main benefit of the RESP is the ability to have all earnings (capital gains, dividends and interest) on the investments inside the RESP accumulate tax-free until withdrawn. When the funds are paid out, they are included in the student’s income but presumably the child will be in a low- or zero-tax bracket, on account of the various tax credits available to them that little, if any, tax will ever be paid on the earnings when withdrawn. 

The money can then be used by Canadian residents to pursue a tertiary education at universities, colleges, 

Through various grants, the Canadian government also contributes to the RESP. One of these is the Canada Education Savings Grant, where the government contributes up to $500 to RESPs for a given year, up to a lifetime contribution maximum of $50,000. Contributions over this amount are subject to taxation. Prior to 2007, the Canadian government contributed 20 per cent of the first $2,500 put into the RESP every year.

The life span of RESP is 35, with the beneficiary only being able to access it until they are 35 years old.

As with other financial instruments, it is suggested that parents/guardians start contributions to an RESP as earlier as possible to maximise the amount the child is able to withdraw when ready for university.

When working with couples, financial advisers often need to act as mediators. It can be difficult to join the goals of two completely different people and help them to hone their habits and investing styles to create a plan that will work for both of them. However, it is a worthy endeavor to help couples with their financial goals. After all, with money arguments being a leading cause in divorce, you can do your part to help a couple have a happy, secure and healthy financial life.

Identify problem areas

When you’re working with a couple, it’s likely that each person has their own individual goals for the future. Maybe one wants to own a vacation home someday while the other just wants to retire early. It’s important to list all these individual goals so both partners know what the other wants in the future. This will help you to identify potential problem areas and help you discover the key places where the couple can improve their finances.

In most couples one person is typically more financially savvy than the other, so it is important to identify which person isn’t as well versed in their finances and ensure they are up to speed. 

A recent US News article highlighted the fact that because most financial advisors are men, typically the conversation becomes more male-dominated, leaving many women out of the discussion altogether. In order to avoid this, make sure to directly ask your female clients questions about her financial choices, goals and habits so that she feels like a valuable addition to the conversation.

Define joint goals

After you have identified a couple’s problem areas or where they differ in their goals for the future, it’s important to help them arrive at a common list of shared goals that they can work on together. This might involve quite a bit of negotiation, communication and compromise, especially if the couple has completely different views on what they want out of their life together. Be aware that this step could take some time or even more than one session for the couple to talk with each other and agree on some of their long term goals. 

In order to move this part of the process along, it’s helpful to point out that these joint goals are just a starting point and a guideline for their future together. 

Goals can certainly change as incomes change and life intervenes, but at least your clients will have a jumping off point of knowing what the other wants out of their life together. Typically once a couple has joint goals in mind, they feel more secure in their future and more willing to work together to achieve them.

Create a plan

Once you have a couple’s joint goals in mind whether it includes retiring at a specific age or paying for their children’s college in full, you can better direct them about their next steps. Talk to them about the money necessary to complete their goals and what they will need to do individually and together to reach them. 

This might include instructing them to increase their retirement contributions, buy life insurance, create or update a will, automate their savings or cut back on some of their expenses. Basically, whatever their individual needs might be, help them know the exact steps to take to get there. 

Many couples have a good idea of where they want to be or the age they want to retire, but they lack the understanding of what it takes to actually get there. In your role as financial advisor, help them to work together to create a plan so that they can reach their goals as quickly as possible. 

Money dates

Once again, it’s important to foster a sense of responsibility in both of your clients. One person should not be solely in charge of the finances, so encourage them to set a time, whether once a week or once a month, to have a money date. During this money date they should track their goals, savings, and work together on a budget. 

If they meet weekly, it’s easier for them to track their spending habits and make sure they stay on track.

Follow up

Set up a time to follow up with the couple after your initial meeting. Be very specific about the tasks you want them to accomplish before you see them next. Remind them that they are supposed to work together towards their common goals and that both of them are responsible for keeping the other one on track. 

The bottom line

With all of these steps, you should be well on your way to helping your clients not only build their financial knowledge but build strong relationships in the process too. By taking the time to get to know your clients, you can immediately identify their problem areas and where they need to work together to create common goals. Then you can help them define joint goals, the ones they are both passionate about pursuing. Help them create a plan so they know step by step how to achieve them. Usually this includes having them schedule money dates to keep track of their finances together and giving them a set of financial tasks to complete before you follow up with them at your next meeting. Investopedia

The author decided to re-publish this colunm which was originally run on Sunday, July 5 because of comments he recieved from a reader, which were published last week

Client Situation

Susan just turned 50 and is a senior manager earning $50,000 per month before taxes. She changed jobs twice in the last 15 years and, in both cases, she contributed to company based pension plans. She worked for 10 years with first employer and is now eligible to receive a monthly “defined benefit” pension. The pension department advised Susan of two options: either a full pension of $18,000 per year or a lump sum of $67,500 and a reduced pension of $13,500 annually.

In the second job, she was required to contribute five per cent of her base salary to the new pension plan, equally matched by the employer’s contributions. To sweeten the deal upon signing her contract five years ago, the company included a 10% per cent annual increment in her base salary; once she achieves a standard performance level. The pension plan also allows for voluntary contributions and Susan has been taking full advantage of the maximum tax benefit since she started.

She was told that the new plan is doing very well and has been crediting her account with an average of seven per cent interest annually.  

The pension booklet also spoke about a 25 per cent tax-free lump sum and a reduced monthly pension. Unlike the previous employer’s plan, this one is purely based on how much she saves (defined contribution plan) and the value at maturity when her pension could be projected at an annual rate of return of six per cent.

Susan decided that she would continue her current savings strategy but wonders if it would be enough to meet at least half of her current lifestyle expenses at retirement; assuming an inflation rate of eight per cent per annum.  

Susan also wants to know which pension option she should select in each instance.

Nick’s Assessment & Advice

Many people have absolutely no idea how they would fare in retirement based on their current savings programmes. Persons like Susan feel a little more comfort when they have at least two pension plans to add to their NIS benefits. There is often a niggling feeling that the money might not be enough but they have no way to calculate such a figure; inclusive of inflation.

To help Susan gauge her future benefits we must first get an idea of where her pension fund is at present.  

We will need to factor in: her annual salary increments, the voluntary contributions, the contribution tax limits, the employer contributions and then the interest earned. Once we know the final figure, we can then project what her income would be and then offer some guidance as to which pension option to select. 

Value of new pension plan (#2) 

This plan is currently based on a monthly salary of $50,000, however, the figure is the result of five years of increments at 10 per cent and will continue to increase at this rate for the next 10 years (God spare her life). The contributions to this plan are five per cent from Susan, five per cent from the company and any voluntary contributions she makes to the maximum of the deductible tax limit for retirement savings plans.

This annual tax-deductible contribution limit has been $30,000 since Susan started working with the new company in 2010 up to 2014, and in 2015 onwards it will be $50,000 annually. Any contributions she makes to retirement savings plans plus 70 per cent of her annual NIS contributions must be subtracted from this limit to get an idea of her annual voluntary contributions. For our purposes we shall assume a flat monthly NIS contribution of $500 and apply the 70 per cent adjustment. 

Table 1 shows the progression of her base income from inception and how it changes the five per cent contributions. It also shows the growth of the pension fund balance factoring voluntary contributions; employer contributions and interest on everything compounded monthly using the annual rate of seven per cent. You will notice for a few years Susan’s voluntary contributions were zero; this is because her basic contributions plus NIS would have exceeded the tax contribution limit for those years.  

Many times people contribute over and above their tax-deductible limits but they run the risk of being taxed a second time on the extra savings at retirement.  Even if all of the money that goes into a registered retirement plan does not benefit from a tax break, all of it will be subjected to tax at retirement; depending on the person’s tax bracket at that time. 

Retirement benefit plan #2

Using the projected fund value at age 60, Susan will be entitled to a full annual taxable pension of $136,337 ($2,272,290 x 6%). She will also have the option of taking 25 per cent of the fund value tax-free ($2,272,290 x 25% = $568,072) and a reduced annual taxable pension of $102,253 ($2,272,290 - $568,072 = $1,704,217 x 6%).    

Tax considerations of retirement benefits #1 (age 50) & #2 (age 60)    

Currently, persons who are under age 60 do not pay taxes on the first $60,000 ($5,000 per month) of emolument income whereas persons age 60 and over do not pay taxes on the first $72,000 ($6,000 per month); above these amounts the marginal tax rate is 25 per cent.

Susan is currently age 50 so if she takes the pension option on plan #1 of a tax-free lump-sum of $67,500 and a reduced annual pension of $13,500; this entire annual pension will be taxed at the full marginal rate because she is still gainfully employed and her current earnings far exceed the first $60,000 personal (tax-free) allowance.  

Susan could make enquires to see if deferral of the plan #1 benefit to age 60 is possible so that she can accrue further interest or benefits until she is ready to retire.  It would be helpful to note that in many cases selecting a pension option at age 50 would mean accepting a 50 per cent cut in the age-60 benefit. Of course Susan may also have to consider the impact of inflation for 10 years and beyond if she defers. 

Regarding the lump sum of $67,500, we notice that it represents a 25 per cent sacrifice of the full $18,000 annual pension, multiplied by 15 years ($18,000 x 25% = $4,500 x 15 years). In a way she is taking a “salary (pension) advance” and getting it tax-free too. If we consider the after-tax effect of this sacrificed amount, which is $3,375 ($4,500 x 75%) the lump sum would then be equivalent to 20 years of $3,375. 

Inflation consideration

Susan wants to know how her current retirement plans measure up against her targeted need for 50 per cent of her current lifestyle adjusted for inflation. Half of her salary today is $300,000 annually ($25,000 per month) if the assumed eight per cent inflation is applied to it for 10 years she will need an annual income of just under $650,000 to maintain half of her current lifestyle. With her combined annual incomes totaling $151,753 ($13,500+$102,253+$36,000) pension #1, pension #2 and NIS respectively (assuming NIS at current rates)—there is a huge shortfall of $498,247 in the first year of retirement—so Susan has much work to do from now until then to close the gap. 

Pension options

Based on the tax effects and the impact of inflation Susan may be better off opting for the lump sums up front and the reduced taxable pensions.

BALTIMORE—About a yard from the goal line and at the edge of the six-yard box, Giles Barnes did not have much to shoot for.

“I kind of looked up and didn’t really see anyone in box, and I thought just hit it hard and low,” he said. “The coach had been telling me to shoot more.”

The Houston Dynamo forward scored from an acute angle between the legs of goalkeeper Johnny Placide in the seventh minute, and Jamaica beat Haiti 1-0 on Saturday night to reach its first Concacaf  Gold Cup semifinal since 1998.

Trying to advance to the championship game for the first time, the Reggae Boyz will play the defending champion United States in Atlanta on Wednesday.

“They’ve been solid at the back, and they’re moving the ball well, exactly what you’d expect from a Jurgen Klinsmann,” Barnes said. 

“So they’ll be a tough test on Wednesday, but we’re confident that we’re more than capable of coming away with a result.”

The Reggae Boyz went ahead when Crystal Palace’s Adrian Mariappa ran onto a pass over the defense that landed near the goal line and cut the ball back to the 26-year-old Barnes, who was born in London and played for England’s Under-19 team before switching his allegiance to Jamaica. 

He took a touch and scored his second international goal on a shot that deflected off the inside right ankle of Placide’s right ankle.

In an end-to-end match, Haiti had a great chance to tie but Kervens Belfort missed just wide with a diving header in second-half stoppage time.

“We demonstrated this evening an enormous ability, enormous capacity on the field for 90 minutes,” Haiti coach Cesar Ramos said through a translator.

In the first Gold Cup knockout stage match between Caribbean opponents, Jamaica was missing Vancouver forward Darren Mattocks and Dallas midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson, both suspended for yellow card accumulation.

Houston defender Jermaine Taylor was dropped from the roster after injuring a leg during Tuesday night’s win over El Salvador. Winfried Schaefer, the German coach hired by Jamaica two years ago, said Taylor is staying around and might cook for his teammates ahead of the US game.

“That is not a joke, believe me,” Schaefer said. “Yesterday was chicken and fish. Today (is) fish and chicken. Tomorrow, chicken and fish. But it’s good food...The Jamaica people know.”

In the other match, Clint Dempsey walked away with the game ball for one of the few times in his career. With his first international hat trick, he boosted the United States to a 6-0 rout over Cuba.

Dempsey put the Americans ahead with a fourth-minute header, converted a penalty kick in the 64th and added the final goal in the 78th.

“Habits carry over: scoring goals, getting a clean sheet, people getting assists,” Dempsey said. “That confidence, definitely it grows in the team. And as the tournament goes on, people are getting stronger as a group.”

Dempsey has scored a tournament-high six times, and his 47 international goals are 10 behind Landon Donovan’s American record.

Gyasi Zardes (15th minute), Aron Johannsson (32nd) and Omar Gonzalez (45th) also scored as the Americans built a 4-0 halftime lead against a Cuban team depleted by five absent players who may have defected. Before a pro-US crowd of 37,994, the Americans outshot the Cubans 24-7.

“After a couple shaky performances in the group, we came out here and dominated the game,” Johannsson said.

Does someone wake up one morning and haphazardly decide that they no longer want to be the sex they were born as? 

Not really, psychologists say. A number of factors play pivotal roles in the decision to change one’s gender. In fact, research has shown that it is quite often than not, biological. 

This is also the view of local psychologist Dr Keith Lequay who told the T&T Guardian sexuality and gender have a lot to do with genetics and hormones. Lequay said someone can be male but their gender female. He explained someone’s physical package may appear to be one thing but that doesn’t chime with the person’s psyche and mentality. 

“Therefore, when you hear someone say they always felt they were in the wrong body, this is what you should understand. It is not that they are experimenting or trying to be what they are not. It is them actually trying to be their authentic selves.

Vanity Fair’s July edition—headlined Call Me Caitlyn—featured former Olympic decathlon champion and reality television dad, Bruce Jenner, with long chestnut hair and wearing a silky pearl white basque that revealed 36D breast implants. This cover set social media buzzing with some followers on the transgender Caitlyn Jenner’s Twitter account either tweeting love and support or their shock and displeasure at the Kardashian clan stepfather’s transition.

Locally, almost every radio talk show host made it a hot topic and invited listeners to call in and comment. Once again, there were offerings of support and outright expressions of disgust.

Jenner’s public transition or change of gender is not the first for a celebrity and probably won’t be the last. 

In 1975, American tennis player Richard Raskind made the transition to become Renee Richards. Lately, French supermodel Ines Rau, American actress Laverne Cox, writer and transgender activist Janet Mock and Chaz Bono, son of pop singer Cher are among the notable examples of people who made the gender transition. Jowelle de Souza will run as an independent candidate for San Fernando West in the upcoming election is this country’s most high-profile transgender person. 

The T&T Guardian approached de Souza and other local transgender people to share their stories, but was unsuccessful.

Jenner has said she always felt she was born in the wrong body and had these feelings as early as age five. The 1976 Olympic champion also said she hid her “true self.” 

“This is quite possible and real,” Lequay said. “And because this has not yet been socially accepted and many people still believe it to be some sick twisted work of a demented mind, there have been many tragedies among this community. 

“Many have committed suicide because they could not deal with the pressure of society and suppressing their authentic selves for much longer,” said Lequay.

He said it may take some time, but education is needed. Such education, Lequay said, must be frank and open, so that people are more sensitised and aware and can become more accepting or tolerant of transgender people.

Transgender and law in T&T

When it comes to legislation on the rights of transgender people, T&T and other Commonwealth Caribbean states are sorely lagging behind. Colin Robinson, executive director of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (Caiso), told the T&T Guardian there is little legal literacy about these issues, and past court decisions demonstrate how little understanding of human sex and gender diversity there is among those on the bench. 

Robinson added, Caiso’s interventions with those in leading public hospitals and in Government policymaking reveal similar misunderstandings or ignorance about transgenderism and intersexuality that would make it difficult for policy leadership and advocacy for appropriate legal reform to emerge from those sectors.

“Some cultures recognise only two sexes. Some cultures, like our own indigenous ones, recognise a third or “two-spirit” category. But in our contemporary society, like most western ones that colonised us, gender is seen as a binary. Legal systems reflect this binary notion of gender, and with people assigned to one sex immediately at birth, sex shapes a lot of what is possible for them in the law,” said Robinson.

He continued: “Educational institutions, in Caiso’s experience have been particularly intransigent with transgender students, consistent with their historical colonial mission of imposing rules. There is no framework in the law that requires forms of ID issued by non-state entities to accommodate gender-conforming appearance. 

“We are not aware of any formal policy on this matter, even for government-issued documents, eg health cards; their issuance may be subject to the whim of a supervisor.”

Sex on identity documents

Robinson also pointed out the complications faced by this community when it comes to legal documents. 

He said in our legal systems, there is no mechanism for changing sex for any public health or human rights reason. 

“Though our habit of enforcing our personal morality in delivery of public goods and services sometimes makes this process complicated, there are no laws to prevent a man or a woman whose birth is registered as one sex from legally changing his/her name to a name that is seen as female or male respectively,” Robinson said. 

“Similarly, a man with a feminine appearance or a woman with a masculine appearance is not legally barred from being photographed as such for a national identity document. So people can change their national identity documents to show a new name and appearance that reflect their gender. 

“But the person’s sex assigned at birth remains unchanged, and this can often present problems when stopped by the police or inspected by immigration, when suspicions as to false identity and criminal intent may arise,” Robinson explained.

He highlighted the case of a transgender Belizean national entering T&T for a conference who disclosed she was transgender was subjected to secondary inspection due her gender being male on her passport. During the process, immigration officers made her a spectacle by spreading word among their ranks and several ventured to the area she was asked to wait to get a better look. 

“Gender-non-conforming identity documents can also present problems when exercising the right to franchise, or in everyday situations like banking transactions where verification of identity is necessary for security reasons.

“In other countries, the recommendation of a health/human service professional is all that is necessary to change sex on an identity document. The rationale of this approach is that gender-non-conforming documents endanger a person’s security when travelling abroad, especially to places less accepting of gender diversity or where it may be read as evidence of homosexuality, which is criminalised and a source of violence.”

Blatant discrimination

He said other areas of importance to be considered when considering legislation include health and sex-segregated institutions and public facilities. Robinson said a few years ago one woman dropped out of Costaat when she discreetly disclosed her identity to school authorities, asked to use such a facility, but was told after a review that she would have to use the male students’ toilet.

She eventually filed a case with the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), which threw it out as not being covered under the Equal Opportunity Act, which includes in its protected statuses sex, but neither gender identity or expression. Subsequently, she successfully sought asylum in Europe, based on persecution here due to her transgender status.

“That EOC precedent augurs badly for transgenders’ access to future protection by the sex discrimination provision of the EOA, despite the commission’s subsequent recommendation of statutory inclusion of sexual orientation in the act,” Robinson said. “

A strict reading of sexual orientation might not apply to most transgender people, who in their new gender are usually heterosexual.”

Robinson also spoke about Jowell de Souza, who he said has been a victim of constant ridicule because of her appearance. He was critical of stories that appeared after she announced her intention to fight the election. 

Although she received support from some politicians, one daily newspaper encouraged conservative clergymen to debate her right to run for legislative office. They suggested her transgender status might disqualify her because she would have “an agenda.” 

“In other words people made illegitimate by the law ought not to have a right to change it,” Robinson said.

He said religious groups in the region are fighting hard to maintain this, making advances in rights for gay and lesbian people much more likely than for transgender and intersex people who are more misunderstood and mistreated. 

“If we were to look at it this way, small minorities of people in natural human diversity are left-handed. There is natural diversity in sex and gender, too. While the majority of humans are capable of a range of erotic arousal, only small minorities develop primary and enduring erotic attraction to people of the same sex,” Robinson said. 

“For even smaller numbers of people, one of two things happens; they have or develop a bodily appearance that has sex characteristics not clearly identifiable as male or female or has characteristics identifiable as both or they have a bodily appearance readily identifiable as one sex but they have or develop a rooted personal identity related to the gender of the other sex. In third-gender cultures, they would be third gender.  

“Binary gender systems and their legal frameworks often need to adapt when countries in which they live wish to protect and ensure the health and welfare of people with such experiences, which include intersex  and transgender people. The needs of both groups often overlap,” the Caiso head said. 

Human sexuality vs gender

Human sexuality refers to one’s sexual interest and attraction for others, and their capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. A person’s sexual orientation is their emotional and sexual attraction to a particular sex (male or female), and often shapes their sexuality.

Gender is a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions associated with being male or female, and is generally considered to be a socially constructed concept.

According to Wikipedia,  a transgender is the state of one’s gender identity or gender expression not matching one’s assigned sex. Transgender is independent of sexual orientation; transgender people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, etc; some may consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them. The definition of transgender includes:

• Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these.

• People who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves.

• Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex (and assumed gender) one was assigned at birth.

• It should be noted a transgender should never be mistaken for a transvestite. They are two completely different things. A transvestite is a person, typically a man, who derives pleasure from dressing in clothes appropriate to the opposite sex.

LYDER, AILEEN VERONICA (née de Freitas) passed away peacefully on Monday the 13th July, 2015. Devoted wife of the late Audley. Beloved mother of Vera Ann Amoroso (Barry) and Marina La Fre-naye (Claude).

Sister of Elisio de Freitas (deceased), Joe de Freitas and Charles De Feitas (deceased). Grandmother of Rachael, Alicia, Sonia, Paul (deceased), Robert, Michael, Marc and Dominic, Luc and David. Great grandmother of Emily and Anabella.

​The fu-neral service to be held on Tuesday 21st July, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony?s R.C. Church, Petit Valley. Pri-vate cremation to follow. For enquiries, please contact R.M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223-2007/ 637-2009.

SABGA, Carmen (née Luna) passed away on Monday 13th July, 2015. Wife of the late Solomon. Mother of Sarita (Sara). Daughter of Luis (dec) and Olga. Sister of Aliz, Clara, Gloria, Nelly (dec), Diana, Luis (dec) and Ayxa (all of Venezuela). Sister-in-Law of Zarifi Sabeeney, Afifi Esau, Jamilee Janoura, George (all dec) and Anthony.

Beloved by Alan Smith and Debbie Pe-ters. Funeral service for the late Carmen Sabga takes place at St. Theresa's R.C. Church, Woodbrook on Mon-day 20th July at 9.30 am followed by a private cremation. No flowers by request. For enquiries, please contact R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223-2007/ 637-2009.

RAMSEY UNA Cummings of #7 St Rose Street East Dry River died on Monday 13th July 2015 at the age of 80yrs. She was the wife of: Noel Ramsey. Mother of: Michael, Maria, Michelle and Marlon. Sister of: Valerie. Grandmoth-er of: Keron, Marques, Kale-sha, Chelsea and Mickellius. Mother in Law of: Fitzroy Williams, Nick and Marsha.

God mother of: Susan. Rela-tive of: Cummings, Ramsey's Nymm's, Nelson's, St Clair's, Thomas's and The Gray's. Friend of Lima, Annette, Nola, Carol, Eula, Sylvia, Piggot's, Grants, Vikki and many oth-ers. The funeral services for the Late Una Cummings Ram-sey will take place at clark and battoo's funeral chapel on Tragarete Road Port of Spain, on Monday 20th July 2015 at 12 noon and thence to

ADAMS: AINSLEY of the USA formerly of Trinidad passed away on 11th July, 2015. Son of the late Hercules Nathaniel and Nora Winifred Adams. Husband of Rita (USA). Father of Wendy-Anne Ellis and Natalie Bolden. Grandfather of Stefan Ellis, Kyle Ellis, Melody Bolden and Melvin Bolden Jr. Father-in-law of David Ellis.

Brother of Christina Adams, Clem Adams, Carlyle Adams, Erwin Adams, Grace Joefield, Alma Adams, Pearl Maloney, Vere Clarke, Myrna Adams and Arnott Adams. Fu-neral service at 9.00 am on Monday 20th July, 2015 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Hart Street, Port of Spain thence to the Cre-matorium, Long Circular Rd, St James. For enquiries; call Clark & Battoo: 625-1170.

DOPSON: OPHELIA née Figuera died peacefully on Fri-day 17th July, 2015, at the West Shore Medical Private Hospital. She was the loving wife of Cecil (Syl) Dopson (deceased), sister of Jose (Sonny) Figuera & Maria Thorpe. Mother of Michael (de-ceased), Ann-Marie (deceased), Wayne, Suzanne (de Mon-trichard) and Michele (Cornil-liac).

Mother-in-law of Brian & Jeremy. Grandmother of Mark & Christian Dopson, Tanya (Far-fan), Brandon & Chanel de Mon-trichard, Nicholai, Zachary and Eamon Cornilliac. Great Grand-mother of Anna-Rose Dopson. The funeral of Ophelia Dopson will be held at the St. Theresa's R.C. Church, Woodbook, on Tuesday 21st July, at 9.30am. Private burial to follow at the Mucurapo Cemetary, St. James.

GAMBLE: MARIA aka “Belta” died in the US on Saturday 4th July, 2015. Wife of Henry Gam-ble (dec.). Mother of Jennifer Gamble, Marcia Gamble, Marva Gamble and Lauren Gamble-Woodley. Grandmother of Natasha Lopez, Nigel Lopez, Solange Francis-Moy and Leighara Woodley.

Great grand-mother of Ethan Moy, Christo-pher Lopez, Sera Moy and Kristina Lopez. Sister of Lucille Chan, Edward De Silva (Eng-land) and Yolande Villafana (NY). A Memorial Mass will take place on Monday 20th July, 2015 at St Theresa’s R.C. Church, De Verteuil Street, Woodbrook. For enquiries; call Clark & Battoo: 625-1170.

MAINGOT: MARY EDNA NÉE HARDING. "A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Church, Petit Valley on July 20th, 2015 at 9AM for Mary Edna Maingot née Harding, August 19, 1921-June 11, 2015 who passed away peacefully in Australia. Wife of Kenneth Maingot (deceased).

Mother of Faye Rodriguez (Australia), Frank Maingot (Florida), Helen Maingot and Glenn Maingot (Australia). Mother-in-law of Michael Ro-driguez (deceased) Carol Maingot, Gordon Easton (former son-in-law) and Mary Leslie Maingot.

Grandmother of Luke Easton, Paula Mackenzie and 9 others liv-ing abroad, Great grandmother of 30 and great great grandmother of 1. Sister-in-law of Joan Devenish and Lilyan Maingot, UK."

The Tobago Netball League got on the way on July 11 with the traditional parade of the teams and an exhibition match that showcased a number of youngsters at Shaw Park. 

The highlight of this season’s launch was the match featuring Black Rock Ballers and Jets 1 showcasing players in the age-group six to 13 years old in the Classification Tournament. Both teams boasted a number of six, seven and eight-year-olds in their line-ups and the spectators were in high praise of the toddlers’ effort in competing against the older and bigger players.

The march past saw 19 registered teams participating and only three teams were short of the minimum quota of players, seven, which they were required to parade with. 

Secretary for the Division of Community Development and Culture, Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus in delivering the feature address said, “Netball is one way of remaining healthy and given the level of participation from young and senior athletes in the league, one can safely conclude that the future of Tobago is in good hands. 

“Beyond that, we look at the sport itself and the sport is about teamwork; and I see the women here, the women and young girls here learning how to rely on each other as part of a team, learning that there will be losing moments and you comfort each other as part of that team, there will be winning moments and you will stand shoulder to shoulder and celebrate.” 

She stressed that those leadership qualities should not just be practised on the courts, but should also be taken back to homes, communities and workplaces. “If we continue to do that, we would certainly build a stronger Tobago together,” said Dr Tsoiafatt-Angus. In declaring the season officially opened, Assistant Secretary of the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport, Jomo Pitt said the committee has transformed the face of netball in Tobago. 

The ASATT National Short Course Age Group Championships that concluded last week was keenly contested as swimmers from more than twelve local clubs give their best efforts to qualify for the XXI Goodwill Swim Meet 2015 to be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago from August 14 – 16 at the Centre of Excellence Swimming Pool, Macoya.

This annual regional competition will see Trinidad and Tobago vie to retain the title that it won last year after a seven-year drought.  Teams from Suriname, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia and guest team, the Bahamas, are expected to arrive from August 13.

Forty swimmers were selected and ratified to represent team Trinidad and Tobago.  The team’s manager is Amanda Mc Millan and she is supported by chaperones Elise Parag, Michael Nelson and Brent Yates. The head coach is Dexter Browne and his assistant coaches are Leslyn Alexander, Joseph Ryan and Mark Alexis.

The Goodwill Swim Meet is a developmental meet for swimmers from the participating countries who have not yet competed at higher levels of regional or international competition. Goodwill and the promotion of the sport of swimming remain the goals of the competition in an atmosphere of intense rivalry and sportsmanship.

Team T&T will be represented by the following swimmers in the outlined age groups:

groups

8 & Under GIRLS
Joy Blackett
Amelia Rajack
Lyla Browne
Breanna Ramirez
    
8 & Under BOYS
Zachary Anthony
Tyrese Boxill
Giovanni Rivas
Gevano Mohan
    
9 — 10 GIRLS
Zoe Anthony
Kiara Goodridge
Neishelah Caseman
Gabrielle Vickles
    
9 — 10 BOYS
Josiah Changar
Marquise Nelson
Riquelio Joseph
Johann-Matthew Matamoro
    
11 — 12 GIRLS
Jasmine Marajh
DeNicha Lewis
Marie Ayoung
Terri Yates
    
11 — 12 BOYS
Jonathan Constantine
Malik Nelson
Jordon Mc Millan
Delroy Tyrrell
    
13 — 14 GIRLS
Danielle Williams
Ornella Walker
Lleana Bocage
Courtney Lawrence
13 — 14 BOYS
Jarelle Williams
Obadayah Ince
Matthew Ocando
Joshua Prescott
    
15 — 17 GIRLS
Shenia Clapperton
Sajni Maharaj
T'Shelle Williams
Reizanne Richards
    
15 — 17 BOYS
Leshem Morris
Kegan Ford
Jeremy Sampson
Alex Ali
    
Manager:
Amanda Mc Millan

Head Coach
Dexter Browne

Assistant Coach
Leslyn Alexander

Assistant Coach
Joseph Ryan

Assistant Coach
Mark Alexis

Chaperone
Elise Parag

Chaperone
Michael Nelson

Chaperone
Brent Yates

‘Time’ to rule in the thirteen-runner 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of ‘good’ ground Ffos Las today when another seven-race turf fixture at Musselburgh runs in tandem; later evening meetings are scheduled for Wetherby and Chelmsford. Plenty of variety and two-year-old races, my ‘speciality’ which, during the next three months, will be the focus of our Daily Earner operation.

It’s ‘Time’ to closely monitor the yard of Sir Mark Prescott! In the first three months of every season Prescott waits, watches and plots; he found an ideal opportunity for Time Warp over six furlongs at Lingfield earlier this month but the widest draw and hesitation by jockey Luke Morris in the early stages proved costly.

At a time when Morris should have been positive he looked across to see what others were doing, consequently Time Warp ran wide into the final turn and despite a late flourish was beaten a neck, half length. It’s necessary for jockeys to get an early ‘pozzy’ and that wasn’t the case. This extra distance should be ideal and unless there’s a ‘fly’ among one of four newcomers Time Warp should make it fourth time lucky and land my nap.

Rasheeq is one of nine declared for the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs, what beats this once-raced colt win and I’ll bet he goes one better under Martin Harley whose expertise is really showing through this season; much sought after. Later this week Golden Horn will put his unbeaten record on the line in the ‘King George’ at Ascot; it’s getting very firm at the Berkshire course and that might be a concern; at this stage Telescope, each-way, is our preference.

Keep clicking on to www.dailyearner.co.ºuk for occasional updates and be patient.

SELECTIONS

10.00 Time Warp
2.40 Rasheeq (e.w.)
4.50 Privileged (e.w.)

Women’s boxer, Chimere Taylor, missed a first ever medal for T&T among her gender at the 28th Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada yesterday when she was kayoed in her middleweight (69-75 kg) bout by Dominican Republic’s Yenebier Guillen Benitez. Fighting at the Oshawa Sports Centre, 27-year-old Taylor was trailing 30-27 on points  when she was floored by her opponent with a minute and 20 seconds left in round two of their quarterfinal, with the winner certain of a bronze medal for the least.

In taekwondo, Central American and Caribbean Games bronze medal winner in 2010 and 2014, Dorian Alexander, 31,  started well before losing to Colombian Miguel Trejos, 5-11 in their three-round battle, helped by four penalty points  at the Mississauga Sports Centre.

Alexander, who fought at the 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Taekwondo Championships and is a medical doctor by profession, won the first round 2-1, but in the second round Trejos turned up the heat and outscored his T&T opponent 8-1 to take command of the contest, 9-3, before the second round played out 2-all on points.

At the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre, Fabien Whitfield and Daneil William secured ninth spot via their default win over Venezuelans Jackson Henriques and Jesus Villafane. On Sunday night, cyclist Njisane Phillip failed to add to his silver medal in the Match Sprint when he ended fifth in the Men’s Keirin which was contested over eighth laps at the Cisco Milton Pan Am Veledrome.

In the morning heats, Phillip was second in heat two behind Canada’s Hugo Barrette while Argentina’s Leandro Battasso earned the other qualifying spot to the final ahead of USA’s Matt Baranoski. And in the other heat, Colombian Fabian Puerto won ahead of Venezuela’s Hersony Canelon and Suriname’s Jair Tjon En Fa, while Brazil’s Flavio Cipriano was fourth and did not advance.

However, in the six-man ride off for the gold medal,  Phillip could only muster a fifth spot behind gold medal winner Puerta while Canelon took silver and Barrette, bronze. Bottasso was fourth while Tjon En Fa was sixth followed by Cipriano and Baranoski. At the Angus Glen Golf Club, the local quartet of Sachin Kumar, Talin Rajendranath, Christina Ferreira and Monifa completed tough campaigns.

Rajendranath carded rounds of 74, 78 75 and four over 74 for a total of +13 (301) and 24th, one spot above Kumar who had scores of 78, 76, 73 and 75 for a +14 (302) tally. Ferreira carded a final round of 82 (+10) to go with previous rounds of84, 85 and 79 a four-day total of 330 (+42) an 26th while Sealy ended four places higher after she shot a final round of 83 (+11)  to add to previous scores of 81, 77 and 77 for a combined 318 (+30) and joint 22nd with Bolivian Natalia Soria.

And in the Mixed Event, the T&T quartet had rounds of 155, 153, 150 and 156 for +38 for 15th. At the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre, T&T’s Ayana Dyette and Malika Davidson ended in 14th spot after going under to Guatemalans, Maria Jose Orellan and Blanca Recinos, 15-21, 16-21.

Today (Tuesday), at the CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium, T&T men, beaten 4-0 by Uruguay and 5-1 by Paraguay tackle Mexico from 5.35pm while at the Pan Am Hockey Field, the national men’s team come up against the host country in their final quarterfinal from 7.30pm. So far swimmer George Bovell (50m freestyle bronze) and Phillip are the lone T&T athletes to medal at the games which steps into high gear this week with the start of the track and field events.

Needing to win their final game of preliminary round clash against the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Providence Stadium in Guyana today, to book a place directly into final of the 2015 Hero CPL tournament, the Red Steel will be looking towards the heavens, hoping for a break in the rain.

When the team touched down in Guyana at 3 pm yesterday, they were greeted by rain which has been falling here all day. The Red Steel is currently on 11 points and second in the standings, one point behind the leaders Barbados Tridents. A win today will push them to 13 points and they will avoid the horrors of having to play a semi-final match. 

If the rain falls today and washes out the game,  Red Steel will finish on 12 points equal to Tridents but will still finish second because the Tridents have a better net run rate. 

If the Red Steel lose, they will finish third because Amazon Warriors have a better net run rate than the Red Steel. It will mean that they will have two matches to play—one against the fourth place team, the Jamaica Tallawahs, and then one against the second placed finishers to get to the final.

The Red Steel will go into the game confident after winning their last three matches at home. Warriors on the other hand, lost their last match against the defending champions Barbados Tridents. Red Steel will be hoping that all goes well with key all rounder Jacques Kallis, as he left the field after bowling just one over in the win against the Tallawahs.

Manager of the Red Steel,  Colin Borde said that he should be fine for the game. He said: “Jacques got some muscle spasms in his lower back but he is fine and will be ready against Guyana. “He has had a very good series so far and has played a key role in us gaining victories and he is very important at this stage for us.”

Red Steel is expected to go into the clash with four spinners given the slow nature of the track. Against the Tallawahs, the Red Steel played Samuel Badree, Derone Davis, Johan Botha and Sulieman Benn. Manager of the Amazon Warriors team Omar Khan is confident that his team will come back strongly. 

He said: “We had a disappointing game against the Tridents and the guys have taken ownership over their performances and are looking to come back strongly and give their fans something to cheer about in their final game at home. “Also there is the added bonus that if they win they play just one match in the knockout phase enroute to the finals, so they are all geared up and ready for battle.

“The rain has been around and we are hoping that it gives us a break for this match because the rivalry between the Warriors and Red Steel has always been great and the people here are looking forward to a great clash.” Checks with the local CPL authorities here indicates that tickets for the match have been sold out for the 6 pm start.

TEAMS

T&T Red Steel: Dwayne Bravo (capt), William Perkins, Cameron Delport, Kamran Akmal, Jacques Kallis, Yohan Botha, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Derone Davis, Miguel Cummins, Javon Searles, Jason Mohammed, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Mark Deyal, Kevon Cooper. Head coach Simon Helmot, assistants David Williams and Imran Jan.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Denesh Ramdin (capt), Lendl Simmons, Umar Akmal, David Wiese, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Marchant de Lange, Assad Fudadin, Trevon Griffith, Brad Hodge, Shemron Hetmeyer, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul and Paul Wintz.