“The only two things for sure in life are taxes and death” and taxes are certainly on our minds now the oil and gas money is running out.

Unfortunately death is not. Violence perhaps, but not death. We fraid death and try to stay away from it. Yet, fear of death may be the source of everything distinctively human, from phobias to religion.

Try as you want to keep it away, death is always near us, always at the back of our minds, whenever our children are sick, when we drive, watch the news, lime in the office, go to sleep at night, everywhere, and especially at the funerals Trinis love to attend.

It’s ironic that we fraid death but love funerals. It’s the social aspect of course as well as the opportunity to congratulate ourselves, “she gone but I here!”

And death is particularly close to people who live in small islands. Sometimes it seems not a week goes by without getting a call saying, “you hear who gone?” Or “Larry dead! Nah! I just see him down town. We talk. He was well. Yes, boy. Just so, he take in. Dey didn’t even have time to say goodbye!”

Yet death from illness is shrouded in secrecy. The cause of death is almost always hidden. Code words are used. He died after a long and debilitating illness. Cancer. He just “drop down.” Stroke. They find him dead in the morning. Heart attack. He was only 35 and was sickly. HIV.

How people die, the misery, the pain, the loss of dignity, the poor end-of-life care, the uncomfortableness of it all is never exposed.

According to last week’s Economist, 56 million or so people die each year, eight thousand of them in T&T, a drop, except to those living here.

A century ago, most deaths occurred at home. Now, a survey of 45 rich countries by the WHO shows that fewer than a third are.

As death has been hidden away in hospitals and nursing homes, it has become less familiar and harder to talk about.

Another reason is longer life. Until the 20th century the average human lived about as long as a chimpanzee.

Over the past four generations, science and economic growth has increased the average lifespan more than over the previous 8,000.

In 1900 global life expectancy at birth was about 32 years, little more than at the dawn of agriculture. It is now 72 years.

In large part, that is a result of lower infant and child mortality, paediatricians doing their job: a century ago about a third of children died before their fifth birthday. But it is also because adults live longer.

Today a 32-year-old Trinbagonian can expect to live for another 40 years or so.

Yet an unintended consequence has been to turn dying into a medical experience. It’s should be a living experience.

Death mostly comes by stealth. Only about a fifth of deaths are sudden, for example a heart attack. Another fifth follow a swift decline, as with some cancer patients, who stay fairly active until their final few weeks. But three-fifths come after years of relapse and recovery. They involve a “slow, progressive deterioration of function.”

People in rich countries can spend eight to ten years seriously ill at the end of life and it’s rising in poorer countries.

The figures are startling. In 2015 chronic dying accounted for more than three-quarters of mortality in China. In 1990 the share was just a half.

WHO predicts that rates of cancer and heart disease in Sub-Saharan Africa will more than double by 2030.

As late as 1990 half of deaths worldwide were caused by chronic diseases, mostly related to overeating ie eating sugar-rich, processed junk; in 2015 the share was two-thirds.

Most deaths in rich countries follow years of uneven deterioration. Roughly two-thirds happen in a hospital or nursing home. They often come after a “crescendo of desperate treatment.”

Nearly a third of Americans who die after 65 will have spent time in an intensive-care unit in their final three months of life. Almost a fifth undergo surgery in their last month.

Many deaths are preceded by a surge of treatment, often pointless.

A survey of doctors in Japan found that 90 per cent expected that patients with tubes inserted into their windpipes would never recover. Yet a fifth of patients who die in the country’s hospitals have been intubated.

An eighth of Americans receive chemotherapy in their final fortnight, despite it offering no benefit at such a late stage.

Nearly a third of elderly Americans undergo surgery during their final year; eight per cent do so in their last week!

Polls find that most people in good health hope that, when the time comes, they will die at home. Few, when asked about their hopes for their final days, say that their priority is to live as long as possible. They want to die free from pain, at peace, and surrounded by loved ones for whom they are not a burden.

Yet we continue to avoid having discussions about death and more so, about our own death.

Of course, most people feel dread when they contemplate their mortality. But honest and open conversations with the dying should be as much a part of modern medicine as prescribing drugs or vaccinating.

A better death means a better life, right until the end.

Dying, to death, is part of our lives now. Better to decide now how you want to go, before a hospital, a nursing home or an ungrateful family decide for you.

It’s been a rough year so far. Since March 2017, we have had the closure of two MHTL methanol plants, the loss of the BP Angelin platform and the S&P downgrade.

Continuing in April, Moody’s slapped us down to Junk Bond status and, finally, a disappointing FCB APO.

The Minister of Finance and his public servants would have to recalculate revenue again for 2017 since they won’t be getting property tax in fiscal 2017 (that is $500 million) and they will fall short on what was expected from the FCB APO by approximately $500 million.

The bad news was compounded by the IMF. In its April 2017 World Economic Outlook (page 203), the IMF reported that our economy contracted by 5.1 per cent in 2016. They did however forecast 0.3 per cent growth in 2017 and 3.4 per cent growth in 2018.

The positive outlook in 2017 and 2018 would be predicated on new natural gas production that will come onstream in 2017. There are also some smaller projects planned to bring in new gas in 2018.

The biggest project remains the Juniper project which is preparing to start production in the third quarter of 2017.

Last year was a bad year for natural gas supply. Gas production fell from an average of 3.8 billion cubic feet per day in 2015 to 3.3 billion cubic feet per day in 2016.

For the last 18 years (ever since we started exporting LNG) our economic condition has been inextricably linked to natural gas production. The decline in output and the decline in price have combined to impact negatively on Government’s revenue.

We need more natural gas to sustain our economic base at least until we can diversify our “one horse” economy.

The good news is that BP is currently drilling the Savannah exploration well and the Macadamia exploration well. Both wells are currently nearing completion (or Total Depth) and it is very possible that there will be some good news.

The planning and sub-surface evaluation for these two exploration wells happened over many years. The design of an exploration well alone can take as much as a year. This is preceded by sub-surface evaluation.

In the case of Savannah, planning and subsurface evaluation started in 2011 and in the case of Macadamia planning and sub surface evaluation started in 2013.

The game changer, however, is technology. New technology applied to mature acreage always yields results. In November 2011, BP started Phase 1A of what would be an historic Ocean Bottom Cable 3D seismic survey. That survey ran until 2012.

In March 2013, they started Phase 1B. It is the Phase 1B of this seismic survey that led to the reassessment of Angelin and that led to it being moved towards development.

So, the seeds of what will become the producing Angelin field in 2019 were sown in 2013. In fact, what has become Angelin can be traced back to the 1995 exploration well El Diablo. This gives you some appreciation for the time it takes to bring oil and gas to production. This is not the corn flakes business.

The 3D OBC seismic survey of 2011 to 2013 has proven to be a game changer for BP and the Columbus Basin. It changed the risk profile of the basin by allowing BP to see below the layers of shallow gas. Phase 1A focused on BP’s southern catchment and that led to the drilling of the Macadamia exploration well.

I remember Phase 1B well because I toured the seismic vessel (WesternGeco Blue Fin) in Chaguaramas before it started its work. Overall the 3D OBC seismic of 2011 to 2013 led to Macadamia and three other exploration opportunities. In addition, in a few days, BP will start production from the important Parang-Kapok well. This well was the subject of protest action.

I make this information available because there has been a great deal of misinformation about what happened during 2011 to 2015 at the Ministry of Energy. If you set aside the destructive political noise you will appreciate that the foundation for all the activity in 2015 to 2017 was laid from 2011 to 2014. Such achievements are not to the credit of any one person. It is a credit to all the staff of the Ministry of Energy and the upstream companies that operate here.

I am of the opinion that throughout the entire development of the natural gas sector there has been a lack of appreciation for what it takes to produce natural gas offshore and deliver it to market. For years, we grew accustomed to the upstream companies just supplying whatever the demand was on land.

That was foolishly called “the demand-driven model” and it assumed that if you create the demand, the supply would magically materialise. That worked up to a point and then it became unsustainable.

While we await the formal announcement from BP of the outcome of Savannah and Macadamia, we must remember that BHP will recommence exploration drilling in our deepwater later this year. They have already had some positive news albeit the discovery of natural gas and not oil. This is cause for hope. In these hot and dry days, made worse by the lack of water in our pipes, we need a bit of good news.

Kevin Ramnarine is a former Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago

The following is the final part of an article prepared by Ernst And Young Services Ltd on the reintroduction of the Property Tax. It continues from yesterday.

Objections and Appeal

The relevant legislation provides for two schemes of objection and appeal, namely:

• Objection and appeal against a valuation made under the provisions of the Valuation of Land Act;

• Objection and appeal against an assessment to Property Tax made under the provisions of the Property Tax Act, 2009.

The Valuation of Land Act provides that where a property owner is dissatisfied with a valuation, he may, within 30 days after the service of the valuation, lodge an objection with the Commissioner of Valuations. Where the property owner remains dissatisfied after the determination of the objection, he may appeal to the Tax Appeal Board. Further appeals, on a point of law, may be made to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council.

The Property Tax Act, 2009 provides that where the owner of land is dissatisfied with the assessment to Property Tax by the BIR, he may, within 21 days after the tax becomes due and payable (ie, March 31), notify the BIR, in writing, of his objection thereto.

Where the grounds of the objection are in relation to the correctness of the ARV or in respect of any mistake or omission in the Valuation Roll, the Property Tax Act, 2009 provides that the BIR shall refer such objection to the Commissioner of Valuations who shall, within nine months of receipt of the notice, deal with the objection in accordance with the Valuation of Land Act,

In the case of an objection in respect of an incorrect assessment of Property Tax, the BIR must determine the objection within one year of the receipt of the notice of objection.

An appeal lies to the Tax Appeal Board where the property owner remains dissatisfied after the determination of the objection. Appeals may subsequently be made to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council.

Conclusion

We can confirm the following matters with respect to the Property Tax:

1. In the case of industrial property, the ATV is computed as six per cent of the installed cost of plant and machinery. The applicable rate of tax is six per cent of ATV for plant and machinery housed in a building and three per cent of ATV for plant and machinery not housed in a building.

2. For commercial property the ATV is the expected annual rent of the property less 10 per cent. The applicable rate of tax is five per cent of ATV.

3. The ATV in respect of residential property is the expected annual rent of the property less 10 per cent. The applicable rate of tax is three per cent of ATV.

4. The ATV for agricultural property is computed as two per cent of the open market capital value of the property. The applicable rate of tax is one per cent of ATV.

5. Property owners are required to submit a Return in respect of the property to the Valuations Division by May 22, 2017.

6. Fresh valuations are expected to be made every five years.

7. The Property Tax for each year is payable by March 31 but the 10 per cent penalty and 15 per cent interest only become payable where the tax is not paid by 15 September.

8. A property owner dissatisfied with a valuation or an assessment to Property Tax may object to such assessment. Where the owner remains dissatisfied after the objection, he may appeal to the Tax Appeal Board with further appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council if he remains dissatisfied.

There are, nevertheless, many uncertainties associated with the Property Tax and requiring clarification by the relevant authorities including, in particular:

1. The basis for determining the ATV in the case of industrial property (installed cost, current market value, current replacement cost) and the method of computing the wear and tear adjustment.

2. There is also uncertainty regarding the treatment of the energy sector’s onshore and offshore installations such as rigs, platforms, subsea installations, drilling wells and pipelines.

3. The valuation methodology for computing the expected annual rent for commercial and residential properties.

4. How is the Valuation Roll to be initially populated, ie, with information obtained from the Returns submitted by property owners or from information otherwise obtained by the Valuations Division?

5. Having regard to the fact that the statutory deadline (ie March 31, 2017) for payment of the Property Tax has passed, whether the Minister will extend such deadline pursuant to the provisions of section 52 of the Property Tax Act, 2009?

Ernst and Young assistance

EY stands ready and willing to assist our clients with the following Property Tax issues:

• Rendering advice and custom made solutions on the Property Tax matter;

• Assisting with the completion and/or review of the Returns;

• Preparing objections and assisting with disputes with the relevant authorities.

I pay 25 per cent of my salary to the Government every year. Every item I purchase I pay value added tax of 12.5 per cent. That equates to 37 1/2 per cent already going back to the state.

I pay for my electricity and water. I pay for my fuel, which, by the way, has increased three times over the last two years. That alone has driven the cost of goods and services up. Everything revolves around transportation. When fuel prices increase, therefore, so will everything else.

I shop locally and pay three and four times the value of items I purchase. But this is a day of information technology and at a touch of a button, I can see what the true value of any item is.

I opt to buy online, because there I find better value for money, which of course affects local businesses.

The state sees me doing it and decides to apply a seven per cent online tax to force me to buy locally. To force me to pay $4 for a $1 item. They say it is to conserve foreign exchange. Really? When I buy from the local stores do they not use the same foreign exchange you say you want to conserve to bring in those items?

Rather than insist that the Consumer Affairs Division step in and force the local price gougers to reduce their prices, they try to strong-arm me into buying local.

I am forced to pay for every service at the banks. I am charged 12 and 15 per cent on a loan while the banks offer me 1/2 per cent interest on my account, which is then eaten up by the service charges I pay to maintain said account. Yet there is no legislation to protect me from this practice.

I sacrifice to save, to purchase a piece of land upon which I build a house. I pay tax on every piece of material I use. I pay bridging finance to the bank before getting my completion certificate. I then have to pay a mortgage which adds up to twice the value of the money borrowed to build.

Then on top of that, I am now asked to pay a property tax based upon a rental value. Rental value? Therein lies my problem. My tax dollars do absolutely nothing for me. I don’t access any grants from the state. I don’t access public health care. I don’t drive on good roads. I don’t feel secure to travel around the country or sleep in my bed. If I call for an ambulance, more than likely I will be dead by the time they arrive. If I my wife calls for the police, they will arrive just in time to draw a line around my body, if they get a vehicle that is.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. So go ahead. Bring on more taxation.

Tony Bedassie

Cedros

T&T is in a downturn with many major issues facing the economy such as a high crime rate, loss of jobs, continuously rising food prices and last, but not least, the slowdown in the construction sector. In addition to the aforementioned, the population is now faced with the introduction of the property tax.

A house is the most expensive investment that most people would make. Home owners/occupiers may now be very reluctant to do any repairs/upgrades/maintenance to their homes as they believe that this will cause the tax on their property to increase.

This may also create a rippling effect as stores will now be unable to sell their materials and those currently employed at there will face unemployment. This, indeed, would be a final nail in the coffin of the construction industry and is further going to add to the thousands who have already lost their jobs in both the public and private sectors.

Based on the above, I am kindly appealing to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to reconsider the decision to implement the tax at this time. The outcome of this measure would certainly cost T&T much more than the amount estimated to be collected via this venture.

Aziz Khan

Dinsley Village,

Tacarigua

Can we possibly find it in our hearts to move on from the departure of the Galicia? Can we ignore the fine print and the who did what wrong or who was right? The Galicia is no more. But food, people, goods and services have to get to Tobago, come hell or high water.

I personally do not care now how much money has been spent in the past. It is already spent. As the old folks would say “it had some simi-dimi going on there with that huge amount of money being paid daily,” but let us keep out of that sea lane for now. Don’t even go there. Let us deal with what is on the table.

So the barge does not look as pretty and painted white like the Galicia. Sob! It has to be used! The main thing is that this barge is moving between Port-of-Spain and Scarborough. More slowly yes, but it is moving.

Suddenly the designated ferry boat for taking passengers turns out to be having problems with the steering. Also, suddenly the barge too, is having difficulty moving from A to B. Complications with Customs and Excise people. More delaying tactics? So we have both boats being several hours later than usual arriving at and/or leaving Tobago. Is it that everything and everybody concerned, including the ferry and barge engines, need to be doused with holy water?

Allegations of deliberate sabotage to make the Government look bad? Allegations are what we do best in T&T.

The crux of the matter appears to be that the Tobago House of Assembly seems to only have teeth in Tobago. A law apparently needs to be passed to allow for more THA people to have a say in the procurement of a suitable new boat for the sea bridge. All said and done, it is really all about the money. Buying anything that expensive has to be allocated from the subventions paid to the THA from the central government. Autonomy is the political four letter word that remains spoken but not yet in existence.

Right now everything must take second place to getting goods and services as quickly as humanly possible between Trinidad and Tobago.

Lynette Joseph
Diego Martin

For many, the sky is the limit, but for Keron Sealy, better known as Sunny Bling, the skies are way too low. As he strives to reach above them, Bling has taken up the big challenge of hosting a new television series on CNC3.

Being on television was something he always wanted to do and when the opportunity arose for this self-proclaimed “opportunist” and “shark,” he took full advantage.

B l i n g doesn’t use the words “opportunist” and “shark” in a pejorative way. In fact he uses them when it comes to understanding the art of marketing, something he has mastered.

The television series (Sunny @ Sundown) which will be launched on May 8 and airs Mondays to Fridays from 6 pm to 7 pm, includes various segments such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing, lie detector results, cooking with Bling, life after crime, Ucast and many more, which will be done in front of a live studio audience.

Bling, who has fully grasped the concept of self-management and exposing himself, has come a long way to having one of his dreams materialise.

“Entertainment involves two things in general—relevance and value—which I believe I have created for myself, and this TV series was just that, another opportunity for something fresh in the market,” explained Bling.

For him it’s all about consistency and aligning himself with the right brands and people.

“According to an executive I once spoke with, he said that unseen is unheard… so if you are an entertainer, then you need to try to be involved in everything, so people can see you. I constantly look at the wave of entertainment as just that—a wave—and it comes crashing down sometimes”, said Bling.

It does not necessarily mean a bad thing for him since he understands that new talent will always come, but in the mean time while you are surviving, one always needs to be relevant.

Considering himself second best and not being offended by it, Bling explains: “When people approach me, it is not that they wanted me first. It so happens that their first choice’s response time is sometimes slow in coming and for me this is not a bad thing because I take each opportunity, once feasible, as a challenge and put my best foot forward”, he said.

From a young age, Bling has always been a class clown and one of the favourites in terms of “entertainment and gladness”, as he puts it. Always wanting to cook, he joined the T&T Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI) to pursue a culinary management course. However, friends and family kept telling him that he should be an actor or in Hollywood.

“My plan was never really to be on radio but basically what I am doing now is being paid to be myself. There’s no acting here. I look at it as always being creative. Therefore, culinary school was also a creative aspect of me, where I would create and bring things to life when I decorated them.”

He revealed that some of his hidden talents were butter and ice sculptures: “I may not be the best but I can definitely work a magic.”

With many titles under his belt— Mr TTHTI, host at Club Caribbean on Wrightson Road, working at a television station, a radio personality that did double prime time daily, the face of DIRECTV, spokesman for Anton’s Gold Rush and recently Quantum Lubricants, freelance salesman, mas band leader, actor among others—Bling intends to beat the odds and the saying that one cannot make it in T&T.

He explains that if a person wants to be successful, he must be willing to work hard for it, and being lazy will never help. “Success is never easy to reach and maintain. A lot of people want to be successful but when they do become successful, they just don’t know or understand how to remain successful.

“Being successful is one thing. However to maintain success is another.

There is a saying: success is very expensive and rent is due every day”, Bling said.

In learning lessons of success, Bling has realised how much he has grown. So much so, that recently there were some companies that told him that hiring him was not an option.

“But that was not an X against the company; it was actually an X against me. However, now that they are hiring me says that I have come of age. Feedback is good and this is what helps fuel me and let me know where I am heading,” said Bling.

“Being the opportunist that I am, I prefer walking through the cracks in the ground whilst everyone else is walking on flat surface. So I rebranded myself, and started wearing suits from the exceptional Ecliff Elie in a big way about two years ago. I saw a void in the way local entertainers have became so complacent in terms of dress code and how they portray themselves, so I filled that void,” he said.

The amazing part about it is that he did nothing new; in fact he took an old school approach.

“I just followed some of the older heads who carried themselves with class, such as Chalkdust, Baron, Duke and followed suit. You see, people look up to me and some even say: ‘Bling you are real successful’, but how do I project that success to young people?”

And though he may always seem to be on folly, he once said in an interview with me: “The average human being laughs about 13 times a day, so I think I am retarded because I laugh much more than that. Basically, life’s too short to be serious, if you ask me. “However, at the same time I handle all my business directly and seriously.

I call it organised chaos, because although it may seem that I am laughing and wilding out all the time, there is a method to the madness.”

With his father as his main inspiration and one of his main critics, Bling’s successful journey continues to flourish even though he has a long way to go. Agriculture and merchandising are the next two big things people can look out for to add to what he has already accomplished for the year thus far.

So far, he has run a marathon (one he did not train for), has become a bandleader, he’s acted in the production Hotel 21 and he will soon start his TV series debut.

BREAKDOWN OF THE SHOW

DNA TESTING & LIE DETECTOR

TESTING: These segments will have more guidance; counselors, police officers, etc. will be involved. It will be all about bringing change and truth to situations in a professional manner, which will also have a level of continuity.

Therefore results will be revealed and there will be follow up and assistance where needed.

COOKING WITH BLING: This segment will feature his daughter who also has a passion for cooking.

It will also include healthy meals and dishes children can prepare without the help of parents.

LIFE AFTER CRIME: About crime and families affected by crime, for example, stories about grandparents who have to take up the responsibilities of fatherless and motherless children, and many other stories.

UCAST VIDEOS: Where people can send in videos and be a reporter. Since there will be no prizes for this, there will be a video of the week. There will also be many comedy segments of the show. To be a part of the show or have your story heard on the show, people can contact the show’s social media platforms and pages.

It is a question that has been asked countless times since Alta’s inception; why adult literacy and not children’s literacy?

It is clear that many children in T&T struggle with reading and writing on a daily basis which impacts their ability to perform well at school.

Alta receives countless messages before, during and after its annual student recruitment, enquiring about an Alta programme for people 16 and under.

Alta’s focus on adult literacy is explored in a contribution from long standing Alta Tutors Brenda De Silva and Noreen De La Rosa which was published years ago in this column.

While the Alta programme is offered to people 16 years and over, Alta’s strategy captures both children and adults.

Alta’s founder, Paula Lucie-Smith, reasoned that teaching the decision-makers in families (the adults) would bring long term benefits beyond individual students and into each family.

The structure of the programme content in the Alta workbooks offers students opportunities to learn reading and writing while stimulating comprehension and showing lifestyle choices.

One major choice for families is where to place priority for its resources.

Many Alta students tell tutors that they spent very little or no time at school. One of the most pressing reasons to keep children from school is the opportunity for them to earn some money, whether in family ventures or other, commercial areas.

There’s also a decision to be made on if the family can afford the immediate expense of sending children to school.

Alta’s 25 years of existence has spanned generations and gives it the perspective to gauge its influence within families.

Noreen De la Rosa, who volunteers with both Servol and Alta, recalls several instances where some of her students made the switch from looking for instant gain to long term benefits for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

One student, Patsy, related her unnerving history. She suffered from poor vision from childhood and when her mother took her to school at age five she was told to have a doctor test Patsy’s eyesight. This wasn’t done and the child stayed at home for the next 12 years, never going out of doors.

When a vision test was eventually done, doctors diagnosed cataracts in both eyes. After a series of operations and treatment, Patsy’s sight improved and some years later she joined Alta.

Recognising the value of education and her experience of being denied the opportunity, Patsy did better by her daughter who attended both primary and secondary school.

Another telling experience was that of a 16-year-old Servol student who took the mechanics course and the Alta programme.

He went on to open his own mechanics shop and now has two children who attend Bishop Anstey Junior School.

The generational effect came also for Noreen’s housekeeper who joined the Alta programme as did her daughter.

The housekeeper’s grandson currently attends one of the best secondary schools in Port-of-Spain.

Noreen believes that the real value of the Alta programme for students is that it fosters a climate for learning that extends to a wider community and that more often than not, Alta students ensure that education is a priority for their children.

It is also very common for Alta’s adult learners to teach their children what they learn on a weekly basis.

Alta undoubtedly has had impact on the cycle of poor literacy which could continue if parents who are poor readers could not access literacy classes.

While adults are Alta’s priority, since 2008 the Association has offered small Youth Lit classes in partnership with Nalis for people nine-15 years of age at libraries around the country.

Registration for this programme will take place on September 25 and 26 at a library near you. Every year, the programme fills up quickly.

From October, Alta Online will also be available for purchase—the programme will be suitable for ages 10 and up so by 2018, the Alta programme will be available for use by almost anyone who needs to develop their literacy skills.

Call Alta at 624-2582 for more information.

INFO

Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email Altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with Alta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Alta TT

British journalist and author Nick Cohen’s credo can be summed by these sentences: “Challenge involves offence. Stop offending and the world stands still.”

Subtitled, Censorship in an Age of Freedom, this book is divided into three sections, dealing with religion, business, and government, for a total of seven chapters.

Cohen’s topic include Manufacturing Offence, The Cult of the Supreme Manager, and The Internet and the Revolution.

Since our society generally lags 20 to 30 years behind the metropole, much of what Cohen treats with, while not extant now, has already planted seeds here.

For example, he writes: “The 1960s generation brought an end to the deference shown to democratic leaders and established institutions.

Many found its irreverence shocking, but no matter. The job of artists, intellectuals and journalists became to satirise and expose; to be the transgressive and edgy critics of authority.”

The Trinidadian corollary is the calypso of the 1930s, still true to its roots in the 1960s.

Cohen notes: “Although the fashion for relativism was growing in Western universities in the 1980s, leftish academics did not say we had no right to offend the cultures of racists, misogynists and homophobes, and demand we ‘respect’ their ‘equally valid’ contributions to a diverse society. Even they knew that reform is impossible without challenging established cultures.”

But then Cohen, dealing with the Salman Rushdie fatwa and the response of Western liberals, goes on: “Academics were forever berating dead white males for their failure to conform to exacting modern standards, but stayed silent as murderers threatened the basic standards of intellectual life...Oppression is what we do in the West. What they do in the Middle East is ‘their culture’.”

The corollary of that silence here would be the lack of response from UWI academics and newspaper columnists about the ongoing collapse in neighbouring Venezuela, even as trade unionists here voice support for it in using Cold War propaganda terminology, as well as calypsonians as a body becoming PNM mouthpieces.

Cohen writes: “Argument involves the true respect that comes from treating others as adults who can cope with challenging ideas and expecting them to treat you with a similar courtesy.”

Critics here, however, either respond not at all or do so in ad hominem terms. But, Cohen argues, “Religion and politics are too important and dangerous to risk handling with kid gloves.”

Thus, even as citizens become increasingly concerned about religious fundamentalism being a factor in terrorism, gang warfare and child marriage, silence or tact remain the standard response among the estates of the State.

But, Cohen writes: “Religious freedom—including freedom from religion—requires freedom of speech.

“Restrict freedom of speech, and Christians can persecute Muslims and Jews for denying that Jesus was the son of God. Muslims can persecute Jews and Christians for denying that Muhammad was God’s messenger...And every religion can persecute free-thinkers.”

He concludes, counter-intuitively: “Respect for religion is the opposite of religious tolerance, because it allows the intolerant to impose their will on others.”

Cohen’s book outlines the errors developed nations have made in dealing with free speech issues.

It thus serves as a policy guide for our country to deal with the same issues before they overwhelm us.

​Review by

KEVIN BALDEOSINGH

BOOK INFO

You Can’t Read This Book

Nick Cohen

Fourth Estate, 2012

ASIN: B005UEXHC4; 330 pages.

These two young women shared the same dream: to run their own preschool and daycare centre. When Josette Rouse and Cerissa Charles became friends while working together in 2013, they decided that putting two minds together was definitely better than doing it solo. And today, their dream is a reality: this month they opened the doors of the Giving Our Leaders A Right Start (Golars) Learning Centre. It is a playgroup and preschool that caters for children between the ages of one to five years old, and is located on Luis Street, Woodbrook.

Rouse and Charles are both certified from the University of West Indies (UWI) in Early Childhood Care and Education. Between them they have more than ten years of experience in daycare and teaching preschool. They are also certified in sign language and first aid.

The women saw the need for “a holistic educational foundation that gives our leaders a right start within a safe and nurturing environment”.

Their main challenge was locating a good site. With the help of Carmino Properties Limited, they found an appropriate property, and have now opened the centre.

Rouse and Charles are the only two teachers permanently on staff at present, with two additional teachers on standby in case the centre temporarily requires more. The women say they will run a successful school where children can learn and feel comfortable, in safe surroundings. They say there is a low student to teacher ratio, so individual attention is guaranteed, and the preschool/daycare centre also offers extracurricular activities and teaching of different languages.

The playgroup, for children between one and two years, introduces the school setting to children—they can learn to socialise as well as get familiar with shapes, numbers, colours and letters. The toddlers listen to music , do movement activities, and make arts and crafts, as well as play outdoors.

MORE INFO: Facebook @ Golars Learning Centre.

Eighteen-year-old Camryn Bruno, a final year Cape student of Bishops High School Tobago, is the youngest winner of the annual First Citizens National Poetry Slam Championship.

For the second time in its five-year history a young Tobagonian woman has won the region’s biggest Slam competition with a first time winner’s prize of $50,000.

On Sunday night, Bruno was flanked by Alexandra Stewart in second place with a cash prize of $20,000. Bruno and Stewart were two of five young women among this year’s 13 finalists.

Idrees Saleem, 2014 Slam champ, came in third for the second consecutive year, but this time, taking home $10,000.

In a surprise announcement at the 2017 NGC Bocas Lit Fest media launch, Slam title sponsor First Citizens raised the stakes of the National Poetry Slam by adding a hefty $45,000 to the total prize value, effectively doubling the second and third place prizes while increasing the prize for first by $30,000, a release said.

In another big move for the 2017 Slam, the final round of competition and closing event of the five-day NGC Bocas Lit Fest was held for the first time in the Lord Kitchener Auditorium of the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa).

Maintaining the trend of sold-out shows, this year’s Spoken Word finale was met with the now characteristic gusto of a packed auditorium of more than 1,100 loyal fans and hungry supporters, well-wishers and newcomers.

Founder of the Bocas Lit Fest, Marina Salandy-Brown said: “The poetry, the stories, the performances showcased a sophistication of thought and skill among our people that seems out of sync with so much that is wrong with T&T. Spoken Word demands an attentive audience and the depth of our love and appreciation for words and wordplay is impressive. Everyone left uplifted and happy, no matter their age or background.”

Addressing the quality of the show, First Citizens Group Corporate Communications manager Dexter Charles said: “This event has completely exceeded my expectations from back in 2013 when we first came on board. I’m simply blown away by the spectacle these young people have managed to create here tonight with the guidance of the Bocas team.”

Charles added: “The moving Walcott tribute by Wendell Manwarren, DJ Rawkus on the stage giving us regular musical interludes, the real-time projection of the poets onto that fantastic screen, and, of course, the extraordinarily talented competitors: they all made it very special.”

Jean-Claude Cournand, Bocas Youth Outreach Coordinator and founder of the 2 Cents Movement added: “The future of spoken word poetry is in the creation of spaces in schools where students can use the craft to explore language and themselves. We see a day where every student could have access to mentorship through the art form, and a safe space to share and be heard.”

The final round of competition was judged by a first-class panel of award-winning local and international authors and poets, led by UK-based Trinidadian poet, novelist and musician, Anthony Joseph.

British High Commissioner, Tim Stew, hosted a reception to celebrate the Sapphire Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

The function was held at Hillside, 15 Beaumont Road, Maraval on the occasion of the birthday of Her Majesty.

The Sapphire Jubilee marks the 65th year on the throne for 91-year-old Queen Elizabeth who is the only British monarch to reach this milestone. Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Dennis Moses, in his address, praised the Queen for her indomitable spirit which has remained the hallmark of the monarchy as she continues to be a symbol of strength and stability.

The Minister also used the opportunity to announce that former THA Chief Secretary Orville London, High Commissioner-designate to the UK, would soon take up his duties in London.

Specially invited guests included representatives from the various ministries, heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organisations.

On February 5, 2004, there was a commentary in this space headlined, Blessed are our billionaires, which is appropriate to reference given the passing of Dr Anthony N Sabga on Wednesday morning.

That commentary attempted to address some of the perceptions that many in this part of world have about wealthy people and focused on the accomplishments of Anthony Sabga, Arthur Lok Jack, Aleem Mohammed and a few others.

Among the points made 13 years ago were: “We cannot accept the idea that people get rich because of a lifetime of working hard and smart, taking risks and making sacrifices....

“If you talk to any of our local billionaires, they would tell you they did not grow up wealthy. All of them would tell you they delayed buying things they or their families wanted...that they were never enthralled by brands or all-inclusive fetes.

“Without speaking to any of them, I can predict they saved a big part of their incomes and were ready (with their own capital, borrowed money and, most importantly, mentally) when the opportunity came for their breakthrough acquisitions.”

The piece went on to note that Mr Lok Jack’s breakthrough acquisition was the purchase of Charles Candy from Vernon Charles, who was migrating to Canada and that Aleem Mohammed hung up his white medical coat to transform SM Jaleel and Anthony Sabga’s opportunity came with the acquisition of McEnearney Alstons in 1986.

The column in 2004 added: “These men leveraged their acquisition to build the empires they now lead by dint of sacrifice, entrepreneurship and by reinvesting in their companies and not “eating” out the profits....

“Might I suggest that among them, our billionaires employ tens of thousands of people, pay millions in taxes, have reinvested tens of millions in their companies and ALL give back to the country in other ways.”

The story of how ANSA became ANSA McAL is most instructive. In 1986, Angostura and Associated Brands Ltd bid against each other to take over McAL (the abbreviation of Mc Enearney Alstons).

According to the book The History of the ANSA McAL group of companies: 125 years of business in the Caribbean, on August 4, 1986, Associated Brands made a bid, the total cost of which was $18.6 million, for a controlling 51 per cent stake in McEnearney Alstons, which was conservatively valued at the time at $300 million.

Among the major shareholders of Associated Brands at that time were Arthur Lok Jack, Patrick Young Sing, Alwin Poon Tip and Wilfred Espinet, according to the ANSA McAL history.

On August 11, 1986, Angostura made a takeover offer for McEnearney Alstons at $1.50 a share, compared to the $1.20 a share offered by Associated Brands.

In the middle of the takeover battle, Amalgamated Industries Ltd, the car assembly business of McEnearney Alstons, announced on September 13, 1986, that the company had ceased to carry on business with effect from September 12, 1986.

Also on September 13, according to the history of the group, Angostura filed a revised offer for McEnearney Alstons, lowering its offer from $150 to $1.25.

On October 2, 1986, the group’s car distribution business Charles McEnearney & Co Ltd notified its employees that that company was going into receivership.

After the car dealership was placed into receivership, there was serious concern about whether McEnearney Alstons would survive.

But then on November 9, 1986, ANSA made a bid to acquire a majority stake in McEnearney Alstons by offering to pay $30 million for newly offered ordinary McAL shares at $1 each, effectively paying $30 million for a majority stake in the company. As well, the investment came with an option for ANSA to invest an additional $10 million within three years.

To put in context the magnitude of Anthony Sabga’s faith in the local economy and in his ability to turnaround the fortunes of McEnearney Alstons, which had fallen on hard times, it is necessary to appreciate that 1986 was a very difficult year for T&T.

In 1986, T&T was in its fourth year of a steep economic decline, according to the Central Bank’s public education pamphlet on inflation, which was published in 2006.

In the previous three years, the country’s GDP growth rate had declined by 10.3 per cent in 1983, 5.8 per cent in 1984 and 4.1 per cent in 1985. In 1984, the economy declined by 3.3 per cent.

Central Bank Governor Alvin Hilaire, in a 2000 International Monetary Fund paper on Caribbean Approaches to Economic Stabilisation wrote: “By the time the oil boom was punctured in the early 1980s, the country had grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle and the necessary adjustments were delayed. Government and private consumption were slow to adjust.

“With a large and sticky current expenditure bill, a significant part of which was devoted to wage payments, the government initially scaled back capital spending, but fiscal deficits nonetheless emerged.

“The collapse of real estate prices spread through the economy, helping to take down a number of financial enterprises which had built their portfolios on the expectation of continued bouyancy in the real estate market and a steady growth in personal incomes...

“Serious adjustment only began around the mid-1980s with the tightening of import and exchange controls and a devaluation in 1985.”

T&T, at the time of the McAL acquisition by ANSA, was less than two months away from the political earthquake of the 33-3 general election victory of ANR Robinson’s National Alliance for Reconstruction.

Imagine what it must have taken to make an initial investment of $30 million in the McAL group, at a time when the economy was deep in a downturn and after two of the significant subsidiaries of the group had gone out of business within the previous two months.

Such an investment could only have been made by a man who had strong faith in the ability of the local economy to recover from what turned out to be seven years of economic decline—from 1983 to 1989.

But not only did he have faith in the eventual recovery of the economy, he must have had tremendous self-belief that he would have been able to make the right strategic decisions and hire the right executives necessary to effect the turnaround of McAL.

It is noteworthy that just a few years after the acquisition, what became ANSA McAL in 1987 was completely transformed into a local behemoth that today has assets of close to $14 billion, annual profits of close to $1 billion and over 6,000 employees.

What an achievement!

State-owned National Gas Company Ltd is to purchase Petrotrin’s 30 per cent interest in Block 1ab for an undisclosed sum of money.

This has been confirmed by NGC’s chairman, Gerry Brooks, who told the Business Guardian in an interview that the process is at a very advanced stage.

“There are some approvals to be had but certainly that is at a very, very advanced stage. We have assumed the role of the purchaser in that process,” said Brooks.

Block 1ab is 70 per cent owned by DeNovo Energy, of which the German-registered company Proman is the owner. Proman is also the major shareholder in IPSL and owns 100 per cent of Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd.

If Petrotrin sells its 30 per cent stake in Block 1ab to NGC, it would mean that NGC would be a partner with Proman, which is the majority shareholder in MHTL.

MHTL and the NGC have been at loggerheads for months over the supply of natural by NGC to the methanol company, which owns five methanol plants on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate. MHTL closed two of its methanol plants in March and the two companies are yet to reached an agreement for a new gas sales contract.

Asked how NGC’s shareholding in a block majority owned by Proman was likely to work, bearing in mind the strained relationship, Brooks was cautious, “We have a very professional relationship with all of the companies on the estate. We will work in the interest of the asset because, at the end of the day, the interests of the shareholders come first. They will have the full benefit of our pipeline technology capability. They will have the full benefit of our engineering capability. They will have the full benefit of our experience. We have continued to have a very good, professional, constructive relationship.”

Only recently Minister in the Officer of the Prime Minister, Stewart Young, confirmed that the Rowley administration had refused a request to have a pipeline built to land gas from Block 1ab in the Gulf of Paria to MHTL plants in Point Lisas.

The plan was for DeNovo to supply MHTL with 80 million standard cubic feet of natural gas from Block 1ab from first quarter of next year. However, Denevo and MHTL were informed that under the production sharing contract for Block 1ab, approval had to be obtained from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries for any marketing plan for the natural gas.

Further, Proman was informed that the 80 mmscf/d that it expects to produce from its Iguana, Zandolie and Anole fields, and a fourth prospect named Whiptail includes the minister’s share of gas which the minister wants to go into the national grid for distribution by the NGC.

The Business Guardian has further learnt that the Government has suggested, rather than building a dedicated pipeline from the field in the Gulf of Paria to MHTL plant, that the company use the NGC’s existing infrastructure.

Brooks’ response: “We are in the process of working through several things in the agreement and I will not want to speak out of turn on that.”

Minister Young at a news briefing last month said the Government has taken a policy decision that NGC should be the aggregator of natural gas in T&T, meaning NGC would buy the gas output of upstream producers and then sell that gas to the downstream users on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

Young disclosed that the decision on NGC’s status between the producers and users of natural gas was taken even before Cabinet officially approved the natural gas master plan.

“We have taken a decision that NGC should remain as an aggregator because our position is that, ultimately, all of this gas belongs to the citizens of T&T and not to any single entity or group,” Young said, making the point that the Government was trying to maximise the returns to the country by the adoption of the policy.

Asked if it made financial sense for NGC to maintain its role as aggregator in the context of the gas producers demanding higher prices and the gas users demanding lower prices, Young said: “Yes. This government’s position is yes. As you would appreciate there are margins, so obviously you have the formula of margins that can be used.

“But if we open up the market and allow upstream producers to sell directly to downstream users, you would literally have killed NGC.

“The upstream producers are trying to make arguments that the government would continue to get revenue based on the taxation at the wellhead and from the downstream users by the sale of commodities.

“We have taken a policy decision that we are not going to open up the market to just allow new players in upstream to sell directly to downstream.

“There are many different formulations you can have in between, so we are thinking outside of the box. There are margins that can be reduced and there are other areas we are looking at that, if our conversations continue, will revolutionise the way that upstream ends up in downstream with NGC continuing as an aggregator.”

MHTL has complained that even after exhaustive negotiations with the NGC to supply sufficient gas to operate its plants and exploring possible alternative supply options, it had no choice but to shut down the two plants. According to MHTL, the gas required to run the two plants at full rates is 108,000 mmbtu/d. The company has since offered voluntary separation packages to 100 workers.

Property taxes are not new to T&T. Indeed, the only real form of taxation prior to the 1966 Finance Act post-Independence, was the Land and Building Taxes Act (LBTA) which was introduced in April 1920.

In 1920, T&T was an agrarian economy. Our primary output and exports consisted of sugar, cocoa, coffee and citrus. Therefore, this tax was focused on what generated income in those days; land and buildings. Additionally, this system of taxation had the important objective of registering and administering the ownership of land.

As was customary in legislation of that time, the rates were not percentages but actual dollar values. Section 3 of the act speaks to an annual tax of $10 per acre or part thereof up to 10 acres, rising to $15 for acreages more than 10 acres up to 100 acres, and $20 per acre for acreages in excess 100 acres. In so doing, the act recognised the principle of progression and that those who owned the most, should pay the most.

Section 3 b) sets a minimum tax where the annual taxable does not exceed $24, a tax of 96 cents. Where the taxable value exceeds $24, a tax of 7.5 per cent of such taxable value.

The LBTA also recognised the principle of annual taxable value. This is defined in Section 2 as “gross rental value subject to the deductions and allowances in Section 10”.

Section 9 gave the district revenue officer the power to determine the annual taxable value of the building “whether such building shall be rented or not” and to consider the amount of rent a tenant “may be reasonably expected to pay for such a building and all the machinery and plant therein.”

This section goes on to indicate that the annual taxable value of the building is determined by the “purpose or purposes of the building for which it is reasonably suitable” even though it is not actually “used or occupied.”

The act establishes the administrative methodology and gives the district revenue officers power to give notices and to levy for non-payment of taxes.

But the buying power of $10 in 1920 is not the same as $10 in 2009.

Incorporating a dollar figures in the body of the act in 1920 ensured that inflation over the intervening period of 90 years reduced these figures to a peppercorn value.

By 2009 the revenue generated under the Land and Building Taxes Act was insufficient to pay for garbage collection services provided by the central government and municipal corporations. In addition, the Municipal Corporations Act gave those organisations the power to collect rates locally. In at least two corporations, the annual values were brought up-to-date on different bases and rates.

As part of the effort to modernise the tax system and ensure a uniform basis of calculation and collection, the LBTA was repealed in 2009 and replaced by the Valuation of Land Amendment Act and the Property Tax Act 2009.

It is to be noted that many of the current concerns about “valuation and annual rateable value” are principles which are contained in the Land and Building Taxes Act. In other words, the very issues on which taxpayers’ regard as being onerous are not new and are taken from the LBTA.

A comparison of the 2009 Property Act with its predecessor will show that it has simply expanded and updated the administrative areas of the 1920 Act.

There are four issues of practical significance.

1. The 2009 Act has moved from fixed-dollar payments to percentages.

2. The act moves from land and building and differentiates agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial holdings. This is significant and allows a more even differentiation of the incidence of taxation.

3. It proposes that valuations on all holdings should be brought in line with more realistic, current valuations.

4. (An important change) The number of properties or hereditaments now falling into the tax net have risen from 200,000 to over 500,000 properties.

Add to this the fact that property owners have not paid taxes for the last eight years. This has created resistance to change and, in some quarters, an unwillingness to pay.

Overcoming the reluctance of property owners requires a strong communication effort which demonstrates the value of a strong land administration process and the benefits to every citizen. It is also important to remember that land is a key part of wealth and that money knows no politics.

Mariano Browne, FCCA, is the managing partner of Elida Management Services Ltd, and a former Minister of Trade, and Minister in the Ministry of Finance. Mariano Browne

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says fears by Caribbean countries that the opening up of United States-Cuba tourism could seriously impact the sector in the region “may be misplaced”.

In a working paper titled “Revisiting the Potential Impact to the Rest of the Caribbean from Opening US-Cuba Tourism”, the authors found that “there is no reason to suggest that the sector will not continue to expand in the future.”

The paper noted that Cuban revolution and the subsequent US embargo on Cuba helped shape the tourism sector in the Caribbean, facilitating the birth and growth of alternative destinations.

“Therefore, the apprehension of the Caribbean tourism industry towards a change in US travel policy to Cuba is understandable, but likely unwarranted. The history of tourism in the region has shown that it is possible for all destinations to grow despite large changes in market shares.

“Our estimations show that liberalising US-Cuba tourism could result in US arrivals to Cuba of between three and 5.6 million, most of it coming from new tourists to the region,” the Working Paper noted, identifying also the destinations most at risk of changes in US-Cuba relations.

The authors of the Working Paper—Sebastian Acevedo, Trevor Alleyne, and Rafael Romeu—argue that the potential opening up of US-Cuba tourism has the Caribbean region concerned, and understandably so.

“After all, the US is the single largest tourism market for the Caribbean and, for most countries, the most important source of tourists. Nonetheless, the analysis presented in this paper suggests that this anxiety may be misplaced.

“Tourist arrivals have grown throughout the region (with the exception of The Bahamas) over the last 20 years, accommodating rapid expansion in some destinations (Cancun, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic).”

They said as such, there is no reason to suggest that the sector will not continue to expand in the future, noting that while tourism shares have shifted with Cancun, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic becoming larger players in the region, the rest of destinations have still managed to grow their sectors at respectable rates, even as their market shares have declined.

“Furthermore, Canadian tourists have been the fastest growing market in the region and in particular have become the most important market for Cuba. And still Canadian tourism has grown in all destinations at a very fast pace despite the fierce competition with Cuba. There is no reason to believe that free travel between the US and Cuba would be very different.”

The Working Paper notes that there will be a period of adjustment and more intense competition, which, as in the past, the Caribbean destinations must confront with sensible policies.

“But the process is likely to be gradual, for example, Cuba will also need to adjust its economic policies to be able to scale up investment and improve the quality of its tourism services. This will allow time for other Caribbean destinations to adapt to the new equilibrium and tourism flows will continue to grow.”

The paper notes that while an analysis has shown that completely removing the US travel restrictions to Cuba would significantly increase tourism flows, this increase will not happen overnight, because of many factors including the fact “even if there were a sudden and complete removal of travel restrictions, it would take some time for the tourism industry in the US and Cuba to adapt, and absorb more US visitors to Cuba”.

The authors argue that the change in US policy is expected to benefit the region as a whole as the models indicate that aggregate tourism flows will grow.

They said the increasing US tourism demand in Cuba will push prices up and result in a shift of some Canadian and European tourists, who would have otherwise visited Cuba, to travel to other Caribbean destinations. This will partly offset any potential loss of US tourists that some destinations might suffer in the adjustment phase to the new equilibrium. CMC

Marketing is defined as “the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably” (Chartered Institute of Marketing).

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines technology as the use of science in industry, engineering, etc, to invent useful things or to solve problems.

Marrying the two in today’s fast paced, ever changing environment presents both a boon and a curse for marketers and small business owners who face the challenges of creating the right products and services, positioned at the right price, accessible to customers when and where they want them, and to be able to modify such products and services or abandon them altogether when market conditions change.

Before determining which product or service provides a viable solution to a market niche or segment, one must first understand the need and why it exists. Market research is no longer restricted to the basic information gathering processes of field surveys, focus groups and interviews. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ have expanded the landscape in which market research is conducted.

Social media is creating an environment that yields unfiltered feedback, and marketers need to be able to use this information to their advantage.

The use of software in the information gathering process is available to businesses of all sizes and is a tool that SME’s should embrace. The data warehouse, while large and requiring some sifting, is likely to be far more accurate than a structured survey.

New and innovative technologies such as mood sensing retail devices are now being used to gather more customer responses in the real life shopping experience. One such innovation is driven by Russian cosmetics-based retail chain Ulybka Radugi which has piloted a facial recognition device that identifies consumers’ emotions and delivers personalised discounts in response.

Developed by Russian tech start-up Synqera, the point-of-purchase touchscreen device Simplate features a camera capable of identifying a range of emotions on the face of the shopper standing directly in front of it. This information is synched with data from the store’s loyalty card scheme (such as personal information and purchasing histories), as well as the contents of their shopping basket, to present a tailored deal.

For example, it could offer a pick-me-up-style reward if it detects a shopper’s low mood. Synqera believes showing sensitivity to customers’ emotional states via the device will help nurture consumer loyalty.

With so much data and information coming from the various platforms and technologies, marketers and small business owners are overwhelmed and are often do not know where to begin to sift through the facts and figures. Free web analytical tools such as Google Analytics are widely used on an estimated 80 per cent of small business websites for this very purpose.

It’s not enough to have potential customers view one’s website, profile or page. Conversion optimisation which is getting people who come to your website (or wherever you are engaging with them) to do what you want them to do in order to capture their data, usually involves filling out a form.

It is estimated that only three per cent of people coming from an online ad will fill out a website form; with conversion optimisation that can be doubled to roughly six per cent. Though not free, there are solutions that can be utilised by marketers and small business owners to cut to the chase and save hours of analysis.

Some of these solutions are:

• Ion interactive’s tools for non-programmers to create marketing apps, which may provide higher levels of engagement and conversion than a form or content download

• Wordstream’s free Landing Page Grader

• Unbounce which allows you to test landing pages

• Optimzely which allows you to test landing pages and other website elements

Technology in the marketing process is by no means limited to software solutions and the new digital age of reaching and engaging with one’s potential customers.

What are we marketing to them?

Product design has become increasingly important in today’s fast-paced, globally competitive environment, and life cycles reach the maturity stage to the point of obsolescence in a far shorter period of time.

Innovations such as 3D printing are changing the way in which we look at product design. Also known as additive manufacturing, digital 3D models are turned into solid objects by building them up in layers.

The technology was first invented in the 1980s as a means of prototype building, and has started to evolve into a next-generation manufacturing technology.

Already it is possible to 3D print in a wide range of materials that include thermoplastics, thermoplastic composites, pure metals, metal alloys, ceramics and various forms of food.

Right now, 3D printing as an end-use manufacturing technology is still in its infancy. But in the coming decades, and in combination with synthetic biology and nanotechnology, it has the potential to radically transform many design, production and logistics processes.

Getting the product or service to market entails strategies and methods specifically chosen based on the objectives of market penetration, skimming, or keeping the competition at bay. Facilitating ease of payment can often mean the difference of getting payment now, or at some future point in time when the value of such payment has decreased owing to overdraft fees, etc.

Ecommerce has become a favoured method of transacting business worldwide and while it hasn’t been able to get a sound footing locally as yet, its time will come. However, there is a means of transferring funds that has swept the African nation of Kenya for the last ten years.

Called M-PESA, M stands for “mobile;” “PESA” is money in Swahili. Born out of the need for secure transactions without the use of credit cards or even a bank account, it is often referred to as Kenya’s alternative currency.

As the M suggests, the method of conveyance is the mobile phone. In 2007, Safaricom, Kenya’s largest cellphone provider began offering its services as a means of transferring funds. It’s said that Kenyans now use this method to pay for everything from taxis to taxes.

In the hands of small business owners, this has been a secure means of exchanging goods and services for payment, and curiously, it’s not smart phones that are used, but rather lower end models.

Increasingly, the use of technology in marketing extends through every step of the process and as companies, particularly small enterprises strive for streamlined and more efficient systems, it can be expected that technology may well be a saving mechanism in low economic times.