Shunelle Sawh was named “Cricketer of the Year” at the Flow Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL) presentation function held at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation’s Administrative Complex on Cumberbatch Street in Chaguanas on Thursday.

Sawh, who attends Holy Faith Convent Couva, scored the most runs in the Girl’s Under-16 Festival. She totalled 106 runs at an average of 26.5 to beat out four other challengers for the top prize. The others were Jesse Ferdinand, Hema Singh, Geneilla Juppy and Shalini Samaroo.

Ferdinand notched 90 runs in the tournament. The Holy Faith Convent Port-of-Spain student had the best score of 41 and took four wickets for 80 runs. Singh totalled 52 runs and grabbed six wickets, Juppy grabbed a total of eight wickets to go with her 68 runs and Samaroo finished with seven wickets and 74 runs.

Mayor of Chaguanas Gopaul Boodhan brought greetings from the Borough and praised Flow for its sponsorship and the SSCL for the wonderful work the League has done by providing great opportunities for students.

Cindy Ann Gatt representing Flow said, “I wish to make an apology in advance. What I am about to say may sound a bit passé - but I really need to say this. Today is a lovely day for cricket!

“Here we are, at the awards ceremony for the SSCL at the end of another season. We are celebrating the result of weeks of training in the nets, weeks of training on the field, weeks of competing. We’re all about the girls. They have shown that they have great skills and prowess in the sport. And based on their performances, we know that Trinidad and West Indies Women’s teams will not be deficient of players any time soon.

“As for the T10 (Ten10) championship, we know there’s life after Test Cricket and One Day. T10 is one way to develop an interest in the sport. It magnifies 10 times over the agility required, the need for game strategy and the need for runs. It’s an opportunity for young cricketers to experience the game from different angles. I am sure coaches and players understood their strengths in each discipline and have been able to study each style in detail and improve on them.

“But more important, our interest in secondary school cricket also has to do with youth development. Like any sport, cricket carries responsibility, discipline and endurance. These are also the guidelines for a young person to succeed in life. When you look at the game of cricket, it’s about understanding your opponent and how to keep up with them, how to strategise, how to keep focus even when the odds are not in your favour. That’s life right there. So even if you get caught at the slips or clean bowled, once that determination to win is there, anything is possible. Success is possible through grit and determination.”

Having the full attention of the gathering, she added, “As a mother, it is heart-breaking to read the headlines, especially when we lose a young one to some form of violence. But even in the midst of negativity, sport provides a safe haven. Sport provides a confidence that peers cannot offer.

“So you see, that’s how we at Flow look at our investment in sport as one solution to encourage youth to better themselves. As a corporate entity, we believe by investing in sport, we have begun the process.

The rest is up to our young sportsmen and sportswomen.”

President of the SSCL Suruj Mahabir thanked Flow for its sponsorship, identifying the number of schools and students that participate in the Flow Sponsored Development Programmes among them being, the Girls Hardball in which all eight zones and some 120 girls competed. In the Girls U-16 (Forms 1 to 3), 30 schools participated and in the Boys U-15 (Forms 1 and 2), some 50 schools were involved.

He said, “The Boys and Girls programmes are designed to encourage more students to participate, especially those who never played much cricket previously.”

After winning the opening Ruggerama festival last weekend, Harvard will chase another title this year when it takes on Caribs RFC for the Robert Farfan Memorial Cup today at the Harvard Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of- Spain.

The Cup which is held in honour of former Northerns rugby player Robert Farfan, who passed away many years ago, is contested between the winner of the Championship Division League and winner of the Championship Division Knock-Out titles from the previous year.

Harvard won the League title in 2017 and in an attempt to retain it, the club began training earlier this year, Anthony Loregnard, a former club president told Guardian Media Sports yesterday.

“The team wants to work on improving its fitness this season, as well as ensure that players get into momentum quickly. From that standpoint we are ready for today’s match,” Loregnard said.

He noted that the club will also try to replicate its performances and earnings like the 2012 rugby season in which it won almost every title that was at stake. “This year we want to have a similar season, we took almost everything that was at stake in the various competitions,” Loregnard said.

In addition to the championship and senior divisions, there is also a knock-out competition, a Women’s division and an under-18 category.

Harvard’s opponent Caribs will be hoping to rebound from a disappointing fourth-place finish at the ruggerama play-offs. The match will essentially kick-start the League with another match-up scheduled for tomorrow between Northerns and Royalians from 3 pm at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Senior Division action gets underway next weekend with four matches. In the line-up - Caribs will be up against Rydeus, UWI/Tobago against Rainbow, and Defence Force having a date with Exiles.

All matches start at 4.30 pm.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

The Trinbago Knight Riders have signed Shannon Gabriel for the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The Windies bowler will replace South African Junior Dala, who is no longer available for the tournament that runs from August 8 to September 16, as he will be playing for South Africa in Sri Lanka.

Gabriel has been playing for the Windies Test team against Sri Lanka this month, taking 20 wickets at an average of 14.95 including match figures of 13 for 121 in the St Lucia Test.

This will be Gabriel’s second spell with the Knight Riders having played for the team during the 2014 edition.

While Gabriel has been playing Test cricket in recent times his Twenty20 record is very impressive. In his 35 matches in the format, he has claimed 29 wickets at an average of 23 with an impressive economy rate of 7.07. Speaking about the signing of Gabriel, Venky Mysore, director of the Knight Riders said: “Shannon is a world-class bowler, and he has shown that in international cricket. It is great to have him joining the TKR family. We are really looking forward to getting our title defence underway on August 8.”

Gabriel previously played for the T&T Red Steel before moving across to battle for the St Lucia Zouks.

WASA Table Tennis Club and the University of T&T of T&T (UTT) will put their respective Division One and Division Two Team titles on the line when the 2018 Solo National Table Tennis Championship serves off today at the National Racquet Centre, Orange Grove Road, Tacarigua from 9 am.

Last year, the trio of Kenneth Parmanand and former top-ranked players and national champions, Curtis Humphreys and Yuvraaj Dookram combined to sweep Arima Hawks 3-0 in their Division One decider, and both teams are once again expected to be among the favourites.

UTT comprising 11-time national women’s singles champion, Aleena Edwards, Kamal Hunte and Daniel Clarke battled past Carenage Blasters I 3-2 in their Division Two title match last year. However, both teams are set to face a tougher road to get to a this year’s title contest.

In Division Three, Warrenville featuring Musaahib Newaj, Sayyid Baksh and Haleem Baksh whipped Couva Warriors 3-1 for their first national title and will once again fancy their chances.

Next weekend, top-ranked locals Aaron Wilson and Brittany Joseph, the reigning Junior and defending senior Open singles champions will put their titles on the line at the same venue.

The 18-year-old Wilson rallied from a 0-3 deficit in the best-of-seven sets final to topple WASA’s Curtis Humphreys’ 4-3 for his first national senior crown while for the second time in five years Joseph lifted the national women’s title by beating Aleena Edwards.

The singles round-robin group competition in the Open women, men, veterans and para categories will serve off with the men continuing on Sunday, July 8 with the start of the knockout stage.

The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, July 11 with the start of the men quarterfinals up to the gold medal match and the women semifinals and final, as well.

The trio of Brittney Hingh, Brianna Govia and Felicia King were all on target as T&T senior women’s hockey team whipped Guyana as it continues it’s their build-up to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games at Wildey Hockey Turf, Wildey, Barbados yesterday.

It was the second win on the day for the “Calypso Stickwomen” who earlier on in the morning session, edged Barbados 1-0 on a goal from Brianna Govia after losing Thursday’s opener to Guyana, by a similar 1-0 margin.

The Guyanese women also had a 1-0 victory over Barbados in Thursday’s late match.

Today, the Tri-Nation series will conclude with T&T facing Barbados from 9 am while the hosts also meet Guyana at 3.45 pm.

At the (CAC) Games which is scheduled for July 20 to August 3, 2018, in Colombia, T&T will also participate in Colombia against Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica in Pool B while Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Cuba are in Pool A.

Kaelan Simmons emerged the winner of the Intermediate category when the Point Fortin Chess Centre held its fifth in-house tournament at the Conference Room, Southwestern Indoor Sporting Arena in Coronation Park, Egypt Village, recently.

Simmons was followed by Nicolas Ly Fook II who took second place while there was a two-way tie for the third position between Mesach Nathaniel and Zachary George.

In the Novice section, Jesiah Vialva took the top spot ahead of last term’s winner Keon Joseph, who took second place, followed by Micah Williams.

Certificates of participation and perfect attendance were also awarded to 75 per cent of the participants enroled for this busy term at the centre. In addition to the in-house tournament, students participated in three tournaments this term.

Nykel Peters, of Point Fortin AC School, copped third place and Mesach Nathaniel (La Brea RC School) received a special medal at the National Primary School Blitz in May.

Peters also gave an outstanding performance at First Citizens Bank’s National Primary Schools Chess Championship and at the Primary Schools Individual Player Championship, where he received a special medal as the top boys’ player from the chess centre.

Seleesha Bernard also received a special medal as the top girls’ player from the centre.

Point Fortin Chess Centre students also participated at the 14th annual Indian Arrival Day Tournament sponsored by Indus Merchant Limited, where Jaden Mitchell placed sixth in the Novice A section and in the Novice B section, Kaylon Joseph, Gabriella Maitland, Kaelan Simmons and Seleesha Bernard achieved fourth, ninth, 11th and 14th places respectively.

Their achievements would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the trainers. This term new trainer, Dirmid Nicholas, joins the team of dedicated trainers including Shedron Collins, Kalifa Collins, Lincoln Joseph, Franklyn Neckles, Nikhil Nicholas, Neil Martin and Frankie Permell.

Classes for the July/August term start on July 21 from 10 am to 12 noon and continue every Saturday for four weeks and are open to both children and adults. Training is offered at the novice, intermediate and advanced levels.

Interested persons can contact Point Fortin Chess Centre co-ordinators Raymond Aaron (788-5251) or Dr Jo-Anne Sewlal (751-3438).

The quartet of Josiah Changar, Gabrielle Vickles, Savannah Chee-Wah and Nikoli Blackman combined to win T&T’s first gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCA) Championship in Oranjestad, Aruba, on Friday night.

Competing in the first of four relay events on the night’s programme at the Rolly Bisslik Olympic Pool, the team combined for a time of one minute, 50.29 seconds for the gold ahead of Bahamas (1:50.64 mins) and Cayman Islands (1:52.74 mins).

Prior to that, the Chatoor siblings, Jada and Graham, repeated their podium finishes for T&T in their long-distance events.

Fifteen-year-old Jada was second in the 15-17 Girls 800m freestyle in nine minutes, 19.09 seconds behind Honduran Michelle Ramirez (9:17.91 mins) while Aruban, Florence Kock got bronze in 9:21.30.

Last year, Jada captured a silver medal in the 13-15 Girls 800m freestyle at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, in nine minutes, 18.10 seconds behind Ramirez (9:16.06 mins).

Graham also won silver on Friday night, when he touched the wall behind 16 minutes, 40.51 seconds to trail Colombian Juan Manu Morales (16:20.43) with Bahamian, Luke-Kennedy Thompson, third in 17:03.22.

The 17-year-old got bronze in the 15-17 Boys 1500m freestyle at Couva 12 months ago, behind Puerto Rico’s Alexis Soto and Panama’s Andes Cores.

For this year’s championship, the T&T contingent is not as strong as last year’s team, which included former US-based Olympian Dylan Carter, who was a stand-out for T&T, which is also without Florida-based Gabriela Donahue, Abraham Mc Leod, David Mc Leod and Adriana Gooding.

As IGT’s signature philanthropic programme continues to aid in bridging the digital divide for children who do not have access to computer technology, Rainbow Rescue—a home for boys—became the latest beneficiary of the company’s programme.

IGT (formerly GTECH) donated technology equipment which includes desktop computers, educational software, Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) devices, chairs and desks to Rainbow Rescue’s computer lab.

The donated computers will be used by the residents of the home to complete their homework assignments in a timely manner, conduct research, carry out extra studies and lessons, as well assist the young men in enhancing their information technology skills.

The Maraval-located home, also affectionately known as a Haven of Hope was established in 1999, for socially displaced boys. It was established to address a growing need to provide a safe place for children forced to live on the streets.

With its long-term vision for the young residents in mind, Rainbow Rescue tries to rehabilitate the boys that come into their care by ensuring they receive primary, secondary, tertiary and vocational levels of education.

Through IGT’s ASA programme, an initiative that provides non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with new computer equipment and specialised educational software, a harmonious partnership was formed, which seeks to advance the goals and objectives of Rainbow Rescue by preparing the recipients for success in the future.

At the handover ceremony, the management, staff and the boys of the Rainbow Rescue were equally delighted with IGT’s donation.

In making the presentation, IGT’s Brendan Hames, Regional Director, Caribbean, recognised the efforts of Judy Wilson, CEO and Founder, Rainbow Rescue, and her staff.

“In this age of instant communication and ever-changing technology, it is critical that young men regardless of their social dispensation, be given the opportunity to compete and perform in a manner that is socially acceptable,” he said.

“With this donation, we at IGT are attempting to do our part for the residents of this Home so they may live up to their full potential.”

In thanking IGT for the technology items, Wilson said: “We are so grateful to IGT for reaching out to us to be part of your progressive After School Advantage Programme. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

As with each recipient of technology provided through the ASA programme, this will be an ongoing relationship between the Home and staff members of the company. Throughout the year, IGT staff volunteer their time and expertise, and in addition, the Company’s highly-trained technicians check periodically to ensure the donated computer equipment remains in excellent working order.

As part of the ASA programme, each beneficiary must submit quarterly reports to IGT, so the company can track the operational capabilities of the equipment and when necessary upgrade the equipment to ensure maximum use.

IGT continues to seek out new beneficiaries for the ASA programme that fit the scope and purpose of the programme while trying to aid in bridging the digital divide among school-aged children.

Eyewear and eyecare are expensive. Frames alone can range from $2,000 to as much as $10,000 depending on the brand and style.

However, one optical company is offering free frames for life and free replacements accessories when needed, including cases, cloths, nose pads and screws. In addition, free repairs are offered when possible.

This is in keeping with the mission of Ultimate Eyewear Ltd to play its part in creating much needed employment and boosting T&T’s challenged economy.

Opened in April this year, the company is co-owned by Tryon Indalsingh and Sunil Dodoll, both BSc holders and highly skilled professionals in the field of optometry. The Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, location is the flagship store, a branch recently opened at High Street, San Fernando, and another is soon to be established in Princes Town.

Ultimate Eyewear Ltd is the first to introduce a membership programme, covering all aspects of eyecare and eyewear.

Indalsingh explained: “We wanted to create an ultimate eyewear company hence the name. The company has agreed to issue a certain number of these exclusive memberships and treat these members so good that they never have the need or desire to seek eyecare with any other optical company, thus eliminating the competition.

“Our business model and structure allows for these benefits to be made possible to members. We simply want you to become our patients for life.”

Should spectacles be lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair, even if it’s the patient’s fault, the company offers a no-questions-asked replacement, including frames and lenses, simply by paying a replacement fee equivalent to 15 per cent of the original purchase price once it’s within the two-year membership period.

Patients who want to change the colour or style of their frames after purchase just have to pay 15 per cent of the initial cost within the stipulated time-frame.

“All we ask of customers is their loyalty in returning to us every two years to purchase new spectacles. These memberships are a limited time offer based on a predetermined number of patients per branch the company desires. Once we have reached this limit we will close our doors to new members,” Indalsingh said.

No penalty will be incurred on customers who don’t want to renew.

The number of members Ultimate Eyewear Ltd is seeking is a company secret, Indalsingh said.

“Once we have the desired number of memberships per branch we will close off membership to the general public and serve only our members.

“Every two years, when someone is supposed to come back and renew their membership, should they not do so,this will open up space for new members,” explained Indalsingh, who describes himself as “a businessman at heart.”

Patients who sign up for membership cards will firstly be educated on the concept and will then have the option to book an eye exam costing $100. Frames are free from the very start. Lenses range in price from $1,000 to $2,500. A card will then be issued, guaranteeing free membership. Every two years the patient must return to purchase new glasses.

Indalsingh said the company is the result of ten years of planning, including extensive market research, with the aim of creating the ultimate and premier optical company.

“We have created a profit margin that we can live with. We also want to provide T&T with genuine and sustained benefits. In these uncertain economic times people want genuine savings and benefits while companies want to generate and retain their customer base.

“When we apply this logic to optics, given the desire to become the ultimate and be different and set ourselves apart from anyone else, our ultimate concept was created,” he explained

The company stocks a large variety of frames, offering some 90 brands, including premier names like Tiffany and Ray-Ban. There are 2,000 frames to choose from.

To remain competitive, the duo sources their frames from companies that only offer a vast assortment of brands rather than frames from individual brand entities. Large conglomerates also vet the quality of the frames to ensure highest possible standards. Indalsingh and Dodoll have formed strategic alliances with companies in the UK and US that facilitate their business concept.

“These alliances have allowed us to do a package like this with us being profitable and to create our patient database. To do so is to literally offer patients everything. To remain sustainable we also own our own lab with the very best that technology has to offer and therefore we are able to control the prices of lens..

“Because of our strategic alliance with many frame suppliers who are on board with our membership concept, we get frames at a price that nobody else gets them at,” Dodoll said.

He explained that their key to survival, among other factors, is having strong relations with foreign companies, primarily top management.

“We only deal with the CEOs of the companies, so they have a good understanding of our ideas because those are the decision makers. Fortunately, we have long-term relationships so we have leveraged on that. A lot of these companies are very open to putting us on an account receivable—staggering payments, structuring buying deals—and it has worked in our favour. We are not there to only buy when we have US dollars because when we don’t we lose out on the deal.

“Our business depends on a sustained flow of products. We are working with the economy and with suppliers as well,” he said.
 

Dodoll said, in many instances, relationship buying depends on finding that vital common ground between suppliers and business owners. In addition, people are taking better care of their eyes and seeking eye care from early.

“People are looking for something they can afford, something that is of high quality. They are not as naive as before.

“We have also invested in state-of-the-art machinery that can even detect eye diseases at very early stages,” Dodoll said.

Future plans include opening at least ten branches across the country over the next 12 to 18 months. The aim is to employ 12 people at each branch. All will be located in high traffic areas to ensure members literally are at their doorstep.

Ultimate Eyewear Ltd is also planning to bring out its own line of contacts and solutions exclusive to members, thus branding itself as the total eyecare solution.

Moving from banking academia was a natural transition, says David Dulal-Whiteway, the new CEO of the Arthur Lok Jack Global School Business (ALGSB).

Dulal-Whiteway, who spent almost 30 years in the banking industry and helped Republic Bank Limited break into new territories, including Africa, now brings that experience to ALJGSB where he took up the top post on April 1.

He said he was “happily enjoying retirement” when he got a call from businessman Arthur Lok Jack and was offered the position at the school.

“I was retired for just over two years. I was thoroughly enjoying my retirement and I wasn’t looking to do anything on a full-time basis. I serve on a couple boards of banks in Africa and I am also on the Ansa McAL Board. I wasn’t fully occupied and I wanted it that way,” he revealed.

Dulal-Whiteway said of his new position: “A lot of people say it is so different from banking but if you take the bigger purpose, it is similar. In banking it’s all about building societies. Similarly here in the Global School of Business the focus is on how to create successful societies and it’s being done, not through money and banking, but through learning and education. If you take the bigger purpose of both institutions you will see lots of similarities.”

He said education is in his blood as his father was a teacher and taught for more than 60 years.

“He always felt that we should all get involved in teaching at some point in time. Most of us after A-Levels taught at primary school, where I was before going on to university. When I was finished with my MBA in 1982, I was also a part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) for six years.”

Extending the reach of ALJGSB

According to Dulal-Whiteway, as CEO he is responsible for the “effective and efficient” running of a school which has three arms—academic, consulting and executive education.

“The school is an agile institution because it has a good relationship with the business community. It has always looked at programmes based on feedback we got from the business community. We have introduced programmes in Port Management and Logistics, a programme on Financial Management.

“This year we are starting a new Masters programme in Data Analytics, which is when you look at where the world is going and all the data that is being captured. How do you need that data to be efficient within an organisation? It creates great opportunities for people who want to be data professionals and to find lucrative jobs,” he explained.

A new under graduate four-year degree programme will begin in September, a Bachelor’s Degree in International Sustainable Business.

“The focus is on entrepreneurship. In that four-year period, the students will have to start up a company, so the programme prepares you to make that company alive,” he said.

Dulal-Whiteway said the school’s recent rebranding from graduate to global was necessary because of the introduction of the undergraduate degree.

“We felt, as a school, and with what’s happening in connected world, you have to take a global view of things and prepare programmes to help students perform at a global level.

“We also have to ensure that we have a global faculty, maybe students from overseas. We have been doing work in Guyana, we have graduates out of Suriname, we have relations regionally and cementing those things,” he said.

Next year, ALJGSB will celebrate its 30th anniversary and there are plans for a new wing of the school to be inaugurated by then.

“It has already been constructed and that should be finished by next year to tie in with the anniversary.

“The design will create more innovation. It was fashioned after the D School at Stanford University. We want to create the right atmosphere,” he said
Economic diversification

As an institution, ALJGSB wants to play a role in transforming society and preparing students for the new type of economy the country must build, Dulal-Whiteway said

“We focus on product diversification. That is important but it is also important to look at diversification from a market point of view. That is how to take successful products and carry them to new markets, which is what the SM Jaleels, the Associated Brands and Sacha Cosmetics are doing—taking their products and diversifying, not on a product level, but market level.

“At Republic, that’s what I did, we took banking services into new markets,” he said.

Through diversification the country earns more foreign exchange, he added, but it is not possible for companies to stay in T&T and do well because the population is too small.

“I can take an existing product and sell it to a different country and the money comes back to Trinidad and Tobago. Our ability to create that mindset of leaders who can say that we have a winning mindset to take a product worldwide, to improve and maintain our standards of living—1.3 million people cannot do that.”

However, he is convinced that T&T has the human resources to diversify the economy and prosper.

“We compete very well internationally. There is always a Trini somewhere working in the energy sector. The talent base is there but how do we harness it? We have the potential and the people and if trained properly can make the difference,” he said.

For decades, marijuana was widely considered to be taboo. However, in more recent times, shifting public perception has led to marijuana being legalised in several jurisdictions. Opponents of marijuana legalisation point to social welfare and health concerns, while advocates point to marijuana’s medicinal value and the potential economic benefits of a legalised marijuana industry.

There is no doubt that legalised marijuana has become big business in places like Colorado and Washington. Even our Caribbean neighbours are seeking to cash in on this “green rush”. Jamaica recently decriminalised marijuana and is actively developing a wellness tourism industry around it, while Belize and Antigua are considering legislative reforms.

In T&T, marijuana remains very much illegal. However, it may be interesting to explore what a hypothetical legalised marijuana industry could mean for business here. Is it really a fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or just another half-baked idea?

Brand protection and intellectual property

Marijuana legalisation could create many business opportunities—not just for marijuana itself but also for related products and services like food, cosmetics and clothing. It would be important for any budding marijuana entrepreneurs to understand how to protect and leverage their intellectual property rights.

For this reason, the Jamaican Intellectual Property Office is one of the key stakeholders in Jamaica’s nascent legalised marijuana industry and has received trademark applications for everything from ganja tea to clothing to apps. Beyond basic branding and trademarks, entrepreneurs could also seek protection for any new and unique plant varieties that they develop as well as patents for new production tools or methods.

One particular area of focus in Jamaica is “geographical indication”. A geographical indication is a product that is protected as intellectual property based on characteristics directly related to its geographic origin.

Geographical indication protection has typically been applied to wine and spirits—think champagne, cognac or Scotch whiskey. However, Jamaica is hopeful that its marijuana can also attract geographical indication status. This would mean that in order for marijuana or related products and services to be branded as “Jamaican” they would need to originate there.

It would also protect against the use of misleading terms such as “Jamaican-style”. Jamaica probably has the edge over T&T when it comes to leveraging its historical association with marijuana, but there could still be opportunities for creative local entrepreneurs to add a “Trini” touch—like pairing marijuana with our world renowned cocoa to create the ultimate gourmet brownie, or with the Pitch Lake to create a unique wellness spa experience. In any case, it is worthwhile for entrepreneurs to be mindful of the unforeseen intellectual property rights and protections that they may be able to access.

Business risks and insurance

Marijuana is an agricultural crop. This means that any legalised marijuana industry would be subject to the same risks that currently plague other agricultural businesses—including pests, praedial larceny, droughts, floods and other natural disasters.

Many legal marijuana farmers in California saw their investments literally go up in smoke when their crops were devastated by widespread wildfires.

While insurance could be one way of potentially mitigating these risks, insurers have proven reluctant to insure marijuana businesses in those jurisdictions that have legalised it, leaving many entrepreneurs vulnerable.

Entrepreneurs could also face the risk of product liability claims from consumers who have bad experiences or reactions to their products. For example, edibles like brownies, cookies and cakes take longer to digest and produce a high. This can sometimes lead consumers to ingest greater quantities in order to feel the effects faster, with dangerous results.

Moreover, our understanding of the potential health risks of long term marijuana use, in particular its impact on pregnancy, cardiovascular and psychiatric health is still evolving and may leave a legalised marijuana industry open to lawsuits similar to those that have been brought against the tobacco industry in recent times. It would be important for businesses to utilise appropriate directions, warnings and disclaimers on their labels, though this alone would not eliminate the risk of product liability claims.

Licence fees and taxes

Licence fees and taxes have been a lucrative source of government revenue in jurisdictions that have legalised marijuana, earning Colorado an estimated US$200 million in tax revenue in 2016. However, complex licensing regimes have proven difficult for some entrepreneurs to navigate.

Additionally, even in jurisdictions with legalised marijuana industries, the black market remains competitive because its products are cheaper without the addition of taxes. For a legalised marijuana industry to be profitable, both for entrepreneurs and the State, there must be a robust and efficient regulatory and tax system in place.

Employment

Employers would likely be concerned about the potential impact of marijuana legalisation on workplace safety, productivity and absenteeism.

Employers would generally be entitled to prohibit the use of marijuana in the workplace, particularly where it would create a clear and obvious safety risk, such as where workers are required to operate heavy machinery.

However, there may be grey areas. Would a disabled worker, for example, be entitled to claim disability discrimination where he is terminated for using medicinal marijuana?

It would be important for employers to put in place clear policies to address marijuana use by their workers. Such policies should focus on the operational impact that marijuana use could have on the employer’s business, like the risks to workplace safety.

Public safety and regulation

Advocates of marijuana legalisation often argue that it would lighten our currently overburdened criminal justice system. While there may be truth to this assertion, even if marijuana were legalised, there would still need to be regulations and protections in place.

For example, there are currently strict advertising and packaging controls over alcohol and tobacco products, to ensure public safety and guard against such products being marketed to children. These types of controls should also apply to any legalised marijuana industry. It would also be important to implement clear road safety regulations and guidelines to ensure that people do not drive under the influence of marijuana.

This is particularly important given that, because blood and alcohol tests can detect marijuana weeks after it is used, field sobriety tests remain the main method of determining whether individuals are driving while under the influence.

Additionally, it would also be critical to implement strict controls to insulate any legalised marijuana industry from contamination with illicit funds derived from money laundering or trade in illegal substances.

Legalised marijuana is now a booming and profitable business in many jurisdictions. However, like with any business, it is fraught with both legal risks and opportunities.

While T&T is a long way from having a legalised marijuana industry, some of the issues discussed in this article can also apply to other industries. It is important for any entrepreneur in any industry to understand their legal rights, risks and obligations in order to ensure that any entrepreneurial seeds that they plant ultimately bear fruit.

Catherine Ramnarine is a partner at the law firm M Hamel Smith & Company

CATHERINE RAMNARINE
 

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has announced its partnership with the SpiceMas Corporation Grenada, as the official airline of SpiceMas 2018. The SpiceMas street parade takes place on August 13 and 14.

CAL chief executive officer Garvin Medera stated: “This is the second year that Caribbean Airlines is partnering with the SpiceMas Corporation and the first year we are the official airline.

“The Caribbean has a rich cultural heritage with huge potential to facilitate and promote cohesion and sustainable development in the region. As an airline, we are committed to supporting culture and this year we have been privileged to partner with most of the regional carnivals and other festivals in the destinations we serve.”

Kirk Seetahal, chief executive officer, SpiceMas Corporation noted: “We are delighted to partner with Caribbean Airlines again this year. Caribbean Airlines has been an excellent partner to Grenada, providing Grenadians and visitors access to our shores with a safe, reliable and economical service. Grenada continues to record increase numbers in visitor arrivals and we still hear stories of many last-minute decision makers who find it impossible to find a flight into Grenada.

“The SpiceMas Corporation is happy that the presence of Caribbean Airlines will be felt even more in 2018, and we look forward to working with the Caribbean Airlines team on new initiatives that are geared to improve the overall SpiceMas experience.”

The airline offers daily service to Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport, with easy connections to other destinations in the Caribbean Airlines network. On select days, there are two flights to Grenada.

Premiered last evening, Prelude – The Cuban Guitar will be repeated on Sunday, July 8, at Trinidad Theatre Workshop, 6 Newbold Street, St Clair.

This one-of-a-kind concert promises interested audiences a glimpse into the finesse and delicacy of guitar music. The concert features Cuban classical guitarist Ricardo Mateo Torres as well as local instrumentalists Keisha Martinez, Rellon Brown and Shurvone Brathwaite.

Concert organiser Alan Cooper said he has a deep fondness for the classical guitar, of which he himself is a practitioner, and he thinks T&T should see more of it. “To me, the guitar music of Venezuela, Brazil and Spain is among the most beautiful in the world,” said Cooper, “and some of that music will be featured in Prelude.

“The concert is simply enjoyable music that is very, very well played. It features selections mainly from Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and, of course, Cuba, which is central to this show. The music from these countries is rhythmic and syncopated, very much like our own Trinidadian music.

Therefore the public will be able to relate to it well. I think it will also be refreshing to hear new music played on an instrument seldom heard played in T&T in this way.”

Cooper said he met Mateo Torres at the 2018 Biennial Music Festival, where Cooper learned that he is temporarily stationed in T&T as a Christian missionary, working to improve religious music. “I also learned that Mateo Torres graduated with highest honours from the Superior Institute of Art, Havana, and was subsequently the Head of Guitar at the Conservatory in Las Tunas, Cuba, where he founded both philharmonic and guitar orchestras which won national acclaim,” said Cooper.

“Apart from his work as a classical guitarist, he has written and produced more than 15 CDs of inspirational praise and worship music, including songs which were hits in the Latin American diaspora in Ecuador, Miami and Canada. When I heard his music, I thought it was a pity to have someone of his musical experience, training and ability in T&T and not to expose him to the public.”

The three local artistes were chosen for their skill with their particular instruments. Cooper said: “Keisha is an excellent violinist whose skill is matched by her sensitivity as a performer. Mateo Torres selected her as his partner for the pieces because of her innate understanding of the particular pieces. Rellon is one of the most versatile trumpeters on the local stage.

“We wanted an instrument that could wake the audience up a bit, but we also needed a trumpeter who was sensitive and that was Rellon Brown. Rellon has also been to Cuba and feels a keen affinity for the country and its people so we thought he was a good fit for this collaboration.

Clarinetist Shurvone Braithwaite is a promising young musician whom I wanted to include in order to showcase his ability and he will be part of the second night of performance.”

Cooper said he and Mateo Torres wanted to put on a small show that required an audience to listen attentively and with intimacy. He said: “This concert helps to encourage an appetite for the classical guitar.

T&T does have a discerning musical audience that will appreciate the finesse and delicacy of guitar music as well as the skill required to perform it.

“We have had a Classical Guitar Society, the president of which was the late Dr Morgan Job. While the music may be considered ‘classical’, since it arises from Latin America, it easily mixes with and straddles the world of Cuban trova and son, both of which are folk styles in Cuba. There is also some impressionistic music. The Venezuelan music is vals criollo, or creole waltz, which in Trinidad we traditionally call the castellan. The Argentinian music is modern and lyrical but we will also present a popular tango.”

Cooper said a main reason for presenting this concert was wanting to honour the guitar for its part in T&T’s history. “It was perhaps the most important instrument to Trinidad’s pre-1930 history.

It was the instrument of our calypsos; it was essential to our parang; almost all of our folk songs would have featured the guitar.

It is truly an instrument of the people and it deserves to be heard more and to be heard played well. By contrast to Latin America, where the guitar tradition has been preserved, Trinidad seems to have forgotten the noble guitar.

To me, this concert elevates the guitar to its rightful place and remind us Trinidadians of another facet of ourselves.”

Tickets for next Sunday’s show cost $150 and can be purchased at Paperbased Bookshop, The Normandie Hotel, and, at the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, with discounts for TTARP members and UTT students.

Seating is limited but reservations can be made by calling 297-3820.

Last Friday, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly presented a letter of appointment to Davlin Thomas, as Deputy Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) in a ceremony held at the Ministry’s head office.

Thomas, an Artistic Director, playwright and songwriter, has been involved in cultural productions for many years. He was the Artistic Director for Carifesta IX, as well as the presentation of El Cerro Del Aripo for Dimanche Gras 2010 and he also has first-hand experience in producing carnivals in Leeds in the United Kingdom and Amsterdam.

Minister Gadsby-Dolly congratulated Thomas on his appointment as NCC deputy chairman and noted that his experience will be an asset to the Carnival land scape.

The new Deputy Chairman sees his appointment to the board as an opportunity to be a positive influence in marketing of T&T’s Carnival. He said what he brings to the table is an understanding of how an epic production from the technical and theatrical perspective can benefit the country, region and world.

T&T senior women’s volleyballers will go after an unprecedented seventh straight crown in the final of the 17th Senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Championship against hosts Suriname at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall tonight. First serve is at 7 pm.

This after both teams improved to a perfect 2-0 record and ten points when matches continued yesterday morning to end round-robin group play.

Winners over the Bahamas, 26-16, 25-12, 25-12, in its opener on Saturday morning, T&T, led by Renele Forde, stormed past the six-time winners and long-time rival Barbados, 25-12, 25-14, 25-15, in its second match on Saturday night.

Once again, Channon Thompson, coming off impressive campaigns in both France and the Philippines, was the main scorer for T&T with 15 points, inclusive of 11 spikes and four aces while Turkey-based middle-blocker Sinead Jack added 11, comprising of eight spikes, two aces and one block.

Philippines-based Darlene Ramdin and Jalicia Ross-Kydd chipped in with seven points while Forde got six.

Overall, it was yet another commanding display from T&T, which did not even utilise Turkey-based scorer Krystle Esdelle, as it outscored the Barbadians 36-10 on spikes, 6-4 on blocks and 11-1 on aces in the 59-minute battle.

However, a disappointing statistic for coach Francisco “Panchee” Cruz was seeing his more experienced unit commit 26 errors to the opposition’s 22.

For Barbados, Shonte Seale was the best scorer with four points while Ashley Marshall and Ashley Jordan got three apiece.

Suriname also won in straight sets for the second match in-a-row, 25-12, 25-23, 25-19, over former two-time winners, the Bahamas, in 66 minutes.

Sundrina Hunsel had a tournament-high 22 points for Suriname and Sigourney Kame, nine in the win, while Melinda Bastian led the Bahamas with ten.

On Saturday night, Suriname made a commanding start beating six-time winners Barbados, 25-12, 25-7, 25-19 in 56 minutes.

Kame, fresh from winning five awards including Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the just concluded CAZOVA Under-23 Women’s Championship in Bonaire, continued her fine form with 11 points and Hunsel got 11.

Barbados’ Shonte Seale was the main scorer in the match for her team but there were 21 opponent errors out of the 38 points for the Barbados unit.

Tonight, the “Calypso Spikers”, champions in 1996 under former coach Macsood Ali, followed by wins in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017, all under the supervision of Cruz, will start as favourites.

Both, T&T and Suriname, by virtue of reaching the final have qualified to next year’s Women’s NORCECA Continental Championship.

Fixtures

Today
Bronze medal match – Barbados vs the Bahamas, 5 pm
Final – T&T vs Suriname, 7 pm

Carlon Hughes banged in a second- half hat-trick as defending champion Guaya United got its first win in four matches to jumpstart its 2018 T&T Super League campaign by mauling San Fernando Giants 5-0 on Saturday.

After picking up just two points in its first three matches, Guaya United went into the clash against Giants at its home, the Guaya Recreation Ground, desperate for a win. In the 16th minute, Jody Allsop got the hosts on its way to the delight of the fans in the South east community.

However, Giants, also without a win so far this season, managed to stay in the contest at the halftime whistle, trailing by just the lone goal.

On the resumption, Guaya continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges and in the 63rd minute, Leroy Jones made it 2-0.

Nine minutes later Hughes fired in his first of the afternoon for a 3-0 advantage before he added two more strikes in the 83rd and 84th minutes to complete his treble and the trashing which lifts his team to fifth on the 12-team table with five points from four matches, two behind the trio of Cunupia FC, Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Matura ReUnited, all of whom were in action yesterday.

FC Santa Rosa and University of T&T (UTT) are also ahead of Guaya United with six points and a match in hand, while Police FC has five points as well.

Also on Saturday, Club Sando Cultural United edged Petit Valley/ Diego Martin United 1-0 courtesy of Stephon Jack’s 68th-minute goal at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James.

It was also the first win for Club Sando Cultural United after three straight defeats to start the season.

Results

SATURDAY
Club Sando Cultural Roots 1
(Stephon Jack 68th) vs Petit Valley/
Diego Martin United 0
Guaya United 5 (Carlon Hughes
72nd, 83rd, 84th, Jody Allsop 16th,
Leroy Jones 63rd) vs San Fernando
Giants

Kyle Greaux continued his run of success, capturing gold in the Men’s 200 metres run at the Aliann Pompey Track and Field Invitational Meet at Lenora Stadium in Guyana on Saturday night.

The national 200 metres champion raced to gold in a time of 20.43 seconds in the time final beating Yancarlos Martinez of Dominican Republic into second place in 20.80 and Guyana’s Winston George, third in 20.87 in the faster of the two sections.

T&T’s Johnathan Farinha won section one in 21.19 and was fifth overall while another local athlete Emmanuel Callender, a two-time Olympic medallist, was third in that race and seventh overall in 21.42.

Last Sunday, Greaux upset Commonwealth Games champion and World Championship bronze medal winner, Jereem Richards, in winning the half-lap race at the NGC/Sagicor General NAAA Open Championship at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The local sprinters were joined by Nathan Farinha in the men’s 100m dash but it was only Greaux reaching the podium after clocking 10.39 seconds to win silver. He followed overall winner Guyanese Emanuel Archibald (10.29) to the line in the final section of the three races. Martinez finished in third place in 10.43.

Callender split the Farinha brothers in that section to place seventh (10.58) with Johnathan, sixth in 10.49 and Nathan crossed eighth in 10.85.

Nathan placed 12th overall while others remained in their positions.

Later in the Men’s 4x100m relay exhibition race, double medallist Greaux running the anchor leg partnered with Callender, Johnathan and Nathan in that order, to cop silver in 40.06 seconds.

Guyana A team of George, Adam Harris, Jeremy Bascom and Stephen James won gold in 39.79 and bronze went to Guyana B team of Kevin Abbensetts, Davin Fraser, Akeem Stewart and Archibald in 40.19.

In the women’s 100 and 200 metres sprints, Reyare Thomas bagged bronze in both. Thomas first lined up in the 100m and clocked 11.48 to place third in section two and third overall. Winning was Jamaican Jonielle Smith in 11.31 and second was Tawanna Meadows (USA) in 11.41.

Local sprinters Semoy Hackett and Kai Selvon also faced the starter in that race and the former placed fourth in 11.51 while Selvon was seventh in 11.78.

In the women’s 200m dash, Thomas, who won bronze in the event at the National Championships, crossed third in 23.70 behind Jodean Williams of Jamaica (23.01) and Marileidy Paulino of Dominican Republic (23.19), respectively.

Hackett, the reigning national 200m champion, did not finish the race.

In the hurdles events, T&T athletes narrowly missed out on medals.

Janeil Bellille finished fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles in a time of 56.22.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Aaron Lewis, who captured bronze at the National Championships, placed fourth in 13.92 seconds while national champion Rueben Walters had to settle for fifth place in 15.09 seconds.

Grenadian Kirani James brought the excitement in the men’s 400m.

Grenada’s lone Olympic gold medallist won in a comfortable 44.99-clocking ahead of Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie (45.65) and George in 46.13.

T&T goal shoot Samantha Wallace fell two goals shy of 50, and still, her effort was not enough to deny New South Wales Swifts from falling to a 58-65 defeat to Melbourne Vixens in the Suncorp Netball League, Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.

The win was the Vixens’ third in a row and was built on a fastpaced brand of netball the brave Swifts were unable to match as they fell to a second straight defeat and fourth on the season.

Both sides were dealt injury problems during the week, with the Vixens losing goalkeeper Emily Mannix to a dislocated finger while the Swifts will have to play out the rest of the season without young gun Claire O’Brien who ruptured her Achilles tendon.

Liz Watson was dishing off assists at will for the Vixens, with 20 by the midway point of the second quarter, but the Swifts remained within arm’s reach as Wallace’s perfect 20/20 kept them just three goals in arrears.

The Vixens ramped up the match speed again to produce a big finish to the quarter, running the Swifts off their feet to take a 37-29 advantage into halftime.

That lead was pushed out to as many as 11 in the third quarter as the Swifts struggled to find answers to match the Vixens energy and ball movement precision.

A three-goal blitz from Wallace helped stem the flow and Helen Housby denied the Vixens the bonus point for the third quarter, with a late shot from long range, but still, the Swifts trailed 52-44 heading into the final quarter.

The Vixens again surged to open the final quarter, pushing the lead back out to 12. The Swifts fought hard to the finish, though, with a four-goal run ensuring they took a bonus point out of the match for their efforts.

Wallace ended with 48 goals from 50 attempts and Housby, ten from 11 for Swifts while Mwai Kumwenda converted 37 from 39, and Tegan Philip 28 from 30 for the winners.