Such foreign exchange is needed for vital items such as equipment upgrades; new equipment; personnel re-certifications, etc,which cannot be obtained.

Then trying to get much needed cash for items such as taxi fares, small contracts etc cannot be obtained.

Try telling any worker in one of the islands to send an invoice for a few days work, so we can do a wire transfer. You are liable to be slapped.

As if the abuse is not insulting enough, we earn revenue by tendering for projects, most of which require foreign exchange to procure materials. Our bankers cannot guarantee availability of such funds, so that locals cannot submit a credible bid, and the foreigners get the job. So much for our government working for us.

Or is it working for themselves? Is this the Government’s way of giving the jobs to foreigners, for a piece of the pie in return? On one bid for a project in Galeota, the project engineer of a major State company, in written response to a query, advised that the organisation responsible could not give us a letter to present to the bank for us to obtain foreign exchange. He stated in a meeting that bidders were selected because we have US dollars in our account!! Is the Government spying on us?? Now we are in the process of bidding for another project for the petro-chemical sector, and our bankers advised that this request for ForEx is not available.

Note that the consulting for this project was done by a foreigner, resulting in more drain on Forex.

Regrettably, while I am now forced to close shop, putting my staff on the breadline, we have forex for grapes, apples, foreign non-basics, foreign artistes, new and foreign used cars, etc. What next??? Another company now bites the dust, and no one in authority really cares.

L Seepersadvia email

Algorithmic trading, also known as “algo” trading and “black box” trading, involves the use of fast computer programmes and complex algorithms to create and determine trading strategies for optimal returns.

Powell said that by 2015 he had lost everything and was trying to find a way of getting back into investing when he came into contact with Forbes 2015 Billionaire’s List and contacted Forbes to ask them to work with the Billionaires’ League to build an application which would empower people who had invested and lost money. He said Forbes agreed but more than that offered to provide content on the billionaires.

He said the Billionaires’ League uses five principles to highlight billionaires in the US and the app tracks their portfolios to see what they invest in, which sectors they believe in and how much of their nett worth they invest in each sector and stocks. “So you, as an individual downloading our app can have that first world exposure where you can invest through our app. You’re buying and selling stocks, currencies, bonds on the international market from your mobile with virtual funds.” Those who download the app get US$10,000 in free virtual money to practice their investing skills. “From replicating the billionaires, they could now go to a broker/dealer either locally or internationally and apply it.” He said the application is intended for potential investors who do not have the confidence in their ability to make the right investment choices; people who are uncertain about where the financial markets are going as well as seasoned investors. “We get them started because it’s a journey.

So to get them started we provide them with data where they are comfortable to act and with that data they could go to their broker/dealers and execute those trades. We are targetting the mellenials, investment bankers; broker dealers and users who don’t have the experience to invest.” Powell said the Billionaires’ League was nominated by the World Bank Group; the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank to represent the Caribbean in a global competition to compete against Singapore and Europe. Based on the novelty of the technology which powered the application, the Billionaires’ League app was chosen Best Portfolio Management Application 2017 by Capital Finance International magazine. “So Trinidad and Tobago should be proud that a product was born here, represented the Caribbean internationally and won. So the award gives us a lot of exposure globally. It gives us credibility and it gives us that edge that we have a disruptive technology that will change the traditional way of how people invest and it also adds credibility by opening up doors for broker dealers and partners to come on board.” He said the application competed against some key stakeholders to win the competition, “so it’s definitely a confidence booster and we have something to show for the Caribbean people that we too could build technology from the Caribbean and compete globally and be disruptive.” The app was launched on July 26, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, with an audience of high rollers at a function at which Powell said the idea was to demonstrate their credibility and get users started on a journey to become successful investors. He said their success in the competition should make Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean proud to know that the region is recognised on a global scale where technology is concerned and that change is coming “and we have something that we could go global with and compete with some of the most prominent technologies in the investment era” because no one in the investment universe has that technology like Billionaires’ League that could reveal the strategies of today’s leading bankers, billionaires and pension funds, all in real time. No one does that. So we as Caribbean people should be proud.” He credited the World Bank Group and its “Pitch IT Caribbean Challenge” a competition funded by the World Bank Group via info/Dev with the aim of finding and developing young talent in app development in the Caribbean. He said the competition is not just looking for a product, “they look at the person in the driver’s seat, the person who they think could take that idea from an idea stage, an implementation stage, and to a product stage, and when you have the product it should be in a position where it can scale globally so you have to be a global changer, you have to be a global thinker. So in order to do that you have to be in a network that could give you that opportunity where you could open doors for yourself. After that, you will need governance and you will need a structure in place because having a product without a structure doesn’t make sense. So you need to be strategic with your approach.

You need to have that agility to know how and when to release the product. He said with the different entrepreneurial programmes which are being launched for the Caribbean there is a need for more unity among entrepreneurs throughout the Caribbean region that they too could come up with a disruptive technology.” He said the Pitch IT Caribbean Challenge brings together IT entrepreneurs from several Caribbean countries to compete to go global.

Powell said the local Caribbean Industrial Relations Institute (CARIRI) was an incubator and encouraged the Billionaires’ League to compete in the competition to represent Trinidad and Tobago. The application won Best Mobile Application last year which gave it automatic entry into the Pitch IT Competition.

Dear Piteous Pitcher,

I think most people will agree that one of the hardest challenges for creative people, or persons interested in advancing in the workplace is to gain support for their ideas from top management.

I know colleagues who believe that their proposals are ignored and not taken seriously, not because they have poor potential, but oftentimes because their bosses simply do not understand the idea or even listened to their presentation. This can cause any employee to feel frustrated and disenchanted, and even lead to innovative persons leaving an organization.

So what’s the solution to this age old problem? Well certainly having your boss onboard long before you pitch your idea is key.

You need to bear in mind that your idea may very well be the solution to a crucial business problem and your boss will hardly ever invest in something unexpected. Therefore, it is important to get your boss involved actively upfront. This will reduce the risk associated with the idea being rejected since your boss will be involved at the first stage of the project.

You should also frame your suggestion to match your boss’ goals.

Once your idea can advance or assist your boss in the workplace, 80% of your job is done. Therefore, pitch your suggestion in terms of how it might help your boss. Remember, what matters to your boss include: improving the bottom line, ensuring the team performs or simply just looking good. You should therefore understand where your boss wants to be (his / her goals) and examine how your idea can help your boss achieve those goals. Frame your idea from your boss’s perspective and not yours.

Remember, decision-makers have more trust and confidence in great performers. The organization’s top performers usually get the praise and attention. This is sometimes referred to as the “hero effect”. Your performance is a key factor and will impact how people view your personal brand. Make sure that your organization’s top executives are aware of your good work and that you have a strong personal brand.

Bear in mind that your boss will more than likely consider ideas from those deemed to be high performers. Your performance and reputation within the organization will be equated to your idea. You therefore need to build a good reputation and strong personal brand, if you don’t already have one.

You should also consider enhancing your presentation and public speaking skills through training. Additionally, there are business books and other resources that can prepare you to answer some tough questions. You can certainly learn how to persuade other people – “Pitch Anything” by Oren Klaff will teach you the nuts and bolts of persuasion, while “Positive Personality Profiles” by Robert A.

Rohm, Ph.D. will provide insights toward understanding the art and science of human behaviour.

Pitching is a skill that should be nurtured and developed like any other. It is the key moment when you want to persuade and influence someone to try new things or buy into a product or service.

Remember, you are putting your idea and yourself in front of other people, mainly the decision makers in your organization. Now, this may sound scary, but it is the only way to present your ideas and make an impression.

AFETT is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 with the goal of bringing together professional women and engaging in networking opportunities, professional training and business ideas.

ASK AFETT is a column meant to address issues and concerns of professionals seeking advice to assist in progressing in their careers. Today’s response was written by AFETT member, Cavelle Joseph, Human Resource Practitioner and a Past President of AFETT. Learn more about AFETT at www.afett.com or by contacting the Secretariat at admin.

afett@gmail.com or 354-7130. Search for AFETT Events on Facebook and follow @AFETTEXECS on Twitter.

According to reports, at around 8.45 am yesterday, Ricardo Alleyne parked his vehicle in the vicinity of D and L pharmacy at Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley and was about to proceed to the Western Union facility when he observed that he was being followed by two men.

Alleyne tried to raise an alarm but was confronted by the two men, one armed with a gun, who shot him on the left hand and back.

Passers-by who were alerted to the gunshots ran to Alleyne’s assistance causing the bandits to flee the scene empty handed.

The suspects ran towards the Diego Martin Highway and escaped while a bleeding Alleyne drove himself to the St James Infirmary where he was treated and transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Alleyne alerted the Four Roads Police along with his employer and the money, which was in an envelope on the front seat of the vehicle, was retrieved by the owner.

Officers led by Inspector Godfrey Vincent visited the scene and carried out a search for camera footage in a bid to identify the suspects in the shooting.

Investigations are continuing.

The Government must be fair and understand that all the politics is doing is making matter worse with only excuses upon excuses and no action, just talk.

As simple as it is to improve the tax collection by ways of endorsements, they can start with a visit to our several malls where most of the places, especially the food courts, charge VAT on their sales but are hesitant to give the customers bills, if any at all, saying “we are not VAT registered.” People mostly buy food in these malls, so hence a good tax collection point.

Start construction projects, agricultural projects, etc, which would be labour intensive and reduce ForEx in many ways, plus help in reducing crime. Employers are reducing their staff monthly now that also reduces payments of taxes, NIS, etc, so Government revenue is again affected. I can go on and on and all is needed is common sense by the Government to get organised and put action in place as quickly as possible, but when we have square pegs in very small round holes, and arrogance added with it, our country is at a loss.

Mr PM and your team must open your eyes, or if you cannot see what is happening and do not know what to do, accept your short-comings as men/women and at least be fair to TT and call the general election now.

TONY HART Diego Martin

This was one of several issues discussed between Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis and Chinese Ambassador to TT Song Yumin, when Yumin paid a courtesy call on Robinson-Regis at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port of Spain last week.

In a statement, the Planning Ministry said there was a project between the University of the West Indies and the China Agriculture University aimed at finding ways to increase domestic agricultural productivity and reduce TT’s food import bill.

Robinson-Regis said a cooperative arrangement with China would be a great learning opportunity for TT in terms of industrial and technological development.

China’s history with TT has also involved the health care sector, agriculture and technical cooperation.

Dry docking and the development of industrial parks in TT are some of the areas already being examined by China’s Exim bank to assess funding possibilities.

Robinson-Regis raised interest in China collaborating on development projects involving Tobago as well as environmental support for TT as a small-island developing state.

Yesterday, the Venture Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited, in collaboration with CUNA Caribbean Insurance, launched the 18th edition at the Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain, with this year’s theme being “We Care, We Share”.

The main sponsor, Venture Credit Union, handed over to its 5K committee a cheque valued at $270,000 towards the staging of this year’s event. The Union also received a cheque worth$25,000 from CUNA Caribbean Insurance as they extended their longstanding partnership with the Co-operative.

The event starts at 7 am in front of the Cash and Carry Supermarket.

Rotich, the back-to-back champion of the Half Marathon, expressed his desire to return to the event. However, he detailed that the cost to get to Trinidad would be a huge deterring factor for him as he is currently in Kenya.

The company made the decision to finalise the logistics in securing his participation in yet another event, which will cost approximately $26,000 (including accommodation).

According to the Chairman of the 5K Committee, Lionel Sookoo, “We always try to maintain a very highly competitive event and, to do that, we thought it is important to bring some foreign athletes and, since Rotich is the defending champion, we saw it necessary to obtain his presence as it will increase the international standard of the event.” The event will also feature regional athletes from Guyana, St Vincent/ Grenadines and Grenada. Athletes from the United States were also invited to participate. There will be seven age groups including Under- 15, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and the Over-60 category. To acquire instantaneous results across all the age groups, the ‘chip’ system which involves the implementation of microchips into the runners’ number, will be utilised.

Technical Director of the 5K event, Allan Baboolal, confirmed there were 1,900 participants in last year’s edition and he is expecting over 2,000 individuals to be part of this year’s event.

Baboolal detailed, “The reason we have decided to go with ‘the chip’, even though it is an expensive system, is because it became very difficult to manage results since we were only granted half of the roadway to use for both the 5K Run and Walk.” He revealed there was a $34,000 cost attached for the utilisation of the new system.

Prizes for the event include $3,000 for the respective male and female winners, in the 5K, while the runners-up will receive $2,000.

Third place will receive $1,500 while fourth and fifth-placed finishers will be entitled to $1,200 and $1,000 respectively.

Individual prizes for the various age group winners include $200 for first, $150 for second and $100 for the third. A special $200 prize will be given to the winner of the differently- abled category.

Trophies will also be awarded to the largest teams based on their number of participants crossing the finish-line. Such team categories include financial institutions, corporations, schools and gyms.

The fee to register for children (primary and secondary) cost $20 and adults cost $40. Registration for the event can now be done online, as compared to the previous years, on the company’s website and will also be available at the Credit Union’s branches.

Forms can also be collected at Ramsingh’s Sport World, Ramlogan and Sons, Royal Bank, First Citizens and Republic Bank branches in Couva. Other sponsors for the event include Blue Waters, Plipdeco, Eastern Credit Union, Trinidad and Tobago Police Credit Union, Central Missouri Community Credit Union, Agricola Credit Union, Caribbean Nitrogen Company and S Ramlogan and Sons Sports Centre.

It is critical to note that there are sectors of our society who will find nothing good about anything proposed or done by this PNM administration. That sector will only be happy if the Prime Minister resigns and calls a new election. For them, it does not matter what the Mouttet investigations discover, nothing short of the firing of the board of the Port Authority and the Minister of Works would satisfy the thirst of those seeking to replace PNM administration.

In this land of wonderful people of many races, different faces and a callaloo of cultures we have no choice but to work together if we wish to overcome the global economic, social and political challenges that confront us. We must overcome the management inefficiencies that led to the embarrassing effort to acquire a boat to service our sea bridge. We must find a way to rise above the agenda of those who seeks to divide us into percentages of class, race, wealth, religion, and political affiliation for self-interest. Moreover, we must start working on moving forward.

For too long we have stood by as politicians wasted our national wealth on investments with minimal return. The insatiable appetite of those that thrived on government programmes like GATE, CEPEP, URP, food cards and contract labour can never be filled. While we still have the ability to access international credit and our foreign exchange reserves is still healthy, we need to make a concerted effort to prepare for the future.

We need to stimulate the economy by partnering with our business community. We need to inject investment into a carefully planned approach to agriculture and tourism. WASA must no longer be allowed to be an economic black hole where water wastage and management inefficiencies are common. A new network of roads needs to be accelerated rather than placed on hold. Government must change from being a burden to taxpayers to a source of hope. Efforts must be made to make government services easily assessable and less punitive.

These decisions will entail making choices like that of asking Mr.Mouttet, a member of our business community to investigate our management practices. The Prime Minister must reach out beyond his political base, outside of his traditional pool of political support and embrace all our citizens from Blanchisseuse in the north to Moruga in the south, from Claxton Bay in the west to Mayaro in the east, from Scarborough to Charlottesville in Tobago. All of us must be red, white, black and ready to rebuild our Nation. At this time, only one-man PM Dr. K. C. Rowley, can do that. He need to go where no one has gone before. If he fails to take the initiative, we will do it under new leadership at the next general election. The historical unhealthy divisiveness of our politics must end.

God Bless Our Nation.

Steve Alvarez via email

Mc Lean, a two-time Olympian and medallist at the 2017 CCCAN Championships, was also a previous Goodwill Swim Meet team member.

The Goodwill is a five-nation swim meet held every year between Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. This year, the Bahamas will also be participating as they were invited as a guest team.

The event features the top 10-and-Under swim talents from the respective countries and also acts a developmental competition, for the 11-and-Over athletes, who may fall just outside the CARIFTA grade.

According to the ASATT website, Mc Lean stated, “The Trinidad and Tobago Goodwill 2017 Swim team have been going through race paces and have been focusing on our finishes because that’s what it will come down to.

They are prepped and ready to race from what the coaching team has seen.” Both Mc Lean and recent Commonwealth Youth Games medallist, Jeron Thompson, are among many talented athletes who went Goodwill as 11-and-Over athletes that managed to progress onto higher level meets. 2017 CARIFTA Gold medallist, Kadon Williams, also went to Goodwill in 2016 as an 11-12 contender.

Kami Morean and Alex Ali were selected as Senior captains, while Jordon Mc Millan and Gabriella Acosta were chosen as the Junior leaders. Morean, Ali and Mc Millan were all members of the victorious 2016 team in St Lucia, with Ali being a part of the 2015 team as well.

In addition to their regular club training sessions, team members have been training twice a week at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, in an added effort to capture the crown for the fourth straight time. In 2014 when the meet was held in Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago won, ending a winning streak for Suriname which lasted seven years. TT went on to win the titles in 2015 and 2016 held in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia, respectively.The team departs at 3.05 pm with Caribbean Airlines and hopes to return on Monday at 9.25 am with the trophy in hand. The actual competition will be held at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal Guyana, and starts with an official opening ceremony on Friday at 6 pm. The meet closes with an award ceremony and Gala on Sunday at 7 pm.

Team – 8-and-Under Girls: Isabella Mendoza, Khayla Gouveia, Siddhi Sieusankar, Anastasia Williams.

8-and-Under Boys: Liam Carrington, Christiano Rivas, Darren Belfon, Anpherne Bernard.

9–10 Girls: Joy Blackett, Amelia Rajack, Mya Wells, Lyla Browne.

9-10 Boys: Zachary Anthony, Giovanni Rivas, Andre Sandy, Tyresse Boxill.

11–12 Girls: Caitlyn Look Fong, Isabella Edwards, Kiara Goodridge, Naomi Walters.

11–12 Boys: Kristoff Vialva, Keishawn Daniel, Sheni St Hillaire, Prince Moreau.

13–14 Girls: Analee Maharaj, Bianca Prevatt, Gabriella Acosta, Dominique Allen Nurse.

13–14 Boys: Derelle Augustine, Liam Trepte, Daniel Chow, Jordon Mc Millan.

15–17 Girls: Kami Morean, Lexi Browne, Deborah Herbert, Selene Smart.

15 – 17 Boys: Alex Ali, Jamaal Pascall, Jamie Williams, Brandon Coombs.

Technical staff – Sharntelle Mc Lean (coach); Mark Alexis, Stephen Mendoza, Lennox Gould (assistant coaches); Nefertiti Acosta-Yates (manager).

Junior Brown and Reagan Prince, of Macaulay Road, Claxton Bay and Mora Village, Point Fortin, respectively, are expected to re-appear in court next Wednesday when their criminal record tracing will be produced.

It is alleged that two gunmen stormed Sammy’s Bar located at Mt Pleasant Road, Springvale at Claxton Bay, on Friday and announced a robbery.

They gunmen robbed the Chinese national, who at the time was operating a roulette machine, of a quantity of cash before escaping in a car.

Sgt Ali together with other officers of the Couva CID went to a house at Soledad Road West in Claxton Bay, where they arrested the Brown and Prince, also called Reagan Deen, the same day.

PC Mitchell charged them with robbery with violence, shooting with intent, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger lives.

All charges were laid indictably and so the accused men were not called upon to plead before Magistrate Siumongal Ramsaran yesterday.

Meanwhile, another man, Barry Prince, 34, also appeared before Magistrate Seemungal yesterday charged with the possession of a firearm, ammunition and marijuana. He too was not called upon to plea yesterday as the charges were laid indictably by PC Mitchell.

Police arrested him on Friday evening at a house on Soledad Road West after they allegedly found the firearm, ammunition and 197 grammes of the illegal narcotic.

The magistrate denied bail to Prince and remanded him into police custody to reappear in court on Wednesday.

Sgt Vikki Ranjitsingh prosecuted.

Only on Tuesday, Rasheed Brewster appeared in the Couva Magistrate’s Court charged by PC Ramoutar of Couva CID with the possession of a prohibited weapon, namely a SKS Russian rifle and seven rounds of ammunition. It is alleged that police found the items at his home in Trincity on Friday.

He was denied bail and the matter was transferred to the Arima Magistrates’ Court for him to appear on Tuesday.