With its revolutionary design of an infinity display with the most immersive edge-to-edge screen, latest security features of an iris scan and secure folders, long battery life, range of colours and 12MP rear and 8MP front cameras with voice control to capture life as it happens, the new 4G LTE-compatible Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 + smartphones were quite a hit with customers.

Leonardo Silva, product specialist, Samsung Electronics Latin America, was at the store for the launch and said, “bmobile has a great 4G mobile LTE network and we know that customers want to be on the fastest network, with the fastest device in the market today, so this makes bmobile a very strong strategic partner for Samsung. We love coming here because Trinidad and Tobago, which has a lot of Samsung lovers, is one of our favourite markets, and we look forward to continuing to work with bmobile to add to the high levels of customer satisfaction they already provide.” Chevon Wilson, TSTT’s VP of Mobile Services thanked bmobile’s customers for their continued support over the years and said, “We are very excited to give our customers first access to the advanced innovative features of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Supported by the only mobile 4G LTE network in Trinidad and Tobago, our ultrafast speeds will empower the full features of the phones to deliver a fantastic user experience which captures life as it happens. bmobile is committed to the rollout of communications solutions and services that will enrich the lives of citizens and businesses. As we say, ‘Life Is On’ and we are thrilled to partner with Samsung to support our customers’ always-on lifestyle.” Silva explained that the Galaxy S8 with its 5.8- inch display and the S8+ with 6.2 inches, supported by Quad HD+, provide the largest, immersive, crystal clear, edge-to-edge display. “That’s very important because customers now have more work space to watch videos or multi-task using multi-windows. But we are really taking it to a new level because they may sound like large devices, but when you hold them in your hand you see how compact they are.” Silva added that besides the wow factor, the focus of the Galaxy S8/S8+ is on increasing the functionality and productivity of the phones for both professional and personal use, with the large storage size, new security, snap window and Samsung DeX features.

Snap window allows users to literally crop a piece of an application and pin it up at the top of the screen to watch while they keep working at the lower part of the screen, while Samsung DeX lets them connect their Galaxy S8/S8+ to a monitor, keyboard and mouse for a desktop experience powered by their phone to turn any place into a workplace. The 64GB phone storage provides the space needed for high definition pictures and documents, and the 256GB microSD slot provides even more storage to enjoy the music libraries that people carry around on phones.

Cliff Ross, Jonathon Sirjoo and Steve Edwards were among the visitors who shared in the day’s excitement. Sirjoo was most impressed with the combined speed of the S8 phone and bmobile’s 4G LTE network.

“I have an android phone, and it’s a good phone, but it’s now slowing down. This is where other phones tend to fall short. The S8 is sleek and light.

In addition, the speed of the S8 backed with the speed of the bmobile’s 4G LTE service are impressive and are going to make a big difference in how a person will maximize what he gets out of the phone. A phone can only do so much but when you add the bmobile’s 4G LTE service, you now have a phone that can really take you to the limits.” Ross liked the clarity of the S8’s screen while Edwards liked the S8’s sleek design, edge-to-edge screen and quick response time. “It’s a very beautiful phone, especially the full screen option where I can remove the home button to achieve a larger full screen.”

According to a release from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, these reforms, which will be implemented by various ministries in the short- and medium-term, commenced in April and will span some 44 months.

The release listed a number of short term reforms (2017-2018) medium term reforms (2018-2019).

One short term reform is the operationalisation of the fixed container scanner at the Port of Port-of-Spain. This, according to the release, will have an immediate and significant effect on the private sector and consumers by considerably reducing the time and cost of importing and exporting goods.

Capacity building activities will be conducted for the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) with the aim of, among other things, improving taxpayer services which includes the launch of electronic services offered by the IRD and improving the efficiency of processing tax returns and tax payments.

The processes to start a business will be re-engineered by, among other things, conducting public education initiatives regarding the processes involved in starting a business to minimise application/registration errors and undertaking ICT improvements to remedy any existing defects within the online registration process.

An Automated System for Construction Permitting will be developed and implemented to reduce the administrative burden for obtaining a construction permit.

This system would allow for the: electronic submission of applications and supporting documents, communication with and notification of applicants via email or SMS and processing and shared decisionmaking across multiple agencies.

The Construction Permit System, the release said, will seamlessly integrate with existing systems, including the Government’s Single Electronic Window for Trade and Business Facilitation — TTBizLink.

As one of the medium-term reforms, a Secured Transaction and Collateral Registry System will be developed and implemented.

This system is a legislative and institutional framework designed to facilitate the use of movable property — intellectual property, agricultural products, accounts receivables, machinery and equipment — as collateral. This system will provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with increased access to finance, which will improve their productivity levels and growth. A policy that will guide the development and implementation of this system is being developed.

Another medium-term reform, resolving insolvency, would seek to improve the regulatory framework for insolvency. Work is in train to create a unified legislative framework by harmonising the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act with other relevant legislation, including the Companies Act, and fully operationalise the Office of the Supervisor of Insolvency, which will create an improved level of supervision for insolvency practitioners.

An Electronic Funds Transfer system will be developed, which will allow the Government to make and receive electronic payments, provide the public with more efficient and convenient options for transacting with the Government and provide a safe and secure Electronic Funds Transfer environment for consumers to transact business with Government agencies.

The interoperability of TTBizLink with all other trade-related agencies will be improved. This will facilitate the seamless exchange of data between TTBizLink and key stakeholders such as the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Customs and Excise Division, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health, as well TT’s trading partners. This seamless exchange will allow for a reduction in the processing times of several documents required for trade.

Responding to questions from JSC chairman Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir, Hutchinson said there is no publicly run suicide hotline in TT. He added there is one run by non-governmental organisation Lifeline. Hutchinson said, “As part of the suicide prevention plan that is being developed and will be implemented soon, is a proposal to either work alongside Lifeline supplementing their service or or setting up an alternative hotline which the ministry could fund and support.” Hutchinson said Lifeline has been experiencing problems with getting volunteers for its service.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Vishwanath Partapsingh said this was an element of a wider “suicide surveillance system” which will supplement existing health sector protocols to treat with people who may be contemplating suicide.

Hutchinson explained that self harm and suicide can be a feature of several different types of mental illnesses. He also said stress is something would could result in people becoming mentally ill.

Hutchinson said people who were sexually abused as children, are likely to develop mental health problems when faced with situations such as unemployment or relationship problems.

Responding to a question from Cumuto/ Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo Hosein, Hutchinson said, “In situations where there is increased social stress, you do see more mental illness.” However he added that some people are more resilient in dealing with stress than others. St Ann’s Hospital Medical Chief of Staff, Dr Hazel Ann Othello, said some drugs used to treat mental illnesses are available on the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP).

For the second time since the project’s initiation in 2011, the sod was turned on Tuesday for the re-commissioning of construction of the highway with a ceremony held along the South Trunk Road near Dansteel Hardware. Rowley and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan turned the sod in the middle of a fleet of Junior Sammy trucks.

In his feature address, Rowley sent a direct message to local contractors.

“Listen to me very carefully.

I notice the pricing excesses are still going on. The other day we asked for prices for a swimming pool in Laventille. The price came in at $21 million. We asked for something else to be done somewhere else. The price came in millions above reason. “I remember, I was in the Manning cabinet and Mr Manning had to justify why foreign contractors were playing such a big role in Trinidad and Tobago and the justification was that local contractors had made a career and culture of one; overpricing projects, two; not finishing them within budget and three; not finishing them on time.” Rowley said he does not intend to go down the road of using foreign contractors because he believes locals can do the job. “That is why we have broken up this project into a number of packages so as many local contractors can have an opportunity to bid.” He blamed the stalling of the project on the former People’s Partnership government’s decision to grant the contract for constructing the entire highway to “one corrupt Brazilian contractor.” The project stopped after contracting firm OAS Construtora declared bankruptcy in Brazil.

“(OAS) went bankrupt halfway and the bankruptcy was generated by arrests and jailing for corruption in Brazil. When they came to TT, they (OAS) were the sons and daughters of the Angel Gabriel,” Rowley said to a smattering of laughter.

He said nothing “galls” him more than to hear the Opposition clamour for transparency when they were not transparent in their dealings with OAS. “And they would not acknowledge that the week of the general election, one of them made an arrangement and deleted from the contract the clause which said the government could fire the contractor if the contractor becomes bankrupt.” The Prime Minister said this caused government some difficulty, but they were able to fire OAS and recover a bond of close to $1 billion which he believes the former government tried to “protect”, when they deleted that clause.

“And I know there are people in this country who don’t want to hear us talk about the last government,” Rowley said, “but we are going to talk about them every single day for the hurt that they have put on the people of Trinidad and Tobago!” Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the first package was granted to Junior Sammy Group of Companies to the tune of $95 million. The package, intended to take eight months to complete, entails work from Dumfries Road to the bridge at the beginning of Mosquito Creek.

Other packages for different segments of the highway which includes beginning work at the Point Fortin end of the highway will be rolled out over the next few months and construction will start simultaneously.

This year’s star-studded line-up of contestants are gaining momentum as the tournament progresses daily. Once again, bmobile has given its commitment to providing local sportsmen and women with an avenue to compete alongside each other as they vie for coveted national honours in varying divisions.

In doing so, the main sponsors have strengthened their support towards the Tennis Association’s goals for elevating the standard of the tournament.

Meet Director, Dion Auguste, applauded their efforts and was pleased to play host to the sport’s biggest local tourney at the new state-of-the-art tennis facility. He highlighted some of the welcomed changes to this year’s edition.

“This year is the first time that the women’s winner is getting the same amount of prize money as the Men’s Singles winner. To me, this is very encouraging for the female players,” Auguste explained.

“I’m happy that we can use the new facility for this competition.

We must ensure that maintenance is always done and the facility is well kept all the time to maintain the highest standards.” Jermille Danclar, Tennis Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TennisTT) secretary and also a Director at the 2017 meet, held in high regard the many benefits of hosting a competition of this calibre at the Racquet Centre for the first time. Originally, previous local and international tournaments were played at other facilities throughout the twin-island. However, none possessed a whopping 12 courts, inclusive of seven outdoor, four indoor and one stadium design.

“The fact that we have indoor courts is a positive,” revealed Danclar. “On Saturday, all of our matches were scheduled to take place outdoors but we got rained out. On a regular day at, let’s say at King George V Park courts (St Clair), that would have been a full day of tennis lost. Luckily, we can now stick to our programme by simply moving the matches indoors.

Everyone’s impressed.” Thus far, it has been smooth sailing at the Racquet Centre for players and officials alike. Of the competing bunch, there are three foreign-based players in the running for the Singles crowns. They are defending Men’s champion Luke De Caires (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Joe Cadogan (Florida Atlantic University) and Breana Stampfli (Florida Gulf Coast University). However, a talented line-up of locally based athletes such as Richard Chung, Vaughn Wilson, Keshan Moonasar, Akiel Duke and Dexter Mahase have also progressed to the quarter final stage.

In the women’s equivalent, Stampfli – even though a multiple national champion who also boasts a wealth of experience- also has her work cut out against the likes of last year’s Singles winner Carlista Mohammed, long-time representative, Shenelle Mohammed, and Abigail Jones among others.

Camille Campbell, TSTT’s VP Marketing, welcomed another year of sponsorship loyalty towards the local tennis fraternity.

She was elated to observe the return of some of TT’s best foreign- based players for this particular competition.

Categories being contested are Men, Women and Veteran Singles, along with Doubles events in all three aforementioned divisions and Mixed Doubles.

You’ve heard it over and. over again. If you want to. be successful in life, you. have to make contacts.

I’m not talking about the person that. can get you a discount on a pair of. designer shoes or fast track a service,. but the people that can secure your. professional career.

And as much as you may resent it,. it is who you know that can get you. and your organisation ahead. You. just have to look around our business. community to see evidence of how. people benefit from networking. There. are several professional associations. around, such as AFETT, which proves. that for years professionals have. networked to enhance business. success. Those who don’t often wind. up passed over.

But before we run through some. useful tips, let’s be clear on one thing,. networking is not about “sucking up”. to people you think will get you to the. top of the ladder, but about advancing. your career via intelligent dialogue and. mutually beneficial connections.

So, here are some well-practiced. rules for effective networking:. In addition to professional. associations, you will also find. numerous opportunities to network at. conferences, cocktail parties, product. launches and seminars. Look for. events where the people you want to. meet will attend and be prepared to. invest some money to participate.

Decide early on what you want. to achieve. Go to the event with an. achievable, realistic goal, such as. meeting a specific individual, and don’t. leave until you have achieved it.

People love to talk about. themselves, but some topics are taboo.

For “safe” questions and conversation. starters, remember the rule of FOR: F –. family; O – occupation; R – recreation. We are all in business to get ahead,. and everyone you network with. has the same goals as you. So don’t. be ashamed of who you are or why. you are networking. Talk about your. business and ambitions – people. like to associate themselves with. individuals that get things done and. are going places. Have your business. cards easily accessible, and make sure. they are legible and present relevant. information. If necessary include. details on your business.

Ask each person you meet for two. cards – one to pass on to someone. else (tell them you plan to do this) and. one to keep. This sets the stage for. networking to happen. Write notes on. the back of business cards you receive. so you remember who gave them to. you.

Be up-to-date on current affairs,. particularly on issues that affect the. group you are networking with, so. you can ask and answer questions. knowledgeably. If there are cocktails. and hors d’oeuvres, take one thing at. a time so you always have a free hand. to shake or present your business card.

Avoid nibbles that look tricky or messy. to eat and limit your alcohol intake,. even if it is free.

If you are shy, “practice” with. low priority networks to build your. confidence. Go to functions or. conferences with someone who isn’t. timid, and ask them to introduce you to. people you want to get to know. Offer. to join a committee or working group. that will “force” you to talk to others.

And by the way, just joining is not. enough to “get networked” – you have. to get involved and take part, so that. people really get to know who you are. and what you stand for.Don’t ask for. help or try to close a deal, but practice. the “givers gain” philosophy: if I help. you, you’ll help me, and we’ll both do. better as a result of it. In other words,. if you don’t genuinely attempt to help. the people you meet, then you are not. networking effectively. If you can’t give. someone a referral, try to offer some. information that might be of interest. to them, such as details about an. upcoming event.

Always follow up – if you say you. are going to call, call. Send a thank. you note if the person has given. you information of value, or email. to reiterate how much you enjoyed. meeting them. Relax and enjoy it.

Reward yourself for achieving your. goal and remember that it gets easier. each time you do it. High visibility. is the end product of being a good. networker which means doing those. things that help you become known. as an effective, take-charge person to. people who will remember you when. opportunities develop later.

Good luck, AFETT.

AFETT is a not-for-profit organisation. 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, Lara. Quentrall-Thomas, Founder of AFETT. and chairman of Regency Recruitment. & Resources Ltd. Learn more about. AFETT at www.afett.com, search for. AFETT Events on Facebook, follow us @. AFETTEXECS on Twitter or contact us at. 354-7130. Email us your career-related. questions at admin.afett@gmail.com.

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Questions have arisen about the continuous downgrades we have experienced, especially as we are sitting on US$9 billion in reserves and well over US$5 billion in the Heritage and Stabilization Fund (HSF). Since we have relatively low foreign debt and low debt/GDP, why the continuous downgrade? To explain this let us take a closer look at rating agencies. There are what is called the Big Three global credit rating agencies – S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings – which control nearly 95 percent of the credit ratings market. They are all US-based and had all come under intense scrutiny since the global financial crisis of 2008/09. The ratings handed out by each of the Big Three strongly influence investor perceptions of the creditworthiness of global governments.

These credit ratings were meant to provide investors with information on the riskiness of various kinds of debt. Instead these agencies were accused of worsening the financial crisis and defrauding investors by offering overly favourable evaluations of insolvent financial institutions and approving extremely risky mortgage-related securities.

Critics alleged that they created complex but unreliable models to calculate the probability of default for individual mortgages as well for the securitised products created by bundling these mortgages.

Indeed, some of the models were criticised for using historical information that could not anticipate the problems that arose in the housing market since they never occurred before. This saw products that were AAA-rated during the housing boom, experience a sharp downgrade after the housing market collapsed. In fact, in 2007, as housing prices began to tumble, Moody’s downgraded 83 percent of the $869 billion in mortgage securities it had rated at the AAA level in 2006. One of the key criticisms of rating agencies is that issuers themselves must pay them to rate their securities. It is interesting to note the number of credit implosions ratings agencies have largely missed over the past decade.

In Europe, these agencies encountered further controversy over their sovereign debt ratings.

While the public debt of crisis-hit countries like Greece, Portugal, and Ireland was relegated to “junk” status, the agencies also downgraded the creditworthiness of France, Austria, and other major Eurozone economies. EU governments and European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers accused the Big Three of being overly aggressive in rating Eurozone countries’ creditworthiness, thereby exacerbating the financial crisis. They argue that the unduly negative evaluations accelerated the European sovereign debt crisis as it spread through Greece, Ireland, and Portugal, and Spain — all of which received EU-IMF bailouts. S&P’s April 2010 decision to downgrade Greece’s debt to junk status weakened investor confidence, raised the cost of borrowing, and made a financial rescue package in May 2010 all but inevitable.

Both the United States and Europe have taken steps to regulate the three main agencies and ensure more transparency and competitiveness. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), created in 2011, have attempted to hold agencies accountable and protect investors.

Meanwhile, agencies have faced intense legal scrutiny of their business practices, with S&P paying a record $1.37 billion in a 2015 settlement with state and federal prosecutors, and Moody’s coming under investigation by the US Justice Department. In the United States, in 2015, S&P also settled two other cases, paying $125 million to the nation’s largest pension fund, while settling with the SEC for $80 million in a post-crisis fraud case. While these sums combined are more than ten times larger than any other ratings agency-related settlement, critics argue that they represent a mere slap on the wrist for S&P, which as part of the deal was not forced to admit to any criminal wrongdoing.

While the Big Three now face more oversight — Moody’s too has come under Justice Department investigation since 2014 — neither their market domination nor their fundamental “issuer pays” business model has been challenged.

Unfortunately, in the on-going controversy over how strictly to regulate financial institutions and markets in the wake of the financial crash of 2008, regulation of credit rating agencies has dropped out of sight. Figuring out how to preserve the usefulness of credit rating agencies while fixing their weaknesses has proved challenging and in the seven years since enactment of Dodd-Frank, regulators have not followed through on many of the proposed reforms.

It is felt that the more power a government has and exercises with rating agencies, the more the rating agencies will be browbeaten into giving a generous rating to the sovereign. The best way to counter the monopolistic power of the Big Three is for investors to stop giving their ratings so much weight and do their own homework about what the real credit risk was in the bonds and safety levels of debt and related securities. This would have prevented the subprime bubble. The opinions of the credit ratings agencies can help arrive at a conclusion, but as events of the last decade illustrate, they have a history of getting a lot wrong.

In 2009 Moody’s issued a report titled “Investor fears over Greek government liquidity misplaced”; within six months, the country was seeking a bailout.

Meanwhile, S&P’s sovereign debt team miscalculated US debt by as much as $2 trillion when it downgraded America’s credit rating.

Global governments have argued that the agencies are making things worse, because of the cooling effect their downgrades have on investment. How do small countries like ours get investors not to rely solely on the opinions of these credit rating agencies to guide their investment decisions? One wonders what the benefit of a Fitch rating is for us. Would it really matter?

The following day it was completely withdrawn from service to undertake repair works to its Port Inner Main Engine.

PATT said “the required critical parts” arrived in the country later that night and the technical crew “worked assiduously to return the vessel to service” yesterday (Wednesday). The TT Express was therefore scheduled to set sail at 1.45 pm from Port-of-Spain for Scarborough.

Meanwhile, the TT Spirit developed problems with its electrical systems on the same day; Tuesday, that the TT Express had been withdrawn from service to have its engine issues rectified.

PATT yesterday said that repair work on the TT Spirit “commenced immediately (on Tuesday) to ensure that the vessel met its scheduled 4 pm commitment.” “Unfortunately, the repairs were not completed as planned and the vessel was unable to make its return crossing to Tobago. This situation adversely impacted on passengers, as there were persons who could not return to their homes and family.” PATT then reiterated that withdrawing both vessels from service “was necessary” and that, in keeping with its mandate to provide efficient and reliable inter-island transport services, passengers can be assured that at all times, “the best decisions will always be made to ensure that the service is not compromised and that our passengers are safe during the voyage.”

Asked about the protest staged on Tuesday, after he spoke at the Fifth National Climate Outlook forum at the TT chamber of Industry and Commerce in Westmoorings yesterday, Hinds said, “I want to say today to the young people in Morvant/Laventille, there are so many opportunities for young people in Trinidad and Tobago and in the world.

“If you will only assume a life of discipline whether it is in the media, in the police service, whether it is in any profession of your choice with the support of the State. There are free primary, secondary and tertiary education, technology skills training in the vocational training, all these institutions are making it all available.” He said there is no citizen who does not have at his or her finger tips access to training, self growth and self improvement. Hinds indicated that there are opportunities available to the young people even if they did not do well, and finished their schooling at the primary and secondary school level.

He said young people should use their time wisely and seriously consider how they can make something of their life. “Even if it is as a tailor, a barber, as small business owner, whatever you do.

I heard them calling for jobs in their area and you see those words in their area, it troubled me because the jobs are not only available there, the jobs are available across TT.” Hinds said if young people of Laventille/Morvant including those who protested on Tuesday, would spend 40 or 50 percent of that time in self development, supporting and encouraging and making safe each rather than being a threat, “TT will be better off.” Speaking to Morvant and Laventille residents, the Laventille West MP said, “You are free to protest, but really where are we going? Where are you going? What do you plan to do tomorrow? How do you intend to earn your keep? What skills do you have? You want jobs? If someone came into the community and said they want six doctors today, could you put up your hand and say you can apply? Can you say you have the skill? That is the question.” Hinds said he was very concerned because for the past 20 years as a MP, he has spent time in these same communities encouraging young people, but a minority chooses to hang around, become dangerous and be used by others to do wrong.

Speaking yeesterday at the 2017 Wet Season fifth National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) at the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Westmoorings, Dillon said the theme, “Engaging Communities and Disaster Mangers for Disaster Risk Reduction”, was timely and relevant.

“Even as we prepare for the rainy season in Trinidad and Tobago, and when we do prepare not only for Trinidad and Tobago but also in the region, there are some concerns. Severe climate events said to become more intense and frequent due to the increase of climate variability, and long term change.” He said Global statistics have also shown that on an annual basis floods affect more people in any other natural hazards and contributes enormously in economic losses and the lost of livelihood, access to education, to water, to food and health services.

“The understanding that these challenges also manifest in Trinidad and Tobago preparedness is imperative and important when it comes to saving lives and property.

We cannot underestimate preparedness because if we are not prepared then we can never succeed, in war or in peace.” Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said climate is a critical factor in the lives and livelihood of all people, both as a resource, and in some unfortunate cases, a hazard.

“Climate and its related weather patterns have a significant socio- economic impact around the world.” He continued, “As such, climate extremes which occur on a seasonal basis are a cause for concern and strategic action, particularly in developing regions like the Caribbean and island- states like our own. The necessity for strategic and coordinated action becomes even more of a priority in light of climate change and its attendant effects.”