The Shenzhen-based company had a 2.4 percent share of the global smartphone operating profits in the third quarter, behind US technology giant Apple’s dominant 91 percent share.

“It also became the world’s most profitable Android smartphone vendor for the first time,” Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston told the South China Morning Post. “We expect Huawei to maintain steady profitability into the first half of 2017, because its smartphone shipments are growing and it is doing a good job of controlling [operating] costs.” Mawston said Vivo and Oppo Electronics also showed that same momentum, as the two Chinese Android smartphone brands each cornered a 2.2 percent share of global smartphone operating profits in the third quarter.

Strategy Analytics estimated that Apple generated US$8.5 billion in operating profit in the third quarter, while rounding out the gains made by Huawei, Vivo and Oppo at US$200 million each.

Its calculation of global smartphone operating profit – earnings before interest and tax – showed a total of US$9.4 billion in the quarter to September, down from US$13.5 billion in the same period last year, as a lingering economic slowdown impacted sales around the world.

“An efficient supply chain, sleek products and effective marketing have been among the main drivers of Huawei’s robust profitability,” Mawston said.

In July, Huawei’s consumer business group reported a 41 percent year-on-year increase in first-half revenue to 77.4 billion yuan (HK$87.1 billion) on global shipments of 60.56 million smartphones.

Richard Yu Chengdong, the chief executive at Huawei’s consumer business group, said last week that the company aims to become the world’s second-largest maker of smartphones within two years.

“It’s a marathon rather than a sprint in the smartphone market, which is highly competitive and complicated,” said Yu, who is looking to sell more premium-priced products that will compete against Apple’s iPhone.

An efficient supply chain, sleek products and effective marketing have been among the main drivers of Huawei’s robust profitability Privately held Huawei advanced to its goal in September when it started production of its smartphones in India, the world’s second-biggest market for these devices after mainland China, in partnership with contract electronics manufacturer Flex.

Mawston, however, pointed out that Samsung is expected to return as the world’s second-most profitable smartphone supplier “after it clears up the Galaxy Note 7 mess and launches a new flagship product like the rumoured Galaxy S8”.

Samsung tumbled to ninth in the third quarter, he said. The South Korean firm last month permanently halted all production of its Note 7 amid increased concerns about the device catching fire while charging.

Vivo and Oppo, which are subsidiaries of Dongguan-based BBK Electronics Corp, “delivered relatively healthy profitability due to disciplined pricing and soaring shipments across Asia”, Mawston said.

Oppo and Vivo, with a combined 32.8 percent domestic market share, overtook Huawei as the leading smartphone brands on the mainland in the third quarter, according to a Counterpoint Technology report last month.

Research firm IDC last month estimated that Huawei had a 9.3 percent market share in the third quarter to remain the global No 3 smartphone supplier, behind Samsung and Apple. Oppo and Vivo followed with a seven percent and 5.8 percent global share, respectively.

Trevor and Zalisha celebrated 30 years in business with a Christ mas dinner and award ceremony on Monday evening at the Cara Suites Hotel & Conference Centre at Claxton Bay among friends, family and politicians. Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon congratulated the couple on the success of their business. “Quite courageous was he in his adult life to become an entrepreneurmy father did the same thing. Not only do I want to commend you on your courage to become an entrepreneur, but on your tenacity. Your leadership is evident, so I want to congratulate you on 30 years in business.”

Before starting his own company alongside his wife, Trevor left a fairly comfortable job as a successful divisional manager in a major conglomerate. “I had everything you could have – a company car, profit sharing, prestige.” Trevor supported his wife and three children at the time on his own salary after Zalisha left her job at the Family Planning Association to care for their children. However, after his company did not follow through on promises made to him, he left the security of a well-paying job in the middle of the 1980s recession to start his own home improvement company.

“People said I was crazy,” said Trevor. By all accounts, he said but people of faith have been known to do “crazy” things before. “Based on the Bible, there are five principles that tell you whether a man is blessed. Number one is having a wonderful wife who is a woman of faith.”

Zalisha stood beside her husband as a director in the company to build their family’s business doing everything over the last 30 years from cashing to mopping floors to being the Human Resource Manager.

Balancing family life and a profitable and expanding business for 30 years has not been without its challenges. Zalisha said, “In a family business, emotions would get in the way and tensions will sometimes rise, but God has been the glue that has kept the family and the business together. I see him as the head of the home, I trust him to lead the family not blindly, but because he has proved himself by making good decisions. My personality is one that wants to dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s, but sometimes businessmen do not do that. But we make decisions together and he respects my input.”

Challenges to the success of the business also came in physical form as the company’s warehouse in Chaguanas was destroyed by fire in 2012. Trevor said that his employees stuck with him through the financial loss, his suppliers stood by him by not sending their business elsewhere and banks and friends supported him with loans. The ramifications of the fire are still being felt today, but he said the company is now in a fairly comfortable position after four years.

The family business has crossed Trinidad borders, as one of their sons runs a similar business by the name of Island Style Interiors with three stores in St Lucia one in Grenada, and one in St Vincent. “The second sign of a blessed man is that his children do well,” said Trevor. “He leaves a legacy.”

He cited a recent incident where it was alleged that a high ranking official of a local club almost came to blows with a footballer over unpaid salaries.

“The Players Association I started in New York, it started with this individual who used to go around soliciting funds and I took him to court and won the case. After this, I continued the Players Association in terms of educating the players and defending their rights. A lot of people think it’s just about taking people to court but no, there are a lot of stuff I did like getting scholarships and (help) for guys that can’t afford boots,” he said.

He said it pains him to hear footballers unable to train or play because they don’t have their gears.

He noted that there was also a recent incident with a hockey post tournament in Port-of- Spain with a $50,000 first prize where the winners were forced to wait close to two months after the final to get their money.

The former United Nations security department official added that many footballers come from impoverished backgrounds and are unable to articulate themselves properly and as a result sometimes cannot argue for their rights. He believes a Players Association will fill that void and bridge the gap currently existing.

“Some of them can’t read, so how they reading the contract? I’m not sure if some of them have agents. I don’t think so,” he continued.

‘Mango’ said he has held discussions with local journalist Gordon Pierre on getting the Association off the ground as soon as possible.

Gordon, commenting on his role in the project, said he has already spoken to players from all the top tier clubs as well as a number of national players, who have all shown keen interest in the initiative.

He stressed that they are not forming a union but rather a body to look after the well-being of the athletes. He believes not enough is being done to assist players as they transition from their playing days to when they hang up their boots.

“The players have been very interested and excited, not only national players but Pro League players as well. We hope to impact not only players locally but those abroad and create real change for the players. A player’s career at best finishes at 40 which is young in term of their life expectancy so they need to be prepared through qualifications and knowledge,” he stated.

‘Mango’, discussing the standard of football in TT , said it needs to be raised for this country’s national team to be able to make an impact on the international stage. He cited the 2006 campaign where midfielder Aurtis Whitley proved an instrumental player in helping the Soca Warriors qualify for the Germany World Cup.

He lauded the Pro league for carrying the games back into the communities but said the next step must be to immediately improve the condition of the grounds. He said with the cut of Government subventions, marketing of the league must also increase tenfold to bring more money into the league so players can be paid better.

“Central FC was trying to sell their own products with jerseys and so forth, I don’t know if other teams do that. They need to do that,” he argued.

In the semi-finals last Sunday, Reload defeated Bamboo Raiders by two runs to advance to the final, while Web Source with West Indies spinner Sunil Narine got past D Boss Team by 16 runs.

Prior to the first division final, Wrecking Crew and Suicidal Crew will battle in the Best of the Rest final at 9.30 am, while Anthrax and X Men will square off in the Over 40 final at 11 am.

In the quarterfinals, S&S Web Source and Reload recorded contrasting victories.

Facing Charlieville Superkings, S&S Web Source posted a massive 133 for six with Avian Mejias scoring 39 and Narine contributing 31.

Nazad Ali snatched 2/20 for the Superkings.

In reply, despite 35 from Sazim Hosein, Superkings could only muster 70/4 in 12 overs.

Reload defended a small total to prog ress to the semi-finals.

Raj Persad and Travis Karim both scored 14 as Reload scored a dismal 61/7, before restricting Grande Boys to 49/6 as Donny Supersad (2/13) and Kayode Williams (2/8) both snatched two wickets.

SUMMARISED SCORES: Quarter-finals Men’s Division Bamboo Raiders 114/4 (Shane Sookdeo 42, Kirton Samuel 21, Ryan Baksh 13, Reno Nanan 2/14) vs Strike Force 58/9 (Kevon Martinez 19, Darren Chuniesingh 15, Ryan Baksh 4/14) Bamboo won by 56 runs.

D Boss Team 80/4 (Rawle Sammy 36, Barry Martin 12, Dexter Samuel 2/20) vs Base Boys 78/6 (Kevon Ramdhanie 17, Dexter Samuel 15, Nicholas Edwards 12, Dylan Ravello 2/18, Kris Samlal 2/12) D Boss Team won by two runs.

S&S Web Source 133/6 (Avian Mejias 39, Sunil Narine 31, Terrance Hinds 18, Nazad Ali 2/20) vs Charlieville SuperKings 70/4 (Sazim Hosein 35) S&S Web Source won by 63 runs.

Reload 61/7 (Raj Persad 14, Travis Karim 14, Kapil Harry 13) vs Grande Boys 49/6 (Renaldo Ramoutar 20, Donny Supersad 2/13, Kayode Williams 2/8) Reload won by 12 runs.

Quarter-finals Over 40 Division Furniture Boys 46/7 (Michael Solozano 17, Richard Morang 2/5, Sheldon Thomas 2/11) vs Progressors 45/7 (Roger Bhola 2/4, Narine Dhanraj 2/14) Furniture Boys won by two runs.

Quarter-finals Best of the Rest Blood Brothers 54 (Sham Mohammed 25, Levi Joseph 3/10, Learry Dick 3/7, Michael Morang 2/7) vs Culture 51/7 (Travis Heerah 2/7, Narendra Taylor 2/8, Sham Mohammed 2/6) Blood Brothers won by three runs.

D Mango Boys 25/8 (Rennie Bedaise 3/5, Jameel Lashley 2/6) vs Legends 26/2 (Jameel Lashley 13 not out) Legends won by eight wickets.

This was announced during Banfield’s funeral service by Pastor Leslie Moses, as he contributed to the service.

“Shannon’s death will not be in vain,” Moses proclaimed. “Her impact in death is more than many of us will have in our whole lifetime.

Her death should ignite in us today and continuing, a hatred for crime and violence. I urge us as a people to stand up and fight against criminality and violence that is perpetrated against all people.” Moses said that while Shannon’s death has sparked a phenomenon which has raised awareness to violence against women, there are several persons in the nation that are falling victim to many types of violence. It was this knowledge that prompted the Barrow family, with the assistance of the San Juan Seventh-day Adventist Church to launch the foundation.

The foundation will focus on promoting personal safety techniques heighten the awareness of violence against people and will develop an educational fund to grant scholarships among women who are survivors of physical violence. During his contribution Moses said he had already received a donation of $10,000 from the South Caribbean Conference, another Seventh-day Adventist body, and was informed by the Caribbean Union Conference that they intend to match the donation dollar for dollar. The congregation was told that the same devotions will be made from Seventh Day Adventist bodies nationwide, and the San Juan Seventh Day Adventist Church expressed its intention to approach Republic Bank, the bank where she worked, to assist with funding of the foundation. Moses was among several other speakers at Banfield’s funeral who urged the nation to take a stand against violence and crime.

While describing the capital as a cultural hub, financial centre, and much-loved microcosm of TT, he also spelt out a different reality at ground level.

He said, “For in that deep love is spiritual and physical oneness we all share as we experience the depth of pain we all carry in our hearts as we see our home tear itself apart, as it has become a base of pernicious behaviours taking root in our backyard.” Martinez said the city faces very real challenges.

“They will not be easily solved in a short time frame,” the mayor said.

He said his administration will now start work on a ten-year plan to improve the capital, including creating strong and safe neighbourhoods; collaboration between residents, schools and businesses; and cooperation between the business sector and Government to craft a world-class city for all.

He said he’d bring his 14 years experience in local government and 33 years practice in financial services to fulfil his priority goal of improvement in the quality of life of local citizens. “My council and administration will focus on crime and security, sanitation, vending, the homeless, parking and traffic congestion, and for recreational purposes, create more green spaces in the city.” Expressing sadness over Banfield’s murder, Martinez said: “I think it was very horrifying to hear of this young girl’s death and how it had happened. It’s really sad. I feel saddened as the number one citizen that we’ve had someone lose their life in such a tragic way in our city. It’s sad and tragic that she has had to lose her life like this. However I’ll have to ensure that we do something about crime very seriously in the city and bring that sense of safety back to the citizenry so we could travel the city in day or in night and feel very comfortable”

Making the point yesterday, Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris said that two months ago, the Antilles Episcopal Conference issued a statement opposing the use of capital punishment, and asked the Governments of TT and Barbados to change their laws on the issue.

Harris quoted Pope Francis as saying, “More and more it is seen as an offence against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person, which contradicts God’s plan for man and society, and His merciful justice, and impedes the penalty from fulfilling any just objective. It does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance.” The archbishop’s’ comments were in response to parish priest of St Charles Borromeo RC Church, Tunapuna, Fr Ian Taylor, who called for the death penalty to be restored during his homily at Saturday’s Mass in response to the killing of Republic Bank employee Shannon Banfield.

Harris quoted the pope’s letter to the president of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty in which he expressed the church’s opposition to the death penalty and called it “inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed.” The pope, Harris said, acknowledged society’s need to protect itself from aggressors, but added, “When the death penalty is applied, it is not for a current act of aggression, but rather for an act committed in the past. It is also applied to persons whose current ability to cause harm is not current, as it has been neutralised.

They are already deprived of their liberty.” On questions of methods of execution, Harris quoted the pope as saying there were discussions in some quarters about the method of killing, “but there is no humane way of killing another person.” He also quoted Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in calling for an end to the death penalty as a legal sanction. Both popes noted that significant progress was made “in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.” The bishops of many countries have spoken to the same effect, the archbishop said.

He added that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says the traditional teaching of the church “does not exclude” recourse to the death penalty when it is “the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor.” It adds, however, that today such cases are “very rare, if not practically non-existent.” The doctrine on capital punishment has developed and has moved from accepting the right of the State to impose capital punishment.

Fr Taylor in a release said that church’s centuries- old teaching on death penalty has been, and still is, that the State has the right to exercise the death penalty, but it has not demanded that the right be exercised, and leaves it to the discretion of the State.

He quoted from the Holy Bible to support his call for putting to use the death penalty, but, like Harris, noted the church’s recent position on withholding the death penalty citing the sacredness of life and the dignity of the human person.

This matter has been lingering for months, absorbing much Parliament, ministerial and diplomatic time. In the meanwhile, matters such as our crime situation and legislation to end child marriage must wait as both sides wrangle.

The parties must pass the Bill by February to ensure compliance with the United States’ FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) law as a matter of urgency.

The current extension granted by US authorities is up in September and it is unclear how ongoing transitional issues in that country will affect the process, if at all.Friday’s walkout and Monday’s blanking by the Opposition of debate of the legislation was the third such boycott.

How useful are boycotts as a political tool or as an expression of protest when done so often?The Opposition accuses the Government of misrepresenting its position.

The Government implies the Opposition has something to hide and does not want the Bill passed.

Both are to blame for the current impasse. The Opposition is insisting on a joint select committee (JSC) of Parliament and the Government is insisting none is necessary.

There must be a reasonable compromise.

There can be no harm done by a JSC studying the Bill properly. That’s the course that should have been adopted months ago. We must remark, however, that the people’s business must be conducted in Parliament, not at news conferences. Boycotting Parliament is ridiculous. More effective would be attending Parliament and showing us the dangers of the legislation there. Let the Hansard record the Opposition’s concerns.

At this stage, we urge both sides to put country first. Judging from the statements that have been made by stakeholders, we have too much to lose. According to the TT Chamber, inability to meet the deadline can result in serious consequences including the disruption/termination of banking services such as: wire transactions, currency transfer transactions and remittance services. Financial service providers and non-compliant individuals may be affected; transactions could see the deduction and withholding of 30 percent tax on US source income.

The cost of doing business could escalate due to a rise in the cost of financial services. And non-compliance could potentially make TT a disincentive to foreign investors.

The American Chamber of Commerce warned back in September that TT “is on the brink of being demoted to the periphery of the global financial system, largely due to inaction on the part of politicians on both sides of the political divide.” The US ambassador strongly recommended that TT pass legislation no later than February 2017, in order to carry out the commitment undertaken when a bilateral agreement was signed by both countries, and in line with the implementation plan put forward by the Government of TT.True, these warnings sound very familiar.

They were made a few months ago, and then it emerged that there were facilities for extension.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert, however, now doubts further extensions will be granted. The time for playing politics is over. When Parliament resumes in January priority must be given to passing the Bill. On another point, last Friday’s proceedings were a reminder that while many improvements have been made in parliamentary rules over the years, there is still a long way to go. Unfortunately, the most pressing matter facing the nation, crime, was not allowed. A motion to debate that matter by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was rejected by Speaker Bridgid Annisette- George. That was the Speaker’s prerogative. The Parliament can only be guided by its current rules.

How can those rules be improved to make the chamber more relevant to ordinary people? Perhaps the time has come to discuss this.

CHRISTMAS, MY favourite season of festivities — eating, drinking, music, merriment and family togetherness — is here once again.

No one knows the correct birthday of Jesus. No date is given in the Bible, so why do we celebrate it on December 25? The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25 was in 336AD, during the reign of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine. A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on December 25.

So, the greeting must always be “Merry Christmas” and not “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays”.

We are celebrating the birth of Christ.

Unfortunately, the popular pre-Christmas activity of window shopping on Frederick Street, Portof- Spain, or on High Street, San Fernando, has become a casualty of increasing criminal activity.

In years long past, preparations for Christmas began early in December with the cleaning of the house, with painting walls, varnishing furniture, scrubbing or manually polishing floors (no mechanical floor polishers), cleaning window panes using newspaper and kerosine (no glass cleaners), hanging new lace curtains and laying new linoleum on the kitchen floor.

Later came the decorating of the artificial Christmas tree, mounting the nativity scene, hanging balloons, coloured lights and other decorations. Then there was the making of pastelles, black cake, sorrel and ginger beer, boiling the ham in a cooking oil tin over a wood-burning fire outdoors, shelling Tobago pigeon peas and baking the turkey.

As children, before World War II, we looked forward to the arrival of family members from New York bearing gifts. They travelled by boat which remained anchored offshore (there was no deep-water harbour) and passengers were landed via tender at the lighthouse jetty. Over the years the “elderly uncles and aunts” who came for Christmas have passed on and the younger family members prefer Carnival to Christmas.

The Christmas season for Trinis began with the appearance of street vendors selling apples and grapes, the playing of carols by the radio stations, decorated shop showcases, the launch of the parang season with the singing of songs pertaining to the nativity, sung in Venezuelan Spanish, accompanied by a group of quatro and drum-playing “parranderos”.

Formerly, parranda or parang was a pantomime with the parranderos arriving at a selected house to find the doors closed. After rendition of the appropriate “agrenaldo” by the parranderos the door was opened and they entered. Food and drink were provided and the party continued until the parranderos departed for another residence.

This went on into the early hours of the morning. It is reputed that some parranderos did not return home for many days.

In patois-speaking Maraval, the pantomime was known as “creche” but both pantomime traditions have died out in Trinidad but continues in Venezuela, Colombia and in other Latin American countries, especially in the countryside. In the Philippines a similar Christmas pantomime is called “panunuluyan” and in Mexico it is “posada”.

Recently in Trinidad, pure parang has been bastardised by a lively and popular style of music called soca parang.

There cannot be a Trini Christmas without pastelles, black cake, sorrel and ponche de cr?me. In neighbouring Venezuela and in other Latin American countries, pastelles (“hallacas”) are also a Christmas favourite and variations of our ponche de creme are known as “rompope” in Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and other Central American countries. In Cuba it is “creme de vie”, in Puerto Rico “coquito”, and in the Dutch Islands it is “advocaat”.

Another Christmas favourite in Venezuela is “pan de jamon”, a large loaf of bread baked with ham, bacon, olives, capers and raisins.

Delicious.

A Merry Christmas to all my readers.

His co-worker, 34-yearold Luke Rampersad, is said to be receiving treatment at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Newsday understands his wounds are not life threatening Ja Ja was among three people who were conducting repairs on a trench in Powder Magazine, Cocorite.

At about 11 am, while one of the workers was retrieving a tool from another job site, an unknown assailant approached the work site, drew a firearm and opened fire on the other two men. Both were shot several times.

They were rushed to hospital but Ja Ja was pronounced dead on arrival.

WASA extended condolences to the murdered man’s family and wishes for a speedy and full recovery to Rampersad. The Authority has offered counselling to the families of both men and announced it will be handling the medical and funeral expenses for Rampersad and Ja Ja, respectively. Western Division police are continuing investigations as the murder toll rose yesterday to 443.