And they have every reason to do so as their team Speyside edged past Roxborough Lakers 3-2 at the Cyd Gray Stadium on Tuesday. Ace goal scorer Pavel Warrick doubled up for the champions-in-waiting, while Akeem Jordan got the other goal.

Challengers Leeds United, who led the standings previously, were held to a 2-2 draw by Georgia in the earlier game at the same venue.

So Sidey’s have leapt to a clear nine-point lead with 43 points to Leeds’34. Both teams have five games remaining in the threeround series.

Despite their defeat, Roxborough Lakers with 30 points are challenging for the runners-up position with a game in hand to Leeds.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the Marriot Hotel in Port of Spain, yesterday. Morace will be in charge of the team from January 16, 2017 to June 2019 taking over from Richard Hood who held the position for a little less than one year.

Prior to Hood, American Randy Waldrum took TT to the brink of qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup but fell just short as a 1-0 loss at the Hasely Crawford Stadium eliminated the national team.

Morace, age 52, has a wealth of experience in women’s and men’s football. Morace served as head coach of Canada’s senior women’s team from 2009-2011 leading that country to winners row at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup and qualification to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was also head coach of the Italian National Senior and Under-19 Women’s team. Morace has not only coached women’s teams but she became the first woman to coach a men’s professional football team when she led AS Viterbase of Italy in 1999.

Morace speaking on Skype at the press conference said, “I am delighted to be appointed as the head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team and the technical director of women in TT .” “I would like to forget the past years and focus on the journey with a new vision and introduce professionalism.

I have high expectations.

As an experienced international coach I am capable of taking the Warriors to where it is expected to be and I can’t wait to begin and get on the pitch in 2017.”

Warner declared: “The biggest injustice that has been done to football in the history of this country was done by David John-Williams with the appointment of that coach. Before you fire the one you have (Stephen Hart) you must be able to know the one that you will get.” Hart was fired two weeks ago as head coach of the national senior football team after defeats to Costa Rica and Honduras in the opening matches of the final hexagonal stage of qualification.

Warner added, “Stephen Hart was not only wrongly dismissed but the fact is Stephen Hart was dismissed before they even looked for a replacement. If they could not afford a coach why they didn’t take (hire) Dwight Yorke.” Warner, who was instrumental in bringing in Dutchman Leo Beenhakker to replace Bertille St Clair to revive TT ’s 2006 World Cup campaign after just one point from three matches, commented on what it takes in recruiting a quality coach. “You look at the coaches, you look at their background, you look at their successes, you look and see who they have coached and you will be able to talk to them. You have to use coaches that have a good track record. This is serious business, this is serious business.

This is a nation’s flag at stake. I am so angry it is not funny.” Football administrator Keith Look Loy was also shocked by the TT FA decision.

“This is quite a surprise.

Nobody expected the TT FA to go that afar afield and to appoint a totally obscure coach that nobody knows about.

When Leo Beenhakker came to TT he was not known by the public but people who follow football, and who know about football, knew that he was a coach with a tremendous record of achievement in the football of three continents. This man when we look at his resume, it is a resume of failure. He has not achieved anything,” he stated frankly.

He added, “I am astonished, the public as a whole is astonished, but he has the job now.

The team does not belong to him or to David John-Williams and the TT FA so I have to hope that he will do a good job and surprise all of us and that the team will find some form.” Former national footballer Clayton Morris also does not have much hope in Saintfiet and questions David John-Williams’ decision to admit Saintfiet was their second choice. Morris said, “I don’t know how he (John-Williams) could make a statement like that saying this is the second choice coach.

Given the situation, we need somebody to take us to the World Cup, and if you come out upfront and telling us this is the second choice then I think you putting doubt in our minds as concerned citizens.” Morris added, “Any coach taking this job now is really (in) an uphill battle, it is really a challenge.” Former national footballer Angus Eve is however refusing to look at it the situation negatively, stating the TT public can’t judge the new coach yet.

Eve declared, “He has coached a number of places so clearly he has experience.” “I think the important thing here is to understand that we are all in football and if I was to get a job in India the people in India would want to know who I am.” Eve added, “The first time he (Arsene Wenger) went to Arsenal everybody ask where he came from and look what he did.

We have to stop this negativity in our society.

They have appointed a coach and let’s support the coach because he is coaching our team and that is the bottom line. When he does his job then we could know how good a job he can or cannot do.”

In a world rampaged by terrorism, injustice and selfishness, in an age where election results bring fear and uncertainty, in a time where locally, our own economic conditions bring a feeling of dread as to what the future holds, “The Holy Father, Pope Francis, proclamation of a Jubilee Year of Mercy was the inspiration for the three nights of GOBAG 8,” explains the ebullient production/artistic director, Kwasi Noel.

The Holy Year began on December 8, 2015 and ended in Rome on November 27, 2016 on the Feast of Christ the King. During this extraordinary Jubilee Year, the church was called to not only reflect upon, but to live the message of mercy, a message beautifully crafted in the words: Be Merciful like the Father.

The Archdiocese of Port-of- Spain truly experienced the Year of Mercy in a deep way and in this vein, the theme of this year’s concert represented Fatima College’s recognition of the Jubilee Year. It is said in the touching hymn to love in Corinthians 13:13, “As it is, these three remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.” The cast featuring the college’s Senior and Junior Choirs, The Fatima College and Holy Name Convent Mixed Choir, The Fatima College Guitar Troupe, The Fatima College Senior Steel Ensemble and the Junior Steel Ensemble which was formed in January 2016 by Duvano Garnes, the chemistry lab assistant. The ensemble which comprises 30 students of form one –most of whom had little or no exposure to pan– was formed “to instill an appreciation for our culture.” Also on the cast was Los Cantantes de Nuestra Senora de Fatima –all coming together to sing, dance and dramatise this powerful message as Christmas Gifts to a faithful, hope-filled, loving audience. The concerts were held from November 25 to 27.

The first half of the show presented messages of faith and hope – a mix of powerful classics such as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and music that may be somewhat unfamiliar, for example the finale of the first half of the production: “Waloyo Yamoni” which translates to mean “We Overcome”. The main refrain of the song is “Beber!” which means: It is Well! Sung in the African language of Lango, the piece carries the message that no matter how bad things get, no matter how heavy it rains, we must rejoice and believe that everything is well! A main element of the song was the dance that accompanies it, featuring of course the boys of Fatima but additionally a group of young ladies from the Cascade Festival Ballet. The second half of the show focused on the message of love: love for God and mankind and many of the pieces in this segment had the audience singing along. The success of GOBAG 8, as usual, relied on the commitment of many teachers, with full support from Father Gregory Augustine, CSSP, principal of the college who declared that “the theme of this year’s concert Faith, Hope and Love: Christmas Gifts of Mercy is in commemoration of the Year of Mercy…may the theme of this year’s concert inspire us in the faith that our young people have it within them to be the hope for the future.

“The performing arts are food for the soul: they inspire creativity and character. The passion and love of all involved will indeed be our gift this Christmas season.”

The concert begins tonight at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s and ends on Sunday.

Last July, during their Hearts Beat Together series, the Marionettes raised funds for the restoration of All Saints and Holy Rosary churches in Port-of-Spain.

A donation was also made to the unfinished church of the Uganda Martyrs in Longdenville (through the Church of St Philip and St James in Chaguanas); and outreach works in the parish of La Romaine.

The Marionettes is also raising money for its build its own property – after over 50 years – for rehearsal, performance and storage (of sheet music, archival material, instruments, sets, and costumes).

Since 2001 the group has been engaged in multiple fund-raising projects and already has all prerequisites for construction except funding, according to a media release.

The group said while it welcomed individual and corporate contributions or pledges of products and services, one of the best and easiest way to support its initiative is through the cherished annual Christmas concert.

The much-loved concert is under the batons of Gretta Taylor (Hummingbird Medal Gold) and Dr Roger Henry and the adult, Youth and Children’s choirs return to Queen’s Hall with an uplifting, rhythmic, and fun-filled programme of classical, spirituals, gospel, and popular local and international Christmas favourites.

Tickets range from $150 to $300 for Sing Alleluia and are available from members and at the Queen’s Hall Box Office, 624-1284, 10 am to 5.30 pm. For more info: orders@ marionetteschorale.

com and 790-1751 9 am to 5 pm.

The series is sponsored by bpTT , Flow and the Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG).

Since Finance Minister Colm Imbert drew the ire of large sections the country, including the trade union, movement by suggesting the gas subsidy was to be further reduced, the issue has gone largely unremarked.

Following last week’s meeting at which OPEC members agreed to cut production, there was a small increase in oil prices which have settled around $51.36 for West Texas Intermediate and $54.57 for Brent crude. Several international energy analysts are predicting further rises.

Bloomberg quotes Andurand Capital Management as projecting the price of oil reaching as high as $60 or $70 in the short term and possibly of $100 by the end of the decade.

While noting that the development was good last Thursday, the finance minister has taken a “wait and see” approach, saying it may be too early to tell how this will affect the country.

If the high oil prices continue, it will be interesting to see how it affects the decision and the timing to remove the subsidy. The finance minister had initially said an adjustment was likely to be made in April 2017.

The need to cut the subsidy and allow fuel prices to be set by the market is clear.

Minister Imbert, during a morning television programme appearance last month said the subsidy was not achieving its intended purpose. It was encouraging pollution as cheaper fuel meant greater consumption with more vehicles on the road. Finally, he said, it was not benefiting lower income groups as intended, but middle and upper income ones to the tune of $2,000 to $3,000 a month, whereas poorer families were only experiencing savings of $500.

“What you have to do when you remove the subsidy, is take that money and target it on programmes for the poor,” he said at that time.

The country’s economic circumstances also make it necessary to cut costs.

The minister also promised improvements in the public transport system in order to reduce the dependence on personal vehicles as the price of fuel increases.

Removal of the subsidy is therefore a laudable goal. But questions arise.

Anyone living in TT long enough knows the gap between what is said and written by officialdom, and what happens in the day to day life of the average Trinbagonian.

The subsidy’s removal could see the price of transport fuels increase by as much as a further 40 per cent.

The last increase in transportation fuel saw an increase in the cost of transport and foodstuff. How does the government propose to treat with these kinds of increases going forward as the subsidy is further reduced? What programmes to benefit the poor will be put in place of the fuel subsidy? Will care be taken to ensure that these are designed to actually assist those of lower income? And, will the savings represented by the gas subsidy’s reduction actually go to this purpose? What steps will be taken to see that it does? In the final analysis, while the subsidy’s removal is necessary, key issues need to be considered before it is.

The announcement last October of the sale of the Courtyard by Marriott at Invaders Bay left industry insiders predicting the end of the hotel chain’s involvement in the country and perhaps the region.

The announcement of Guardian Group’s acquisition of the Courtyard by Marriott in newspaper advertisements, stated in part “Guardian Group Investing in Your Future”. The notice said, “With over $15 Billion invested in a highly diversified portfolio, Guardian Group helps to drive the Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean economies, by investing in government paper, as well as, in solid private sector ventures.

“In this vein” continued the statement, “we have acquired the property operated as Courtyard by Marriot at Invaders Bay. Marriott has done a stellar job in making this one of the premier hotels in Trinidad, and we are confident that their continued success will translate into superior, long-term returns for our customers and shareholders.” Marriott is in fact becoming more deeply involved in the hospitality business in the Caribbean.

According to the Caribbean Journal the chain has turned the sod for a $40 million hotel in Antigua and Barbuda. This facility will form part of the brand of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The property is located at the former Coconut Bay Resort, two miles west of St John’s the island’s capital city.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Asot Michael said, “Being able to participate in the ground breaking of new properties and developments, that will lead to increasing the room availability, and broadening our twin-island nation’s portfolio of distinguished properties’ is of utmost distinction and importance.” The resort will comprise 40 luxury condominiums together with a 70-room five-star hotel with a sustainable design. Construction is expected to take two years, with the creation of 240 permanent jobs on completion.

Speaking at the sod turning ceremony Bojan Kumer, Marriott’s Director of Development for the Caribbean and Latin America said, “We are excited to bring the brand to the island and be part of its continued growth as a tourism destination. We believe Marriott’s Autograph Collection will be a strong addition to the current tourism landscape in the region and this project will endorse Antigua and Barbuda’s as the international gateway to the Eastern Caribbean.”

Whether it is the beach, street, pavement or parking lot, it matters little to some people when and where they dump their garbage.

Unfortunately, far too many of us exhibit similarly poor attitudes and behaviours towards our environment.

In some cases, the act of littering is so deeply ingrained in the psyche that some people are not consciously aware of their behaviour. Consider the true story of the volunteer who spent the day as part of a team, hard at work, in a clean-up exercise at a popular beach. The day was extremely hot and bottled water was distributed to everyone. Upon finishing his drink, the volunteer casually flung the empty plastic bottle into the nearby bushes. Though it might be hard to believe, it’s a fact that old habits die hard.

The TT Chamber is aware of existing laws leading to conviction for offences ranging from the littering of public places to the lack of maintenance of unsightly premises, and improper disposal of derelict vehicles. Fines and penalties abound; however, enforcement of the law remains a challenge.

Litter Prevention Wardens employed by the local authorities appear to be ineffective; perhaps because they are too few in number to act as any serious deterrent to potential offenders.

But the “big stick” approach is merely one among many intervention strategies, when it comes to bringing about meaningful change in attitudes and behaviours. Public education and social marketing campaigns have also recorded measurable success in fostering progressive attitudes towards waste management, and a genuine appreciation for the environment.

Many would recall the successful ‘Charlie Campaign’ of the 80s. Charlie, the cartoon character, embodied our collective lack of respect for our environment, and we were all encouraged to “chase Charlie away” by keeping our communities clean and healthy.

Sadly, times have changed and it might not be as easy to infuse a cartoon character with a similar level of credibility to alter entrenched negative behaviours. However, one thing remains certain: children act as effective change agents, passing on key learnings to their parents and other adults, many times by challenging them to do the right thing.

At the moment, we are experiencing the rainy season and already there have been widespread reports of flooding throughout the country. The situation is exacerbated by indiscriminate and illegal dumping leading to clogged drains and watercourses. The water flow is constricted, homes are flooded, property damage is rife and sometimes, even lives are lost.

The TT Chamber is of the view that the future of our environment is at stake and each one of us bears an unshirkable responsibility to treat our surroundings with due care and concern. We ask: what are you doing to bring about measurable change in your community, your school, your place of worship or work, to make Trinidad and Tobago clean and pristine?

Tourism in its marine environment is well-established in the Caribbean as it is a top destination for cruise ship industry.

In Jamaica alone, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation reported that there was 14.2% increase in cruise passengers during the first six months of the year, a total of 950,000.

Yachting is another marine based activity that is growing in popularity across the region. St Lucia has benefitted particularly well in this industry. The St Lucia Tourist Board reported that there was a 28% increase in the number of yacht calls to the island between January and June 2016.

It’s Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay Marinas collectively calculated that there were 29,101 yacht arrivals, compared to 25,593 in 2015.

St Lucia’s increase in yachting tourism can be attributed to a combination of factors, such as improved services at the customs department, the Air and Seaports Authority, and the state of the marinas. Another contributing factor is the participation of St Lucia in major Boat Shows such as the Annapolis Boat Show in the United States – where the majority of Caribbean tourists come from.

Exploring the Caribbean by yacht is a wonderful way to appreciate the variety and uniqueness of these islands while basking in a warm tropical setting. Yachting in the Caribbean is especially lucrative as sales of super yachts (boats over 24 metres) for the world’s super rich – Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) have greatly increased.

Many UHNWIs are cash rich yet time poor and yachting provides the ultimate sanctuary for privacy and an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. Continued growth in the super-yacht sector is supported by a 40% increase in sales during 2015 compared with 2014 (Boat International Media).

Super yacht traffic in St Kitts and Nevis increased by 60%, which is great news for the twin island state which opened its Christophe Harbour Marina 2015. Christophe Harbour provides elite luxury yachting services and world class amenities. The marina represents a $100 million infrastructure investment that establishes St Kitts and Nevis as a major super yacht home port.

With this increase investment in in St Kitts and Nevis’ maritime sector and elsewhere in the region, the need for more skilled personnel to service the sector also increases.

Christophe Harbour held a job fair, in an effort to recruit persons for employment in the maritime sector.

Whilst this growth is welcomed, sustainable tourism needs to be enforced to ensure its impact isn’t negative. Tourism developments in marinas can result in loss and degradation of critical marine/ coastal ecosystems. Unsustainable tourism can strain natural ecosystem limits, sometimes to a point beyond recover.

Yachting is an opportunity for countries to rebrand and offer more than just what they are traditionally known for to a new set of consumers. Yachting provides a diversified Caribbean vacation experience – a subsector already identified by The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) as having a huge potential. High value yachting and marine services sector tends to attract ancillary investment in hotels, retail, service yards, boat dealerships, dive and sport fishing businesses just to name a few. Additionally, it can provide a direct injection of revenue to public finances through income generated from cruising permits, anchorage fees, licenses and port charges. The impact can be incredibly meaningful to islands in the region with a small population and economic base.

Accountants are crucial to steering a country through the financial decisions needed to meet their targets for economic growth in a range of areas, including tourism. They are also crucial to CEOs wanting to successfully navigate in new sectors across the world.

Other nations can take note of the success of marina services in the Caribbean.

The Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai recently began championing maritime development Sudan’s Sanganeb Island in Red Sea.

Sanganeb Island is nicknamed “the Bride of Maritime Tourism in the Red Sea” as it is completely submerged in the water, which allows it to be a suitable place for scuba diving and attract under water photographers due to its clear blue water.

With great yachting potential like this, the world and its financial professionals will have to keenly watch this space

Needless to state, that opening statement set the tone for the entire event. Alternatively, have you exited an event commenting how smoothly the flow of the proceedings progressed? Many of these conversations are based essentially upon the mastery of the Master of Ceremonies.

The yuletide season brings with it a number of end-of-year celebrations and recognition events. One of the key factors of hosting a successful event is that of selecting the ideal master of ceremony. A master of ceremonies, abbreviated MC, also called comp?re and announcer, is the official host of a ceremony, a staged event or similar performance.

It is important to note that the role of the master of ceremonies is pointedly different to that of a speaker at an event. Before the event, the proposed MC, must make it his or her responsibility to understand the nature of the event for which they are preparing. For example, if the MC is hosting a corporate event, it is definitely not acceptable to quote its competitors in the opening, or worse, to mispronounce the Chief Executive’s name. The devil is in the detail, which means that MC rule 101, dictates that a significant level of pre-event preparation is required, including, research on the organization, its greeting and salutation listing, the correct elocution of names, and ensuring that the persons being recognised are actually present.

Understanding the tone of the event also provides the MC with the desired manner with which he/she should conduct the event. In other words, if you are not a comedian, then it may be best not to attempt to add a comedic sequence to your spiel.

Likewise, it would help to confirm before the event what are the expectations of the Master of Ceremonies, as this will provide you with the guide required to set your tone. In addition to event tone, two other very important responsibilities of the MC include the management of the speaking time of the line-up of other speakers, and the management of the transition between speakers.

Timing and transition management ensures the smooth flow of the event and provides other event speakers to understand their roles within the event matrix.

It goes without saying that the personality and projection of the Master of Ceremonies sets the tone for the event, and therefore, it is imperative, that the person undertaking this role appreciates the importance of voice projection, pitch, engaging in eye contact, audience panning, all with a positive attitude that transcends into the event space. It’s a tall order; however, the equation is simple, and preparation is key.