My grouse, which may surprise many, is that fact that no one knows who granted authorisation and this is the scary part, which does not speak well for our army.

Basic common sense will tell us that there must be, at least I think, a paper trail of who okayed this at the base. So what is the problem here, after a year or more without an answer? How can this be acceptable in any forum? This leaves our Army with many questions hanging in mid air which is not good for its image.

I will like to suggest that whoever is responsible for this military outfit get more involved and bring closure to this matter.

Arnold Gopeesingh San Juan

In addition, employees of Pan Trinbago have not been paid their monthly salary for July.

Contacted yesterday about this sad state of affairs, Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz said pan’s governing body has no money even to pay its own staff who work at its head office in Port of Spain and several regional offices including in Tobago. Pan Trinbago sources said Panorama remittances owed are in the region of $4.5 million.

Pan Trinbago cancelled its media launch of Pan Month, carded for yesterday at the VIP Lounge at Queen’s Park Savannah with no reason given. An email from Pan Trinbago apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation and promised another media release on Pan Month.

“The National Carnival Commission (NCC) never gave us any money from gate receipts for 2017 Panorama competitions nor have they given us the ten percent we normally get from prize monies.

That is the funds we use to run the organisation and over 40 employees have not been paid for the month of July. I am not seeing any funds,” Diaz complained.

In early February, days before Carnival, Pan Trinbago took the NCC court over an impasse regarding Panorama. The pan body accused certain Carnival interest groups of seeking a hostile takeover of Pan Trinbago. In January, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly ordered a forensic audit into Pan Trinbago.

Following allegations of financial mismanagement and impropriety, Gadsby-Dolly also instructed the NCC to take over the gate receipts for Panorama 2017. Panmen threatened a boycott of this year’s competition but an agreement was arrived at in January, to allow for the staging of the Panorama.

However, up to yesterday, panmen have received no payment for their performance in the marquee pan competition. The court case remains pending with the last hearing being on July 29 and the case being adjourned to October 10.

Asked about players’ unpaid Panorama remittances, Diaz yesterday said, “Pan Trinbago has nothing to do with that. The NCC is supposed to have that money paid to the players since the NCC was instructed by government to take all of the gate receipts of Panorama.” Efforts to reach NCC chairman Kenny De Silva for a comment yesterday proved futile.

A recent World Bank report notes that, “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in most economies, particularly in developing countries. Formal SMEs contribute up to 60% of total employment and up to 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies. These numbers are significantly higher when informal SMEs are included.” The Annual Report on European Economies 2015/2016 cites that “SMEs form the backbone of the EU28 economy.

In 2015, just under 23 million SMEs generated €3.9 trillion in value added and employed 90 million people. They accounted in 2015 for two thirds of EU28 employment and slightly less than three fifths of EU28 value added in the non-financial business sector.” The Report goes on to say “However, most SMEs continue to encounter the same challenges: bureaucracy, disinterest and neglect by governments, intense financial scrutiny, and lack of meaningful participation in real opportunities. While the EU, through its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) may have allocated €2,100 M for SME participation and to support research and innovation for the sector, SMEs remain a neglected group in other environments.” Based on a study by the World Bank Group it is estimated that in emerging markets there are 365-445 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Of these, 25-30 million are formal SMEs while 55-70 million are formal micro enterprises. Some 285-345 million are informal enterprises.

It notes that there are many advantages to moving informal SMEs into the formal sector such as better access to credit and government services for the SMEs and higher tax revenues and better regulation for the economy.

In Trinidad and Tobago, many SMEs have difficulty in moving forward because of a limited resource base. Critical areas that must be addressed include – but are not limited to – credit facilities, infrastructure, technology and quality improvement, as well as marketing assistance. An examination of each of these factors can determine why many of our SMEs never move beyond the micro and small classification, and in some cases, may eventually even become part of the shadow or informal economy. While at the policy-making level there has been much discussion over the past years, this has not led to a truly enabling environment with support mechanisms in place.

Continued prosperity in the region requires the provision of such critical support to strengthen the SME sector.

With an SME membership of close to 70% the TT Chamber can be said to have a vested interest in assisting with the survival and growth of this sector. Many informational and educational sessions are targeted to SME operators, and our Nova Committee is in fact charged with developing the Chamber’s SME base.

Through workshops, seminars and conferences, SMEs are able to gain valuable insight into the challenges and solutions to many aspects of operating and moving the business forward.

Workable tools and methods are shared by small business owners who have been through the rigours and hardships that are encountered at all stages of the growth path. Nova’s upcoming workshops on Marketing and Productivity are a must on this year’s calendar, as well as its new Lunch & Learn series where SMEs can meet a successful and highly regarded business leader in a closed forum for a personal, up-close discussion.

SMEs are encouraged to participate and we invite interested parties to call the Chamber at 637 6966 for further information

G.A. Marques via e-mail

While Trinidad’s Western Peninsula has a wealth of attractions, President of the Trinidad and Tobago In Coming Tour Operators (TTITOA), Lorraine Pouchet, thinks there should be more marketing to locals and tourists alike.

“There needs to be more promoted. We would like to partner more often with the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) to conduct tours and so on.”

Pouchet was speaking with Business Day while finalising a “Stay to Get Away 2017” tour of Gasparee Caves on the Island of Gaspar Grande.

This particular trip in late July is an example of the kind of partnership Pouchet is advocating. TTITOA; through its “Experience T&T” arm, has joined with the Tourism Ministry and, in this case, the CDA, to offer discounted tours from July 1 to August 31, 2017.

“One of the challenges TTITOA has had over the years is actually meeting with the bodies responsible for development of the area. However, I recently had a meeting with some senior personnel at the CDA,” Pouchet said.

“We are going to have on-going discussions on the way forward in marketing Chaguaramas and on how best we can achieve that, using what we have.”

Pouchet’s call to maximise limited resources was echoed by the CDA’s Acting General Manager (GM), Deowattee Dilraj Batoosingh.

Referring to the more than TT $100 million debt incurred by the previous CDA Board of Directors, the Acting GM said the CDA has been using its very limited funds to make improvements to the facilities under its management.

“I’ve instructed our maintenance crew to ensure the grass on the Chaguaramas Golf Course is maintained properly; this is the only public course in Trinidad, so that the public can have a better experience. Cleaner, better maintained sites would help us to attract more visitors, who would then spend money at our tenants’ businesses, which (augers well) for our ability to generate more revenue down the line if and when those tenants decide to expand.”

Dilraj Batoosingh also told Business Day that the CDA is working on several events which are aimed at earning revenue while highlighting all that the area has to offer.

First off the drawing board and into existence is the “CDA presents Junior Golf” which runs from August 10 to 24, 2017. Children between the ages of five to 17 will earn how to play golf and get a tour of the area, once they register with the CDA by August 7. There is a TT $300 registration fee.

The other upcoming event is “Spices, The Curry Festival”, which takes place on Saturday, August 12 along the Chaguaramas Boardwalk from 2 pm to 8 pm.

The Acting GM said admission would be free while each vendor, in addition to giving out samples, would be selling plates of food “at a modest price.”

There are however, certain things which the CDA has not been able to do or which it has had to

do one but at a time, “because any extra money that we do get thanks; to our cost cutting measures and rent collection drive, goes to pay our debts.”

Dilraj-Batoosingh made it clear however that the CDA’s staff “is very committed to getting things done with what little we do have.”

An example of this, she said, was how the CDA’s boat captain and its maintenance crew have been “fixing small things on our one fairly operational boat; the other needs substantial repairs.”

“If you see that boat today, as compared to what it was like last year, it’s looking a lot more polished now. We use that boat to patrol ‘down the islands’ to help ensure that visitors and those on a tour have properly registered with us and paid the relevant fees to be in the area.”

Dilraj Batoosingh lamented that not having the $100,000 needed to repair the other boat has affected the CDA’s ability to patrol the island as often as it would like to do so.

Hence the hosting of events like the two mentioned earlier.

The Acting GM plans to hold other events this Christmas, next Easter and so on, to help the CDA pay off its debts faster while earning money to improve and maintain the places and facilities under its purview.

She expressed confidence that this would lead to increased visitor numbers, as more people discover what Chaguaramas has to offer.

For more information on activities and tours in the area, visit the “What To Do” section of the CDA’s website, www.chaguaramas.com

Business Day recently sat down with UPick’s General Manager, Lee- Anthony Walker and its Operations Manager, Verrick Jaundoo, to find out more about this and other initiatives being undertaken at the 100-acre farm.

Seated under the leafy shade provided by a large bamboo patch opposite the farm’s small retail space, Walker explained what inspired him to develop the concept of “Planting 101”.

“I was hired four months ago to promote the business more; I come from a background of managing night clubs and I own my own catering company. I spent the first three months observing the operation and one of the things I realised is that growing your own plants isn’t rocket science. Based on feedback, I decided we should start offering this as a new service.”

Walker would like to hold the first class later this month (August), provided certain logistics are worked out in the next two weeks or so.

He explained how “Planting 101” lessons would be broken down into simple terms and easy-to-follow steps, so that people don’t feel intimated.

“Anyone can participate, from children to senior citizens. We’re going to give you a pot, we’re going to teach you soil preparation – why, how it’s necessary, what kind of soil you use and why. Then we’re going to let you choose a seedling and you plant it in your pot. What we’re working out is if (training) would be every two weeks or every month because you’d have to bring your plant to each session; likely on a Saturday morning.”

Jaundoo added to that, telling Business Day that having your plant there is necessary “so that we can see if you’re learning, if you’re taking care of the plant properly. You can also compare your plant to your classmates’ and find out from them what they’re doing differently. This make things fun and interactive.”

The company stays connected with customers through its Facebook page; www.facebook.com/upicktt, where each week, it posts a list of the vegetables ready to be picked.

Walker said UPick’s mandate is that all activities/services there must be family-friendly. This includes the farm’s first-ever Halloween pumpkin-carving event in 2016. This actually came about due to customer demand; they had to import the variety of pumpkin most-suited to carving. UPick plans to hold another pumpkin-carving family day for Halloween this October.

That’s not all. UPick is working on a plan to hold star-gazing events, where an astronomer or someone equally knowledgeable “can tell people exactly what they’re looking at and how constellations got their names. We are an ideal location for this kind of thing because there are no artificial lights to (impede) your view of the night sky,” Walker said.

While most people know Chaguaramas for hiking, boat rides ‘down d islands’, its beaches and fetes at venues overlooking the water, UPick’s presence has attracted the agricultural-minded and those looking to get their vegetables as fresh as possible – picking it right off of the plant.

Jaundoo said their weekend clientele often includes families headed home after a “dip at Macqueripe Beach, hikers and bikers. We also get people who, from whatever reason, don’t reach the market and they’re looking to get some fresh produce.”

There are several restaurants and hotels dotted along the Western Peninsula. Walker added to Jaundoo’s point, telling Business Day that because UPick harvests each week’s crop on a Thursday, “chefs who work in the area; and a few from outside, stop by on Thursday afternoons. As we add more items that you don’t usually get in Trinidad, more chefs are coming to us. Meanwhile, we tend to get more elderly people coming by on Saturdays and Sundays.”

The farm also gets lots of school tours. Jaundoo shared that students from urban areas are usually surprised to learn where their food comes from.

“When they see bodi growing on the vine and not in a bundle on a grocery shelf, they’re stunned. Some children have also seen tomatoes growing on the plant and called them apples. So, what we’re doing here is serving to educate some children about the food chain.”

Speaking about their adult customers, Jaundoo told Business Day that people who come from an agricultural background “tend to come here for our sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, jalapeños, red ochro, purple sweet pepper and now, asparagus – ‘exotic’ items that you don’t typically find in the market.”

He explained that while UPick grows some of the popular local crops – baigan, bodi and ochro to name a few; because customers are going to want to pick what they commonly eat, the farm doesn’t want to compete with local farmers.

Hence the focus on the aforementioned ‘exotic’ items. This includes baigan varieties not typically grown here. Namely the Star Light which is short, round and dark purple in colour, and the Japanese variety which is long, thin and light purple in colour.

UPick currently sells local honey but it plans to start offering its own honey too in the coming months. The apiary was set up in early June at the far end of the farm; beyond the acres of sweet corn.

“We have honey ready to take out but because of the recent heavy rains, the bees haven’t really been able to venture into the bushes to get nectar. So, we left the honey for them to feed on in the meantime but as soon as the weather improves, we will harvest our honey. Likely at the end of August into September. Selling our own honey was one of the owner’s (Joseph ‘Joe’ Pires) ideas. He wanted to add honey because Tucker Valley is known to produce some of the best honey (due to) the nutmeg trees and other flowering plants which make for good quality honey,” Jaundoo said.

UPick’s prices are lower than in your typical supermarket but a little higher than in the market. Walker said he has started stocking ground provisions and plantain in their retail store because those customers who don’t reach the market have been asking for potatoes, yam, et cetera.

“On a Thursday morning, I go up to the Farmers’ Market in Macoya and purchase those items that we don’t grow, so that our customers can do their ‘Sunday market’ here if they haven’t reached the market yet. This allows them to save a trip to the grocery and to save some money in the process because our prices would be closer to that of the market than what supermarkets would charge.”

Walker was keen to point out that he buys locally grown provisions et cetera “because we want to support local farmers. At the end of the day, we’re all farmers.

The farm originally opened from Tuesday to Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm. While its opening hours remain the same, due to visitor habits, UPick is now open from Thursday to Sunday.

UPick opened on August 8, 2015. It is operated by Chaguaramas Farms Limited (ChagFarms), which signed a 30-year lease with the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA). ChagFarms is a subsidiary of Caribbean Chemicals and Agencies Limited, whose Managing Director is Pires.

It’s rents of some $2.3 to $2.4 million are outstripped by millions more in salary payments every month. These were among a litany of woes revealed at two starring appearances before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament earlier this year. Further, job cuts may be inevitable.

However, Deowattee Dilraj Batoosingh, Acting General Manager of the Authority said the prevailing attitude at the CDA is optimism.

The Authority is making a bid to make Chaguaramas a top of mind entertainment and leisure centre and wants to bring people back to the Northwest peninsula. In August, the CDA intends to host a Curry Festival.

““It is a big risk for us to revive the boardwalk again,” said Batoosingh, who revealed that the event is being put on with a limited budget. However, the Authority needs the revenues.

Batoosingh said she told staff, “Let’s give it our best shot. Even if we don’t get as many people as we would have liked, at least it is showing that we can do it.”

“We are hopeful we can turn things around despite the challenges.”

It certainly has the raw materials to do so. The area has a natural beauty rivalled by few places in the country as well as several sites of interest.

But the “challenges” are threatening to overwhelm the CDA.

For one thing, the development of Chaguaramas is predicated on a plan formulated in 1974. It is not the only plan for the area. There have been at least eight plans for land and economic use of the area. However, it is the only one that holds legal sway, a fact that has been the root of the CDA’s most recent controversy.

Several tenants had leases for development approved under the People’s Partnership administration using a draft 2015 development plan. That plan was never brought before Town and Country, the Parliament or Cabinet, making it invalid. Batoosingh said the Deputy PS of their line ministry revealed that they had never even seen it.

With their “approved” leases, investors would have gone ahead and started construction, only to be told to stop by the new PNM government.

“This administration, would have reviewed the plan and realised that the draft 2015 plan was not approved by the Parliament,” said Batoosingh, “The only alternative was to follow what was under the law, which is the 1974 development plan.”

She explained that the CDA was not opposed to development, in fact, it desperately needed it, but said the law must be followed. The law, was guiding what types of developments were being allowed. If a tenant’s development was in contravention, then their terms of occupation would be reviewed.

Batoosingh denied allegations of nepotism or favoritism in the selection of which developments were allowed and said that decisions were apolitical. It has also made use of legal counsel in making these choices.

“No determination has been made except for the waterpark and another development,” she said, “This would have been done by Cabinet. Some concessions were made. It wasn’t that the entire lease was approved.”

Business Day contacted planning minister under the People’s Partnership government, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, for this thoughts on the state of the CDA.

“When we demitted office in September 2015, we left Chaguaramas with a functioning Boardwalk in two phases. We left with the vendors booths completed and occupied by tenants. We had a tradition of activities and programmes that brought visitors and customers to the Boardwalk, which created more commerce in the area and which was supported by some entertainment.”

On the matter of the controversial leases, Tewarie continued, “We had signed a number of leases between 2012 and 2015 and private sector investments were flowing into Chaguaramas for various projects. Every lease that was signed after 2010, was superior in its value to the State, the Chaguaramas Development Authority and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago than any lease signed prior to 2010 by a significant number of times. I am talking about the value. So the state was in a good position to capitalize on private sector investment, under lease terms that would have only appreciated over time in value and flow of funds to the CDA and we could have, by now, already have had the makings of an incipient, sustainable tourism and entertainment and leisure industry in Chaguaramas. I don’t understand or have a clue about what they are doing or their problem with anything we have done in Chaguaramas.”

Asked about the legality of the draft 2015 plan and the potential issues created by it if the CDA facts are accurate, Tewarie said, “That is what you call a distraction. It is a non-issue. It does not arise. How were all the leases signed prior to 2010 and does that mean that leases signed under 2010 came under a different jurisdiction from those leases that were signed before? It is a red herring. It is pure stupidity parading as rationality.”

Much of the CDA’s own attempts at development meanwhile, lie in limbo.

When questioned about the state of parts the Boardwalk for example, Batoosingh said the Authority simply did not have the funds to do the required repair work.

Vending booths are not operational. The vendors complained that they were unusable. Further examination showed the electrical work was shoddy and needed re-doing.

Floorboards in Phase One need replacement. Batoosingh said it was likely they would have to pull up the whole thing to replace them, a costly undertaking.

“That represents a cost to us and we have explained before the JSC how dire our financial state (is), where we are barely earning revenue to cover salaries or major repair works along the peninsula.”

Despite this, she said the authority has been trying and has met with success in several areas. Repairs have already been completed on Phase Two and their facilities have been prepared for the July/August vacation season.

But how did the Authority find itself in this position?

Batoosingh attributed the Authority’s problems to a lack of “planning”.

She said, “You can’t run an organisation where your revenue is a certain level, you have to know that your expenses cannot be in excess of that.”

The race to shore up the Authority’s revenues is on.

It has been in discussions with the Tourism Ministry to become part of its ‘Staycation’ promotional programme. It has also re-entered a deal with PTSC to once again become part of the ‘Know Your Country’ tours.

The response to the Curry Festival has so far been favourable. Batoosingh said the event was fully booked and at least one well known entertainer has signed on to perform.

“We can’t be operating at a loss indefinitely. The best effort now is to get revenues up, which is what we are doing,” she said.

Regretful that she was not thorough and diligent about her representations, ashamed because her mistake was exposed and regret because of the loss of status as a judge.

It is a lesson to all who aspire to leadership , let not your ambition cloud your good judgement least your reputation fall into disrepute. It is obvious to me that ambition clouded her judgement and having been exposed is grounds for tears.

Satu-Ann I.Ramcharan Maraval

CARIRI and the CCIC have established a strong relationship that is built on both organizations’ desire for diversification and growth in the economy.

This particular session was geared towards promoting the intent of the CCIC to remain proactive in providing avenues for businesses in the Central area and this was the platform that CARIRI chose to promote two new initiatives geared toward assisting organisations.

The first is the Innovation Gap Analysis Programme (iGap) which is intended to identify and engage potential innovations in existing companies and will also address the need to develop a culture of Innovation in private sector enterprises, particularly SMEs. This initiative is based on the recognition that SMEs are particularly vulnerable to the rapidly changing dynamics of the international economic environment and, to remain competitive, these enterprises must keep their value proposition current, relevant and valuable to customers.

The Data Innovation Solutions Centre (DISC) is the second initiative. It involves Business Intelligence and Data Analytics which will use the respective organisations’ data to provide information that can assist in making more sustainable and innovative business decisions.

This session also facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CARIRI and exporTT. The signing of the MOU was witnessed by Senator Paula Gopee Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry.

This MOU will see greater collaboration between the two institutions; its general intent is to amalgamate the efforts of both parties by leveraging on the strengths and synergizing current projects/programmes.

Some of the aims of the MOU focus on the promotion of Data Analytics solutions, capitalizing on existing and upcoming technology and trade agreements, sharing of industry information on legal and regulatory developments, market intelligence and information on global trends as well as identification of expertise for advancement of local and regional skill sets, among a host of other initiatives.

CARIRI and exporTT have outlined as a priority, their commitment to the development of the local economy and maintain that more can be done together. Gopee Scoon commended both organizations for taking this initiative as she endorsed the collaboration. The signing of the MOU with exporTT and the collaboration with the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce opens a new world of possibilities that will translate into tangible offerings in the near future from all parties.

Bringing the franchise to Trinidad is well-known retailer, Omar Hadeed. “While on vacation two years ago with my wife (who is an avid ALDO customer) in England she insisted that we visit the store. It was without delay I got the idea that this brand will do well in TT,” Hadeed told Business Day.

Also present for the opening was ALDO Regional Brand Manager Ricardo Gil who assured, “with 12 stores within the Caribbean ALDO is excited to widen its markets here in TT.”

Hadeed, who has more than 30 retail stores under his management, including Converse and Skechers, believes this new brand will do well despite the current economic climate.

“People are still shopping despite what is going on in this country but we may not see it as they are doing so online,” he said. Hadeed noted, however with ALDO, as with Converse, customers can actually save 15% by purchasing these branded items from the local franchise stores as the prices are the same as the online prices, once converted to TT dollars, minus the shipping and duties fees. Asked about the profitability of this pricing model, Hadeed said, “A smaller margin is better than no margin.”

Business Day asked Hadeed why he chose to open the first ALDO outlet in San Fernando, and he boldly responded, “Why not?”

“The brand will speak for itself. Our retail locations in south Trinidad are doing very well, Skechers in C3 and Converse in Gulf City are doing quite well. The C3 Centre is new, its fresh and its attracting young, fashionable, trendy customers and businesses alike” Hadeed said.

He conceded that his company faces some challenges acquiring foreign exchange, but said there is an understanding with the owners of the brand. Labour, Hadeed said, and customer service are also sensitive issues. He noted that he received over 300 applications for employment in the ALDO store, which made the task difficult to choose 11 employees. He assured the successful candidates were trained in customer service and there would be an opportunity for retraining every six weeks.

Hadeed said plans to open ALDO outlets in other locations across the country depends on the sales from this initial location. ALDO caters to both men and women with shoes and accessories to match. Trinidad is currently running its spring collection and come September it will switch to its Fall line up to match the other locations.

Asked about the performance of Domino’s Pizza, another business he recently bought alongside business partner Daniel Fakoory, Hadeed said, “There is a 25% increase in sales in the last two months, so much so we have increased our delivery staff.” He noted that another of his businesses, Pita Pit, would be opening a new branch in Price Plaza next month.