At that meeting, Rowley also told the national community that the cost of supplying water to every property receiving it was heavily subsidised and that WASA was in debt to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

If one were to methodically think things through, the logical question ought to be how does WASA manage an essential service without the benefit of liquidity to service its debt, and raise capital to replace its aging infrastructure in the presence of irate citizens? Case in point. In the residential district of Port-of-Spain north, there are at least two developments taking place, one a highly questionable land development, and a building development, within metres of each other, a short distance behind the Prime Minister’s residence.

Transportation access along the two sites is a long, winding, old and narrow road under which WASA communication pipes are laid.

In the instance of the land development, ongoing for several years, front and backhoe loaders, bulldozers and dump trucks have been “licking up” this particular road, undermining the integrity of the aging underground WASA pipes, leading to environmental degradation.

Due to the extent this is happening it appears there is no relief for residents of the area from busted water mains from dump trucks entering and leaving this site even after WASA repairs the problem repeatedly.

Is WASA monitoring public roads leading to development sites, legally bringing freeloaders to heel? On the matter of new, legal or illegal, building developments and rental of units, the overarching question for WASA is what is the authority’s response to the carrying capacity of its product and services in areas that are obviously over-populated but handled corruptly by other relevant agencies of State, and consequences of new property development on its network of materially affected aging equipment?

KATHLEEN PINDER via email

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Rowley met with senior executives from Shell about those matters.

One of the matters discussed was the construction of a 17-kilometre pipeline from the Dragon Field in Venezuela to Shell’s Hibiscus platform off the north coast of Trinidad.

Shell is partnering with Government on the Dragon project to supply natural gas from the Dragon Field to TT.

Last year, the company re-entered the local market with its acquisition of the BG Group.

Shell plans to invest billions of dollars in TT over the next four years.

Energy Minister Franklin Khan, who attended the meeting, provided favourable updates on a number of requests made by Shell.

During his visit, Rowley gave an assurance that Government would do what is necessary within this country’s laws to provide accelerated approvals for Shell’s work programme.

In March, the Prime Minister said he expected the company to deliver in the shortest possible time.

Minister in the OPM Stuart Young, who also attended the meeting, said efforts are being made to complete a gas sales agreement for this project by July.

Ma Pau members club has over 30 years of history in the Woodbrook community.

The club’s staff volunteered their time to visit the home, brought roses, Mother’s Day gifts and spent time with residents.

During the recent fire that gutted Ma Pau, Dee’s Nursing Home was also affected and was evacuated with the help of Ma Pau staff. Employees recalled how their hearts went out to the elderly on that day and they were glad to continue the relationship.

It is still expected that revenues may eventually benefit from rising energy prices, increased production from a new gas field and the imposition of a property tax, while attempts at fiscal consolidation may keep expenditures from rising.

Asset sales will once again provide one-off avenues of income. How do the rating agencies view our revenue prospects? BMI Research has already, as at mid-April, lowered their revenue growth forecast from 9.1% to 2.0% in FY17. This is based on the weak revenue performance in the fourth quarter of 2016 and a downward revision of WTI crude oil price forecast. The preliminary figures suggest that current revenues fell 34.0% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2016. In addition the rating agency revised the forecast of average WTI crude price, which best reflects the price that Trinidad and Tobago receives for its crude oil exports, to USD53.75/bbl, from USD55.0/bbl because of rising global supplies.

The other half of fiscal consolidation, expenditure, is expected to fall, brought on by cuts to fuel subsidies. There is the anticipation that government may raise prices in diesel fuel to 75.0% of market rate during the fiscal year. Certainly, credit has to be given to the government for lowering current expenditures by 11.2% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2016, based on reduced discretionary spending, which was more than earlier anticipated. This could have arisen due to financing difficulties that inhibit budget execution, assuming that all the ministries have in fact reported in a timely manner. This has resulted in BMI reducing their expenditure growth forecast to -1.0%, from 5.0% previously.

Since the budget will be in deficit, financing government operations is anticipated to be a challenge. The government signalled its intention to utilise withdrawals from its Heritage Stabilisation Fund (HSF) and multilateral credit to finance its deficit, with the remainder possibly to be obtained on domestic financial markets. We know that in March, the government withdrew TTD1.7bn from the HSF. There is intention to split the fund into two parts to make future withdrawals easier and to allow it to secure a USD$300m loan from the Andean Development Corporation.

Despite the efforts to lower expenditure, we have seen that the rating agencies raise a number of issues including the level of fiscal consolidation and debt. Both Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s have downgraded the country’s sovereign credit rating.

There is the concern that Government’s use of credit from the banking sector may limit lending to the private sector. Data available at the end of 2016 tells us that credit extended by the local commercial banking sector to the central government increased by 31.1% year-on-year, compared to an increase of just 3.4% for all other domestic credit.

The pace of growth in private sector credit has slowed, partially explained by the downturn in the economy as well as a lack of available lending opportunities.

However, it has to be admitted that the government has utilized a substantial portion of the sector’s liquidity over the last year. Just remember that the commercial banks’ holdings of treasury bills finished 2016 up 43.4% year-on-year.

Until new gas fields come on stream, fiscal action, while required, is going to affect many aspects of the economy, some not in a good way.

The question remains as to how we ended up here at this place where all are grappling with tentative solutions to a situation which seems to hold little promise of getting better.

It can safely be said that indiscipline starts in the home and continues in the school system, leading straight into adulthood.

Therefore, indisciplined youth who don’t listen to their parents will not listen to their teachers and no one else later on in society.

In trying to solve crime we must first look at its roots — the social and economic factors which come into play in an individual’s background in the case of street violence. In terms of white-collar crime, it is the accessibility to commit crime and the apparent fact that there are no consequences to face, as millions of dollars are lost at the expense of the taxpayer while the alleged culprit gets away scot-free.

It appears that on all levels it is out of hand. More money is continuously distributed to the Ministry of National Security but national security only comes into play after the fact, such as the case of a five-year-old killed execution style. In other words, what is the prevention, not the cure.

When we look at officials who once held high office tearing government documents to shreds on a stage and encouraging the population to follow, we cannot wonder why indiscipline in schools is such a problem.

When we see officials in public life paying property taxes for property on foreign soil yet not wanting to pay on property at home, we should understand how some Trinis feel about the land of their birth.

We have become lawless and violent and many who complain about the current state of the country themselves are responsible in large part for its decline by their attitudes.

Almost everywhere you turn, the youths are looking on and when you think of them being guided by some of these examples you shudder. We fail to realise that while we politicise every issue the doors are wide open for the madness to continue and it is literally the children’s future that is on the line.

So far it appears as though we are failing them, hence the crime and the lack of respect for authority and country.

It is like the blind leading the blind and we as adults must buck up and take responsibility for our homeland and pay our taxes so that the workers at the so-called “bottom of the barrel” — from the garbage truck worker to the road paver — can do their jobs to make our country as beautiful as those First World countries where we spend our savings and then boast are so clean and well put together. In case some did not know, the reasons for them being that way are taxes.

LORREN MEDFORD- PRYCE via email

Goals, values, work styles and personalities vary widely. As we advance in our careers, we must all interact with workmates and deal with conflicts, disagreements or differing goals but we don’t need to participate in the negative practices that inspire the term “office politics”.

Sometimes office culture can feel like a game of gossip, rumours, drama and fight to the death power struggles.

We call this office politics. Following these tips can help you deal with office politics without joining in, running away or pretending these practices don’t exist.

Everyone is not your friend
Trust is earned. Distrust is also earned. As a general rule, avoid sharing sensitive information about yourself but practice being respectful and pleasant to everyone. Take time to get to know the people you work with before developing expectations of them based on friendship. You can maintain a friendly and positive acquaintance with workmates who you don’t know well or who aren’t your personal friends.

Make friends
While everyone may not be a friend, having friends at work matters more than many may think. A study of more than 5 million workers over 35, conducted by the Gallup Organization, showed that “56% of the people who say they have a best friend at work are engaged, productive, and successful while only 8% of the ones who don’t are.” Friends can not only make your work life more enjoyable but they can also help you advance your career.According to the Harvard Business Review, “The number one way people find new jobs is referrals by friends.”

Keep a positive perspective
Choosing to view situations in a positive light can help keep you from assuming the worst about the actions of your coworkers or situations at work. Your positive perspective will show in your actions and how you deal with situations. You won’t be defensive or attacking because you will see the humanity in your coworkers and wait for situations to unfold.Coworkers have bad days or may be fearful, distracted, hurt or angry about personal matters. Their actions or attitude may have nothing to do with you.

Stay focused
Your primary purpose at work is to work. So, do it well and keep that as your priority. Staying focused and doing good work can mean being a team player and working well with others; continuously learning and improving your skills; taking the initiative to offer to do tasks or proposing ideas or methods that can improve your work product or help your team or department.

Be authentic
Who you know matters but who knows you matters more. Office politics can sometimes encourage a culture of flattery and falseness as people try to get noticed by those who have more power. While recognition matters, attention seeking is not your priority. Many people can spot a fake flatterer from miles away and it can work against you to gain the reputation of being a “kiss up”, even if you are not a bad worker. Instead let your work product speak for itself and stay authentic in your relationships with your peers, subordinates and supervisors. Very often opportunities to connect will come as a result of work you’ve done and the good things people have said about you as they’ve worked with you. Being authentic is not only easy on your lips, it’s also more rewarding.

Be assertive
Being aggressive or passiveaggressive can be unprofessional. If a matter needs to be addressed, do so respectfully with the relevant person or persons, not with the office gossip mill. Stay objective and focused on the issue. A calm and firm response shows that you are serious but are willing to resolve the matter.

Be accepting
Everyone will not agree with you or do things the way you prefer. Accept their choice without being forceful with your position. Keeping an open mind, being tolerant and accepting differences can make you more likeable and an easier person to work with.
Employers and clients generally prefer people who are easy to work with.

Work smart, fight smart
Sometimes the little battles can cost you the war so fight wisely. Every comment, mean look or attempt to one-up doesn’t require a war. Your time is valuable so don’t get distracted by pettiness. It’s a sign of strength to let things go and walk away from a fuss if you know the facts are on your side. Every fight can do some damage so avoid battling unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Walk away
Some office environments can be extremely toxic, especially when office politics get out of hand. If you have exhausted this list and still find the situation intolerable, it may be time for you to gather a record of your skills and accomplishments, tap into the support of your friends and walk away from that company to a place that better suits you.

Good Luck,
AFETT
AFETT is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 with the goal of bringing together professional women and engaging in networking opportunities, professional training and business ideas. ASK AFETT is a column meant to address issues and concerns of professionals seeking advice to assist in progressing in their careers. Today’s response was written by AFETT member, Debbie Estwick, design/ brand strategist and educator.

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.
https://hbr.org/2010/07/whyfriends- matter-at-work-and.html

On average, only 30% of the total amount spent on a building goes towards its actual construction. Seventy cents of every dollar spent over the life of a building, is channelled towards its maintenance and operations.

Facilities management includes concepts such as life cycle costs, sustainable practices, and routine preventative maintenance – all of which we need to incorporate when we do business.

This year, the TT Chamber will host its 6th Caribbean Facilities Management Conference and Expo on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain. The theme of this year’s Conference is “In Praise of FM – Delivering Value in Uncertain Times”. As usual, a wide cross-section of professionals from both the private and public sectors are expected to attend.

Our keynote speaker this year is Thomas Tom L Mitchell Jr – a Certified Facility Manager from the US. Tom is also a trained On-Scene Commander and Base Fire Marshal.

He comes highly qualified and keen on advancing organizational performance by providing solutions that increase individual competency, business sustainability, and organizational longevity. The Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Planning is also scheduled to address participants at the conference’s opening ceremony, while a cadre of local experts will deliver tracks throughout the day.

We will be presenting value-packed content that’s tailored to suit our region and designed to provide participants with immediate applicable strategies to add value to existing businesses and create new opportunities.

Topics will focus on: Sustainability, the importance of FM during economic downturns, customer service, Designing for productivity, and FM&M in education – among others.

FM&M is an industry that touches the lives of everyone in the country, directly and indirectly. There’s a clear correlation between well-maintained buildings and occupant health, wellness, and safety. If nothing else, Occupational Safety and Health legislation in TT is designed to ensure that employees are healthier, safer, and more productive, through proper maintenance of facilities and equipment within those facilities. FM encourages us to reach for a world where sustainability, efficiency, and sound environmental practices are the rule and not the exception.

Locally, we have been slow to accept the value of proper Facilities Management and Maintenance. As global practices evolve, our own perspective will have to change from short term, to one that takes the longer view.

For further information or to register for the 6th Caribbean Facilities Management Conference & Expo, call our offices at 637 6966.

In large measure the view is that there will be some recovery in energy-sector GDP, government revenues from the energy sector, and foreign exchange earnings as the new gas fields come on stream later this year. The improvements are based on the hope of new production and more favourable prices. Let us review what has been happening with the international price of oil to determine how our hopes, policy designs and policy actions will be affected.

The current price of WTI crude oil as of May 5, 2017 is US$46.22 per barrel. What has happened in the market resulting in such a perverse result for us?

Perhaps we can start by indicating that the international oil market is all about supply and not demand at present. Several issues are affecting supply. The first is that US shale production is winning the fight with OPEC. The hope that OPEC cuts will lead to a firming up of oil prices has not occurred. Shale producers have demonstrated that their production is more responsive at much lower prices, signalling an improvement in efficiency.

We have seen incremental increases in shale production below US$50 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration has stated that US oil production has risen by 840,000 barrels a day since last October to 9.3m barrels, with output up by 28,000 barrels a day in the final week of April – the highest level in almost two years. The US Energy Department expects production to hit 9.7m barrels a day in 2018 – breaking the record set in 1970. This is new for the market. The assumption that such a phenomenon was not possible has proven to be a bad one. This surge in production in the US, driven by drillers flocking to American shale basins at a time of subdued global demand, has sent the oil price tumbling.

Secondly, within OPEC there has been little allowance for countries such as Libya, demonstrating that the cuts have ben woefully inadequate. Libya resumed production from its largest field last week, adding more than 200,000 barrels a day to its production.

While OPEC has implemented the curbs, a rebound in U.S. shale output and stubbornly-high stockpiles show the world’s three-year crude glut isn’t shifting. Where is all this coming from? Figures from industry experts Baker Hughes show the number of oil rigs operating in the US has more than doubled in the last year, rising by 450 to 870. The rig count in Canada has also risen, by 48 to 85, but it is down by 42 to 943 in the rest of the world. Clearly North America has taken and pursued a different strategy. The geopolitical objectives are certainly different from oil producers such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, whose objectives are stabilising oil prices between US$50- US$60.

OPEC is already showing near-perfect compliance in delivering it’s pledged 1.2 million barrel-a-day production cut and an extension looks likely. Care has to be exercised since the risk of a higher cut is that it could trigger too strong an increase in prices and support US shale producers. This will be counterproductive to their objectives of forming prices at some higher level.

If OPEC changes strategy, Saudi Arabia would lose face. You can’t say you want lower inventories, and after a few months of cutting production just give up.

The World Bank does not see grounds for concerns or the need for a revision of its oil price outlook in view of the recent decline. Only time will tell if they are right. The date of the formal OPEC meeting on May 25 in Vienna is obviously “the key date to watch” in respect of oil prices. The decisions taken in Vienna could have implications for whether the price of oil settles higher. This is very important for us here since changing oil price is one of two variables that can affect energy sector revenues for the government. If OPEC extends it production cuts and increases it, we need to take a look at the market response and whether inventories start to fall. It does not help that China’s demand for oil is also falling as its economy slows. For us here maybe it is time we start preparing an alternative strategy that is not so heavily dependent on oil leading our recovery.

Many countries in the region have been plagued with slow and expensive internet connections. With few outlets offering broadband connections, the lack of competition has led to higher prices for consumers which are difficult for many low to middle-income families to afford.

There is a direct correlation between broadband access and economic development.

Internet access is reaching near-saturation in the world’s rich nations but billions of people living in the developing world still don’t have access. The use of the Internet permeates every aspect of living, working and doing business.

For developing countries, it is the catalyst to closing the development gap. The Internet also removes barriers between nations and supports the process of globalisation. It is therefore important that any barriers hindering the growth and development of the Internet be removed.

Affordable and effective broadband connectivity are vital for economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. Strengthening the Caribbean’s telecommunications infrastructure is a first step to growing the region’s digital economy through improving the regional connectivity. In the longterm aim, this will also drive technology-based innovation.

Notably, there has also been growing investment in technology infrastructure across the region. Last year, the European Investment Bank agreed to invest EUR 8 million to improve internet access on the Caribbean island of St Maarten, enabling high-speed internet to be provided in schools, libraries and hospitals across the island. Once operational the improved network will not only revolutionise internet connections, but also allow smart metres to better manage scare water and electricity resources in St Maarten.

Caribbean countries are connected to the internet through submarine cables. Although most countries have two or three cables, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago each have five, and Cura?ao has six. In the case of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, their considerably larger populations relative to other countries in the region make them key anchor points, as it is expected that they will generate significantly more traffic, thereby improving the cost recovery and profitability of the cables Telecommunications businesses are also keen to invest in the region. They are especially keen following restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the USA which has increased interest in the Caribbean, and several global technology service providers are now turning fresh eyes toward the region. Digicel has the largest market share for the largest mobile operations across the region and has been investing in its submarine cable system. In 2014, it bought the submarine cable assets of Global Caribbean Fibre and Global Caribbean Network to create a fibre-optic cable network of approximately 3,100 km providing capacity from Trinidad in the southern Caribbean to Puerto Rico in the north.

The firm has approval to build out networks connecting the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica, 51 and connecting Guyana. Digicel also launched Digicel Play, using digital and fibre technologies to offer voice telephony, subscriber television and broadband Internet. To date, Digicel Play has been rolled out in Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with plans to soon add Saint Kitts and Nevis.

But the vision for improving the internet goes beyond giving government more efficient ways to deliver critical services. It is about growing the digital economy by giving more citizens access to essential online services and creating opportunities for digital entrepreneurs to enter the growing market.

Technology is shaping the future and the changes it brings don’t have to be a crushing force. For business, an understanding of the emerging challenges and opportunities can help prepare them for the possibilities.

Cyber security, big data, cloud storage, artificial intelligence and robotics are just some of the technology trends that are changing the ways we work, and how finance professionals operate in particular. Whilst they do not need to become an expert in these developments, a broad understanding of where these technological advances are taking their profession will be crucial to their growth, whatever the sector they work in.

Today’s modern finance professional is increasingly viewed as an influencer, with a major role to play in strategy development and overall business success. Underpinning all of this is the effective application of technology.

Technological advances provide businesses with new capabilities to enhance their competitiveness globally, offer opportunities to be more productive and lead to new ways of securing finance. SMEs, in particular, are now able to compete on an equal footing, even without lots of capital to invest.

The finance function is a part of the digital world. Technology helps them automate and de-skill time-consuming work, and thereby focus on higher-value work, consolidating their role as strategic business partners. By keeping informed about technologies as they evolve, considering new ones as they emerge, and then assessing their implications for finance professionals and those they serve and support, finance professional can be prepared to minimise the burdens and maximise the benefits they bring

The SPA, which is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approvals, was announced at a joint press conference, and includes all of Massy Communications’ fibre to the home and telecommunications infrastructure relating to both its Enterprise and Consumer networks, all existing Enterprise and Retail customers and the entire operational and business support systems.

TSTT CEO Dr Ronald Walcott stated the agreement marked a watershed moment for TSTT as it would accelerate the roll-out of TSTT’s $3.8 billion, five-year strategic plan that would see the company transform from a traditional 20th Century telecoms provider into an agile, broadband communications company. This would, in turn, positively and significantly impact the country as a whole because, he noted, “ICT development is a precursor and catalyst for economic growth, national development and diversification.”

Endorsing this sentiment, Massy Communications CEO Brian Jahra assured, “The country is going to be well served by this initiative.”

Executive Chairman of Massy Technologies Ltd, Fenrick Reid explained that given the competitive landscape for high speed broadband and TV services in Trinidad, the high capital costs of deploying fibre optic networks, and the issues related to multiple players all laying new cable along the same streets and neighbourhoods, Massy and TSTT embarked on a relationship initially to share some of their fibre assets and avoid wasteful duplication, but ultimately realised that selling to TSTT made the most sense for everyone.

“We are very confident that by doing this, the business will continue to grow, and grow significantly islandwide,” he said.

TSTT Chairman Emile Elias said TSTT was very excited about the Share Purchase Agreement because there were natural synergies between the two parties which he viewed as two homegrown companies competing against large global competitors.

• Outlining the synergies and key benefits, Elias said the acquisition would:

• bring instant access to an additional 34,000 homes in Diego Martin, Port-of-Spain, Trincity, Arima and San Fernando where Massy had laid fibre but TSTT had not

• save the country some US$20 million in foreign exchange expenditure on fibre that TSTT no longer needed to roll out

• add an entertainment customer base of about 5,500

• provide TSTT with a substantial and valuable business (enterprise) customer base

The fibre to the home network strengthens the delivery of services by bringing this fast, stable and resilient infrastructure closer to more homes and businesses so they can enjoy greatly enhanced voice, Internet and entertainment services.

Dr Walcott congratulated the Massy Communications Team for the significant investment and work that was put into growing Massy Communications into the robust business it is today. “We looked at the Massy operations and we are quite pleased with the efficient way the business has been run. I don’t expect we will be making any fundamental changes in the short term to what is an operating model that works” he said.

Reid explained that Massy Communications’ residential and SME customers will continue to receive the same services at the same rate, including high speed fibre internet and IPTV services; dedicated internet/IP transit; clear channel domestic/metro Ethernet and international private lines; and international wholesale termination and enterprise voice solutions. All existing and new subscribers will also enjoy the benefit of using their Massy Cards to earn Massy points when they pay their bills or to redeem Massy points to pay their bills.

As an additional benefit, existing Massy Communications residential and SME customers will eventually have access to services only offered by TSTT such as security solutions and Medi alert to monitor loved ones in the event of a medical emergency.