This recognition is one of three categories won by Scotiabank, which also included “Best Commercial Banking Capabilities in the Bahamas” and “Best Asset Management Company in the Cayman Islands”.

“We are honored to be recognised by Euromoney as a best-in-class commercial bank across the Caribbean”, said David Thomas, Scotiabank’s vice president, Corporate Finance, Caribbean Region. “This recognition is a reflection of our commitment to businesses across the region.

Through Scotiabank’s unique footprint, we will continue to create opportunities for our clients to grow locally, across the Caribbean, throughout the Americas and globally.” David Gopaulsingh, general manager, Corporate & Commercial Banking, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited, added “It is great to be recognised for our expertise and capabilities, and we want to thank our customers for entrusting us with their business, and we look forward to our continued partnership in the years to come.” Euromoney is a widely respected financial media conglomerate that covers global banking, macroeconomics and capital markets, including debt and equity. It also runs a number of industry surveys that have become benchmarks for excellence in various categories of banking and finance. Published each February, Euromoney’s Global Private Banking Survey provides a qualitative peer review of the best services in private banking, by region and by areas of service.

The full survey results are published online at http://www.euromoney.com/

The statistics show that the demand of mobile apps is consistently rising. Developers need to ensure that the mobile apps they are developing are useful, easy to use and above all desired by the users. Here are some key areas developers can consider before developing mobile applications: Market Research: Before starting the development of an app consider conducti ng a proper market research. Analysing the market will give insights about competitors’ strategy, strengths and weakness. This informati on will assist to avoid repeati ng the mistakes competi tors made.

Be Different: Why does a recently opened restaurant in the town create a buzz? People tend to visit new places because they are always looking for something different and fresh. Create something interesting that keep users engaged.

Target Audience: Defining the target audience is very important as the audience plays a huge impact on the development of the mobile app. If user’s expectations are met, the app is likely to get more popularity.

Mastering Platforms: Become a master of one platform first and then launch the mobile app on multi ple platforms.

Marketing Strategy: Creating that buzz before the launch is really important to get an overwhelming response at the ti me of launch.

Ensure the marketing is began at the appropriate time.

Loading Indicators: An app can lose users while it is loading as the users might think that the app is malfunctioning. Also, it adds to create a negative impression on the user, hence providing a bad user experience. Use loading indicators and animations to give assurance that the mobile app is still working (a progressive indicator is always better).

App Testing: It is important to test the mobile app before launch in the market. It provides an experience in prior of how the users will see the app. It should be creative, easy to understand and deliver high performance. Testing before the launch will allow for ironing out any nooks and crannies before it reaches the mass market.

Store Description: This description plays an important role. App Stores usually displays only two to three lines of the description. Users need to tap on “Read More” to read the full description, hence it is important to make the first two to three lines attractive enough to convert users into customers.

The Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) is a flagship development of CARIRI which is aimed at facilitating Research, Development and Innovation.

The mCentre arm of CED is the only mobile applications laboratory and accelerator in the region which incubates high potential mobile app developers. The lab provides world class business and technical training to high potential individuals on mobile application development and entrepreneurship on all platforms.

The mCentre operates a mobile applications testing facility referred to as the Living Lab, which provides testing services on all mobile application platforms: Android, iOS, and Windows. Using appropriate tests and tools which provide an indication as to where Have an idea for a Mobile

According to reports, at about 7 pm, the victim was awaiting transportation to take her to her home, when she boarded a car and asked the driver to take her to her destination.

The driver instead drove to Sixth Avenue Barataria where he raped the woman.

The victim was able to alert passers by who took her to the Barataria Police Station. She was taken to a District Medical Officer in St James and later gave a statement and a description of the suspect to officers.

Yesterday, senior police officers told Newsday that women travelling alone at night should be extremely careful when boarding vehicles to take them to their various destinations, especially during the Carnival season.

Police added that sexual predators usually seize opportunities during periods such as Carnival to pry on women when they seek public transportation.

The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, police said.

The gruesome discovery was made at 7 pm by someone who went to check on the two after detecting a foul stench in the area and not seeing them for days. The fact that the house was ransacked had led police to suspect foul play in the death of the women.

Shocked residents told Newsday that Bernard was a wealthy philanthropist who hired no one in her business and kept to herself.

In fact, only Bernard and her daughter living in the palatial dwelling place at the corner of Gonzalez Street and SS Erin Road in De Gannes Village.

Bernard’s three other children, all who live abroad, are expected home shortly.

According to reports, mother and daughter were last seen by neighbours last week Wednesday.

“Miss Baby was a charitable woman…

always giving. She was wellloved by all,” a resident said. Expressing shock over the deaths was former parish priest of La Divina Pastora Catholic Church Siparia Fr Martin Sirju.

“I remember them, they came to church often. They sat to the back and were always polite, humble, kind, always smiling and would greet me after mass. I am still in a state of shock and can’t believe this has happened,” Fr Sirju said, adding, “They were real nice people.

Everyone is shaken up with this.” Daughter Kathy Ann Bernard who lived in Florida, returned home a few years ago to take care of her elderly mother and was her right hand ever since. “Kathy Ann was the one who drove her around and she (the mother) was teaching her all about the real estate business.

This is a shock to everyone in the community because they never troubled anyone. They did everything for themselves,” said a friend of the victims.

Bernard was the owner of several prime properties, both commercial and residential in Siparia, Penal, Fyzabad and environs and was once the proprietor of La Pastora Poultry Farm at High Street Siparia. Chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation Dr Glenn Ramdharsingh yesterday issued a call for communities to set up neighbourhood watch groups under the guidance of the relevant authorities.

“I have been able to confirm the police report into this matter, that the deceased women may have been victims of a home invasion.

Crime is strangling the lifeblood of our nation and we all need to unite and redouble our efforts to rid this society of this destructive and life taking scourge.

“I have learnt that a neigbour of the deceased women reported the matter to the police due to the foul stench emanating from the home.

Community leaders should start organizing neighbourhood watch groups under the proper guidance of the relevant authorities,” Ramadharsingh said.

Both bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsies expected to be done today.

Visiting the scene were Head of the South Western Division Snr Supt Balram along with Supt Galindo and Insp Corrie of the Homicide Bureau Region Three.

Proceedings began at about 7.40 am and there were a sprinkling of patrons in the Grand Stand and even less in the North Stand though the numbers would steadily increase. There were a number of police officers and a couple of fire officers at the venue and at one point National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams crossed the stage with a contingent of soldiers.

Returning to the parade first up was mini band Simply Cultural with their presentation “Minstrels Bong for Holly B” in honour of national icon and media personality Holly Betaudier who died last year.

The minstrels sang, drummed and had a choreographed dance with “flambeauxs” but had to compete with loud music from the an upcoming music truck.

That next band was Just Wee and Friends with their presentation “A Steampunk Affair – A Tribute to Earl Crosby”; Crosby was a St James businessman and cultural activist who, like Betaudier, died last year. They had an interesting looking king who wore an upside down black and gold octopus on his back and a beautiful queen whose skirt resembled a blazing ring of fire.

They were followed by Ronnie and Caro…The Mas with their presentation “Fearless 10”. The defending National Band of the Year winners had some individual female masqueraders in resplendent feathers and tribal tiger king named “eye of the tiger” but overall the band seemed a bit generic.

Next up was medium band Image Nation with their presentation “Soar”. They began with military drumming and two male masqueraders bearing large shields and female masqueraders dancing b?l? style with large black skirts.

They were followed by large bands Harts and Fantasy with their presentations “Ultra Violet Jungle” and “1001 Fantasies and Alluring Tales”, with neither band presenting anything memorable.

The patrons were then treated to fancy sailor mas courtesy of small band Belmont Exotic Stylish. Their presentation “Sail the Caribbean” featured sailors with brightly coloured headpieces that included a starfish, a hermit crab, a lobster, a flying fish and a jelly fish. The traditional mas continued with mini band Keepers of Tradition and their group of fierce whipping jab jabs.

We then returned to the large band category with Legacy which featured two creative kings: one with a large mosquito and a baby, likely a reference to zika and microcephaly, and the second two pirate skeletons and a large pirate skull seated atop a mountain of gold. The splendour of the kings were diminished, however, by them wearing simple tee shirts. The band also had an embarrassing hiccup as not one but two of their trucks had their music systems shut down on them.

Continuing the colour theme was large band Passion and their presentation “Spectrum: A Universe of Colour”. They began with a young girl in an angel dancing to Ella Andall’s “Bring Down the Power” and later doing some flips.

The security got into the action with a dance display. When the masqueraders came on stage the rains came down on them but they were “jammin’ still”.

The final band before noon was The Lost Tribe and their presentation “Riddim a Revolution of Mas”.

They began with an oriental style dance that was well choreographed and synchronised. Their king had bronze and maroon spikes on his back as well as his hand and feet.

They also featured some type of blue faced monster Indian, sexy black and gold moko jumbies, African and Arabic inspired costumes and beautiful dreamcatcher and clay head pieces. Overall The Lost Tribe was beautiful and creative and definitely the highlight of the morning period for Carnival Tuesday on the big stage.

From the first band at 7.40 am to 12 noon the catchy power tune was played by almost every band, including some mini and small bands. The song was first played by medium band Just Wee and Friends and masqueraders were jumping, dancing and “wukking” with great enthusiasm.

Machel Montano’s Beat It was heard three bands later with large band Harts and a few of their female masqueraders were literally beating the stage with their hands. One masquerader in a wheelchair, however, held up a sign that read “jammin’ still”, one of Full Extreme’s catchphrases.

After Harts was fellow large band Fantasy which had Montano performing on the truck. Beat it was player a few times but Full Extreme was still the dominant tune. After Fantasy small band Belmont Exotic Stylish fancy sailors were also jamming to Full Extreme.

Montano would be heard again four bands later with large band Passion and both Beat it and his second Road March contender Your Time Now were played; his song Buss Head, a collaboration with Bunji Garlin, is his third and final entry.

The Passion masqueraders, however, spent more time dancing in the rain to Full Extreme than Beat It.

At about 1pm Full Extreme had been played 16 times, four times Montano’s Beat it. A total of 18 songs were registered for Road March this year but Full Extreme appears to have a clear lead with only Beat It in any real contention.

Montano is the reigning Road March king and has copped the prestigious title eight times: last year with Waiting on the Stage; in 2015 with Like ah Boss; in 2014 with Ministry of Road; in 2011 and 2012 with Pump Yuh Flag and Advantage respectively, 2007 with Jumbie, shared the title in 2006 with Patrice Roberts for Band of the Year, and finally Big Truck in 1997.

He also already beaten Sparrow’s record for seven wins but is still behind Lord Kitchener’s as yet unbeaten 10 Road March crowns. If Full Extreme takes the Road March crown it will be the first win for Thomas (previously known as Maga Dan and Maximus Dan) who is best known for his football anthem Soca Warrior.

Jones said in an earlier interview with Newsday, “On this rainy Carnival Tuesday I was told we are at 1,950 people [at approximately noon]. That is much more people than we had last year and we can only imagine what it would have been without the rain.

“Looking at the people in the stands dancing to David Rudder.

Looking at people really applaud Baron…we are immensely happy…” Jones said with the right partners its organisers intend to continue with what this format of the Socadrome.

She said while the group had Flavorite and the OCM Media Group it wanted more sponsors to create what she dubbed a cultural extravaganza. And for those in the audience the Socadrome being free and providing a safe carnival space was ideal for them. Audrey Phillips from Chaguanas, who attended with her grandson, said having seating accommodation and the Socadrome’s free price point made it ideal for them.

Similarly, Donna Bournes from Morvant said the Socadrome was a safer space for her and her family and provided free parking at MovieTowne as well. Bournes added that as the country is in a recession it was difficult for some to afford to go to fetes to sees artistes such as Rudder which the Socadrome provided for free.

Another patron, Andy Smith from Sea Lots said he too attended the Socadrome for the safety factor but wished that when there was a lull in entertainment a small dancing space be created for its patrons.

The event which began at 9.15 am saw the first band Bliss cross the stage. After the band crossed, its patrons were treated to Extempo from Gypsy, Black Sage and Lingo, whose topics ranged from women to TUCO. Traditional characters came on stage prior to calypso Rose’s performance of “Leave Me Alone”.

She was greeted to loud applause from the audience as she sang. As Yuma crossed the Socadrome stage, MX Prime was aboard the YUMA truck as the hundreds of masqueraders sang loudly of how much they were still jamming. MX Prime and the Ultimate Rejects appeared to be on repeat as the masqueraders crossed the stage. YUMA was then followed by Harts. The rain failed to put a damper on the celebrations.

At 12.25pm Baron serenaded the crowd, coming into the stands due to the rain.

Some women in the audience danced as he sang songs such as Melosian Rhapsody and Sweet Soca Man. But it was Rudder who brought the crowd roaring to its feet as he performed Trini to the Bone. Rudder too entered the stands with the dancing crowd.

Many took the opportunity to get a selfie with the calypso legend.

The applause was thunderous as he ended his performance with High Mas. There was a lull before Omardath Maharaj and The Lost Tribe hit the Socadrome stage.

But the lulled was nicely filled by host Nikki Crosby and the DJ. The Socadrome ended at about 4.30pm.

Notwithstanding Chalkdust’s historic ninth win in the National Calypso Monarch competition, we are left wanting. The show was under-produced, not reaching the standard that it should.

Even Chalkdust’s winning calypso, Learn From Arithmetic was pedestrian fare. Like much else in the finals it amounted to thinly- veiled personal attack under a fig leaf of current affairs.

True, it was very good that Chalkdust placed emphasis on the issue of child marriage which must be abolished forthwith. But his calypso was blatantly one-sided: attacking one race, one member of the Hindu community in a situation where the issue of child marriage engages the Hindu, Muslim and Orisha faiths and where many others have been as equally vociferous in favour of the practice, which was once sanctioned by Christian churches. “Even if you grease your copybook with margarine it can’t go in,” Chalkie sang, addressing a figure named Sat Maharaj. For this, he was rewarded amply by the judges.

Meanwhile, calypsoes by Karene Asche and Heather Mc Intosh managed second and third place respectively.

Elsewhere, the lyrics on display included many other offensive and improper messages, including one calypso that appeared to condone homophobic violence.

But not only was the show poor in terms of content, it was poor by all other standards as well. The production values were nowhere near where they should be for a show that is supposed to be the pinnacle of the Greatest Show on Earth. Lighting and sound were poor.

Once more, the format proved unentertaining. It was long, loose and baggy. Offensively so.

Perhaps the length of the show was due to how many people sued to get into the finals.

It is remarkable that there was a flurry of litigation in relation to this competition, litigation which had to be paid for by taxpayers.

Relative to the chaos that precipitated it, things went smoothly on Sunday. But we cannot wonder if the producers might have been better able to produce a top-notch show if they weren’t distracted by having to don court clothes? For years, Dimanche Gras has been a Carnival headache that no one seems to get right. We have not made any progress. The format of excluding the Kings and Queens of Carnival from Sunday night has only diluted excitement over both mas and calypso.

Not having the showcase of Dimanche Gras, the mas men and women are left out of the party.

And the calypsonians and given too much pressure to carry through an epic production with only paltry props and pantomime.

The eyes of the world were watching on Sunday and, to be frank, those eyes were likely to have turned elsewhere.

A case in point is the fact that the Academy Awards were being broadcast simultaneously, as if we needed a reminder of the possibilities when high production values are involved.

Do the organisers of Dimanche Gras think of it as a production and a product? A chance to promote Trinidad and Tobago? Do they consider their audience, beyond the Grand Stand and the North Stand? Have they sat down and put Dimanche Gras in context, in terms of its long, illustrious history and its place within the Carnival arts now that there is a critical need for evolution? While the Big Stage is made for pan and for thousands of revellers, can its design be reconsidered? Have organisers thought about the role of social media in today’s world and how that places more pressure on them to produce a more engaging product? There must be a post-show post-mortem. One issue that should also be considered is the exorbitant length of the songs on Sunday which, verse after verse, made some viewers beg for mercy.

Next year’s show must be better than this.

The rest of the region saw a smaller increase in arrivals, but still reported an exceedingly large number of visitors, with 28.7 million being stay-over visitors, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

There were 14.3 million stayover visitors arriving from the US, 3.4 million from Canada, 5.2 million from Europe, 2.1 million from South America, and 1.7 million from other Caribbean islands.

In 2015, visitors to the Caribbean spent an estimated US$30 billion, an increase of 4.2 percent over the US$28.8 billion spent by visitors in 2014.

In 2015, Barbados, up to that time, had recorded its best year in the history of tourist arrivals with 571,892 visitors. (There were 610,000 in 2016.) There were 260 cruise ship calls for the 2015/2016 season.

For St Lucia, the good news started early in 2015 when more than 31,500 visitors entered the island in January, the largest number ever for January of any year. Total visitor arrivals for 2015 reached 312,761, an increase of 8,013 over 2014.

Cruise passenger arrivals for 2015 increased by 10.1 percent, reaching 582,475 by the end of November.

The United States remains the island’s largest source market, followed by the United Kingdom and the other Caribbean islands.

In 2015, visitor arrivals to Grenada were 443,368, an increase of 12.7 percent when compared to 393,339 in 2014. The number of stay-over visitors was 140,735, an increase of 5.4 percent over 2014. Forty-one percent arrived from the US, with other visitors coming from the UK, Canada, Germany and other Caribbean islands.

For the first three months of the season there were 110,000 cruise passengers and in November 2015, there was a record of 29 cruise ship calls bringing 50,000 passengers.

Cruise and stay-over visitors to Grenada contributed an estimated $362 million Eastern Caribbean dollars to the Grenadian economy in 2015.

Rudy Grant, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, said, “We have seen positive growth in Grenada’s tourism sector last year.

Fifty thousand more visitors in 2015 than in 2014 is testament to the dedication of our stakeholders and the commitment of our trade partners. Seventy-six new rooms have been added to the Grenada Tourism Authority’s registered room stock, and increased flights added to our schedule.” Grenada is also attracting a growing number of yachties. Do you remember when the yacht repair facilities offered in Chaguaramas were the foremost in the south Caribbean? Why did Chaguaramas not maintain this reputation? For 2015, there were 206,662 arriving visitors to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Of this number, 75,381 were stop-over visitors including 22,063 from the US, 17,045 from the UK, 7,515 from Canada, 7,306 from Trinidad and Tobago and 6,115 from Barbados.

In that year, St Vincent and the Grenadines welcomed 231 cruise ships, bringing 82,079 passengers.

Trinis may wonder why are our neighbours so successful at attracting visitors? What do they offer that we do not? What are they doing correctly that we are not? Sandals, “the most powerful resort brand in the Caribbean,” has expressed an interest in constructing a resort in Tobago, joining the 12 other Sandals resorts in the Caribbean: four in Jamaica, three in St Lucia, two in the Bahamas, and one each in Antigua, Grenada and Barbados.

Let us be realistic, a Beaches resort or a Sandals resort enhances and gives “status” to an existing destination but it does not create the attractiveness of the destination.

The people must do that.

According to reports, at about 7 pm, the victim was awaiting transportation to take her to her home, when she boarded a car and asked the driver to take her to her destination.

The driver instead drove to Sixth Avenue Barataria where he raped the woman.

The victim was able to alert passers by who took her to the Barataria Police Station. She was taken to a District Medical Officer in St James and later gave a statement and a description of the suspect to officers.

Yesterday, senior police officers told Newsday that women travelling alone at night should be extremely careful when boarding vehicles to take them to their various destinations, especially during the Carnival season.

Police added that sexual predators usually seize opportunities during periods such as Carnival to pry on women when they seek public transportation.