However, we see this as a bad strategy.

When challenges face our country or organisations, it is most critical that we seek to find ways to overcome those challenges. To do so will require research, education and training to firstly understand what is happening at every level and secondly what strategies it will require to keep abreast of the challenges.

Continuous education and training should therefore, not seem like an unnecessary burden placed on professions or professionals, but rather the process of on-going learning should be considered a wonderful opportunity, an asset to one’s growth and development.

As with any improvement strategy in business, continued education should be thoughtfully considered. A simple analysis of one’s competency status can identify key areas which may warrant improvement or specific attention.

A business weakness may be low competency in particular areas, lack of business knowledge, undercapitalisation or any host of other limitations. But as with any weakness the right application of effort can often negate negative outcomes if those weaknesses are identified and addressed proactively to avoid manifestation into collective failure.

The SWOT analysis is a good tool and the O is often times the most exciting aspect as it represents business OPPORTUNITIES.

Opportunities are those aspects and areas where the business can improve. Diverse aspects of opportunity are routinely found in market expansion via marketing strategies, new income streams, or a reduction in costs. Opportunities should present a positive outcome and lead to financial stability and growth. But opportunity must be carefully managed, as good opportunity can create a risk if not properly directed.

The T in SWOT represents THREATS. Threats are any number of factors that present risk or some type of loss and can be attributed to competition, liability risk, inability to deliver products or services, and/or loss of market share due to any combination of controllable and uncontrollable factors.

Continued education is one aspect of a credential based business that should fall under the category of opportunity and lead to business strength, but may also be categorically defined as a threat if improperly managed or disregarded.

Credentialing based professions often necessitate the maintenance of valid credential to provide services defined by the scope of the profession and corresponding competency exemplified by the professional credential. Any professional that mismanages the credential may allow that credential to expire or be removed due to lack of compliance to continued education requirements.

Today’s ever-changing business environment requires professionals to be kept abreast of education and training in their respective fields.

Competition is real and in order to survive, prudence will dictate that training opportunities are embraced.

Competency deficiencies are weaknesses which are also important to identify so they do not manifest into business treats. In some cases deficiency management is prioritised, particularly when these deficiencies blatantly limit one’s ability to perform or succeed at a key job task. Rectifying deficiencies and limitations using continued education translates potential problems into advantages and possible strengths.

Once threats, weakness, and opportunities have been identified and prioritised, any areas of interest can round out additional continued education pursuits.

The League has an open Calendar of Events, which addresses several critical conferences such as our Annual Regional Leadership Conference which takes place in Panama from May 25-28 this year.

But importantly as well, is our Shared Services Platform which was introduced to assist our credit unions and other small businesses to cut the high cost of important services such as Anti Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism requirements, Internal Auditing, Accounting and other services. Organizations have been benefitting from this Platform and are empowered by the cost-cutting strategies and corresponding benefits which have allowed them to keep focus on the continuation of quality services to their members, thus contributing to the Movement’s growth to 600,000 members and 13 Billion dollars in assets in 2016.

The League’s Chief Operating Officer, Dianne Joseph indicated while individuals have an obligation to develop from an academic standpoint, organisations have a responsibility to mentor, train and develop its leaders and employees.

Joseph stressed that economic challenges/recession should not be viewed as a reason to downgrade the importance of educational development, but rather the right time to heighten efforts if the business must survive, compete and more importantly succeed.

In this connection therefore, she encouraged all individuals and businesses to be part of the League’s 2017 Developmental Initiatives by contacting 671-4704 or email creditunionleague@gmail.

com.

‘Celebrating 70… Positioning Ourselves for Beyond

Over the years, SBCS has sought, built and maintained relationships with some of the world’s renowned universities and professional associations.

Each campus site has ties with multiple institutions, regardless of the academic disciplines being offered there. What that has done is expose students to a teaching and learning ecosystem that blends best practice learned from a global community of academia.

More than the quantity and strength of SBCS’s academic partnerships, the institution has built a reputation for attracting, and exposing its students to leading professionals in industry, who effectively bring their expertise to bear on the academic content the school delivers.

The institute helps craft professionals who can think critically, creatively and ethically; communicate persuasively; and be a team player and problem solver in whatever sphere they operate – at work, at home and in the classroom. Over its 30-year history SBCS students have routinely achieved world prizes and global recognition for their efforts at their study; a tradition it hopes to continue beyond its 31st year.

In 30 years of delivering globally recognised and industry-relevant programmes in higher education, SBCS boasts of alumni in prominent positions in various occupational spheres – from academia, to information technology, to engineering, to law, to banking and finance, to economics and project management – graduates have leveraged on the qualifications achieved and experiences had at the institute to gain establishment and advancement in their professional careers of choice.

The investment in the physical plant has been one of the hallmarks of SBCS’ existence to date. The uniqueness of the design of campuses, the colour schemes employed in the classrooms – all geared towards encasing students in a mentally and intellectually stimulating learning environment.

More than that, the academic, relaxation and refectory facilities have been constantly maintained and upgraded to ensure they remain relevant to students’ needs regardless of how long you stay.

The institute has commissioned computer labs, engineering labs, recreation rooms, dedicated study rooms, graphics and media facilities, and online library and academic support resources to stay abreast of the progressive teaching and learning philosophies and technologies in education.

Continued development of pedagogy and e-learning strategies has transformed and extended the reach of SBCS in higher education, and its global learning now has an added dimension; export.

Through its online courses SBCS has reached more than 90 territories in both academic qualifications and professional development courses. The experience is now being extended to the international market.

Established in June 2016, Hello Green is the local distributor of more than 250 100 percent plant-based products manufactured by UK-based company, Vegware.

Unlike the popular plastic and Styrofoam containers, which are oil-based and therefore not biodegradable, Hello Green’s inventory of eco-friendly catering disposables and food packaging are, as Vegware states, “stylish, functional, economic and sustainable.”

Hello Green is the local and Caribbean (with the exception of Barbados) distributor of more than 250 compostable products from Vegware. These include soup containers, cutlery, napkins, hot and cold drink cups, platters, cupcake carriers, bags for sandwiches and pastries, and even straws.

Founder and Managing Director of the Trinidad-based company, Vandana Mangroo, spoke to Business Day about the inspiration behind her now nine-month-old company and her vision for a greener TT.

“I am an event co-coordinator; although Hello Green takes up most of my time now, and while organising and managing events, I realised how much waste, predominantly plastic and Styrofoam, was generated. Waste that would take hundreds of years to degrade, if at all and I thought, ‘there must be a better way.’ I was always very environmentally conscious growing up, and having lived abroad, I was exposed to how things are done in other countries, so I began researching compostable products.”

Mangroo smiled as she noted that customers can’t always tell the difference in ‘feel’ and look between plastic/Styrofoam and Hello Green’s products.

“Some of our packaging, you would look at it and know that it’s not Styrofoam but others, you would pick it up and think, ‘This is plastic.’ However, when you look at it more closely, you would see a label saying ‘made from plants not plastic’ or ‘completely compostable’. This goes to show how excellent our products are. Yes, they cost a little more than plastic or Styrofoam but it’s worth it when you think about the positive impact you are having on the environment (and your own health),” Mangroo declared.

Asked why she sought out companies manufacturing compostable products rather than the more commonly available biodegradable option, Mangroo noted that “the extent to which biodegradable products break down and return to nature varies. Compostable products, on the other hand, break down completely and in so doing, provide nutrients to the earth.”

According to the website, Heritage Pioneer Corporation Group, “materials that are biodegradable include corrugated cardboard and even some plastics… While biodegradable materials are designed to break down within landfills, compostable materials require special composting conditions. Compostable packaging materials include starch-based packing peanuts.”

Detailed research and correspondence with various companies between April and June 2016 led Mangroo to Vegware because, as she put it, “it really boiled down to who was willing to work with a small start-up company.”

Vegware was also “willing to provide a support system to us because this is a very new concept, very new product.”

Another reason Mangroo chose this company was because it has “the broadest range” of compostable products. (They are the largest global company of compostable products)

“As a matter of convenience to Hello Green’s customers, if someone is buying packaging from us, we wanted them to be able to get everything they need from us.”

Mangroo criss-crossed Trinidad during the second half of 2016, seeking out businesses in the food sector who were willing to switch to compostable containers.

“Some of our early adopters were The Sweet Beet, Diane’s Tea Shop and G-Spot Food Truck. Right now, our main customer base is concentrated in Port-of-Spain and environs, mainly because there is a greater concentration of restaurants and caf?s there but we do have customers in central and south Trinidad.”

Hello Green also counts Ciao Caf? in Scarborough, Tobago as one of its customers. “They buy their cappuccino cups from us. So we have some interaction with Tobago but right now, we are such a small business in terms of manpower, we’ve not been able to make an extensive sales pitch there.”

Mangroo shared that since she entered into a partnership with Vegware, “they have gotten a lot of inquiries that they’ve then referred to us because we have that partnership and we have that loyalty to each other. I think that’s important in business because being able to trust who you work with is the environment that you need to be able to flourish.”

Hello Green is currently in talks with different companies to expand its distribution network locally and regionally.

“I want people to know that caring about the environment is not only for one type of person or group. I started Hello Green to make environmentally-friendly products more accessible to people without it being such an effort. A lot of times people feel guilty about the styrofoam or plastic but don’t think that they have another option. So I wanted to make good quality, compostable, products accessible to people across the region,” Mangroo shared.

Three shows will be held in Chaguanas, Princes Town and Sangre Grande.

Spektakula Promotions will take patrons down memory lane with some of the legendary artistes such as Chalkdust (Hollis Liverpool), David Michael Rudder, Funny (Donric Williamson), Gypsy (Winston Peters), Rickki Jai (Samraj Jaimungal), Ninja (Kenson Neptune), Luta (Morel Peters), Trinidad Rio (Daniel Brown), Explainer (Winston Henry), Lord Nelson (Robert Nelson), Johnny King (Johnson King), Poser (Sylvester Lockhart), The Alberto (Alberto Arrindell), Bodyguard (Roger Mohammed), Baron (Timothy Watkins Jr) and many more.

Chutney soca champion Omardath Maharaj will make a special appearance at the south and central shows. There will also be a tribute to and special performance by the Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco).

The action continues at Calypso Spektakula Thru the Years as Sparrow tours the country beginning tonight at Centre Pointe Mall, Chaguanas, from 8.30 pm; tomorrow at Enchanted Gardens, New Grant, Princes Town, from 8.30 pm and on Saturday at North Eastern College, Sangre Grande, from 7.30 pm.

Tickets are on sale at regular outlets. For more info: Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The Scotiabank Foundation recently disbursed funds to Brimblers, Golden Hands, La Creole Pan Groove, Melodians, Merry Tones, Platinum, Potential Symphony, Star Sapphire, St James Tripolians, Trinidad Nostalgic and West Stars.

One of the beneficiaries, Golden Hands,has players who all under 25 years. Founder of the San Fernando band, Franka Hills-Headley expressed gratitude for the support.

“The Golden Hands journey, in 2017, has been made all the more exciting by the input of Scotiabank.

This connection is based on our mutual desire to hone the innate potential of the young musicians of our beloved TT . We certainly appreciate Scotiabank’s valuable contribution to our participation in the greatest steelpan show on earth – Panorama,” Hills-Headley said in a media release.

A director of the foundation, Peter Ghany, said the Scotiabank’s commitment was not only to youth but also culture. “In supporting the rich culture of our twin-island state and the progression of our beloved national instrument, we are also helping our young people to become better off, instilling in them a passion for the steelpan providing them with positive opportunities. It is about the passing on from generation to generation the unique knowledge and skill of pan playing, tuning and arranging,” Ghany said.

Recalling that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has publicly stated there will be no pay increases for parliamentarians due to the country’s current economic circumstances, Gopee- Scoon said the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) is the body under the Constitution which deals with the terms and conditions for holders of public office, including parliamentarians.

She reminded senators that last March, the SRC hired the Haig Group as a consultant as it undertook a review of the classification of all office holders who fall under the purview of the commission.

She said the Haig Group is due to complete its work shortly and it would be best to wait until this exercise is completed.

Stating that people entering Parliament do so on the basis of public service and not profit, Gopee-Scoon admitted there was a lacuna in the law where senators who were not legislators is concerned.

While the Independent senators fall within this category, she said, and are not defined as legislators according to the law, they often perform that role in various functions.

Stating the current Independent bench comprises people from disciplines such as economics, law and energy, Gopee-Scoon said there was no doubt the Independent senators have contributed immensely to Parliament over the years.

“There are only 2,000 to 3,000 punks who continue to deprive society from having their fundamental right. I think there is a great concern in our country that we are losing that fundamental right. I am not going to spend time playing the blame game and I think that is the first problem that we have.

“We have seen for far too long oppositions blaming the Government and vice versa. The police would be blaming the Coast Guard, the Government would be blaming the police … The blame game has been going on for far too long. What is required is for persons to accept responsibility,” said Griffith, who spoke on Tuesday at the Rotary Club of Port-of-Spain’s luncheon at Goodwill Industries, Woodbrook.

Griffith said fancy words about crime plans were not necessary, adding no other country in the world has a crime plan.

He said the concept of a crime plan was something that has been used in this country for far too long and that TT had to look at crime from a scientific approach.

“Dealing with crime is no longer common sense and a level head. The concept of criminological theory is all science, it involves empirical testing, data, research methodology and then utilise limited national security resources in an effective and efficient manner,” he said.

Griffith said when people hold marches against crime they were to sensitise the public and put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to change what was happening.

“That could work for wage negotiations or better working conditions, but when it has to do with crime, the stakeholders are the public and they are already aware. Even though you are marching and holding hands against crime, it does not serve the purpose of dealing with the real issues to reduce crime,” he said.

The catalyst for crime reduction anywhere in the world, he said, was the implementation of government policies. He said nothing was more important than situational crime prevention and dealing with the situation as it existed with hard targeting, deterrence, high visibility, a rapid response and getting public support.

He added, “During my tenure I was criticised for too many police vehicles on the roads, but that raised the detection rate from 17 per cent to 31 per cent. People in authority need to step up and accept responsibility. You cannot reduce the fear of crime unless you reduce crime first. To hear the Commissioner of Police say there was nothing the police could do about domestic violence, I think that is a copout.” Griffith said many of the domestic homicides were not committed in the bedroom, contrary to what has been said recently. He said the rate of domestic violence was equivalent to statistics this country has seen for gang-related murders or armed robbery.

“Domestic homicides can very well be reduced if we put proper law enforcement techniques in place. High police visibility would aid in the deterrence of domestic violence. In the last decade there were 263 homicides dealing with domestic violence, 112 were men, 151 females. Domestic violence resulting in murders was at its highest in 2008 (36), and that same year the homicide rate was also at its highest. So because there was no deterrent, the high visibility was not there, the product of opportunity was there (to commit crime),” he said.

Griffith said crime was a product of opportunity and the greater the deterrent, the less likelihood a person would commit a crime and the greater the possibility of them being apprehended.

“We need to stop blaming society, we need to start looking at systems that have worked. It is very unfortunate that previous administrations have played politics with national security. Until politicians, administrations and the public understand who the true criminal is, the only person who would succeed would be the criminal element,” he said.

Although Dydan Sahadeo of Chaguanas had enquired from the Central Public Assistance Board (CPAB) to provide him with information on the suspected income he was earning, they never did. It was only when his attorney Anand Ramlogan SC, requested the information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), did they disclose that Sahadeo was earning $5,000 a month.

Justice Robin Mohammed, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, granted Sahadeo leave on September 26, to seek judicial review of the ministry’s decision and when the case came up for hearing yesterday, attorneys acting for the ministry said that the decision to refuse him, had been reversed. In fact, the judge was told by attorneys acting for the ministry, that Sahadeo will be paid all of his pension retroactively from November 2015 — a total of 15 months worth of pension. On turning 65 in February 2014, Sahadeo applied for Old Age pension and according to documents filed in the High Court by his attorney Ramlogan SC, the CPAB rejected his application.

When he enquired as to the reason, he was verbally informed that he used his vehicle as a taxi. Sahadeo again petitioned the CPAB offices in Chaguanas and the Public Assistance office in Caroni, where he told personnel there that though his vehicle was ‘H”, he used it for family outings and for transporting villagers to the temple where he lives.

A social welfare officer visited Sahadeo’s home and told him that because his vehicle was licensed as a taxi (H), the presumption was that he worked the vehicle as such and was earning an income.

Ramlogan pleaded on Sahadeo’s behalf that he (Sahadeo) had changed his vehicle’s registration from ‘H’ to ‘P’ and in April 2015, reapplied for pension.

He was again denied. Sahadeo then petitioned the Minister of Social Development and Family Services Cherrie-Ann Crichlow Cockburn, but to no avail.

He said the Revue will form a body that can provide legitimate and unbiased representation to the nation’s calypsonians. Saying it was hard to stomach the fact that only one of its cast member Hollis ‘Chalkdust’ Liverpool was selected by TUCO to compete in Calypso Fiesta, when Revue boasts several past Calypso monarchs and even more promising new talent, Taylor accused TUCO of major victimisation and discrimination against the tent.

“For the first time in our 54- year history, we were only able to secure one spot at the national semi-finals to be held on February 18, at Skinner Park,” Taylor complained yesterday. “This is not withstanding that we have had excellent reviews from patrons who have attended the tent so far.” Semi-finalists were chosen as the executive of TUCO visited each calypso tent during the Carnival Season and decided who qualified for the Calypso Fiesta, which is the next step for the coveted crown of Calypso Monarch held during Dimanche Gras, Carnival Sunday night.

Taylor, a four-time calypso monarch, said the Revue tent has one of the better programmes to offer the nation at a calypso tent. “They are hurting calypso.

It is like TUCO is running the competition and they have their own tents, they have their own interests. We are a private tent, so therefore we are not insulated from whatever possible victimisation that takes place at that level.

They are running the competition, they select the judges, they pay them, so they have that position of advantage.

“It’s more than favouritism, it’s nepotism, it’s all the ‘isms’ you could think about. They operate tendentiously, they have their own tents and they promote the interests of their own tents because it is their own tents that keep them in power,” Taylor claimed.

Klassic Ruso, Kaiso House, Kaiso Showcase, Kaiso Karavan all fall under TUCO, with two more tents in Tobago.

“So they get all, we get one out of the 42 who were selected.

The Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) must be turning in his grave,” he said. Roberts started the Kalypso Revue, where he nurtured many up and coming calypsonians, in 1964.

“This is not right and we have to turn to you (the media) because we have nobody to turn to. If we turn to TUCO it’s like a policeman doing something on the street and when you go to the police to report him, you are reporting to him. So, you can’t get justice from TUCO because they have their own interests,” he said. Taylor said last year they had about ten calypsonians from their tent move up to the semi-finals.

On the decision to pull out of TUCO, Taylor said, “There is no law that states it is only TUCO who could represent calypsonians.

Clearly a neutral body has to run this thing because you can’t run it and have your people taking part in it. We need to get an independent authority to handle the adjudication of calypso.” Taylor made reference to reigning Calypso Monarch Devon Seales who is TUCO’s public relations officer. “We have taken a decision to come out of TUCO because TUCO is no longer serving our interest,” Taylor said adding this is not a case of ‘sour grapes’ but fairness and equity.

“I was a past president of TUCO and I know the happenings.

I tried to change it during my tenure, but they tell me to go.

I know what is going on there, so I’m talking from experience,” he said.

The firemen asked, if in the midst of a recession, Government has been able to find tens of millions of dollars for Carnival why then can’t the State put some money towards construction of a new building to replace the current 85-year-old structure? “This building was deemed unsafe for human occupation. The structural integrity has been compromised. The building is infested with rats and termites, there are no air-condition units in the dorms and there are holes on the flooring. We have been lobbying since 2015 for a new station,” said a disgruntled officer.

The station, located along the Main Road in Point Fortin houses 50 officers. Two weeks ago, officers placed bunk beds at the front of the station near the pavement, under a tarpaulin tent.

They have been sleeping outside the building out of fear that if they sleep inside, the building can collapse at any time. On Saturday, a contractor met with the firemen and showed a plan for construction of a new building on the same location.

“The contractor has drawn-up a plan and said work could start within the next two weeks once Government gives approval and disburses funds. The foundation would be concrete and the rest, prefab. We are in desperate need of a new station,” a fireman said.

Firemen said that although they are barred from protesting as they are members of the protective services, they will “withdraw” their enthusiasm and abandon the station if construction does not commence within the next two weeks. Efforts to reach National Security Minister Edmund Dillon for a comment yesterday proved futile.