It’s tax season again.

Not exactly an exciting time, but it’s a busy one.

Accountants across the T&T are sorting through seemingly endless piles of TD4s and more.

In this country, individuals and businesses are required by law to pay various forms of tax.

Tax director at KPMG Nicole Joseph explained the process.

She said companies have to pay their corporation taxes/business levy and green fund levy for income year 2018 in quarterly instalments.

The first instalment for income year 2018 was due on March 31, 2018—late payment attracts interest at 20 percent per annum.

“So they had that first deadline date in March. The next instalment for income year 2018 is due on or before June 30, 2018.

“For the April tax filing season, companies need to prepare and file their 2017 tax returns (and any prior year if not already done) and pay any final balance of corporation tax or business levy and green fund levy by April 30, 2018. Any payments for income year 2017 made after April 30, 2018 will incur interest at 20 percent per annum for late payment,” Joseph said.

She said companies have until October 31, 2018 to file the 2017 tax return and after this date a late filing penalty of $1,000 will be levied for every six months the tax return remains outstanding.

The Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) issues the tax return forms and those individuals who are earning just emolument income would not need to file tax returns.

Other individuals, however, would be required to file such returns online as implemented by the BIR a few years ago.

This is known as e-Tax.

This computerised method, Joseph said, has made the process easy to be monitored by the individual.

“Individuals would be able to monitor and track the processing of the tax return at the Board of Inland Revenue. And it also makes the process of any tax refunds that may be due to these individuals quicker.”

On whether the online method can be somewhat onerous for some people Joseph disagreed.

“That is the way going forward. It would be onerous for people who don’t have the facilities and technology but for other people it’s the way forward and it is something I believe we all should embrace,” Joseph urged.

Individuals and employees are no longer required to file taxes once their sole source of income is employment income.

“The onus is on the employer to deduct the correct taxes,” Joseph said.

Regarding her thoughts on tax evasion and tax leakage she believed there were several processes in the pipeline, in particular with the expected the Revenue Authority.

“Once the proposed Revenue Authority is implemented it would be able to address all these issues.

“They would have the proper compliment of staff, the facilities and technology be able to address all the areas where they think the leakages are occurring,” Joseph said.

Despite repeated urges, year after year, there are those who, even though obliged, fail to file tax return.
This, Joseph advised was bad practice.

“Everybody has to be compliant. It’s a legal obligation.

“There are penalties and interests that are in place in the law so that when they do catch up with you, you would be now subject to the tax on the income that you didn’t declare plus interests and penalties for not being compliant,” Joseph said.

She added that the BIR actually has records which can easily reflect whether taxes have been filed or not.

In this vein, the BIR has been issuing reminders to companies with an expected deadline date to submit tax returns.

“The board is being very proactive with respect to going after companies that have not been compliant.

“There are cases where sufficient reminders were sent and there was no effort to respond and provide the tax return or requested information and the board actually has powers to use a best estimate and assess the company to be taxed, Joseph added.

On the issue of tax claims for individuals this entailed first-time home owner’s allowance, deductions for pension, annuity and NIS and deductions for tertiary education.

Companies enjoy all deductions which are wholly and exclusively incurred in generating that source of income.

Supporting documents for expenses and income are key in the event of an audit by the BIR.

Whether the current system of collecting taxes was efficient Joseph praised the BIR for carrying out proper functions as in the case of an amnesty.

“They would actually tell people that, ‘Look, our records show you owe us a certain amount’ and for you to come in and either pay it.

“You also have the opportunity to the explain to them or provide evidence whether you have paid the amount,” Joseph said.

But she concurred that there is always a lot more to be done, especially when compared to developed territories and their aggression on tax collection.

“Hopefully now with the proposed changes, all things would come into fruition. It’s not just about the Board of Inland Revenue going out there and collecting.

“For the taxpayer, you also have rights in terms of objecting to assessments. You can go in and obtain up-to-date information. Hopefully a lot of these things will be easier and the information will be more accessible so people can rectify their tax status as well,” Joseph added.

Procedures for individuals

In order to pay taxes, all individuals must have a BIR file number.

Individuals are no longer legally required to file income tax returns unless they are professionals or self-employed. Employers will deduct taxes from your salary and pay them to the government on your behalf.

However, a person can choose to file a return if he or she is unhappy with the amount of tax that has been deducted from your earnings by your employer.

If you are self-employed you must file a tax return at the end of the financial year. The filing deadline is set by the Inland Revenue Division, is usually in March or April, and can vary from year to year.

All taxpayers are entitled to a personal allowance of $72,000 per year. This means that you do not pay income tax on your first $72,000 of income, so you pay no income tax at all if you earn less than this amount.

You can reduce the amount of tax by declaring tax-deductible expenses. 

What tax assistance is available for individuals?

The Inland Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance provides the following tax services free of charge:
• Answering queries on tax liabilities
• Assisting with completion of tax returns
• Approval of TD1 forms (please follow the link at the end of this section for more information on TD1 approvals)
• Explanation of any tax measure

Procedure for businesses

Businesses must have a BIR file number in order to pay taxes. They must also have a PAYE file number in order to deduct and remit taxes from employees.

What is e-Tax?

e-Tax is the online portal provided by the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) for taxpayers to manage their tax accounts online.

By accessing e-Tax at https://etax.ird.gov.tt in any standard web browser, taxpayers can register to view their accounts, file returns, and correspond with IRD.

It gives the customers of the Inland Revenue Division online access to their tax accounts and related information.

It has features which would allow you to view tax balance, check refunds status and perform a wide variety of tasks.

It allows you to authorise other persons to access your account. These persons include tax practitioners or accountants.

In addition to viewing your personal accounts you can also manage your company’s or client’s accounts by requesting another type of access to e-Tax.

There are three access types used to access other taxpayer’s accounts:

1. Delegated access: officials of a company grants access to the company’s tax account(s)
2. Third-Party Access: grants access to your account; request access to another person’s accounts
3. Accounting firm access: used by accounting firms to give their employees access to their clients’ accounts.

How to enroll for e-Tax

To use e-Tax, you need to get your ttconnect ID

Register for your ttconnect ID in three steps:
1. Complete and submit the ttconnect ID registration form (www.ttconnect.gov.tt) online. Ensure your BIR number is included in the registration form.

Once completed and submitted, you should receive an email notification with additional registration details. If you do not receive any such notification please send an email to info.ttconnect@gov.tt

2. Activate your ttconnect ID (instructions for activation are contained in the email notification).

3. Visit a ttconnect service centre with the following forms of valid identification / documentation, as well as your ttconnect ID, in order to complete the registration process. Make sure to indicate to the customer service representative you are registering for e-Tax.

FAQ about taxes

Do I have to pay income tax?

By law all individuals—whether self-employed or employed by someone else—must pay income tax. However, individuals are only legally required to file income tax returns if they are professionals or self-employed. Employers deduct taxes from workers’ salary and pay them to the government. However, you can choose to file a return if you are unhappy with the amount of tax been deducted from your earnings by your employer.

All self-employed people must file a tax return at the end of the financial year. The filing deadline set by the Inland Revenue Division is usually in March or April and but varies from year to year.

How much tax do I pay?

All taxpayers are entitled to a personal allowance of $72,000 a year. You do not pay income tax on your first $72,000 of income, so you pay no income tax at all if you earn less than this amount annually.

You can reduce the amount of tax you pay by declaring tax-deductible expenses.

Where can I get assistance?

The Inland Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance provides the following tax services free of charge:
• Answering queries on tax liabilities.
• Assisting with completion of tax returns.
• Approval of TD1 forms (please follow the link at the end of this section for more information on TD1 approvals).
• Explanation of any tax measure.

Where are the offices located?

You may contact the following locations for tax assistance between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays:
Taxpayer Services Section
Victoria Courts
Queen Street, Port of Spain
Trinidad
Tel. (868) 623-2981/7106
ext 201 and 204
Taxpayer Relations Section
Inland Revenue Division
Trinidad House
St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain
Tel (868) 623-2981/7106
ext 321, 323-6
South Regional Office
Inland Revenue Division
52 Cipero Street, San Fernando
Tel (868) 657-6057/5775
Tobago Regional Office
Inland Revenue Division
Sangster’s Hill
Scarborough, Tobago
Tel. (868) 639-2410/2538

Tax assistance is also available at the Arima or Couva District Revenue Office on the first Wednesday of every month, or the Point Fortin District Revenue Office on the third Wednesday of every month between 8 am and 12 noon.

During tax filing periods—April and October—technical officers are stationed at District Revenue Offices on specified days.

You can also visit the Inland Revenue Division website and select the “Tax Assistance” drop-down menu for on-line tax assistance.

How do I pay my taxes?

If you are employed by a company, your taxes are deducted as you earn and are paid to the Inland Revenue Division by your employer.

Businesses and professionals must make payments directly to the Inland Revenue Division:
1. Fully complete a payment description slip. This form is available online by following the link below, or you can pick up a copy from any cashiers’ unit (see addresses below) or District Revenue Office.
2. Present your completed payment description slip together with your payment at any Cashiers’ Unit. Payment can be made by cash, cheque or Linx (debit card).

Where can I make a payment?

Payment can be made at the cashiers’ unit at the offices listed between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Payment can also be made at any district revenue office.

What are the deadlines to submit taxes?

Employers must pay Income Tax and Health Surcharge Payments deductions (PAYE) by the 15th of the month following the month the deduction was made from employee’s earnings. Self-employed individuals must make quarterly payments by the last day of each quarter, in March, June, September and December.

The UWI trade and economic development unit held a public conversation commemorating the work of Lloyd Best and Kari Levitt on the Plantation Economy Model.

Questions were asked as to the modern day relevance of the model, what we can learn from it to help in today’s recession and can Petrotrin learn anything from the plantation?

Lloyd Best et al describes the regional economies as plantation economies. In particular, he assigns the term “hinterland” to those lands that produce the basic products that are exported to the metropole, abroad.

In particular, the plantation that depends Non the exploitation of natural resources, eg petroleum, according to Best, the economy resumes its traditional role of the hinterland with the metropole being the primary source of capital, entrepreneurial talent, knowhow and technology.

Moreso the MNCs’ (representing the metropole) transactions between their hinterland subsidiaries and the parent companies result in the Muscovado bias.

Hence it becomes difficult to ascertain magnitudes such as profits retained and repatriated and the transfer of capital between parent company and the branch plant, a concern we now have today with the LNG exports.

These problems, even in developed countries, have spawned the rules of engagement that seek to reduce this problem of transfer pricing.

Best argues that the enterprise of the indigenous people dictates the pace at which economic development proceeds, and such dependence on imported enterprise builds into the local economy an assured backwardness compared with countries whose entrepreneurial dynamic is indigenous.

Therefore, Best says that the islands must regain control over their main staple resource, new staple or quasi staple. This means a transformation of the corporations and a drastic revision of their terms of participation.

In this circumstance, according to Best, the measures of nationalisation or even expropriation cannot be arbitrarily ruled out.

It is worth noting that you may acquire the physical  plant, as we did with Petrotrin, but without the institutions that generate the knowledge, the technology, know-how or innovation Petrotrin was unable to be globally competitive.

Also petroleum exploration/production is a high risk, high capital enterprise in which a dry hole or a well accident can ruin a small indigenous low capital company—the Trintomar experience.

Though I pay my respects to Best on his plantation economy model I refer, in my use of the term plantation, moreso to the concept of the small open economy (SOE), that cannot produce most of what it  consumes and has to import to support an adequate life style. Hence it has to export.

The plantation aspect to which I refer is when one sector—particularly if it is driven by foreign direct investment and its technology—is the major earner of the foreign exchange that is retained locally in order to purchase the needed imports.

Further the enterprise of the locals, their business activity, in general becomes focused on import, distribution,  sales, construction and the business and financial structures to support these activities.

When the foreign investment is about natural resource exploitation it is important that, though the government may not have the capital required to exploit it, concern is paid to the share of the income retained locally and attempts made to avoid much of the Muscovado bias by getting significant added value done locally.

Though capital may be in short supply the local government has to acquire the knowledge and technology to properly manage the exploitation of the resource.

Such an economy will be at high risk if the prices of the exported products are volatile and this one horse economy becomes boom-bust.

The objective of economic adjustment/development then is not necessarily, as Best suggests, taking charge of the staple resource or even nationalisation or expropriation of the foreign-owned plants etc, but in diversifying the economy into more varied products and services and so reducing the overall risk in the economy in earning foreign exchange.

This, then, is about turning the indigenous enterprise in part away from import, distribution and  sales into creating exporting companies, not necessarily like those in the traditional exporting sector. The concern, however, is how does the history of the plantation in the sense of the SOE affect the ability of the indigenous enterprise sector to adapt away from its traditional role to the higher risk of exporting globally, when competitiveness in such a market is about knowledge acquisition, its application, creation and innovation?

However Best concludes, as already noted, that dependence on an imported enterprise builds local backwardness as opposed to countries whose entrepreneurial dynamic is indigenous.

But the local enterprise in the SOE exists and it is different from the imported enterprise, though the success of the former depends on the foreign exchange income generated by the latter.

Therefore, the problem is not assured backwardness of the indigenous enterprise, but its ability to adapt to new and competitive global exporting.

This is the concern that Prof John Foster examines using his complex theory of economies and the risk of non-adaptability in an economic sector that has not experienced significant changes in its history.

Mary K King

Colm Imbert, Minister of Finance; Richard Young, chairman of the T&T International Financial Centre, and Stephen Bagnarol, senior vice-president and head, Caribbean South and East of Scotiabank, were among officials who attended the formal opening of Scotiabank’s Operations and Shared Services Company Ltd (OSSCL) at Bhim Street, Ramsaran Park, Chaguanas on Wednesday.

The establishment of the OSSCL, according to Stephen Bagnarol, is one of the greatest examples of the ongoing partnership between Scotiabank and the Government and numerous related agencies including the T&T International Financial Centre and the T&T Free Zone Company.

Bagnarol said that with the establishment of the shared services hub, Scotiabank has demonstrated its commitment to T&T and the wider Caribbean.

The shared services hub houses the bank’s back-office operations, inclusive of: account processing, reconciliation, lending verification and credit function, customer support, compliance and enhanced due diligence and collection services for T&T and 17 other countries in the wider Caribbean region.

According to Bagnarol, T&T was selected as a preferred location as the infrastructure and telecommunications network are well established, with the capacity to support cross border operations with other regional players.

Another important factor, Bagnarol said, was the availability of a diverse and skilled workforce where English is the primary language.

Richard Young, former managing director of Scotiabank, and now the chairman of the T&T International Financial Centre told guests that he feels a profound sense of satisfaction and pride, since back in 2012, he was instrumental in getting the Free Zone regulation changed to accommodate Scotiabank’s venture into the shared services industry.

The OSSCL, Young said, started off by creating over 450 jobs and today through this expansion has increased the numbers to over 750, making OSSCL the largest SSC in T&T.

Darren Bravo stroked 130 to lead Queen’s Park I to first innings points PowerGen on the second and final day of the sixth round of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

In a low-scoring encounter, Bravo was the difference as he knocked 140 in their first innings total of 240.

PowerGen in response was bowled out for a paltry 123. Batting a second time, Queen’s Park made 61/1 with skipper Justin Guillen playing a blinder in getting an unbeaten 41. PowerGen in their second innings reached 40/2 when the game ended in a draw.

Leaders Alescon Comets were dealt a blow by Victoria United, as they defeated them on first innings at Barrackpore. Chasing Victoria’s first innings score of 201, Comets fell short at 186 all out. Batting a second time Victoria reached 211 for nine wickets and declared at that point and the match was called off.

Central Sports took first innings points over QPCC II after a good all round performance from their batsmen. Resuming on 200/7, Kisoondath Magram finished off the Parkites for 202, ending with 5/53. Keddy Lesporis 66, Shazan Babwah 45, Jyd Goolie 40, Kamil Pooran 25, Adrian Ali 21, Al Small 23 and Vishan Jaggessar 22 batted well to take Central Sports to 285 all out. Batting a second time QPCC II reached 18 without loss when the game was called off as a draw.

Merryboys took first innings points over FC Clarke Road at St. Anthony’s College thanks to an excellent knock of 91 by national player Amir Jangoo. The left hander smashed 91, as Merryboys replying to Clarke Road’s 129 made 199 when the match was called off as a draw.

TTCB PREMIERSHIP I SCORES

AT THE OVAL: QPCC I 240 (Darren Bravo 130, Yannick Carriah 43, Nicolas Pooran 26, Keon Harding 3/65) & 61/1 dec VS Powergen 123 & 40/2. Match drawn.
AT ST ANTHONY’S COLLEGE: FC Clarke Road United 129 all out (Sean Siloch 36, Nicholas Sookdeosingh 29, Dejourn Charles 26, Utman Mohammed 5/30, Rishard Harris 5/20) vs Merryboys 199 (Amir Jangoo 91, Kerwyn Sirju 6/65, Yannick Ottley 2/27). Match drawn.
AT BARRACKPORE: Victoria 201 (Marcelle Jones 55) & 211/9 dec VS Alescon Comets 186. Match drawn.
AT FATIMA: QPCC II 202 all out (Kirstan Kallicharan 93, Joshua DeSilva 76, Christopher Vincent 3/33, Kissoondath Magram 5/53) & 18/0 VS Central Sports 285 all out (Keddy Lesporis 66, Shazan Babwah 45, Jyd Goolie 40, Kamil Pooran 25, Adrian Ali 21, Al Small 23, Vishan Jaggessar 22, Darren Deonarine 4/61, Philton Williams 3/46)—match drawn.

T&T Volleyball Federation (TTVF) president, Nicole Selvon, has agreed to the request of close to a dozens club for a special general meeting on April 12 at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena (CRISA), Chaguanas from 7 pm.

Last week, in a an unprecedented move, 11 clubs, with many others supporting, signed a constitutionally recognised petition to have a special general meeting called by the executive of the local volleyball federation with the aim of removing delegate vice-president and former national player Vaughn Martin.

The representatives of the 11 clubs include former executive member Deon Hutchinson (West Side Stars), Tamika Chandler (West Side Trendsetter), Macsood Ali (University of West Indies), Richard Lera (Smashers), Saderami Williams (West Side Dream Team), Winston Samuel (Secondary Schools Volleyball League), Kanhai Sirju (Challengers), Stacey Dickson (BIG South East Port-of-Spain), Gideon Dickson (Police Volleyball Club), Naresh Koono (Vishnu Boys Volleyball), Nolan Tash (University of Southern Caribbean), Colin Charles (Southern United Volleyball Academy), and Stefan Sahai (Naparima Cohorts Volleyball Club).

In the letter sent to the TTVF general secretary Cherese De Silva, the clubs asked that the meeting be held at a neutral venue owned by the Government of T&T, and have recommended the Central Regional Indoor Sports, Arena, Chaguanas on Thursday April 12, from 7 pm.

The clubs also asked that former presidents, Mushtaque Mohammed, the current Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) boss and Daymain Stewart, along with a representative of the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC) and Sports Company of T&T (Sportt) be invited to the meeting.

In their letter to the TTVF, the 11 clubs argued that the executive in its normal manner, has ignored the request which have led to the clubs consulting with International Sport Lawyer Dr Emir Crowne.

Dr Crowne has examined all the document provided and he cannot understand how an organisation with two lawyers in senior positions, president Nicole Selvon and Hans Manwaring (second vice president), can ignore such a straight forward process outlined in the organisation’s constitution.

In a short reply to the clubs dated April 5, Selvon stated: “Apologies for the delay in responding. Your letter dated March 25, 2018 requesting Special General Meeting according to Section 8 of the TTVF Constitution is noted.

“We will therefore make arrangements for the meeting as requested for April 12, 2018 at CRISA.”

Ahead of the agreed meeting the board suffered another blow as two other members, Lyndon Simmons and Shushanna Marshall tendered their immediate resignation on Thursday last.

Simmons was the public relations officer and only joined the board following the resignation of elected Leroy Serapio while Marshall served as elected board member.

The joined Eva Nunez (treasurer), Lorraine David (assistant treasurer), Deon Hutchinson (first vice president), Crystal Williams-Joefield (assistant secretary), board member Saleem Ali and Nolan Daniel, who was the Tobago representative as others to have quit the board.

The only other person still part of the executive which is now down to four persons is general secretary Cherese De Silva.

The Selvon-led TTVF executive was elected unopposed after incumbent president Daymain Stewart decided not to contest after a turbulent four years in office on January, 14, last year.

Some 32 players will, on Sunday, battle for top honours in the first 701 Darts Tournament being hosted by Northwest Darts Association, in conjunction with Daybreak Cafe in Diego Martin. They will compete from 2 pm for cash prizes as well as bragging rights.

These players come from all areas of Trinidad including Arima and San Fernando. This tournament is the brainchild of the last year’s top player, Troy Bhujawan. His passion and commitment to the sport of darts has motivated him to promote the sport however and wherever he can.

Bhujawan recently set up dartboards at Daybreak and reported that patrons had already started playing and showing keen interest. His aim is to introduce more people to the sport and give them an avenue to develop their skills.

Earlier this month, Bhujawan also won the second annual Harrows 501 Tournament hosted by the Northwest Darts Association at the Harvard Club, which was sponsored once again by the Achievement Centre, agents for Harrows Darts equipment.

This makes it the second consecutive win for Bhujawan and he plans to go for the hat-trick next year. The public is invited to come and witness some of the top players in the country in action.

T&T trio of Luc O’Young, Derron Douglas and Jalen Kerr were all ousted in their respective quarterfinal matches of the main draw stage of their respective divisions when the 23rd Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Cadet and Junior Championship Singles competition concluded in La Habana, Cuba on Saturday.

In the Junior Division, Group One three-player series, O’Young defeated Jamaican Malique Rose 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 and Cuba ‘B’ Carlos Fernandez 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 to end with a perfect 2-0 record and top spot.

But after receiving a round-of-16 bye in the main draw, O’Young went under to Cuba’s Ovidio Sanchez 2-11, 6-11, 8-11 with a semifinal spot at stake.

It was the same out for Douglas and Kerr in the Cadet Boys tournament after both players ended with 2-1 win loss records in their qualifying groups to move into the knockout stage as group runners-up.

In Group Three, Douglas defeated Dominican Republic’s Andres Lora 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 but went under to Cuba ‘A’ Raonel Labrador 11-9, 3-11, 6-11, 11-7, 8-11 before he secured a knockout spot with victory over Azizi Johnson of Jamaica 11-3, 11-8, 11-7.

Up next for Douglas was a round-of-16 encounter against Cuba’s Eider Padron which the T&T players won 9-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9, before losing to another home town player, Dariel Marti, 10-12, 9-11, 9-11.

In Group Six, Kerr outplayed Dominican Republic’s Marcos Tavarez 11-7, 11-5, 12-10; stumbled against Cuba ‘B’ Eider Padron 5-11, 5-11, 5-11 but recovered to beat St Lucian Kenneth John 15-13, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6.

And in the round-of-16 he went under to Aruba’s Benny Chingho Chung.

The T&T players also competed in the doubles with Douglas and Kerr easing past Jamaicans Jordan Campbell and Azizi Johnson 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 in the round-of-16.

The T&T duo was then stopped by Cubans, Adrian Perez and Raonel Labrodor 5-11, 9-11, 8-11.

It was a thriller down at Munroe Road, Charlieville, where Moosai Sports Club pulled off a narrow one-run win over Preysal Phoenix in the Premiership Division in the T&T Women’s Cricket Association’s (TTWCA) Twenty20 (T20) competition on Wednesday evening.

A combination of batting from Leeann Kirby and the allround performance of Kirbynia Alexander led Moosai to victory in the exciting affair to put Moosai in third spot with 12 points behind leader Hibiscus Ladies (13 points) and Technocrats (13 points), respectively on the points table after nine rounds of matches.

Kirby led the scoring with a half-century (64) while Alexander added 32 and Jade Chadee 21 to help their team post 162-6 from its 20 overs.

Phoenix’s Kajol Dalgir (2/23) and Shenelle Lord (1/8) were the main wicket-takers to hold Moosai to what appeared to be an achievable score as Reniece Boyce flourished during her team’s reply.

She too scored a half-century (65) while fellow batsman Leandra Ramdeen, the Most Valuable Player of the recently concluded Regional Invitational Under-19 Tournament, produced 29 and Renelle Dookie hit an unbeaten 21 as their team looked set to reach its target.

However, Alexander had other ideas and went on to lead the Moosai bowling attack picking up 2/27 and Kamara Ragoobar helped with 1/21 to stop Phoenix at 161-6 in its 20 overs.

In another match at Crown Street in Tacarigua, Hibiscus kept its edge over Technocrats with a seven-wicket win. Although both teams are levelled on points, Hibiscus holds the top spot due to a better net run rate (NRR) ahead of the final round of matches on Wednesday.

The winner of the group stage proceeds to the final versus the winner of qualifier two. The third and fourth place teams will battle in qualifier one for a place in the semifinal (qualifier two) against the team in second place. Both matches will be played on Sunday at a venue to be announced. The final is tentatively scheduled for April 21 at 6 pm. The finale in the Championship Division is carded on that same day from 2 pm following the same format above.

Preysal Archivers have already booked its spot in the final finishing at the head of the table with an unreachable 11 points and awaits the other finalist.

The University of the West Indies (UWI), who is in second spot with eight points, sealed a 26-run victory over Waterloo Allstars in the previous round of matches.

SCORES

At Crown Street
Technocrats 104-6 (20) (Jodiann Morgan 41; Karishma Ramharack 2/9’ Alice Collins 2/26) vs Hibiscus 105-3 (16.2) (Akaze Thompson 25 not out, Rosalie Dolabaille 20; Alysha Gomez 1/21, Stacy Ann King 1/25). Hibiscus won by 7 wickets.
At Munroe Road
Moosai 162-6 (20) (Leeann Kirby 64, Kirbynia Alexander 32, Jade Chadee 21; Kajol Dalgir 2/23; Shenelle Lord 1/8) vs Preysal Phoenix 161-6 (20) (Reniece Boyce 65, Leandra Ramdeen 29, Renelle Dookie 21 not out; Kirbynia Alexander 2/27, Kamara Ragoobar 1/21). Moosai won by 1 run.
At Brothers Roads Recreation Ground
Players 136-4 (20) (Nadia Mohammed 47 not out, Sheriene Ramkissoon 31 not out; Jovanka Simon 2/8) vs Cricket Lovers 128-3 (15.4) (Nicole George 46, Jovanka Simon 28 not out; Shanmatee Nowrang 1/17, Sheriene Ramkissoon 1/28). Cricket Lovers won on faster run rate.
Points Table
(NB: 2 points per win; 1 point for a no result)
Wednesday’s matches (Final Round)
Hibiscus vs Moosai, Crown Street
Preysal Phoenix vs Cricket Lovers, Inshan Ali Park
Technocrat vs Players, To be Announced
Sunday’s Qualifiers
Qualifier 1: 3rd place vs 4th place, 10 am
Qualifier 2: 2nd place vs Winner Qualifier 1, 2 pm
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Avidesh Samaroo Ground
Cricket Divas 104-6 (20) (Sylvia Bolah 42 not out, Lucy Bolah 17; Hema Mahabir 2/21, Tiffany Assoon 2/8) vs Achievers 78-6 (20) (Anjanie Goordeen 15, Atiya Lara 15, Tiffany Assoon 12; Tasneem Juman 2/11, Danielle Heraldo 2/14). Cricket Divas won by 26 runs.
UWISPEC
UWI 119-8 (20) (Latoya Garraway 23, Akhma Regis 20, Shuntelle Morris 17 not out; Aaliyah Williams 4/24, Vidya Bholia 2/19, Shana Callender 2/25) vs Waterloo Allstars 93-7 (20) (Selina Isaac 24, Sherry Ann Harry 12, Avalon Nainsool 11; Ayah Baksh 2/15). UWI won by 26 runs.
Wednesday’s matches (Final Round)
Cricket Divas vs UWI, Avidesh Samaroo Ground
Waterloo Allstars vs JFK, Brickfield Recreation Ground
Sunday’s Qualifiers (UWI Administrative Ground-Tentatively)
Qualifier 1: 3rd place vs 4th place, 10 am
Qualifier 2: 2nd place vs Winner Qualifier 1, 2 pm.

The committee appointed by Cabinet to fast track stalled private sector projects will focus on initiatives valued at $10 million or more that will help diversify the local economy away from dependency on oil and gas.

These are among the terms of reference for the group, chaired by businessman Christian Mouttet, which has already started meeting with private entities, including the T&T Chamber of Commerce, the T&T Manufacturers Association and the American Chamber of Commerce.

According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister, the committee will not be implementing new projects but will facilitate their progress through the various state entities using existing procedures.

Its terms of reference include that projects must:

• originate from the private sector (local or foreign) and with access to funding (either local or foreign; not from government);
• support and boost the manufacturing and tourism industries;
• support and encourage innovation, import substitution and job creation;
• must be “value added job creation” and not ‘middle-man’ type jobs or projects;
• would improve the quality of life for the citizenry without competing with existing state enterprises. Ideas may include; innovative low-cost housing, power generation and food production.

Private entities wishing to seek the committee’s assistance can email its Secretariat at govpsimplementationcommittee@gmail.com.

Overall market activity resulted from trading in 12 securities of which one advanced, four declined and seven traded firm.

Trading activity on the First Tier Market registered a volume of 108,997 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $2,224,506.02. Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited was the volume leader with 29,429 shares changing hands for a value of $229,521.20, followed by NCB Financial Group Limited with a volume of 24,363 shares being traded for $151,604.60. T&T NGL Limited contributed 20,792 shares with a value of $574,469.65, while Guardian Holdings Limited added 19,574 shares valued at $313,180.

One Caribbean Media Limited enjoyed the day’s sole price increase, climbing $0.05 to end the day at $12.48. Conversely, First Citizens Bank Limited registered the day’s largest decline, falling $0.11 to close at $32.59.

Clico Investment Fund was the only active security on the Mutual Fund Market, posting a volume of 1,828 shares valued at $36,836.55. It remained at $20.15.

In Monday’s trading session the following reflect the movement of the TTSE Indices:
• The Composite Index declined by 1.41 points (0.11 per cent) to close at 1,259.
• The All T&T Index declined by 0.78 points (0.05 per cent) to close at 1,699.62.
• The Cross Listed Index declined by 0.28 points (0.25 per cent) to close at 110.37.

Against a backdrop of contrasting regional and international economic conditions, the Sagicor Group achieved improvements in revenue, net income and equity for the 2017 financial year.

In a report on the results which has been posted to the T&T Stock Exchange, chairman Stephen McNamara told shareholders: “Regionally, the Caribbean experienced modest economic growth, but continued to engage in fiscal consolidation through various measures of tax increases and public expenditure cuts to reduce high levels of public debt. Internationally, the USA experienced growth, increases in interest rates and a significant, but favourable change in its tax regime for business.”

He said the group’s net income increased by US$6 million from US$109.3 million in 2016, while group equity was US$932.3 million, compared to US$795.4 million in the prior year, an increase of US$136.9 million.

Net income attributable to shareholders was US$72.2 million, compared to US$61.7 million in the prior year, an increase of US $10.5 million. Earnings per common share was US 23.7¢—an annualised return on common shareholders’ equity of 13.3 per cent compared to 12.6 per cent for the prior year.

Total revenue increased to US$1,220.9 million, compared to US $1,134.1 million the previous year, an increase of US$86.8 million or 7.7 per cent. Net premium revenue reached US$745.6 million, compared to US$664 million, an improvement of US$81.6 million or 12.3 per cent. Premium income increased in all segments and benefited from the issuance of a single premium annuity relating to the group’s Jamaica segment.

McNamara said: “Exchange gains/(losses) also showed a loss of US$4.2 million, compared to gains of US$12.6 million in the prior year, a reduction of US$16.8 million. Foreign exchange movements were affected by a strengthening of the Jamaica dollar when compared to the United States dollar in 2016, resulting in foreign exchange declines in financial assets denominated in United States dollars in our Jamaica segment.

“Overall, the company experienced a gain on translation of the Jamaica segment, which is reported in other comprehensive income. In addition, the prior year included exchange gains relating to declines in the Trinidad dollar, when compared to the United States dollar, there was no significant foreign exchange movement, relative to this currency in 2017.”

As at December 31, 2017, Sagicor’s assets amounted to US $6.8 billion, up from US$6.5 billion in 2016 and liabilities closed at US$5.9 billion, compared to US$5.7 billion for the previous year.

Sagicor is listed on the Barbados and T&T Stock Exchanges and the London Exchange.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley may have generated more questions than answers to the changes he made in his cabinet lineup yesterday.

It was clear that he had to do something about Darryl Smith who had sought to be the “best performing minister” but who, to put it mildly, appears to have had performance issues.

Shifting Smith to the housing ministry that the PM will now head appears to be one way of keeping tabs on him while saving him from the ignominy of a firing.

The PM seems hesitant to fire people without giving them a chance to redeem themselves.

Take the case of Marlene McDonald who has had several reincarnations while still facing the prospect of an inquiry into her actions in former portfolios.

And what of Shamfa Cudjoe as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs who many regarded as being out of her depth in the tourism ministry?

Is Cudjoe’s replacement in tourism expected to bring any new vibrancy to the ministry and put an end to the petty squabbles we have heard about?

None of the reaction has been positive and confirms the feeling that the PM had started out with a weak cabinet that did not have the capacity to deliver the kind of administration he promised.

Reshuffles are often expected to bring a new dynamism to the cabinet and give some ministers an opportunity to shine even brighter.

We are not convinced that yesterday’s changes will have that kind of impact.

Gender policy
Had it been fully in place, the National Policy in Gender and Development would have at least provided a basis for more level-headed discussions of two burning gender issues.

Yesterday’s protest by LGBTI activists outside Parliament and Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus’ revelation that there has never been a policy on sexual harassment in the public service, show up gaps and shortcomings on matters of gender that can potentially hinder progress in key areas.

The reality is that no framework currently exists in T&T to facilitate full and equal participation of men and women in the development process all because no political administration is willing to push past conflicts over sexual orientation and reproductive rights.

Ahye Ahye!

Tommy Joseph already has the chorus. He tried it out yesterday morning on Vibe CT105 as the morning team broke the news that our golden girl Michelle had just struck gold on the Gold Coast. It reminds us of Sparrow’s Penny when she won the Miss Universe crown in 1977.

Having written critically about the harm the SEA exam is doing to our children and the lack of a family-oriented paediatric service in the PICU at EWMSC, it was gratifying to have two positive experiences last week. On Monday I was shown, by a new mother, a notification titled, “Kids Get Warm Welcome at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital: New mothers can welcome their entire home at their bedside to meet the newest member of their family!” That’s a move in the right direction. Congratulations to the staff.

On Friday a child came in needing referral to an eye specialist. Parents were having some problems getting the referral at the Health Centre. Two phone calls later, problem solved, the system worked and hopefully by today the child will be on the way to recovery. Congrats to my two colleagues who assisted. They know who they are.

So, despite the best efforts of incompetent, racially motivated politicians moving around in escorted cars and helicopters while the rest of us fight up with the traffic on land, sea and air, we have some commendable things going on.

My friends, old fogies all, beg to differ. Through their rum or nowadays, whiskey-tinted spectacles, they affirm that things were better in the forties, fifties and sixties. Not only in T&T. World was healthier, less epidemics, less wars, less violence, they like to say. People were happier.

Some of them like to wax poetic about life in ancient agricultural societies and speechify about the pleasures of the simple life, when women knew their place, no doubt on their backs.

Some statistics seem in order. In the late twentieth century life expectancy doubled, from 40 to70-plus. Most of this is because we have virtually eliminated premature death ie death from childhood infectious diseases. In the so-called “golden age” of the fifties, children in T&T were dying in droves from malaria, typhoid fever, gastro, diphtheria and polio. I saw children with tetanus and whooping cough on the paediatric wards at Port-of-Spain Hospital as late as 1980. There were few premature babies around to increase the ranks of the disabled. Most died. I have figures from the Prem Unit at POSGH from the 70’s.

Fifty per cent mortality in 1979. Death was so common grieving parents were comforted, “You could make ah nex one!” Sex, the second great island reliever.

Now a child’s death is an automatic cause for a lawsuit or investigation.

These days, less than five per cent of children die before reaching adulthood. In the developed world the rate is under one per cent. Vaccinations, antibiotics, improved hygiene and a better medical infrastructure are the reasons. Not diet as so many people think. Smallpox has been eradicated.

You can estimate the age of people by checking for the smallpox scar on their arms. If it’s there, they were born before 1979, the last year when smallpox vaccination was given anywhere in the world. If it were not for some radical, fundamentalist Muslim groups in Nigeria and Afghanistan and a corrupt, communist regime in Venezuela, we would be close to doing the same thing for measles and polio.

Poverty was endemic in the fifties; starving, marasmus were common on the wards. Today the problem is overweight. In 2010 famine and malnutrition combined killed about one million people, whereas obesity killed three million. In 2014 more than two billion people were overweight compared to 850 million who suffered from malnutrition. Half of mankind is expected to be overweight by 2013. One third of Trinidadians is overweight already.

People say there’s too much violence? In 2010 obesity and related illnesses killed about three million people, terrorists killed a total of 7,697. For the average Trinidadian, Milo poses a far deadlier threat than ISIS.

What’s the problem then? Not only old fogies with warped memories but expectations. It took little to make someone happy 70 years ago. How do you bring joy today, to bored, overpaid and overweight people who believe they are entitled?

Ireland and Poland are two European countries that are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. The religion counts for about 80 per cent of Ireland’s five million population, and 95 per cent of Poland’s 40 million population.

Even though religious freedom is a constitutionally protected right in both countries, they are in the midst of re-examining their laws regarding abortion. Ireland’s government is debating a new amendment that would legalise the procedure.

Whereas Poland, which already has the toughest anti-abortion laws in Europe, the ruling right-wing party is attempting to implement a bill that would further restrict access to it.

These are just two situations in the ongoing secular debate on whether the state should defy the teachings of a higher authority for the purpose of serving a “greater” good.

Two days from now, on April 12, the High Court will rule on the buggery statutes of the Sexual Offences Act (sections 13 and 16) in the landmark case that was filed by Trinidad-born gay rights activist Jason Jones. It’s a day that’s been a long time coming for the local LGBT community and–dare I say–should have come a long time ago. However, it’s ironic how both the current and previous prime ministers have paid lip service to their cause but ended up lacking the political will to address it directly.

Even worse, the reality that both administrations have abandoned it to a political no man’s land shows that they either don’t care about the issue or remain beholden to the religious interests amongst the electorate.

Earlier last month, Bishop Victor Gill of the Redemption Christian Centre, led a small gathering outside Parliament to voice their objection to the proposed repeal of the Buggery Laws. While making it clear that he harbours no resentment towards homosexuals and members of the LGBT community, he claimed to be acting in the best interests of the country and was speaking on behalf of thousands of citizens. He said that it was “scientifically proven” (it’s not) that there’s a correlation between sexual perversion and an increase in crime and that, “…gay rights should not be superior to heterosexual rights.”

This sentiment was repeated during a media conference held last Wednesday by the Christian non-governmental organisation, T&T Cause, announcing their intention to hold another protest outside the Hall of Justice on the day of the court’s ruling.

Taking centre stage once again, Bishop Gill was of the opinion that LGBT persons are not entitled to equal rights as, “… (homosexuality) is not a human right, it is a human wrong.”

Unfortunately, this twisted logic is not unique to religious fundamentalists and strikes a similar chord to Sat Maharaj’s staunch defence of the age allowance in the Hindu Marriage Act.

Notwithstanding the rationale behind such ecclesiastical thinking, even if the intention lacks overt malice, religion must not trump reason when it comes to basic human rights. When this government set the minimum age for marriage at 18-years-old, it risked alienating the Hindu and Muslim communities but was nonetheless the right thing to do as it protects the rights of ALL under age children, both girls and boys.

It’s just a shame that the same legislative fortitude is lacking when it comes to protecting the rights of gay citizens. And the issue is instead being left up to the courts to determine whether the before-mentioned law is unconstitutional.

We’ve all heard some version of the adage that “doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest or the most popular thing to do”. Well Trinidad and Tobago, we are about to face one of those moments. Even if the law has never been enforced, as long as it remains on the books it labels some of our citizens as criminals due to their sexual orientation. That notion cannot be allowed to continue.

So to those citizens who feel that their religious beliefs will be offended by removing the Buggery Laws, tough! If the teachings of a higher authority can’t bequeath equality for all under heaven then they have no say when it comes to the making and rescinding of laws on earth.

CineLit is an innovative hybrid of film and literature and one of the highlights of the eight annual T&T literary festival, the NGC Bocas Lit Fest.

Thirty-one films from over 22 countries, including 17 films in Spanish and Portuguese, all subtitled, and range from award-winning feature films based on the work of some of Latin America’s greatest writers, to children’s animations and stirring documentaries about contemporary life. All free, with a choice of seeing them at UWI, St Augustine or at Nalis, Port-of-Spain, between April 16-29.

Comedy, tragedy, romance are all part of the CineLit mix, plus another chance to see two memorable films in English: the prize-winning Green Days by the River, directed by Trinidadian Michael Mooledhar and adapted for the big screen from the popular Michael Anthony 1950s coming-of-age novel; and in collaboration with Green Screen the Environmental Film Festival, Death by a Thousand Cuts, a striking documentary that tells the story of the unending struggle between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, this time over the illicit exploitation of the remaining forest for charcoal that Haitians depend on but which has lead to severe deforestation.

Migration of Caribbean people and its effect is one of the themes of the 2018 festival, and the movement of music with its practitioners as they travelled to escape or find work around the Caribbean basin is a remarkable story. Ferguson is a documentary about Walter Ferguson, the King of Calypso from Limon in Costa Rica where English-speaking “caribeños” settled and their music took root.

In a panel discussion that follows the screening on April 27, Rudolph Ottley, author of Ambataila Women: The Untold Story in Calypso from Chanterelle to Calypsonian 1838-2014, discusses the annual Caribbean calypso festival in Limon with Maria Nunes, the photographer who is archiving T&T’s cultural heritage.

Having its world premiere is a series of films specially produced in collaboration with international partners in an NGC Bocas Lit Fest initiative. Pacific Voices brings together six poets from around the world together with six film makers who interpret their work in short films.

From T&T award-winning director Maya Cozier teams up with Kayo Chingonyi from the UK, and multi-prizewinning poet Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné has her work interpreted by Puleng Langa Sturart from South Africa.

Wayne Brown was a journalist and writer whose name still resonates with many younger Caribbean writers, having mentored several of them in his native T&T, and in Jamaica where he later lived. His filmmaker daughter Mariel Brown’s new film Unfinished Sentences brings the private life of this touchstone literary father into focus and sheds new light on his relationship with the own daughters.

Unlike the other CineLit films being screened free of charge at Nalis, the T&T premiere of Unfinished Sentences will be screened at the Central Bank Auditorium, price $180 to include a welcome cocktail reception on April 26, at 6.30 pm.

Like Green Days by the River, there will be only one screening. All other films receive repeat screenings.

A full CineLit film progamme is at: www.bocaslitfest.com.

CineLit is a collaboration between the Latin American embassies, Spain, UWI and the NGC Bocas Lit Fest. It is part of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest. Title sponsor is the National Gas Company; lead sponsor is First Citizens; main sponsors are the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts and One Caribbean Media.
Massy Foundation and UWI are also sponsors.

FILM LIST

MONDAY, APRIL 16
All films screened on
UWI St Augustine Campus
11 am: Mañana no te olvides
(Don’t forget tomorrow)
Comedy/Drama ∙ 2017 ∙ 110 mins ∙ Dominican Republic ∙ PG
Director: José Enrique Pintor
Widowed Roberto, suffering from Alzheimer’s, goes to live with his daughter’s family and unexpectedly he and his grandson, 22-year-old Jan who has Downs Syndrome, find a new closeness and solace in each other.
Venue: CLL Auditorium, UWI
5 pm: Guamá: Entre el mar y la montaña (Guamá: Between the sea and the mountain)
Drama ∙ 2015 ∙ 21 mins ∙ Cuba ∙ All Ages
A film about a multi-layered community project designed to protect the special Guamá coastal region in southern Cuba, vulnerable to the extreme effects of climate change.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
5.30 pm: Ferguson, El Trovador de Cahuita (Ferguson, the Troubadour of Cahuita)
Documentary ∙ 2010 ∙ 25 mins ∙ Costa Rica ∙ All Ages
A documentary on the life and career of the greatest exponent of calypso from Limón, Walter Ferguson, “Calypso King” of Costa Rica’s Caribbean region.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
TUESDAY, APRIL 17
All films screened on
UWI St Augustine Campus
11 am: La Matamoros (Matamoros)
Documentary ∙ 2016 ∙ 60 mins ∙ Panamá ∙ PG
Director: Delfina Vidal
1940s factory worker Marta Matamoros became a pioneering unionist fighting for the rights of Panamanians. Incorruptible and unbending despite imprisonment, she achieved the minimum wage and maternity leave for workers. Her former sister-in-arms recounts her inspiring life story with love and admiration.
Venue: CLL Auditorium, UWI
1pm: La Fiesta del Chivo (The Feast of the Goat)
Drama ∙ 2005 ∙ 132 mins ∙ Peru ∙ 17+
Director: Luis Llosa
Film version of Nobel Prize-winner Mario Vargas Llosa’s best-selling novel, telling the story of Urania Cabral an independent-minded Manhattan lawyer who, after 30 years, returns to the Dominican Republic to face the ghosts of her earlier life there under the ruthless dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, aka El Chivo (The Goat).
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI 5 pm: La Novia (The Bride)
Drama ∙ 2015 ∙ 94 mins ∙ Spain ∙ 13+
Director: Paula Ortiz
Two men, one woman, one wedding and one desire. The story of a passion that destroys the lives of those who suffer the tragedy of a forbidden love. A film full of poetry and cinematic beauty based on Federico García Lorca’s famous drama, Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding). Awards: Goya Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
All films screened on
UWI St Augustine Campus
11 am: La Fiesta del Chivo (The Feast of the Goat)
Drama ∙ 2005 ∙ 132 mins ∙ Peru ∙ 17+
Director: Luis LLosa
Film version of Nobel Prize-winner Mario Vargas Llosa’s best-selling novel, telling the story of Urania Cabral an independent-minded Manhattan lawyer who, after 30 years, returns to the Dominican Republic to face the ghosts of her earlier life there under the ruthless dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, aka El Chivo (The Goat).
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
1.30 pm: La tierra y la sombra (Land and Shade)
Drama ∙ 2015 ∙ 94 mins ∙ Colombia ∙ 13+
Director: César Augusto Acevedo
Battling illness, poverty and family breakdown, Alfonso and his family reunite to face one of their worst struggles to survive the drudgery and hardship of the sugarcane workers’ daily life. Awards: Cannes Camera d’Or, Best First Feature.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
5 pm La Fórmula del Doctor Funes (Dr Funes’ Formula)
Children’s comedy ∙ 2014 ∙ 82 mins ∙ México ∙ All Ages
Director: José Buil
Film version of Francisco Hinojosa’s novel about Dr. Funes, who discovers a formula to achieve eternal youth, and when he tests it on himself he becomes a 12-year-old who embarks on new adventures with his friend Martín Poyo.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI
THURSDAY, APRIL 19
All films screened on
UWI St Augustine Campus
1 pm: Los Libros y la Noche (Books and the night)
Documentary feature ∙ 2000 ∙ 78 mins ∙ Argentina ∙ PG
Director: Tristán Bauer
A film on the life of one of Argentina’s greatest writers, Jorge Luis Borges, based on his thoughts, ideology and literary works.
Venue: The UWI Film Unit, 8 Carmody Street, St. Augustine
5 pm: El Benny (The Life and Times of Benny Moré)
Musical drama∙ 2006 ∙ 132 mins ∙ Cuba ∙ 16+
Director: Jorge Luis Sánchez
The dramatic life of Cuba’s great musician Benny Moré during the 1950s is captured in this fictional account that includes new versions of his songs performed by Chucho Valdes, Juan Formell, Haila and Orishas. Awards: Best male actor, Locarno International Film Festival, Santo Domingo International Film Festival and Madrid International Festival; Best First Film, New Latin American Film Festival, Havana.
Venue: The UWI Film Unit, 8 Carmody Street, St Augustine
FRIDAY, APRIL 20
All films screened on
UWI St Augustine Campus
1 pm: Mutum
Drama ∙ 2007 ∙ 90 mins ∙ Brazil ∙ 13+
Director: Sanda Kogut
This adaptation of the novella General Field by celebrated writer João Guimarāes Rosa is a moving story of loss and innocence told through Thiago, a sensitive and hopeful boy growing up in Brazil’s rugged and arid sertão region of Minas Gerais in the 1930s.
Venue: CLL Auditorium, UWI
5pm: Cenizas eternas (Eternal Ashes)
Drama ∙ 2011 ∙ 113 mins ∙ Venezuela ∙ 17+
Director: Margarita Cadenas
An accident in the 1950s on the mythical Orinoco River in Venezuela destines Ana to live with the Yanomami tribe. Her daughter Elena cannot accept her disappearance and ventures into the jungle in search of her. A touching story of loss, love and survival, inspired by real events.
Venue: AV Room, The Alma Jordan Library, UWI