Colin Powell in TT
FORMER United States Secretary of State, retired General Colin Powell, and his wife, Alma Powell, are due in TT to launch the National Youth Mentorship Programme, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar and Minister of National Security John Sandy.
The event takes place today at 10 am at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).
General Powell will give the feature address and officially launch the mentorship programme. He and his wife are both leaders of “America’s Promise Alliance”, a cross section partnership of more than 400 organisations which engage in advocacy to improve the lives of young people.
The National Youth Mentorship Programme is being run by the Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education; Science, Technology and Tertiary Education; People and Social Development; and Sport and Youth Affairs. Later today, the Powells will attend a lunchtime reception at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, hosted by the Prime Minister.
He will also pay a courtesy call on President George Maxwell Richards this morning.
Masters 2011: Charl Schwartzel wins dramatic Masters
South Africa's Charl Schwartzel emerged from the pack to clinch his maiden major title on an absorbing final day at the 75th Masters.
The 26-year-old fired a closing 66, including birdies on the last four holes, to reach 14 under and beat Australian duo Jason Day (68) and Adam Scott (67) by two shots at Augusta.
American Tiger Woods (67), England's Luke Donald (69), and another Australian Geoff Ogilvy (67) tied for fourth at 10 under with Argentina's 2009 champion Angel Cabrera (71) nine under.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, 21, who led for three rounds, collapsed on the back nine and carded a round of 80 to end four under.
Schwartzel becomes the third South African to win the Masters on the 50th anniversary of Gary Player's breakthrough win for a non-American at Augusta. Player also won in 1974 and 1978, while Trevor Immelman triumphed in 2008.
"It was such an exciting day, with all the roars," said Schwartzel. "The atmosphere was just incredible."
His victory means that for the first time since 1994, none of the four majors are held by an American. He joins countryman Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open last July, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (US Open) and Germany's Martin Kaymer (US PGA).
Schwartzel, who was tied 30th on his debut last year, is a six-time winner on the European Tour and climbs to 11th in the world rankings.
The Johannesburg-born player started the final day tied second with Cabrera on eight under, four strokes off McIlroy's overnight lead.
But he made an electric start to the fourth round, chipping in from off the green for a birdie at the first and holing his second from the fairway for an eagle at the third hole to reach 11 under and share the lead with McIlroy, who bogeyed the first.
However, Schwartzel slipped back to 10 under at the fourth, where he would remain until his final birdie barrage.
McIlroy slipped further back at the fifth but recouped the stroke at the seventh and still led by one from Schwartzel, Cabrera, Choi and Woods after the ninth.
But when McIlroy endured a nightmare spell of triple-bogey, bogey, double bogey from the 10th, the tournament was wide open.
Scott became the first player to reach 12 under after a birdie on the 16th but could only par his way home.
"It's just disappointing that I didn't win when I held the lead with a few holes to go," said the 30-year-old.
"I'm usually a pretty good closer. I didn't do a bad job but Charl was better. It was an incredible finish. I'm proud of the way I played but I'm disappointed that I didn't get it done when I was right there at the end."
Scott's playing partner Day birdied four of the last seven holes, including the last two to jump up to a tie for second with his compatriot.
However, he said: "You can't do anything about a guy who birdies the last four holes of a tournament.
"If you want to go out and win a tournament, that's how you do it.
"Obviously we fell short a little bit but it just shows how good Australian golf is right now."
At one stage it had looked like it was going to be Woods's day. The former world number one began the final round seven shots behind but four birdies in the first seven holes hinted at a potential charge up the leaderboard.
When he then eagled the eighth hole to get to 10 under and post a front nine score of 31, the momentum seemed to be behind him.
But he squandered birdie chances on the par-five 13th and par-three 16th when it looked like he was about to surge clear and had a good chance of an eagle on the 15th but could only make a birdie as he finished tied for fourth for the second straight year at Augusta.
"I got off to a nice start there and posted 31," he said. "And then on the back nine, I could have capitalised some more. It could have been. I hit it good all day."
His search for a 15th major continues as he looks to chase Jack Nicklaus's record of 18.
Australia's search for a first ever Green Jacket must wait another year. Scott and Day both challenged until the very end to match Greg Norman, who managed three second-placed finishes at Augusta.
Ogilvy made five birdies in a row from the 13th to get to 10 under and tie with Woods and Donald, who birdied four of the last six but then bogeyed the 17th to end any hopes he had of a first major. Donald's fourth place finish sees him move up to third in the world rankings.
Reigning champion Phil Mickelson never threatened as he shot 74 to finish well down the field.
Lee Westwood shot a closing round of 70, featuring four birdies and a double-bogey at the short 12th after finding water, to finish in a tie for 11th with compatriot Justin Rose, who carded a 68.
Ross Fisher finished on four under, with Scotland's Martin Laird a shot further back on his Masters debut.
Wayne Rooney deserved ban, says Sir Trevor Brooking
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney deserved his two-match ban for his "venomous" outburst of bad language, according to Sir Trevor Brooking.
Rooney was punished for swearing into a TV camera after scoring at West Ham.
Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development, said: "At the time I thought 'am I being old-fashioned about it?'.
"But I've had quite a few people come up to me and almost unanimously they have said the FA got it right."
Rooney accepted the FA's charge over his use of offensive language but argued unsuccessfully that a two-match ban was excessive.
He sat out Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham and will also miss next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.
The decision to ban the England striker was heavily criticised by club manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson claimed that the FA had changed its stance on swearing "midstream" in the season after Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore called for better behaviour from players and managers.
Brooking insisted that was not the case and told the Murnaghan programme on Sky News: "I think [Rooney's outburst] was pretty venomous, straight into a camera at lunchtime on a Saturday."
He added that the people who had approached him about Rooney's ban were "mainly people in the grassroots, dads, granddads like I am, who think something like that sends the wrong message out".
However, the former West Ham and England forward accepted the need to formulate clear disciplinary guidelines over the summer to ensure everyone in the game knows where they stand.
"The powers that be have got to sit down and say 'look, to help everyone you've got to get a consistency, for the referee so they know whatever decision they take there is going to be a general support from the different bodies," Brooking continued.
Eight debutants for Carifta swim
Eight new faces will represent T&T in the 11-12 age group at the Carifta Swimming Championships in Barbados from April 23-26. They are among ten representatives in this age group who will be anxious to contribute to T&T’s medal haul as the team seeks to win its third consecutive Carifta. Jewel Mulrain, Tariq Lashley, Revash Ramtahal, Amira Pilgrim and Gwillym Watkins are among the medal contenders.
Asatt has selected the best performers in this age group despite some not achieving the qualifying times. According to a release from Asatt, the idea behind this is that these swimmers are still in transition from junior to senior and this would allow them a fair opportunity to develop before the stringent qualifying times are enforced. Ramtahal and Mulrain were both finalists in last year’s Carifta. Chelsea Bynoe Sawyer and Mulrain were finalists at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Cuba. Aaron Acres, James Gillette, Lashley, Pilgrim and Watkins have represented T & T previously at the Goodwill Swim Meet. Gillette and Pilgrim are first year 11-12s. Pilgrim established a national record in the 9-10 50 fly last year and has made a qualifying time in her first attempt at Carifta.
Che Rel Edwards is also a first year 11-12 and this is her first national team ever. Lashley, who has migrated to Canada, has returned home to represent T&T in his debut at Carifta. Dave Ann Alves is in her first Carifta and she is the first athlete ever from the Point Fortin Community Swim Team to make a national team. While Asatt has made team selection easier for the 11-12s, their automatic selection on teams does not nullify their potential to medal.
At least two other current team members who have now progressed in age were non-qualifiers in 11-12 and brought home precious metal. In Aruba in 2008, Bryanna Duncan who is now in 13-14 won a bronze medal in the 100 butterfly. One year prior in Jamaica in 2007, Kareem Baptiste who is now in 15-17, won bronze in the 200 freestyle. With history on their side, the T & T 11-12s are going with an attitude that anything is possible. T & T last year boasted of the top 11-12s in the competition in Tyla Martin and Jabari Baptiste. Syriah David, who became a dominant force in T & T swimming last year was also a medallist.
Team
Girls
Amira Pilgrim,
Dave Ann Alves,
Che Rel Edwards,
Chelsea Bynoe Sawyer,
Jewel Mulrain
Boys
Aaron Acres,
Gwillym Watkins,
James Gillette,
Revash Ramtahal,
Tariq Lashle
Sarwan blasts unbeaten double
Test batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan shrugged off his omission from the West Indies Twenty20 squad to stroke an unbeaten double century for Georgetown Cricket Club in the Division One championship on Saturday. The right-hander, one of several changes to the senior squad to face the touring Pakistanis later this month, hit 203 to propel GCC to 359 for four in reply to Transport Sports Club’s 95 at Bourda. Sarwan, who had a subpar World Cup campaign, hammered 16 fours and nine sixes as he posted 284 for the fourth wicket with Guyana left-hander Vishaul Singh who carved out 121. Robin Bacchus, Ricardo Jadunauth and Leon Johnson all fell cheaply before Sarwan and Singh took the game away from the visitors on a flat track.
He emerged from a cautious start to march to his second consecutive Division One century, reaching the landmark with his 11th boundary. Singh eventually fell at 317 for four after hitting 14 fours while Sarwan remained unbeaten. At the Demerara Cricket Club, former West Indies Under-19 left-hander Gajanand Singh stroked a stylish 111 as DCC scored 223 against Everest who were dismissed for 80 in reply. DCC were 34 for three in their second innings at the close. At Eve Leary, 18-year-old national T20 left-arm pacer Andre Stoll cracked his maiden first division century (101) to help guide Police to 308 against Malteenoes who were 72 for two in reply. (CMC)
Ganga hosts golf April 23
The Daren Ganga Foundation (DGF) is hosting its second annual fundraising golf tournament on April 23 at the Millennium Lakes Golf & Country Club in Trincity. The tournament will host 60 teams of two golfers from throughout the Caribbean who will vie for ten pairs of attractive prizes. This tournament is a major fundraiser for the DGF—a non-profit company with the primary objective of nurturing and fostering the holistic development of the youth segment of T&T. West Indies batting legend, Gordon Greenidge and local football hero, Russell Latapy have both pledged their support for the tournament again this year, with Latapy promising to do better than his third place finish the last time around.
Last year’s winners, national player, Carlos “Sexy” Baynes and Logan Roopnarinesingh would again be trying to get their names on the challenge trophy through the sponsorship of Xtra Foods Ltd. Other participants include Windies batsman, Lendl Simmons and former WI spinner, Rajendra Dhanraj, while Daren and Sherwin Ganga are training hard in their effort to finish in the top half of the field.
Chairman of the foundation, Daren Ganga has expressed his thanks to this year’s major sponsors, Caribbean Airlines and bMobile, and extended an invitation for new teams to enjoy a day of good golf, great food, excellent prizes (including a Toyota car for a hole in one) and live entertainment by the popular new band, Howling Dog.
CARICOM's problems create doubt for trading partners
Could a moment come when the Caribbean's partners in Europe and North America reconsider the way they relate to the region?
Might the Caribbean's inability to make the regional integration process work lead to more emphasis being placed on bilateral or sub-regional relations, with the focus being on those nations and Caribbean institutions that deliver?
Although a policy of supporting regional integration remains, there is a growing sense beyond the region that unless the Caribbean is able to make viable the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), there may be utility in seeking engagement in other ways.
These issues have been thrown into sharp relief in the last weeks by the growing disjunction between the myth and reality of the region, and have been fuelled by events that have left a sense of uncertainty about whether Caricom, as it is, has the ability ever to deliver a viable regional integration process.
Last month, integration, which at its heart is about people, reached a new low when troubling events relating to the treatment of Caricom nationals wishing to move freely around the region hit the headlines in a manner that can no longer be contained.
In circumstances now well known and documented, a bitter dispute erupted between Barbados and Jamaica over the treatment by Barbadian immigration officials of a young Jamaican woman on her arrival at Grantley Adams International Airport.
shocking allegations
Her case subsequently led to similar and worse allegations being made by others, which, apart from their shocking nature, ought to raise questions about just how serious certain Caribbean governments are about ensuring that their authorities do not become surrogates for those who wish to deliver a political and xenophobic agenda that undercuts any last hope of retaining popular sentiment about regionalism
So serious has this become that Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding warned that such developments suggest that the movement towards the CSME is at risk from the actions of member countries of Caricom.
Golding affirmed that allegations were "not a matter that is new" in Caricom.
"As recently as the Caricom heads of government meeting in Grenada, the prime minister of St Vincent made complaints about the treatment of his nationals when they arrive in Barbados, and at the meeting before that, a similar complaint was made by the president of Guyana," he told Barbados' Starcom radio network.
"The deputy prime minister (of Jamaica) will confirm that at almost every heads of government meeting, the matter is raised," Golding said. He added, "We must be very careful not to allow an incident, no matter how deplorable or despicable it is reported to be, to undermine the regional integration movement."
This is the human side, but in recent months, the dysfunctional nature of the regional integration process has been matched by developments that in their own context are just as troubling.
When Caribbean heads of government met in Grenada in February, Caricom, as usual, issued an opaque communiqué.
But for the first time, it contained language that suggested that desire and reality had parted company, and delivery was no longer possible.
It stated: "Despite their concern at the slow pace of the regional integration movement, Heads of Government urged that the Community should not allow itself to be discouraged by the often-expressed views that CARICOM was in crisis. They urged instead, that the Region be viewed as being at the cross-roads of opportunity. Heads of Government are of the view that it is time for faith in the onward march of Caribbean civilisation and for progressive, enlightened and courageous action by a united Region strengthened by that self-belief".
Caricom heads have been no more successful in identifying a new secretary general.
Speculation now centres on the appointment of a head of state or prominent Caribbean figure from outside the region. However, it is hard to see, without a binding and sustained commitment by all heads to a structural change in Caricom's role in regional governance, how any significant successor to Sir Edwin Carrington will find the post attractive enough to take on.
brighter prospects
The prospects for Cariforum - the 15 members of Caricom, plus Cuba and the Dominican Republic - are a little brighter. Recently, when opening a meeting in Belize of Cariforum foreign ministers to consider restructuring its governance arrangements to meet the expanded responsibilities that came with the signing of the 2008 Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe, acting Caricom Secretary General Lolita Applewhaite exhorted participants to agree new structures and governance to ensure its efficacy.
"The benefits to be derived," she told partici-pants,"such as they are, will surely be maximised through Cariforum speaking with one voice, and through coordinated and cooperative efforts by all whenever that is possible."
Despite this, Caricom members were unable to agree to proposals from the Dominican Republic aimed at ending its marginalisation.
It had recommended that the grouping appoint its own secretary general as it could not accept that it could only report to the Council of Ministers through the secretary general of Caricom, arguing that its interests were sidelined when major decisions were taken, as it does not sit directly with the Caricom heads of government.
At other levels, too, the integration process is failing. It appears that only two Caribbean nations - Guyana and St Kitts-Nevis - have so far met their January 1, 2011, EPA treaty obligations on tariff dismantlement.
Key issues relating to food and energy security have not been resolved, and more generally, implementation of much of what has been argued over for many years has been delayed, or is subject to further dialogue.
All of which is not to denigrate Caricom's hard- working specialists who are faced with constant financial, governance, and logistical constraints. Nor is it to deny the vital importance of regionalism and integration.
Rather, it is to suggest that if the region's member states cannot agree for philosophical, financial, or nationalistic reasons to reforming Caricom's outmoded model, they are in danger of seeing political questions emerge about why external friends should be supporting integration in a region which has ceased to support it in practice.
If this should happen, then the Caribbean will find it much harder to obtain the international results it is seeking, and individual Caribbean nations will be picked off one by one at the United Nations or elsewhere through threats to deny financial or other forms of support.
David Jessop is director of the Caribbean Council. david.jessop@caribbean-council.org
T&T manufacturers looking to set up plants in Jamaica
MANUFACTURERS in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) including one large player are eyeing Jamaica with a view to establishing operations here, Minister of Industry Commerce and Investment Karl Samuda revealed last week.
"They (Trinidadians) are satisfied that the economic, political and social indicators are sufficiently encouraging for them to invest in Jamaica. They see Jamaica as an emerging destination that offers great opportunities for the future," Samuda stated.
He was addressing a press conference at his ministry on Wednesday following a visit to T&T by a Jamaican delegation headed by him.
But despite the interest being shown in Jamaica, Samuda is expressing confidence in Jamaica's ability to compete with T&T, despite Jamaica's much higher energy costs.
"When we see Trinidadians coming here to invest in productive enterprises, I hope nobody starts complaining that Trinidadians are taking over Jamaica, because they are prepared to put their money where their mouth is," he said.
The mission, which included representatives of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA), and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, JAMPRO and private companies, visited Trinidad and Tobago between March 27 and 30.
During the visit Samuda was impressed with the efforts by T&T to modernise its manufacturing sector.
"We saw factories with sophisticated equipment, but also old technology coexisting beside new technology; robotics working alongside ancient technology with the plan of moving out the old for new technology, and setting the stage for world-class competitiveness in our region," he said, adding "It behoves us to adopt that kind of approach in every manufacturing process we have in Jamaica."
Samuda, however, sought to downplay energy costs as the only reason for Jamaica not being able to compete with T&T, noting that there were other areas which Jamaica can leverage to compete regionally. He challenged Jamaican entrepreneurs to invest in new technology and training to compete in the manufacturing sector as their counterparts in T&T have done.
"We have a very productive population. Our people are easily adaptable to new technology, our people are quite competitive against any producer anywhere in this region once the appropriate training and machinery is in place", Samuda asserted.
The minister said T&T was keen on working with Jamaica to develop a common approach to standards compliance, to cut bureaucracy and establish trade linkages.
He said similar exchange visits to Jamaica by the T&T trade minister and private sector heads were in the works.
European banks face 'tougher' stress tests
Europe's banking regulator has said that banks will be subject to tougher tests in its latest examination of their finances.
It includes some Irish banks, including one which passed last year's test but later needed a government bail-out.
The regulator wants to ensure banks have sufficient capital to withstand more difficult economic scenarios.
The new tests involve 90 banks including Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group.
Barclays earlier announced it was moving 1.3bn euros ($1.9bn; £1.1bn) to its Spanish division to improve its reserves following government stress tests in Spain.
Stricter tests
Included in the 90 are some banks not tested before - such as the Irish Republic's Irish Life & Permanent (IL&P) and two Norwegian banks.
IL&P was ordered to raise 4bn euros last month after government stress tests in the Republic.
Many banks previously tested are included again, such as Allied Irish Bank. It was passed last time but later needed a government bail-out.
The tests outlined by the European Banking Authority (EBA) examine how banks would fare should economic conditions deteriorate further.
"The scenarios provided by the EBA are more severe," Peter Hahn from Cass Business School told BBC News.
They include a European recession and a 15% drop in European stock markets.
"They'll definitely be more credible this time than last time; it couldn't be worse," said Mr Hahn.
But despite widespread worries about countries' abilities to pay back their debts, the test will not examine what would happen were any country to default.
In all cases, banks should retain a 5% tier one capital ratio. The term refers to reserves which banks could use to deal with losses.
Banks in the UK have been told to ensure they have at least 10% in reserve, whilst the new Basel III international rules say banks must hold 7% from 2013.
Certain types of capital held by some German banks may not be counted this time - meaning they may have to raise extra cash.
A survey by investment bank Morgan Stanley found that fewer than 10 banks were expected to fail the test.
UK banks to be tested
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- HSBC
- Barclays
- Lloyds Banking Group
Those that do will need to raise capital, sell assets or reduce their loans.
Banks who fear they may fail the test are likely to raise funds in advance.
Three banks, Germany's Commerzbank, Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena have already announced plans to increase their capital reserves.
The results of the test are expected in June.
TNT shares drop 10% on impact of higher oil price
Shares in the Dutch logistics group TNT have fallen 10% after the company warned high oil prices and other problems would hit profits at its express unit.
The company cut its earlier forecast of operating income of 400m-420m euros ($607m, £370m) in 2011 for the unit, which it is planning to spin off.
A spokesman said that natural disasters would impact full-year profits.
He also pointed to disruption from the turmoil in the Middle East.
"Year-to-date trading conditions have been much more volatile than had been previously assumed. Volatility has been caused by a sharp increase in the oil price, social and political unrest and natural disasters," the company said in a statement.
TNT shares hit a 21-month low after the profits warning.
Performance in Europe had been satisfactory, it said, but other regions had suffered.
One country where performance for TNT Express has been particularly poor is Brazil, where it has had administrative problems. The company said it was addressing these issues with a new management team.
The company is planning to float its express unit from its core mail business as a separate entity late in May this year.
Its unsettled trading is at odds with its rivals, which include Deutsche Post, UPS and FedEx, which have raised prices and added fuel charges in order to offset higher oil costs.
World trade is expected to grow by 6.5% next year - something that delivery and logistic companies should be well-placed to profit from.