Planning Tip - January 30, 2017 - Understanding the differences

Here is a post which I did on Facebook to expand my knowledge and to remind my self of important information:

"Sometimes we may view ourselves as Sole traders, Individuals, Partners and we may never see ourselves as part of a Company or operating in the form and structure of a company.

I would suggest that to get ourselves to an understanding of where the other side is, that as far as possible, get something such as a blank corporation tax return or a partnership tax return and examine it.

Look at the differences.. As an individual, what do I do differently? I pay rent, now where would I put that in the company's tax return if I had to report on that? What would be the information which I would need to complete a receipt if I had to track my information correctly? Can I flip my understanding, my knowledge if I had to receive rent instead of pay it?

Have a look at the forms and see if we can spot the information and all of the spaces which may be required?

I am now laughing at myself....

Originally posted on Facebook -Planning Tip - Jan 29, 2017 - Understanding Upcoming Challenges

Here is a post which I did on Facebook in an attempt to allow persons to think creatively. 

"Over the next two months in Trinidad and Tobago, there are public holidays and or major events which are identified as occurring at the end of each month, Carnival Mon & Tues - Feb 27 & 28, 2017 & March 30, 2017. For those with bills to produce based on reports or deliveries which are time sensitive or other deadlines which are time sensitive or who would like to enjoy some of the weekend events, I would suggest:

1 Persons identify what needs to be done in a specific way as possible and in writing (with a copy being kept for their file).  Share this information with everyone as early as possible with updates being done as needed. This will assist newcomers to the organisation to:

~ Understand exactly what they need to do to meet their deliveries with as little disruption as possible.

~Jump in to assist in an effective way so that they can use their skills in a way that they use their knowledge, yet develop new knowledge and skills.

2 Create "in house scheduled time outs" for everyone. This will allow everyone to retain some of their energy for later in the day. This is critical as during these times, there is more traffic on the road, things appear to take longer to get done and without realising it, we may not enjoy ourselves.

3 At mid point from today,  create a list of the deliveries or other critical events of the Dept or company or team (which may not be on target), circulate it to everyone and ask for assistance. This will allow persons to understand that they may be able to assist and allow them to volunteer in ways that they can choose, so that there is a win win for everyone. 

4 Advise everyone that there is room for feedback every day or week and at the end of the quarter, just try to put it in writing (as well as talking) so that:

~Everyone can keep track of their contributions.
~Things can get cleared up in a positive way, prior to the end of the period or the start of the formal feedback period and things can change.

5 Consider hiring additional persons on a part time basis to assist in areas where there may be a need should someone have an emergency. This will assist:

~When critical persons call in sick, such as the Telephone Operator or the person who makes the payments at the Board of Inland Revenue or the National Insurance Board.
~ When there is an urgent bill to be done and no one knows how to use the scanner.

6 Consider shifting internal billing periods to allow for processing of bills by third parties and to receive payments in a time which suits everyone.

7 Thank every one." 

Skills Development - Essay on Cassava July 2016

The following is an essay which I wrote  on Cassava. The purpose of the essay was to document the practices of growing cassava, practice certain skills in Word such as inserting photos into a document and to retain the memory of a period in time.  ( I have copied and pasted a Word document here and I had to use other skills to recreate the document which I had in Word.)

1.   Background

Having recently started planting cassava and having little to no experience of successful agricultural practices, which  resulted in my having to eat the produce in a short period of time,  I decided to note the approach, the concepts and the results of my cassava planting. This will provide knowledge which may be shared and or preserved for copyright purposes and for conversation. Images of the harvest, the location of the plants have been included for illustrative purposes and for retaining memories of the time the activity was performed.

Cassava may be planted for retail or commercial sale locally or for export. Locally grown cassava may be available for sale in the local markets or the green grocer section of the supermarket. In these locations, the cassava is left with its skin intact. Thus the dirt from the ground is washed away and the produce is available for sale.

Cassava may also be available for sale in the frozen foods section of the supermarkets as a ready to cook item. 

Cassava may be cooked in a variety of ways, such as boiled as a side dish or for consumption as a main part of the meal or  it may be used in soups or combined with seasonings and meats and served as a side dish. I have also seen cassava chips in the shape of logs or sticks with a dip served in a restaurant chain.

At the time of taking the photo, the plants which are located  on the left have not been harvested, however branches have been removed from them in an effort to allow for more nutrients to be used in the root of the plant.  Note the spread of the branches, the size and shape of the leaves, the size of the branches

2.   Cassava Plants

An existing plant may yield:

• New stalks or branches for replanting, 
• A main stalk with a root which may be replanted and
• Produce which is covered in a brown "skin" with a "white under skin" , both of which can be removed prior to cooking.   

3.   Stalks or Branches of the Cassava Plant

It is possible that the stalks or branches of the cassava plant may not be mature upon harvesting the crop.

A good indicator of the maturity of the stalks may be seen in:

• The size of the branch, 
• The colour of the branch and 
• The strength of the branch. 

Many branches have green soft tips with new leaves, which are often olive in color, which are fragile.

The older section of the branch tends to be:

• Brown, 
• Firm,
• Less likely to sway or break easily, except in extremely strong wind and 
• Can be planted quite easily.

4.   Timing of Planting of Cassava initially and in successive periods

Upon planting the stalks of the cassava plants, taking into account the soil and season in the year, these plants may take a bit longer than usual to mature with produce. Hence they may take more than six months to yield produce.

If the main stalk is replanted, this may bear produce within a six month period, given the soil, weather conditions and factors of nature and man. 

However the yield may not be same year on year. It may be a  good  idea to have pictures taken of your yield and or maintain a notebook with details of your plantings.

5.   Images of the yield from cassava plants in 2016.

In the image above, the yield from two plants have been peeled, washed and bagged for storage in the freezer section. 

The size of the packages is dependent on:

• An estimate of the number of times the cooked item will be eaten at meals,
• The expected number of persons at meals. 

Note that some of the packages have pieces which are similar in size. These pieces will cook in a shorter time than the  larger pieces.

In the image above, the pieces have  been peeled and placed in water for washing, prior to storage.

The pieces are much larger on the whole and represent the expected yield from a typical  plant. 

Given that person’s preferences may differ, the pieces of cassava above may be used in dishes where the cassava is cut up after boiling.

6.   Eating  your produce, factors to consider

If you intend to eat the cassava which you have planted, which happens in many instances, then consider the following:

        I.          Avoiding animal fertilizers. While these are known to produce good harvests, there are many persons who prefer the benefits of peels, potting mix and mulch.

       II.          Changing your diet to include greens, bananas, plantains, mangoes, oranges and pumpkins. These skins or peels may provide a ready source of nutrients when added to your plants.  These peels break down easily and may be added several times a week to provide a steady stream of nutrition for the plants and to maintain a level of mulch around the plants.

     III.          The number of plants which you maintain. If you are the sole provider of peels and skins, then you may need to use a rotation plan to fertilise all of the plants frequently in the early stages of planting and later on in the cycle of the plant. This need to use a rotation plan may be due to the size and quantity of the peels as a day’s worth of peels and skins may not be sufficient to be placed on all of your plants. Also, over time there may be a need to develop new businesses so as to gain income from your hobby, hence selling stalks to a garden shop may be a source of revenue. However selling your produce may also ensure that you grow your business.

     IV.          Crushed egg shells (rinsed in water) may be added to the mulch, either on top of or in between the peels. This will add calcium to the soil and nourish the plants.

       V.          Grass cuttings placed around the plant will protect the roots, the stalk and the crop during periods of heavy sunshine and between watering the plants in the dry season. Since the plant may  be in the ground for at least six months, it may be wise to:

                             i.          Consider the habits of the neighbours as their insecticides, weedicides can impact upon your soil and plants, especially if you live in the lower parts of a valley.

                           ii.          Solicit grass cuttings from other persons to add to existing and other areas of your planting area. This will assist in maintaining the supply of mulch around the plant and prepare other areas for planting.

                          iii.          Purchase peels from supermarkets, hotel kitchens, restaurants, salad bars, other food places. While these peels will add to your supply of nutrients, the information on the receipts or invoices may provide input into the cost of your hobby, the frequency with which peels were added and the quality of your produce.

                          iv.          The quality of the peel and its impact upon your diet. A banana peel cut into small pieces may be spread much further than a length of the banana skin. The smaller pieces, when placed around the plant may make the skin much more difficult for an animal to eat, than the length of one banana. Raw peels add more nutrition than cooked peels.

                           v.          Use the water from cooking vegetables to water the plants. Some of the nutrients will go back into the plant.

Points# II, III, IV and V will add to the soil upon disintegration over time, will assist in the fertilization of the soil and the plant and can protect the plant from animals in the following ways:

        I.          Dogs digging up the plant to bury bones

       II.          Dogs racing around the plants while hurrying from one point to another or while playing together.

 copyright Jennifer N Bailey with contributions from other persons

email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com

Originally Posted on Facebook: - Planning and Development Tip - Jan 27, 2017 - 001 Practice of Skills and Use of Knowledge

Every so often I try to incorporate areas of learning from other times in my life and bridge my skills of today with my skills and knowledge from the past... So with this perspective I decided to write about one of my observations from a walk which I would take off the beaten track.

In writing the observation, I decided to try to:

Develop the information to act as a possible case study for a Master's in Business Administration Programme module,

Build some writing skills (I had to hand write the information to retain my speed of writing and other skills) and

I also decided to type the Observation in Word, using a Table of Contents format and double spacing to retain and develop the practice of my Microsoft Office skills.

After those practices,over a period of a week with lots of breaks I was able to both write and type the information,  I now have a nice document which I printed, with date and time mind you.

This exercise was very useful in that:

I was able to retain the discipline of sitting in one place without breaks except for urgent needs (at times), which is a skill which is required for the office environment.

In writing I relied on my memory to document what I saw.

In typing I developed some of the points and I applied other 'Word" skills such as linking within the document.

I was able to see where I was in terms of my commitment to learning and its ability to contribute to my future.

So here is my challenge for you:

Use your camera or walk with your notebook, take a break, either write and then type or create a document on some observation.

Understand that the process will take a bit of time because life is important to you and you may need to deal with family and other commitments.

Depending on where you are at, try to do at least one essay a month where you use a variety of skills to create something which will keep you mentally challenged.

This may be your future income earner or your mind saver!!! :) I hope it is enjoyable.

P.S. My observation was of a construction site, which is located near to a cemetery  which I had written about using research skills in Wikipedia. 

In hindsight I had attempted to develop some of the skills earlier by writing and including photos on the topic of growing cassava... I now have to find that document

Comments made in Facebook: Modified Doubles - January 20,2017 11:40 am

The following comment was made in response to a post on Facebook as to a modified doubles with chow mein, cheese, pepper.

Jennifer Bailey Rajesh Rattan:I think that may do well in POS,with the channa in a cup for extra protein.. 

Now we just need to move away from "stryotex" excuse the spelling and move into "branded reusable items"... Just perfect for that roti place on Park Street near to the old Globe cinema. 

Think "high end" for the person on the move, return with your container and get a refill. I get a healthy breakfast, lunch and I am good to go....

Originally posted in Wikipedia - Grenada & Guyana - FATCA - Jan 16, 2017

FATCA - Grenada

On June 30, 2014, Grenada signed a Model 1 agreement with the United States of America in relation to  Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx

FATCA - Guyana
On June 30, 2014, Guyana signed a Model 1 agreement with the United States of America in relation to  Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx

This Model 1 agreement ( Guyana's) includes a reference to the Tax Information Exchange Agreement (Clause 3) which was signed on July 22, 1992 in Georgetown, Guyana which was intended to exchange Tax information on an automatic basis.

In looking at the information on Page 1 of the agreements which were signed with respect to FATCA, I noted that there was a clause which identified A Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the USA, however there was no mention of such an agreement with Grenada.  I am not sure if there is a TIEA between CARICOM so I will keep looking and providing updates 

In the interim, I will keep looking at updates on FATCA as it relates to the Caribbean.

Here is the link to Guyana in Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana Read and enjoy...

Originally posted on Facebook - Wiring of Funds to other countries - Jan 8, 2017

The following are two statements or observations which I made on Facebook in response to a statement/statements which were made on a topic, which I will not repeat as the statement belongs to other persons and I am exercising care with respect to the person's reputation or the person's  intention in posting the statement.

"Well, with all due respect, being an outsider, perhaps you can check the country to which the funds were being sent... Banks accept money, not Ministries. Thus  a Ministry is the head of the depts, under which the Defense Force will be placed... Here is another perspective on this matter which I just saw, which I will be reading http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170107/news/inshan-in-terror-link. It is noteworthy that in this day and age when the exchange rate for GBP is low when compared to the US$ being converted to TT$, that GBP is being wired, but can you advise as to the purpose to which the GBP was to be used in Somalia?"  Jan 8, 2017 - 9:03 am 
Update Jan 12, 2017: There was an inclusion of Somalia in the original statement, however there was another statement where the funds were to be wired to Aleppo.

"I do not think that the public is handing out any guilty verdict... From a practical point of view, are the funds being sent to be held for and to be used when the exchange rates change partly because coincidentally that will be the time the funds are needed and will be used for relief purposes? Remember each country has different concepts and laws on taxation, profits, gains and in some places Sharia is used where interest is not earned, however profits are earned and to a westerner, receiving a foreign currency when the rate is low and using it when the rate is much higher may be a benefit which may or may not be subject to tax. So there are many steps along the way which may need to be examined.... :) Just saying.... Just as it may not be practical to send the actual articles which are needed, in some places, that is what happens... Many times when we see someone in need on the street, we have a choice, do I buy a pastry and a drink for them or do I give them money, very often the food and the drink is what is given and we all know why :)Jan 8, 2017 - 9:18am

Upon reflection I realised that I tend to look at things from a business perspective and many times I am viewed as being hard hearted... However be that as it may, the above statements which I made, may reflect the following:

1. Foreign Exchange Strategies in light of accounting and taxation. It is quite legal to purchase currencies and use them in your business when the rates are favorable to you or your venture. 
2. The use of Taxation to "level the playing fields." If the above statements with respect to foreign currency were used in a business venture, then in Trinidad and Tobago, Business Levy would be payable on the receipts of the company, when the company is making losses, either as a result of:
• Its foreign currency strategies, 
• Changes in the foreign exchange rates over time, 
• The benefits of purchasing and holding of inventory or
• Cash collections 

The company may not be subject to Income or Corporation Tax as a result of those changes or business practices.

Banking Rules:  I would suggest that where a foreign authority disputes  the completion of a transaction on the grounds of "Terrorist Financing" that the funds be placed in a separate account and earn interest until the matter is resolved.  If there are elderly persons who are involved in the "giving of aid" perhaps the matter can be placed as a priority, to avoid them experiencing grief in trying times.

Foot note: I am an accountant by qualification and I learnt about hedges, futures and options as part of the ACCA curriculum when that was mandatory.

The soft side of my nature disagrees with the use of some of those concepts, some of the time, as I think that it is necessary to be fair to others most of the time. 

In real terms there are many taxation concepts involved in entering into those transactions, which may make such activity "copy writable".

copyright: Jennifer N Bailey

email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com

Originally posted on Facebook - Curriculum Vitae - Jan 8, 2017

Everyone tends to have opinions on topics on which they are the outsider to a field.... Now, one of my major "topics" is Curriculum Vitae or resume or job application documents... The experts weigh in and ask that you showcase your skills in such a way that you are either a fit for the job or not; software is used to scan the CV"s and phrases are identified and persons are short listed...

On the other hand, I consider the CV to be a representation of the person I am hiring. I think that as far as possible your income will match the details on the CV. So if you are blogging about gardening and there is a garden, the gardening may not reach the CV, however the blogging is listed there as a possible source of income and as an interest, or what is being done during other periods. So here is what I suggest:

1. If you are investing in stocks and shares on the side in a company as you have a passion for that type of thinking, then include 'Investing Officer - part time - Company Y and the period for which you held the position. I think that once income was generated, skills gained, then include the information or vice versa.
2. Don't rely on oral representations which are to be documented by another person and may not stand up to scrutiny after the fact.

So don't tell me, that my CV was not a one pager and I do not have relevant experience when some of the activities were classified differently because I worked in another "era" to put it nicely.

Go the extra mile, develop yourself and be fair to persons.... Let us stop putting some parts of our job requirements as the last, quickest thing that we do.

If we all get on the same page with the way we function, then less time will be spent in cleaning up and more time will be spent in doing valuable work...

I've been thinking: Small scale gardening 101

I've been thinking about expanding my garden through renting small areas in other persons yards.

Big league  on Home gardening would be a  Federation Park sized home where there is a good sized strip on each side of the house so much so that  I will start out with using one side of the house.

P.S. I have not seen the insides of a Valsayn property or a Lange Park property, however those would also be fantasy properties given the size of the land which surround those homes.

I will plant melongene,  ochro, cassava, pimentoes, beans, green bananas, and tomatoes. I know that each of these plants will grow at different times and produce in different quantities. Melongene, beans and ochro can be  the cash cows as once the plant starts bearing, cash will be generated within three months, once there is a  buyer for the products.  Pimentoes, tomatoes can be unpredictable as they are:

• Easily affected by rain, 
• May need some equipment such as cages to support the branches and
• From a cash outflow point of view, there will be some debate on when  the cages are needed.

Now for needs:

• Agreements/contracts, company formation & secretarial services, taxation - Now a company which is formed for a special purpose and which rents the land in a place like Federation Park, may not be seen as being economical as the rent may be astronomical in comparison to a place outside of the main areas of living, hence the company may make losses from the start. However, in looking at the cash flows of the company, one may have to look at whether the company is closed or whether there are participants outside of the main contributors  to the capital of the company or income generators or recipients of funds.
• Reporting and Monitoring - This includes accounting and record keeping so as to have institutional knowledge for each company and venture. 
• Plant & Equipment: 
• Fixed assets: 
• The cages for the tomatoes
• Other protective pieces (stones, wire etc)
• The tools  - gloves, shovel, hoe, rakes etc.
• Water buckets (2 small paint buckets would  be a start if one person is doing the labour)
• Wire fencing for bean plants if there are plans to expand the venture or enter into different product mixes.
• Items to be included in Inventory and or allocated to expenses: the plants. If a plant is capable of producing other plants and I am keeping it as a "stock plant" then that may be a fixed asset. I have one large plant which can be separated and used for offices and other places, so I would consider that a stock plant.  Cassava, on the other hand, can function as a stock plant for income generation and as a producer of crops for sale, thus in accounting, I may need to be specialised and have observations of the count, valuation of plants or just recording them in the books and records. 
• Vendors or Suppliers - 
• Potting Mix: 
• Mulch: 
• Fertilisers: (peels ~ pumpkin, banana, used coffee grounds, egg shells ~ we are organic)
• Epsom salts & large water bottles for when things are moving slowly.
• Access to water 
• Other facilities

Benefits:
The areas where the plants are placed, may require less cleaning and removal of grass as over time the lawn disappears... The plants spread and spread as you find other things to plant or as you plant things for the next season.

Sometimes when the plants are in bloom, the area becomes cooler and it is possible to put benches and relax under the shade or just read..

The ground in the area which is being planted appears to be differently colored as water is retained in the soil and is protected by the branches of the cassava or the melongene.

Some of us do not work with seasons and just keep planting, watering when the ground is dry and moving along.

Other Considerations:
Where persons are of the same mind, then some persons may work on the venture during the week with others doing the work on weekends.

In some ventures, one person may provide the cassava  and the bean plants which may change the expected life of the venture from a short term venture to a long term venture as some of these plants may last for more than a year if carefully nurtured and protected.

In some ventures, the costs are shared as there is the expectation of sharing of profits.

copyright: Jennifer N Bailey
email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail,com

History Repeating itself - Jan 7, 2017

A few years ago, when there were discussions with Greece and talks of the bailout of the banks were the highlight of the news, I posted on this blog about persons growing tomatoes and melongene and attempting to have food in their back yard just to have a food supply as I had been attempting to imitate my brother in law's practices.

As luck would have it, things at our home changed over the last three to four years and about two years ago I started experimenting with growing crops.

My first successful harvest was pumpkin which my mother had managed to see before everyone else. I managed to get  that one massive pumpkin from a vine that seemed to meander all over the yard. I watched the other little baby pumpkins shrivel and die on the stalks, not knowing why.

Perhaps I should have invested in a water spout and watered them with a hose or some form of heavy watering just to attempt to save them. This, one pumpkin became the source of "fried pumpkin", pumpkin soup, pumpkin in peas, frozen pumpkin. I was contributing  to the food in the house and there was something to eat.

I also had  two "pigeon peas trees" which I had grown from small shoots. Attempting to keep them organic and with too little effort they died after being full grown. One was cut by accident by  the yard cleaner and another died after being blown down by heavy winds.

My consistently successful harvest has been  green beans and cassava. I started growing cassava in the dry season,  watering it  to keep the soil moist and almost every plant has yielded small amounts which I have shared so much that I love to harvest the crop, just to have something to give to my sisters and other family members.

 The second  green bean plant, (the first one was cut down by a gardener) has lasted for close to a year plus some months.  It's main vine  was protected by a piece of metal frame placed as a barrier against the fence on which it runs. This vine has yielded enough to share even more than the cassava, the branches have been pruned, peels have been added time and time again to nurture it. It has benefited from the shade of some green banana trees and  I hope to revive it as it has provided sustenance over time. There has been curried beans, beans with saltfish, fried beans with a slice of cheese, with roti or rice and for all of that  I am thankful.

Melongene, which I started with about six plants has been an on and off producer. Again using an organic approach I have had small produce which I can pick to use at home.  Right now, my last surviving plant has about six melongene in various stages of growth and I have not been able to secure new plants to put into the soil. With the current  weather being more dry than rainy, I would need the cassava to grow to a height where the spread of the branches will provide some shade for the melongene if I expect those plants to survive  the dry season. P. S. Melongene is also called Eggplant and comes in different types, sizes and hues

Over time, I have come to love roast melongene, melongene with onions, carrots, mushrooms, seasonings and some ketchup or tomato paste.  Herbs (Herbs de Provence) add just the right amount of flavour when I feel like eating vegetarian. Prior to the current period, once I made pepper shrimp (a Chinese dish) and added it to the melongene mixture, the flavor of the sauce adding oomp to a dish that I may have gotten tired of, over time.

However back to the long suffering Greeks... Mulch can be added around the roots of the plant to protect the soil. If you have gardeners or high winds, then a circle of rocks may provide some protection for the plants. When watered, mulch keeps moisture in the area and if you water the plants in the evening, then there will be a twelve hour period in which the plants can absorb the water before the sun starts drying them out.

Nutrients, such as peels can help the plants instead of fertilisers which can burn the leaves and the roots of the plants in dry weather. If needed, a good heaping amount of potting mix when added to the existing soil, will nourish the soil. Mulch will break down over time and will need to be replaced, however it adds to the soil content so you end up retaining some of your soil, protecting some of your plants and adding to the soil.

I wonder how cassava will perform across there in Greece, as it can be used to create a  flour which may be used to make pasta... The tough choice comes when you have to choose between eating a piece of boiled cassava or saving it to make flour..... My cassava is yellow and it can be mellow many times when boiled....

I guess with hind sight, the moral of the advice to plant food crops is as follows:

In times of inflation, when the purchasing power of money is decreasing or when there are scarce food supplies, home grown food provides just a little buffer against scarcity and rising prices.

I am not sure anyone can ever provide for all of their needs and there may be a need to buy other food items however if you treat the power to purchase as one where you will defer the act until the latest possible moment to retain your cash, then your money may earn interest which over time which may be compounded.

In a country where VAT is charged on items, purchasing raw materials, such as the unpeeled, open potato, the raw unseasoned chicken in a plastic bag means that you spend less for food as these items may not carry VAT. Flour, very often does not carry VAT, however other food choices may and your money will be spent much faster than you think, leaving you with less to save.

I am not sure how the sales tax system works, however our system for VAT works on limits, such as the value of sales, which may have a small company  be not registered for VAT and either have to absorb the VAT or pass it on to the consumer... You may think that the items in the small companies may stay awhile, however those places tend to cater for the "daily paids", the "weekly paids"  the retired persons and they package their items to allow those persons to be able to buy items which will last for several meals. The chain store may carry some similar items at the same price and there may be other savings, however everyone may not be living in close proximity to the chain stores and the price of transportation may impact on the choices of many persons..

Let us hope that this year will be a better one and if it is not, then may God help our souls to become better for the experience.

copyright Jennifer N Bailey (amateur gardener,  past student in: A' Level Economics & Accounts, ACCA Economics & Accounts and one day MBA economics student)
email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com

Cash Flow Arrangements - Jan 7, 2017

Today my mom and I visited a Pennywise Outlet. For those who do not know, Pennywise sells hair products, creams, soaps, body washes and other toiletries, vitamins, all in different sizes and brands to suit different pockets.

Now, depending on the time in the month, there is a different crowd in the store.  There is the end of month crowd, the early month crowd, the middle of the month I ran out of something crowd or the I am changing my cycle of shopping crowd. So  much so, that you can meet different persons each time you shop. 

Many times there are pricing specials which can be beneficial, once you are prepared to purchase more than one of the product or the prices are just right for you or they meet the "I need to get this done and this is the fastest way to do so".

A product line on which there are frequently good prices and specials is toothpaste. Today I had a difficult time in deciding whether to buy three purse size tubes of toothpaste of a brand which I did not normally use, which were offered as a "buy 2, get one free" as compared to my regular herbal toothpaste which has myrrh, chamomile, eucalyptus which was also on a buy two and get one free. Aside from differences in brands, taste, there was the difference in the size of the tube of toothpaste and the price... The price of the purse size buy two and get one free was around TT$12.00 and that was just within the amount of funds which I wanted to spend.... The other special, while it was a good buy, was not necessarily the best buy for me at this time as I wanted to try other options with some products that I use frequently...  However if I keep this practice up, I may end up with some cash in hand at some point in time which will suit me in the long term....
Update at February 17, 2017:

Those toothpastes while lovely to look at. contained alcohol, so they were not quite right for me....

copyright: Jennifer N Bailey
email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com

Playing Games of Chance - Jan 6, 2017

If I were betting to win Lotto Plus Jackpot in Trinidad and Tobago which is drawn twice (2x) per week or Play Whe which is drawn four (4) times in one day or other games of chance I would consider doing the following:

1. Stationery - Purchase at least one (1) ream of paper, tape, pens, file folders. These would be used to start to create my  records. :) Yes, I can be old fashioned and I would like to retain records of my venturing as my intention is to recoup some of my costs incurred. Thus record keeping is essential.   
2. Two copies of the tickets would be made  so that I can retain a copy of the tickets long after the event has passed. Yes, these types of prints fade and if I were the type to relive my glory long after the event, I would like to be able to see it properly. 
3. You may wonder why two copies of the tickets on the paper  are to be made? Well one is to track costs and one is to track revenue.. 
4. However back to the events:  A review of the last two draws of the Lotto Plus revealed the following:  
• Draw 1609 - Saturday 31st December 2016:  
• With an estimated investment of $18,935.00 the possible  winnings were TT$99,775.00 This figure excludes the payouts on Quick Picks which are valued at TT$5.00 per chance and would award those players TT$16,605 if cash was paid out, however the cost of the Quick Picks is included in the cost of the investment, as at this time, I am not sure if Cash is paid out on the persons who select 3 out of 5 numbers without the Power Ball PB. The winnings for the that date were:
•  5/5 without PB- TT$50,000 per ticket; 
• 4/5 with PB - TT$1,500 per ticket; 
• 4/5  without PB - TT$250 per ticket; 
• 3/5 with PB TT$25.00 per ticket; 
• 3/5 without PB - TT$5.00 per ticket
• Draw 1610 - Wednesday 4th January, 2017
• With an estimated investment of TT$11,420, the possible winnings were approximately TT$177,385. As stated above, this figure excludes the payout on Quick Picks which are valued at TT$5.00 per chance and would award those players TT$9,985 if cash was paid out, however the cost of the Quick Picks is included in the cost of the investment. The winnings on that date are: 
• 5/5 without the PowerBall - TT$ 50,000 per ticket ; 
• 4/5 with PB - TT$1,500 per ticket
• 4/5 without PB - $250 per ticket
• 3/5 with PB - TT$25.00 per tcket
• 3/5 without PB - $5.00
5. What else would I need? A laptop, a filing cabinet and eventually a photocopier... Well if I were investing and tracking my plays, then:
•  Excel would assist in my recording the information in a user friendly manner. 
• A filing cabinet would help me to store the documents, securely  and 
• A photocopier would allow me to copy the documents at leisure. 
• You see I may not want to redeem all of my winnings right away, as I may need some for a rainy day. 
6. I may have one hundred and eighty (180) days to redeem the  tickets, then I will need some form of tracking system, which is another system....
7. As to taxes, if I were  migrating or  I am living away and I am just here for a few days or a two week period, then I would consider paying some form of tax on the funds received..
8.  WHAT???? How else will I account for my lifestyle? I can eat, drink, sleep and that may need to be paid for....  
9. Give it away ~ If I were to be generous and give away the tickets, then the cost of the ticket may be accounted for in my cash flow.... 
10. As a donation, that may not be an allowable business expense... You see I have put some time, knowledge and frequency into this betting thing.... I know that when I enter a Lotto booth, I look to see when last that outlet won a prize, how much was it and for which game, so given my state of mind, I have to come clean in some way or the other....

On the other hand, am I going to remain a prisoner, unable to go anywhere,,  because of a few dollars to pay to a society? I have learnt that there will always be a persons who can say, no tax, no charge, however if I can find a way to pay the tax,  then I will do so, just to prove where I got the funds from.... 

 Here is a link to the BIR's site which may assist when you are dealing with the movement of money.... http://www.ird.gov.tt/double_taxation_treaties

Here is a little bit of background on my area of interest in this Games of Chance area: I am an amateur in many areas, however at times, I like to stop and reflect on the way I am doing things or the way things may be done. When I am in that state of mind, I realise that my subconscious is saying, this is not you and who you are. If this is to fit with who you are then the other side of you has to factor into this way of life.... I may play a game or two, ask for the Lotto Play out slips whether I have won or not, use Play Whe marks to guide my betting, however I can say that I have not won more than a Quick Pick at one time or the other, so I can devise systems to track things from now till neverary, if I am to buy a Laptop, or a cabinet or a printer/ scanner/ photocopier, the funds may have to come from elsewhere... Have a good one peeps :)

The ideas which are expressed above are those of Jennifer N Bailey

Originally posted in Facebook - Jan 5, 2017 - Release of a Model agreement in 2012 by the US Treasury

Here is a post which was made in Facebook which I am sharing in my blog.

"Since 2012, the US Treasury has released the following document, have we read it or do we understand it?

Here is an extract from the article "The model agreement announced today was developed in consultation with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom and marks an important step in establishing a common approach to combating tax evasion based on the automatic exchange of information"

My question at this time is, should there be a FATCA for other jurisdictions where there are different currencies and where there is a strong local currency? If I am saving in EC (Eastern Caribbean) dollars and the country has not yet signed the CARICOM Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty, should there be a FATCA agreement with that jurisdiction or with the Eastern Caribbean states as being representative of the currency? Note that I cannot state "... I am an American" as someone might read the question and take the statement literally..."  Here is a link to the article:

  https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1653.aspx

Update to the post:

Please note that there are a Model 1 agreement, a Model 2 agreement, a Model 1A agreement, so there is a good bit of reading to be done if you plan to work in the bank.... I would:

• Rely on Withholding Tax knowledge to understand options
• Ask my Manager to obtain an opinion, a policy and have it available for us. This will allow us to understand our risks with respect to withholding tax on transactions, movement of funds especially as  there may be related parties which are located in other countries and there may be a movement of staff within countries and in this day and age savings may become a priority.

:)

Update to post in Wikipedia on FATCA - Jan 5, 2017

After going through the minimal posting on Tax Treaties  in Wikipedia, I decided to explore the US Treasury site and in looking at the information according to "date",  which relates to the Additional FATCA Documents, I noted the following:

1. FATCA Statements: Since 2012 Joint Statements on FATCA have been released to the public from countries such as  the USA and UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain; the US and Switzerland, and the USA and Japan
2. Notification of More Favorable Terms: Between 2014 and 2015, there were notifications which were sent to Jurisdictions updating them as to changes which were agreed to in other Jurisdictions. 

We would call a jurisdiction, "country, island" and where those terms do not match our understanding or where there are changes in the status of the country, we become perplexed.

A little anecdote to bridge my accounting, tax and vacation background. Sometimes when I was on vacation I would visit a small island, partly because I liked the history which was displayed throughout the capital, there were forts which were restored, museums, and lots of history was displayed throughout the city, which in spite of language barriers was enough  to allow me to be comfortable wandering around in daylight and in the early hours of the evening.

There were signs, you are here and there was a map of the streets and there were descriptions of places and the city was small. There were outskirts to which one could walk either to or from the main area if there was no vehicle or public transportation available.

Needless to say one year I came into a sum of money which seemed to be material to my pocket at that time, so much so that after paying for my room and deducting other expenses, there was still a good bit to return home with, which when converted to the local currency was a good bit of savings.

Upon inquiry at one location,  I found out that there was no with holding tax available so that I could account for my "winnings" in that country. Perhaps I did not ask the correct questions which might have been:

• Can I register for a tax number?
• Can I pay income tax or some form of tax on the earnings?

Be that as it may, I could not bring home the funds without, at that time, paying taxes in that country, so back to all of the similar places where it could have come from, it went... Perhaps I had learnt "not to let things get the better of me," but it did not pain me much to give the money back....  As long as I had allowed other persons to benefit or the chance to benefit, I was free...

Now that I am of a different state and level of knowledge, I would suggest that funding be provided so that countries can put everyone on the same page and :

• Allow Inland Revenue offices to be opened in airports 24/7 and 
• Have small offices opened in the ports and marinas where boats can dock or enter for repairs
• Be staffed with multilingual persons, so that persons can be assisted with some of their queries (Tax Assistance on the spot;)
• Have  printed forms for registration for tax numbers
• Issue tax numbers immediately  at those spots. (Another level of staffing, a laptop, internet, a printer and a stamp.
• Have printed forms for the remittance of taxes, such as withholding tax so that persons can elect to make "on the spot payments" after having a streak of luck outside of regular working hours.
• Have signs, electronic and otherwise  posted at intervals in the vicinity of the airport, ports and other marina facilities with the following prompts? 
• Have you received cash or assets in the country? Did you account for it?
• Are you leaving with some one else's asset? Did you pay for it with funds earned from here? 
• What is your responsibility with respect to this asset? 
• Do you have insurance to cover the movement of the asset, should something happen to it?
• Do you plan to pay for the asset when you get to another country? What is your responsibility with respect to this asset there?

If you have answered yes, to any of the questions, then see Room 101 and ask for assistance.

That's all for now, have a good day!!! 

Originally posted in Wikipedia - Foreign Account Tax Compliance (FATCA) - Jan 5, 2017

Here is an extract from a post which I did in Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

Foreign Account Tax Compliance (FATCA)

In 2016 Trinidad and Tobago entered into a Model 1A agreement with the United States of America in relation to FATCA.  This agreement is intended to work with the Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty (or Double Taxation Relief) which was signed in 1971 and with the Tax Information (Declared Agreement) which was signed in 1990, with the United States of America. The Model 1A agreement as it relates to FATCA was signed on August 19, 2016 by the "Honourable Minister of Finance" Colm Imbert in the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and "His Excellency, Ambassador of the United States of America" John Estrada on behalf of the Government of the United States of America.See the following link for information on the signing of the Model 1A agreement as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago http://www.finance.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Press-Release-Signing-of-a-Model-IA-Intergovernmental-Agreement.pdf

Several of the countries which have signed the CARICOM Avoidance or Double taxation or Relief against Double Taxation Treaty, such as Guyana and Grenada have signed Model 1 agreements in relation to FATCA with the United States of America.  See the following link to the US Treasury site showing the status of several countries https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx

Several countries which have signed Avoidance of Double Taxation agreements with Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1990's to 2009, such as India, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Luxembourg have also signed Model 1 agreements in relation to FATCA with the Government of the United States of America. 

In late 2016 I attended a Breakfast Seminar which was hosted by ACCA Caribbean where the topic was FATCA where the panelists represented a Miami University and the accounting world, (BDO and Deloitte & Touche). The information was well presented and aside from providing some Continuing Professional Education was very informative.

Update on posts which have been made to Wikipedia Jan 16, 2017
At this time, the post which I did on Treaties between T&T and the other countries, the update on FATCA was removed from the main page as being too voluminous and thus it does not appear. I will consider the suggestions which have been made by the editors wrt the information which was provided in due course. In the interim, I will continue to update information on other countries where there is less patrolling by the editors :) and provide a link on this blog.

Update to the post in Wikipedia on Trinidad and Tobago - Jan 4, 2017

Here is an update to the post which was made earlier and which was intended to capture my entries in Wikipedia:

Double Taxation Relief Treaties and Tax Information (Declared Agreements) 1969 - 1999

Trinidad and Tobago has entered into Double Taxation Relief Treaties with several countries during the period 1969 to 1999. Legal Notices are made by the Head of the country, that is the Governor General or the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and allow for the introduction of the Treaty into the Income Tax Act of the country which is covered under Chapter 75:01. The Treaties are adopted or recognised by Order Numbers and in certain books are prefaced by the word "Order".

The Treaties covered specific areas in relation to taxation and the provision of relief with respect to taxation which may have been incurred in one country and which may be also liable in another country.

The following information will assist the reader in searching for the relevant treaty or Tax Information Declared Agreement:

The Double Taxation Relief (Denmark) Order 1969

The Double Taxation Relief (Denmark) Order 1969 was recognised in the Income Tax Ordinance by the Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 47 (1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On June 20, 1969 by a Convention made between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Denmark, arrangements were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would later become the Double Taxation Relief (Denmark) Order 1969.

The Convention, the Double Taxation Relief (Denmark) Order 1969, was signed in Port of Spain on June 20, 1969 by Eric Williams, Prime Minister, for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and on October 22, 1969 by Jorgen Adamson, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the Government of Denmark. The convention was done in duplicate in English.

The Double Taxation Relief (Norway) Order 1969

The Double Taxation Relief (Norway) Order 1969 was recognised in the Income Tax Ordinance by the Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On June 20, 1969 by a Convention made between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Norway, arrangements were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would later become the Double Taxation Relief (Norway) Order 1969.

The Convention, the Double Taxation Relief (Norway) Order 1969, was signed in Port of Spain on June 20, 1969 by Eric Williams, Prime Minister, for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and on October 29, 1969 by Olav Thorsen for the Government of Norway. The convention was done in duplicate in English.

The Double Taxation Relief (Italy) Order 1971

The Double Taxation Relief (Italy) Order 1971 was recognised in the Income Tax Ordinance by the Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On March 26, 1971 by a Convention made between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Italy, arrangements were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would later become the Double Taxation Relief (Italy) Order 1971.

The Convention, the Double Taxation Relief (Italy) Order 1971, was signed in Port of Spain on March 26, 1971 by F. C. Prevatt for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and on December 18, 1971 by Cordero Di Montezemolo for the Government of Italy. The convention was done in duplicate.

The Double Taxation Relief (United States of America) Order 1971

The Double Taxation Relief (United States of America) Order 1971 was recognised in the Income Tax Ordinance by the Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On January 9, 1970 by a Convention made between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of United States of America, arrangements were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would later become the Double Taxation Relief (United States of America) Order 1971 revoking the Double Taxation Relief (United States of America) Order 1970.

The Convention, the Double Taxation Relief (United States of America) Order 1971, was signed in Port of Spain on January 9, 1970 by Eric Williams Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and on December 28, 1970 by J. Fife Symington, Jr. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Government of The United States of America. The convention was done in duplicate.

The Tax Information (Declared Agreement) Order (with the United States of America) 1990

The Tax Information (Declared Agreement) Order with the (United States of America) 1990 was made by the President under Section 4 of the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Act and is deemed to have come into effect on February 9, 1990.

There are nine (9) articles contained in this Agreement. The agreement which "was done in duplicate" was signed on January 11, 1989 in Port of Spain, by Sahadeo Basdeo for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Charles Gargano for the Government of the United States of America. K. Boswell Inniss, Secretary to the Cabinet and the date of May 31, 1989 are included under the aforementioned names.

The Double Taxation Relief (Switzerland) Order 1973

The Double Taxation Relief (Switzerland) Order 1973 was recognised in the Income Tax Ordinance by the Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On February 1, 1973 by a Convention made between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Switzerland, arrangements were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would later become the Double Taxation Relief (Switzerland) Order 1973.

The Convention, the Double Taxation Relief (Switzerland) Order 1973, was signed in Port of Spain on February 1, 1973 by George Chambers for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and on May 31, 1973 by Roger Durr for the Swiss Federal Council. The convention was done in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

The Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976

This Order, the Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976, was made by the President (of Trinidad and Tobago) under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance, as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966.

On April 4, 1973, by an agreement made between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the French Republic, arrangements were made inter - alia for the avoidance of double taxation, which would become the Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976.

The agreement, The Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976 was done in four originals, two each in the English and German languages and was signed on April 4, 1973 by George Chambers for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and by Hans Hermann Haserkamp for the Federal Republic of Germany.

A protocol with 5 clauses relating to The Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976 was attached to the Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 1976 with details as follows: K. Boswell - Inniss for Secretary to the Cabinet, dated this 22nd day of November 1976.

The Double Taxation Relief (United Kingdom) Order 1983

Under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966, The President "ordered" the Double Taxation Relief (United Kingdom) Order 1983.

A Schedule which was attached to the Double Taxation Relief (United Kingdom) Order 1983, states that the agreement was between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Agreement, the Double Taxation Relief (United Kingdom) Order 1983 was done in duplicate at Port of Spain on December 31, 1982 and was signed by George Chambers for the Government for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and D.N.Lane for the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Double Taxation Relief (Sweden) Order 1984

Under Section 47(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance as enacted by Section 32 of the Finance Act 1966, The President "ordered" the Double Taxation Relief (Sweden) Order 1984.

The Agreement, the Double Taxation Relief (Sweden) Order 1984 was done in duplicate in London on February 17, 1984 and was signed by Frank Abdullah for the Government for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Leif Leifland for the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden. K. Boswell Inniss, Secretary to the Cabinet and the date of December 12, 1984 are included under the aforementioned names.

The Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1987

This Order, the Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1987, was recognised in Chapter 75:01 of the Income Tax Act and was made by the President (of Trinidad and Tobago) under Section 93(1) of the Income Tax Act, and was titled The Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1987.

On August 5, 1987, by a Convention between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the French Republic, arrangements were made inter - alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would become the Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1987.

The agreement, the Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1987 was done in English and French and was signed on August 5, 1987 by Basdeo Panday for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and on December 22, 1987 by Jane Debenest for the Government of the French Republic.

A protocol with 3 clauses relating to the Double Taxation Relief (France) Order 1981 was also signed by the aforementioned persons and were signed on the dates as stated above.

The Double Taxation Relief (Canada) Order 1996

On September 11, 1995 an agreement which was to become "The Double Taxation Relief (Canada) Order 1996" was made between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Canada to deal with arrangements which were made inter- alia for the avoidance of double taxation.

This Treaty, the Double Taxation Relief (Canada) Order 1996 was signed by Gordon Draper on behalf of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and R Maclaren for the Government of Canada on Jan 17, 1996. The Acting Secretary to the Cabinet was A Leung Woo - Gabriel. "The treaty, the Double Taxation Relief (Canada) Order 1996, was done in duplicate at Toronto on the 11th day of September 1995 in the English and French languages, each version being equally authentic"

The Double Taxation Relief (India) Order 1999

This Order, the Double Taxation Relief (India) Order 1999, was recognised in Chapter 75:01 of the Income Tax Act and was made by the President (of Trinidad and Tobago) under Section 93(1) of the Income Tax Act, and was titled The Double Taxation Relief (India) Order 1999.

On February 8, 1999, by a Convention between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the Republic of India, arrangements were made inter - alia for the avoidance of double taxation which would become the Double Taxation Relief (India) Order 1999.

The agreement, the Double Taxation Relief (India) Order 1999 was done in English and Hindi and was signed on February 8, 1999 by Brian Kuei Tung for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and on by R Jawerthanon for the Government of the Republic of India. The date of June 28, 1999 and A. Leung Woo - Gabriel are stated under the aforementioned names.

The Double Taxation Relief (Venezuela) Order 1999

The Double Taxation Relief (Venezuela) Order 1999 was issued in the English and Spanish languages with each version being equally authentic. Attached to the Convention was a Protocol, both of which (Convention and Protocol) were done on 31st day of July 1996, and both of which were signed by Ralph Maraj for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and by Angel Burelli Rivas for the Government of the Republic of Venezuela. The Protocol included the following details "M Look Loy Acting Secretary to Cabinet on 30th day of December 1997".

The Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty

On July 6, 1994 at Sherbourne Conference Centre, St. Michael, Barbados, Kenneth Valley signed the Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

There were seven (7) other signatories to the agreement, the Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty, on that day, they were Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines with an eighth (8th) country signing the agreement on August 19, 2016, Guyana.^[65]

This treaty, the Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty, covered taxes, residence, tax jurisdictions, capital gains, business profits, interest, dividends, royalties and other areas.

The above information which relates to Orders which were issued during the period 1969 to 1999 was obtained from one of the Volumes of a three part print which I purchased from Ernst & Young (2000) some years ago. 
Prior to that time, my experience and knowledge of tax  in Trinidad and Tobago had been gained preparing income, corporation, branch and partnership tax returns and reviewing some of these during two periods of secondment to the Tax department and preparing tax computations and other schedules in audit files as part of the taxation section. 
While I knew about the application of taxation as it relates to the payment of dividends, this knowledge may have been mostly gained third hand as I may not have necessarily worked on every audit for which there was a tax return being prepared or interacted with every client to obtain information first hand.  There were clients whose returns I drafted in the field while the audit was being conducted. Sometimes the instructions from persons, the printed instructions, the forms, training sessions were very useful. 
While there were not a lot of partnership returns I was fortunate enough to work on a partnership's return which had most of its 14 partners living in the UK and for which we had to prepare the partnership return. Of course at a point in time, the firm was able to have a computerised tax system which assisted in the preparation and review of the returns which made life easy.

Update #2 February 17, 2017
In performing an inventory of various items, I came across two "manuals" which I received while attending seminars offered by ICATT and ACCA Caribbean and luckily for me they included withholding tax as one of the topics. I now have to revise all of those concepts which were covered in those manuals.

Jennifer N Bailey F.C.C.A.
jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com