GOLDEN GIRL Christine Ohuruogu goes for glory
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
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HARD TIMES Young people ‘let down by Olympics’
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SLEEK SUCCESS
College students win big at Afro Hair & Beauty p34
BIG BOTHER
Victor Ebuwa: Newham’s version of marmite p35
22 THE VOICE JUNE 21 - 27, 2012
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‘BOLT NEEDS COMPETITION’ Jamaica:ts
50 Golden Momen morates 1962-2012 comme ments over ve ie h c a ’s a ic a m a J nce gaining the last 50 years si 962. Independence in 1
/colour Using black and white as images photographs, as well the book of newspaper pages, es chronicles five decad of life in Jamaica.
THE VOICE’S OLYMPICS CORRESPONDENT, NATASHA HENRY, WENT TO THE HEART OF LONDON 2012 TO FIND OUT WHAT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF STRATFORD THINK OF THE UPCOMING SPORTS SPECTACULAR
Q
: Apart from Bolt, which athlete are you looking forward to seeing? RS – Asafa Powell. Everyone has forgotten about him but I know he has been training hard to give Bolt a race and a run for his money. AA – Just Bolt to be honest. I really want to see if he can still win given the pressure he is under. Also I would love to see him break his world record. EJ – I’ve seen Asafa Powell a few times at Crystal Palace and it would be great to see him do well at the Olympic games.
Roma Smart, 37, personal trainer
EG – Asafa Powell. I want to see if Jamaica is going to completely dominate the sprinting. I like Powell’s style and it would be nice for Bolt to get some competition.
Q
: Do Jamaican athletes get enough credit?
RS – I think they do since the emergence of Bolt.
This hardcover coffee-table book of just under 200 pages opens with the visit of a member of the royal family, Princess Margaret, for Independence celebrations in 1962 and closes with the visit of Prince Harry in 2012. The production of the book is a joint venture between The Gleaner Company and Kingston-based Ian Randle Publishers. For just £25 plus p&p you can order your copy now by calling Marlene at 020 7510 0340 Our Proud To Be Jamaican commemorative tee-shirts which have the now iconic front page of August 6 1962 can also be purchased for £15 (men) or £12 (ladies) plus p&p. Sizes range from XL – S. Colours available are yellow or white. Order now while stocks last. To place your orders call us at: 020 7510 0340 or email marketing@ gvmedia.co.uk
AA – In the sprint and the relays I think they do. They have definitely put the Caribbean on the map.
Adeleke Adelano, 33, student
EJ – Usain Bolt has – he’s literally on every advert. But I believe it has taken a lot of time. People like Merlene Ottey never got that kind of recognition, so it has definitely evolved over time. EG – I don’t think so, no. Particularly when it comes to media and sponsorship compared to other countries.
Q
: Do you think David Beckham should be on the Team GB football team?
Edina Jackson, 28, journalist
RS – No, his days are finished. In my opinion he is just living off his name now. AA – He should be a coach or a motivator, his role should be to inspire the youngsters now because his time is over. His injuries and age are not in his favour. EJ – He was instrumental in getting the Olympics so I think it would be a good idea, even if he is just on the bench. I think it would be the right thing to do as I believe he should be part of London 2012.
Eulan George, 26, marketing agent as an iconic hero, not a player EG – Absolutely not. anymore. It’s time to move on Beckham should be looked upon and not take him in the team.
JUNE 21 - 27, 2012 THE VOICE 23
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‘THERE’S NOTHING HERE FOR YOUTH’ 17-year-old Careem Reeves says that the London 2012 Olympics has failed to deliver on its promise of opportunities and jobs for cash-strapped students
By Lizabeth Davis
A
DOUBLE BLOW: 17-year-old Careem Reeves complained students have been stripped of the EMA and struggling to find paid work
GOVERNMENT decision to axe a weekly grant for college students, has left those from low-income families struggling with no lifeline owing to a shortage of paid work, a Newham teenager has said. Speaking at The Voice Community Conversation in the east London borough last month, 17-year-old Careem Reeves came forward to share his concerns. He said the withdrawal of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) from the start of the 2012-2013 academic year was a mistake and risked putting students’ futures in jeopardy. Careem, who lives in Stratford with his mother, told how he had been happy to receive the grant which he
used to cover travel expenses and stationery costs. “As soon as I came to college we [peers] all applied for it and certain people got it. If you had a low income you’d get it and if you didn’t have a low income you wouldn’t get it,” he explained. He said the £30 weekly sum was also an incentive for students to maintain good attendance and be punctual as those who didn’t were penalised. “If you were five minutes late you would lose out,” Careem said. He said he was furious over the decision was made to discontinue the scheme, and put a new bursary system put in its place. “With the new system, the bursary is a loan, you can borrow it but you have to give it back as soon as we start working. It’s not right to put young people
in debt, so I am angry about that,” he added. The EMA scheme closed to new applicants on January 1, 2011, and has been replaced by school, college and training providers bursary funds. Students facing financial hardship can receive up to £1,200 a year once their circumstances have been assessed. Careem said: “I have a friend who sometimes doesn’t go to college because she doesn’t have the money to travel, and her mum can’t give it to her because she doesn’t have it. “She gets the bursary but it’s not enough. It’s only £30 a month, not a week like it was before, so the money finishes fast.” To make ends meet, the travel and tourism student was obligated to look for part-time job.
But despite Stratford playing host to the London 2012 Games and promises of opportunities for residents, he said finding work in his borough was increasingly difficult due to an influx of outsiders competing for local jobs. Unemployment among young people is also at a record high, with boys from African or African-Caribbean backgrounds worst affected. He said: “I applied and never got through anywhere, which was disheartening,” he explained. Instead, he earns money helping out relatives with odd jobs. In the future, he hopes Newham Council makes creating jobs a priority. “Once I finish my course, I am going to have to look for work abroad, because there doesn’t seem to be much in this country for me unless something is done”, he said.
24 THE VOICE JUNE 21 - 27, 2012
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The self-funded Newham Monitoring Project has been holding officers to account since it was set up in 1981 By Elizabeth Pears
W
HEN NEWS broke of a young man who used his mobile phone to record police officers allegedly making racist remarks towards him the country was horrified. The officer, PC Alex Macfarlane, has since been charged and will go on trial on June 29. What many do not know, is that it was to Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) that the young man turned for support following his arrest. For Estelle du Boulay, the director of the charity, it was evidence of the ongoing “racism embedded in the police force that goes on behind closed doors”. To tackle the problem, the project has trained up 90 volunteers representing a cross-section of the community who will be deployed on the streets to carry out legal observation or, in other words, policing the police.
Some of the recruits are teachers. Some come from a legal background. Some are activists. “It’s been phenomenal”, du Boulay said who has been working with NMP for 15 years. She added: “Volunteers will be there to observe any kind of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct, monitor arrests for unfair or illegal treatment.
TREATMENT “We are particularly concerned with the treatment of young people, people from vulnerable backgrounds or BME backgrounds as these are the areas where there is disproportionate contact.” Volunteers also hand out legal advice to communities to let them know their rights. She added: “It’s a difficult and unprecedented project as most people do legal observations on protests you know are taking place at a fixed location. This work will rely on people
INVOLVED: Campaigner and director of Newham Monitoring Project teaching observation techniques
using their eyes and ears.” A lot of the training focuses on correct stop and search procedures, which is often the first contact people have with the police. Du Boulay explained: “It’s an issue of great tension. We teach the volunteers how they can assist by standing nearby, or talking to people afterwards. “We do think this project is of benefit to everybody. Human rights abuses tend to arise at big events like the upcoming Olympics.
“Often in dealings with the police, there is an imbalance of power. Young people who are stopped can get defensive and
may not always be calm. An observer can be a powerful presence. “Most importantly, it’s pre-
ventative not just reactive. It’s at the heart of why we were set up – so the community has a role in the policing process.”
History:
order to campaign effectively around related issues for justice and change.
Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) was formed 31 years ago out of local campaigns against the racist murder of teenager Akhtar Ali Baig in East Ham, after statutory agencies failed to respond adequately.
At the time, the harassment of the black community by police meant that police racism and the criminalisation of African and Caribbean people also became central to the organisation’s agenda.
The project’s aim was to monitor both racist attacks and the statutory response to them in
It offers a 24-hour emergency service for victims of racist violence and police harassment.
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JUNE 21 - 27, 2012 THE VOICE 33
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HOME DEFENCE
The Voice profiles Newham’s famous sporting daughter By: Juliana Lucas
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OMPETING IN London 2012 will hold special significance for Team GB’s Christine Ohuruogu, who was born and raised in the east London borough. The 400m sprinter, who took home gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, was born to Igbo Nigerian parents in Newham. Along with eight siblings – one of whom is Victoria Ohuruogu who is also a budding athlete – the 28-year-old was raised less than one mile from the Stratford stadium where thousands will watch her defend her title. She is Britain’s only defending track and field champion. In a recent interview with Zest magazine, Ohuruogu recalled childhood memories. “I remember burning around the area on my bike with my brother, looking for adventure,” she said. “When I was growing up the Stratford site was just industrial land covered in factories.” She added: “I belong to the
community – it’s my home and this summer the world’s biggest sporting event is going to be on my turf. For me, this is really personal. There are a few Team GB athletes who hail from east London – but I’m proud to say that my family home is closer to the stadium than any of the others. “I can only imagine the roar of the crowd when the British athletes walk into the stadium. It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience – and I can even walk home afterwards.” Ohuruogu studied linguistics at University College London and graduated in 2005. As well as her athletics training, she also played netball as an undergraduate. Her first victory was a bronze medal in the 400m at the European Junior Championships in 2003. The following year, Ohuruogu became the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) champion, was a semi-finalist in the 400m at the Olympic Games in Athens, and also took part in the 4 x 400 m relay team, finishing fourth. Fresh from her 4x400m relay
victory at the World Indoor Championships, Ohuruogu is warning her 400-metre rivals that she is ready to peak again on her home turf. The Olympic champion said: “It is comforting to know that I go in as defending Olympic champion. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody because I have already done it.” Earlier this month, she clocked a time of 50.69 – the fastest she has ever recorded ahead of a major championship, and she is said to be very happy with her form ahead of her Olympic defence. “I felt good before Beijing, I had won the World Championships in 2007 and was very confident. If I am fit and healthy going into a competition, I know I will run well. “My lasting memory of the Olympic Games will be the feeling of achievement and the satisfaction of doing what I had been working for with my coach Lloyd Cowan for many years.”
HOMECOMING: Christine Ohuruogu will defend her title in the area where she grew up
34 THE VOICE JUNE 21 - 27, 2012
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Cook & Partners Solicitors Why make a Will? What happens if I don’t? If you don’t make a Will and you die, your property and assets, wherever they are in the world, are shared out in line with arbitrary legal rules. Very likely, this will not be the same as what you would like. If you make a Will you are in charge of who gets what. Who “WILL” carry out my wishes? In your Will, you name someone you trust (called your 'Executor') to make sure your money and land ends up with the right people. It can be a relative, but doesn't have to be. It can be more than one person. Many people prefer to appoint a lawyer to act as their Executor, which takes the pressure off family members. Do I need a separate Will for each country? Many people think you have to make a separate Will for each place where they own land or assets – one for England, one for Jamaica, for example. This is not required, and is often a very bad idea as the different documents can accidentally clash with each other. If you have already done this please check whether you need to and that the result, legally speaking, is what you wanted! A Will made in the UK can deal with property anywhere in the world, and will be recognised by the Courts and laws of all Commonwealth countries, and vice-versa. Will I have to pay Death Duties? With current house price levels, more people than ever before will have to pay UK Inheritance Tax. Assuming that you are resident in the UK when you die, whatever you leave to your wife or husband is tax free, but otherwise any property you have worth more than £325,000 will usually be taxed at 40%. (2012/13 figures). Rules on taxation for overseas money or property are complicated and can depend not only on where it is, but sometimes on how long it was that you lived in different places. It's not easy to generalise, but the Caribbean countries tend to charge a Transfer Tax on land rather than taxes on inheritance, and these are mostly around 6% to 7?% of the value of whatever houses or land you leave. The money for all these taxes has to be found before any of your property can be passed on to those you want to benefit. Sometimes this means that assets have to be sold, instead of reaching those they were meant for. There are often ways to avoid or reduce the potential tax bill perfectly legitimately, or if you can't, you may need to think about insurance to cover the bills. In every case the answer is to plan in advance, so you are in control and have peace of mind that your money, goods and property will go where you want. What should I do next? See a qualified lawyer (a solicitor or attorney). There are other people who claim to be able to prepare Wills: but they are most unlikely to have any knowledge of the special requirements of customers with property abroad.
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WEAVE GOT THE X FACTOR
Newham College hairdressing students steal the show at Afro Hair and Beauty Live By Juliana Lucas
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ETTING A perfect example of the student becoming the master, two budding hair stylists from east London outshone experienced rivals at the recent Afro Hair and Beauty Live show. Deon Duncan and Maxine Garrison both won first prizes in their respective style-offs, sponsored by beauty firm Sleek, despite still being in training at Newham College. The pair are both currently enrolled on a Level 2 hairdressing course at the east London institution. Garrison, 43, ventured into the creative side of hairdressing following years of managing a salon after a friend suggested she might have talent. Undaunted by her lack of experience, she told The Voice she had only one mission when she entered the Colour Me Beautiful category – to win.
SELF-BELIEF Garrison said: “I have a lot of confidence and self- PUNK ROCK: Stylist Maxine Garrison poses with her model belief, so if I say I am going to compete then it’s because I think I can win.” Sleek judges at the Business Design Centre, in Islington, were wowed by the funky red and blue mohican she created in just under 45 minutes. She received a certificate, trophy, £500 cash, and hair extensions for future looks. Garrison said: “I’m getting married soon, so I plan to use the money to hire a silver champagne limousine.” Upon qualification, Garrison hopes to use her skills to create out-of-thebox looks for fashion shows or for television dramas. Duncan, who entered the Fantasy Dream Weaving category, created an avant garde look inspired by the Queen’s Jubilee. All preparation was done beforehand with final touch ups done before stage showcase and catwalk demonstration judged by the audience. The aim of this section was to showcase creativity, volume, imagination and the diversity of style ranges that can be achieved using FANTASY: Deon Duncan (left) and the dream-like hair design that helped her win Sleek hair products.
JUNE 21 - 27, 2012 THE VOICE 35
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NOTORIOUS
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HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME - FOR ONE SUMMER, AT LEAST - THANKS TO AN EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE ON REALITY TV SHOW BIG BROTHER. NOW LIFELONG EAST LONDON BOY VICTOR EBUWA IS PREPARING TO MAKE HIS FILM DEBUT IN A INDY FLICK ABOUT GOLD DIGGERS.
Q
: You grew up in Forest Gate and now live in Stratford. How has the area changed over the years? A: When I was growing up there was a rubbish bus station that was like the Byker Grove youth centre. Now there’s a sexy one instead, a train station with international links, a Westfield, two cinemas and a selection of hotels for those saucy late-night encounters. Stratford has grown exponentially
Q
: What do you like best about the area? A: It’s a genuine melting pot. In Stratford, there’s a great blend of cultures. You’ve got the old East Enders, Somalis, eastern Europeans, Africans, Pakistanis – and everyone seems to get along. We even do business with each other.
Q
: Was it always like that? Did you face any discrimination in school? A: When I was in school, I was the only Nigerian down for the cause. Even though you had guys called Ade and Femi in your year, they would try and tell you they were American. We got rinsed though – mainly from the West Indians. I remember names like African ‘bubu’, black attack, midnight and chocolate face. Now, if you ask my son, where he’s from, it doesn’t even matter that his mum’s West Indian, he is proud to say he’s Nigerian. He wants his jellof rice.
Q
: You went to St Bonaventure in Forest Gate. What was that like? A: I am still a legend; some
kind of a god over there. We got the best of both worlds: it was rough like all boys schools are, but the academic aspect was second to none. The teachers really cared about making sure we got the best education and they taught us to value it. Thank God, I didn’t go to Rokeby. I don’t know what it’s like now, but back then it was like Prison Break. I’m not kidding. Half of that school’s alumni appear on Crimewatch.
Q
: It has been said you were quite the footballer. Or is that just a myth? A: Myth? Ok, I’m not the rampaging midfielder I used to be but I played at youth level and against pros who are now playing at international level: Scott Parker, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Bobby Zimora and Jermain Defoe who went to my school. I actually turned down a contract with Colchester United before I went to Brunel University and they offered it instead to some guy called Lomana Lua Lua who grew up around the corner from me. He’s a good friend of mine. He went on to get bought by Newcastle United for about £2.5million and earning £60k a week. I, on the other hand, went on to lead a wildly mediocre life as a Z-list celebrity.
Q
: Do you regret going into Big Brother? A: Not at all. I never really planned on doing it, but I had a friend who kept on auditioning and couldn’t get in. I told him it would be easy, so I auditioned for a laugh and got in. I thought I’d last maybe a week or two because up until that point, mildly intelligent people went on it. When I saw
SPOTLIGHT: Victor Ebuwa is venturing into films
the pond life I was stuck with, I thought: “I might get to stay a little longer”.
consider them at all. If people enjoy me - great. If they don’t - I couldn’t give a monkeys.
Q
Q
: There can be a lot of pressure being “the black contestant”. Did that ever bother you? A: I couldn’t give a stuff what people think. I do the best for myself and try not to embarrass my family. Black people are too hard to please. Half want to see you do good, and the other half don’t want you to because there’s nothing good in their own lives. They are enemies of progress. Those people aren’t there when my little boy needs food so I don’t
: It’s fair to say you were one of the most memorable contestants. Why do you think that is? A: I am up for a laugh and don’t take myself too seriously. I can get on with anyone if i feel like getting on with them. I’m an everyman.
Q
: And what’s with the hat? A: I’m constantly having bad hair days. If you see me now I look like the wild man of Borneo.
Q
: What are you up to now?
A: I have just finished doing my first film. I’ve gone into acting now, innit? You can’t fight your destiny for greatness. On a serious note, I’m not trying to win no Baftas around here. I’ve started with a character that’s not dissimilar to myself and when I get more experience then I’ll start tackling things like different emotions, trying different looks - I might even take my hat off.
Q
: What’s the film about? A: It’s called Hunting for Hubbies - an independent flick
about money-grabbing gold diggers who only date rich married men. My character gets caught up in the mire and it all ends in tears. That’s all I can tell you. It’s directed by Yinka Idowu of Rex Vision. They used to direct music videos, but have moved into feature films. It’s going to do the rounds at the film festivals and I’ll let you know when the screening is.
Q
: Are you excited about the Olympics? A: It’s a drain on all our resources, but why not, eh? Actually, I might go on holiday for a bit and watch it on TV.
36 | THE VOICE JUNE 21 - 27, 2012
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