New York Liberty Star by Ivrol Hines

SHARPE NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR * FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

WELLINGTON

SHARPE

SHARPE WELLINGTON SHARPE

SHARPE CHOICE FOR SENATE

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SEPT. 14TH

DAILY NEWS ENDORSES

WELLINGTON SHARPE FOR STATE SENATE

PAID FOR BY SHARPE FOR SENATE 2010

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

THE SHARPE PLAN SHARPE NEEDS YOUR VOTE, BECAUSE YOU NEED:

■ Jobs! Jobs! ... and more Jobs! ■ A Safer Neighborhood ■ Better communications between residents and elected leaders ■ More involvement of the people in the decisionmaking process in the distict ■ A comprehensive overhaul of existing programs and services to see what works and what does not ■ Visionary leadership that unites rather than divides and an ability to bring people together. Change In The State Senate

ellington Sharpe has been a resident of Brooklyn for the past 30 years. He can identify with the vast majority of the residents in the 21st Senate District who work hard and want improved services and programs for their families. As a successful businessman, he knows first-hand the problems that small and medium-sized businesses face on a daily basis. He will therefore be sensitive to their needs and work with colleagues in government to help develop this vital community economic resource. He’ll pay special attention to our youth and unemployed by setting up a VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER. This center will provide an avenue where young adults can develop skills that can be used in thetrade sector. “I know how to engage and involve our young people who have been left out of the district’s dialogue. Its about listening to them and working with them to find common solutions to existing problems. Together we can heal the generational disconnect.”

THE DAILY NEWS Wellington SHARPE ENDORSES

Economic Development & Jobs Creation

As a successful business owner for many years Wellington brings that experience to the all-important task of job creation. This is necessary to spur economic growth and to put our young people back to work. Wellington will partner with the US Small Business Association and the local business sector to find new ways to tackle the high unemployment index. He will also work with the Industrial Development Agency to not only bring moe jobs to the district but to identify and provide more resources for workforce training and special initiatives like women-owned businesses. Green Collar Jobs serve to benefit our environment by decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels; thereby reducing energy costs significantly while simultaneously creating new jobs. President Obama has promised to spend 150 billion dollars over the next 10 years to create 5 million new jobs. All too often our young adults pursue careers that are over saturated. Our leaders must be savvy enough to guide our each new generation of workers into careers that lead to employment. Green Energy Technology is the wave of the future. As your senator, I will lobby congress for our fair share of this stimulus plan, so that our young adults can position themselves as formidable candidates for acquiring certifications and careers in Green Energy Technology.

DEM OCR PRIM ATIC SEPT ARY EMB 14TH ER

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

FOR STATE SENATE IN BROOKLYN’S 21ST DISTRICT

Editorial They have a better alternative in challenger Wellington Sharpe. An educator and businessman, Sharpe is calling for comprehensive reform of Albany, including transparency on personal finances for members of the Legislature.

PAID FOR BY SHARPE FOR SENATE 2010

local OBAMA BACKS TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES, Page 4 NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR * FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Page 7

Entertainment

ST LUCIA SHOWS AT NOTTING HILL

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

JAM $35 | US $0.50 | NYLIBERTYSTAR.COM | VOL. 10 ISSUE 212

EXCELLENCE

ST LUCIA created a big impact at one of the largest celebrations of Caribbean culture in Europe, the Notting Hill Carnival. Page 20

Sports News

ASAFA ASKS FANS TO HAVE PATIENCE

ASAFA POWELL has begged his longsuffering fans for their indulgence after he was sidelined with injury.

SUNDIAL HERBAL PRODUCTS

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 10

WOMAN OF THE WEEK P7

Yolanda Lezama-Clark, president of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.

Local News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Case Against Former Legislator Dropped John Travolta Decides Not To Testify

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas High Court dismissed charges against an ambulance driver and a former legislator, accused of trying to extort money from actor John Travolta, earlier this week. The court took the decision to drop the charges against Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, after the prosecutor said the actor no longer wanted to pursue a case stemming from the death of his teenage son. Prosecutor Neil Braithwaite had submitted a motion to drop the case even after the jury had been picked and a retrial about to start for the two defendants. “The Travolta family has said that this matter has caused them unbelievable stress and pain and they wish to put this whole thing behind them,” Braithwaite said. Lightbourne and Bridgewater were accused of threatening to release pri-

Actor John Travolta

vate information about the January 2009 death of Travolta’s 16-year-old son Jett at the family vacation home in Grand Bahama. Lightbourne, who was among the medics who treated Jett, allegedly sought US$25 million from the actor with the assistance of Bridgewater, who resigned her seat in the Bahamas Senate one day after she was charged in the case. A judge had declared a mistrial in October after a Bahamian lawmaker suggested that the still-deliberating jury had acquitted one of the suspects. Travolta had testified during that trial and one of his attorneys said in October that he had been prepared to testify again if necessary.

LENECIA HINES Publisher / Editor-In-Chief IVROL HINES Publisher / Managing Editor

Former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater

Asks Gubernatorial Candidates To Commit To New Leadership Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano called for the immediate resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Jay Walder while also asking the state’s gubernatorial candidates to make a simple promise to voters to shake up leadership at the Authority.

MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder

of overtime pay and discovered “serious flaws” in the budget practices of its central office. The comptroller’s office also found that 145 MTA employees received overtime pay that exceeded their salaries in 2009. About 5% of the agency’s nearly 70,000 workers, or more than 3,200 employees, last year received overtime totaling at least half of their regular salaries.

“The MTA has made this summer has been disastrous for Long Islanders. All taxpayers are victims of Walder’s inability to run the agency,” Mangano said. “While Walder earns more than $350,000 a year, working-class residents who depend on Long Island Bus to get to their jobs are barely scraping by.” This month, the MTA announced plans to not only eliminate

$26 million in funding for Long Island Bus but to also hike bus and subway fares in an effort to increase their revenue by 7.5%. Mangano has stated he will pursue the privatization of Long Island Bus should the Authority leave 100,000 riders stranded on January 1, 2011.

He will lobby Congress including a blocking minority of Republicans in the Senate - to let companies in the US write off investment costs until 2011. With unemployment stuck at 10% and the economy appearing to slow sharply, the president’s Democratic Party could face big losses at the November elections.

On Monday, President Obama also called for $50 billion of new infrastructure spending. Officials said the president would announce the latest proposals during a speech in Cleveland later on Wednesday. Last week, the President used a speech on the economy to attack the Republicans’ “block-

ade” for holding up a bill aimed at helping small businesses. The administration said that the new tax plan would save companies about $200 billion over two years. It would also provide an added incentive for businesses to increase investment. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke noted in a recent speech the worrying failure of businesses to increase their fixed capital investment, and the crucial role this would play in sustaining the recovery.

KHADINE BRYAN Editor VANESSA BARNES Staff Writer MARJORIE FLASH Photojournalist LEONARDO HARRISON Webmaster DAVID LESTER NEAL JOHN COLIN WILSON JOAN GOBOURNE Accounts Managers Telephone: (718) 785-9722 Fax: (215) 294-5903 nylibertystar@yahoo.com www.nylibertystar.com NEW YORK CITY CORPORATE OFFICE 397 Rockaway Ave Brooklyn, NY 11212

Edward P. Mangano

Prez. Obama Backs Tax Breaks For Companies President Barack Obama is to back new company tax breaks in a bid to regain the initiative as mid-term polls loom.

“New York Liberty Star hopes to develop a platform wherein the contributions the Caribbean immigrant and the African American can be showcased in its most positive light.” Publisher: Ivrol D. Hines

Mangano Calls On MTA’s Walder To Resign

“The MTA has cut service, implemented a job-killing payroll tax and threatened to eliminate Long Island Bus altogether,” Mangano said. “Mr. Walder has clearly failed at managing the MTA, and for the sake of the taxpayers he should resign effective immediately.” A state Comptroller audit recently called for an end to management’s “culture of acceptance”

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President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC.

Send all Mail to: New York Liberty Star 1930 Rockaway Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY 11236 New York Liberty Star welcomes letters from readers and press releases. We reserve the right to edit all materials, in keeping with publication standards. To submit an article, send email to: nylibertystar@yahoo.com. Hours of operation: M-F, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. All material due by 5 p.m., Tuesday of publication week. The New York Liberty Star is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Copyright New York Liberty Star 2001. All rights reserved / Ivrol D. Hines.

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Caribbean

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR * FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

US To Help End Caribbean Drug Trade Clinton Warns Caribbean Starting To Look Like Columbia WASHINGTON, DC – The United States is promising to increase aid to the region to help fight the burgeoning drug trade. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said drug gangs in the region were “morphing into an insurgency” like the one that gripped Colombia two decades ago. “These drug cartels are now showing more and more indices of insurgency,” she told the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign policy thinktank on Thursday. “All of a sudden, car bombs show up, which weren’t there before...it’s looking more and more like Colombia looked 20 years ago, where the narco-traffickers control certain parts of the country,” Clinton said. She said the Obama administration is “working very hard” in assisting the region to improve its law enforcement and

intelligence capabilities, and to detain and prosecute those arrested in drug trafficking. The US Secretary of State said “Plan Colombia,” which channeled billions of dollars in US funds to the Colombian government to help defeat FARC rebels who financed their activities through the lucrative cocaine trade, have significantly improved conditions in Colombia. “There were problems and there were mistakes, but it worked,” she said about the plan. “We need to figure out what are the equivalents for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean,” Clinton said, adding that Caribbean leaders were very concerned about the spiraling crime wave.

“And that’s not easy.” In June, Clinton also pledged new support to Central American and Caribbean allies in combating violent drug traffickers. Clinton, who was in Barbados for a regional meeting of foreign ministers, unveiled the Obama administration’s US$124 million Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. The initiative is aimed at helping countries counter the illegal narcotics, arms trade and help prosecute offenders. US officials say counter-drug efforts have pushed traffickers to use new routes through the Caribbean, as they seek to ship drugs from South America into the United States or Europe. Battles between drug gangs and police in Mexico have killed hundreds of people in recent months, and experts fear violence could spread to other countries in the region.

NYC Cop Pleads Guilty To Killing Haitian Woman Drunk Cop Faces 90 Days In Jail NEW YORK, NY – A drunken New York Police Department (NYPD) cop who killed a Haitian woman last year while driving pleaded to vehicular manslaughter and admitted to Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Alan Marrus that he was “intoxicated” on the night of the accident. He faces 90 days behind bars. Authorities said Officer Andrew Kelly, assigned to the 68th Police Precinct in Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, was found reeking of alcohol, with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, after his Jeep struck 33-year-old Vionique Valnord, the daughter of a Haitian minister in Brooklyn. Valnord was leaving a wedding at about12:41am in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn on September 28, 2009. Kelly, 32, faced criminal charges of Driving While Intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter after prosecutors charged that he and three friends, including another offduty cop, were driving home after a evening of drinking and watching sports on TV. In addition to the 90 days behind bars Kelly faces five years probation and will also attend an alcohol treatment programme. He resigned from the NYPD last Friday. Valnord’s family told Kelly they forgave him after the plea agreement. When Judge Marrus asked him if he was guilty, he

cleared his throat and said, “Yes, Your Honor.” Lawyer Arthur Aidala said his client did a lot of soul-searching before taking the plea, adding that he didn’t want to put his family through a long trial. Kelly also approached the Valnord family and apologised in the courtroom after the plea. “He was most relieved when her family forgave him,” said Aidala. “He had tears in his eyes.” Outside the courthouse, family members said they were comforted by Kelly taking responsibility for Vionique’s death. “That helps us move forward,” said the Rev. Varius Valnord, pastor of the Haitian Church of God on Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. “I accepted his apology.” The civil filing the family has against the city is set to move forward, said Sanford Rubenstein, the family’s attorney. “Cops everywhere need to know, if they get behind the wheel of a car drunk and kill someone, they will lose their jobs,” he said.

Police Officer Shot And Killed A police officer, who was riding a bicycle late on Thursday night, has become the 13th law enforcement official to be shot and killed in Jamaica so far this year.

Police said that Corporal Garfield Anderson was riding the bike close to his home in the central parish of St Catherine when he was gunned down. No motive has yet been given

for his death. Meanwhile, the police say they are also investigating threats made by an unidentified male caller that he would kill an investigator with the Public

Defender’s Office that is now conducting a probe to determine whether there have been infringements of human rights or inhumane treatment of persons while in police custody. Public Defender Earl Witter has since written to several government officials including Prime Minister Bruce Golding and National Security Minister Dwight Nelson on the threat.

In the letter, Witter said that an unidentified male called his office earlier this week threatening to kill the investigator, if he showed up at a police station in St Catherine as part of the investigation being conducted on the state of the prison cells at various police stations. Witter said he is also taking appropriate measures to address the safety concerns of his staff.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Four Killed In Guyana, Execution Style Baby Among The Casualties Four people, including a baby, were shot and killed execution style on Saturday night in Georgetown, in the vicinity of the University of Guyana. Reports state that the gunmen opened fire when the passengers

of a motor car were about to exit from the vehicle. Dead are 38-year-old Chris ‘Bigga’ George, Steve Jupiter (37), and a baby. The mother of the baby, Fiona Singh, who received injuries, has been admitted to the Georgetown Hospital. The name of the fourth victim is not known. The reason for the brutal killing is not certain, but the police suspect that it was a deal that went sour.

St Lucia Records Second Jailbreak In One Month Another inmate has escaped from the Bordelais Correctional Facility, the second prison break in less than a month, National Security Minister Guy Mayers confirmed this week.

He told the media that it was still unclear how the inmate, a 21-yearold from the east coast village of Dennery, who was serving time for possession of drugs, was able to escape from the facility. Unlike the previous jail break which was facilitated by persons from outside, there was no such interference on this occasion, prompting suspicion that the escapee may have either made his way out over the prison fence, or facilitated from within. Sunday’s jailbreak comes in the wake of an audit done on the prison facility by a US team which has just submitted recommendations to Government into ways security at the jail can be improved. In August two Venezuelans and a St. Lucian made their way out of the prison yard on a Sunday after a group of armed men fired on prison guards while cutting the prison fence from outside to facilitate their escape. There has been no trace of the convicts who police informants say have made their way out of the country. Meantime, security units combing the forested area surrounding the Bordelais facility after the alarm was raised about the latest jailbreak stumbled upon the decomposed corpse of a male, which they have not yet been able to identify.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Bajan PM Gets Treated In NYC Caribbean Consulates In New York City Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 212-541-4119 Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, NY 10017 (212) 421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 2nd Fl. New York, N.Y. 10017 212-551-4300 Belize 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400G New York, N.Y. 10017 212-421-6934 Cayman Islands (Dept. of Tourism) 641 Lexington Ave, Suite 1435 New York, NY 10170 (877) 874-5104 Dominican Republic 1501 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 212-768-2480 Grenada 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900D New York, N.Y. 10017 212-599-0301 Guyana 370 7th Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017 212-947-5110 Haiti 271 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 212-697-9767 Honduras 80 Wall Street, Suite 415, 4th Flr New York, N.Y. 10005 212-269-3611 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017-2993 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 212-840-2450 Puerto Rico 666 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, N.Y. 10103 800-223-6530 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 212-535-1234 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Ste. 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, #4 New York, N.Y. 212-742-8021

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister David Thompson has confirmed that he is in United States for a “medical procedure” but shied away from questions as to whether or not he is healthy enough to lead a government in Barbados.

Speaking in a telephone link-up with local radio and television reporters, Thompson, 48, said that his personal medical physician, Dr. Richard Ishmael, will inform Barbadians about the state of his health next week. “I want to let Barbadians know that during the two months I was away I kept abreast of what was happening and I am most grateful and heartened by the outpouring of love and support for me and the good wishes and prayers. “It has been a tough time unfortunately…and being away from Barbados is something for me is obviously unfortunate, but I believe that the time has to be taken,” he said. Thompson, who had been out of office for two months, returned to Barbados on August 29, and a statement issued then from his office residence said that he was back at the head of government. The statement quoted him as saying that he was feeling fine and eager to get back to work. But the Prime Minister said that by Saturday he had developed “a complication which required

me to travel back to New York. “I think Barbadians would remember that I did indicate that the nature of my sickness would require me to travel to see the doctors here from time to time, but I don’t expect to be here long on this occasion all things being equal. But it was necessary for me to come back.” He told the interviewers that he had also authorised Dr. Ishmael, who has accompanied him to New York, “on his own independent position to give a medical update to Barbadians so you could have a very clear picture as to what is happening. Thompson said that while he is not reluctant to state his medical problem he would rather allow the population to hear from the medical experts. “I am not a medical expert, I have an idea as to what’s wrong with me but I …think it is better for him to speak first and for me to come later”. During the brief telephone interview, Thompson, who led his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to power just over two years ago, disagreed with suggestions that he should step down as head of the government. “The people of Barbados elected me and I am not here to deal with that particular issue…but when I see Barbadians their first concern is for me to restore my health and that is what I have been focusing on. “In the circumstances I believe that should I need to take any course of action that would be in the course of the country that I love I will take that course of action. At the same time one does not want to unsettle the social, political or economic environment and therefore don’t get excited about

those things as yet. “I believe this is me speaking to you, that you could work out from that that my brain is still functioning, that I am able to talk lucidly, that I am able to carry out my functions, maybe not with the same level of physical intensity as before…and I will in my circumstances do my best, but all this at the end of the day depends on the grace of God,” the Prime Minister said. Thompson also brushed aside suggestions that he may have to re-shuffle his Cabinet, saying “ if you were in my condition…and you heard the calls of Barbadians… their first interest has been for me to get better and in those circumstances I am saying to you my interest is in the success of Barbados. “We have a government in place, there is an acting Prime Minister, we have a full government in operation and in the circumstances those are matters that will be discussed and dealt with at another level,” he added. “I want to thank Barbadians for their prayers, for their love, for their support,” he said.

Prime Minister David Thompson

Regional HIV/AIDS Programs Suffer From Lack Of Funds MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Caribbean countries have been told that they need to impress upon donor countries that the fight against the HIV-AIDS epidemic could be seriously hampered if the region is unable to tap adequate financial resource for its programs on dealing with the deadly virus. Grenada’s Health Minister Ann Peters told delegates attending a two-day meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), that the global financial and economic crisis has had a server impact on the region’s ability to fund HIV/ AIDS programs. Peters, who is who is the RCM Chairperson, said that despite the promised assistance from the Global Fund and the continued support from other developing partners, “PANCAP now faces the stark reality of declining grant funds with huge adverse implications for its programmatic outreach. “For us in the Caribbean, the signals are worrying. Currently, all Caribbean economies are reeling from the effects of the global downturn. Contractions in the vital tourism sector, falling demand for exports, reduced foreign investment, tightening of capital, and dwindling remittances combine to undermine the ability of

regional governments to respond to legitimate development demands. “At the same time, the economies of the developed world continue to struggle to break free of the global financial contagion that has precipitated a contraction in development assistance that in the past had buoyed entities such as PANCAP,” she told the delegates to the conference that ends later on Friday. The Grenada health minister said that the decision by development agencies to implement a new “eligibility criteria” for the allocation of their resources has also seriously affected middle-income regions such as the Caribbean. “I cite these financial challenges not as a cry of despair or a bleating of helplessness or hopelessness. Rather, I do so to make the case for the Caribbean to once again assert its own toughness and to reach deep within its collective core to find the answers,” she said. She said while there were few options open to PANCAP, established in 2001 as the regional mechanism responsible for coordinating the Caribbean’s response to the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, it was also necessary for the organization to revisit its existing operations so as to achieve higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness. “In this context, I ask rhetorically, can we “make the money work better”? Can we deliver the regional and national public goods and services contemplated by the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS for less than the estimated cost of US$120 million, without in any way sacrificing the quality and quantity of the results? I answer to myself and say that we can and must. Of course, this same principle of efficiency gains must also be ap-

plied with equal conviction and consistency at the national level.” She said it was also important to recognise that the HIV response in the Caribbean cannot be sustained without the injection of adequate financial resources. “We must continue to make the case to our traditional development partners that the war against HIV in the Caribbean is far from won and that their support remains indispensable. “That case must be made in every quarter – through our embassies and our ambassadors in the capitals of Ottawa, and London and Washington and Frankfurt and Brussels; in international fora such as the United Nations General Assembly and in the Board rooms of the Global Fund and UNAIDS; and in our discourses with functionaries at every level.” But she said at the same time it was also critical for PANCAP to expand its resource base through constructive engagement of non-traditional development partners such as the private sector and private foundations at the national, regional and international levels. She said that it would also be necessary for Caribbean governments to assume greater fiscal responsibility “notwithstanding the prevailing economic crunch. “More than likely, such greater involvement on the part of the State will require a review of strategic directions, re-allocation of resources and re-organization of services. Whatever course of action is taken, the bottom line must be a greater commitment of national resources to the HIV response in the region.” In his address, the Assistant Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Edward Greene, said that as PANCAP pre-

pares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, it was also vital that a suitable plan be put in place to mark the 20th anniversary. “In so doing, the structures to strengthen the implementation of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (2008-2013), the development of a PANCAP constitution and the efforts at sustaining the viability of critical core partners such as CRN+ and CCNAPC are commendable features of this transition,” he said. He said that the planning comes at a time when the full meaning of the 2001 Nassau Declaration entitled “The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region” is unfolding. “PANCAP you would recall, is one pillar for the implementation of the actionable recommendations of the Declaration .The Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) is the other,” he said noting that regional governments had recently endorsed the establishment of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, a consolidation of five previously separately run regional health institutions into one public health agency. “The convergence of these two pillars of the Nassau Declaration with similar trajectories of health systems strengthening, harmonization, rationalization , coordinated resource mobilization and sustainability planning, may yet provide the ultimate management challenge for the RCM in charting the road ahead for PANCAP,” he said. A PANCAP statement said that the meeting here will seek to finalize the PANCAP Global Fund Grant Agreement scheduled for signing at the end of this month. The Global Fund, in November 2009, more than US$31 million for the PANCAP proposal, “Fighting HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean: A Strategic Approach”.

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Entertainment

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR * FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

St. Lucia On Show At Fantasia: “I Am Not Notting Hill Carnival A Home

Wrecker”

Fantasia

Saint Lucia’s Tourism Team in the UK: (from left): Amanda Wild, Jackie Bookal, Katie Gorrill and Hilda Caprice enjoy carnival celebrations in London.

The small island nation of Saint Lucia created a big impact at one of the largest celebrations of Caribbean culture in Europe last month. The small eastern Caribbean island had a strong cultural presence during the two-day Notting Hill Carnival festival which drew millions on Sunday, August 29 and Monday, August 30 to one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, according to the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB). Using the huge drawing power of the Notting Hill event the Saint

Lucia Tourist Board promoted its own summer carnival which came to a successful conclusion in Castries in July. The SLTB’s UK office, which successfully connected with Saint Lucian associations and friends of Saint Lucia in London to participate in the celebrations, also teamed with Xtreme Carnival - the British arm of the Royalites

Xtreme Carnival Band. The sixsection, 170-plus member band included SLTB officials, adorned in full costume, reveling in the “Exotic” section. Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner to London Eldridge Stephens hosted the official launch of Notting Hill Carnival 2010 in an event receiving coverage from both print and electronic media in the UK. This complements the positive reviews from a successful UK press visit to the island during July’s Carnival season.

The Tourist Board is now preparing for talks with Emporia Brands Ltd., the UK rum distributor for St. Lucia Distillers, to maximize Saint Lucia’s presence at Notting Hill’s Carnival in 2011. This year, Emporia sponsored a steel pan band and promoted the prestigious Chairman’s Reserve and Toz Rum products in London. For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, its legendary product offerings and resort vacation packages, visit StLuciaNow.com or call a travel professional.

WIADCA President Named West Indian Of The Week The President of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) has been named “West Indian of the Week” by Marketplace Excellence. Yolanda Lezama-Clark is the first to be recognized in the new series launched by Marketplace Excellence to recognize outstanding members of the Caribbean Diaspora for their leadership and inspiration. Ms. Lezama-Clark, daughter of Carlos Lezama, the late Trinidadian and Brooklyn Carnival pioneer, led millions of West Indians, Americans and friends of the Caribbean onto Eastern Parkway during Brooklyn’s massive Labor Day Parade yesterday. The West Indian Day parade, recognized as a premier North American festival, this year boosted New York City’s coffers to the tune of US$86 million. As in years past, yesterday’s carnival was a celebration of the culture,

history, economic development and upward mobility of Caribbean people. Several distinguished community leaders and politicians - Caribbean and non-Caribbean - joined West Indian nationals in a joyous celebration of the Caribbean spirit. New York Governor David Paterson; New York State Senator John Sampson; New York City Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott; Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn; New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry and US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Beatrice Wilkinson Welters - who each trace their roots to the Caribbean - were a part of the all-day celebration made possible due to the inspiring leadership of Yolanda

WIADCA President, Yolanda Lezama-Clark

NEW YORK — Fantasia said she was so upset about allegations that she broke up a marriage she was ready to die. “I felt like if that would have happened, I would have been fine with that — I would have been OK with that,” she said in an interview with the Associated Press on Monday afternoon, nearly two weeks after she attempted suicide. The former American Idol champ took a mixture of aspirin and sleeping pills after she was named in divorce papers as the cause of a couple’s breakup. The 26-yearold said she was so devastated and upset about lies being spread about her that she couldn’t function anymore. “I had never experienced that — I was very numb,” she said. As for the accusations that she knowingly dated Antwaun Cook even though he was married with kids, she said he was already separated when they started dating: “I don’t think I would stand for going in and breaking up somebody’s home.” While she called Cook a good guy and a “great friend,” she said they are no longer together, and haven’t been for a while. Fantasia shares some of her story on VH1’s Behind the Music, airing Tuesday, and a new season of her reality show Fantasia for Real debuts in September. She is hopeful the show will tell her side of the story: “The best way for me to clear my name is through my show,” she said. Her focus now, however, is on her album, Back to Me, out on Tuesday. She is in therapy, and said she’s now better able to cope with her problems. “I must say it was probably a blessing to be in the hospital,” she said, adding: “It ain’t time for me to go yet.”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Health

New Migraine Gene Discovered

PEOPLE WITH MIGRAINE OFTEN HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR FAMILIES WITH MIGRAINE Having a particular variation of a gene on chromosome 8 may raise the risk of getting migraines, new research shows.

While migraines have long been believed to have a genetic component, pinpointing specific genes has proven difficult, the researchers said. The current study is among the first to identify a specific genetic variant associated with a heightened risk for the most common types of migraines, including migraines with and without aura, although the link to migraines with aura was stronger, according to the study. “We have found this association primarily with migraine with aura. More studies need to be done to verify how widely this is true for other forms of migraine,” said senior study author Aarno Palotie, chair of the International Headache Genetics Consortium at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in England. The study is published in the Aug. 29 issue of Nature Genetics. Researchers conducteed a genome-wide association study on more than nearly 6,000 people diagnosed with migraine headaches and some 50,000 people without migraines, and found that migraine sufferers were more likely to have a variant on chromosome 8 between the MTDH and the PGCP gene. The genes are involved with the regulation of the neurotransmitter glutamate, Palotie said. “When you use genome-wide association studies, you often land in an area that you have no clue what’s actually done there,” Palotie said. “In this case, we were lucky. Both of these genes are related to the glutamate balance in the body and the brain. We further know that one of these genes regulate an additional gene

About 17 percent of women get migraines. involved in glutamate regulation.” Glutamate is a chemical, or molecule, that transmit signals between neurons, Palotie said. Researchers speculate the variant might cause glutamate to build up in the synapses, but why a disruption in glutamate levels could contribute to migraines is unknown. It’s also unknown what, in people with a genetic susceptibility, might trigger the headache, he said. About 26 percent of the migraine sufferers in the study had the variant, while 18 percent to 20 percent of people who didn’t have the migraines had it. Though significant, migraines are a

complex condition, and many other genes and variants are likely involved. “What it means is there are many, many more genes that predispose us to migraines,” Palotie said. “This one is just uncovering the tip of the iceberg.” About 17 percent of women and 8 percent of men get migraines, according to background information in the article. Although researchers have in the past described genetic mutations that cause rare forms of migraine, this is one of the first genetic risk factors linked to more common forms of migraines, according to researchers. Dr. Kate Henry, an associate professor of neurology at New York University Langone Medical, called the findings important in that they uncovered information about the genetics of the most common types of migraines. “The belief is that about 70 to 80 percent of the risk for migraines is genetic, mainly because we know people with migraine often have people in their families with migraine,” Henry said. “But there was never a real clear understanding of what the specific genetics were.” The hope is that a better understanding of the genetics could open the door to safe and more effective treatments, Henry said. Medications such as triptans work for many migraine sufferers, but not all, and they can have side effects. Triptans can also carry added risks for people with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease. About 12 percent to 18 percent of those with migraines have migraine with aura, which can include visual disturbances before the headache starts, and other warning signs that a migraine is imminent.

Can Home Cooking Be Hazardous To Your Health? COULD YOUR HOME KITCHEN PASS A RESTAURANT INSPECTION?

New research suggests that at least one in seven home kitchens would flunk the kind of health inspection commonly administered to restaurants. The small study from California’s Los

Angeles County found that only 61 percent of home kitchens would get an A or B if put through the rigors of a restaurant inspection. At least 14 percent would fail — not even getting a C. “I would say if they got below a C, I’m not sure I would like them to invite me to dinner,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In comparison, nearly all Los Angeles County restaurants — 98 percent — get A or B scores each year. The study, released Thursday, is believed to be one of the first to offer a sizable assessment of food safety in private homes. But the researchers admit the way it was done is hardly perfect. The results are based not on actual inspections, but on an Internet quiz taken by about 13,000 adults. So it’s hard to use it to compare the conditions in home kitchens to those in restaurants, which involve trained inspectors giving objective assessments of dirt, pests, and food storage and handling practices. What’s more, experts don’t believe the study is representative of all households, because people who are more interested and conscientious about food safety are more likely to take the quiz. “You’ll miss a big population who don’t have home computers or just really don’t care” about the cleanliness of their kitchens, said Martin Bucknavage, a food safety specialist with Penn State University’s Department of Food Science. A more comprehensive look would probably find that an even smaller percentage of home kitchens would do well in a restaurant

inspection, he suggested. In 2006, the county health department began a home kitchen self-inspection program, designed to help consumers learn how to store and prepare food safely. The department also began offering an online quiz with 45 yes or no questions that simulates a restaurant inspection checklist. People are asked, for example, if their refrigerator temperature is 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, whether raw meat is stored below other foods on refrigerator shelves, and whether fruits and vegetables are always thoroughly rinsed before they are eaten. The study is based on quizzes taken through 2008. Overall, 34 percent got an A, meaning they correctly answered at least 90 percent of the questions. Another 27 percent got a B, 25 percent a C, and 14 percent failed to score at least a 70. An estimated 87 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the United States each year, including 371,000 hospitalizations and 5,700 deaths, according to an Associated Press calculation that uses a CDC formula and recent population estimates. Many outbreaks that receive publicity are centered on people who got sick after eating at a restaurant, catered celebration or large social gathering. In this summer’s outbreak linked to salmonella in eggs, several illnesses were first identified in clusters among restaurant patrons. But experts believe the bulk of food poisonings are unreported illnesses from food prepared at home. The study is being published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Painkiller Addiction Mystery Solved

The mystery of why some people are more likely to become addicted to opioid painkillers has been partially unraveled by the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania.

Its researchers found that the group most vulnerable to addiction has four main risk factors in common: age (being younger than 65); a history of depression; prior drug abuse; and using psychiatric medications. Painkiller addiction rates among patients with these factors are as high as 26 percent. For the study, they interviewed and analyzed DNA from 705 patients with back pain who were prescribed opioid painkillers -- a class that includes such narcotics as morphine and codeine -- for more than 90 days. The researchers also studied a gene on chromosome 15 that has been linked with alcohol, cocaine and nicotine addiction. The data suggested that DNA mutations on a gene cluster on chromosome 15 may also be associated with opioid addiction. “These findings suggest that patients with preexisting risk factors are more likely to become addicted to painkillers, providing the foundation for further clinical evaluation,” Joseph Boscarino, an epidemiologist and senior investigator at Geisinger’s Center for Health Research, said in a health system news release. “By assessing patients in chronic pain for these risk factors before prescribing painkillers, doctors will be better able to treat their patients’ pain without the potential for future drug addiction,” he added.

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Travel

Destination Cancun

Jamaica Welcomes One Millionth Visitor For 2010 Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, on Sunday welcomed to Montego Bay, the country’s one millionth visitor for 2010, Angella Wilson, and her husband Aaron Wilson from New York.

Cancun is considered a paradise of sun and sea.

Cancun’s tourism industry underwent rapid growth during the 1980s, made possible by enthusiastic foreign investment. Large hotels began to flourish - offering complete services and amenities, abounding in luxury and exclusivity. This also applied to shopping centers, which started incorporating some of the finest boutiques, jewelers and restaurants. These factors boosted the area’s status. Already considered a paradise of sun and sea for the color of its waters, the delicate beauty of its powdered sand beaches and the exuberant vegetation of its ecological reserves, Cancún was still improving its reputation. Cancún can be divided into three main areas: The Hotel District, the Town and the Ecological Reserve, blessed with incredible lakes and mangrove swamps. The Hotel District is comprised of the so-called gran turismo hotels (fourand five-star luxury hotels). Hotels and shopping centers are distributed along the main Boulevard Kuculkán, which runs the length of the 21-kilometer (13-mile) island. This district undoubtedly generates the greatest revenue and has the greatest economic impact on the nation, as com-

pared to the rest of the state. This area is where the trendiest, most popular discos, the finest international restaurants and the largest entertainment venues are situated. The Town of Cancún changes the scenery, albeit not too drastically. Peaceful provincial life here is more picturesque, folkloric and the simplicity of some of the shops provides a stark contrast to the million-dollar hotel chains. Restaurants in this district serve typical local food and snacks, providing a real opportunity to taste some genuine homemade Mexican

dishes. There are also a lot of shopping opportunities in town. For additional entertainment, theaters and cinemas are located on the main streets. Last, but certainly not least, the third district is in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve , where nature still reigns supreme in the history of this area. Occupying hundreds of kilometers, it constitutes Mexico’s largest genuine ecosystem, home to a diverse number of plant and animal species. The government and non-profit organizations do their best to preserve this area as a wildlife refuge containing many species in danger of extinction. Archaeological sites can be found in the vicinity, extending towards the four cardinal points. Structures tell the history of the settlements of the Mayan people on this peninsula, and just about every rock reveals traces of the historical and cultural legacy which these inhabitants left behind. Cancún combines the elegance and gamut of entertainment choices in its Hotel District, the traditions and serenity of its pueblo, and the natural beauty of its ecological reserve, coral reef and history of its peoples. From a city brimming with all of this, what else could you ask for?

Nevis To Begin Talks With US For Open Skies Agreement

The government of St Kitts and Nevis has given the greenlight for the twin-island Federation to begin negotiations with the United States of America for an Open Skies Agreement. The Federation’s Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. Richard Skerritt, in bringing this important matter before the Cabinet, explained that the intended outcome of achieving an Open Skies agreement with the USA is to derive mutual benefit for the two countries particularly during this period of global economic downturn. Skerritt specifically advised that a successful agreement, if reached, would help establish rules to facilitate growth of an efficient, market-based aviation system, enhancing potential for business, investment, exports and tourism; and the strengthening of bilateral ties with the USA. Open skies is an international policy concept which pro-

motes the liberalization of rules and regulations for the international aviation industry, particularly commercial aviation, thereby opening up a free market for the airline industry. An Open Skies policy gives effect to the Convention on International Civil Aviation signed in Chicago in 1944. Three US carriers – American Airlines, US Airways and Delta Airlines -- operate scheduled service into St Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. American Eagle also operates scheduled daily service to the Vance Amory International Airport in Nevis and the Bradshaw Airport in St Kitts. Other US-based carriers including Miami Air also operate charter services to St Kitts.

The couple, who were visiting Jamaica together for the first time, was excited about the special surprise reception and said that they were looking forward to “the time of their lives” in the island. Bartlett, accompanied by members of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and Ministry representatives, showered the couple with gifts and accolades during a brief ceremony at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. “We are very delighted in fact to welcome the one millionth visitors to Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport today, and this is very significant as we make the distinction because to date we have just about 1.3 million arrivals since the start of the year, but through the airports we now have the one millionth visitors. We continue to market destination Jamaica in a very strong way and we are very pleased that we have recovered to a large extent from the limited State of Emergency and the problems that emanated there from. We are now back into growth and this has resulted from really hard work on the part of our team,” Bartlett said. He paid tribute to members of the JTB team and the tourism stakeholders who have done their part to drive the market recovery. “One of the points that has been of tremendous value is that not a single flight was cancelled, not a single airline decided that it was not going to continue flying in its normal routine during the difficult months and that has enabled us to preserve the connectivity that we have with the destinations . but the critical thing is that we are remaining apace in terms of our revised projections for the end of the year ... I was hoping to make two million arrivals this year,” Bartlett pointed out. Chairman of the JTB, John Lynch, also extended his congratulations to the visitors. “There are undoubtedly wonderful prospects in tourism for this country as this is unquestionably the best product in the Caribbean. I just want to take this opportunity to congratulate this wonderful couple for making it Jamaica and I wish for them an extra special vacation,” Lynch said. Mrs Wilson told JIS News that she and her husband were happy to be in Jamaica and were looking forward to their special vacation. “This is my second time and my husband’s first time and really our first time here together. We are truly excited and we are certainly looking forward for a good time in your island,” she said.

Russian Tourism To Cuba Increases

Russia is considered one of tourist markets with the highest increase in Cuba, preceded by Mexico, according to a report by the National Office for Statistics (ONE).

In its report “Arrival of International Visitors,” ONE considers Russia the most booming country during the first semester of 2010, when 23,000 tourists from that nation arrived to the Caribbean island. Such figure, the report said, represents a 25 percent growth as compared to the same period in 2009. That amount is considered as favourable by the report, which also estimates that it partially compensates “losses due to the fall of traditional markets, like those of Spain and Italy, hit by the current economic crisis.” One of Cuba’s main sources of hard currency income is tourism, a market that has suffered a lot internationally as a consequence of the global economic and financial crisis. According to the ONE report, 1.4 million vacationers arrived in Cuba during the first half of this year, one percent more than in the same period of 2009.

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Commentary Does Homework Improve Academics? 18

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DOES IT REALLY TAKE 25 MATH PROBLEMS TO SEE IF THE CHILD UNDERSTANDS?

Q. School has just started and every night my husband and I spend hours helping our children complete pages and pages of homework. The kids are tired and frustrated and so are we. Does it really take 25 math problems to see if the children understand it? We have no family time. Does homework even improve academics? A. Too much homework is every parent’s worse nightmare. Homework should not take several hours until at least high school and even then it should not be so exhausting. Researchers are beginning to re-think the benefits of homework if there are any at all. Books like The End of Homework, The Homework Myth, and The Case Against Homework and the film Race to Nowhere make the case that homework, by taking away precious family time and putting kids under unneeded pressure, is an ineffective way to help children

become better learners and thinkers. One Canadian couple recently took their homework apostasy all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. After arguing that there was no evidence that it improved academic performance, they won a ruling that exempted their two children from all homework. If you’re not ready to make a national case out of your child’s nightly worksheets, it’s worth knowing that she may be complaining for good reason. For better or worse, homework is on the rise in the United States. A survey done through the University of Michigan found that by the 2002-’03 school year, students ages 6 to 17 were doing twice as much homework as in 1981-’82. The homework ante has been upped as school administrators respond to increasing pressure for their students to perform better on state-mandated tests. The National Education Association’s website or the national Parent Teacher Association’s website, and 10 minutes per grade is the recommended amount for first through 12th grade. If you think your child is doing too much homework, talk with the teacher. Often there is a miscommunication about the goals of homework assignments. What appears to be problematic for kids and why they are doing an assignment, can be cleared up with a conversation. Take a careful look at how your children are doing

their assignments. It may seem like they’re taking two hours, but maybe they’re wandering off frequently to get a snack or listening to an iPod. I once asked my child’s teacher to give only 10 math problems a night rather than 25! She made the change. If your child is dutifully doing his/her work but still burning the midnight oil, it’s worth intervening to make sure he/she gets enough sleep. Recent studies suggest that proper sleep may be far more essential to brain and body development. In fact, for elementary school-age children, there is no measureable academic advantage to homework. For middleschoolers, there is a direct correlation between homework and achievement if assignments last between one to two hours per night. After two hours, however, achievement doesn’t improve. For high schoolers, two hours appears optimal. As with middle-schoolers, give teens more than two hours a night, and academic success flatlines. Take these stats with you and look for relief from the teacher. Often teachers will say that the rest of the class seems to get it done. Don’t be deterred however, continue with your concerns and not those of the other parents. Join the schools PTA for help and involve the principal if needed. Visit www.greatschools.org for more information.

Lisa-Anne Byers is a licensed and

certified speech-language pathologist who has worked in education for over two decades. She holds graduate degrees in speech-language pathology and multicultural education. She is also holds certification in educational administration. She is the author of the book, They Say I Have ADHD, I Say Life Sucks! Thoughts From Nicholas. You may contact her at speechlrb@yahoo.com or visit

Aiming To Boost Common Wealth

Over $3 Trillion In Trade Happens Within The Commonwealth Every Year By Sir Ronald Sanders

Over the years of the Commonwealth’s existence much has been written about how it is perceived, how it can better project itself, how it can strengthen its institutions, and how it can remain relevant in a changed and changing world.

The difference between what has been written so far by academics, think-tanks, and parliamentarians, and the work of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) is that the EPG’s work has been specifically mandated by Heads of Government. They have asked for a report that, in the words of the Affirmation issued at their meeting last November in Port-of-Spain, will ensure that “the Commonwealth will remain relevant to its times and people in future” and will help to build “a stronger and more resilient and progressive family of nations founded on enduring values and principles”. The group must present ideas that Heads of Government can collectively endorse and implement. They must be ideas that are visionary as well as practical; ambitious as well as achievable; standard-setting as well as opportunity creating. We have to be mindful that the Commonwealth is not an Organisation tied by Treaty whose rules are binding on member states. It is a voluntary association of sovereign states who have decided that because they share certain traditions, there is benefit in working together. We must be heedful too that, in their association, Commonwealth governments have made commitments to democracy, human rights, human dignity and freedom, and that fulfilment of these commitments lie at the heart of the Commonwealth’s credibility and its relevance. The EPG recognises that the Commonwealth should not and cannot attempt to tackle every issue that confronts mankind, and that focus should be placed on its strengths and how to make them more effective. We recognised the important inter-linkages between de-

mocracy/governance/human rights/rule of law on one hand and poverty alleviation/sustainable development/economic empowerment on the other. We acknowledged that just as democracy will not be upheld without development, development will not be sustained without democracy. We have begun to explore a number of ideas such as a Commonwealth Charter that expresses an ethos of Commonwealth Community that reflects civil and political norms and through which member countries commit themselves to fundamental rights and freedoms, values and principles as contained in several declarations by Heads of Government. Discussion has also focussed on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) established to protect Commonwealth values and principles and to take action against member states that indulge in serious or persistent violations of them. The Group regards CMAG as a bright jewel in the Commonwealth Crown; one that should not be allowed to tarnish, but should continue to sparkle as a tribute to Commonwealth commitment to its values. Tthe Group would like to see further empowerment of CMAG to take up the full gamut of its remit to deal with “serious or persistent” violations beyond unconstitutional overthrow of an elected government. We regard the Secretary-General’s “good offices” role as equally important in addressing violations of human and civil rights before they become cancerous. Prevention is better than cure. But, we recognise that this role is under resourced and requires not only wider machinery to alert the Secretary-General to potential problems. And, we are not neglectful of the need to promote social and economic development or of the global challenges of the moment that have a great impact upon many Commonwealth countries. These include climate change which threatens the very existence of some Commonwealth countries; and the need for special and differential treatment for small states by the international financial institutions and the World Trade Organisation. We also recognise that to do its job effectively, the Commonwealth Secretariat requires more resources which cannot come from governments alone. They can also come from strategic partnerships with private sector groups and foundations even outside the Commonwealth. And, through these partnerships, the Com-

monwealth could make a big difference to inoculations against disease, improving infant mortality, and improving educational facilities. We would like to see Youth brought into the mainstream of Commonwealth thinking and activity. Discussions have begun about the possible development of a youth programme aimed at promoting exchanges by young people between Commonwealth countries in which transfer of knowledge and volunteering would be underlying considerations. We see it as a movement of young people across Commonwealth countries to live, study and commune in each other’s countries in a structured and organised programme that would leave each of them with a better knowledge and appreciation of each other’s culture and circumstances. We are also considering the expansion of the four regional Commonwealth Youth Centres into larger Commonwealth regional offices for a wider range of activities. The question has often been posed: if the Commonwealth did not exist, would we invent it? The answer is: we are lucky; we don’t have to invent it. It exists. It is a gift – an association of 54 countries, large and small, from all the continents of the world representing 2 billion people of all races and religions. Together, the countries of the Commonwealth are responsible for more than 20% of world trade, about 20% of investment and approximately 20% of world GDP. According to the Commonwealth Business Council, “over $3 trillion in trade happens within the Commonwealth every year and the Commonwealth has seen over $200 billion worth of investment over the last 10 years”. A common language and common laws have brought down the price of doing business among Commonwealth countries by 20%. This demonstrates that there is enormous potential within the Commonwealth for delivering benefits to its people, but Commonwealth leadership – in government and the private sector - must do something about it. There is clearly an unlocked potential for boosting wealth in the Commonwealth. The key may very well be strict adherence to democracy and good governance by all Commonwealth countries that would encourage more trade and investment across the Commonwealth, improving the economies and social conditions of all its members.

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Sports

Windies Legend To Help Ramdin Improve Batting Denesh Ramdin will work with West Indies batting legend Gordon Greenidge as he attempts to resuscitate his slumping batting that has led to his weak form and resulted in the loss of his central retainer contract.

Asafa Powell

Jamaican Sprinter Urges Fans To Show Patience With Him

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Asafa Powell has begged his long-suffering fans for their indulgence, after he was sidelined with injury in the middle of another disappointing season. The former 100 metres World record-holder from Jamaica suffered hamstring and back injuries, following an IAAF Diamond League meet in Paris on July 16, where he finished second to Olympic and World champion Usain Bolt, his compatriot. A confident Powell has asked his fans to allow him time to fully heal, and promises that he will be ready for next season . “To all my fans who expected a complete season from me, with possibly no losses and a personal record, I am asking for your patience,” said Powell on the website of the International Association of Athletic Federations, the sport’s World governing body. “Next year, I hope to be back, running at my best. My main aim will be to win at the World Championships, but either way, I am going to do my very best.” Powell’s injuries forced him to miss highly-promoted, three-way clashes over 100m with Bolt and American 100 record-holder Tyson Gay late in the season. He felt that a couple of bilateral losses to Bolt and Gay during the season may have turned-out differently had he been fully fit. “Even though I am trying not to consider them as defeats because I wasn’t able to push myself the way I wanted, they are defeats, and the most I can do at this stage is consider what might have been, if a fully fit Asafa had stepped on the track,” he said. Powell assured fans that races featuring Bolt, Gay, and himself, the three fastest men in history over the distance, will happen next season for sure, including at the World Championships. Right now, he was focussed working on making his cars faster, finishing construction of his house, and supporting his fiancé, Yendi Phillips, the first runner-up in this year’s Miss Universe beauty contest staged in Las Vegas. Powell acknowledges cutting down on his social engagements because he has been hampered by his injuries, but he disclosed they are healing nicely. “I can say for sure at this point, that my 2010 injuries are much better than when they happened,” he said. “I am doing the treatments necessary because by next month when our training season starts, I hope to be ready to give 100 per cent of my efforts.”

National selector Rangy Nanan said there were flaws in the 25year-old’s batting which they hope Greenidge could help to remedy. “The TTCB has decided to have Gordon work with Denesh because they realise that he needs some assistance at this point in time and they don’t want to forsake him,”’ said Nanan, a former West Indies offspinner. “He has talent but something is not going right with his batting and the board thinks that he can play much better than what we are seeing at present.” Ramdin has struggled badly with the bat in recent months, scoring a measly 159 runs in his last 11 Test innings at a miserable average of 15. The right-hander has scored a

similar number of runs in his last 11 innings in One-Day Internationals and his last half-century was over three years ago. This wretched form forced the West Indies Cricket Board last week to dump him from the retainer contracts list for performances the selection committee considered “less than favourable”. Ramdin was one of six players slipping off the central contracts list along with Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor, Travis Dowlin, Narsingh Deonarine and David Bernard. Greenidge, regarded as one of the finest openers to have played the game, is a former chairman of West Indies selectors and Bangladesh coach.

Denesh Ramdin

Rising Tennis Star Gets Love From Jamaica

Jamaican tennis player Dustin Brown (right) feels the love of country after being presented with a gift basket and Jamaican goody bag by the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), following his second round match versus Andy Murray at the US Open on Friday. Making the presentation to the Jamaican tennis star was Lyndon Taylor, Senior Account Executive at Ruder Finn, the public relations agency of record for the JTB. The 25 year old Brown created history, becoming the first Jamaican to win at the US Open.

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Pellerud Thrilled With T&T Win At Women’s U-17 Coach Even Pellerud has hailed Trinidad and Tobago’s historic win at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup but has urged caution going forward in the tournament.

St. Lucian Striker

The hosts produced a superb performance in their Group A opener on Sunday to beat Chile 2-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. “The win was fantastic but we must keep our feet on the ground,” the Norwegian said. “It’s a wonderful and historic achievement for T&T, because not only is it the team’s first win in this competition, it’s also their first in a major women’s tournament. “I’m extremely proud of what my players were able to accomplish. Even though not everything was perfect, the players worked really hard as a team to overcome what was a very strong Chile side.” Canada-born Diarra Simmons put T&T ahead in the ninth minute before Liana Hinds doubled the lead ten minutes from the final whistle to secure the victory. Substitute Iona Rothfeld pulled a goal back for Chile with seven minutes left and though the visitors hit the cross bar in the dying minutes, T&T hung tough for full points. “Not only did we win the opening game in World Cup Finals – we also made history by winning the first ever World Cup match for this tiny country,” said Pellerud. “We are proud and very happy. We also know that the match was a tough one. The team could only in short spells perform at our highest level. For too long a time we lacked defensive aggression and the ability to connect with one another when in possession.” T&T will round out their preliminary round campaign against Nigeria on Wednesday and Korea DPR on Sunday and Pellerud warned that these fixtures would be difficult ones. “We have created a great foundation for the balance of the group stage, and are committed to play even better in our next game against the formidable opponent – Nigeria. These next two games will not be easy by any means,” he cautioned.

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