NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

50 CENTS

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GENERAL SA YS DON’T CHANGE ‘DON’T ASK DON’T TELL SAY TELL’’

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

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Copyright © 2006, New York Liberty Star

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Local News

GEN.: DON’T CHANGE DON’T ASK DON’T TELL

ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. GEORGE CASEY, said he has “serious concerns” over the impact of a repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

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Caribbean News

KAMLA TAKES OVER TRINIDAD OPPOSITION

KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR received her instrument of appointment as Opposition Leader in Trinidad.

WWW.NYLIBERTYSTAR.COM

VOL. 10 ISSUE 190

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

UNIQUE Winter Sale

Without your travel agent you are on your own

Florida.............................................. 168 Trinidad............................................ 218 Kingston.......................................... 238 Montego Bay................................... 268 Haiti ............................................320 London............................................. 320 St. Lucia........................................... 318 Barbados......................................... 328 St. Vincent....................................... 480 George Town........498 Grenada...............602 Taxes not included. Restrictions apply.

All rates are subject to change.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

CONTENTS

W E AT H E R

SEMPER FI

LAIR! LAIR!

TODAY Snow High: 35° Low: 25° TOMORROW Snow Showers

High: 36° Low: 31°

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RODNEYS IN HOT WATER

The US Justice Department is investigating New York Carib News’ Karl and Faye Rodney.

U.S. MARINES AIDE HAITI

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Marines from MCAS Cherry Point deployed to Haiti, bringing supplies and additional troops.

TIPS: WHAT TO DO?

WHITNEY HOUSTON

EDITORIAL STAFF

STAR FLOPS ON TOUR

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CAR ACCIDENT BLUES

LENECIA HINES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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IVROL HINES MANAGING EDITOR

Whitney Houston’s return to the stage Automobile insurance is a valuable has been plagued with sub-par vocals form of financial protection for anyone during her recent tour. who drives a car.

Entrepreneurs Tap Into Business Resources At CACCI Breakfast The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI) sponsored its most recent Monthly Membership Power Breakfast Meeting on Thursday at the Flatbush Caton Market in Brooklyn.

Despite the inclement weather, the overwhelming attendance by more than 100 participants is testimony to the strong support for CACCI as well as the need for business information, networking opportunities and resources that CACCI offers its membership and the small business community.

During this recession when small business persons are searching for answers to business questions and opportunities for business growth and development, the topics that were addressed at this Breakfast meeting were timely and relevant. Special guest speakers addressed the following topics: Gregg Bishop, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business Services (DSBS) How to Manage a Business in Today’s Economy and Obtain Resources at No Cost; Charles Lockley, Vice President, Citi Bank, Elizabeth Abreu, Business Development Specialist, Small Business Administration (SBA), Renos Kourtides, Chief Planning Officer, Alma Bank - Access to Small Business Financing and How to obtain financing from a macro and a micro lender; Marcia Melendez, President/CEO of Flowerworks, Florist and Landscape Contractor — Making the Leap from Employee to Employer and How to create your job in today’s tight economy.

Black History Month tributes were made by special guests which included Justice Sylvia Hinds Radix, Brooklyn’s Chief Administrative Judge who acknowledged the contributions of African Americans in the

Judiciary; Honorable Yvonne Graham, Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn commended CACCI for its contributions to the small business community; George Hulse, Vice President, Healthfirst and Vice Chair, CACCI who served as moderator recognized the contributions of African Americans in Corporate America.

Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr., President/CEO, CACCI thanked CACCI

board members and staff, and recognized CACCI’s newest members and the micro entrepreneurs and staff at the Flatbush Caton Market. He also paid special tribute to Brooklyn’s African American elected officials and thanked them for their unwavering support and commitment to the small business community. They are: United States Congresspersons Edolphus “Ed” Towns and Yvette D. Clarke;

New York State Senators John L. Sampson, Kevin S. Parker, Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery; New York State Assemblymembers N. Nick Perry, Karim Camara, Hakeem Jeffries, Annette Robinson and Inez D. Barron; New York City Councilmembers Albert “Al” Vann, Mathieu Eugene, Jumaane D. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Letitia James and Charles Barron.

DAENECIA HINES NATHANAEL HINES OFFICE ASSISTANTS EARL “JR JAMROC” LYN VP OF OPERATIONS, NYLS L.I. PAUL HAUGHTON COMMUNITY RELATIONS LIASON DERRAN BROWN TONY CRAIG DAVID LESTER ACCOUNTS MANAGER

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CACCI members attend a power breakfast at the Flatbush-Caton Vendors Mart on Wednesday.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

‘GROWING PAINS’ ACTOR KOENIG FOUND DEAD

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS SEE PAGE 12

Army General Says Don’t Change ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Faye and Karl Rodney of the New York Carib News are under investigation by the US Justice Department.

Carib News In Hot Water For Free Trips

The US Justice Department is investigating Karl and Faye Rodney of the New York Carib News for issuing false statement to Congressional representatives and financing lavish Caribbean trips for the lawmakers with corporate money.

Rep. Charles Rangel, the most powerful tax-writing lawmaker in Congress and a 40-year veteran of Capitol Hill, acknowledged Thursday that an ethics panel has accused him of accepting corporate money for Caribbean trips in violation of House rules.

The findings are certain to raise questions of whether Rangel, a New York Democrat, can continue as Ways and Means Committee chairman in an election year. Democrats took over the House in 2006 on a campaign promise to “end a culture of corruption” in Congress that they blamed on 12 years of Republican rule.

The ethics committee exonerated five other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who also were on the 2007 and 2008 trips to Antigua and St. Maarten but told them they will have to pay the costs of them.

The panel’s report did not include any formal charges that could have brought a more serious censure against Rangel. However, it’s not the end of his ethics problems.

The panel, formally the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, is still investigating Rangel’s use of official stationery to raise money for a college center to be named after him and incomplete financial disclosures that omitted some income and assets, including rent he received from a vacation home in the Dominican Republic.

Rangel’s staff knew that corporate money paid for the Caribbean trips, the committee said. The panel said Rangel should have known because he’s responsible for actions based on what his staff knew, but it added that investigators could not determine exactly what he did know.

House members on the trips who didn’t know about the corporate fi-

nancing, according to the committee, were Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Yvette Clarke of New York, Donald Payne of New Jersey, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan and Donna Christensen, the nonvoting delegate from the Virgin Islands.

They were, however, all ordered to repay the cost of the trips, totaling about US$11,800.00.

“I am pleased that the House Ethics Committee concluded that I “committed no wrongdoing’ and followed the proper procedures surrounding a trip that I took,” said Rep. Clarke in a statement.

The ethics committee said the five relied on false information from the listed official sponsors of the trips, the Carib News and the Carib News Foundation. The information was later found to be “false and misleading.”

Peter Flaherty of the National Legal and Policy Center, an ethics watchdog group, attended the 2008 conference in St. Maarten and filed an ethics complaint that listed companies that had signs and materials at the event. He said Citigroup, Pfizer, American Airlines, AT&T, Verizon, Macy’s, and IBM were among them.

While lawmakers have attended the Caribbean conferences for many years, the House adopted stricter travel rules before the 2007 and 2008 trips.

The panel, in a report admonishing Rangel (D-NY), found that Dawn Kelly Mobley, a lawyer for the committee, “improperly communicated” confidential information to Carib News and “improperly influenced” what it told the committee. The panel referred the Carib News officials to the Justice Department for investigation into their allegedly “false and misleading” statements.

Washington, D.C. — Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said Tuesday that he has “serious concerns” over the impact of a repeal of the military’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay and lesbian service members.

“I do have serious concerns about the impact of the repeal of the law on ... a force that’s fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for eight and a half years,” he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He agreed, however, that it would be fair to characterize his opinion as not being “strongly” for or against a repeal.

The general objected to a proposed moratorium on discharging people under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy before a repeal is formally enacted.

“I would recommend against it,” he said. “We would be put in a position of actually implementing [a repeal] while we were studying implementation. And I don’t think that would be prudent.”

The policy, enacted under President Clinton in 1993, bars openly gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals from serving in the U.S. military but prevents the military from asking a service member’s sexual orientation.

President Obama and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen support a repeal of the policy.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, has said he plans to introduce legislation next week that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly. A separate repeal bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Army Secretary John McHugh, also testifying before the committee Tuesday, declined to offer a personal opinion on a possible repeal of the controversial policy. He joined Casey in pointing out potential problems associated with a moratorium on discharges.

“We have any number of cases under way pursuant to the current law that would be greatly complicated

were there a moratorium,” he said.

“But if it were passed, obviously ... we would follow through with that.”

This month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the Pentagon had taken the first steps to prepare for a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Laying the groundwork will take more than a year, Gates said. In the interim, however, the Defense Department will start enforcing the policy “in a fairer manner,” he said.

Gates noted that he has appointed a high-level working group to start a review of the issues tied to a smooth implementation of a repeal.

The group is being led by Department of Defense General Counsel Jeh Johnson and Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe. It will produce its findings and recommendations in the form of an implementation plan by the end of 2010, Gates said.

The defense secretary told members of the Armed Services Committee that “a guiding principle of our efforts will be to minimize disruption and polarization within the ranks, with special attention paid to those serving on the front lines.”

Int’l Honor For Jamaican Alumni Union In NY New York, NY — The Comets Club International (CCI) organization of New York will use the occasion of its annual reunion and awards dinner to recognize a local organization for its commitment to community development initiatives.

The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations – UJAA – (USA), Inc., will be presented with the Community Development Partnership – CODPAR – Award, at the CCI Reunion and Awards Banquet, April 3.

The gala event will take place at the Rochdale Village Community Center, 169-65 137th Avenue, in Jamaica (Queens), starting at 8 pm.

“We are delighted at the opportunity to recognize UJAA this year, certainly one of, if not the most organized unit of the Jamaica Diaspora these past twenty years,” noted Judith Hutchinson, president of CCI. Formed in 1990 as a charitable unit to provide oversight for the multitude of Jamaican alumni associations in the metro New York area, the ‘union’ continues to champion the cause of community development through a menu of grassroots yet bold ventures that have earned it the respect of the Jamaica Diaspora Community.

“Their track record over the past 20 years is enviable, to say the least.

They have built a school, awarded hundreds of scholarships and help our student/athletes competing at the Penn Relays, so I think it’s fitting that they are being recognized by us as they celebrate their 20th anniversary,”

Barbara Richards, Past President-UJAA

Karlene Largie, President UJAA

in the opinion of Barrington ‘Boca’ Campbell, a founding member of CCI and a union delegate for Cornwall College Old Boys’ Association – New York Chapter.

Best known for its hugely successful mega raffle with its grand prize of a brand new BMW sedan and its High School Graduates Award program, “UJAA” is celebrating two decades of extra-ordinary charitable work here in the Northeast USA and ‘back home’, with a series of events now thru’ September 2010.

“UJAA graciously and humbly accepts the CCI CODPAR Award and thank you for the recognition,” notes Karlene Largie, the fifth president to

Anton Tomlinson, Past President-UJAA

lead the union since its launch at the Jamaican Consulate, Manhattan.

The Community Development Partnership – CODPAR- Award is presented to an individual or organization for demonstrating exceptional corporate and/or community responsibility, especially in the area(s) of youth development and mentorship.

Last year, the award was presented to GraceKennedy Limited, the Jamaican multi-national corporation for their support of youth development through sports. Past recipients include; Western Union, Victoria Mutual Building Society, the InterSecondary School Sports Association (ISSA) and Team Jamaica Bickle.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

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Jamaica Gets Loan, Status Rise An international credit rating agency this week upgraded Jamaica’s financial outlook to “stable” after the island completed a debt-restructuring agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Wall Street-based Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services said on Wednesday that it raised Jamaica’s sovereign foreign currency debt rating from selective default to B-minus, the second agency to do so within two weeks. The agency said Jamaica has suffered from sagging tourism and aluminium demand, but noted that it got a major boost when it recently completed a US$1.27 billion loan agreement with the IMF. “Future sovereign rating actions will depend on our view of the government’s ability to benefit from interest cost savings, smoother debt amortisation, and multilateral assistance to address its many fiscal rigidities and inefficiencies and to decrease its high debt burden,” it said.

Standard and Poor’s, however, expressed optimism that Jamaica’s fiscal performance will improve this year, albeit at a slow pace. Last week, Fitch Ratings also upgraded Jamaica’s longterm foreign and local currency ratings and said the ratings outlook was also stable.

Fitch said that it took into account the IMF Stand-By Arrangement, “which mitigates near-term external liquidity concerns”.

It said the successful outcome of the domestic debt exchange also supported the upgrade. Fitch said the rating was also “underpinned by the government’s commitment to maintain macroeconomic stability and implement reforms as envisioned in the IMF programme, as well as stronger per capita income and governance indicators…”

The Ministry of Finance in Jamaica said the upgrades reflected the government’s aggressive policy actions.

“The upgrade at this time sends a significant signal to international and local investors and will help in reinforcing confidence in the market for Jamaica’s debt,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

In addition to the IMF loan, the World Bank on Tuesday approved a US$200 million loan for Jamaica to support its comprehensive reform program in addressing fiscal and debt sustainability.

Woman A Boss Persad-Bissessar Takes Over As Opposition Leader PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday received her instrument of appointment as Opposition Leader, declaring that she was one step closer to taking the reins of government in this oilrich twin-island republic.

“Today, I see as being one step closer to government,” she said after being installed by President George Maxwell Richards at a brief ceremony at President’s House.

Her appointment comes one month after she soundly defeated former prime minister Basdeo Panday in a vote to decide the political leadership of the United National Congress (UNC).

“Our party now speaks with one voice,” declared Persad-Bissessar, 57, a former attorney general.

“We will chart a new way forward to deliver on the hopes and expectations of the citizens desperate for a way out of the crisis, which the present administration has led this nation to,” she told the gathering that included Opposition MPs, other local politicians and senior party officials.

Signalling her intention to lead the UNC to government once again, the new Opposition Leader said she was against the “arrogance” of the current leadership of the country under Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar becomes Trinidad’s new Opposition Leader.

“I oppose the lack of compassion and concern for the well-being of citizens, so many of whom are ironically supporters of the ruling party. I oppose the trampling of the rights of workers.

“I oppose the view that people will vote only along tribal and ethnic lines regardless of whether they are being properly represented or not. I pledge to the nation that Trinidad and Tobago will be returned to the peaceful, stable, and progressive society that it once was…” Persad-Bissessar said.

On Wednesday, a letter bearing the signatures of seven of the 15 opposition MPs was taken to the President, endorsing the Siparia MP. That paved the way for Persad-Bissessar to replace Panday as Opposition Leader.

St Augustine MP Vasant Barath said while his signature was not on the letter, he was fully in support of the new Opposition Leader. Only a handful of opposition MPs remained loyal to Panday as their leader in the House - among them his daughter, Mikela, and another former leadership hopeful, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Marines from 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, board a KC130J Hercules leaving for Portau-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 6. The leathernecks from 3/2 replaced Marines with the 22nd MEU already engaged in relief operations.

Otis Transports Marines, Provides Support For Haiti Story & photo by Lance Cpl. Rashaun X. James, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — On the cold, dreary Saturday morning of Feb. 6, when most Marines aboard Cherry Point were still asleep, a handful of Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 had already begun planning a transport mission to the earthquakestricken country of Haiti.

“The crew’s mission was to bring back 44 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and replace them with other Marines in order to support Haitian humanitarian assis-

tance and disaster relief,” said Capt.

Aleksandr Martin-Nims, the aircraft commander for the mission.

Although the squadron was tasked with carrying out the mission, many of the crew volunteered, Martin-Nims said.

Once briefed, the crew of the KC-130J Hercules made its way to Cherry Point’s aerial point of entry.

Sixty combat capable Marines from the 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, boarded the aircraft.

Master Sgt. Kraig S. Kerkenides, a loadmaster with VMGR-252, had the arduous task of ensuring the cargo was transported to Haiti safely.

“My primary responsibility was to execute the safe loading and unloading of all personnel and equipment aboard the aircraft,” Kerkenides said.

In addition to performing his primary duties, Kerkenides was also working with a student loadmaster and instructing him during the mission.

After reaching Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince, the crew landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport and off-loaded the Marines with 3/2 from the aircraft. A half an hour later, Marines from the 22nd MEU made their way to the aircraft and took off.

Fatherless Children To Get More Rights WILLEMSTAD Children born out of wedlock and who are unrecognized by their father may soon get more rights, thanks to an amendment in the Civil Code that parliament will handle Tuesday in a Central Committee meeting.

This amendment, when adopted by parliament, will give unacknowledged children the right to apply for a “Declaration of Paternity” that will allow them to have a father listed on their birth certificate. However, the amendment will exclude them from claiming any inheritance if the father is deceased.

This amendment will bring the Netherlands Antilles in line with most European and Caribbean countries that have already made this provision for unacknowledged children under the “status of children” or similar acts, outgoing president of parliament Pedro Atacho told the press Wednesday via phone.

Similar legislation, dating back to the late 1970s, exists in Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua, Trinidad and Guyana among others.

A total of 15,268 children were born on Curaçao from 2000 to 2006.

Of this, 3,898 children were “without a father” meaning their birth certificate stated father unknown because they were not acknowledged for various reasons.

That number of unacknowledged children accounts for 25 per cent of the total births on Curaçao. “This means that in every 2,000 babies born on Curacao annually, 1,000 were recognized, 500 were the product of a marriage and another 500 were born without a father recognizing them,” Atacho said.

Breakdown of birth figures for the other four Antillean islands, which include St. Maarten, will be presented to parliament in “due time.”

The absence of legislation to assist unacknowledged children is considered a violation of the International Treaty on Civil and Political Rights and the Treaty on Human Rights.

“The child without a father is not to be blamed,” Atacho said.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, Finance Minister Ersilia de Lannooy will present her proposal for the transfer of share of the Curaçao Housing Foundation to the Island Government to the Central Committee.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Central Committee of Parliament will also meet with school boards on Curaçao in a continuing session on youth aggression especially in and around schools. The sessions requested by the PAR faction. Several other sessions have already been held with the police, public prosecutors and other related officials on this issue.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

SPIRITUAL READING Man from Jamaica Woman from Haiti

“Saint Philomena “Saint Joseph keep us Keep us grounded.” steady in our doings.”

Read this prayer before going to bed.

One Remedy To Remove Jinx And Bad Luck & Bring You Good Luck

1 Elegua candle, 7 green lime, 1 cananga water, 1 ball blue, 7 stalks scallion, 1 chinese wash, 1 hay sup wash, 1 go away evil wash, 1 btl. verbena wash, 1 btl. white lavener wash, 1 dragon blood wash, 1 hand full rock salt, 1 btl. protection oil, 1 btl. cinamon oil, 1 btl. dragon blood oil.

Psalm 35

“Saint Peter open all doors for us all.”

Saint Barbara

For reading call for appointment:

917-216-1507 or 614-805-6530

Email: ssreading@yahoo.com

www.shawnspiritualreading.webs.com

Bahamas Convict Escapes Hangman The Bahamas government has stayed the execution of a convicted murderer after it had earlier indicated that the authorities were preparing to read him the death warrant.

In a brief statement, the Ministry of National Security said that it is aware that convicted murderer Godfrey Sawyer had filed an appeal and as a result “the sentence of death will not be carried out until after the determination of the relevant proceedings.

“The Minister wishes to assure the public that in this case, as in all cases, the Government will adhere to the laws of The Bahamas,” the statement said.

Sawyer was sentenced to death on November 9, 2009 after he shot and killed Sterling Eugene.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of National Security confirmed that the authorities were preparing to read him the death warrant.

The Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which met last week, determined that Sawyer’s case was not one in which the prerogative of mercy should be exercised and that the law should take its course, the Ministry said in the statement.

It said that the Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest had already advised the governor general of Sawyer’s case.

The committee made a similar recommendation when it heard the case of murder convict Maxo Tido in October, but the Ministry of National Security subsequently advised that no further action would be taken on Tido’s matter because he was appealing to the Privy Council.

The last person to be executed here was David Mitchell, who was hanged a decade ago. Since 1929, 50 persons have been executed in The Bahamas.

But a recent ruling by the London-based Privy Council, the country’s highest court, has termed unconstitutional, the mandatory death sentence, resulting in a number of convicted persons having to be re-sentenced. Further, the Privy Council has ruled that it would be inhumane to execute someone after he or she has been under the sentence of death for more than five years

Father Of Eight Sells Drugs To Cover Medical Treatment A 43-year-old British man has been jailed in Bermuda for eight years after admitting importing almost US$100,000 of heroin.

Bryan David Sims, a massage therapist of Colchester, southeast England, apologised to the court for bringing 97 grams of heroin with a street value of $97,000 into Bermuda last May. Crown Counsel Nicole Smith said she would not pursue a second charge of possession with intent to supply at the time, but the charge would remain on file.

Sims, a father of eight, appeared unfazed by his sentence handed down by Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves. He had asked the court for leniency because of his personal circumstances.

“I am very sorry for what I have done.

I did have weight bearing down on my shoulders by my friends and family. I did it for the money to give it to someone else, not for myself. I hope you can find some leniency for me.”

This psalm is good for protection against enemies; also good for court cases.

This is a good pocket piece as well.

His lawyer, Patricia Harvey, said a close friend of her client had discovered she had multiple sclerosis and he was transporting the drugs to help pay for her stem cell treatment in the United States.

Harvey also said Sims was still recovering from the loss of a son seven years ago, which had led him down the path to substance abuse.

The court heard that Sims arrived in Bermuda on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick with a brown briefcase and one checked bag.

According to the prosecution, he told customs officials he was going to stay at a hotel near the L.F. Wade International Airport for seven days while he played cricket. Sims was ordered to the customs bag-check area where swabs of his luggage revealed high readings of narcotics.

Customs officials searched his bags but found no drugs.

A personal search of Sims at the airport police station and X-rays performed at the hospital also did not reveal any drugs and Sims was then released from police custody. But a cleaner who swept the airport police station the following morning found a suspicious package under the desk.

In the name of Shango, Lightning and thunder for all our enemies.

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and block the way against them that persecute me. Say unto my soul, “I am thy salvation ...”

To be continued.

Read three times daily.

917-216-1507

www.shawnspiritualreading.webs.com

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

St. Lucia To Launch Curfew To Tackle Crime CASTRIES, St Lucia - Prime Minister Stephenson King says the imposition of a curfew and obtaining external assistance from friendly governments are options his government will have to consider should the crime situation get worse in St Lucia.

“I am now even now contemplating that if our efforts and that of the police do not bring about a reduction, we shall see external assistance whether from the British, the Americans, the Canadians or the Israelis to assist us in dealing with this situation,” King said in a radio broadcast..

“We will seek help both in terms of technical corporation, financial support where necessary and even if it means manpower support, as the type of criminal activity that is taking place in St. Lucia at this time calls for a high level of expertise,” the Prime Minister added.

King said that the while government would not hesitate in imposing the curfew the govern-

Prime Minister Stephenson King

ment would have to first consider the implications of imposing a curfew.

“We believe that the spate of criminal activity in our communities is a source of serious concern, and at the last OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) heads meeting I placed on the agenda the issue of crime, and it was because I recognise that not only St. Lucia, but most of the Caribbean islands face as a result of economic instability, and the challenges presented by the global environment.

“So for us in St. Lucia we consider this our number one priority,” King said noting that meetings have been held with the police hierarchy “to see how we can collaborate to give the necessary support to each other”.

The Prime Minister said crime was not only a matter for the government and the police and appealed to citizens to do their part in reducing criminal activity on the island.

“When you hear stories of young men attempting to take the lives of other young men for trivial matters, and engaging in illegal activities and resorting to crime, you ask yourself why is that, the answer lies is the way they were brought up. This is what we produce from our homes and this is what is manifested before us.

“Therefore the family has a role to play, the church has a role to play, also the school system.

The education system is one that we have to pay particular attention to because with all the advancement we have made in universal education we still have not designed a system that is relevant and responsive to present day challenges.

“Too many people fall through the cracks and that because the education system is particularly designed to provide excellence to those who are academically oriented,” he added.

So far eight people have been murdered here this year, including one police officer, who was gunned down during an attempted robbery last weekend.

Jamaican Dies While Attempting To Smuggle Drugs Into Miami MIAMI, Florida - United States authorities have charged a Bahamian man with human smuggling after an abortive trip to Miami that left one person dead.

The US Attorney’s office here said it filed the criminal complaint against Davon Rolle, 19, on Wednesday.

The office said it has also charged four other Caribbean nationals with illegal re-entry to the US. It identified them as David Coore, 27, of Jamaica; Delroy Coombs, 45, of Jamaica; Mathura Bridgelal, 50, of Trinidad and Tobago; and Tyrel Levarity, 23, of the Bahamas.

The US Attorney’s office said a sixth suspect, a 24-year-old man from

the Bahamas, was charged with violating immigration law and is being held by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).

His name was not disclosed, as well as that of a seventh man who was released.

Authorities said a police helicopter spotted the 28-foot Intrepid boat in the waters off Miami on Tuesday night and followed it.

They said as police tried to stop it, the occupants jumped into the water and tried to swim ashore.

Media reports said the body of an unidentified 28-year-old Jamaican man was found in the water about 30 feet from the shore.

ICE special agents said they also seized about 60 pounds of marijuana found inside a duffle bag on the boat.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

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WHAT’S PLAYING AT THE MOVIES? New Releases VALENTINE'S DAY LIGHTNING THIEF THE WOLFMAN AVATAR DEAR JOHN TOOTH FAIRY FROM PARIS WITH LOVE EDGE OF DARKNESS CRAZY HEART WHEN IN ROME

Whitney Croaked On World Tour

Whitney Houston’s return to the stage has been plagued with sub-par vocals since her performance on Good Morning America in August to promote her latest album, I Look To You. Unfortunately, the singer once praised for her exceptional vocal talent was still struggling with singing live Monday when she opened her “Nothing But Love” world tour in Australia.

According to a review of the concert, Houston needed to take a break two songs into the show. She reportedly coughed through songs, and at one point had her brother take the lead.

When Houston attempted to sing her most notable hit, “I Will Always Love You,” she stopped mid-song to get a drink of water. She ruined the song’s popular high note, sounding like a bad American Idol audition contestant.

Concertgoers were said to have walked out of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Australia’s Channel 7 interviewed several angry patrons, who described the show as “the worst concert I’ve ever gone too,” “disgraceful,” and “definitely not worth $165.”

Houston’s publicist released a statement Thursday responding to the critics. “Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans,” the rep said, AP reports.

“The spokesperson said that Houston’s Brisbane show had more than 9,000 attendants, and the Acer Arena in Sydney welcomed more than 12,000.

“Her fans were dancing and singing along with her, and Whitney appreciates their support,” the spokesperson added.

Back in November, I blogged that Houston should keep on performing to rebuild her chops.

Considering her battles with drugs, it has clearly taken a toll on her voice.

I hope her condition improves. I admire her confidence. But it is going to take some time for her to recover.

SHUTTER ISLAND Two U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, are summoned to a remote and barren island off the coast of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island's fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.

The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) hosted a town hall meeting, Wednesday at Boys & Girls High School in Brooklyn, to discuss the “current state of Reggae music” and the negative impact deriving from artists facing legal issues.

The panelist included internationally acclaimed artist Mystic Bowie, music executive Maxine Stowe, singer Ed Robinson and radio personality Jeff Barnes. The theme for the evening was entitled, The Buju Banter, which provided stimulating conversations between panelists and audience members.

Needless to say, the panelist after sharing their personal opinions on the Buju Banton drug charges and a stem of other arrest by popular artists such as Ninja Man, Luciano, Sizzla and others, were not pleased with what they refer to as the current state of Reggae.

“What disappoints me the most is to see where these guys are taking it,” said Mystic Bowie. “And then not just the lyrical content of it, but when you think about reggae artists who are influencing the younger generation, and then they get involved in crime. It doesn’t make any of us look good.”

“Reggae is a part of me. I take offense when folks take the music and become Reggae prostitutes, using the word Reggae to preach negativity,” Bowie continued. “I am a Maroon and I can tell you that Reggae is a message music, a

Jimmy Cliff To Be Inducted Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame KINGSTON, Jamaica - Reggae music icon Jimmy Cliff is to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month.

Cliff, born James Chambers, will join pop groups ABBA and Genesis among the 2010 inductees at the March 15 ceremony at the famed Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

The 62 year-old will be inducted by Haitian hip hop singer and producer, Wyclef Jean, who rose to prominence as a member of the Fugees.

Cliff, who starred in the pioneering Jamaican movie “The Harder They Come” and whose most memorable hits include “Many Rivers to Cross” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, said he will accept the honour on behalf of his “wonderful fans”.

The veteran performer has more than 25 albums under his belt and is preparing to release a new album, Existence, which he said will have songs to deal with today’s realities of conflict among nations, global warming and the environment, the good and bad in human relationships, greed, poverty and love.

“The CD is almost finished except for some final production touches and I am the sole singer. There is one song that I co-wrote with Joe Higgs, one of the unsung heroes of our music industry, who taught Bob Marley to harmonise on guitar,” Cliff said.

He has also announced plans to start shooting a movie for which he wrote the screenplay.

Whitney Houston

Reggae’s Badboy Image Too Real Staff report

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culture music, a Rasta music.”

Barnes, also a practicing attorney, said the image of Reggae has been tarnished significantly with the rising trend of the “badboy” imagery portrayed by the majority of Dancehall artists.

“Germany and Belgium have banned the music,” said Barnes. “They’re calling it hate music.”

According to Ed Robinson, record executives and music promoters should also be blamed.

“Look who these fools are signing,” he said.

“This problem has been fessing up for 15 to 20 years now. Yes we have to blame the little Reggae artists. But the problem is with these dumb people who produce and own these record companies, who are using these little reggae artists to promote their own personal lifestyles.”

The event, which was hosted by CPR heads Sharon Gordon and Carlyle McKetty, was cosponsored by Reggae Artists Musicians Producers Promoters and Songwriters (Reggae AMPPS). Vinnie B, WHCR radio host; promoter and restaurateur Earle “Jamroc” Lynn; Journalist Patricia Meschino, and Michelle Arthurton from Reggae AMPPS served as moderators during the evening.

Reggae singer Mickey Jarrett, Bunny Brown, Lady Ann, radio personality Ken Williams, producer Earle Chin from Rockers TV, Stephen Sousa, Junior Barnes from Ruff Stuff band, Devon Roach, president of Padlock Records, and many more were on hand.

New Entertainment Industry Project Launched The recent launch this month of Sunlight Records and Entertainment, LLC (SRE) heralds an unprecedented journey into the music and entertainment industry for a group of Brooklyn-based entrepreneurs whose aim is to craft and deliver a new entertainment brand that would be a leap above the norm. SRE’s prime focus is on stage presentations, record production and artiste promotion.

With their motto: Service Rendering Excellence, the SRE product will be geared towards cutting-edge presentations by artistes of the highest caliber.

The new enterprise is the brainchild of New York-based Jamaican record producer and promoter Floyd Richards, supported by a group of experienced industry professionals. The SRE offices are located at 169 Wythe Ave., Suite 204, Brooklyn, New York 11211. Phone 347-725-4525; Fax: 347-725-4519.

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Andrew Koenig

‘Growing Pains’ Koenig Found Dead Former “Growing Pains” actor Andrew Koenig was found dead Thursday in a wooded area of a sprawling downtown park where he enjoyed spending time, apparently after committing suicide.

The actor ’s father, Walter Koenig, said “my son took his own life,” and police spokeswoman Jana McGuinness said, “I’ll let Mr. Koenig’s words speak for themselves.”

“He was obviously in a lot of pain,” Walter Koenig said, referring his son’s lifelong depression.

McGuinness, speaking at a press conference at the park, said foul play was not involved, but said she could not be more specific because the coroner was taking over the investigation.

Andrew Koenig, 41, had a recurring role on the 1980s sitcom as Richard “Boner” Stabone, a pal of star Kirk Cameron’s character, Mike. The native of Venice, California, hadn’t been seen since Feb. 14, while visiting friends in Vancouver.

Mr. Vegas

No Regional Artiste Banned In Spice Isle Grenada’s Minister for Labor, Hon. Karl Hood, put an end to rumors this week saying the government of Grenada has not banned any regional artiste from performing in Grenada.

Hood said his ministry has no difficulties with regional performers displaying their expertise and talents in Grenada. However, he says, his ministry has attempted to ensure that proper procedures are followed by promoters wanting work permits for artistes booked to hold concerts in Grenada.

“The issue has nothing to do with Vegas as an artiste. Our ministry met with the promoters and agreed to the procedures for performers to receive work permits. These procedures are designed to give the ministry the requisite time to vet the requests and allow the promoter time to advertise his

event,” Hood said.

He noted that some promoters have not adhered to the rules and have continued with last minute requests for work permits, even though they signed contracts with the artistes and have been advertising their events for months.

He said the procedures call for promoters to contact the Ministry of Labour for work permits once they agree to a contract with an artiste to perform in Grenada.

“The ministry is not a rubber stamp and we have communicated the process. We will not therefore be responsible for promoters who are denied permits based on their non-compliance with our procedures,” he said.

The minister said the procedures provide a level playing field for all promoters and will be applied equally.

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Obesity Tied To Poorer Sperm Quality

By Amy Norton Amy Norton

Adding to evidence that obesity may affect a man’s sperm quality, a new study finds that obese men tend to have less-mobile sperm than their thinner counterparts.

Studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether obesity impairs a man’s fertility. But several recent ones have found that obese men tend to have poorer quality sperm than leaner men do — including lower sperm counts and fewer progressively motile sperm, which refers to sperm that swim forward in a straight line rather than moving about aimlessly.

In the new study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers from Argentina evaluated semen samples from 749 men who were each part of a couple seeking help for fertility problems.

They found that the 155 obese men tended to have fewer motile sperm and fewer rapidly moving sperm than their normal-weight and overweight counterparts.

Obese men also had generally lower levels of neutral alpha-glucosidase, or NAG — an enzyme secreted into the fluid of the epididymis, which is a structure at the back of the testes where sperm mature and acquire their motility.

The concentration of NAG in the semen is considered a marker of how well the epididymis is functioning.

“To our knowledge, ours is the first study proposing a deleterious effect of obesity on epididymal function,” lead researcher Dr. Ana Carolina Martini, of the National University of Cordoba in Argentina, told Reuters Health in an email.

However, the effects she and her colleagues found on sperm quality would not have a significant effect on a man’s fertility, according to Martini.

“A man would not become sterile because of some weight increase,” she said.

While the study linked obesity to lesser sperm motility, it found no effects on other measures of semen quality, including sperm count, testosterone levels and the percentage of normally shaped sperm.

Still, Martini said, it might be possible for an obese man to improve his sperm quality by shedding some weight. Research has shown that weight loss can reverse the imbalance in reproductive hormones that is linked to obesity, she noted.

The study had a number of limitations, Martini and her colleagues point out. One is that it focused on men who were part of couples with fertility problems; whether the findings extend to obese men in general is unknown.

Another is that the researchers gauged obesity using the men’s body mass index, or BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height. The problem is that BMI does not directly reflect a person’s level of body fat, and other studies have suggested that abdominal fat is more closely related to sex-hormone levels than BMI is.

More studies, the researchers conclude, are needed to better understand the relationships among obesity, sperm quality and fertility.

“Because the incidence of obesity is growing,” they write, “it is expected that the number of obese men with reduced fertility will increase as well.”

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Naptime Helps Babies Remember New Things Naps play an important role in infant learning by helping children’s developing brains retain information, a new study has found.

Researchers at the University of Arizona in Tucson found that infants who have daytime naps are more likely to exhibit an advanced level of learning called abstraction — the ability to detect a general pattern contained in new information.

In this study of 48 infants, phrases from an artificial language were repeatedly played to the 15month-olds until they became familiar with them. Follow-up tests showed that infants who slept within four to

eight hours after hearing the phrases showed evidence of abstract learning.

This wasn’t the case for infants who didn’t have a nap within that timeframe.

“What we know is that infants have mostly REM sleep, given the type of sleep they have, given how their brains are developed at that point. And they have to get some of that sleep within a reasonable amount of time after inputting information in order to be able to do abstracting work

on it. If they don’t sleep within four to eight hours, they probably just lose the entire thing,” lead researcher Lynn Nadel, a professor in the psychology department, said in a university news release.

The findings were presented Feb. 21 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, in San Diego.

While it’s important to provide infants and young children with the kind of mental stimulation that comes from talking and reading to them, it’s also crucial to ensure this is done as part of a well-regulated daily cycle that includes adequate sleep, Nadel said.

Hospital Stays May Spur Brain Decline Elderly people who have been hospitalized have an increased risk of cognitive decline.

That’s the finding of U.S. researchers who analyzed data from 1994 through 2007 on 2,929 people, aged 65 and older, who did not have dementia at the start of the study. During an average follow-up of 6.1 years, 1,287 were hospitalized for a non-critical illness and 41 were hospitalized for a critical illness, while 1,601 of the participants were not hospitalized.

Among those hospitalized for one or more non-critical illnesses, there were 228 cases of dementia, and among those hospitalized with one or more critical illnesses, there were five cases of dementia. There were 146 cases of dementia reported among the participants who weren’t hospitalized during the study period, the authors noted.

After adjusting for various factors, the researchers concluded that patients hospitalized for a non-critical illness were 40 percent more likely to develop demen-

tia than those who weren’t hospitalized. Seniors hospitalized with a critical illness also had a higher risk of dementia, but the result wasn’t significant, possibly because of the small number of people in that group, the study authors explained.

“The mechanism of this association is uncertain,” wrote Dr. William J. Ehlenbach, of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues. “These results also could suggest that factors associated with acute illness, and to a greater degree with critical illness, may be causally related to cognitive decline.”

There are a number of possible mechanisms through which critical illness could contribute to cognitive decline, including hypoxemia (decreased partial pressure of oxygen in blood), delirium, low blood pressure, glucose dysregulation, inflammation, and sedative and analgesic medications, the report indicated.

“Further studies are needed to better understand the factors associated with acute and critical illness that may contribute to cognitive impairment,” the researchers concluded.

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What To Do If You’re In An Auto Accident

Knowing How to Handle Claims Will Help Consumers Avoid Unnecessary Problems NEW YORK, NY — Automobile insurance is a valuable form of financial protection for anyone who drives a car. But it’s essential that motorists understand their auto insurance and know what to do if they must file a claim.

“It’s always important to drive safely, but it’s also important to know how to file a claim just in case you’re in an accident or your car is damaged in some other manner. It will go a long way in helping you avoid unnecessary problems,” New York Insurance Superintendent James Wrynn said.

Wrynn said motorists should always have their insurance identification cards on hand and the phone numbers of their insurance company and agent. In addition, he offered these tips: If you’re in an accident • After taking care of any injuries first, report the accident to police regardless of the circumstances and find out how to get a copy of the police report.

• Write down the names, addresses, phone number of the other drivers involved, as well as those of any passengers or witnesses. Always write down the make, model and license plate numbers of the other vehicles.

• Ask to see the other driver’s insurance card to get the name of his or her insurance company and the policy number.

• If possible, photograph the accident scene.

• Notify your insurance agent or company as soon as possible, even if you believe you are not at fault.

Getting your vehicle repaired Policyholders have the right to choose where they want to have their vehicles repaired after a collision. The insurer may ask policyholders whether they want the insurance company to recommend a collision repair shop, but cannot require policyholders to use that shop.

If there is a total loss You may choose to declare the car a total loss if the repair cost is greater than the car’s value. The insurance company is required to pay you the value of the vehicle at the moment before the crash. Insurers may determine value in several ways, but policyholders should always independently research auto values before agreeing to a settlement.

If you don’t agree with the insurance company’s offer, you should try to negotiate a settlement with the company.

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SPORTS Latapy’s Future Up In The Air Barbados World champion hurdler Ryan Brathwaite

Crawley To Play Hosts To Barbados Olympic Buildup BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has signed up to use the south-east England town of Crawley for their pre-Olympic training camp in the buildup to the London 2012 Games.

The Crawley Observer reported Wednesday that the Barbados Olympic Association would use the town, located 28 miles outside of London, to prepare its contingent for the July 27 to August 12 showpiece.

Crawley boasts the K2 Leisure Centre which comprises an athletics arena and 50-metres swimming pool. The K2 is one of 10 venues in West Sussex approved to host pre-Games training camps.

The Observer quoted a letter from BOA president Steve Stoute confirming the partnership.

“The sports facilities and support services are state of the art,” Stoute wrote.

West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith said Barbados’ presence would be a fillip for the community.

“I’m delighted we will be welcoming the Barbados team to Crawley in the run-up to the 2012 Games, and I hope more teams will sign up to use our excellent facilities across the county,” Smith was quoted as saying.

“West Sussex–Ahead of the Game (a countywide Olympic initiative) will be working very closely with the Barbados team to ensure their competitors get the right training, support and experience to qualify for the Games and to perform at their best in London.”

Councillor Lenny Walker, Crawley Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said he hoped the relationship with Barbados would be the start of a long lasting affiliation.

“This is fantastic news for Crawley and the county. K2 Crawley is the jewel in the crown of the town’s leisure facilities and it’s extremely gratifying to get this kind of international approval,” Walker said.

“However, this isn’t just about a few weeks in 2012. We are looking to build educational, cultural and sporting links with Barbados over the next few years.”

John Williams, chairman of Tourism South East, said he was also elated by Barbados’ choice of venue for their training camp, noting it would be to the benefit of the area’s economy.

“We are delighted to welcome the Barbados Olympic squad to the beautiful South. We congratulate Crawley and West Sussex on their success,” Williams stated.

“It underlines the superb facilities available to Olympic teams across the South East. Training camps are a core part of our overall programme to ensure the local visitor economy gains the maximum benefit from the 2012 games.”

The Barbados contingent will benefit from sports science and sports medicine support from the University of Chichester, which has a history in helping to prepare Olympic athletes.

Barbados currently boasts World champion hurdler Ryan Brathwaite who snatched gold in Berlin last year.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former midfield star Russell Latapy will know his fate as the country’s senior football head coach next week.

Football mogul Jack Warner, a special advisor to the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation, confirmed Thursday that an announcement would be made Tuesday on Latapy’s future.

Latapy’s contract as head coach came to an end following T&T’s failed World Cup final round qualifying campaign last November and since then, discussions have been ongoing over his future.

The TTFF is expected to stage a media conference where the head coach and his full technical staff will be unveiled.

The new coach and his staff will have the task of preparing T&T for the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil.

While football authorities here have remained mum on the decision, speculation is Latapy will get the nod.

Affectionately known as the ‘Little Magician’, Latapy held the post during the CONCACAF qualifying campaign after Colombian Francisco Maturana left last April.

Under Latapy’s reign, T&T had one win, one draw and five defeats, sparking debate over his ability as a coach.

Russell Latapy

ESPN To Show Jamaica Sports MIAMI, Fla. (JIS) — Jamaica’s sports industry could benefit from wider international exposure, following discussions between the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, and officials of US sports network, ESPN International.

In an interview with JIS News, Minister Grange expressed enthusiasm that “ESPN is in for a long haul with Jamaica, willing to work with us to build on what is there.”

The Minister was special guest on a recent cruise event - ESPN Super Bowl at Sea with Royal Caribbean International - at the invitation of Bernard Stewart, Senior Vice President, ESPN Caribbean and Maritime Media.

Minister Grange indicated that ESPN Caribbean was in the process of building relationships with individual countries in the region.

Regarding Jamaica, she said that the preliminary discussions were focused on the exploration of how best to create regionalised sports entertainment that ensures the right content for sports fans, operators and advertisers, while being the right model for financial success.

In Jamaica, ESPN Caribbean is distributed by the FLOW cable network.

“ESPN recognises that its continued success, as a leader in sports entertainment in the Caribbean, comes from our ability to forge meaningful relationships that offer relevant information about content of interest to sport fans in the region,” Bernard said.

“Our goal is to make innovative use of new technology platforms to deliver quality regional events, and compelling news and lifestyle stories about sports, both in Jamaica and around the world, on ESPN’s international networks,” he continued.

While content of interest could entail a focus on sport-

ing events in various disciplines, such as track and field, football, and cricket, the Minister added that projects under discussion would also take into consideration the Jamaican sports calendar, like the Jamaica International Invitational Meet, Boys and Girls Championships, as well as events scheduled for the Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny, including a Calypso Cricket tournament.

Miss Grange disclosed that her Ministry was in exploratory discussions with ESPN Caribbean, regarding how best to join forces to support a special event dubbed “Jamaica Night”, which would feature Jamaican culture and sports products.

She also indicated that ESPN Caribbean was looking at opportunities to showcase local athletes, with news and informational features and reports, as they participate in international events in the United States and United Kingdom.

“This is a relationship where we would work to identify a financial model that would support the creation of events focusing on Brand Jamaica, with the objective to promote the island as a destination and Jamaican sports personalities,” she added.

Further discussions will follow, shortly, to outline timelines for programming and to look at business opportunities, as well.

The Minister also held preliminary discussions with officials of the Seminole Tribe in Florida, regarding the development of entertainment projects in Jamaica. One of the holdings of the Seminole Tribe in the USA is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, a large scale entertainment destination in Hollywood, Florida.

The Minister was accompanied on the weekend tour

by Lenford Salmon, consultant on Major Cultural Events in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

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Jamaican, ‘Hardest Working Woman’ At Winter Games She has been described as “the hardest working woman” at the Winter Olympics which is drawing to a close in this western Canadian city.

If during the television coverage of the Games you have seen a black woman hosting official Olympic events and hanging around IOC members, it was probably Charmaine Crooks.

The 47-year-old Crooks was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, before migrating in her youth to Canada.

She has an impressive resume, and was one of the original members of the Vancouver Olympic bid team in 1998.

“The Games has helped Canada to develop the next generation of athletes,” she told a Canada-based black lifestyle website. “Through Legacies Now, kids will have more access to sports.”

During the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Crooks’ duties are significant. Besides being an official host to all dignitaries, she appears on panels, hosts awards shows, and officially represents Vancouver 2010 in everything.

She is the only person of colour on the executive board of the Canadian Olympic Committee which makes her an ideal target for the magazine.

“I’m aware of who I am [a Canadian woman of Caribbean descent], and I’ve never felt umcomfortable in Canada because of this,” she said.

“Canada is a multicultural melting pot. It’s more open, more liberal and you are more likely to see interracial marriages. People live together in Canada.”

She added: “I’m hoping that my success will encourage more black athletes and women to get involved in the governance of sport.

“There is a Black History Society in British Columbia. The city hosts a Caribbean Days and there are the black achievement awards every year.”

SOLUTION to Sudoku, P18

Charmaine Crooks During her track career that spanned close to 20 years, Crooks won an Olympic silver medal with the Canadian 4x400 metres relay team at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

She was the first Canadian woman to run 800m in under two minutes, and won gold medals in the 400m at the Pan American, Commonwealth, World Cup, and the World Student Games.

In 1996, Crooks also had the honour of being Canada’s flag bearer

at the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games.

Since leaving the track, she has developed quite an impressive resumé, including setting up her own business, NGU Consultants, a sports marketing, management and corporate consulting company.

It provides strategic counsel and growth strategies to major corporations on a national and global basis.

Crooks is also a highly sought keynote speaker, appearing at national and international conferences, corporate meetings and retreats, and speaking on topics ranging from team building, leadership, inspiration to the Olympic Movement.

Four years ago, she received the International Olympic Committee Women and Sport Trophy for the Americas in recognition of her efforts towards supporting gender equity in high performance sport.

Crooks was elected International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission in 1996, and was elected as a full voting Member of the IOC from 2000-2004.

She continues to serve on the IOC Athletes Commission, has been a Member of the IOC Press Commission since 2001, and was a founding member of the independent IOC Ethics Commission.

Crooks is also one of 20 directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

She is also the current Vice President of the World Olympians Association and President of Olympians Canada.

Crooks is also the convenor of the Pan American Sports Organization’s Athlete’s Commission.

She is a founding member and member of the International Board of Directors for Right To Play, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Recipes Bread Pudding INGREDIENTS: 1 lb day-old white bread 1/4 cup melted butter 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 cup rum 1/3 cup raisins 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 4 cups whole milk 5 eggs (beaten well) METHOD: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with butter.

Line the baking dish with wax paper Remove the crust from the bread Break up the bread into small portions.

Combine the bread, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum, raisins, and melted butter in a mixing bowl.

Pour into the baking dish.

Mix the condensed milk, eggs and whole milk Pour this over the bread mixture in the baking dish.

Place the oven Bake for 1Âź hours. You can test if it is baked by inserting a small knife in the middle until it comes out clean.

Serve warm or cool.

Best served with Ice cream or whipped cream.

Serves 6 to 8

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

DINING

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Junk Food Tax Could Help Fight Obesity WASHINGTON (AFP) – Taxing high-fat and sugary junk food is a more effective way to fight obesity than making healthy foods like fruit and vegetables more affordable, a study published Wednesday shows.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York, led by psychologist Leonard Epstein, gave 42 mothers just over 22 dollars to spend at a “supermarket” set up in a room at the university and stocked with images of everything from bananas to whole wheat bread to cola drinks and cookies.

The women were told to imagine that they had no food in the house and that they were going to the supermarket to get the week’s shopping for their family.

In the simulated supermarket, the women had the choice of 30 healthy and 30 junk food items, four healthy beverages — two types of juice, skim milk and water — and four sugary drinks, all represented in images.

The women went shopping five times. The first time, the prices of all the food and drink items were on par with those in a local supermarket.

Twice, the prices of healthier foods — those that deliver more nutrients for fewer calories — were lowered, and on the remaining two shopping trips, the prices of the unhealthy food and drink items were raised.

The researchers found that hiking the price of junk food, as would happen with a so-called “sin tax,” was more effective at getting the women to buy a week’s shopping that was lower in overall calories than was cutting the price of the healthy food items.

In fact, cutting the prices of healthy foods like broccoli, yoghurt, grapes, eggs and fish actually increased the overall calorie value of the foods and drinks the women put in their shopping carts.

“It appears that mothers took the money they

saved on subsidized fruits and vegetables and treated the family to less healthy alternatives, such as chips and soda pop,” said the authors of the study, published this week in Psychological Science.

“Subsidizing broccoli and yoghurt... may be unlikely to bring about the massive weight loss the nation now requires,” they said.

Around a third of US adults older than 20 and nearly one in five US kids aged six to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

SPORTS

HARDEST WORKING WOMAN AT WINTER P. 23 GAMES