NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

50 CENTS

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DESPITE SUCCESSES G BEHIND SUCCESSES,, WOMEN STILL LA LAG

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010

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Copyright © 2006, New York Liberty Star

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Caribbean News

OBAMA REASSURES HAITI AS TROOPS EXIT

PRESIDENT OBAMA has sought to reassure Haiti that his government remains fully committed to the French-speaking Caribbean country.

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Entertainment

GAYS USE REGGAE TO PROMOTE LIFESTYLE

MAXINE STOWE said she believes that some reggae artists may have been propositioned by gays.

WWW.NYLIBERTYSTAR.COM

VOL. 10 ISSUE 192

FULL STORY PAGE 11

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FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

CONTENTS

W E AT H E R

RALPH GONSALVES

MONTY ALEXANDER

TODAY Windy / Rain High: 44° Low: 31° TOMORROW Severe Winds / Showers

High: 45° Low: 29°

CARIBBEAN TO BIRDLAND

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With 60 albums under his belt, he once again melds the sounds of classic jazz with his Jamaican rhythm.

HOMO-PROMO

PM SUES OPPOSITION

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Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has filed a writ in the High Court seeking damages from his Opposition leader.

KEMAR ROACH

EDITORIAL STAFF

STATE OF REGGAE

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ROOKIE GETS BETTER

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LENECIA HINES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Coalition To Preserve Reggae discuss Rookie West Indies fast bowler Kemar why dancehall artists continue to sing Roach says he has been working anti-gays songs? closely with new coach Ottis Gibson.

IVROL HINES MANAGING EDITOR

Despite Successes, Women Still Lag Behind

By Peter Richards

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad– Soon after she created history by becoming the first woman to be elected as Opposition Leader and the leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar was lamenting the fact that many people did not fully understand the role of women and their contribution to society.

It is a message that she has again delivered as Trinidad and Tobago joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day on Monday.

“Without us, the human race cannot continue; without us, the world will fall apart. Women, after all, hold up half the sky,” she said.

Late last month, she told a gathering of mainly men at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 33rd Congress that while women comprise most of the teachers and girls outstrip boys in academic performance, yet they do not hold down many top positions in the corporate world or in politics”.

And as she did last month, Persad-Bissessar, 57, is promising to establish a national commission on the status of women if she is elected prime minister.

This commission, she promised, would be different from the “ineffective gender board that has been established by government.”

“It will examine and make policy recommendations, analyse current programmes and ensure that they are implemented,” she said, reiterating that while women had made significant strides, they were still engaged

in a battle for equality and justice.

Persad-Bissessar, who is line to become the third woman ever to head a government in the English-speaking Caribbean, after Portia Simpson Miller in Jamaica and the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, should know.

In 2007, in an address to a women’s forum, she noted “when God created woman, he did not take from the foot of Adam, because then woman would have felt inferior; he did not take from the head, because then woman would feel she was the boss; he took a rib from the side so that together men and women could stand side by side equally.”

But during the campaign for the leadership of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC) that governed this oil-rich twin island republic from 1995-2001, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who formed the party 20 years ago, likened her to a drunkard incapable of leading a country, much less a political party.

One newspaper columnist said he did not believe she is the “brightest, most articulate, people-oriented person in the party” and questioned whether she has proven to be someone who would stand “strong” on matters of principle.

“When a sexist campaign was obviously targeted at her, she said that she spoke as a politician, but also as a grandmother, sister and mother, and ...yet, in scoring such a sweeping victory, she became the country’s first female party leader, cracked the glass ceiling in public life and avoided a patriarchal politics which seeks to win at all costs,” wrote feminist and uni-

Kamla Persad Bissessar versity lecturer Dr. Gabrielle Hosein.

“Unexpectedly, her success also signalled an acceptance of gender equality among women and men of all generations and ethnicities. In many ways, her victory was one for Caribbean feminist movements,” Hosein said.

Political scientist Professor Selwyn Ryan noted that PersadBissessar’s momentum during the campaign had been sustained by the gender factor.

“Many women believe that the time has come to cash in the dividends which they have earned. They are next in the queue,” he said.

Novelist and essayist Dr. Merle Hodge, who has written extensively on Caribbean family and women issues, said that while the election of Persad-Bissessar is a “milestone” for women in politics, “the majority of

women in parliament have not achieved or displayed the kind of gender sensitivity that one would expect, so we women who are not busy trying to be one of the boys can get on with the business of advancing women’s issues and not be afraid.”

The Network of Non-Governmental Organisations of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women says it is urging “more women to take an active part in decision-making at all levels of our society so as to effectively influence and change not only the political, but the national development climate of the country.”

Since 2007, the group has campaigned to get more women elected as legislators. It said that the election of Persad-Bissessar “suggests that the electorate is maturing into greater awareness of the value of gender.”

Her “clean, clear and focused campaign also signals the kind of ‘new politics’ that women can bring the political landscape,” the group noted.

But over the weekend, the group expressed disappointment that the Trinidad and Tobago government has not developed a comprehensive gender policy for the country.

Addressing a forum to mark the 25th anniversary of the grouping, coordinator Hazel Brown described the draft policy agenda presented by the Patrick Manning government in 2009 as “garbage”.

She said the draft was unacceptable because it failed to address many important issues that affect women, such as sexual harassment, labour discrimination, employment and poverty alleviation.

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Monty Alexander Brings Caribbean To Birdland From Bevan Springer Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Congress Honors Late Jamaican Academic

The United States Congress has posthumously honoured the late Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Rex Nettleford for his outstanding contribution to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the United States.

A congressional proclamation issued by U.S. Congresswoman, Yvette Clarke, was presented to UWI Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, at a memorial service held at Dunbarton Chapel on the Howard University campus in Washington.

The proclamation, states “on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I salute Rex Nettleford for his service and dedication to our community and highlight that his positive and legendary contributions are what make our nation great, and I bestow upon you the highest honour as a Member of the 111th Session of Congress.”

In paying tribute to Professor Nettleford, the UWI Chancellor described him as a man with a “passion for people, a passion for perfection in whatever he did and a passion to perfect the perception of our people about their proper and rightful pride in themselves and their intrinsic worth”.

Nettleford 76, died at the George Washington Hospital in the United States on February 1, six days after collapsing in a US hotel.

Sir George said that the UWI and the Caribbean are indebted to the late academic for his insistence that cultural studies should have a proper place in academia.

“Rex was impatient with the view

that culture was a characteristic of the privileged and that cultural expression did not involve and permeate almost all if not all of our activities,” Sir George added.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a tribute read by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the U.S., Anthony Johnson, said that “Rex Nettleford was that never-failing servant of his nation and his region, who was called upon so many times to take up responsibilities where his respected knowledge and authority and his intellectual integrity were important.

Golding said that while Nettleford would be missed “there is much about the life of the Hon. Rex Nettleford that can never die.

“The bridges he has built that have enabled our minds to travel beyond their self-imposed boundaries, the confidence he has inspired us to have in ourselves, mindful of our failures but triumphant in our successes and energised by the vast horizon of opportunity that is before us, if only we would see clearly now.”

Ambassador Johnson in his own tribute said that many Jamaicans, irrespective of where they live, had fond memories of this outstanding Jamaican, who was loved and respected by nationals all over the world. Tributes to Professor Nettleford were also paid by member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Shirley Nathan-Pulliam and Professor Eleanor Traylor of Howard University.

The two-hour long memorial service was organised by the Embassy of Jamaica in association with the UWI Alumni Association of Washington DC. Proceeds from the memorial service will benefit the Rex Nettleford Foundation for Caribbean Cultural and Social Studies, which will support research by outstanding postgraduate students and fellows in areas championed by the late professor.

NEW YORK, NY - I can hear my editor screaming for joy as I thumb this week’s column into my recently repaired ancient, battered BlackBerry, the phone that just won’t quit.

Why? Because it is Friday night and I get the feeling she’ll be well pleased that my column will be submitted way ahead of deadline - perhaps only a biannual occurrence for your humble scribe!

I am at Birdland Jazz Club, “The Jazz Corner of the World,” listening to the legendary Caribbean jazz pianist Monty Alexander (about whom I wrote in this space two weeks ago) as he and his jazz gang are near completion of their week-long concert series in “the greatest city in the world.”

My right leg uncontrollably rocks to the rhythmic vibrations, and my thumbs tap methodically across the keyboard as an unexplained vibration emanates from Karl Wright’s drums and the dreadlocked Courtney Panton on bass reminds the captive audience that “this is reggae music - a movement of Jah people.”

As I look around the room at the appreciative crowd enjoying these sensational vibes, I recall my childhood days of listening to Monty Alexander play in Barbados while my mother Kean, another musical genius, reviewed the performance for the local newspaper.

In those days, it was called “Ivory and Steel” as Monty paired with Trinidadian Len “Boogsie” Sharpe on steel pan to create electrifying rhythms that reflected a warm, happy Caribbean spirit.

There’s no steel tonight, but it is the same spirit - the creative musical genius of the Caribbean on show in New York City. It’s a musical vibe that’s cathartic, one that’s memorable, one that makes me “proud to be West Indian” and for the native New Yorker ... they are surely longing for an onisland Caribbean interlude.

Monty Alexander explores and bridges the worlds of American jazz, popular song and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression.

With 60 albums under his belt, he

Monty Alexander was once again in fine form at Birdland Jazz Club. (Photo

by Margot Jordan) once again melds the sounds of classic jazz with his Jamaican rhythm section during another evening to remember.

We salutes you this week - not only for your professional exploits

and musical interpretations, but for your humanity. Thank you Monty for sharing your gifts and introducing the Caribbean to the world. Our name has truly gone abroad as Monty himself indicates in “Sly Mongoose.”

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

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World Bank Offers To Assist CARICOM States With Debt

ROSEAU, Dominica – World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Thursday made an offer of assistance to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, which are presently grappling with heavy debt burdens.

During a meeting with leaders of the 15nation grouping here in Roseau, Zoellick said the World Bank was prepared to send in teams to interested countries to assist them in managing their debts.

He also said he was not ruling out the possibility of securing debt relief based on past experiences with Jamaica and other regional states.

Zoellick, who had earlier met with several CARICOM leaders during the Bank’s annual meeting in Istanbul, Turkey last October, also provided updated country assessments.

“I reported back on our initial work and offered to send teams to each country that was interested to try to see whether one could develop a strategy that focuses on growth but good fiscal management, effective use of debt, maybe looking at some of the issues of what else one can do to build insurance for some of the natural calamities that tend to create a spike in debt,” he told journalists following the meeting with CARICOM heads of government, who are gathered in Dominica for their 21st Intersessional summit.

The World Bank president also indicated that options could be explored utilising the expertise of the International Monetary Fund and other international lending agencies.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick

SPIRITUAL READING Man from Jamaica Woman from Haiti

“So this is what I think was a step in the process, the next step is for the countries that are interested to ask us to have our teams come and we can come and try to outline that,” Zoellick said.

Earlier, the CARICOM Chairman and host prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica said he would urge the top brass of the international financial institution to “champion” the region’s cause because of the peculiar challenges faced by these small, vulnerable and largely middle-income economies. But he stressed the need for regional states to “be treated in a special and different manner”.

Zoellick agreed that the situation regarding debt levels in the Caribbean was of a different nature to what obtains in other middle income countries around the world.

But he said each country needed to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

“What I had suggested to CARICOM in October was that we would try to look countryby-country at debt profiles because each situation is different – its amount of debt; whether it is owned public or private; whether it is international or domestic, in some countries the debt has been significantly owed to their own private sector financial institutions or pension funds,” the World Bank boss said.

Another area where the Washington-based international financial institution was in agreement with CARICOM governments was regarding the need to find a way to simplify the manner in which donor aid is disbursed to Haiti, which is struggling to get back on its feet in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake in January that killed an estimated 300,000 people and caused widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructure.

Ahead of the talks, Skerrit said the region would be pressing the case for “a designated development fund for Haiti where all the resources which have been pledged by various countries and institutions could be deposited into a special account to have better and more efficient access to it”. He also stressed the need for the Haitian people not to be sidelined in the recovery and rebuilding process.

“We’re of like mind on this,” Zoellick told reporters, noting that shortly after the earthquake hit, the World Bank used some of its emergency resources, pledging US$100 million in grant funds for Haiti.

“We also proposed that we could work with the Inter-American Development Bank (and) the UN agencies to coordinate a multi-donor trust fund…the benefits of it are that no reconstruction or redevelopment project works is the local country doesn’t have ownership. So the Haitians have to be in the driver’s seat.

“But everyone knows that Haiti suffered terribly. It lost many of its civil servants and so there is limited capacity. So if one has one fund connected to the plans of the Haitians without having them to meet with 20 different donors with 20 different ideas and it can fit the Haitian strategy (that would help),” he added.

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

Email: ssreading@yahoo.com

www.shawnspiritualreading.webs.com

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has filed a writ in the High Court seeking damages from Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace over statements he allegedly made during a 15 day period last month.

Attorneys for the Prime Minister said that the slanderous statements were made “on each and every day between 9th and 24th February”.

In seeking “aggravated damages for slander” Gonsalves said that the statements were repeated in “paid advertisements broadcast by the (opposition) New Democratic Party (NDP) on the instructions and/or directives of the defendant amongst others”.

Further, the Prime Minister is also contending that the offending statements were made during a news conference held on February 17.

In addition, Gonsalves is also asking the courts to issue an injunction preventing Eustace “whether by himself, his servants, and or agents….from further speaking or publishing and or causing the publication of the said or similar words defamatory of the claimant”.

The Prime Minister is seeking costs and “any other further relief as the courts think fit”.

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

This is a good pocket piece as well.

Psalm 35

“Saint Peter open all doors for us all.”

Saint Barbara

For reading call for appointment:

917-216-1507 or 614-805-6530

Opposition Leader Slanders Vincie PM

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.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is suing the leader of the country’s opposition party, Hon. Arnhim Eustace.

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

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Business Leaders Want ‘Don’ To Have His Day In Court KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), the group that represents powerful businessmen and women in the country, has called on the Bruce Golding administration to let the courts decide on the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the suspected drug kingpin from the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stronghold of West Kingston.

The PSOJ in a statement issued on Wednesday said that the matter should not be settled on a political level but should be dealt with judicially. “...we call on the Government to expeditiously take those steps necessary to allow the Jamaican courts to assess and determine the merits of any outstanding extradition requests by the United States, confident that our courts will have every regard for the rights of citizens, as enshrined in Jamaica’s Constitution” the PSOJ statement said.

“We believe that there are sufficient safeguards available in Jamaican law and in our judiciary to protect the constitutional rights of all Jamaican citizens.”

The PSOJ is the latest to join mounting calls for the US request for the extradition of Coke to be handled through the courts.

Last week, Golding told the nation that the US extradition request for Coke was flawed as the Interception of Communications Act was breached.

He said as a result, Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne had not signed the request on those grounds.

In August last year, the US Attorneys Office requested that Coke be formally extradited to face charges of gun running and drug trafficking in New York.

Coke is described as a major crime boss by the US authorities who stated that they had nine coconspirators who had furnished dirt on him. He is accused of illicit dealings since 1994.

The JLP’s failing to honour the request prompted the US Department of State to lash the party for its close links to crime lords and branded it a corrupt regime in the recently released Narcotics Report.

However, speaking in Parliament last week, Golding told the nation he was prepared to pay the political price for the stance taken on the extradition request.

The US Government has since drafted a new indictment outlining further charges against Coke and is expected to forward the new indictment to the Jamaican government soon.

Tourism Minister ‘Pained’

By Air Jamaica Shut Down

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CARIBBEAN REPORT

BERLIN, Germany –Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett on Thursday described the pending demise of Air Jamaica as a truly painstaking decision but said the Bruce Golding administration had been left with no choice but to wind down its costly operations.

“We know we had to take a tough, hard decision. Believe me it is a nerve wracking and emotionally draining exercise, even politically it is difficult, but there are times as it is said when ‘a man’s got to do what a man has to do’,” he said in an interview, which occurred on the fringes of the ITB Berlin, Trade & Consumer Exhibition, taking place here from March 10 to 14.

The loss-making carrier, which is said to have accumulated a US$1.3billion deficit over the course of its more than 40-year history, has been regarded as a national institution of Jamaica.

But the operations of the national flag carrier have proven far too costly, especially for the Jamaica government, which is dealing with other economic challenges that, together with Air Jamaica’s heavy load, amount to a significant strain on the public purse and have all but sealed the fate of the stuttering airline.

Though “pained” by the situation, Bartlett said it was not a question of feeling any regret.

“The hardcore facts are, we can’t afford it,” he said.

“I am pained by having to do it but when you have to make business decisions that will inure to the wider good, regrets cannot be the term you use, it has to be that it is a difficult choice, it is painful yes, but you have got to do what you have got to do,” he stressed.

However, Bartlett said he felt comforted by plans by the Trinidadbased Caribbean Airlines to take over Air Jamaica’s profitable routes and to service Jamaica’s immediate demands for airlift in a soon-to-be finalised deal between the two regional carriers.

He explained that, essentially, Air Jamaica had already shed its unprofitable routes, leaving five key routes in service.

“Those are the routes that Caribbean Airlines will be taking over,” said Bartlett.

“We feel comfortable with the airlift arrangements that we have now for most of the routes. Caribbean Airlines I think will pick up much of, if not perhaps 70 per cent. We think that the existing carriers can have capacity for another 15 per cent and after 85 per cent we don’t worry.

“I think that, on balance, we

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo says a flight to Trinidad cost more than a flight to New York.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett says the government had to make a tough decision. should be in good shape but we still have to watch and see and make sure that we are there and being proactive because the one thing that we cannot afford is to lose capacity out of the US market,” the tourism minister added.

He contended that “all is not lost”, adding that somewhere in the future the national flag carrier of Jamaica may fly again but for now he said “I think we have to take the decision that is the best option that we have at this time.”

Obama Reassures Haiti As American Troops Pull Out

By Nelson A. King

struction effort,” he added.

Over the past few weeks, the US has cut the number troops from 20,000 to about 6,000 on the ground and President Barack Obama has of another 3,000 at sea. sought to reassure Haiti that his The USS Comfort – a naval hospital ship, which ardays after the catastrophic earthquake, and treated government remains fully commit- rived thousands of Haitians – headed to Baltimore, Maryland, ted to the French-speaking Carib- on Tuesday, ending its role in Operation Unified Responsebean country, even as the US Haiti.“Our mission was tied to our ability to facilitate hugradually pulls out some troops manitarian aid and disaster relief,” US Navy Public AfOfficer Colonel Billy J. Buckner told reporters. deployed in the wake of the Janu- fairs“We’re adjusting our forces so that we can continue ary 12 devastating earthquake. to do that – helping to secure sites for shelter and food “As President Préval and I discussed, the situation distribution,” he added. “So far the situation has been calm and stable.” on the ground remains dire, and people Last week’s downpours in Haiti inshould be under no illusions that the cricreased concern that time is running out sis is over,” Obama told a White House for the estimated one million homeless to press briefing on Wednesday. get shelter before the rainy season begins He was flanked by Haitian President in April.

Rene Préval, who was visiting the US for In addition, many Haitians have exthe first time since the earthquake struck. pressed concern that the withdrawal of “Many Haitians are still in need, American troops shows a waning interest desperate need in some cases, of shelter in helping Haiti, and that their absence will and food and medicine. And with the leave people vulnerable to gangs and street spring rains approaching, those needs violence. will only grow. The challenge now is to But acting UN mission chief in Haiti, prevent a second disaster,” he added.

Edmond Mulet, said there will be no se“And that’s why, at this very moment, thousands of Americans, both ci- Haiti’s President Rene Preval curity vacuum, as US troops pull out.

He told reporters in New York that the vilian and military, remain on the scene and President Obama.

UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, known at the invitation of the Haitian government. And that’s why, even as the US military responsi- by the French acronym, MINUSTAH, force has a “manbly hands off relief functions to our Haitian and interna- date to provide security” in the impoverished country.

Mulet said he was encouraged by the Security tional partners, America’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction must endure and will endure,” Council’s decision to increase troop strength in Haiti by 3,500 to 12,651.

Obama said.

“With the additional troops, I think we’ll be able to “This pledge is one that I made at the beginning of this crisis, and I intend for America to keep our pledge. provide the necessary stability and security in Haiti,” he America will be your partner in the recovery and recon- said.

PM Says Airfares Sky High

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Bharrat Jagdeo administration says it is determined to break the ‘unconscionable” air service monopoly that currently exists between Guyana and Trinidad, as it continues to point the accusing finger at the Port of Spain-based Caribbean Airlines.

“At the Cabinet we discussed this matter again and this unconscionable monopoly on increases in fares, particularly by Caribbean Airlines, where you pay sometimes more to travel from Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago than people pay from Trinidad and Tobago to get into the US simply is not sustainable,” the President warned this week.

“If the argument by Caribbean Airlines and the others is that they have to charge lower fares from Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados into North America because they have competition there then we can operate a shuttle to these two countries so that our people can have cheaper fares there too,” he added.

Jagdeo also hinted again at the strong likelihood of increased competition on the Port of SpainGeorgetown route, saying the local economy is now in a much better position than it was at the time when the operations of Guyana Airways Corporation, which had employed over 500 persons with one chartered plane, were made defunct.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions with officials of Caribbean Airlines, which maintains that its airfares are not discriminatory and that recent price hikes do not apply to Guyana alone.

The airline is expected to publish an advisory for passengers shortly apprising them of airfares, including taxes and will be monitoring the situation with the Guyanese authorities to ensure that passengers are not exploited, Manniram Prashad, the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce reported following recent talks with the airline.

The meeting resulted from complaints by passengers that it costs over US$300 to fly from Guyana to Trinidad, which is more than the price of a ticket from Trinidad to New York.

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Caribbean Urged To ‘Get With’ Regional Court ROSEAU, Dominica - Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has called on all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to ensure that they are full members of the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that was established in 2001 to replace the Londonbased Privy Council as the region’s final court.

Thompson, who is attending the CARICOM intersessional summit, told reporters that it was necessary for regional countries “to get with it” since their reluctance to join the CCJ could weaken the efforts towards establishing the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Thompson also acknowledged that the economic situation was forcing CARICOM countries to look inward and therefore would result in setbacks to the CSME. “It is clear that it has set it back in the sense that obviously grappling with domestic challenges means that we will not have the space, either the fiscal space or the time to devote to some of the policy initiatives that would see the progress in relation to the single economy,” Thompson said, adding “even our private sectors, which are very much part of the development of the single economy, are battling with big challenges.”

“The irony of that is that we still have to be prepared or preparing for the post-recession period, and to that extent we have produced in Barbados, a medium-term development strategy, which does to some extent depend on us meeting obligations to the Single Economy,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he would that document available to other regional governments.

“It is clear though that in July what we will have to do is re-evaluate the deadlines that were set for certain things and to identify more reasonable targets for that implementation,” he said.

Only Barbados and Guyana are members of both the appellate and original jurisdictions of the CCJ that also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which governs the regional integration movement.

“It is not enough in terms of sheer numbers; neither is it enough psychologically to give confidence to citizens that the CCJ is a viable entity and, therefore, much more needs to be done,” he said.

“It weakens the CCJ when the country that is the headquarters of the CCJ, Trinidad and Tobago, is not a country that has acceded to the CCJ. So it is just one of those areas in which people see a yawning gap between the promise of unity and performance and as long as that is not resolved it will pose major difficulties for us,” Thompson told reporters.

“You have had situations in which people, when in government, have agreed to move towards the CCJ and then when they get into government oppose it. And in other instances you have political institutions that are in every sense of the word are supposed to be progressive in their outlook but which tell you that they don’t trust Caribbean jurists, a self financed court, to undertake and dispense justice for our region,” Thompson said.

He said CARICOM countries needed to take full charge of their future destination and join other former Commonwealth countries that have broken ties with the Privy Council.

“This is the year 2010 and if we have any faith in ourselves then we need to get cracking on ensuring that all our countries are subject to the jurisdiction of the CCJ and let us not act as if somebody else can interpret our constitutions and everyday life situations better than we can.

Police Probe Allegations Against Former UDECOTT Chair PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Police have started investigations into allegations made against the embattled former executive chairman of the State-owned Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT),Calder Hart, even as a senior government minister claimed he had been hounded out of office.

Newly appointed Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Roger Gaspard met with Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert and head of the AntiCorruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB), Senior Superintendent Terry Young to discuss the matter following Hart’s unexpected resignation over the last weekend from UDECOTT and several other State boards.

A statement issued by the police following the meeting said that a team of investigators has been assigned to the case.

“As the investigations unfold, the Acting Commissioner of Police will communicate with the national community,” the release said.

The investigations had been prompted by the release of documents by the opposition Congress of the People (COP) party of an apparent family link between Hart and a company which was awarded TT$820 million (US$136 million) in contracts by UDECOTT to build government offices.

In his letter of resignation, Hart made no reference to the ongoing controversy noting however that “it has been a very satisfying and fulfilling experience notwithstanding the challenges”.

Hart had been at the centre of much controversy ever since Prime Minister Patrick Manning dismissed his then housing minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, in April in 2008, over allegations of disorderly behaviour.

Planning and Development Minister Emily Dick-Forde told reporters that Hart had been hounded out of the country.

“Mr Hart’s resignation would have been a surprise, but it also would not have been, because I

think if any of you as human beings would have been hounded and treated the way he has been, I think you all would understand.

“So, a resignation is part of normal governance, people move on, but I think in the circumstances, we in Trinidad and Tobago should be very ashamed of what has happened, a person, a human being has been treated very, very badly, by us,” said DickForde.

The COP said it was encouraged by the decision of the new DPP, whose previous selection for the post had been voted by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

“I want to congratulate Mr Roger Gaspard, the DPP, for vindicating and enhancing a sense of trust in a public institution that needed reinforcement in the minds of the population,” said COP deputy leader Prakash Ramadhar.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into UDECOTT and the construction sector, Professor John Uff, says he will submit his final report before Easter.

In an electronic mail sent to reporters, the London-based Uff said he had written President George Maxwell Richards seeking an extension of the deadline in the wake of UDECOTT late filing of written submissions.

“The report of the commissioners is now at an advanced stage of preparation. However it remains the commissioners’ intention to complete their report and to deliver it to His Excellency the President as soon as possible,” The Commission said in a statement on its website.

Last weekend, High Court judge Mira DeanArmorer dismissed a motion by UDECOTT seeking to block the report on the grounds of apparent bias. ““The commissioners...note and welcome the judgment delivered on Friday 5 March dismissing claims of apparent bias by UDECOTT,” the Commission statement added.

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GREEN ZONE During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert.

Rocketing from one bobby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersection agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. And at this blistering time and in this combustible place, he will find the most elusive weapon of all is the truth.

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Mo’Nique Makes Oscar History LOS ANGELES - Mo’Nique became the fifth black woman to win an acting Oscar on Sunday night, 70 years after Hattie McDaniel became the first to do so for “Gone with the Wind.”

The 42-year-old standup comedienne portrayed an abusive mother in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”

“I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all she had to so that I would not have to,” Mo’Nique said in accepting the Oscar.

Her character, Mary Jones, is terrifying and violent and reveals her own brutalized past in the end.

Mo’Nique, who hosts The Mo’Nique Show on BET, was the overwhelming favourite in the run-up to the Oscars, having racked up supporting actress wins at the Golden Globes, Spirit Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, among others.

In the supporting actress category, the only other black Academy Award winners were Jennifer Hudson for “Dreamgirls” (2006) and Whoopi Goldberg for “Ghost” (1990). Halle Berry is the only black Oscar winner in the best actress category, earning the honour for

Beyonce Knowles accepts a proclamation from Borough President Marty Markowitz.

“Monster’s Ball” (2001).

Seven black men have won acting awards, including Denzel Washington, who won best actor for both “Training Day” (2001) and “Glory” (1989).

Antiguan Soca Star, Tizzy Exports Her ‘Wine’ To France St. Johns, Antigua - Tanzania “Tizzy” Sebastian returned to Antigua earlier this week from her first appearance in France where she headlined the Karibbean Bounce Carnival in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux a city known internationally for its wine got its first taste of the “Tizzy Wine” on Saturday, March 6th. “We knew how popular ‘Expose’ was but I was surprised how well known her other hits like ‘Tizzy Wine’ and ‘Bounce’ are in France” said Tizzy’s manager Rohan Hector. Apparently a youtube video of Tizzy demonstrating her signature dance during a radio interview went viral spawning the dance craze in France.

Tizzy and her band El A-Kru have become fixtures on the entertainment circuit throughout the Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora since she received the award for “Best New Female Soca Artist” at the International Soca Awards in 2007. Having already performed in London, Saturday’s performance became Tizzy’s first in continental Europe.

Her popularity in France was clear as she was approached by fans asking for autographs while sightseeing in Bordeaux prior to the show.

“People were running up to me in the streets to show me their ‘Tizzy Wine’” Tizzy answered when asked about her reaction in France. “It was amazing being onstage and having people who do not even speak English, singing our songs word for word.”

The show was a success with an above ca-

Tizzy pacity crowd turning out to see Tizzy’s energetic performance. Forced to improvise when her microphone stopped working in the middle of a song, Tizzy taught the crowd the ‘Tizzy Wine’ until her microphone was replaced. She received several encores, the promoter himself said “she was very good, they loved her.”

“I believe Tizzy will be the first female artist to take soca Global,” says Brad Hemmings, CEO of Caribbean Entertainment Tizzy’s agency that has also booked reggae and soca artists to perform in exotic places such as Russia, Australia and the Middle East.

Tizzy is scheduled to return to other countries in Europe this summer on her De Road Show Tour which included stops in Guadeloupe and St. Thomas prior to France and continues on to Calgary, Canada this week.

Beyonce In Brooklyn, Helping Substance Abusers NEW YORK, NY — The president of Brooklyn has declared Beyonce an official Brooklynite.

Borough President Marty Markowitz said Beyonce is a Brooklynite by marriage and by moxie. Beyonce’s husband, Jay-Z, is from Brooklyn.

The superstar visited the New York City borough Friday for the opening of the Beyonce Cosmetology Center at a residential substance abuse treatment center.

The Phoenix House offers programs for residents in carpentry, building maintenance, computer technology and culinary arts.

Beyonce said she thought it also should have more programs geared toward women.

She said her mother’s Houston salon helped so many people feel good about themselves and better their lives.

Beyonce first spent time at Phoenix House when preparing for the role of Etta James in the 2008 film, Cadillac Records.

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(L-R) Carlyle McKetty, Ed Robinson, Mystic Bowie, Jeff Barnes and Maxine Stowe. (Photo by Ernest Johnson)

HOMO-PROMO

By I. Duane Hines

Jamaican dancehall artists continue their ongoing fued with the gay and lesbian community. While this is nothing new to anyone whose followed the genre for the past decade or longer, the question that no one seems to ask is why. Why do dancehall artists continue to sing about attacking gays?

At a recent forum held in Brooklyn and hosted by the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music, the subject was addressed by a panel made up of artists and reggae insiders. These included music exucutive Maxine Stowe, internationally acclaimed artist Mystic Bowie, singer Ed Robinson, and radio personality Jeff Barnes.

“I asked myself why,” Stowe said, when she saw a developing trend among reggae artiste towards anti-gay lyrics in the early 1990s. “Something deeper must be happening. Because when you hear [these lyrics], you know there is something happening.

You don’t just hear it suh out of the blue.”

Stowe said she met with gay lobbyist, on behalf of record companies.

“I had to try and figure out where these trends are coming from,” she said. “Then I realize. These artists, coming into the urban-American scene, where the gay lifestyle in the Hip-Hop community was increasing at such a pace where they had this thing called the ‘Down Low’ and the ‘Macho Gay’ ... and the ‘Homo Thugs’. It was huge.”

Stowe said she believes that reggae artists may have been propositioned to engage in homosexual activities.

“There must be some challenge to these artists own sexuality why they have to go out and pronounce themselves to be anti-gay, knowing the whole surrounding,” she continued.

“I recognize that they must have been

Gays Use Dancehall Artists To Promote Their Lifestyle

Michelle Arthurton from Reggae AMPS and Earle “Jr. Jam Roc” Lyn, Jr. at the community forum in Brooklyn. (Photo by Ernest Johnson) challenged. I don’t know to what extent.”

According to Jeff Barnes, the artists should be coached on how to react to homosexual advances.

“I’ve seen it happen right here in New York, where you find yourself, where a man might approach you, and coming from Jamaica where you don’t do that, you react,” Barnes said.

“When the artists are with the record companies they need to be schooled on what to say and what not to say.”

According to Stowe, Jamaicans, on a whole, have long accepted gays, however, something changed.

“We understood that people like

Journalist Pat Meschino addressing the panelist. (Photo by Ernest Johnson)

[the late University of the West Indies professor] Rex Nettleford, [Jamaican comedian] Oliver ... there are certain people that we understood were gay, and we accepted it,” Stowe said. “Nobody was stoning them.”

However, Stowe said the climate changed towards gays when child abuse entered the picture.

“The other thing that I began to realize is that a lot of these artist were in orphanages or boys homes and when I looked at what was happening in the gay community in Jamaica ... its a rich-poor thing,” she added.

“The rich gay people were literally preying on the innercity youth, and using the innercity youth like prostitutes. And if I were an artist, and I have seen this or experience it or whatever, I am going to say it. Because the only way something enters music is when it is happening on the ground.”

Sharon Gordon, president of CPR, hints that the executive producers of homophobic records should share in the blame.

“We need to pull away the curtain a little bit and look a little deeper.

If the person who is paying for this record is a bad man, what kind of music do you think he’s going to want his artist to sing ?” Gordon asked.

“And if he is gay, then he’s going to be singing some bad gay tune.”

According to reggae singer Ed Robinson, record companies and producers are using reggae artists to “promote dem own lifestyle.”

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Caribbean And African American Leaders Count Down To

National Census Day The urgent need for better schools, roads, and healthcare in disadvantaged neighborhoods are only a few of the reasons people of color should be eager to complete and return their census form, Melanie L. Campbell told several Black groups assembled at the US Capitol today for The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (The National Coalition) Unity Diaspora Coalition (UDC) 30-Day Countdown to National Census Day and launch of the UDC Poster & Social Media Competition. the UDC’s aggressive 30-day push to remind

“The Black community was hurting before the economy crashed. It’s worse and we’re tired of getting the short end of the stick,” said Campbell, executive director and CEO of The National Coalition, and convener of the UDC. “It’s also time to hold our own community accountable. People keep looking for change, we’re the change.

We have come together to hit the streets to urge our community to answer ten easy questions to receive ten years of benefits.”

Congressman William “Lacy” Clay, chair, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressman Al Green (D-TX), were on hand to stress the importance of getting everyone counted. They pointed out that the census impacts political representation, economic opportunity and helps to identify where action is needed to protect civil rights.

The press conference marks the launch of

the African, African American, Caribbean and Afro-Latino community of the importance of filling out and returning the Census form. The coalition also announced their partnership with the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association for the UDC Poster & Social Media Competition which seeks decrease the undercount of children.

The UDC Poster & Social Media Competition targets school-age children and young adults and challenges the youth to use their artistic talent to express why the Census is important to their community. Contestants can submit posters and other types of artwork, video, audio, poetry etc. For requirements, contest dates and prizes visit www.unitydiaspora.ning.com.

Members of the historic coalition will also help to clarify the widely publicized race question on the census form.

“It’s important that we make sure that immigrants understand that they can provide more

than one answer on question nine,” said Claire A. Nelson Ph.D., founder and president, Institute of Caribbean Studies. “The Black immigrant population has grown 47% since 2000. When you consider that census count will help allocate more than $400 billion a year in federal money to communities, the sense of urgency to be counted becomes apparent,” Nelson added.

The Unity Diaspora Coalition is advising Black immigrant communities that don’t see themselves represented on question nine of the form, to check the appropriate box for their race, then fill in their country of origin on the line below. A poster size sample of question nine was displayed at the press conference illustrating a check in the box for “Black, African Am, or Negro” and Jamaican filled in on the “other” line below.

Benjamin Afrifa, chairman of African Federation adds, “In addition to the fact that many immigrants cling to national origins rather than racial identities, immigrants are often afraid to answer questions for the government. Our coalition is made up of trusted voices in the community that can convince residents that it is illegal for any of the information from the census questionnaire to be shared with any third party including immigration.”

The UDC is working with grassroots orga-

nizations to get hard-to-count communities in nine cities counted.

Over the next 30-days local sites will host census countdown press conferences, town hall meetings and other census events. Cities are: Houston, TX; Jackson, MS; Gary, IN; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; and Miami, FL. Another important issue is where to count prisoners. Although most state constitutions and election law statutes say a prison cell is not a residence, Census Bureau practices count incarcerated people as residents of the prison location. Makani Themba-Nixon, executive director, The Praxis Project said, ‘’The Bureau’s new data product will be helpful in assisting state and local governments to avoid prison-based gerrymandering because they won’t have lack of data as an excuse.’’

The National Coalition’s Unity Diaspora Coalition partners include: The National Council of Negro Women, The Praxis Project, APRI, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National Urban League, African Federation, Institute of Caribbean Studies, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Black Leadership Forum, NAACP, Skinner Leadership Institute, National Conference of Black Mayors, UniverSoul Circus, Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Black Youth Vote, Black Women’s Roundtable and others.

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Florida.............................................. 168 Trinidad............................................ 258 Kingston.......................................... 216 Montego Bay................................... 216 Haiti ............................................298 London............................................. 237 St. Lucia........................................... 378 Barbados......................................... 258 St. Vincent....................................... 480 George Town................................... 458 Grenada.......................................... 602 Taxes not included. Restrictions apply. All rates are subject to change.

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As You Age, Better Health Means Better Sex

By Amanda Gardner Better health translates into better sex lives, with healthy people more likely to engage in sex (and good sex at that) and to express an interest in sex, new research finds.

This association held firm into middle-age and later life as well, according to the study by University of Chicago researchers.

The authors of the study, published in the March 10 issue of BMJ, also created a novel measure called “sexually active life expectancy.” According to this new measure, men aged 55 could expect another 15 years of sex while women of the same age could expect 10.6 more active years.

Overall, however, more men reported a satisfying sex life than women, a chasm that widened as people aged.

The findings shine light on a little discussed topic.

“The really important thing about this study is just that it was done,” said Dr. Eva Ritvo, vice chair of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “People don’t look at sexual activity in a scientific way very often but it’s so very fundamental to our existence. The focus has always been on illness, but health is about well-being, looking at sexual functioning as an important part of well-being.”

Dr. Margaret E. Wierman, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver, said the new study “points out that, over time, as a society women and men are becoming more comfortable talking about sex. Having a good sex life is critical to their overall quality of life.”

But the fact that men are doing better than women is something that needs attention, Ritvo stated. “Why should men be having better sex than women? Viagra came out for men. Where’s the female equivalent? For whatever reason women are not as satisfied as men and that needs to be addressed,” she said.

The study authors looked at two different samples of people, one involving over 3,000 adults aged 25 to 74, and another with more than 3,000 adults aged 57 to 85. An equal number of men and women were in each group.

Men were more likely to report positive experiences with sex than women. This gender gap was most noticeable among 75-to-85-year olds, with 38.9 percent of men, compared to 16.8 percent of women, reporting being sexually active. Almost 71 percent of men in this age group reported a good sex life, versus only half of the women.

And more men today are reporting an interest in sex than in 2000.

“This probably is related to new medications in therapy, so now men who before never could even think about having sex can have sex,” Weirman said.

Also, she added, “as people age, the unhealthy men die off so these are the healthiest men in that cohort.”

Study lead author Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau, director of the University of Chicago’s Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine, said the “major reason why the picture looks better for men than women is that women tend to outlive their marriages and relationships, so there are more women in the adult population without partners. But if you look at women who have partners, the proportion who say they’re sexually active is about the same as men who have a partner.”

On the other hand, men’s sex lives do seem to suffer more from poorer health.

“At age 55, men have, on average, 15 years of sexually active life expectancy and women about 11 years,” Lindau explained. “Men who are in excellent or good health gain an additional five to seven years. What this says is that men benefit more from good health. Men in poor health lose more years of sexually active life expectancy than do women.”

People with partners were more likely to be having sex and more men than women reported having part-

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Big First Trimester Weight Gain Ups Diabetes Risk

By Anne Harding

NEW YORK, NY – Women who gain weight too quickly during the first three months of pregnancy are more prone to develop pregnancy-related diabetes, new research shows.

“We found the association was stronger among women who were overweight at the start of pregnancy,” Dr. Monique M. Hedderson of Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in Oakland, California, noted in an email to Reuters Health.

This study, she added, suggests that weight gain in early pregnancy may be a modifiable risk factor for pregnancy-related, or “gestational,” diabetes.

Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman’s pancreas can no longer keep up with the body’s growing demands for the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin. Left untreated, high blood sugar in pregnancy can cause the fetus to grow abnormally large, increasing the risk of injury to baby and mother during delivery. While a woman’s glucose (sugar) metabolism usually returns to normal after her pregnancy is over, she runs a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on.

Women typically undergo an oral glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy to

assess whether their body is producing enough insulin. To date, Hedderson and her colleagues note in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, just three small studies have looked at weight gain before this test and gestational diabetes risk.

The Institute of Medicine published guidelines on healthy weight gain in pregnancy in 2009, but stated that there is not enough evidence to say whether how much weight a woman gains influences her likelihood of developing diabetes during pregnancy.

To investigate, Hedderson and her team compared 345 women who developed gestational diabetes to 800 women who did not, all of whom delivered their babies between 1996 and 1998 and had oral glucose tolerance tests at 24 to 28 weeks’ gestation.

Women who gained weight the most slowly during their first trimester (less than a third of a kilogram per week, or just over half a pound) had the lowest risk of gestational diabetes.

Risk went up as a woman’s rate of first trimester weight gain increased; for women gaining between 0.3 and 0.4 kilograms (0.6 to 0.9 pounds), diabetes risk was about 40 percent higher; for women who gained more than 0.4 kilograms (0.9 pounds), risk increased 74 percent.

The Institute of Medicine’s weight gain recommendations are based on a woman’s body mass index (a standard measure of weight in relation to height used to gauge whether someone is overweight); for example, normalweight women should gain between 25 and 35 pounds total during pregnancy, at the rate of about a pound a week, according to the IOM; underweight women should gain more, and overweight and obese women should gain less.

Hedderson and her colleagues found that women who exceeded these recommendations were at 50 percent higher risk of gestational diabetes.

“The new IOM guidelines are the commonly accepted and used weight gain recommendations,” Hedderson said.

“However, talking to women about their weight is a sensitive topic and not all OB/GYNs counsel on weight gain during pregnancy, or they wait until they see that the woman has gained too much wait before discussing it.”

She urges doctors to “talk to their patients early in their pregnancy about the appropriate weight gain, especially during the first trimester, and help women monitor their weight gain. Women should check in with their health care providers at the start of their pregnancy to plan for healthy weight gain throughout their pregnancy.”

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How Can I Know If My Child Has A Learning Disability?

Q. I have a two year old daughter who appears to be developing on schedule.

However, I am concerned that she may develop a learning disability because some family members on my husband’s side have learning disabilities. How can IV know if she has a learning disability?

A. Learning to identify the early warning signs of learning disabilities and getting the necessary help early on, can be key to a child’s future. According to an article, “Early Warning Signs of Learning Disabilities,” found in the LDOnline.org website, 1 in 7 children are affected by a learning disability. These statistics are reported by the National Institutes of Health. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the better his/her chances of succeeding in school and life. Parents are encouraged to understand the warning signs of a learning disability from as early as pre-school because the first years in school are especially crucial for young children.

Many children and adults with learning disabilities go through life undiagnosed with a hidden handicap. Not realizing that they have a learning disability, they internalize their difficulties as being something ‘wrong’ with them. This can lead to poor selfesteem, failure to thrive in school, difficulty in the workplace, and reluctance to pursue careers beyond high school because they don’t think that they are smart enough.

With early intervention services, many children go on to learn the necessary skills needed for coping with their disability and learn strategies to compensate for their disability. The early warning signs, from the aforementioned article, include: Grades K-4 Preschool Slow to learn the connection between letters and sounds.

Late talking Confuses basic words (run, eat) etc.

Pronunciation problems Makes consistent reading and writing errors ex. b/d, m/w, felt/left, etc.

Slow vocabulary growth Transposes number sequences and confuses arithmetic signs +,-, x, = Difficulty rhyming words Slow to recall facts Trouble learning numbers, letters, days of the week Slow to learn new skills Extremely restless and easily distracted Impulsiveness, lack of planning Trouble interacting with peers Unstable pencil grip Inability to follow directions or routines Trouble learning about time Poor coordination, prone to accidents A two year old child can walk and run, follow simple directions, produce basic 2 and 3 word sentences, learn new words everyday, explore everything, can listen to a short story for a few minutes, can operate toys and gadgets on his/her age level, loves to sing songs, is beginning to engage in representational play, ex. pretends a pencil is an airplane and flies it, and is very possessive of objects. His/her favorite words are “No” and “Mine.” If this sounds like your daughter, continue to read to her and ensure that your pediatrician monitors her developmental milestones.

If you think that your daughter is behind in these steps, insist that your pediatrician refer you to an agency that specializes in child development and have her evaluated.

Lisa-Anne Ray-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 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 by visiting her website at www.AskLisaAnne.com.

Send email to Lisa-Anne Ray Byers at speechlrb@yahoo.com

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SPORTS Bolt Tops The World Again

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Jamaica’s track megastar Usain Bolt has been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second straight time, after continuing his amazing blitz on sprinting last year.

Second-half substitute Alhyssa Villalta capitalized on Haitian goalkeeper Alexandra Coby’s blunder in the 57th minute to spark Costa Rica a 2-0 victory Friday night, sending the host into the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship.

Emotional Haiti Fall To Heavy 9-0 Defeat ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – Earthquake-battered Haiti suffered a heavy 9-0 drubbing at the hands of the United States in their opening match of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship here Wednesday.

Lindsay Horan struck four times and Taylor Smith added a brace to condemn Haiti to a thrashing, almost two months after a massive earthquake devastated the northern Caribbean nation.

Haitian coach James Morisset said the tragedy had left a huge emotional scar on the players and said the buildup to the tournament had been trying.

“It was very difficult with most of the players having lost parents, family and friends,” Morisset lamented.

“During the game and practices, they’ve been crying and they’ll do their best to give Haiti a smile in this tournament.”

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook the country on January 12, wrecking buildings and leaving an estimated death toll of 270 000.

The majority of the executive of the Haitian Football Federation died in the quake but president Yves Jean Bart survived.

In Wednesday’s game, a clearly affected Haiti struggled with possession and lacked attacking prowess against the fluent Americans.

Alexandra Doll opened the scoring after two minutes and Smith added the first of her double in the 13th minute, before Cari Roccaro netted a third three minutes later.

Haiti were fortunate to be only 0-3 down at the break but Morgan Brian’s 52nd strike opened the floodgates in the second half as Horan pumped in the last four in the 66th, 71st, 88th and 90th minute.

In the other match played, a Raquel Cedeño’s hattrick inspired hosts Costa Rica to a crushing 7-0 victory over Cayman Islands.

St Lucia Stage Comeback To Get Past Antigua T JOHN’S, Antigua – St Lucia came from behind after conceding an early goal to defeat Antigua and Barbuda 2-1 in their Caribbean Football Union Women’s World Cup, Group C, qualifier at the Antigua Recreation Ground Wednesday.

After forward Argell London had given the Antiguans the lead in the second minute, the St Lucians hit back with two goals within the space of four minutes before half-time to secure their win.

Allaisa Marquiz equalised in the 40th minute before Vanessa Jean put St Lucia ahead a minute before the break.

Bolt repeated his triple gold medal triumph of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the sprint double and sprint relay triumph at the 2009 IAAF World Championship in Berlin, Germany.

“For me it was even better because I had a car accident and bounced back and it shows me that with hard work and determination, anything is possible,” Bolt said about his repeat Laureus honour.

American tennis ace Serena Williams was named World Sportswoman of the Year, Brawn GP Formula One, World Team of the Year: Brawn’s F1 driver Jenson Button World Breakthrough of the Year, and tennis star Kim Clijsters the World Comeback of the Year award.

Maintaining his total dominance of men’s sprint events, Bolt raced undefeated in 2009 and at the Berlin World Championship, he set stunning new world record times of 9.58 seconds (100 metres) and 19.19 (200 metres) before helping Jamaica claim gold in the 4x100-metre relay.

The 23-year-old Bolt is now the first man in history to hold the World and Olympic 100 and 200-metre titles at the same time.

“I have got to the stage where I know what winning is and how to keep winning and I want to keep running, breaking records and winning championships,” said the 6-foot-5-inch Bolt.

The colossal Bolt had already earned repeat Athlete of the Year honours from several other agencies and institutions for 2009 – including the Latin American and Caribbean Male Athlete of the Year; the International Sports Press Association’s 2009 Athlete of the Year, the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, and BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

Among those Bolt defeated for the Sportsman award were fellow track and field athlete Kenenisa Bekele, tennis star Roger Federer, cycling’s Alberto Contador, football ace Lionel Messi, and motor cycling’s Valentino Rossi.

Williams picked up her second Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award, seven years after her first, following Grand Slam victories in Australia and at Wimbledon.

It was her third Laureus Award in total, after also winning the Comeback Award in 2007.

Other candidates for the Sportswoman of the Year honour included two track and field stars – Jamaica’s World and Olympic 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser and Sanya Richards, the Jamaica-born American World 400-metre champion.

Skiing star Lindsey Vonn and

Usain Bolt poses with his Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in Kingston, Jamaica for the Laureus World Sports Awards 2010 held at Emirates Palace Hotel on March 10 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. swimming’s Federica Pellegrini and Britta Steffen were the other contenders for the women’s award.

Motorsport’s F1 was a huge winner as Britain’s Button took the Breakthrough of the Year Award following his first World Drivers’ Championship triumph, competing for Team of the Year Brawn GP. Clijsters was a deserving winner of the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award after her remarkable return to tennis in 2009, winning the US Open Grand Slam title in only her third tournament following a twoyear absence.

There was a warm reception at the ceremony for courageous South

African swimmer Natalie du Toit, who is breaking down the barriers between disabled and able-bodied sport, as she received the Laureus Disability Award.

Australia’s three-time World Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore was named Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year. Laureus Academy Member Nawal El Moutawakel received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for her work for women in sport and the International Olympic Committee.

And the Laureus Sport for Good Award went to American basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo, for his charitable work in his native Congo.

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George O’Brien

Fast Bowler Walks Free As Stun Gun Charge Is Dropped HAMILTON, Bermuda – Former national fast bowler George O’Brien has walked free from court after a charge he used a prohibited stun gun to attack a love rival was dismissed.

Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess offered no evidence against 24-year-old O’Brien, who has not played for the national team since injuring a knee during Bermuda’s failed attempt to reach the 2011 World Cup in Asia at last April’s qualifiers in South Africa.

Last May, O’Brien pleaded not guilty when he was charged in Magistrates’ Court with using the Taser stun gun against 39year-old Tahir Shawki, resulting in grievous bodily harm with burns to his body.

Defence lawyer Kenville Savoury said then that the incident was related to “matters of the heart”, and suggested that 39year-old Shawki was unwilling to press the case further.

But Senior Magistrate Archie Warner contended: “Possession of a Taser in this time is definitely a serious offence.”

O’Brien was originally due to stand trial last August.

SOLUTION to Sudoku, P18

Kemar Roach of the West Indies

Roach Calling On Gibson’s Knowledge To Help Raise Game KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Rookie West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach says he has been working closely with new coach Ottis Gibson to improve several facets of his game.

Roach, who has recently emerged as one of the region’s brightest pace prospects, has been leading the West Indies attack in the series against Zimbabwe and has already taken seven wickets in the three games played.

“Since the new coach has come on board he has been showing me a few new things such as variations and trying to move the ball both ways,” the 21-year-old said.

“I have been trying them out and to create new ways of working the batsmen out and giving myself that extra edge. One thing I have discussed with the coach is getting that early wicket and pushing the opposition early in the innings.”

Roach has already set tongues wagging in his fledgling career. In five Tests, he has snared 20 wickets at an

average of 29 and has taken 25 scalps at 20 in ODIs. He was a huge hit in Australia with his searing pace but says he has had to make adjustments on the slower Caribbean pitches.

“When I bowled in Australia the pitches were more suited to fast bowling but here in the Caribbean they are a bit slower and lower,” Roach said.

“What I have been trying is keeping a tight line and control and force a mistake from the batsmen.”

Roach, who will jet off to the Indian Premier League immediately following the end of the series, said he was looking to steadily lift his performances for West Indies.

“I am really enjoying my cricket at the moment and I believe I am getting better as a fast bowler and as an overall cricketer,” he pointed out.

“As a team we are all in it together and we are supporting each other. We have been playing well as a unit. I have not had a big bag of wickets so far but I looking for a big performance around the corner.”

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Recipes

Banana Bread INGREDIENTS: 1 cup sugar 4 ounces butter 2 eggs 3 very ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour

METHOD: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour a 3-x-5x-8-inch loaf pan.

In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and the butter. One at a time, add the eggs. Add the bananas and the walnuts and mix until everything is well combined.

In a second bowl, sift together the baking soda, salt, and flour. Mix the moist ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake in the oven for 2 hours or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out free of moist batter. If the top of the loaf starts to get too dark, cover the pan with aluminum foil.

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DINING

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High Quality Food Doesn’t Always Mean High Price Tag (ARA) - In the current economic climate, budgets are tight and families are trying to make every penny count. A recent survey by the Midwest Dairy Council revealed that “more than half of consumers say price, not nutrition, is the most important factor when grocery shopping in this economic climate.”

It’s important for your family’s health - and your pocketbook - to know that it is possible to buy nutritious foods and still keep costs low. While some cheaper foods have a low price tag in the short-term, their low nutrition levels can cost your family in the long run.

Good health comes from a balanced diet, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food pyramid has changed over the years, but its central focus remains on natural foods. Fruits and vegetables top the list of what you need to eat to stay healthy, but many people have the misperception that these foods are the hardest to afford.

In honor of March being National Frozen Food Month, everyone should be aware that high quality food doesn’t have to break the bank. Pre-packed frozen fruits, like those from Dole, retain their nutritional value because they’re picked and frozen at the height of freshness, so they offer a solution to incorporating healthier foods into your family’s diet. And in the winter, when fresh fruit can be more expensive and harder to find, all of your favorites are readily available at a great value.

Worries about wasting fresh produce are particularly strong because unprepared fruits and vegetables don’t have a long shelf life. However, a trip to the

freezer aisle can eliminate that problem. It’s a simple step, but one that can save time and money - buy frozen fruits and vegetables. The costs are lower than buying from the produce department and there’s no worry that the products will go bad.

It’s not necessary to spend a fortune on feeding your family well, but it is necessary for them to get proper nutrition.

Simple solutions like buying frozen fruit, such as Dole frozen fruit, allow families to keep budgets in check without sacrificing health.

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SPORTS

BOWLER WALKS FREE AS STUN GUN CHARGE P. 25 IS DROPPED