The AfroNews No. 28. 29th November - 5th December 2011

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Open up and speak about sex with children

Nick Clegg hits at racial ceiling in banks and sport page 3

New panel to hear black chef’s case against New CollegeOxford

THE GUIDE How to use Company Voluntary Arrangements to save your business page 13

page 4

Interview with Hosanna Bankhead, HIV Health Trainer with Terrence Higgins Trust pages 10 - 11

Why don’t our Black MPs speak out about race inequality?

Baloji’s “Kinshasa Succursale” unique blend of diverse music styles

page 18

Government to freeze your pension if you retire abroad

page 17

page 7

Get your latest immigration news on Your news, your guides, your concerns, your beauty, your recipes, your people.

This one is all about you !

www.foreignersinuk.co.uk

Western Union joins forces with global music artists to make people’s days better.

Tell us how you would make someone’s day better and you could win the equivalent of $1000 to make it happen.

Log on to worldofbetters.com

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

WHERE ACTION IS

Feisty new version of Cinderella on stage at Chickenshed Chickenshed Theatre’s Christmas production is a feisty new version of Cinderella.

CINDERELLA

The spectacular new version of Cinderella takes all the familiar and traditional elements of this much-loved fairy tale, and serves them up with a modern twist. A fantastic musical extravaganza with a cast of hundreds, this unforgettable festive show will have you dancing in the aisles!

Don’t miss a chance of following this feisty heroine on her perilous journey to the Palace.

Watch the battle unfold as her evil Stepmother reveals her cunning plan to tear down the Arches and rid the world of those pesky Misfits.

The Arches are owned by the handsome Prince so a marriage has to be arranged - which one of the Stepmother’s offspring will catch his eye?

There is no time to waste – Cinderella

Venue: Chickenshed, The Rayne Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PE Dates: From 30th November 2011 to 14th January 2012 Ticket prices: From £11 - £20 Suitable for age 5+.

Running time approx 2hrs (including an interval)

Access performances

must win The Reality TV Show and the Prince’s heart! But midnight is looming....

Will Cinderella go to the Bollywood Ball, will she win the love of her Prince

“Children Voices” Play on children’s view of August riots showing in London “Children Voices” is the title of a new play by the Stylisters Children and Youth Voluntary performing arts group.

The 20 minute drama centres on how the children felt about the August riots and their hopes for the future.

The play will be performed in the Northumberland Park School, Worcester Avenue, London N.17, behind Tottenham Hotspur Football Ground (theatre).

It will start at 6.45pm, followed by a discussion between

and will the shoe fit?

All these and other questions will be answered at Chickenshed’s dazzling new and original Christmas production.

Sign Language will be integrated into every performance of Cinderella.

Audio Described performances Fri 6 Jan 7.30pm and Sat 7 Jan 3.30pm Captioned performances Thu 22 Dec 7.30pm, Fri 6 Jan 7.30pm and Sat 7 Jan 3.30pm www.chickenshed.org.uk

Supa Dupa Fly at Jazz Café 90s Hip-Hop/R&B 1994-2004 Special!

Hyped 90s Hip-hop and R&B night, Supa Dupa Fly has quickly become the monthly necessity in any 90s Hip-hop lovers diary. Since launching in March, the events have gone from strength to strength.

the audience and the actors.

Admission: £2.00 for adults; £1.00 for children. Please prebook your tickets in advance by telephoning Lorna on 07948320299.

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Named after Missy’s first Album, the music is only 90s Hip-Hop and R&B, so expect to hear Dr Dre, Snoop Dog, KRS One, Wu-Tang, Nas, Bigge, Tupac, A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, LL Cool J, Missy and all the hottest 90s R&B joints from the likes of R Kelly, Donell Jones, Montell Jordan, TLC, Destiny’s Child and loads more good stuff.

DJ Big Ted will be hosting & spinning the tunes. He is one of the pioneers of Hip-hop in the UK and one of the ‘chubby kids’ who hosted the iconic show in Kiss 100 from 1999-2008. Since leaving Kiss, he’s been on the road with Ty and hosting concerts for Hip-hop legends Epmd, Pete Rock & CL, Q-Bert, KRS One & Raekwon.

And expect DJ – 279, a MOBO-nominated ambassador for all that is good about the state of Hip-Hop. Ash Catch’Em will also perform live. From classic east coast Hip-hop, to dirty south chopped & screwed, Ash also slips in a Jazz element to his sound while at the same time maintaining his grimy UK attitude.

There are also live sets from two of the hottest bands of the moment; Deja & Juliyaa, as well as DJ sets from Emily Rawson & Kojak.

These parties always reach capacity early – please arrive at 10.30 to avoid disappointment &

buy a ticket in advance.

Send 90s Hip-Hop/R&B tune requests to itssupadupafly@ gmail.com

SUPA DUPA FLY The Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7PG Friday 9th December 2011 Time: 10.30pm-3am Queue jump advance tickets: £6 from jazzcafe. co.uk

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COMMUNITY

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

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Nick Clegg hits at racial ceiling in banks and sport Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has asked banks and football clubs to offer equal opportunities to the country’s ethnic minorities.

Delivering the Scarman Lecture, hosted by the People Can charity in Brixton, Mr. Clegg said the banks were discriminatory in the way they distributed loans and set interest rates. Making an assessment of the race debate in Britain since the Brixton riots in 1981, Mr. Clegg said a great deal has been achieved in the last 30 years. “We have moved forward on a number of fronts: legal rights – where we have seen the most success. Political representation is better – though of course there is still a very, very long way to go.”

Mr. Clegg admitted that his party was still a long way to go in achieving equality on political representation. He described himself as a leader of “a political party that is still too male and too pale,” adding that they were working very hard to fix the problem. He, however, didn’t say what they were doing to solve the problem.

“While these battles are ongoing,” Mr. Clegg said, “there is one front on which the war on inequality has barely even begun: Economic opportunity - the next frontier for race equality.” He said there was urgent need “to lift a lid on the injustices hardwired into our economy.”

Mr. Clegg paid tribute to Scarman for transforming the race debate in the 1980s, and shining “a light where people didn’t want to look.” Scarman “exposed the fundamental inequalities built-in to the system. It’s time we resurrected the Scarman spirit to tackle the lack of opportunities for our ethnic communities. The barriers built into everyday British life. The real lesson

from the last thirty years is it is not enough for a society to reject bigotry.

Real equality is not just the absence of prejudice. It is the existence of fairness and opportunity too.”

W h i l e appreciating the efforts of the previous government to promote race equality, Mr. Clegg said “their answer to inequality, though benign, was too narDeputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg row: they attempted to they care about their ability.” deliver equality solely through the state.”

He added: “In football, fans adore their He said that achieving greater fairness heroes for their talent and character, whethin the public sector was important but not er they are black or white. And when Sepp enough. “The state has been used to hide Blatter dares trivialise racism on the pitch, the sins of the market - and the veil is now his comments are rightly met with public being lifted. If you assume the state has all outcry.” He, however, pointed out that the answers, you absolve other parts of our equality was still out of sight in sports. society from playing their part. You treat “How many black managers are there in black and ethnic minority communities as the Premier League? How many black or passive recipients of state help, rather than ethnic minority chief executives or senior empowering them as strong individuals,” executives? The answer is zero,” Mr. Clegg Mr. Clegg said. said. “If you are a white player you have a Talking about the progress made in one in fifty chance of moving into managesports, the Deputy Prime Minister said: ment. If you are a black player? One in five “When Premier League teams recruit play- hundred.” ers now, they don’t care about their race, Mr. Clegg said the government sup-

ported the Equalities Act. “I want to send out a clear signal today: the Equalities Act is a cornerstone of the UK’s rights architecture. It isn’t there for employers to pick and choose from. And it is not going away.”

Mr. Clegg wondered why members of some ethnic communities who want to start business but don’t always succeed.

“We know, for example, that 35% of individuals of Black African origin say they want to start a business. But only 6% actually do.”

Mr. Clegg cited evidence showing that Banks have been discriminatory against some ethnic minorities. Firms owned by Black Africans for instance, “Have been four times more likely than so-called “White firms” to be denied loans outright,” Mr. Clegg said, adding that “Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Black Caribbean and Black African owned businesses have been subject to higher interest rates than White and Indian owned enterprises.”

He reminded Britain’s banks of their responsibility of helping Britain build a strong and dynamic economy. “Unleashing black and ethnic minority talent is their duty too. Whether that means reaching out to these communities through better advice and targeted events. Whether it means ensuring that they themselves are not putting any barriers in the way.”

He announced new research, led by Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, on bank lending to black and ethnic minority businesspeople. The research will look at the barriers preventing black and ethnic minority groups from accessing loans.

“We have to work out what is going wrong, and then we have to fix it.”

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a

British Muslims more patriotic than the average - survey Muslims are more patriotic than the average Briton according to a new survey. A massive 83 percent of Muslims said they were proud to be British compared with the national average of 79 percent.

And less than a third of Muslims believe Britain’s best days are behind her, making them more optimistic compared to the overall population, with just under half of the 2,000 people surveyed by think-tank DEMOS saying the good days are over.

The survey forms part of the report by Max Wind-Cowie and Thomas Gregory called “Place for Pride”, which found that: “This optimism in British Muslims is significant as - combined with their high score for pride in being British - it runs counter to a prevailing narrative about Muslim dissatisfaction with

and in the UK. While it is true that there are significant challenges to integration for some in the British Muslim community – and justified concern at the levels of radicalism and extremism in some British Muslim communities – overall British Muslims are more likely to be both patriotic and optimistic about Britain than are the white British community.”

There is an endless list of Muslims who are flying the flag high for Britain with the likes of World champion boxer Amir Khan, politicians such as Sayeeda Warsi and Sadiq Khan MP and businessman James Caan. While most British Muslims don’t need surveys or reports to tell the rest of the nation how much love and pride they have for where they live, it is always good every now and then to reaffirm the statement.

By OBV

“This optimism in British Muslims is significant as combined with their high score for pride in being British - it runs counter to a prevailing narrative about Muslim dissatisfaction with and in the UK. While it is true that there are significant challenges to integration for some in the British Muslim community – and justified concern at the levels of radicalism and extremism in some British Muslim communities – overall British Muslims are more likely to be both patriotic and optimistic about Britain than are the white British community” “Place for Pride” Report

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

COMMUNITY

New panel to hear black chef’s case against New College-Oxford Gregory Lewis, a black chef accusing New College, Oxford University of racial discrimination and unfair dismissal, has won an appeal against a decision by the Employment Tribunal rejecting his case. The case will now be heard by a new panel at the Employment Tribunal.

While Mr. Lewis was away on the course, and still acting head chef as far as he knew, the college hired a new white head chef without even letting him know.

It later on emerged during the legal proceedings that the original interview notes contained rude comments about Mr. Lewis, clearly based on racial stereotyping. They claimed he had “a slave mental-

Mr. Lewis worked as the second chef at Oxford University colleges for about 18 years. He “New College were determined spent eight of those years working to get rid of the only black chef at New College, Oxford until he in their kitchen” applied for promotion.

Mr. Lewis was interviewed for the role of head chef. At that time, Mr. Gregory Lewis, as second chef, Mr. Lewis held the The black chef accusing New highest position of any member of catering staff at New College. He College of racial discriminawas even an acting head chef for tion and unfair dismissal over a year.

Mr. Lewis who all along was convinced he qualified for the post, only discovered that he did not meet ity and unable to follow instructions or the job specification during the hearing for understand what they were asking of him,” unfair dismissal and racial discrimination Mr. Jasper says, adding that such claims at Employment Tribunal in Reading. “The were being about “a chef that had won catering manager admitted, under oath, many awards during his time working at that I never would have got the promotion Oxford University colleges and received for that reason. All the other candidates many compliments in writing from imporwere white and met the specification,” Mr. tant guests.”

Lewis says.

New College management then In any case after the interviews, none “embarked on a series of actions designed was appointed the head chef. Mr. Lee to intimidate Gregory and force him out of Jasper, a race equality campaigner who has his job. In the end he was too ill to work been assisting Mr. Lewis says that New and they dismissed him on grounds of College management advised Mr. Lewis to medical capability,” says Mr. Jasper. go on a course to better his chances of getA campaign set up by Mr. Lewis, Mr. ting the still vacant post.

Jasper and others submitted Freedom of “They did not offer him the opportunity Information requests which uncovered the to go on this course before the interview, fact that many Oxford colleges were floutbut during cross examination, the catering ing equality law and were, in some cases, manager said that he ‘would not have arrogantly unconcerned about it. “EHRC, employed anyone who did not have the on receiving the information provided by qualification already ‘unless they were a the campaign, wrote to Oxford University’s Jamie Oliver’, so the interview was a farce Vice Chancellor telling him to remind unless they believed that a black chef Oxford colleges, which are autonomous, might at any time morph into a white TV of their duties under equality law,” says chef!” says Mr. Jasper.

Mr. Jasper.

Mr. Lewis also wonders why he was Mr. Lewis could not understand why interviewed for the job in the first place. the Employment Tribunal in Reading dis-

missed his case after conducting it in a way that seemed to practically ignore the evidence they had presented. He also could not understand why the ruling overlooked lies, inconsistencies and a total disregard for equality legislation on the part of New College.

When Mr. Lewis received the judgement from the Employment Tribunal in writing, he was shocked to find that the judge had disregarded what he had said about racial stereotyping.

The Judge said: “I still do not believe that there is a stereotypical view of Black Caribbean males being “lazy and stupid”.

They may have a more “relaxed” approach to life than other ethnic groups but that is not in any way a derogatory assessment and in any event was not in reality a relevant feature in this case.”

At the London Employment Appeal Preliminary Hearing on 14th October 2011, the judge and panel were not impressed

that the Reading Employment Tribunal judge and panel appeared to have little understanding of racial stereotyping.

In the EAT judgement, the Judge said: We agree “that here the judge has at least given the appearance of holding a stereotypical view, in that he takes a view that a more relaxed approach to life is exhibited by Black Caribbean males, than by other groups. In our judgment, that is inappropriate. It is put as an allegation of actual bias but we prefer to regard it, and we uphold it, as being an allegation of apparent bias.

“Given that there was evidence as to stereotypes, it ought to have been dealt with and not been the substitution of a view by the judge.”

The EAT Judge was also concerned that the case appeared to have been tried as an unfair dismissal case with little regard to the racial discrimination side of it.

Mr. Lewis is determined to prove his case. “I have proof that New College management lied under oath and that they have no real commitment to Equal Opportunities whatsoever,” he says.

He also says that it later on became clear to him that through their actions, “New College were determined to get rid of the only black chef in their kitchen.”

“Nothing will change until we insist that the laws against racial discrimination are upheld. Black people suffering racial discrimination at work should not be experiencing it all over again in the Employment Tribunals and courts that are their only recourse,” says Mr. Jasper.

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a

Seven arrested over Stephen Ojerinola’s murder in Eltham Seven people have so far been arrested in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Stephen Ojerinola.

Stephen Ojerinola’s body was buried in the back yard of a property in Eltham

Police discovered Stephen’s body buried in the garden of the semi-detached house in Lynstead Gardens, Eltham, on 20th November.

A post mortem revealed that he died of stab wounds.

A 31-year-old man was

arrested in south-east London on 26th November, on suspicion of murder and perverting the course of justice.

He was taken to a south London police station and bailed to return on a date in January 2012.

Previously Lee Davies, of Chiswell Square, SE3 and William Regan of Lynsted Gardens, SE9 were charged on 24th November with the murder of Stephen.

Regan has also been charged with two counts of residential burglary.

Both appeared in custody via virtual court at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on

25th November.

“Our inquiries so far lead me to believe that Stephen was last seen in and around the Eltham area in April,” the Met’s Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said. “I am very interested to hear from anyone who may have seen or spoken to him and can help me to build up a picture of his lifestyle and movements just prior to the last time he was seen alive.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact call 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

COMMUNITY

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Many young people reluctant to contact police

In 2007, a group of young people aged between 13 and 23 years in north London decided to take a stand to make positive changes to their community. This led to the formation of HYPE (Haringey Young People Empowered).

Seeing how knife and gun crime was affecting their estates, HYPE decided that their first summit would explore the causes and effects of gun and knife crime, and look forward to solutions. Over the years, subsequent engagements have seen young people work alongside the police in football tournaments, aimed at breaking down postcode rivalries and strengthening communal ties in Haringey.

Kwabena Oduro Ayim, a voluntary executive member of HYPE said: “In 2009, HYPE launched a Hoddie Campaign called the ‘HYPE Hoodie’. The purpose of this campaign was to use these brightly coloured hoodies to not only raise awareness of HYPE’s presence in Haringey, but to also question the current issues we face with the postcode barriers.”

Explaining the way street wars affect young people, Kwabena said: “A young person involved in street wars ironically imprisons themselves within a confined space. It creates a paranoid environment and this paranoia also spills onto young people who are not necessarily involved.

Some result to arming themselves for protection, some ensure they restrict their movement, while others use other means of transport that are deemed safer such as mini cabs, thus the most simplest of tasks become a headache. It creates a warped culture of ignorance and it empowers those who benefit from these local tensions i.e. elder drug dealers.”

This year HYPE used their annual foot-

ball tournament as an opportunity to gauge politics’ meetings to engage with youths. young people’s thoughts and feelings sur- “Young people funnily enough have the rounding this summer’s riots. The event strongest notion of community in some was well received, with 300 residents respects, and street politics is just everyday attending. From this encouragement, issues their community incurs. Street poliHYPE went on to embark on a post riot tics refers to any dilemma that occurs Haringey consultation, surveying young within environments where young people people about what they felt were the root dwell or socialize; outside the school, their causes of the riots, and how to prevent the classroom and/or work timetable,” events reoccurring.

Kwabena said.

HYPE’s findings are due to be pubEarly 2012 will see HYPE tackling lished soon. Sharing his personal feelings gang culture, by addressing the issue of the on the matter, Kwabena said: “I feel that increasing numbers of young women that quite a lot of young people who are not join gangs. involved in any form of crime are reluctant To find out more about the organisato contact the police when they are in tion, check out www.hypeyouth.tumblr. trouble. This is a major issue; a lot of com. young people are suffering in silence.

They feel they can’t turn to their parents,

By Chinwe Ojielo schoolteachers or the police.

What does it mean when a “A young person involved in street wars ironirape victim says cally imprisons themselves within a confined “I ain’t going to feds, they don’t space. It creates a paranoid environment and this paranoia also spills onto young people give a f***”, or a knife crime who are not necessarily involved. Some result victim “I’m to arming themselves for protection, some keeping on a low, cah dem ensure they restrict their movement, while othboy dem won’t ers use other means of transport that are do jack?” deemed safer such as mini cabs, thus the most Aside from simplest of tasks become a headache” their football tournaments, HYPE have Kwabena Oduro Ayim, employed the A voluntary executive member of HYPE use of ‘street

Sandals Foundation opens early childhood school in Jamaica We’ve seen the adverts on the TV and in the magazines, but did you know that Sandals Resorts International (SRI) have a foundation that supports the Caribbean communities that holidaymakers visit?

Well in 2009, The Sandals Foundation was created as an independent nonprofit organization aiming to preserve the Caribbean, educate and empower the communities that inhabit the islands.

Educational programs include “Care for Kids” scholarships, book drives and literacy programs, and new computer and library facilities. Culloden in Westmoreland, Jamaica, has

recently seen the opening of a new early childhood institution thanks to the foundation.

Before the launch, Jane Briggs, Principal of Culloden Early Childhood Institution said: “The dream of a school building has been just that for the Culloden

Early Childhood Institution, for the past thirty-four years. With the launching of the Sandals Foundation, our long-standing dream of a school building is finally becoming a reality.”

Other initiatives include health screenings, HIV/AIDS awareness, senior citizen wellness, youth arts and sports programmes and clean ups of beaches to support local fishermen. If you’re staying at any one of Sandals’ resorts, you’re also welcome to take part in the Foundation’s community activities.

To find out more about The Sandals Foundation, log on to: www.sandalsfoundation.org

Citizens UK to hold first Diaspora Peoples’ Assembly Some 900 Diaspora community leaders from 50 organisations, across 30 nations, working within the fields of politics and business will come together on 10th December 2011 for the Inaugural Diaspora Peoples’ Assembly.

Launching at City Temple Church in London, the assembly will also record issues pertinent to the upcoming mayoral campaign to be addressed by the mayoral candidates at Citizens

UK’s mayoral assembly in April 2012.

Other points on the agenda include the launch of the Zimbabwean Diaspora community leaders’ coalition ZimUnite, an independent organisation that will lobby and campaign on Zimbabwean issues.

The Diaspora People’s Assembly is organised by Citizens UK, leaders in community organising in the UK and sponsored by Lyca Mobile and Ethiopian Airlines.

For more information about this event and how to get tickets, please email majid.khan@ citizensuk.org.uk.

Event: Diaspora People’s Assembly Venue: City Temple Church, Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2DE, London Date: 10th December 2011

By Chinwe Ojielo

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

COMMUNITY

Convicted burglar offers tips to avoid burglary A prolific burglar has opened up and written to the police a detailed letter explaining what features on a property would stop him from targeting it for burglary.

Leon Reid, 32, of New Cross Road, SE13, wrote the letter to officers in Lewisham prior to his sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on 23rd November.

In his letter, Reid said he would not select a property with any of the following: a well lit premises; the presence of a dog; anti-climbing paint on drainpipes, balconies etc.; barrier fencing above garden gates and perimeter walls; motion sensor lighting; beware of dog stickers; alarm warning stickers; pebbles/shingle near rear patio doors; CCTV camera (dummy or live); pad sensors behind doors/windows and ‘Switch house alarms on’.

Reid was arrested and charged on 5th October 2011 after being identified through DNA as a suspect for a burglary in Musgrove Road, SE14 on 2nd October.

He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and had 25 others committed across south London taken into consideration by

Leon Reid, a prolific burglar who wrote to police offering an insight into what deterred him from targeting particular properties

the court. He has been jailed for five years.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Astbury, in charge of Serious Acquisitive Crime at Lewisham borough said: “Burglaries have an untold impact on their victims; it is a crime we take extremely seriously. We will use the information Reid has provided us and through the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams reiterate to residents the need to make sure their homes are protected in order to stop or at least deter an opportunist from entering their home. What is compelling about Reid’s offending is that he has never forced entry. He entered through open windows and doors of

premises that did not have one of the aforementioned deterrents. It speaks volumes really and should make us all ask ourselves how secure our homes are.”

For further tips and advice on home security, please visit www.met.police.uk/ crimeprevention/burglary.

REID WOULD NOT SELECT A PROPERTY WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING • A well lit premises • The presence of a dog • Anti-climbing paint on drainpipes, balconies etc.

• Barrier fencing above garden gates and perimeter walls • Motion sensor lighting • Beware of dog stickers • Alarm warning stickers • Pebbles/shingle near rear patio doors • CCTV camera (dummy or live) • Pad sensors behind doors/windows • ‘Switch house alarms on’

Young man jailed for attempted murder A 17-year-old man who pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a man with whom he argued on a bus has been handed an indeterminate sentence at Southwark Crown Court.

at his trial on 18th October and was remanded to be sentenced on 22nd November. He will serve a minimum of seven and a half years.

Detective constable Haydn Thoms said: “Tristan Henry is a violent and dangerous young man who not only stabbed the At 01:15hrs on 29th May victim, but went on to steal from 2011, Tristan Henry, him as well. The then aged 16, of victim has been left Hatley Road, severely brain damIslington, was aged requiring involved in an alterround-the-clock cation on a bus in hospital care for the Maida Vale, W9, remainder of his with the 23-year old life.” victim, which conDetective Thoms tinued onto the paid tribute to the street. victim’s family for During the inciconducting themTristan Henry to dent Henry stabbed selves with dignity serve a minimum the victim in the through what has heart and left lung of seven and a half been a terrible years and stole his wallet ordeal. “I hope this and mobile phone. conviction goes The victim was taken to hospital some way towards providing but has been left with permanent them with a degree of comfort. brain damage following the This case highlights the tragic ordeal. consequences caused by knife Henry was arrested on 2nd crime and our commitment to June and charged with attemptbringing those offenders to jused murder following the executice. I hope that anyone who tion of a search warrant at his carries a knife considers the dire home address, where the vicconsequences to themselves and tim’s phone was found. Henry their communities.” was unanimously found guilty

CURRENT AFFAIRS

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

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Survey: Half of Londoners considering retiring abroad But they don’t know that their pension will be frozen Over half (62%) of 45-65 year olds in London are considering retiring abroad, but 60% are not aware that their pension will be frozen if they move to one of over 120 countries around the world, a new research has revealed.

©Andy Love

By moving to popular retirement destinations such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, India, Pakistan and African countries - their state pension will be frozen at the rate that they first start drawing it in the country that they have emigrated to.

This means that pensioners who move to these countries miss out on a third of their rightful state pension entitlements over a 10 year period and miss out on half of their entitlements over a 20 year period.

The research commissioned by the International Consortium of British Pensioners and carried out by pollsters Opinium LLP, also revealed that 36% are most likely to move to a country where their pension will be frozen.

However, 34% would be likely to change their minds about retiring abroad if they knew that their pension would be frozen.

For 12% of the people in London, the decision to retire abroad is motivated by the level of their Basic State pension, while the same number (12%) said the

most important factor is the thought of being a financial burden on their family.

According to the research, 31% middle aged people in London feel annoyed at the government policy of freezing pensions whilst almost 29% feel angry.

The International Consortium of British Pensioners has launched a petition for people to call for a House of Commons debate on the Government’s ‘e-petition’ website: http://bit.ly/BritPensions.

Previous studies have shown that unfreezing pensions would actually save

little or no idea that by doing so they could eventually lose “It is really worrying that whilst almost 50% of their state pension entitlements, depending on 62% of 45 to 65 year olds in how long they live.

London are thinking about retir“The frozen pension policy actively discourages those who ing abroad, 60% of them do not have worked hard all their lives know that their pension would be and paid their national insurance frozen if they moved to some of contributions from moving to the most popular retirement desti- join their children. It also means many of the half a million nations. In the interests of all my that people currently affected have to constituents in Edmonton who live out their old age in destiturather than dignity. This are planning to retire to one of tion must change.” the frozen countries, the governMr. Markham said that the problem particularly affects ment should take the earliest posmany people who have lived sible opportunity to review the and worked in London for a evidence on how unfreezing pen- long time and would like to sions can save the Exchequer return to their countries of birth for retirement. money” “I urge anyone who can, to sign the government e-petition we have set up. If enough of us Mr. Andy Love, sign this then the politicians will MP for Edmonton be forced to explain to the public why they refuse to change this unfair policy even though our the Exchequer money in the medium term research shows that changing it will actuas people retiring abroad means there is ally save the Exchequer money in the long less pressure on public services and housterm.” ing units. The research by Oxford In support of the campaign, Andy Love, Economics has shown that in 2011 the net MP for Edmonton, urged the government benefit to the Treasury of a pensioner movto “take the earliest possible opportunity to ing abroad is £2,500 per year. review the evidence on how unfreezing John Markham, the UK Parliamentary pensions can save the Exchequer money.”

Director of the International Consortium The other London MPs supporting the of British Pensioners said: “These figures campaign include: Kate Hoey, John show just how many people in London are McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn. thinking about retiring abroad but have

Gender pay gap has narrowed This year the gender pay gap has fallen below 10 per cent for the first time in the UK, new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show.

Men’s full-time median hourly earnings grew by 0.8 per cent to £13.11, up from £13.00 in 2010, while women’s hourly earnings were £11.91, a 1.9 per cent increase compared with £11.69. The full time gender pay gap has therefore decreased by one percentage point to 9.1 per cent from 10.1 per cent.

On other measures, the gender pay gap for part-time employees was -5.6 per cent in 2011, widening from -4.3 per cent the year before. This means that part-time women are paid more than part-time men.

The measure based on all employees fell from 19.8 per cent in 2010 to 19.5 per cent this year.

Other data in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings show that median

gross weekly earnings for full-timers, at £501, were up by only 0.4 per cent on the 2010 total of £499. Public sector workers saw a rise of only 0.3 per cent (from £554 in 2010 to £556 this year) while in the private sector the increase was 0.8 per cent (£473 a week in 2010, £476 in 2011).

There was a widening in the gap between the highest and lowest paid employees: between 2010 and 2011, the hourly full-time earnings excluding overtime of those in the top decile grew by 1.8 per cent, whereas those in the bottom decile saw an increase of only 0.1 per cent.

The region where employees had the highest full-time median gross weekly earnings was London, at £651, and the region with the lowest earnings was Northern Ireland at £451. The district with the highest-paying jobs was, not surprisingly, the City of London (a median of £981 a week full-time) and the district with the lowest-paid jobs was Torridge (£333 a

week full-time). still there. One way to help narrow it The highest paid occupation was direc- would be by removing the secrecy surtors and chief executives of major organi- rounding equal pay. It will help if employsations (£1,956 a week full-time), while ers take up the government’s guidance on the lowest was school midday assistants measuring and reporting their gender pay (£233 a week full-time). gap.”

K a y Carberry, a Commissioner “Forty years after the introduction of the Equal for the Equality Pay Act, today’s figures are a step in the right and Human R i g h t s direction. But we can’t be complacent – as the gap C o m m i s s i o n is still there. One way to help narrow it would be described the by removing the secrecy surrounding equal pay. It new figures as will help if employers take up the government’s “a step in the guidance on measuring and reporting their gender right direction”, pay gap” 40 years after the introduction of the Equal Pay Kay Carberry, Act. A Commissioner for the Equality and Human “But we can’t Rights Commission be complacent – as the gap is

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Severe punishment awaits gang members who refuse help The government’s new plan to tackle gang and youth violence focuses on prevention and tough punishment. ©Home Office

Young people at risk of being drawn into gangs and violence will be targeted at every stage of their lives – from toddlers to teenagers – in a comprehensive approach aimed at preventing the next generation of gang members.

But those who refuse help will be met by the full force of strengthened laws to protect local communities from crime and disorder.

“Our first duty is to bring violence under control by providing the police and other agencies with the support and powers they need to protect communities affected by serious youth violence,” Home Secretary Theresa May said.

“There can never be an excuse for criminality and it must be dealt with swiftly and robustly.

But gang and youth violence is not a problem that can be solved by enforcement alone. We need to change the life stories of young people currently ending up dead or wounded on our streets or locked in a cycle of re-offending.”

The five key principles underpinning the cross-government strategy are: prevention, pathways out of crime, punishment, partner-

“Our first duty is to bring violence under control by providing the police and other agencies with the support and powers they need to protect communities affected by serious youth violence. There can never be an excuse for criminality and it must be dealt with swiftly and robustly. But gang and youth violence is not a problem that can be solved by enforcement alone. We need to change the life stories of young people currently ending up dead or wounded on our streets or locked in a cycle of reoffending” Ms. Theresa May, Home Secretary

ship working and provision of central support.

The new plan emphasises on early intervention in order to prevent young people becoming involved in violence in the first place. This will include supporting parents worried about their children’s behaviour by working with a range of family service providers to develop new parentfriendly advice on gangs.

The government will also create pathways out of violence and the gang culture for young people wanting to make a break with the past.

As far as punishment is concerned, the government will extend police powers to take out gang injunctions to cover teenagers aged 14 to 17. It will also implement custodial sentences for people using a knife to threaten or

endanger others – including for offenders aged 16 and 17.

The government will introduce mandatory life sentences for adult offenders convicted of a second very serious violent or sexual crime and extend the work that the UK Border Agency undertakes with the police using immigration powers to deport dangerous gang members who are not UK citizens.

“Gangs are having a devastating impact on our most deprived neighbourhoods. The violence they perpetrate leaves communi-

ties living in daily fear, feeling powerless to do anything,” Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith said.

He said that tackling gangs is a key priority of the government.

“Those gang members who want to exit gang life should be helped to do so, but those who continue to commit violence should feel the full force of the law. Only by effectively working together can we turn the tide of gang violence, and in doing so transform the lives of the young people and families in those communities.”

Home care fails to meet older people’s basic rights The inquiry also reveals the pervasive New inquiry has revealed dis- about their care or be listened to about social isolation and loneliness experienced turbing evidence that the poor what kind of support they want.

The report “Close to home: older peo- by many older people confined to their treatment of many older people is ple and human rights in home care”, says homes who lack support to get out and take breaching their human rights.

The inquiry into the home care system in England by Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reveals that too many are struggling to voice their concerns

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latest immigration and other news affecting the Black Community on:

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hundreds of thousands of older people lack protection under the Human Rights Act and calls for this legal loophole to be closed. It questions commissioning practices that focus on a rigid list of tasks, rather than what older people actually want, and that give more weight to cost than to an acceptable quality of care.

The inquiry reveals many examples of older people’s human rights being breached, including physical or financial abuse, disregarding their privacy and dignity, failing to support them with eating or drinking, treating them as if they were invisible, and paying little attention to what they want.

The report shows that ways for older people to complain about their home care are either insufficient or not working effectively. Reasons for their reluctance to make a complaint about their treatment included not wanting to get their care workers into trouble, fearing repercussions such as a worse standard of care or no care at all and preferring to make do rather than make a fuss.

part in community life. Yet evidence from the home care industry indicates that social activities are some of the first support services to be withdrawn when local authorities cut back their spending on care services.

Alarmingly, one in three local authorities had already cut back on home care spending and a further one in five planned to do so within the next year.

The low rates that some local authorities pay for home care raises serious concerns about the pay and conditions of workers, including payment of the minimum wage. The low pay and status of care workers does not match the level of responsibility or the skills they need to provide quality home care. A high turnover of staff as a result of these factors has a negative impact on the quality of care given to older people.

The inquiry found age discrimination was a significant barrier to older people getting home care. It found that people over the age of 65 are getting less money

towards their care than younger people with similar care needs, and are offered a more limited range of services in comparison. It also found that local authority phone contact lines can screen out older people needing home care without passing them on for a full assessment – which is unlawful.

In response to the findings of its inquiry, the Commission says that legislation and regulation needs to be updated to reflect huge shifts in how care is provided.

It recommends proper protection of old people, effective monitoring of care services and clear guidance and robust guidance on human rights.

Sally Greengross, Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “It is essential that care services respect people’s basic human rights. This is not about burdensome red tape; it is about protecting people from the kind of dehumanising treatment we have uncovered. The emphasis is on saving pennies rather than providing a service which will meet the very real needs of our grandparents, our parents, and eventually all of us.”

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

©Adrian Pingstone

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Net migration to the UK in 2010 hit a record high, official figures have revealed. In 2010, net migration was 252,000 - the highest calendar year figure on record, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

While immigration has remained steady at 591,000, this increase has been caused by declining emigration, which in 2010 was 339,000 - the lowest since 2001.

Emigration by non-British citizens also declined to 203,000, from a peak of 255,000 in 2008.

The report also revealed that fewer people were emigrating from the UK for work-related reasons. Provisional figures for the year ending March 2011 showed

9

Net migration to UK hit record in 2010

work-related reasons in 2009. Final figures down from the hundreds of thousands to the show that 238,000 people arrived to study tens of thousands over the course of this in the UK in 2010, compared with 211,000 Parliament,” Mr. Green said. in 2009.

Labour said the latest migration figures “These figures show that the Government was right to take swift action to overhaul the immigration system,” “Latest quarterly figures show a Immigration Minister Damian decrease in the number of student Green said.

Mr. Green said: “Latest that 174,000 emigrants left the UK for work and work visas issued compared to related reasons. This is the lowest for five quarterly figures show a a year earlier - an early sign that decrease in the number of stuyears. our policies are starting to take According to the report, study continues dent and work visas issued compared to a year earlier an to be the most common reason stated for effect” immigration to the UK, having overtaken early sign that our policies are starting to take effect.”

Immigration Minister Damian After peaking Green “These figures just go to show you in September last can’t trust what this Government year, the numbers started to and this Home Secretary say about have come down, the minister said. showed the government was failing to slash immigration” He, however, added that much net migration as had been promised. still needed to be done.

Labour’s Shadow Immigration Minister “That’s why I will be Chris Bryant said: “These figures just go to Labour’s Shadow Immigration announcing reforms to settle- show you can’t trust what this Government ment and the family route which and this Home Secretary say about immiMinister Chris Bryant will help bring net migration gration.”

Refugee Council calls for effective asylum system Refugee Council has called for Libyan nationals compared to 62 between an effective asylum system to pro- January and September 2010, although numbers of applications have started to fall tect those fleeing persecution.

Reacting to the latest asylum statistics, back.

At the same time, there were 129 appliJudith Dennis, Advocacy Officer at the Refugee Council said: “Although numbers cations from nationals of Syria in the third of asylum applications remain low, the quarter of 2011 compared to 28 in the third increase in applications from Libyan and quarter of 2010.

“It is therefore imperative we have a Syrian people this year shows how suddenly events happening around the world robust and effective system in place to can force people to flee to safety in coun- ensure these people can get protection here if they are at risk in their own country. This tries like the UK.” Between January and September 2011, includes access to legal support and advice there were 672 asylum applications from services for asylum seekers – both of which have faced massive cuts this year,” Dennis said.

Refugee Council also “It is therefore imperative we have a expressed concern at the number robust and effective system in place of children detained for immito ensure these people can get protec- gration purposes. At least 30 tion here if they are at risk in their children were detained just in last three months, despite a own country. This includes access to the government pledge to end the legal support and advice services for abhorrent practice.

It has also been reported that asylum seekers – both of which have the UK government will start faced massive cuts this year” returning children to Afghanistan next year.

Judith Dennis, “They would never treat Advocacy Officer at the Refugee British children like this, so it is unacceptable that the governCouncil ment is disregarding the wel-

Protect rights of stateless people, UNHCR urges Britain The British government should do more to help stateless people in the United Kingdom and to ensure that their human rights are respected, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said.

fare of children who have fled violent and dangerous countries to seek safety here,” Dennis said.

Generally the numbers of asylum applications were relatively stable between 2005 and 2009, having fallen substantially from a peak in 2002.

In the second quarter of 2011 there were 4,787 asylum applications and 4,253 initial decisions compared to 4,389 asylum applications (up 9%) and 5,106 initial decisions (down 17%) in the second quarter of 2010.

Of the 4,253 initial decisions in the second quarter of 2011, 23% were grants of asylum, 8% grants of a form of temporary protection (humanitarian protection or discretionary leave) and 70% were refusals.

“Although statelessness is a global problem, it appears in the UK as well,” Roland Schilling, UNHCR’s representative to Britain, said at the launch of the landmark new report, “Mapping Statelessness in the UK.” Schilling called upon the UK government “to address the challenge of statelessness and to ensure that the human rights of stateless people on UK territory are not infringed.”

Although the exact number of stateless people in the UK is not known, about 200 people each year are recorded as stateless. Those who are not granted any kind of status are left in limbo, with no right to stay in the UK and no other country to which they can return. “This report maps their situation and recommends practical steps on how to find a solution for them,” Schilling said.

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

COVER

Open up and speak about sex with children

Interview with Hosanna Bankhead, HIV Health Trainer with Terrence Higgins Trust Stigma and lack of open dialogue about sex between parents and children are contributing to further spread of HIV/AIDS. “Africans should be able to open up and speak about sex with their children,” says Ms. Hosanna Bankhead, Health Trainer with Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland.

Finding out that one is HIV positive should not be taken to mean life has come to an end, she says. Hosanna has been living with HIV for over ten years without letting it affect her activities in anyway.

In this exclusive interview with The AfroNews, Hosanna shares with us how she discovered that she was HIV positive, the pain she went through seeking asylum on health grounds, and how she managed to overcome the initial shock to now live a happy life helping others who are HIV positive.

Hosanna, when did you find out that you were HIV positive?

I found out I was HIV+ in April 2003.

I had arrived from Zimbabwe on a visitors’ visa when I fell ill and my nephew who is a doctor encouraged me to go and seek help from the Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic. I had come to Scotland to visit one of my nieces and was really scared of going anywhere. At the time the media was talking a lot about tourists who come to the UK for medical treatment and I felt I did not want to be classified as such.

What was your initial reaction?

My initial reaction on the news was shock. I was in denial for a long time since I had lost a husband to HIV and so being told and confronting my own fears was a nightmare. My most immediate thought was I am going back home and spend the last of my days with my son who was then six years old. I did not want to leave the

UK in a coffin.

Then what happened?

My consultant was a wonderful man and still is. He sat me down and told me that my prognosis was very poor. By going back to Zimbabwe I was going to be dead in about 18 months time and then my son would be truly an orphan. I could stay in Scotland and recover and then I could decide what to do. I told him that my visa would be soon running out and did not want to be illegal in this country. He said there was a lawyer who would help me to sort my papers. The next thing I was going to Waverley Care in Edinburgh (an organisation that supported me through my journey) and going to see a lawyer with my passport. What I did not know was that the lawyer would keep my passport until my visa was about to run out and then make an application for asylum on medical grounds.

Being a very active person all my life I asked the lawyer how long this process would take and he mentioned about three years. I was shocked because I did not expect to be doing nothing in three years so I decided to apply to university and study for a Masters in B u s i n e s s

COVER

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

11

“Stigma can only be reduced if people living with HIV are good role models and can be seen to contribute to the community not as unpaid volunteers but as part of the working population” Ms. Hosanna Bankhead, HIV Health Trainer with Terrence Higgins Trust Administration.

I was accepted but the problem was money. Where was I going to get the money they were asking for? I decided to enrol anyway because it was a parttime course over three years; I was going to find the money somehow.

Someone told me that as a student I was allowed to work for 20 hours so I went out looking for a job. I got one as a carer for the elderly and started to work. It was not true that I could work but did not know that so I continued working and paying my tuition fees. It was hard work but I did it anyway. At home I had been a manager in a computer company and had run my own business but being here I had to take what I could find and do it.

During this time I was put on medication which at first round did not go very well. I did not trust those drugs (ddl and d4T) because we had tried them back home when my husband got ill. I told my consultant I was not going to take those drugs.

He just laughed and said he will give me something different and there I was having problems so you can imagine how scared I got. Well eventually I was put on treatment that really worked for me and began to feel much healthier and fitter. My strength levels were getting better and I continued to study for the MBA. I was doing well in university so did not bother anyone at all and had moved into my own lodgings.

Many who are HIV+ keep the information to themselves.

Why did you decide to disclose yours?

I did not decide to disclose just like that. For me it was a journey. I was diagnosed in Edinburgh and went to London to tell my older sister who then looked at me and said we do not discuss such issues. I felt rejected and dismissed and must say never went back to London for a long time because I did not feel comfortable with my own relatives.

During this time I decided to understand what I am living with and plugged into women’s networks and other people living with HIV. The reason was that I

wanted to get coping strategies from others who had been diagnosed longer than myself. The more I went to these meetings the more confident I became and learnt so much more.

I worked as a volunteer for an HIV Charity and that improved on my skills. Working there I came to the notice of one lady who then asked me to apply for a course in her University where she was a lecturer. I was accepted at Queen Margaret University to study MSc. in Social Development and Health specialising in HIV and Gender Health. I was able to secure a scholarship for this and my life has not been the same ever since. The more I read the more empowered I became and decided to tell people and everyone.

I believe as a person living with this virus I should be able to talk about it freely and not feel limited in my daily life. It is just like any other condition. Life does not come to an end because you have HIV. For me it is through sheer tenacity and hard work to get to where I am living with HIV. One suffers lots of rejection and discrimination out there but if you understand what you live with and are able to talk about it from an informed position then the major battle has been won.

You have been living with HIV for ten years. Please share with us practical ways of living a healthy, positive life with HIV? One has just to learn to look after number one and that is self.

Eat healthy, exercise more and make sure alcohol is limited.

Have something you believe in and that helps, in my case it is God. My faith has managed to sustain me when things were pretty bad for me. Looking at the positive aspects of life, for me HIV has taken me to places I would not have ordinarily gone to. For example I was able to address the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on HIV in Westminster and to me that was something I would not have been involved in had I not been HIV positive.

Africans represent most of the new HIV diagnosis in the

UK. What do you think is responsible for this?

Stigma and more stigma!!

Africans should be able to open up and speak about sex with their children. Educating our people is the answer. HIV never really happens to anyone except your neighbour because you are a good person who does not indulge in sex and these attitudes need to change for the good of the society.

How can we curb further spread of HIV in this community?

Education and more talking about it, I suppose and reducing the stigma experienced by people affected in these communities.

Stigma can only be reduced if people living with HIV are good role models and can be seen to contribute to the community not as unpaid volunteers but as part of the working population.

Why is it important for people to go for HIV test?

It is important because if you know your status you can then take the necessary interventions to look after yourself and be put on treatment when your CD4 count reaches the threshold of 350 which is required by the UK government.

How was it seeking asylum on health grounds and did you succeed?

It was the most humiliating thing I had to do in my life. I hope I do not find myself in that situation ever again. It was hard. You were considered to be lying regardless of the evidence you gave them. I decided to leave and go home eventually without succeeding. I could not be bothered

anymore. I was tired of doing menial jobs and felt going back to Zimbabwe was better though things were pretty bad when I got there. I went looking for my medication and could not find it in the pharmacies so had to go to Botswana to buy some meds.

Living in Scotland it did not affect my access to medical care.

I got my meds and that was good.

As HIV Health Trainer with THT Scotland what exactly do you do?

My job is to work with people who have been diagnosed with HIV. Most people come to me through referrals from the Clinic.

I have sessions with them concerning basics of HIV that is, understanding what viral load, CD4 count is. Treatments and adherence to medication.

Teaching clients to engage more with clinicians and clinical staff, asking questions when they go and visit the GUM. Telling them the importance of good nutrition and being able to change their lifestyles in order to get the best outcomes from good behavioural changes. This can be done in group settings or one to one.

For more information about HIV, please visit Terrence Higgins Trust’s new site, www.myhiv.org. uk, for accredited information, self management tools, interactive web services and community forums.

Information about proper usage of condoms can be found at this link: http://www.tht.org.uk/ informationresources/publications/general/getitoncondomguide213.pdf

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a

Send The AfroNews your stories and pictures Have you got a story to share with our readers?

We'd love to hear about it, so please send it to us.

You may also send photos together with your stories. Kindly include a contact phone number in case we have any questions or need more information. Please send your stories and pictures to:

afronews@myownmedia.co.uk

13

How to use Company Voluntary Arrangements to save your business

For those who find themselves in a financial blackhole that is getting worse every month, there are legal safeguards in place to provide them with the chance of starting again financially with all debts erased (personal bankruptcy) or of bringing their debt under control, often through reaching an agreement with the creditors to reduce the overall size of the debt in return for commitment from the individual to a structured repayment plan. These agreements include debt management plans and ‘individual voluntary arrangements’, commonly known as IVA’s.

IVA’s are becoming increasingly commonplace, but their equivalent in the business world, the Company Voluntary Arrangement, is still relatively unknown – especially to those that could benefit the most from them.

A person proposing to do an IVA can apply for an interim order in court. This protects them against any legal action which may be taken against them by anyone they owe money to. Similarly, a CVA gives the company legal protection from its creditors who are unable to take further legal actions as long as the terms of the CVA are adhered to, and existing legal action such as a Winding Up Order ceases.

In short, a CVA is a contractual arrangement with the Company’s creditors to repay them (either in full or part) over an agreed period of time. At the end of the payment plan, any unpaid debt is written off and the Company effectively starts afresh. They are designed to preserve a business whilst protecting and, importantly, helping cash flow (in that immediate pressure from creditors to repay debts is relieved, allowing the company to focus on its operating costs).

A Company Voluntary Arrangement can only be implemented by an insolvency practitioner who will draft a Proposal for the creditors. A meeting of creditors is held to see if the CVA is accepted.

2. More than 50% of ‘unconnected’ creditors agree i.e. that have no connection to the company other than that of creditor.

3. 50% or more of the shareholders agree All the company creditors are then bound to the terms of the proposal whether or not they voted. Creditors are also unable to take further legal actions as long as the terms are adhered to, and existing legal action such as a Winding Up Order ceases.

The advantages of a CVA • The CVA stops creditors taking any

further court action against the company. No further county court judgments or winding up procedures can be issued • It is possible to continue trading without customers finding out that the company is in a CVA – unlike liquidation where public notice is a legal requirement.

• In some cases a significant amount of the company’s debt is written off thus easing cash flow pressures and enabling the business to continue to trade.

• The cost of implementing a CVA is minimal. Generally fees are taken directly from the agreed monthly payments and the directors are not required to raise additional funds.

• A liquidator is not appointed and the business continues to trade. If the business were to go into liquidation, the directors would be investigated for their conduct in the events leading up to the liquidation, in particular whether they were guilty of wrongful trading whilst insolvent.

A CVA is accepted if each of the following three conditions The disadvantages of a CVA are met 1. More than 75% of the creditors (by debt value) agree

• It may be difficult for the company to begin new contracts with new clients if they base their buying criteria on the financial stability of the business.

Basic Steps of the Procedure • The CVA can be proposed by the directors of the company or the company’s Liquidator/Administrator.

• The procedure is administered by a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (the Nominee) • A study of the company and its position in the marketplace is made. Its business model is assessed and a detailed profit & loss and cashflow forecast

be approved by vote.

• A shareholders meeting is held requiring 50% vote in favour of the CVA Proposal.

• At approval the meetings close and a report is issued by the chairman within 4 days.

• Once approved, all creditors are legally bound by the proposal.

A CVA can seem unpalatable if you own your business and do not find attractive the idea of having your finances scrutinised and organised (albeit with your input and agreement). However if the alternative is the mounting prospect of legal action from your creditors, including the ultimate sanction of a winding up petition, then the benefits of a CVA are placed into perspective. Indeed CVA’s have been successfully used to halt winding up proceedings that had already been initiated – the creditors recognising that it is better to paid off over a longer period of time than to force the immediate shutdown of the business and only receive a fraction of what they are owed.

In everyday terms, it means the management of a business can refocus on running the business profitably rather than constant firefighting in dealing with the various creditors.

A CVA is often the most appropriate solution for a business that knows it is viable and can trade its way back into profit and surplus cash, but has such significant debt so as to hamper its everyday running. The CVA reorganises the business’ debt and obtains ‘breathing space’ for it to get back on its feet until cashflow becomes a virtuous cycle. ©Leciaphinney

These are tough times for many, with the global economy in the grips of a deep recession, inflation and unemployment at unwelcome levels and more and more people caught up in a spiralling trap of debt – loans, credit cards and mortgages that they are now struggling to repay on top of the cost of everyday living.

• The company’s credit rating will be negatively affected thus making additional borrowing while the CVA is in place difficult.

assembled on which to base a repayment plan to the creditors. The plan involves single monthly payments to a trust account managed by the Nominee who then distributes it to the creditors.

• The repayment plan may be for 100% of the debt or the creditors may agree to write off x% of the debt in return for the company adhering to the repayment schedule.

• Directors & secured creditors debate the proposal.

• After the proposals are complete, the Nominee needs to prepare a report on the proposals which includes comment on the due diligence they have undertaken to ensure that the CVA proposals are accurate, reasonable and achievable.

After the Filing of a CVA Proposal • Once filed at court, the proposal is sent to the creditors.

• A meeting is chaired by the advisor or an IP with all creditors (or agents of creditors) at which the creditors vote on the proposal.

• Creditors may request modification of the proposal, which will need to

By HAMILTON BRADY LTD, www.hamiltonbrady.co.uk Tel: 0844 873 6081 E-mail: info@hamiltonbrady.co.uk Address: Springfield House Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5BG Disclaimer: The above article is meant to be relied upon as an informative article and in no way constitutes legal advice. Information is offered for general information purposes only, based on the current law when the information was published in this newspaper.

You should always seek advice from an appropriately qualified solicitor on any specific legal enquiry.

For legal advice regarding your case, please contact Hamilton Brady for a Consultation with a Solicitor on 0844 873 608.

SPECIAL UK LEGAL GUIDE

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

THE GUIDE

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

AFRICAN NEWS

UN expert calls for ‘preventive’ solidarity to fight climate change

South Africa’s Protection of Information Bill “Damaging” Human Rights Watch has criticized South Africa’s parliament for approving the controversial Protection of State Information Bill, describing it as “a blow to freedom of expression and democratic accountability.”

The bill which was introduced in March 2010, has been subject to serious criticism as being inconsistent with South Africa’s constitution and human rights obligations.

It has been amended over the past 18 months, but the version endorsed by the Parliament still omits a public interest defence, Human Rights Watch said. The absence of this clause means that journalists, whistleblowers and others could be imprisoned for up to 25 years for leaking or sharing information deemed classified by the government and which exposes corruption, mismanagement or malfeasance even in the face of a compelling public interest.

“The bill as passed is still in need of serious revision,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “If implemented, it will unacceptably curtail both the right to access information and freedom of

expression, which are the foundation of a democratic society.”

On 20th September, in response to public demonstrations against the bill, the African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling party, stated that “Further consultations and debates should … continue on the bill with a view to further enhancing the quality of the current draft.”

However, in the third week of November, the government appeared to reverse this decision and announced it was seeking to push the bill to a vote before Parliament. “The manner in which the government pushed this bill through Parliament, instead of proceeding with consultations as promised, as well as the secrecy embedded in this legislation, send very worrying signs about the government’s commitment to transparency,” Bekele said.

Human Rights Watch believes that a public interest defence in the bill is necessary to ensure South Africa’s compliance with international human rights law and the Johannesburg Principles on National Security, which stipulate, among other things, that “public interest in knowing the information” should be a primary consideration in any regulation of state information.

“International solidarity should be preventive rather than simply reactive to the massive irreversible damage that has already been caused not only by natural disaster but as well, by man’s activities” Virginia Dandan, UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity change equally.

“We are living today in a ‘Global Village’ where any event, even in the remotest part of the world, will sooner or later impact on our lives,” the expert said, reminding all the stakeholders gathered in Durban that everyone has a responsibility for the common good. “We are all accountable to each other and to the future generations.”

“The Durban negotiations are a make or break for humanity,” underscored Ms.

Dandan, warning that failure in Durban would also have negative consequences on the multilateral system, and particularly to the upcoming multilateral conferences on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and on Biodiversity in 2012.

“Failure in Durban would impact on the three pillars of the UN, namely peace and security, development and human rights, and pin the world down to ground zero,” she said.

End confusion over trial of Saif al-Islam, Amnesty International tells ICC

Amnesty International has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to end the confusion over where Saif al-Islam alGaddafi should be tried.

Amnesty made the call after the court’s prosecutor said that Libya can put Saif al-Islam on trial at home.

ICC prosecutor Luis MorenoOcampo said on 23rd November that Saif al-Islam, the captured son of the late Libyan leader, need not be prosecuted by the ICC but could be tried in his own country before a Libyan court.

The ICC stated that the decision is the sole competency of the ICC judges, not the Prosecutor.

“At this time, there are serious questions as to whether the Libyan justice system can guarantee a fair trial without the death penalty,” said Marek Marczyñski of Amnesty International’s Campaign for International Justice. “The ICC should not wait for Libya to reach a decision about Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi’s

written to the PreTrial Chamber of the ICC to urge it to act now and make a determination on its own motion.

A m n e s t y International called on the newly established Libyan government to ensure the safety of Saif al-Islam and the ICC prosecutor Luis Morenoprotection of all Ocampo his other rights, and those of trial but should intervene and Abdullah al-Senussi, Libya’s formake sure that justice can be done. In line with the rules in the mer intelligence chief and also Rome Statute, they should make the subject of an ICC arrest wara determination as to the ability rant. The organization fears that of the Libyan authorities to deliv- he is being held incommunicado.

Earlier this year, the ICC er justice to the victims of human issued a warrant for the arrest of rights abuses.”

Should the ICC judges decide Saif al-Islam and Abdullah althat it is the ICC that should try Sanussi on charges of crimes Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, Amnesty against humanity. Saif al-Islam International recommends that who was captured near the border the ICC hold the trial proceedings with Niger, is currently being held in a secret location in the in Libya.

Amnesty International has north-western town of Zintan.

©UN

“Will the inertia that has been ailing climate change negotiations finally break new ground?” she asked. “International solidarity should be preventive rather than simply reactive to the massive irreversible damage that has already been caused not only by natural disaster but as well, by man’s activities,” she said.

The 17th Conference of Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention and the 7th Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, is on in Durban.

“The world is calling for genuine international solidarity and multilateralism, and for its leaders to take a leap of faith in unison, and as one,” the expert said.

For the UN Independent Expert, “there is great need for a radical mind-set change in order to bring back to the negotiating table the time-honoured values of humanity that have been forgotten after decades

of market and profit driven orientation.”

She stressed the imperative of revitalising the collective values built on cooperation and solidarity among nations and peoples, imbued with human rights principles, equality and justice.

“Greater cooperation and solidarity are required now more than ever before, to face the challenges posed by climate change such as the intensification and increasing frequency of natural disasters, as well as the continuing and widening poverty gap, and the series of food, energy, economic and financial global crises,” Ms. Dandan said. “Global challenges require global responses to make a difference.”

She also called upon nations who have been enriched through decades of development practices that have polluted the world, along with the “new polluters” to take the lead. In her view, negotiations should honour the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, recognising that not all countries have contributed to climate

©UN

The ‘old and new polluters’ should take a lead in the climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa, and push for ‘preventive’ international solidarity to confront head on the environmental global challenges, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Virginia Dandan has said.

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Audley Shaw, has urged self employed professionals to become tax compliant and file their annual income tax returns.

“Come next fiscal year, we are encouraging those in the professional categories who are self employed, regardless of the area, whether it is lawyers or doctors or accountants or surveyors or engineers; whatever the professional category, we are asking you to (file your income tax returns),” he urged.

He stressed that there are many selfemployed professionals earning a “pretty good wage”, who leave “the burden of the taxation system,” on the captive PAYE (pay as you earn) employees, making the system inequitable.

“There are a lot of self-employed persons in this country who are just not paying their equitable share of the tax burden.

That is why we have made the decision that, like most other civilized countries, we must begin now to honour the system of filing our annual income tax returns,” he insisted.

Mr. Shaw said that self-employed professionals were being targeted as they ought to know better, pointing to an audit of doctors which revealed that of 500 doctors surveyed only 100 had filed income tax returns.

“We believe that that is an accurate representation, certainly in terms of the sampling, of probably what is taking place across the board among all professional

categories in the self employed region,” he said.

Turning to plans to address the evasion of taxes at the Customs Department, the Finance and Planning Minister said that the Government intends to impose an uplift tax for traders, who try to dodge the system.

“We are going to impose an uplift tax at Customs for any company or business operator that has no visible evidence of being a registered GCT (General Consumption Tax) payer, no evidence of filing income tax returns, no evidence of filing corporate taxes returns, but an abundance of evidence of trading in multiple millions of dollars,” he said.

Mr. Shaw pointed out that a computer and information system is now in place to identify individuals and companies who will be required to pay the uplift tax, noting that there are companies which import $50 to $100 million of goods each year, then vanish from the system without paying GCT, or filing income tax or corporate tax returns.

He warned those who intend to avoid paying taxes by changing the company’s name every month or six months, “we have a plan for that too”.

“Unless you establish a track record, then you are going to pay the uplift tax.

You can always go and change from one company name to another - that’s not going to help. A new company is going to have to pay the uplift tax,” he cautioned.

“Once you establish that you are a credible operator within the system, you are in the GCT system, you’re filing per-

©JIS

Shaw urges professionals to make tax returns

Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Audley Shaw sonal income tax returns, then you will not be subject to the uplift tax after that,” he explained.

Noting the importance of clamping down on traders, the Minister pointed to Government’s plans to reduce the Common External Tariff (CET), and that costs would have to be recovered once this is done.

“There has to be a compensating factor for when we bring the overall border rates down,” Mr. Shaw argued.

He noted that the plan for the discus-

sions on the Tax Reform Green Paper, at this stage, is to cut the CET from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, across the board, and to have other general taxes cut, including GCT. “But, once these taxes are cut, we are going to elevate and strengthen our compliance programme,” he said.

By Alecia Smith-Edwards, JIS Reporter

Jamaican Senate approves changes to Election Bill Jamaican Senate has approved the Bill prohibiting open balloting, and removing limitations on the use of vehicles to convey voters to polling stations on Election Day. The Bill which was approved on 24th November 2011, was hustled through both Houses of Parliament last week to ensure implementation prior to a likely early General Election.

It was piloted in the Senate by Leader of Government Business and Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson.

The Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on 22nd November 2011.

The two main amendments are based on the recommendations of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), contained in a report to Parliament tabled in October

2010. However, it was the second time that the Commission was including them in a report, as it did so in October 2006, but that report was neither debated nor approved.

The Commission decided to incorporate them in the October 2010 or “current” report, as well as include recommendations on the transfer of indoor agents within polling stations in a constituency, and to increase the number of selected members of the Constituted Authority from three to four.

The result was a Bill which has amended the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) to protect the secrecy of the ballots, by prohibiting the use of any recording device, digital or otherwise, by electors to record their ballot after it has been marked, and to make violation of the prohibition subject to the same penalty as other violations of the secrecy of the bal-

lot.

It has also amended the Act to remove all restrictions on the use of motor vehicles to convey voters to the poll, as well as the need to register these vehicles, the restrictions on the registered vehicles and the special provisions relating to urban constituencies. The changes also provide that the four components of the Official Voters List (military, police, EOJ employees and civil lists) be distributed to candidates at the same time prior to Election Day, and prohibits the transfer of candidates’ agents between polling stations within the same polling location.

“Currently, insufficient time is afforded to Candidates to independently verify that the police list, military list, election officers list and civil list add up exactly to the Official Voters’ List. So this (amendment) seeks to ensure that this deficiency and this inability are addressed,” Senator

Nelson stated.

He explained that, within seven days after Nomination Day, the Returning Officer shall deliver or send by registered post to each candidate a copy of a military voters’ list, a police voters’ list and an election officers voters’ list prepared in relation to each constituency.

In addition, under Section 44 of the Act, the Constituted Authority, which comes into effect whenever an election notice is issued and comprises three “selected” members of the ECJ and two other persons, including a retired judge, will now have four “selected” members.

The selected members are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Bill was passed without any amendments.

By JIS

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ENTERTAINMENT

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

17

Baloji’s “Kinshasa Succursale” unique blend of diverse music styles Belgian-Congolese musician Baloji is back with a new LP featuring a unique combination of different musical styles ranging from European rock & pop, US soul, funk & hip hop, Soukous to old-school Congolese rumba.

The LP titled “Kinshasa Succursale” (“Kinshasa Branch Office”), is a reflection of Baloji’s life story from the Democratic Republic of Congo where was born in 1978, to Belgium where he has lived since he was four years old.

Unlike many Africans who have grown up in Europe who hardly identify with their traditional cultures, especially with their mother tongues, Baloji sings in Swahili, Lingala, and French.

“Kinshasa Succursale” is “my response to a question from my biological mother during our only telephone conversation in April 2005 ‘What have you been up to in the past 25 years?’” Baloji said.

The album is a kind of journey through his musical career, revisiting his past work with a clear focus on the future.

Baloji, whose name in Tshiluba means “sorcerer”, joined the Starflam Collective when he was 15. The band became the most successful Belgian Hip-hop group.

Their “Survivant” album reached platinum status in 2001.

In 2004, Baloji quit the band and turned his back to music for a while. In 2008 he returned with a first solo album, “Hotel Impala” in which he set out on a quest to look for the African components

of his identity.

The album was very well received, and earned Baloji several awards (including the Ledocq-Brassens prize for lyric writing).

Baloji then felt an urge to go to the Congo and pursue a deeper exploration of his roots. The homecoming journey took him to Kinshasa, where he collaborated with local musicians and reworked the songs from his latest album.

The result was so exciting that he ended writing and recording six entirely new songs. The remaining tracks in the new LP are completely re-recorded and rearranged versions of songs from “Hotel Impala”. The result is “Kinshasa Succursale”, which features contributions from some of the finest musicians from Kinshasa, including Konono No.1, Soukous stars Zaïko Langa Langa, American soul maverick Amp Fiddler, a brass band (Fanfare La Confiance), a choir (Choeur La Grâce) and many more.

The way Baloji manages to change genre from one track to the other is just amazing.

The album also contains two remixes, one by UK electronic producer déBruit, and another featuring rising GhanaianAmerican hip hop artist Blitz the Ambassador. More remixes will follow soon.

“Kinshasa Succursale” has been released on Crammed Discs.

Baloji has already produced two impressive videos for songs from this album, and is working on a short film to

illustrate a third song.

He is now touring with his new exciting live band, Orchestre de la Katuba, featuring veteran guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku, formerly with Franco’s OK Jazz, Tabu Ley Rochereau and Sam Mangwana.

Baloji will perform at the Barbican, London with Orchestra Baobab on 30th January 2012.

For further information about Baloji, please visit http://www.baloji.com.

Ngoma Africa Band releases songs to mark Tanzania’s 50th Independence Anniversary

Ngoma Africa Band has released new tracks to mark Tanzania’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

The first track titled “Miaka 50 ya Uhuru” is a Rumba hit reminding the listener of old classics by Franco and his TP OK Jazz while the second track, “Shangwe” is pure Soukous.

The songs urge Tanzanians to rejoice as they celebrate an important landmark in their country’s history.

They also pay tribute to Dr Julius Nyerere, the founding father of the nation for laying a strong foundation for peace in the country. He is portrayed as a lover of peace.

“Who doesn’t know that Tanzania is a peaceful country?” the bandleader Ebrahim Makunja aka Ras Makunja who is also the

lead vocalist asks in “Miaka 50 ya Uhuru”.

The songs also pay tribute to other freedom fighters, and thank the past living presidents and the current one.

Ngoma Africa Band is one of the most famous Tanzanian bands based in Germany.

It is also known as “The Golden Voice of East Africa” because of the captivating voice of the band’s vocalists and the way they thrill fans at their concerts.

Ngoma Africa’s music is known as “Bongo dance” which is a modern version of danceable music from Tanzania and the neighbouring East African countries.

Makunja says they composed the new songs to remind the young Tanzanians of the history of their country. “We want them to celebrate but also think of the people how worked so hard for Tanzania to become an independent and peaceful country,” he says.

He urges Tanzanians to remain united

and peaceful, and rally behind their leaders for the country’s development.

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a

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No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

COMMENTARY-OP-ED

Why don’t our Black MPs speak out about race inequality?

Now more than ever we need our Black elected politicians to speak out about race inequality.

As always, during an economic downturn the challenges that Black people face become more acute. Challenges include; a worsening relationship between Black communities and the Police, much higher levels of unemployment, and a potential mental health time bomb which is already blighting many Black families.

The question is “Why aren’t more of our Black politicians, elected or otherwise - speaking out about race inequality in any forceful way?” Not only are too many keeping silent, but some such as Shaun Bailey and Chuka Umunna, are almost allowing themselves to be misquoted, because they themselves seem to suggest that class, not race, is the real barrier for most people. In that infamous David Goodhart Radio 4 programme Shaun Bailey stated: “Being seen as an angry poor criminal sat in the corner, is the problem of Black people ... I think we are a community that has been raised on a dependency culture. We are the chosen victims, and I will change that.”

More recently in an interview with The

RECIPE

Times, Umunna argued that his own middle-class upbringing ensured he had fewer barriers than someone from a Black working-class background, adding that he felt the ‘elephant in the room’ was class. The problem with Chuka’s articulation is that he ignores the fact that many middle-class Black people still face barriers of race inequality. Furthermore, he fails to mention that he has been a beneficiary of campaigners fighting for greater race equality in Parliament and beyond. In his interview with The Times, he could have much more forcibly stated, for example, that being Black and poor is a double whammy because you are still affected by racial prejudice and class barriers too.

Without careful and explicit acknowledgement of persistent racial barriers, the media and our politicians tend to believe that the real progress made on race equality somehow means that, “we have just about done with race now, so let’s move on”.

But all of this still doesn’t fully answer why our politicians almost refuse to talk about race inequality. The simple truth is if they do, the ‘dogs of hell’ are let loose on them and what too much of society see as a ‘bleating’, ‘chip on the shoulder’ Black community. For any ambitious politician therefore, raising these issues is tanta-

Moroccan Chicken or Turkey Kebab (Brochette)

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• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely chopped • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions 1. Combine all ingredients except the chicken. Add the chicken, and mix well to fully coat the meat.

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3. Transfer the chicken to skewers and grill or broil about 4 or 5 minutes on each side, or until the meat is done. Serve immediately.

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mount to political suicide.

Take Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, for example. She spent the most part of her career towing the party line, and at times to the disdain of many Muslim individuals. She often argued that “we must listen to the concerns of the BNP voters”, and that Muslims should be more British.

After demonstrating that she was a loyal political servant, Warsi felt she had earned the right to be listened to if she raised the issue of rising Islamaphobia.

“In polite society” she argued, “it seems like it was open season to abuse Black fine to rubbish Muslims”. All hell let loose. people. And whilst we all condemned the Party grandees called for her to resign. Her criminality, particularly those who endanCabinet colleagues, including the Prime gered lives, most Black people wanted our Minster distanced themselves from her Black politicians to say, “Yes but, can we comments. She kept her job, just, but the stop demonising all Black people.” flack that she received will ensure she In Salford where majority White youths won’t be raising the issue anytime soon. took part in the riots, it was seen as a social The vast majority of Black politicians issue not racial. today know if they want to get on in that Out there many Black people just didn’t Westminster bubble, they’d better not talk feel protected by the media excess and the about race inequality. Black writers and savagery of David Starkey, and Paul Ross, activists know too, that if they dare to raise who characterised the disturbances as prithese issues, they will unleash a response marily a ‘Black problem’. that only the courageous and brave will My guess is that socially and economiendure. cally the situation for Black communities I don’t always agree with the is going to get worse before it gets better.

Independent columnist Yasmin Alibhai- Therefore, we are going to need our politiBrown, but she is without doubt the most cians more than ever to raise those uncomracially abused woman in Britain today. fortable truths of persistent and growing Her crime? Well, last week she stated that race inequality. Tottenham activist Stafford Britain had become a moral leader when it Scott recently lamented that we have “too came to race equality and that’s why FIFA many politicians who see themselves as chief Sepp Blatter had been forced to politicians who just happen to be Black”. apologise.

He may be right.

Although clearly, a compliment to what Wouldn’t it be great if we had a sigour nation has achieved, it still brought out nificant number of Black politicians who the most wretched racial abuse towards exuded a Black consciousness with the her. Abuse which, sadly occurs on a week- reverse refrain - that they are Black, but ly basis. Others who have dared to speak just happen to be a politician? out, such as footballers Anton Ferdinand, Stan Collymore, and the Nottingham Black

By Simon Woolley, villager who spoke out about the Far Right Operation Black Vote Director connotations with the Union Flag, all received SEND US YOUR LETTERS death threats. It’s easy, therefore, to understand why our politicians are We welcome letters on topical issues, your expericautious, but if they ences, and or any article you have read in the become afraid of their AfroNews. Letters, not exceeding 600 words, must own shadows and simply include your full name (not necessarily for publicacannot defend us, what’s tion), address and telephone numbers for verificathe point of having greattion. Letters may be edited for publication. er Black representation?

During the summer’s E-mail: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk civil disturbances it felt

LIFESTYLE & RELIGION

No. 28. 29th Nov - 5th Dec 2011 www.theafronews.eu

19

NICE: Vaginal births safe even after multiple caesarean sections Women who are HIV positive and those who have had a previous birth by caesarean section should be offered a vaginal birth, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended.

Women who are HIV positive and those who have had a previous birth by caesarean section are normally advised to opt for a caesarean section instead of a vaginal birth.

NICE’s updated guidelines on caesarean section, want to change the practice.

The recommendations, developed following the emergence of new evidence, say that women who are HIV positive should be told that, in certain circumstances, the risk of transmission of HIV is the same for a caesarean as it is for a vaginal birth. As a consequence, such women should not be offered a caesarean section on the grounds of HIV status to prevent transmission of the dis-

ease to their baby.

The updated guideline dispels the myth that “once a caesarean, always a caesarean” as the risk of fever, bladder injuries and surgi-

cal injuries in women who have had up to and including four caesarean sections is the same for a vaginal birth as it is for a caesarean section.

Don’t drink Drop Vodka, FSA warns consumers Consumers have been warned not to drink an illegal brand of vodka called ‘Drop Vodka’, which has been found on sale in some shops.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) urged consumers not to drink the vodka because it is not registered by any company in the UK and could be harmful.

Usually, food and drink goes through rigorous testing before it is placed on the market but because ‘Drop Vodka’ is not registered, it has not been through this process, so the Agency cannot be sure what is in the product.

Tests carried out by local authorities have identified the presence of Propan-2-ol and methanol in some of the vodka, and other substances that could harm people’s health.

Colin Houston, Head of Incidents and Food Fraud at the Food Standards Agency, said: “We urge consumers not to buy ‘Drop Vodka’. It may be cheap, but people have got to ask if it is a price worth paying if their health could be at stake.

We are working closely with local authorities to catch these criminals who are trying to profit by putting people’s health at risk.”

Other tests have found that the product does not contain enough alcohol to be called vodka. Legally, vodka should contain no less than 37.5% alcohol but ‘Drop Vodka’ has levels of 28.6% alcohol. There are also some labelling issues with ‘Drop Vodka’, particularly the lack of producer’s details, which are needed to ensure that the vodka is

fully traceable.

Consumers who discover any ‘Drop Vodka’ on sale are asked to contact their local authority or call the Food Standards Agency food fraud hotline on 020 7276 8527.

To date, the illicit bottles of vodka have been found on sale in England and Wales, specifically in the towns of Scunthorpe, Norwich, Wakefield, Leeds, Salford, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Potters Bar, Aldershot, Colchester and Cardiff, though it could be on sale throughout the UK. ‘Drop Vodka’ has been found on sale in small independent retailers, corner shops, petrol stations and so on, but there is also concern that pubs and clubs may have been targeted.

The FSA has alerted local authorities about this issue and asked them to investigate and ensure that ‘Drop Vodka’ is removed from sale in their areas.

NICE has also recommended that women should be given prophylactic antibiotics before surgery rather than after it. Around one in ten women who have a caesarean section suffer infections after surgery, and this new recommendation could help to reduce the rate of infections by as much as a third without having any effect on the baby.

If a woman does decide to request a caesarean section due to anxiety about childbirth, NICE recommends that the woman is referred to a healthcare professional with expertise in providing perinatal mental health support.

This is in order to address her anxiety in a supportive manner.

A planned caesarean section should only be offered if, after discussion and offer of support, a vaginal birth is still not an acceptable option.

Dr. Gillian Leng, NICE Deputy Chief Executive, stressed that the guideline was not about offering free caesareans for all on the NHS and could actually reduce the rate by highlighting

women who do not need to have the surgery. “For a very small number of women, their anxiety about childbirth will lead them to ask for a caesarean section. The new recommendations in this guideline mean that these fears will be taken seriously and women will be offered mental health support if they need it.

“If the woman’s anxiety is not allayed by this support, then she should be offered a planned caesarean section. Offering these women a planned caesarean in these circumstances is a very long way from saying that caesarean section should automatically be offered to every woman.”

Malcolm Griffiths, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Chair of the Guideline Development Group, added: “Caesarean section is major surgery which most pregnant women want to avoid if they can. We want women who do not need to have a caesarean section to be able to avoid such surgery.”

Archbishop Williams: “Long life to the diversity of communities”

The society desperately needs to recover a sense of belonging, Archbishop Rowan Williams has said.

Speaking at the launch of Inter Faith Week 2011, the Archbishop said:”To belong is to know that there is somewhere where you don’t have to earn your position – it’s guaranteed; you are at home and you don’t have to work in order to be there.

That level of belonging is one of the crucial things which our religious identity gives to us.”

The event, arranged by the Inter Faith Network UK and held at Methodist Central Hall in London, began with formal reflections from Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, the Archbishop, and Secretary of State Eric Pickles, and then opened up to a wider discussion on “Living Well Together in Britain Today”.

The Archbishop asked that people think about “the ways in which each of our traditions draws our attention away from just serving people who are like us, to putting ourselves lovingly,

sacrificially, at the service of the whole of our environment ... meaning by that not just our fellow human beings but the very world we live in.”

The healthy and well-functioning State, he said, is not an impersonal bureaucracy which relates only to individuals but

instead works with the diversity of actual communities that exist in a society. “Power doesn’t come downwards in a pyramidal way - power is managed and negotiated between a great variety of grassroots communities.”

Dr. Williams said he hoped for a “long life to that diversity of communities; long life to that sense of active, sometimes critical, sometimes affirming, exchange between us. Long life to that sense of building up an identity through understanding the different ways in which we belong with one another.”

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