Growth & Prosperity 042215

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Photo: Mark Legendre/MK g Photography g p y

GROWTH & PROSPERITY Mapping Jamaica’s Diaspora Charting the course to a Borderless Jamaica

ALYSSA M MAHADEO/TORONTO AHAD AH ADEO EO//TO TORO RONT NTO O CARIBBEAN CARI CA RIBB BBEA EAN N “Every movement for positive movement starts in Jamaica.” The Honorable Arnaldo Brown Minister of State addressed the audience, his remarks for a better brighter future for the Jamaican people met with shouts of affirmation and thunderous applause.

On April 13th, 2015 the Jamaican Diaspora Canada Foundation (JDFC) marked the official launch of the sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

The theme for 2015’s conference, “Linking for Growth and Prosperity.” The JDFC launched back in 2004, their objective to stimulate growth and improve the Jamaican infrastructure in the interest of Jamaica, and Jamaicans throughout the world.

Miss Tika Pinnok, President of the Wolmers Alumni Association, and Master of Ceremonies for the evening, began with a brief explanation of the conference, what it entails, as well as topics dis-

cussed at conferences in the past and how they hope to build on those topics in the future, rebranding and refocusing on vision 2030.

Notable features that were brought to attention included the Marketplace, a major exposition of local and Diaspora based products and services, business to business networking, as well as the Diaspora Day of Service allowing Jamaican organizations and individuals overseas to cultivate and complete community projects of their choosing.

Mr. Lloyd Wilks, Consul General for Toronto further explained how important it was to ensure that the Jamaican people take to heart the matters at hand. It is important that the Jamaican people are engaged in their own business otherwise someone else will take it upon themself to run it however they see fit. “It is a revamped, refocused program that looks spe-

cifically at what the interests of the Diaspora are.”

JDFC strives to keep the conversation going in regards to putting in place mechanisms that looks into the interests of Jamaican’s overseas. The Ministry is devoted to dealing with Diaspora Diplomacy. The Diaspora engagement is a structure in government and is part of the foreign policy, where the most important asset are the Jamaican’s that live abroad.

This years conference invites at least 1,000 Canadian’s to be in attendance to assist in improving the quality of life in Jamaica.

The JDFC unites with long established organizations such as Jamaica National and JamPro, churches and other special interest groups and individuals who have been working for the advancement of Jamaica and the Jamaicans living in Canada over the years.

Continued On Page 10

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Sheila Trecartin; Holistic Healer and Animal Correspondent Ever since she was a little girl, Sheila Trecartin found that she had the unique ability to communicate with animals.

Her talents are special and extraordinarily her own, something that doesn’t run in the family.

She entered the holistic field, at the age of 18, dedicating her efforts to deciphering the impressions of man’s best friend.

Born in North Bay, Ontario, Sheila discovered her gift spending her youth telepathically communicating with animals. She was able to talk to any animal she came into contact with, conversing with them though her mind; they would send

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her back their impressions and she was able to learn things about them. She was unaware that no one else was able to do this, and hid her talents until after she left home.

After graduating with a degree in business, Sheila found herself re-acquainting herself with the animals and she developed a way to communicate with them. She became the founder of Ultimate Healing Concepts where she has made it her own personal mission to voice the thoughts and feelings of the animals that wish to be heard. For Sheila, all communications with animals are non-verbal.

All messages are exchanged through images, patters and feeling sensations presented by the animal. During a session Sheila connects with an animal through their energy, and in turn she communicates the imagery that comes to her mind.

All of the animals that she has connected with have shared with her very unique and sometimes very relevant information.

“Pets are very intuitive, they know when something is wrong, they can sense when their owners, or someone they know might have some type of medical concerns that they themselves might be unaware of,” she shares.

Sheila is not only able to read animals, but people as well. She does it in the same way; with their permission she doesn’t delve into their minds, but reads the energy, auras and chakra around them. “You can’t just go poking around in someone’s mind without their permission,” she explains, “You can only

read someone if they are willing to be read.”

Sheila has two pets of her own a German Shepard named Flirt, and a turtle named Pedro. They both have their own unique personalities; her turtle is a soul who will talk about almost anything. He enjoys having philosophical conversations to anyone who will listen.

Though her talents are unusual, Sheila firmly believes that everyone has the ability to perform these holistic and psychic modalities ourselves. She believes that we only need to awaken them within ourselves and practice them in order to fully understand them. For this reason, Sheila has developed and offers many on-going workshops and seminars using her knowledge and years of experience as a guide for others.

Shelia will be one of the many speakers in attendance at The Toronto Caribbean Business Expo taking place this Sunday April 26th, at The Red Rose Convention Centre in Mississauga. Her talk will focus on teaching business owners about trusting their intuition when it comes down to business, and help them to empower themselves to make better business decisions. She will educate the audience on how and when to trust that gut feeling and use their inner voice to their advantage.

For more about Shelia visit her website at www.sheilatrecartin.com Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Photo: Mark Legendre/MK Photography

Soulful Image Magazine Launch, A Huge Success Emily Singh TC Reporter “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”-B. R. Ambedkar.

Tracey-Acadia Thomas is without a doubt a woman of strength, courage, dedication and more importantly God who is bringing change to the community. Thomas is the backbone behind Soulful Woman Ministries and Soulful Image Magazine. The official launch of Soulful Image Magazine and the celebration of its one-year anniversary took place Saturday

inside the Gospel Café & Restaurant in Mississauga. The evening was nothing short of amazing. The hosts for this wonderful event, Allister Thomas and Cheryl Nembhard had everyone laughing with the lighthearted humor and larger than life personalities.

The décor, food, music and atmosphere were impeccable, but it was the entertainment that had everyone captivated. Gospel singer Londa Larmond’s beautiful voice captured the hearts of everyone present and blew the crowd away. Andria Thompson wearing a stunning dress by Beni Boo put on an amazing fashion show featuring fashionable church attire. The girls modeled modest yet trendy and fun outfits that can accentuate any and every body type out there. The gentleman in the audience even got up and put on an impromptu fashion show, with life coach specialist Steve Kerr stealing the show! However Josephine Casey’s poem dedicated to Thomas was nothing short of amazing. Every verse, every line was written with Thomas and everything she

embodies and stands for in mind.

Soulful Image Magazine is a dream that was brought to fruition one year ago when founder and editor in chief, Tracey-Acadia Thomas realized she was meant to be the instrument to share the word of God. The magazine features many sections such as: Health & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Mind Your Business and Finance and even a Soul Therapy section.

The aim is to open the lines of communication within the community and get people talking in order to evoke change and growth.

There were a number of vendors at the launch as well selling and showcasing everything from handmade jewelry to fragrances.

Moy Fung, author of You Inspire Me: The Entrepreneurial Women’s Guide to Leveraging Pain took to the stage to share her thoughts regarding business and finance.

What is a party without cake? In celebration of Soulful Image Magazine turning one a stunning cake with the cover of three editions of the magazine was created. It surely tasted as

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According to the Soulful Woman Ministries website the vision is to help strengthen women from all walks of life toward their God given destinies. Our outreach vision is to reach battered and abused women and single mothers. We plan to cultivate, motivate, uplift and build these women, allowing them to share their gifts with others, building their strengths and giving them the ability to find help in areas of weakness. The magazine in and of itself is visually stunning. The colorful layout and funky text makes it’s truly eye catching yet informative at the same time.

Thomas’s passion and dedication to the ministry and the magazine has made that vision possible and continues to enrich the lives of women everywhere.

Visit www.soulfulwomanministries. com for information on upcoming events, outreach programs and getting involved with Tracey, her life changing movement with the ministry and Soulful Image Magazine.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN Photo: Damian Sogren

Jamaica Carnival 2015 brought the Soca vibe to the Reggae capital Damian Sogren TC Reporter For those who experienced it, Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival 2015 was truly an exciting affair of fun and festivity in the land of Soca and Calypso music.

After a forty period of abstinence, rest and reflection (AKA Lent) the Carnival Caravan continued in beautiful ‘Jamrock’ as Jamaica kicked off the 2015 postEaster partying.

Kingston’s top Soca promoters brought forward a week of events to appease the feting public.

For many the ‘I love Soca’ cooler fete commenced the Carnival week.

The uptown bring your own drinks party was held at the Hope Gardens and was a fun, relaxing reunion for those who had just flown in for the action and for others it was an extension of the excitement experienced at the previous weekend’s Beach J’ouvert.

Up next Soca-philes headed to the suburban, community of Jacks Hill for the annual Frenchmen ‘Blocko’. Faithful feters were literally shuttled into this allround well organized event. Blocko boasted attendees decked out in all forms of impressive apparel and footwear, however, this did not hold them back from partying into the wee hours of the morning to the sounds of both local and foreign DJs.

Fantastic Friday in Kingston brought plenty of action as Carnival Junkies descended on Kingston’s National Stadium for the annual ‘Bacchanal J’ouvert’ hosted by the Bacchanal Jamaica group.

This event featured a performance by Soca Queen Destra Garcia and all the paint, powder and ‘dutty mas’ which Jamaica Carnival faithful have come to know and embrace.

Straight from the ‘bruk out’ to breakfast, the J’ouvert jumpers (some still completely covered in paint and others freshly bathed) ended up at the Sunrise Breakfast Party. Considered by many to be the best fete of the Carnival weekend the breakfast party offered an authentic Caribbean/International breakfast spread, premium drinks, music by top selectors and surprise performances by Soca King Machel Montano and Blaxx.

Soca fans were torn on Carnival Saturday as to whether to attend the allinclusive Frenchmen ‘Bazodee’ or to get rest for the following day’s Road March parade. Patrons who chose to patronise Bazodee, partied hard and got enough sleep in order to hit the road for Sunday’s Bacchanal Jamaica Road March.

One of the biggest and most impactful Road Marches in recent times, the 2015 edition saw involvement from many locals and out-of-towners.

Jamaica’s Carnival 2015 not only saw participation from Trinidadian entertainers e.g. Machel, Destra, Private Ryan and Hypa Hoppa but also from Jamaican personalities such as Shaggy, Ms. Kitty, Walshy Fire and Yendi Phillips who showed their regional counterparts that when it comes to Carnival the ‘yardies’ certainly know how to party.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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6 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Three Rivers Kids Foundation hosts fundraising gala for Mission2015 Alyssa Mahadeo TC Reporter Since 2008, The Three Rivers Kids Foundation has dedicated their efforts to aiding the sick children of Guyana. Their mission is to help those children that are in desperate need of medical treatments, but their parents are unable to afford medical care. Together they inspire a better, brighter future for the children and their parents so that they can continue to live a long and happy life.

In the beginning, The Three Rivers Foundation started out by helping children that suffered from Congenital Heart Disease. They quickly realized that there were many other unfortunate children that desperately needed medical treatments and so they broadened their horizons to include children with many other severe medical disorders.

On Saturday April 11th, they hosted a fundraising dinner and dance in hopes of raising money to put towards Mission 2015.

This year’s mission is sending eight children

along with their mothers to India to undergo medical treatments in September 2015. The estimated cost of this operation is approximately US$55,000. “The cases that are going out are very costly, and we need at least $50,000 in contingency funds for unforeseen circumstances, explains Jeanette Singh, President of the Three Rivers Kids Foundation.

The evening was filled with live entertainment, by local community dance groups, The Chameli Girls, Desi Girls, and the talented students of Footsteps Academy while DJ services were provided courtesy of Karibbean Impact Sound Crew. All of the time and efforts of the performers were donated to the foundation, these young men and women hoping to offer what they could to make the evening as successful and enjoyable as possible.

The Three Rivers Kids Foundation is a registered Charitable Organization in Ontario. Since their inception in 2005 the foundation has helped approximately 140 children to date. The foundation has no overhead costs such as office rent, utility bills, or salaries. All of the board members are unpaid volunteers. Every dollar donated goes directly to helping the children. Unfortunately, Guyana does not have any pediatric cardiac surgeons and has very few medical special-

ists and facilities and so the children have to be brought overseas for treatment. Most of these children suffer from life threatening conditions and will not survive if they do not receive the proper medical care. This foundation also supplies medications to children from Guyana on a regular basis as well as wheel chairs, commodes, prescription eye glasses, and hearing aids.

There were over 550 people in attendance at the fundraising dinner and dance, and many generous donations were contributed throughout the evening. The first donation presented was from Mr. Satrohan Persaud who gave $2,000 to help the foundations initiative. The foundation was also in receipt of a $5,000 contribution from Mr. Ranjeet Dukhu who heard of the charity a few years back and made a donation in memory of his mother, on the one year anniversary of her death. And finally, another substantial contribution was made to The Three Rivers Kids Foundation on behalf of long-time supporter Mr. Dhaman Kissoon from the Kissoon Golf Tournament who donated $10,000 to aid in the efforts of providing the children of Guyana with the medical care and treatments that they need.

There are over 100 children on the waiting list to be sent overseas to receive treatment, however last year Three Rivers

Kids Foundation President Jeanette Singh received some excellent news and was informed that all children in Guyana suffering from Congenital Heart Disease would be sent to the Dominican Republic for treatment. All of the surgeries will be performed at no cost by The Baby Heart Foundation.

Last year, The Three Rivers Kids foundation provided travel expenses to the Dominican Republic for patients Aliya Yipsam, Kailah Mohabir and their mothers.

“When you are poor, and you have no choice it’s better than nothing,” explains President Singh. “These children are suffering from conditions, some of which have causes unknown.” The Three Rivers Kids Foundation will be hosting their next event on September 20th, 2015, when the children will be brought from Guyana, and then sent off to India for their treatments. President Jeanette Singh encourages anyone willing to help out to come forward and offer their services preparing meals, or donating clothes and travel kits for the children and their parents. The Three Rivers Kids Foundation raised approximately $20,000 towards their efforts to help the children of Guyana, and will continue to take strides towards improving and forever changing the lives of even more children in the future.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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JCA annual Walk-A-Thon Kendra Ferguson TC Reporter It is almost that time again when the Jamaican Association (JCA) hosts its Annual Fundraising Walkathon, “Walk Good Walk-A-Thon�.

Rain or shine, this annual event will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 10a.m. sharp. Registration and breakfast begins at 8a.m., opening remarks at 9:45a.m., and participants are asked to have a minimum of $100 in pledges.

Under the theme: “Walking for a Brighter Future�, the walk begins and ends

at the JCA building, which is located 995 Arrow Rd. Toronto (Southwest of Finch Ave. and Highway 400).

The goal of this fundraising event is to raise $100,000 to support the JCA’s Scholarship Fund, the Saturday Morning Tutorial Program and The Building Fund, in addition to the contributions of the many community organizations. “As a community, it is imperative that we support each other, and over the years the various community organizations have doubled and tripled. We undoubtedly believe that through this combined effort we will achieve and exceed our goal,� said JCA’s President.

Expressing gratitude, Jully Black, CEO of Jully Black Entertainment Inc, International Artist and PanAm/Parapan Ambassador said, “People know my story, I was raised in the Jane and Finch area to a single mom of nine kids, I am a proud Jamaican and to know that the community that supported me as I grew, I now can support them, I can now pay it forward – it’s a beautiful thing.�

“Through the 2015 immigration plan we will welcome a record number of individuals who will contribute to our economy and labour market.�

- Hon. Chris Alexander, MP Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

JCA are pleased to have a number of organizations that participate and support this major community event. These organizations includes The Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (Toronto), Bethel Restoration Ministries, Black Health Alliance; Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development, Jamaica Visionaries Association, Jully Black Entertainment Inc, Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), P.A.C.E {Canada} (Project for Advancement of Childhood Education), The Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and Tropicana Community Service. “Walk Good� is a well-known Jamaican expression used often by the late Honourable Louise Bennett Coverley and is part of the JCA campaign theme for the annual fundraising walkathon.

JCA said that the success they have achieved over the years would not have been possible without their faithful patrons and sponsors. JCA would like to thank Zanana Akande, Bernice Bailey, Brand EQ/Nadine Spencer, Daphne Bailey, Barry Coke (Presi-

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dent of JCA), Kamala-Jean Gopie, Ena Harrison, Dr. Carolyn Jarrett, Francis McDonald, Jennifer McFarlane, Ismay Murray, Charis Newton, Pamela Powell, Hon. Judy Sgro (MP, York West), Leon Sutherland, Barbara Thomas, Dr. Sharon Whiting, Lloyd Wilks (Consul General of Jamaica).

They would also like to thank their sponsors CHRY-FM, Jamaica National Building Society and JN Money Transfer and MoneyGram International Inc. (Moneygram).

The Jamaican Canadian Association was founded in August 1962 and is a non-profit, charitable organization that works to improve the quality of life of the African/ Caribbean community living in Canada by addressing its rapidly expanding and diverse social needs.

JCA looks forward to seeing old and new participants during the 5K or 10K walk or jog, as all are welcomed.

To make a contribution or pledge, contact the JCA by calling (416) 746-5772 or email info@jcaontario.org or visit www.jcaontario.org

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Double Digicel winners in Scarborough Emily Singh TC Reporter Digicel does it again! Two more lucky winners walk away with $1,000 USD just by topping up from Toronto with Digicel! The first winner, Scarborough resident Josiah Henville uses Digicel regularly to send top ups back home

to St.Lucia. Little did he know he last top up he sent from Gibbo’s West Indian Foods which is a Digicel Beacon Store would leave him $1,000 richer!

“I felt pretty excited when I won,” says Henville. “As of right now I’m just going to bank it and save it up. I use Digicel all the time to send top ups to St.Lucia, all my family lives there.”

The excitement in Scarborough didn’t stop with Henville! Sheraz Mohammed also took $1,000 USD! The top up was sent from the popular Drupati’s Roti Shop to Mohammed’s loved ones overseas in Trinidad.

Digicel Country Manager, Chris Hardy was all smiles as he handed over the money to the pair.

The rules are simple. Digicel top ups

made from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are all eligible to win the $1,000 prize. The larger amount you top up the greater chance you have of winning! Top ups of $10-$14.99 gets you one chance, $15$24.99 gets you five chances, $25-$34.99 gets you ten chances and anything over $35 gives you the best chance at twenty.

The Digicel Group currently has thirty three markets across the Caribbean as well as the Asia Pacific and Central America. After thirteen years Digicel is still able to maintain reliable and affordable networks and service.

Don’t wait! Give your loved ones in the Caribbean the gift of Digicel top ups today! The promotion has been extended until April 30th 2015.

St. Vincent and the Grenadinesʼ new Argyle International Airport to become the second most eco-friendly in Eastern Caribbean Region ST. VINCENT -- Travelers seeking an unparalleled experience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (“SVG”) can soon look forward to exploring the magnificence of this 32-isle nation in the southern Caribbean with a much more streamlined route. History continues to be made as the SVG government and the International Airport Development Company (IADC) build Argyle International Airport, the country’s first international airport, expected to open at the end of 2015. Plans toward making Argyle a “green” airport will move a step closer this month, when officials of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) return to SVG to sign a loan agreement for USD$750,000 towards the setting up of a Solar Photovoltaic System at the new airport. The system will help reduce electricity costs at Argyle, making it the second airport in the eastern Caribbean region to be solar powered, following the debut of the solar farm at St. Kitt’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. Argyle will eventually provide two megawatts of electricity, but in the first phase of development provide 220 kilowatts, partially powering its terminal building.

Ambassador Lorne McDonnough, CEO of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), when speaking about the loan, explained that the project being initiated at the Argyle International Airport is a pilot project to meet the needs of the new airport at peak demand and full operation. It is part of a larger green program for the CDF, which is promoting environmentally friendly energy projects in

the region and is striving to establish the plant at Argyle as a flagship for the initiative.

“Our new Argyle International Airport is going to transform the tourism industry, making SVG one of the most sought-after and ‘green’ destinations in the eastern Caribbean,” said Glen Beache, CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority. “In addition, the new airport terminal, which will be partially powered by solar energy, has been carefully sized to accommodate our expected growth in passenger traffic over both the medium and long term.”

Argyle International Airport is the largest development project ever undertaken in SVG and is a critical cog in the evolution of the multifaceted, multi-island destination’s growing hospitality sector. The new airport (which will replace the existing ET Joshua Airport) will offer nonstop international jet service from North American and European gateways.

To-date, Argyle is progressing well: the terminal construction is complete; the paving of the runway has been underway and should be completed by approximately mid-June; and the current completion date is July with the airport slated to open at the end of 2015. The progress on the new airport has sparked the interest of major carriers from the U.S., Canada and Europe along with leading hotel and resort companies who are taking a closer look at investment opportunities in SVG. Developed by the International Airport Development Company (IADC), a private

limited liability company wholly owned by the government of SVG, Argyle’s new terminal building will have three floors with 129,870 square feet of floor space – designed to handle about 1.5 million passengers per year, more than five times the number of passengers currently passing through the existing airport.

The Argyle International Airport will sit on roughly 175 acres of land, with a paved runway 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport is designed to accommodate jets as large as Boeing 747-400s. Upon completion, the terminal building will contain a departure lounge, concessions area, rooftop restaurant, a conference center facility with a rooftop garden and vehicle parking.

The project for the new international airport initially broke ground in August 2007 and is a US$240 million investment, the country’s most costly capital project in its history.

It is being financed by the SVG government, as well as by grants, donations and loans from a diverse group of countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Austria, Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar and Taiwan – all of which has created a “game changer” for SVG and contributed to a new paradigm in financial funding of large capital projects in these “new” global economic times. Under the financing, the earth and site works for the new airport has involved an astounding removal of three mountains, filling two valleys, creating embankments, and spanning a river.

Borderless Jamaica Alyssa Mahadeo TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- For Jamaicans living in Canada, the benefits of attending this conference is to provide an outlet in which they can be informed of what goes on in Jamaica, and offers a chance to help in the development of policies to facilitate returning residents and investment opportunities in Jamaica.

Young Jamaicans are going to be one of the biggest topics of discussion at this year’s conference; how to get second, third,

and forth generations to be involved and interested in the Jamaican state and what it will look like in the next couple of years. The Jamaican Canadian Youth Council (JCYC) is a fairly new organization that hopes to work to establish a strong network of corporate and social partnership within the Jamaican Diaspora. Mr. Jewel Wade and Ms. Renee Wilkinson executives of JCYC, shared that their values and teachings support the entrepreneurial talents and creativity of the youth.

In addition, there are plans of facilitating and formulating grassroots organizations that address these diverse needs and demolish universal racism. Currently they are taking long hard strides towards participating in community events, and working collaboratively with other youth organizations. They hope to participate in the conference this June to help build the foundation for the generations to come.

The Hon. Arnaldo Brown MP Minister of State, keynote addressee for

the evening sang the praises of the Jamaican Nation commending the audience on the level of commitment shown in preparation for the conference. His message was to expel any uncertainty that the Jamaican people wouldn’t go to any lengths to ensure advancement of the movement. “I want to eradicate any doubt that Jamaica’s culture is world class!”

The Minister of State further explained that the Jamaican people have to step up and recognize the potential they have to be leaders. “It’s time that we recognize the value that we have and the value that the world places on us, the world looks toward Jamaica for leadership.”

The sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference 2015 will take place from June 13th - 18th in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

For more information on how to get involved, or if you are interested in learning more about registering for the conference visit www.jamaicandiaspora.gov.jm

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Toronto Caribbean contributor, authour and health speicalist set to ʻlaunchYour daily heath FREE online Telesummitʼ for women TORONTO -- Summer is fast approaching and did you know that 80% of people that set their New Year’s Resolutions have failed to follow through? What has been your success rate in the past? Do you want to be the successful 20% who stick with it and make your health and wellness goals a reality?

As professional women, we seem to take on the world at times and play the role of superwoman but is that really the healthiest thing for us to do? Helping you have a health transformation is one of the big reasons Monique Bartlett created her FREE online event the Your Daily Health Telesummit. As an author, speaker and health and wellness coach with both personal and professional experience in the field of weight loss, Monique invites you to join her by signing up at http://urdailyhealth.com .

Beginning May 11, Monique is hosting an entire seven day online training with thirteen health and wellness experts in their fields. The goal is to show professional women how to achieve health and wellness goals in losing weight, boosting energy, re-

ducing stress, increasing mental clarity and productivity. There will be two interviews per day at 2pm and 7pm on topics such as personal development, weight loss, selfhealing, mental health, detox, emotional eating, the Law of Attraction and so much more. If you can’t attend this event live, there will be replays made available so sign up anyway.

The thirteen health and wellness experts will each be offering you a special gift to help transform your life. Don’t worry, they are all absolutely free. If you are a professional women who is overweight, exhausted, stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or lacks time and energy because the needs of your husband, children or career come before your own then you need to sign up now.

You will have the opportunity to start taking small steps to make reasonable changes in your life and come away with some major a-ha moments. If you have been trying to make changes to your health and lifestyle, but are unable to make breakthroughs beyond a certain point, sign up for

the Your Daily Health Telesummit now at http://urdailyhealth.com Maybe it’s not just the matter of willpower at the present moment that is preventing you from succeeding. Some women, when they achieve success, will do something to decrease their overall happiness, or self-sabotage themselves. They think that they don’t deserve to be happy. This event will help you to uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your health and wellness. You will leave this event renewed, inspired, and ready to finally take action to get the results you want once and for all.

Make sure to invite other special women who you know would benefit from this event as well. Like Monique’s Facebook Page at Monique Bartlett Author or send her an email at monique@moniquebartlett.com and let her know what you’re most interested in learning at this event. Taking action is the first step to success, so sign up for the Your Daily Health Telesummit now at http://urdailyhealth.com #yourdailyhealth

Fazal Mohammed gets 22 years for killing 8-year-old boy GUYANA -- Justice Brassington Reynolds has imposed a 22-year sentence on child killer Fazal Mohammed, after describing the act as senseless.Senior Probation and Social Service Officer, Ms. Voonashewarie Gopaul, painted a grim picture of the convict, a product of a broken marriage, and whose childhood years were laced with cigarettes and alcohol usage.

However, Defence Counsel Raymond Ali, noted that his client’s plea to the lesser count follows a hung jury decision on June 15, 2014, and pleaded with the Honourable court to give full credit for the plea.

Additionally, Ali, while pleading for leniency, disputed the State’s assertion, that Mohammed showed no remorse for his actions, and argued that his client had indeed been repentant which resulting in him confessing to manslaughter.

Earlier, Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Mrs. Judith Gildharie Mursalin, noted that the incident was a horrific case in which a young child was brutally beaten to death.

The State Prosecutrix pleaded with the Court to send a strong, clear message of condemnation of the depraved act by the accused, who showed no remorse.

In rehashing the facts, she said that in August 2012, Shahid Makutnauth called ‘Buddy’, then eight-years-old, lived with his parents and five siblings at Number 68 Village, Squatting Area in Berbice.

On August 20, 2012 at about 17:00hrs, Shahid’s parents had a misunderstanding which resulted in his mother Anita Persaud consuming kerosene, and had to be taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, leaving behind her children in the care of the eldest child, 12-year-old Alisha Feroze.

Two hours later, Ms Persaud re-

turned home, and after not finding Shahid, subsequently made a missing person report with the police.

Thereafter, the police made contact with the convict at the village rum shop, where he informed them that he had seen the missing child the previous day and that he was hungry, and as a result, he had taken Shahid to his sister’s home, where he was given a meal, before being escorted back to the Public road.

But, when questioned, the sister of the accused Shazenna Mohammed, whilst in her brother’s presence, denied ever seeing him and Shahid at her home at any time.

According to her, following a misunderstanding with her sibling on August 18, 2012, she did not see him until three days later while he was detained by police.

On August 22, 2012, Detective Corporal Dwayne Harvey acting on certain information, proceeded to an area in a clump of bushes, about a mile off the main access road, where the motionless naked body of the child was lying in a swamp.

Government Pathologist Dr Vivikenand Brijmohan, during a post mortem examination, found that Shahid had sustained a clean cut, surgical like dissection of the skin of the anterior chest and upper abdomen with a horizontal upper border and above the nipples.

Further, there was a large lacerated wound to the fronto-parietal areas with fractures of the skull bones.

Additionally, there was an open compound fracture of the right lower forearm with the hand hanging loosely. He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

Following his arrest, the then accused gave a caution statement to the police, in which he claimed he saw ‘Boy’, on a street

and he took him down a dam at Number 68 Village.

“I then cuff ‘Boy’, plenty times to his head and I pushed him down. I then pick up a piece of hard stick and I lash him in his head plenty time. He started to cry, and when I see blood I left.

I beat ‘Boy’ for about five minutes.

I then went by my sister fence and sleep there. It was under her bottom house and she did not know. I woke up and went to Number 68 Village back street around 05:45hrs.

At about 10:00hrs am, Anita collect me and take me to Springlands Police Station and I was locked up. The police told me that ‘Boy’ was dead.”

Prior to imposing the sentence, Justice Brassington addressed the prisoner: “I have listened to the summary of the facts which was not contested by the defence, the probation report, and the plea in mitigation.

“I have recognised that you are a young man, and as your lawyer asked, I ask whether there is a chance of rehabilitation.

I recognise that you have had an unfortunate childhood…at a very early age, your upbringing was plagued by unfortunate incidents. You get no credit for the use of drinks and drugs and it could not be an excuse for your behaviour. This is a senseless, snuffing out of the life of a young man in the prime of his life in a brutal, heinous and unprovoked manner. Initially, having regard to the facts, and the manner of the offense, I consider 25 to 30 years. This is against the backdrop of your own age. I have discounted five years for the plea of guilt and an additional three years for time spent as a remanded prisoner.

There is nothing more for your credit. Therefore, the sentence of this court is 22 years.”

- Guyana Chronicle

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 11

12 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

New mom dead after C-section at Mt Hope TRINIDAD -- Keisha Ayers never got the chance to bond with her bouncing baby boy.

The first-time mother died at 24, mere days after giving birth via caesarean section at the Women’s Hospital, Mount Hope.

Her common-law-husband, Juma Charles, 30, says it all started on the night of April 8, when he took her to the hospital where she was admitted.

After going through labour for over 12 hours, Ayers, who endured a full semester of nine-months, wanted to give birth naturally, was taken to the operating theatre where the C-section was done.

On April 9, at about 9.22 pm, baby Daniel Charles was born. He was a healthy baby and weighed close to eight pounds.

But Charles told the Guardian Monday that he was told by doctors that his baby boy had to be hospitalised for the next seven days because the baby allegedly got infected with bacteria in his blood and as a result had to be placed on antibiotics.

Ayers, of Santa Rosa, Arima, was subsequently discharged on April 13 during the lunchtime visiting hours.

“This is where it got strange because Keisha, to me, was in no way ready to be discharged. When she had called me that morning she told me she was discharged and had fainted while changing her clothes. She also told me she was vomiting constantly.

While there, she was given painkillers and tablets for upset stomach,” Charles said.

“Even when I went to the neo-natal ward to pick her up, she was vomiting while signing her documents and nothing was done by the nurses or doctors there,” he added.

Charles said when he took her home, Ayers continued to complain of excruciating pains and her legs “locking-up.”

“I thought it was natural that because of the C-Section she would be experiencing pains for a few days so I kept rubbing her with ointment to help relieve the pain but it continued and grew worse. I even noticed that her eyes were looking sort of strange.”

Charles said last Monday, they got a call saying that the baby was discharged.

He explained that because of the condition Ayers was in, he decided to go to the hospital by himself to receive the baby, but while there was told that it was hospital’s policy for the mother to be there to receive the baby.

He said he further explained to the nurses and doctors but they would not give him his baby.

Charles went back home and got Ayers dressed and took her to the hospital.

“When I took her, she was in pains and vomiting and they never even checked up on her. They just gave her papers to sign and then released the baby. We went home after but she was too weak and in extreme pain. She vomited everything she ate and drank.”

On Friday, Charles said Ayers’ condition worsened and she grew weaker than usual.

“All this time I am thinking it is because of the C-Section she was like this but when I saw she got worse I decided to take her to the hospital.”

Charles got her dressed and held her up as he tried to walk her to his vehicle.

Upon reaching the front door of their home, Ayers fell on her knees.

“She told me she was too weak and couldn’t go on. So I sat on the floor with her and held her. I called the ambulance and within 15 minutes they arrived. But before the ambulance got there I remember her body feeling cold and I put my hand by her nose to feel her breath but it was very slight,” he said.

Charles said when the paramedics arrived they quickly placed her in the ambulance and took her to the Arima District Hospital.

“I followed with my car and when I reached the paramedics told me to go to the front and sign up some documents. While I was there, one of the paramedics came and told me to come inside. That was when I was told that she had died. She died before they reached the hospital,” he said.

Weeping, Charles called for answers. “I am broken with her gone. I need answers from the doctors and nurses.”

An autopsy will be performed on Ayers’ body today at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope.

- Trinidad Guardian

Historic legal ganja tree planted at UWI JAMAICA -- The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, planted its first legal ganja (marijuana) plant Monday, symbolising its position as the pioneer in legally cultivating and researching the benefits of the drug in Jamaica.

Emotive adjectives coloured the presentations from government and university officials at the function marking the event, at the Agora Gardens, Faculty of Medical Sciences Teaching and Research Complex.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining Phillip Paulwell suggested that it was “a wonderful day”, while UWI principal, Professor Archibald McDonald, pronounced it a “historic and amazing day”.

“If we can play our cards right, good things can happen for the people of Jamaica,” Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, who piloted the Bill in the Senate decriminalising the drug, commented.

Under the provisions of a ministerial order issued by Paulwell recently, under the Dangerous Drugs Act, the UWI, Mona, as well as the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) are now licensed to grow ganja for research purposes.

Monday’s event was to witness the planting of the first legal ganja plant on the UWI campus.

Paulwell explained that he issued the order under Section 7 (d) of the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, which was passed by Parliament in February.

He said that the order was “absolutely critical” if Jamaica is to be cited as the place for medicinal research and development of the product.

“We now have an opportunity to catch up (and) I want Jamaica to be the centre of excellence for research in medicinal ganja,” Paulwell said.

He stated that the order will also allow the university to contract farming of the weed outside of the Mona campus, but suggested that, when that is done, the university should pay particular attention to the small farmers.

He said that the law also allows him to grant authorisation to other bodies.

However, he warned those interested in the commercial aspects of the drug to start by looking at their own research and development capabilities, and the opportunities being created at the university for research and development.

Professor McDonald, noting that the UWI has recently assumed pole position among tertiary institutions in the Caribbean, thanked the Government and the parliament

for making the ganja experiment possible.

“Almost two years ago this was the most conservative institution in the Caribbean, and today here we are planting the first legal ganja plant after 102 years,” McDonald said.

He said that ganja had been demonised for economic reasons, and alcohol and cigarettes were never so demonised because they originated in the northern countries.

“Ganja originated from countries in the south, therefore, it was important that the interests of alcohol and cigarettes were protected,” he said.

He said that the UWI will now do the necessary research aimed at providing the scientific basis to show that ganja is a medicine, and is effective against a range of diseases.

Senator Golding, meanwhile, reiterated that the interest of the Rastafarian community would be protected.

He said that there were three areas to protect their interest: (1) entitlement to certain lands designated for cultivation for sacramental purposes; (2) places of worship to be designated as such for the use of ganja as a sacrament; (3) and events primarily for observing the faith to be exempted from the Act. Golding also said that he will also be setting up an advisory group to give guidance on how the permits are to be issued..

- Jamaica Observer

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 13

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Could Grenada be the next Carnival Promise Land?

One way to find out…

Aba Luke Entertainment Jamaica’s carnival now over, the rest of the world waits with bated breath to see whether any other Caribbean carnival can truly compare, or bring something to the table when it comes to the sweetness of a Trinbago mas-

querade jump-up. Every festival has its own touch of sweetness we think, so it’s safe to say that come August, carnival enthusiasts can expect something unique in every sense, when they visit Grenada. Something’s brewing though and it’s a lot more than simply spice tea on the spice isle. They’re serving up VIBES they say, and to us, that sounds incredible!

For the past two years EtceteraBuzz has experienced the energy of Spice Mas and we can say, it’s a wonderful, authentic experience. Grenada by no means offers a Trinbago carnival- but they do offer something that’s refreshingly natural, un-tweaked and untamed- just the way we like it!

This year, the festival takes place from August 1st- August 10th. Their J’ouvert- revered by some as the best in the world, takes place on August 9th. Now, that’s something you can’t afford to miss. Several parties offer a rich vibe of unadulterated fun during the carnival countdown days, including White In The Moonlight and of course Summer Crew’s Bikini cruise, which happens aboard two boats, simultaneously. The rides are always sold out and the reviews are always great!

This year, Trinidad and Tobago will represent again in Grenada with Flavour De Mas and its contingent of carnival loving Trinbagonians sailing over from August 7th

to August 13th. Their packages start at $295 USD and we’ve learnt that there’ll be two sailings from Trinidad to Grenada and back so there’ll be enough room for you and your crew! And in case you were wondering how long it takes to get from T&T to Grenada via boat- it’s just three (3) hours. The fast ferry initiative is dubbed Pure Vibez this year and that’s certainly what they’re promising. Interested? Call Anton Alleyne at 868-374 6802 or Charlene Clarke at 868-781 0017.

This just might be the fun you’ve been seeking so hey, live a little!

- EtceteraBuzz

Destra responds - Artiste says fence was larger than the norm

Destra Garcia is making herself clear this afternoon. She’s been the topic of heated debate online and across the airwaves in Trinidad and Tobago for the past few hours, this following a Jamaica Observer report yesterday that highlighted the ‘Bacchanalist’s’ 20 minute stance taken at Jamaica’s Bacchanal J’ouvert event held in St. Andrew this past weekend. In a statement issued a short while ago, Garcia said she has no problem with VIP areas at fetes but argued that the fence erected at this particular fete, prohibited the free movement of the General admission patrons- something she could not stand by and

see.

forms.

Destra’s Statement: Destra Garcia, the Queen of Bacchanal, is assuring fans and promoters alike that she has no issue with VIP sections or fences constructed at events, following reports of her refusal to perform at a fete in Jamaica until a fence was removed.

Destra, who has been a staple act at the annual Bacchanal Jamaica party from inception, says that as a Soca ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, she seeks to carry the true Carnival experience wherever she per-

The fence in question, she explains, was a bigger than usual vertical barricade which left the General admission crowd with little room to move as her songs commanded.

Reiterating that Soca music is unifying music, Destra says in the future, the promoters should construct the fence along the stage or in a manner that it does hinder patrons from enjoying the experience to the fullest.

She says while she understands that there are people who pay more to enjoy

a premium experience, she believes everyone should have space to enjoy themselves freely.

Destra wishes to thank the promoters of Bacchanal Jamaica for their continued support as she prepares to continue her Caribbean tour with performances in Grenada this coming weekend, St Maarten on April 24 and the St Lucia Jazz Festival on April 30.

- EtceteraBuzz

14 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Remaining open Simone Smith A Better Tomorrow Speaking as an educator working in Toronto, I encounter people from every race, religion and culture. As a human being, I have my personal views and beliefs. Respect is important when dealing with people on a day to day basis; it is even more important when I am dealing with my clients. Awareness of self is important for any individual who

works in the mental health field. I make it a requirement to take time to do an inventory of self. This inventory allows me to think of issues that could affect the way that I deal with my clients. I take time to write down personal traits about myself that I like or dislike. I note any personal issues that I might be having at the time. I think about my biases and prejudices. Do I have any feelings of resentment towards certain religions? Asking myself these questions allows me to understand the thoughts and feelings that I may have towards some of my clients.

For example, when working with families of a different religion, I am sure to respect their religious practices along with their cultural beliefs. I learn these things by asking appropriate questions and opening myself to understand things through the eyes

of my client. The only way to correct inappropriate behavior is to know that the behavior exists. At times I will even get involved in their religious celebrations. Doing so allows me to bond with these families because they see that I am open to learning. I have currently taken up the task of learning The Quran. It makes sense to me to learn more about what my families believe in. This does not mean that I am going to adopt their religious views, but at least I am able to respectfully move along with them. It brings a sense of comfort to them, plus the children love the idea that they are able to teach their teacher something new. I am able to do this and still stay true to my own beliefs.

During my family intake, I am sure to gather all the information required to understand my clients and understand their dy-

namics. Questions about their beliefs may seem unimportant to some but it allows me to connect with my patient. They see that I am doing my best to understand them. It also allows my client to eventually be able to open themselves up about issues that I could help them with in the future. The rest of my learning is done while I am working with these families. It is important for individuals who work in the community to detach themselves from their ego. The ego will blind you from learning more about your environment.

It is possible to stay true to your beliefs yet embrace the beliefs of other; this takes practice and training. One must never come to the point where they believe that they do not need to learn anymore; if that ever happens, you are at risk for causing harm to not only yourself, but the people that you work with.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 15

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

First Test draw acceptable TRINIDAD -- While we may think that any form of analysis on the performances of the first Test against England, there are clearly some essential facts which should be considered. No one expects to judge the new coach on the initial performance of his team, although I am prepared to give Phil Simmons some credit for the application of the young batsmen Braithwaithe, Blackwwod and Holder.

My first observation was the accuracy of our three fast bowlers from as early as the first test match. This could be the information shared with them by Curtly Ambrose and of course the value of starting the series with quality bowling.

Maybe in hindsight, I would mention to the selectors that our history of playing against England in the Caribbean should have endorsed a selection of Bishoo, the talented wrist spinner instead of Sulieman Benn whose deliveries are more suited to keep runs down rather than taking wickets.

Some of us were around long enough to remember the effectiveness of spinners like Wilfred Ferguson in the fifties, Willie Rodriguez in the sixties when Boycott and company failed to read his spin and lost their wickets, Shane Warne in the more recent times.

There is reason for England’s failure to cope with wrist spin. Firstly, their climatic conditions and the regular bouts of moisture during their season have not pro-

duced wrist spinners of any quality, nor have they allowed the batsmen to use their feet to smother spin on the wickets. They thrive on the likes of Titmus, Illingworth, David Allen and Tony Lock, all orthodox spinners, who may well have allowed the English batters an adequate formula to deal with the likes of Benn and Miller.

Having looked superficially at the first game, my attention was focused upon the age of the chosen players in conjunction with their present performances. For many a year, we enjoyed the disciplinary approach of Chanderpaul with his unusual, but successful display of batsmanship, which brought him among the top of the world’s outstanding batsmen.

Today, the dapper little 42 year old Guyanese seems to have lost his rhythm which had produced the precision of a welloiled stroke playing machine even though the strength of his commitment and dedication remains, but unfortunately without his agility and 20/20 vision for which he was gifted.

I believe that the signal for the twilight zone is obvious in Chanders, especially when he has to spend a day and a half in 33 per cent Celsius heat prior to taking his turn at the crease.

His first 23 runs were scored in 80 balls, a similar rate to his batting partner Kraig Braithwaithe, a youngster whose array of shots are yet to be seen, despite his good

scores. Then there are the now established veterans. Marlon Samuel, whose inability to retain the consistency even on a flat, docile wicket and against only three real quality bowlers in Anderson, Jordan and Tredwell appears to be lessening.

Some diehards may wish to point fingers at the more youthful batters like Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin, both of whom are in the prime of their careers.

Clearly, the team needs the reality of players, who are described as competent, to be consistent as well. And, the same can be said about our bowlers.

The fact that we have come away with a draw is commendable as England’s bowling is highly ranked in the world. Can I humbly suggest that our selectors view the average age of our team and relate it to the amount of cricket of all sorts which they play? Then view the serious physical and mental toughness to endure during some very hot long days which would need strength, endurance, and excellent powers of concentration for success.

Without too much rest time for the second Test, we shall go again and take a closer look at the lot in order to recognise the true facts of the strengths of our team. I accept that there is an effort to reach the learning curve but words alone will not achieve that goal.

- Trinidad Guardian

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16 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Windies Buoyant as Second Test starts in Grenada GRENADA -- West Indies head into the second Test against England starting here today, confident they can build on their impressive showing in the opening match in Antigua and come away with a victory. Against all odds, West Indies managed to pull off a draw in the first Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua last week, after being set 438 to win in just over four sessions.

The result, albeit a stalemate, has instilled momentum into the Caribbean side’s campaign and captain Denesh Ramdin believes they can now exploit whatever weaknesses exists in England’s game to their own advantage. “I think the character and the way we fought that last day and not just the last day but throughout the Test match, was fantastic, the way the guys stood up in the bowling department and the batting department,� Ramdin said here Monday. “Young Jermaine Blackwood in the first innings made a fantastic hundred and Jason Holder, a young player as well—not much Test matches behind his name—but he stood up and batted with a lot of maturity at the end with young Roachie (Kemar Roach).� He continued: “They are two guys

who want to do well for themselves and the team so they went out there and expressed themselves. Having said that, the senior players haven’t gotten any big runs as yet and I am looking forward to those guys getting runs. “You will see a big difference in the totals that we score in the match coming here. I’m sure they are eager to get out there.

The starts are there but it’s just for the guys to carry on from century to 150 and stuff like that.� The Windies have made one change to their squad for the second Test, drafting in leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo for left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn who was ineffective during the Antigua contest.

Bishoo was dominant during the just concluded regional first class season where he picked up 61 wickets—the second highest tally in the competition—at an outstanding average of 17. The Guyanese played the last of his 11 Tests three years ago but Ramdin believes he can have an impact, especially as the game wears on. “On a day four and day five pitch the spinner always comes into play and with his type of bowling, he has a lot of different

types of deliveries in his armoury which will help the team,� Ramdin pointed out. “So once he gets an opportunity tomorrow and over the next five days, he can do the job for the team which is to pick up wickets. He’s a bowler who likes to bowl and he will enjoy this opportunity.� West Indies will depend heavily, though, on their faster bowlers all of whom were impressive during the first Test. The new ball pair of Jerome Taylor and Roach swung the ball to trouble the English batsmen while Holder was also steady as the third seamer.

While pleased with their outing, Ramdin said he wanted them to be still more clinical, especially in closing out innings. “Every time you go out there and play and have a new ball in your hand as a fast bowler, as a captain you want them to take early wickets and they have done that so far,� he said. “In this series I would like them to continue to do that and try and finish off the lower order. It’s very important to do that.

You don’t want the lower order to come and create that big partnership and try and put you out of the game.� As they proved

in the opening Test, England will be more than a handful. Veteran right-hander Ian Bell and rookie left-hander Gary Ballance both got solid hundreds while Joe Root and Ben Stokes also gathered half centuries.

New ball bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad will lead the attack again with off-spinner Moeen Ali, drafted into the touring party following the Antigua Test, also expected to make the final XI. Ramdin, however, urged his side to stay calm over the next five days, stressing that West Indies had the ability to upset the English once they remained relaxed. “I think we need to be more patient at times and show more energy in the field. Sometimes we go all out when we can just relax a bit and enjoy the game, rather than fighting the game too much,� Ramdin stressed. “I believe we are capable of winning Test matches and once we get one in this series under your belt it will be fantastic and put the English on the back foot.�

- Trinidad Guardian

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20 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Apple kuchela ples makes an id ideal dea eal ku eal kkuchela chhel ch ella w wh when hen en yyou ou ccan’t ou aan n’tt source mangoes. s

Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking Kuchela is one of those spicy condiments traditionally made with green mangoes and a must-have topping for ‘doubles’, saheena and pholourie (street food in Trinidad and Tobago). Being that I call Canada home and green mango is not something I can go in my back yard and pick off the trees as I did for my mom when I was a young fella on the islands, Granny Smith apples are my new choice. Though sweet, the slight tartness and sturdy texture of these green ap-

You’ll Need: 5 green apples (Granny Smith) 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 cloves garlic 3-4 tablespoons amchar masala 3/4 cup veg oil 2 scotch bonnet peppers Note: You can purchase the amchar masala at most West Indian markets and there are times you can get it on Amazon.com. Grate with the skin on for additional texture, but be sure to get apples which are not covered in wax as they are sometimes.

Please remember to wear gloves and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling scotch bonnet peppers. Dice the peppers finely, including the seeds for more heat. You have the option

ooff dicing diiccciin ing or ing or ccrushing ruush shiin ng th tthe he gar ggarlic. ga ar Then using th the he so sort ortt ooff sh shred hre red ed si side ide de ooff yo yyour you our grater, grate the apples until the core.

You now have two option, you can squeeze off all the liquid from the grated apples, but if you want a more saucy kuchela you can remove about half the liquid. It may take a bit of work to squeeze off the liquid with your hands, or you can use a towel and wring the liquid out.

When making traditional mango kuchela, we try to get all the moisture out of the grated mango and it’s then spread onto a kitchen towel and placed in the open sun for a couple hrs to dry off. This process makes it easy to infuse the grated mango with the Kuchela flavors. In this recipe we’ll cook everything on the stove top for a few minutes to replicate that sort of infusion we need for this to be a great kuchela.

In a wide saucepan on a LOW heat, heat the vegetable oil, then go in with

the diced pepper and garlic. Let that gently cook for about 3-5 minutes. Be sure to turn the fan above your stove on or at least open your kitchen windows. The cooked peppers will give off a strong (choking) scent.

Now add the amchar masala, cook for a minute, then add the grated apple and salt. Mix well, cook for 2-3 minutes and you’re done!

Traditionalists will be able to identify the natural sweetness of the apples, but I assure you that this apple kuchela is just as exciting as any I’ve had on the islands and that sweetness adds a lovely overall roundness to the kuchela as it ages for a few days.

You can store these in sterilized glass containers on your kitchen counter for a couple weeks, then store in the fridge.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 21

Cleansing is spiritual Why should you do a cleanse?

For many years, I have seen how my yoga practice moves me back to a mindful, centered perspective. If I stop practicing yoga, I become off-center like a scale no longer able to calibrate to zero. The asana practice resets me back to a balanced point. When I am balanced, I make more mindful decisions. This relates to what I do, say, think, and even the food I choose to eat.

Cleansing is a similar process.

Over time, environmental factors and daily lifestyle choices shift our balance point. The shifts may be small but over time they add up. For example,

having a second latte three times per week does not seem like a big deal.

However, over a month that turns into 11 more lattes, filled with extra sugar, calories, and caffeine. Now we have this new “normal” intake of caffeinated calories, and our bathroom scale may begin to reflect this.

Doing a cleanse is a reset button physically and mentally. You reawaken your awareness of what, why, and when you are taking in anything extra that detracts from equilibrium and throws you off balance. Then, you can more mindfully choose the healthiest options to maintain your center.

You make more conscious food deci-

sions because you are simply more aware of what you’re doing.

Evolve Toward Your Highest Good The balance equation is not as simple as simply doing what worked well yesterday. Today, we have more environmental toxicity than ever before.

The speed of life inundates us with radically increased stress from daily activities. Sadly, even the nutrients in our foods are different than they were twenty years ago.

As a result, we need to reassess and keep evolving our lifestyle decisions, including exercise and nutrition.

This concept of evolving toward our

highest good is spiritual. Therefore, a cleanse is a spiritual practice.

Just like doing the same poses in the same order supports imbalance, eating the same food in the same way can promote imbalance. Changing our poses according to the day of the week, time of year, how we’re feeling is an essential part of spiritual growth. A cleanse gives us the opportunity to recalibrate. Both yoga and cleansing are spiritual. They keep you centered.

Love yourself, love your day, love your life!

- My Yoga Online

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 23

Improved safety and efficacy testing for legal cannabis provides huge business opportunities for entrepreneurs A prominent marijuana research and testing facility in Denver, Colorado, claims that a surprising amount of legal cannabis currently on the market in the Centennial State is contaminated with toxins like mold, heavy metals and pesticides.

Dr. Andy LaFrate of Charas Scientific, reporting his findings at the recent national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), warns that cannabis consumers need to be wary of the quality of the products they purchase, emphasizing the need for improved testing and growing practices.

The conclusions made from his inquiry, which was based on 600 marijuana samples purchased from various dispensaries around Colorado, suggest that a vast new market for clean, organic cannabis is on the horizon.

In addition to the contamination issue, Dr. LaFrate also pointed out that many of today’s most popular cannabis strains are exceptionally high in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), with very little CBD (cannabidiol), a marijuana compound that’s been shown

to have a therapeutic effect on patients with epilepsy and chronic seizures.

“It’s pretty startling just how dirty a lot of this stuff is,” stated LaFrate to Smithsonian.com. “I’ve heard a lot of complaints from medical patients because somebody claims that a product has a high level of CBD, and it turns out that it actually doesn’t.”

Improved safety and efficacy testing for legal cannabis provides huge business opportunities for entrepreneurs Dr. LaFrate’s company obviously has a vested interest in finding problems with marijuana, considering its entire business model is dependent upon uncovering hidden contamination. But the highly effective liquid chromatography testing method that the company used to uncover this contamination suggests that there’s a lot of legitimate improvements to be made in the legal marijuana industry.

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has repeatedly exposed heavy metal contamination in rice protein and other food products using similar testing methods because

they’re virtually unmatched when it comes to identifying hidden contaminants in food products.

As far as the safety of legal cannabis, some mainstream media outlets have been quick to condemn the marijuana industry because of Dr. LaFrate’s findings.

The Daily Mail, for instance, claims that the presence of contamination in some cannabis samples “casts doubt” on the entire legalization movement.

Legal cannabis creates endless opportunities for improving quality of plant product This is completely absurd, of course, but prohibitionists are desperate to find something, anything, that will scare people away from this harmless plant. Too much THC, too little CBD, too many pesticides -- these and other issues associated with legal cannabis show that legalization is creating new opportunities for improved cannabis cultivation and distribution.

On the black market, cannabis users have very few options when it comes to

accessing a clean, safe product. And on the budding legal market, we can now see that some growers aren’t paying as close attention to the safety and quality of their products as they should be, which means more opportunities for private businesses and entrepreneurs to step in and fill the need for improved testing, certification, safety and quality standards.

“Cannabis legalization remains in its nascent stages both in terms of market economics and consumer awareness,” says the Organic Cannabis Association, a group devoted to creating and implementing rigorous organic standards in the cultivation of legal cannabis and value-added cannabis products.

“It is only logical that [cannabis legalization] continues with the standardization and proliferation of organically grown cannabis.”

- Natural News

Monsanto CEO claims GMOs are the only way to feed the world - Ever heard of permaculture?

If Monsanto was a person, it would be a certifiable sociopath -- obsessed with itself, unaware of everyone and everything around it, and utterly delusional when it comes to facts and reality. And this seems to describe Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant to a T, as he recently told the U.K. paper The Independent that geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs) are the only way to feed the world, apparently oblivious to permaculture growing methods that have been feeding people naturaly for millennia.

During a recent interview, Grant tried to defend his company’s hijacking of nature, claiming that GMOs are the key to sustaining life on planet earth. Blaming “hubris” for his company’s atrocious reputation throughout the world, Grant maintains that Monsanto is merely a victim of anti-corporate sentiment and grand misunderstandings about what it’s actually doing -- GMOs are wonderful, no matter what anyone says, according to Grant.

Poor old Monsanto, always being

bullied by all those meanies out there who just don’t understand “science.” You would think that Monsanto was the skinny kid on the playground who always gets his lunch money stolen by the class bully, based on its CEO’s delusions about why the company wasn’t just given the keys to the kingdom right off the bat when it came to gaining the obscene level of control over agriculture that it holds today.

In the U.S., where the population at large doesn’t really seem to care who or what controls the food system, Monsanto quite easily steamrolled over the old system in a matter of just a few years. Today, it maintains near-total control over all the major commodity crops -- corn, soy, canola (rapeseed), sugar beets, and cotton. But throughout the rest of the world, it’s a much different story.

Crop diversity and organic growing methods are the best ways to sustainably maintain high yields

Part of the reason why Monsanto hasn’t yet gained complete control over the entire global agricultural system, which is its very clear goal, is due to the fact that some nations still recognize the benefits of multi-crop permaculture systems. These decentralized food production systems naturally deter pests and produce high yields without the need for genetic engineering or excessive crop chemicals, something that is never really talked about in the corporate media.

Contrary to the claims of moneyloving corporate talking heads like Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant, permaculture is the real solution to global hunger. The Rodale Institute conducted an extensive, 30-year farming systems trial revealing that organic, multi-modal growing systems are optimal when it comes to sustaining high crop yields, rich soils, and healthy environments.

Comparatively, the organic growing methods evaluated by Rodale proved to match

or exceed the yields gained through conventional and/or GMO growing methods. Organic growing systems were also shown to outperform conventional systems in years of drought, without depleting vital organic matter in soils.

In every category from energy usage to efficiency to profits for farmers, organic systems won out.

“Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to building, maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil,” explains the comprehensive Rodale report, which is among the most thorough of its kind to show the superiority of permaculture over conventional and GMO crop systems.

“For soil health alone, organic agriculture is more sustainable than conventional.

When one also considers yields, economic viability, energy usage, and human health, it’s clear that organic farming is sustainable, while current conventional practices are not.”

- Natural News

24 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

10 reasons why you should consume more cucumbers Considered a veggie but technically a fruit related to melons, the cucumber is often an afterthought or garnish for most. Too bad. It’s not only a tasty addition to many foods and very hydrating with it’s 90-plus percent water content; cucumbers are packed with a load of health-benefiting nutrients too.

Non-organic cucumbers are heavily sprayed according to the Environmental Working Group. And they are coated for shipping with synthetic waxes. It’s a no-brainer to opt for organic cucumbers that are not sprayed and coated with synthetic petroleum-based waxes.

As with most produce, the skin contains a lot of nutrients. If desired, the organic wax can be washed off organic cucumbers. But non-organic cucumber skins should be peeled off before using. Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated plant in the world. But you may want to grow our own.

Sliced cucumbers go well in just about any salad, are great “veggie” additions to almost any sandwich, and they are easily juiced or mixed into smoothies. One recipe calls for ice and cucumber with a fruit of choice run through a blender as a quick summer cooler.

Here are those 10 health benefits 1. Highly alkalizing: Whenever I use

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

cheese, which is acid-producing, in a sandwich, I comfort myself by balancing out the cheese’s acid forming in my body with sliced cucumbers to offset and balance out the pH factor.

High silica content: Silica is not granted the importance that it deserves. It’s a major component for building bone and binds to aluminum to offset its toxicity and flush it out of organs.

Reduce cancer risk: Cucumbers’ polyphenol lignans and phytonutrients have anti-cancer properties that have been isolated by some studies.

Prevent brain health decline: Cucumber’s anti-inflammatory flavonol, fisetin, plays an important role in brain health. Fisetin protects against progressive memory loss and cognitive decline according to animal testing.

Support digestion: Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber, which helps add bulk to your stool. This helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination. Ayurveda recommends cucumbers to release excess stomach heat and resolve bad breath.

High in antioxidants: Cucumbers contain vitamin C and beta-carotene. They also

contain antioxidant flavonoids, such as quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol, which provide additional benefits.

7. Resist inflammation: Animal studies with cucumber extract have demonstrated their ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes.

8. Manage stress: Cucumbers are high in vitamin B, especially B1 (thiamine), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B7 (biotin). These are water-soluble vitamins in a waterlogged fruit/veggie that support the nervous system.

9. Support heart health: Cucumbers contain potassium. As a vital electrolyte, it is associated with a healthy heart. A proper balance of potassium and sodium is essential to good overall health.

10. Weight watcher compatible: Besides creating soft gel in the stomach with its insoluble fiber to feel full faster, cucumbers are incredibly low in calories. A cup of sliced cucumbers weighs in at 16 calories.

So pick up two or three organic “cukes” soon and see how often you can include some cucumber in your daily diet.

- Natural News

Artificial light exposure, lack of sunlight tied to cancer, diabetes and depression, evidence shows Natural light from the sun is very important to the general health and well-being of humans.

Recent research has reinforced this; humans need to have regular and prolonged exposure to this natural light so they can experience optimal health.

According to one research team, however, not all the news is good.

For many people, a sort of doublewhammy ensues in that they not only don’t get sufficient sunlight during the day, but that during the evening, they surround themselves with unnatural lights that researchers say is physiologically unsettling.

A simple solution can make the difference between a person’s mood as well as their overall health. Implementing these methods on a regular basis can even help ward off chronic diseases.

Let’s take a closer look at what researchers found about artificial light exposure.

From sleep disruptions to developing cancers, researchers warn of artificial light For 30 years, Richard Stevens, a cancer epidemiologist at UConn Health, has been studying how the human body reacts to artificial lighting.

His latest research hones in on the tendency of humans to spend a great deal of time indoors and away from the sun, followed by hours in the dark surrounded by artificial lighting. For example, many people rest in bed in the evening browsing through their laptop or cell phone, basked in the glow of light that’s emitted from these devices.

His team discovered that those who used e-readers had more reduced levels of the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin, in their system compared to study participants who read a physical paper book.

“It’s become clear that typical light-

ing is affecting our physiology,” says Stevens.

“We’re learning that better lighting can reduce these physiological effects. By that we mean dimmer and longer wavelengths in the evening, and avoiding the bright blue of e-readers, tablets, and smart phones.”

Simply put, the body was designed to be immersed in natural light for many hours a day, not artificial light for long periods of time at night.

Surrounding ourselves with such lighting can lead to serious health problems beyond sleep disruptions.

Steven’s adds that “there’s growing evidence that the long-term implications of this have ties to breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, and depression, and possibly other cancers.”

“Too much light at night” problematic for health Along with a co-author of his study, which was published in the British journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Stevens expressed that though time, artificial lighting has become increasingly problematic.

An abstract from the journal states: Over the past 3 billion years, an endogenous circadian rhythmicity has developed in almost all life forms in which daily oscillations in physiology occur. This allows for anticipation of sunrise and sunset.

It’s explained that such rhythms are based on a 24-hour cycle. But the article published in the journal says that changes in people’s habits have altered this. It says: However, since the introduction of electric lighting, there has been inadequate light during the day inside buildings for a robust resetting of the human endogenous circadian rhythmicity, and too much light at

night for a true dark to be detected; this results in circadian disruption and alters sleep/wake cycle, core body temperature, hormone regulation and release, and patterns of gene expression throughout the body.

The harm of blue light, simple solutions to this modern issue Today’s modern devices -- from smart phones and tablets to e-readers -- emit a blue light that is harmful to people. As mentioned, this artificial blue light changes the body’s own natural circadian rhythm while also suppressing melatonin, the human body’s sleep-inducing hormone.

Such lighting of what should otherwise remain a naturally dark environment impacts every living thing from humans and animals to plants and insects.

Steven’s notes that this study reinforces what many others have touched on in that artificial light can be detrimental to overall health. However, he says that people do not need to deprive themselves of light at night time.

Instead, he suggests people switch from e-readers to old fashioned books when reading in the evening in order to minimize disruption to the body. “It doesn’t mean you have to turn all the lights off at eight o’clock every night,” he says, “it just means if you have a choice between an e-reader and a book, the book is less disruptive to your body clock.”

Lights that help maintain a human’s circadian rhythm at night tend to be dim and red like that emitted by incandescent bulbs, so giving those lights consideration is also recommended.

- Natural News

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Now is the time to invest in your health!

Monique Bartlett Fitness You know you need to eat right and exercise but you really haven’t done anything about it. The problem is that if you don’t invest in your health now you will pay for it later.

Even though you may think it’s just a few extra pounds or just a sore knee, the truth is that the longer you leave it the more likely you will suffer more down the road and the issue will compound itself. The path to lifelong health and wellness relates to what you’re willing to invest now versus what you’ll end up paying for later.

Many people don’t really understand the costs of poor health when they are younger.

It’s always easier to say, well it’s not going to happen to me, or some people just ignore it all together. Investing in your health provides the cosmetic benefits of a lean, strong, and healthy body but you’re also setting yourself up for reduced risk of various diseases like diabetes and medical conditions that have the potential to literally cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars or more depending on your health insurance situation at that time such as cancer.

If you aren’t willing to spend a few hundred dollars now to fix your health, how much will you have to pay down the road when you will require expensive medicines, a hospital room or surgery not covered by any health plan. Not to mention spending your time to and from the doctor’s office or hospital. And paying for medical costs when you’re older is not what most people are

looking forward to as they age. They should be more worried about where they’re going to play their next round of golf or what city they will be snowbirds in. So take care of yourself now, while you can create a real difference in your health, and do all that you can to prevent unexpected health issues in the future.

The true value of being healthy is having good health and a lean and healthy body is key to being healthy and happy later in life. You will have less pain, less injuries, better sleep and more energy. Being healthy allows more people to reach their goals, have a happier life and live a better lifestyle.

Without being healthy they probably won’t end up reaching their goals and will be frustrated, stressed, depressed and angry with themselves for not taking action sooner.

So take action now. Invest in your health and wellness today so that you can live a healthier, happier and more joyful tomorrow.

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Dr. Matthew Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Dental Health

Snoring is a common human experience and a significant number of people both young and old snore. The sounds are not pleasant to the ear but like pain they alert us that some part of the body is not functioning to its full capacity.

There are social and health implications. The heavy snorer is often a source of disturbance and annoyance in the household. An accusing spouse or bed mate often becomes more considerate when the other party makes the same accusation against him

or her, since snorers usually don’t hear themselves.

What causes snoring? The noise is caused by the air when it is interrupted by anatomical obstructions as it makes its way through the nostrils or mouth along the airway space to the lungs. For most snorers apart from the possible relationship effects there is no physical impairment. However some people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA which is an absence of breathing resulting in a lack of oxygen to the lungs, brain and vital organs which could lead to death if medical emergency intervention is slow in being administered. People with severe OSA usually snore and the airway collapses causing difficult breathing or a stoppage of breathing or a pause in the snoring and waking up often, as the cycle repeats itself.

What are some of the obstructions to breathing?

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, tumors, en-

larged tongue, or any other abnormality in the area. Members of the medical and dental profession have an important role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. Referrals may be done between the professions.

The diagnosis is done by a sleep specialist using a test called a polysomnogram .

How can a dentist help?

Treatment is a multidisciplinary approach by a team of professionals. Members of this team may include a sleep specialist, an ENT, an orthodontist, oral maxillary surgeon, or a general dentist.

The general dentist can play an important role in screening patients, counselling, treating them in conjunction with other sleep specialists, and providing follow up treatment.

Anti- snoring appliances. These seem to be among the most effective methods of treatment. We will be happy to help.

Flower Power: Easy to grow medicinal herbs Dr. Lydia Thurton ND BASc

Health Tips April showers bring May flowers. Fortunately, there are plenty of great medicinal flowers that you can easily plant this gardening season. Whether in a pot on your balcony or in a backyard, these herbs are easy to maintain and can provide your family with fresh medicinal botanicals.

Chamomile is a white flower, with a bright yellow center. It looks like a daisy.

German chamomile needs full sun and welldrained soil. This is a low maintenance plant,

needing minimal watering. Give chamomile lots of room to grow. Pick off the flowering tops, dry them and use these for tea. Relaxing and soothing, this herb can assist with sleep and nervousness. Upset stomachs also feel better with a strong chamomile tea or tincture.

Marigolds have a long history of use in herbal medicine. When you grow marigolds alongside other plants this flower can act as a natural insect repellent, keeping bugs at bay. Pluck off the yellow and orange flowering tops and set to dry. Marigolds can be combined with alcohol to make a tincture or used as a tea. Use a cold marigold tea compress on chapped skin, scrapes and burns. This herb is specific for skin inflammation and injury. Marigolds are easy to grow. Moderate watering, well-drained soil and bright sun are all they require to flower all season, into the fall.

The violet, pink and white flowers of the Echinacea plant are very attrac-

tive. Another super easy to grow plant, only requiring minimal watering and full sun to flourish. Echinacea is an antiviral herb, and may be able to reduce the duration and severity of a cold. There are three different species of Echinacea all of which have medicinal properties, although slightly different. You can make a tincture or a tea.

Tinctures are alcohol extracts of botanicals. Place the desired herb, chopped finely, in a bottle of 40% alcohol, and put in a dark cupboard for two weeks. I usually use a potato (not wheat) vodka. The alcohol does a better job than water at extracting medicinal properties. So tinctures are more potent than teas. You only use a small amount at a time, so there are no risks of getting drunk. Tinctures can be expensive in stores, so making your own can be a great way to save money.

Use the freshest, organic herbs you can find.

Or grow them yourself!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 25

26 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Property division in Ontario - Equalization Valerie Dye Legal Matters When there is a separation or divorce in Canada married couples divide their matrimonial property through a process called equalization. Although persons loosely refer to this as property division it is more correct to use the term ‘equalization’. This term is used because the aim is to place both spouses on equal footing if the marriage ends so that no spouse is in a better or worse position than the other as a result of marital breakdown. The preamble to the Family Law Act of Ontario states that it is desirable to encourage and strengthen the role of the family and it is therefore necessary to recognise the equal position of both spouses in the marriage as a form of partnership.The aim is therefore to arrive at an orderly and equitable settlement of affairs upon the breakdown of marriage.

Section 5 (7) of the Family Law Act goes on to say that the purpose of equalization is to recognise that child care, household management and financial provision are the joint responsibilities of both parties and that during the marital relationship there has been equal contribution. Since there is a presumption that both spouses have contributed equally, each is entitled to the equalization of net family properties upon marital breakdown. It should be noted that contribution is not restricted to financial contribution so that even if one spouse did not contribute financially that spouse is presumed

to have contributed in other ways.

What is the process involved in equalizing matrimonial assets? Firstly, a value is taken of all property owned at the date of marriage (less debts and liabilities).

The value is then taken of property owned at the date of separation (less debts and liabilities). The date of separation is referred to as the ‘valuation date’. The date of marriage value is subtracted from the value at valuation date and this difference is the net family property. This is done separately for each spouse so that each spouse will most likely have a different net family property.

In order to equalize the net family properties the spouse who has the higher net family property will be required to pay half of the difference to the other spouse.

If, for instance Mary’s net family property is $300,000 and Jim’s net family property is $400,000, then Jim needs to pay Mary $50,000 (half of the difference of $100,000).

We can see that this puts each spouse in the same position since Mary will now have a net value of $350,000 and Jim will also have a net value of $350,000.

For the purpose of equalization, property includes real property as well as personal property such as pensions, bank accounts and RRSP’s. It is important to note that if one spouse owned a home at the date of marriage and that home becomes the matrimonial home, that spouse is not allowed to add the value of that home to the date of marriage value. It is however added to the valuation date value. It means that the spouse who owned the home prior to marriage gets no credit for that home. His or her net family property will therefore be higher and this will impact the equalization payment that would be paid to the other spouse.

Equalization only applies to spouses who are married and does not apply to common law spouses.

Canada welcomes first permanent residents under Express Entry TORONTO -- Changes to Canada’s economic immigration system are proving successful in selecting people needed in Canada’s economy and giving them permanent resident status quickly. Just three months after the launch of Express Entry, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander welcomed three of the first Express Entry candidates to become Canadian permanent residents—Emma Hughes, Yaoyao (Anita) Zheng and Xin (Frank) Zhao.

Hughes is a successful candidate from Ireland who applied under the Federal Skilled Worker stream. She now works as an application scientist for EcoSynthetix in Burlington, Ontario.

Zheng and Zhao were both international students who applied under the Canadian Experience Class. Zheng came to Canada from China and in 2012 she graduated in Supply Chain Management from Humber College. Today, she works as a dis-

patch logistician at DMA Logistics in Mississauga, Ontario.

Zhao also came to Canada from China as an international student and graduated in 2003 from Mohawk College in business accounting. Zhao is currently employed at Wing on New Group Canada, in Markham, Ontario.

Launched in January, Express Entry is a new way of managing applications for Canada’s key economic immigration programs. Candidates create an online profile and express their interest in coming to Canada permanently. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria are accepted into the pool and ranked according to various factors, including language proficiency, education and work experience. Each is a leading indicator of one’s likelihood of integrating fully and quickly into Canadian society and making an optimal contribution to the economy.

- CIC

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Elder abuse never acceptable - PSW regulation, staff increases needed to prevent abuse and restore confidence in long term care facilities MISSISSAUGA -- In the wake of a W5 report about resident abuse, CLAC is calling for the professional regulation of personal support workers (PSWs) and increased minimum standards of care to ensure adequate supervision and staffing levels in Ontario long term care facilities.

“CLAC and the thousands of PSWs we represent hold firmly to the position that elder abuse in any form is never acceptable and will not be tolerated,” says Hank Beekhuis, CLAC Ontario director. “In our view, even one case of resident abuse is too many.”

All parties involved in the long term care sector, including regulatory authorities, employers, workers, and unions, have a part to play in ensuring resident safety. CLAC has been a leading advocate supporting whistle-blower protection and the creation of a meaningful PSW registry that will identify bad apples and remove them from the system.

While the W5 report is horrific, it is important to remember that the vast majority of Ontario’s 57,000 PSWs are dedicated professionals who care deeply for their residents. We join with these workers and decry the despicable behaviour of a limited few and call for immediate action to address the gross understaffing in facilities across

the province. The government must provide greater investment in long term care to ensure workers have time to provide our seniors with the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.

According to a 2008 study from York University, 43 percent of long term care workers reported working short-staffed daily and 66 percent weekly. Increases in the number of residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as additional budgetary pressures over the past decade have made this problem worse, putting staff and residents at risk daily.

“We need to restore the confidence of Ontario seniors and their loved ones in our long term care homes,” says Beekhuis. “The government needs to regulate the growing and necessary PSW profession and establish a four-hour per resident per day minimum standard of care to ensure adequate staffing and supervision levels.”

CLAC has been calling for changes in long term care with successive governments since the 1970s. It will continue to advocate for change with the current Ontario government and will work with long term care employers to ensure that the zero tolerance policy toward abuse is followed and that all incidents are reported.

Increasing overseas immigration services for faster integration into Canadian communities OTTAWA -- Many immigrants will arrive in Canada better prepared to integrate into their new communities as a result of expanded pre-arrival services. Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, today announced that $24 million will be committed toward providing newcomers with greater access to information and services before they leave their countries of origin.

This funding will be accessed through partner organizations to help immigrants and refugees arrive better prepared to settle across Canada. Orientation sessions overseas will enable newcomers to gain a better understanding of life in Canada, how to use their skills in the Canadian labour market and make connections earlier with service provider organizations, professional associations, regulators, educational institu-

tions and employers.

The organizations that will be funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to deliver pre-arrival services will also be working closely with domestic settlement provider organizations to ensure seamless program delivery.

Settlement services aim to provide newcomers with the information they require to make informed decisions, language skills to achieve their integration goals, labour market services to find and retain employment, as well as community supports to build professional and personal networks.

The government continues to provide a high level of support for the settlement and integration of newcomers to ensure that all have access to the same level of services regardless of where they choose to settle.

- CIC

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 27

FOR SALE FOR SALE

FOR SALE FOR SALE

LAND: Great Inescapable Commercial Potential. Land Ownership Opportunity ,New Highway Intersection South Trinidad .

Freehold 13,000 sqft , road front on overpass Price $475,000 CAD or $ 2.4 M TT . for info 647 349 6633 , Dianne 1868 680 5874 , wingurri@yahoo.com

LAND: Highway Exposure LAND Trinidad Inescapable Commercial in Industrial Booming Area. Prime Central Trinidad Lands 3 parcels Straddled Couva , Freeport and Preysal. Freehold available 7 , 10 and 47 acres parcels. Priced $ 3.5 Million TT / acre / $ 662,000 CAD/ acre.

Contact 647 477 8542 , 647 349 6633 , wingurri@yahoo.com

LAND: 3.5 acres for Land with 3 bedroom house for sale in Anchovy Jamaica. For more info call Fay 905-452-8578.

LAND: Land for sale, South Trinidad with Highway frontage (New Southern Highway Extension,) MINS from San Fernando 2 3/4 Lots. Fully approved Excellent for Business, investment $325,000.00 (CAD) or $1.625million TTD. CONTACT: sian@ sgurri.com or 1-868-468-7672

LAND: Land for Sale in Guyana. 3 house lots at Blankenburg West Dememara. Each lot measuring 50 feet x 75 feet. Price negotiable. Call Zafar 416-619-4441

FOR SALE COMPANIONSHIP COMPANIONSHIP WANTED: East Indian Guyanese Male, Age 41 5 foot 9 Dark hair brown eyes medium build. Seeking a Guyanese or Trinidadian female. Medium built busty age 18 to 65 for a relationship.

Call 416-422-2935

FORWANTED SALE HELP

FOR SALE SERVICES

WEST INDIAN COOK: West Indian Cook Wanted for busy Caribbean establishment in Mississauga. Please contact 905-564-7800 DETAILER: Detailer wanted for busy detailing shop in Mississauga. No experiences necessary, must be hard working and reliable. Contact Johnny 416-997-0279 CHINESE WEST INDIAN COOK: CHINESE West Indian Cook Wanted for busy Caribbean establishment in Mississauga.

Please contact 905-564-7800

FOR SALE LOOKING FOR CARETAKER POSITION: Looking for a Live In Caretaker position. Preferable in the Brampton area. Call 905-791-8084

LIST UP TO 30 WORDS FREE! Send your information to info@torontocaribbean.com or call 647-722-6298

FOR SALE WORSHIP

30 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Your Horoscope - April 22nd 2015 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You’ve been working on it for a while, and now you’ll see it shape up more substantially. Pluto retrograde removes a block.

Friday’s Mars/Jupiter brings a sense of turning a corner. Saturday’s new moon in Aries is revitalizing. Sunday is especially fruitful.

A prosperous week lies ahead; Tuesday/ Wednesday, you should see it come together.

Cleared up and out of the way—it’s a great way to end the workweek. Saturday’s new moon is good for a social or inspiration boost. Whatever you’re feeling or doing, on Sunday, it’s full-on. You should have no problem keeping up the momentum. Monday’s work-it-through sets you up for a productive week.

A fresh twist or something brand-new does the trick through the weekend. Friday night, you’re good to go—anywhere. Sunday launches a great creative and/or productive spurt; it’ll carry you through the week ahead.

Monday/Tuesday sets you onto a great physical and mental recharge. Communicate; stick with it, stay on top of it; you’ll get yourself someplace good, especially Tuesday through Thursday.

How do you maintain in the midst of inner or outer change? How do you bring yourself up to speed? Pluto’s retrograde turn prompts a more serious reassessment of short- and long-term objectives, priorities, and commitments. Step by step gets you there. Through Monday, you’ll see your way more clearly.

By Tuesday/Wednesday, you should feel you’re getting someplace good.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Pluto’s switch to retrograde on Thursday can crack the code on a work or health challenge. Resistance or delay also gives way.

Once this happens, you’ll find yourself on a solid upswing. Friday night is great for cutting loose or getting swept up in the game.

Saturday/Sunday, you’re onto something fresh. The week ahead can be an especially productive one.

Even though there’s further to go, once Pluto turns retrograde, the majority of the pressure is off. Knocked down and out of the way is a great feeling Thursday/Friday.

For the week ahead, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto are in sync. They’ll help you find your stride; you’ll immediately be onto better gains. Tuesday/Wednesday, the results are pleasing.

If something you’ve hoped for doesn’t pan out, know there’s more and better right in front of you. The next few days are a kickstart-it time. As of the weekend, you’ll immediately swing onto a more lucrative and productive move-along. The week ahead is a good one for handling money matters.

Your stars are also up for a sensual and/or sexual refresh.

Pluto’s switch to retrograde can prompt a fresh conversation or perspective. As well, it can remove a block, a doubt, or resistance.

Something added or subtracted changes the entire format or direction. Once Mars, Jupiter, and Saturday’s new moon kick it into gear, what follows should prove to be quite straightforward and easy to accomplish.

Sunday launches a lucrative five-day run of forge-ahead stars.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

The workweek is on a wind-down, but you’re on a rev-it-up. Friday’s Aries moon and Mars/Jupiter finds you in a good-to-go/ game mode. Saturday’s new moon also provides a positive refuel. Taurus month, starting Monday, loans you more steadiness and better follow-through. Regarding finances, health, or working it out, you’ll hit your best stride Tuesday through Thursday. Wednesday/Thursday is also good for romance.

Off with the old, on with the new. As of Thursday, Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn, but rather than limit or backtrack you, it’s likely to empower and/or embolden you.

You’ll now hit full steam ahead, but there’s no need to hustle or force it, especially Sunday onward. It comes naturally to you.

Friday finishes the workweek on an upswing. Whether you’re game for hockey or hot for something else, Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday deliver the goods. With Pluto newly travelling retrograde, you’ll find you can dig or tap deeper and get more out of it now. The next week could see you hit great pay dirt.

Something new is just the ticket. If it doesn’t show up on its own, go exploring and make it happen for yourself. Keep at it and you should find the week ahead to be an especially lucrative and productive one. Friday and Sunday keep it going full tilt. Tuesday through next Thursday, it can come together beautifully.

March 20 - April 19

July 22 - August 22

November 22 - December 21

April 19 - May 20

August 22 - September 22

December 21 - January 19

May 20 - June 21

September 22 - October 23

January 19 - February 18

Across 2) End with a punch 4) Go on hands 6) Where coaches stay 8) Standing ____-count 10) Ringside scorers 11) Three minutes 12) “Iron” Mike ____ 14) Quick punch 16) Marquee weight class Down 1) Canadian champ George 3) Man in the middle 5) Unanimous or split 7) Squared circle 9) Shiny shorts 11) Legendary boxing movie 12) Throw in the ____ 13) Championship prize 15) Greatest of All Time

June 21 - July 22

October 23 - November 22

February 18 - March 19

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Auto financing terms Jelani Daniel Automotive Corner

they want at a price that they can afford. The process is tailored and many considerations are made including the buyer or leasers present income, what type of car they would like and what interest rates they can afford and for how long. Loans and financing options are available to clients, as well as in-house financing and poor-credit options, making brokerages suitable for all income levels.

The auto financing process can sometimes be overwhelming for first time buyers or those looking to lease. You can use this article as a reference point if you are considering either leasing or financing in the future.

Dealership: A dealership sells new and used vehicles that are offered at standardized costs. As well, they offer financing options as well as leases, much like a brokerage.

They may be less forgiving for poor credit but do offer a series of different options for different incomes.

Automobile Financing: Automobile financing itself is a part of the personal financing field, giving clients a series of different options that are available to help the purchaser buy a vehicle they desire without a large initial deposit. Financing can include car leasing (Personal Contract Purchase) as well as car loans that can go towards purchasing a vehicle.

Long Term Financing: A long-term loan has a fixed interest rate and can be applied to both dealership and third-party loans. The term of the loan may be just under five years, but can extend to twenty five years or up.

The interest rate may be higher or lower than that of a short-term loan.

APR: An Annual Percentage Rate is an interest rate that takes a series of financial factors into consideration. Some considerations may include job stability, lifestyle costs, and potential job loss. The rate is fixed and will not increase over time, serving as a valuable tool for budgeting in the long run.

Short Term Financing: The term of the loan may be shorter than two years with a higher or lower interest rates than that of a long-term loan. Short-term financing may have promissory-based arrangements (signing a contractual agreement) in order to ensure the loan is paid off quickly. Both short term and long-term financing options look at lifestyle costs and projected incomes.

Brokerage: A brokerage consists of brokers, and brokers link the buyer with the seller. Typically, the automobile broker issues their services to help clients get the car

There are many other terms to consider, but the above are the most common and can help you get a better grasp on financing.

Helpful ideas to minimize insurance costs Sherene Cole

CIP, CRM, CAIB, LLQP

Insurance Matters

Nobody likes to pay high insurance premiums so any chance to control or reduce cost is welcomed. Your broker can help you minimize premiums by helping to define your insurance needs and by shopping around for the best policy.

Don’t over or under-insure: Under-insure and you might be left carrying the cost of damage, theft or loss of property. Over-insure and you will be paying more than you have to. Your broker can help you find the right balance by examining your assets, your risk profile and your insurance history. They can also alert you to choices that could reduce your insurance costs such as installing an alarm system in your home.

Set deductible and liability levels right: One way to control your premiums is to set a higher deductible, which means you accept more risk for covering small losses. Insurers tend to have deductibles ranging from $300 to $1,000. Ask your broker to explain the cost implications of different deductibles.

If you drive in the U.S., you might want to consider higher liability coverage due to the higher levels of personal injury awards in that country.

Stay claims-free: One of the best ways to minimize premiums and obtain discounts is to avoid making claims. One of the best ways to do this is to reduce the risk factors that drive claims.

For your vehicle: • • • • •

Avoid car accidents by driving defensively and never while impaired Avoid accidents by refraining from the use of hand-held devices Install an anti-theft system Never leave items that attract thieves in clear view in the car Keep your driving record clean

In your home: • • • • •

Consider a home security system Consider installing a water alarm or other devices that minimize sewer back-up damage Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and avoid smoking inside Clear the snow and ice off your walk Install good quality locks on your doors and windows

These are just a few examples of ways in which lowering the risk can mean lowering the cost to you.

Should I Claim?

If you experience a loss that exceeds your deductible, ask your broker what the impact might be on your premiums if you make a claim. In some instances, you may find it makes sense to absorb the cost yourself in exchange for lower premiums long-term.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 31

32 Wednesday, April 22, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Maximizing results... Itʼs time!

Colleen Lindberg Business Development Well, I am honored to be speaking at the Toronto Caribbean Business Expo happening on April 26, 2015 and my topic of choice is Maximizing Results by Understanding People.

Maybe you are curious as to why I chose this subject… I am.

I have found that over the years that I have been in business, over the numerous years I have been networking and pretty much my whole life of watching people experience life, I have come to find that there is a missing piece for a lot of people or what we can call a missing piece to their success. The biggest one is not knowing who you are and trying to do things like everyone else. Have you ever heard the

line, just do “this” and you will be successful?

Well “this” might have worked for one person but definitely will not work for another.

I look forward to speaking on Sunday and breaking open this stigma and helping each and every one of you understand yourself at least a bit better so that you can start tweaking your actions for maximum results. If you can’t make it on Sunday… here are some tips that you can implement in your life right now 1)Don’t think you need to do it all yourself, even if you are an entrepreneur… or better yet a solopreneur. Figure out what you are really great at, maybe it’s sales, or structuring (organizing) things, maybe it’s research and set up of paperwork flow and process, then look for someone that is great at the opposite and partner up. It doesn’t mean that you have to actually become business partners, maybe you barter services, and maybe you refer to each other for things, maybe you joint venture or hire them if you can. In whatever form you choose just know that in business 1+1 doesn’t =2, it =4.

It’s what we call duplication. Another key avenue in this category is joining networking referral groups, where if you are not that great

at sales, find a group like BNI or others, that have a “sales” force out there helping you with your referrals. Sometimes we get so caught up by the price of these groups, but really I challenge you to evaluate the ROI on the group. If you pay $800 but can get back that money ten fold, it makes sense from a marketing perspective and it allows you to keep doing the things that you are great at while others will help sell you if that is not your strength, if it is the more business the merrier.

2)The next step is understanding yourself when it comes to your process/follow-up. Do you need a to do list that you can actively check off or are you more a spur of the moment, follow up in urgency. Now don’t get me wrong, both are great it’s just a matter of acknowledging it and setting up the right system that works for you. Maybe it’s an automated system where your phone will ding a reminder and then in the moment you will do a follow up. There are also some people that wake up and create their plan (or the night before) so they are always organized with their time. Then there are some of us like me that have a plan, have a list (sometimes lose it or don’t follow it) and use automated

reminders to help out. This keeps me organized and on time… well most of the time! By figuring this out it will allow you to more way more productive and in turn get more results.

3)Make sure that you always have an aspect (the more the better) about your career/business that you love to do. It’s important in those times where we aren’t motivated or are not feeling it. There are a lot of times where I have come across these feelings in my business and it really helps to know what fuels me and then try to get into that at this particular time where I am not wanting to do things. Yes in a perfect world we would always be doing things we love, but the reality of our businesses is that sometimes we just have to do things that we don’t enjoy. Make it easier on yourself and remind yourself of all the great things that you have and again why you got involved in the first place.

Well I hope to see you out at the Toronto Caribbean Business Expo this Sunday. Come by the stage and see me, I would love to connect with you about your goals, your business and how I can help!

WITH A UNION AT WORK, IMMIGRANT WORKERS GET PAID MORE.

$330

MORE

EVERY TWO WEEKS*

Those extra dollars support families and get spent at local businesses, where they sustain jobs, and support community services.

www.canadianlabour.ca

*Based on 2013 labour data from Statistics Canada.

Better paycheques for immigrant workers in and around Toronto put over $44 MILLION every week into the local economy.

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