Envision Opportunity 121317

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH 2017

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ENVISION OPPORTUNITY

ALYSSA MAHADEO/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

It’s the end of another year; goals accomplished or not, time has passed without fail and now as we look toward next year one question always remains the same. How will the next one be different? Should we be allowed this much time to make a decision? When will we discover our purpose and unlock our true potential?

On Sunday, December 10th, a party of women gathered together to allow positive energy to flow into their space by discussing opportunities for growth, self-development and introspection in the new year.

It was an intimate and revealing event filled with reflection, women empowerment and broadening the fields of vision into the future. At the end of every year, we personally take some time to look back on our accomplishments, and what we’ve achieved to determine how we can set the pace of prospective events. Each of us goes about this is in a different manner, and while our goals might be different, our intentions are the same, how can I resolve to be better next year?

Envision 2018 was a self-love workshop hosted by Kym Niles found-

er of I Can & I Will, an organization focused on empowering people to take positive action. They excel at positive energy movement that encourages results for a higher self-esteem, mindbody mastery, and nurturing core values with an emphasis on fundamentals essential for success.

“I wanted to bring us together today to not only network with each other, but to really understand ourselves.” Kym began, opening the workshop and set the tone for the day.

Continued On Page 5

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Bee Quammie: A Powerful Black Voice in Canadian Media

Those familiar with Bee Quammie and her line of work, have knowledge of the immense passion and creativity exerted into every topic, issue, or cause that she sets out to institute or amplify. She is an empowered writer, digital content creator, public speaker, a mother, wife and a strong and notable voice in Canadian media. Quammie stands among the many impactful women in Canada who aim to give a voice to important and pressing issues within the community.

Though she was born and raised in London Ontario, Quammie shares that her background has always been a significant part of her identity. Most of her work bears influence from her Jamaican heritage and upbringing being raised by Jamaican parents who migrated to Canada, her father from Lucea Hanover and her mother from Montego Bay St James.

Given the cultural disconnect that often comes with being raised in a different country, her heritage was always retained through frequent visits to Jamaica and parents who made every effort to educate her on her background.

This has allowed Quammie to possess a deep appreciation for things Jamaican and often transfers it into her work. She sees this as a vital element in providing an authentic representation of Jamaica and its cultural products in mainstream media.

“Being of Jamaican heritage, it’s very important for me to bring my own authenticity from my perspective into more mainstream areas so that readers can learn and hear about things from somebody who’s within the culture,” she said in an interview.

“So, it definitely majorly impacts what

I do writing-wise. It impacts what I do when I do events or public speaking. I just find that being authentic about my background is something that really pushes my work forward.”

Before her reputable career in writing and media took off, Quammie devoted over a decade in the healthcare industry, working in mental health research, international health, and acquired brain injury work, with a degree in Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario.

Her love and passion for writing and storytelling started in her early years. As a child, Quammie would often spend her summer holidays and most of her past time in the library reading books and writing stories. Her attention, however, shifted to her second passion of science and healthcare after being influenced by ambitious immigrant parents who sought “a better life for their daughter in Canada” by way of her indulging in a career in medicine or law.

It was not until years later in 2011 that she started her personal blog “83 To Infinity” as a creative outlet to channel her thoughts and to de-stress from the tedious duties that came along with her work in healthcare. She later created “The Brown Suga Mama”, a blog focused on motherhood from the perspective of a Black Canadian mom, after the birth of her daughter in 2014.

“Even before I had kids, what motivated me was just the fact that I thought I had stories to tell and I just had to get them out of me someway or another,” she said.

Quammie also added that another inspiration was the need to cultivate stories around the black experience in Canada to start

the necessary conversations on topics not often highlighted in mainstream media. Pursuing her dream as a writer was also a way for her to set a positive example for her two daughters.

“It is just about being able to show them that I am a mom but I’m also a full woman who has opinions and talents and has goals and dreams and I’m trying to do what I can now so that they can see that it is possible for them to be able to be multifaceted and do different things with their lives and not have to put their dreams aside,” she said.

She has seen her work grow tremendously over the years and now, Quammie’s thought-provoking and insightful voice that manifests itself in her creative pieces, have become popular and well regarded among avid readers. This has afforded her numerous awards and recognition. She was featured earlier this year as one of the “150 Black Women Making Canada Better” by CBC.

Though faced with many foreseen obstacles and limitations in the field as a Black female writer such as racism and discrimination, Quammie reassures herself by continuing her work with drive and perseverance, bearing in mind that her work and voice as a minority woman in media is essential and important.

“I am really passionate about continuing to amplify the work and the lives and the experiences of Caribbean Canadian people and Black women especially,” she said.

“I’m also really passionate about finding ways to do that work and inspire and educate others and just to shine a light on it from my perspective in a way that will hopefully fill us all up and make us better in the future.”

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McMaster Creating First Gandhi Scholarship Of Ontario Jelani Grant

jelani@carib101.com

TC Reporter At the end of October, McMaster University announced on Twitter they will be creating a scholarship dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. This scholarship is the first of its kind to be created in McMaster’s history and the first Gandhi scholarship in Ontario.

Retired lawyer Ramnarine Sahadeo is one of the people responsible for making the scholarship a reality. Sahadeo told Toronto Caribbean that his initial endowment is intended to finance the scholarship for at least five years, but he is seeking support for the school to permanently offer the scholarship. Sahadeo began studying the

lessons of peace from Gandhi as a way to implore preventative law. “I try to avoid being angry at anything for as long as possible and I try to preach that to mostly teenagers and high school students,” he said.

As a lawyer, Sahadeo represented dozens of youth and said, through his experiences he has come to understand that most youth in trouble with the law need help to control their anger or greed. He has worked with the Youth Justice Program for years and believes the peaceful philosophies Gandhi promoted, such as karma, seva, truth, and non-violence. He has also traveled to Guyana to provide guidance to kids by speaking to them and donating books. Since his retirement after thirty-four years of active law practice, Sahadeo has researched, wrote, and lectured about the life of Gandhi.

“We put up statues to these people and we don’t teach their principles,” he said. “It’s the message that is important.”

He has written numerous articles on Gandhi and also has a book entitled Mohandas K. Gandhi, Thoughts, Words, Deeds, sharing his interpretation of Gan-

dhi’s philosophies. In the book’s description, Sahadeo explains that his mother used Gandhi’s lessons to help her take care of her six young children following her husband’s death.

Sahadeo collaborated with biology professor Rama Singh to conceive the scholarship in hopes that students would be inspired to learn more about Gandhi while receiving financial support for their studies. “As unlike the first generation Indo-Canadians who tend to be mired in Gandhi-India-Pakistan controversy, this son of Guyana has a long vision and can separate the chaffs from the kernels,” Singh said about Sahadeo.

Dr. Singh introduced the Annual Mahatma Gandhi lectures on nonviolence and is also on the council of the Annual Gandhi Peace festival; he has led the festival, as chair, since its inception twenty-five years ago. It started as an event by the IndiaCanada Society at City Hall, but now every year the festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Gandhi. Local organizations such as the YWCA, Hamilton’s Centre for Peace, and the Hindu Samaj temple all have

been in attendance in support of the festival, illustrating its currently diverse audience.

Affectionately known as Mahatma, India would forever regard Gandhi as ‘Bapu’, Hindi for Father. He led India’s independence movement in the 1930’s and 1940’s by speaking softly, facing down the British colonialists with speeches and nonviolent protest. Finding extreme poverty and famine in his own Gujarat province, Gandhi led an initiative to clean up the area, install new schools and build hospitals. His actions garnered enough attention to lead to him being arrested by British-appointed landlords for causing unrest but managed to talk his way out of jail and negotiate better conditions for the Indian farmers.

This year McMaster ranked 66th in the world and 3rd in Canada by the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities. The Scholarships Canada website currently only has four scholarships dedicated to Gandhi. Donations can be made online and in order to receive tax credits, donations should be made before the end of the year.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Women Reflect To Make 2018 Their Best Year Yet! Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- “It’s something where I feel at times we come up short,” Kym explained. “We put ourselves behind and we put everything else in front of us.”

Speaking truth into the room was a recurring theme throughout the day and the ladies were encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions in a judgment-free, safe space.

At the beginning of the workshop, all of the ladies were given three questions to consider and share later in the day. “What are you most proud of this year, what is an area of opportunity that stood out, and what must you accomplish in 2018?”

Too often we spend time dwelling on our problems and issues unsure of how to solve them, and throughout the workshop, Kym encouraged the ladies to consider these ‘issues and problems’ as ‘opportunities’ for positive reflection and action.

Keeping in line with the theme of the day the ladies were able to hear a special presentation on ‘awakening your natural self,’ from Nicole Reid founder of Diva Creations Hair and Skin Care. In creating her own natural hair and skin care line, Nicole has dedicated a lot of time and effort into discovering why taking care of our skin is important, and how we can better utilize natural products to feed and nourish our hair and body by diminishing the use of harsh chemicals.

“We live in darkness,” Nicole shared, “Our bodies need the sun, and living in the city we don’t always get the things we need naturally derived from sunlight.” Nicole offered great insights into why we might experience breakouts, dark marks, and other skin irritations as well as natural handmade solutions and on the spot consultations. “It’s all about putting sun back into your body,” she explained.

All of the ladies were invited to indulge in a healthy lunch, and mimosa cocktails or partake in some Christmas shopping opportunities from the vendors Diva Creations Hair and Skin Care line and Zee’s Closet unique African print accessories. After lunch, it was straight into the main presentation of the program. Envision 2018 presented by Kym Niles and focused on breaking limitations, embarking on a journey of introspection and addressing the changes you want to make in your life.

“If today was your last day would you love the way you lived?” it’s sometimes tough to make those hard decisions, but can you live with the regret of never having made them at all?

The workshop encouraged the women in the room to ask themselves the hard questions, to face their concerns and fears filled with nuggets of wisdom to fuel your mind body and soul. The ladies were encouraged to network with each other, and be honest with one another.

The female relationship is sometimes a hard plane to navigate. Amongst women, there are heightened emotions, a lot more judgment, and competition and sometimes it’s difficult to express ourselves to one another.

“It’s all about being unconventional,” Kym shared. “If you know who you are you know who you’re not, what it comes down to is how you will make your mark.”

To wrap up the workshop and highlight what was gathered from the event everyone was encouraged to create their own vision board to speak into their universe their goals for 2018. The vision board asked for goals in health and fitness, love, relationships, family, children, wealth, career and travel for the coming year.

Overall the day was an adventure, embarking on a journey of introspection, to prompt the women to discover their purpose.

Many were faced with realizations, and harsh realities but it wasn’t about tearing people down, but encouraging them to build themselves back up, learn from any mistakes, heal themselves and work hard to achieve success in 2018.

“We can’t judge ourselves by our disappointments,” Kym surmised. “We are born looking like our parents, we die looking like our decisions, it’s up to you to choose your own path.”

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

CEMA Campaigns for Inclusion of Ethnic Media in Canada Dellia Rismay

dellia@carib101.com

TC Reporter CEMA, which stands for Canadian Ethnic Media Association, is an independent organization that is made up of a variety of media professionals. The association was started in 1978 by Sierhey Khmara (Marian) Ziniak, on a belief that reporters, as well as poetry, non-fiction, and fiction writers should have access to press associations. Before the formation of CEMA, ethnic press associations were only open to publishers of print media. CEMA holds events and meetings for members to network, exchange ideas, meet with politicians, and discuss pertinent issues—one of those issues being the fact that journalists from ethnic outlets are often faced with not having the same access to resources (like information and funding) that journalists from mainstream outlets do.

At the most recent CEMA meeting held on Thursday, December 7th, journalists from ethnic outlets gathered in a classroom at the Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University. Current CEMA Chair Madeline Ziniak called the meeting to allow members of the association to have access to Hon. Eleanor McMahon, MPP, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. The ministry provides funding to several sectors, including music, books, digital media, magazines, and film, but does not currently provide any for ethnic media. While CEMA did not begin as a lobbying group, funding was a prominent topic at last Thursday’s meeting. “We’re having this meeting, as you know, that ethnic media continues to be a strong voice in this country, in Ontario, and we continue to be somewhat frustrated with the fact that some of the integrated efforts across both the provincial and federal government are not there for ethnic media,” Ziniak said.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon was scheduled to address CEMA members at the meeting but was absent due to illness.

Instead, Hon. Laura Albanese, MPP, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and former broadcaster promised to bring back any questions raised during the meeting to Minister McMahon and shared her thoughts with the room full of communicators. “I am a voice that, in government, continues to always bring up how much we need to value our connection to the different communities that make up our city, our province, and our country,” said Hon. Al-

banese.

CEMA members had several questions they requested Hon. Albanese forward to Hon. McMahon, including ones asking why the government spends so much money on translation services for its communications pieces when there are members of CEMA who would be able to provide the same services at a fraction of the cost, and the money saved by the government could go towards supporting ethnic media outlets. In response, Hon. Albanese said, “it’s not something that we aren’t talking about […] unfortunately, sometimes I say we work at the speed of the government, which means we’re really slow.” Hon. Albanese went on to describe how agencies used for these translations go on to use sub-contractors, and then stated that “there is then no control of who they’re contacting or using. We’re trying to see how we can change that process.”

One CEMA member said that if things do not change for those working for ethnic publications, “we’re not going to survive”. When Hon. Albanese stated that the same thing was being said twenty years ago, the member replied that things cannot go on like this for another forty years, which is approximately the same amount of time CEMA has been in existence. She then went on to say she hears the municipal, provincial, and federal government say that they believe in equity and equality, “but at the same time, they don’t follow that with their actions.” She asked what CEMA members can do as media operators to try and get their voices heard because they’ve been to several meetings and still haven’t been provided with solutions. “If we don’t have Korean programming in our society, then the people that are coming to this country to live are not going to have access to OHIP information,” she said, citing the new OHIP Plus program scheduled to roll out next month that will provide youth aged twenty-four years or younger with free prescription drugs. She went on to say that while it’s great that there is funding for community events, ethnic media is in dire need of support. “This is a serious issue.

Everyone here is here for the same reason.

There are so many benefits to be had by funding multicultural media. It will better the quality of life of all immigrants.”

When asked what she would like to see in the future from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport when it comes to supporting ethnic outlets, Madeline Ziniak said that there must be an awareness of just how important they are. “We want them to come up with tools and triggers that actually allow a funding mechanism for ethnic media […] you have to crack the code within the province, and that is a very difficult thing to do.”

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Finding Your Potential: A Subban Plan For Success Gloria Namugenyi gloria@carib101.com

TC Reporter

Keeping children on the right path to achieve their dreams can be a challenging one, but worry not parents, Karl Subban, a former Toronto district school board principle, hockey dad and now new author is here to give you some tips on how to make your dreams a reality.

At an event organized by Devon Jones, director of the Youth Association for Academics, Athletics and Character Education (Y.A.A.A.C.E) at C.W. Jeffries Collegiate Institute in Toronto on Dec. 2nd, Subban gave an inspiring speech to the attendees on how to make their dreams come true.

The event slated to start at 2 p.m. was themed “unlocking the potential in youth.” Subban described potential as a person’s gift, starting with engagement. He explained it as “the ability to change someone’s mind.”

Subban said that potential is the lens you should see yourself or children in.

“Potential gives you the ability and power to become something in the future and we’re all born with it,” said Subban

Subban spoke about leadership and the ABC’S, which stand for (achieve, barriers, and engaging the community). He encouraged schools and families to help each other overcome the barriers. He called on parents and children to do more explaining to families that parenting wasn’t meant to be easy.

“Karl Subban isn’t perfect, there’s been times where I disagreed with my children and we didn’t speak,” During his speech, he encouraged everyone to close their eyes and envision a ‘three-legged stool,’ each leg stood for something ‘Dream, Belief, and

Action.’ “Potential starts with a dream, you have to know your why, in order to start; then comes belief, never ever doubt your potential, which is also called a suitcase with your abilities,” said Subban.

The last leg of the stool stands for action. Action involves what Subban called the four T’s; (Time, Task, Training and Team). He explained that whatever your dream is, you need time to do your tasks; tasks equal to the training you have to do to achieve those dreams and then team, which is the support system around you.

Subban encouraged children and parents to pay the price by putting the four T’s in use. “No one gets better overnight, you need to put in the time,” said Subban.

Subban wants to inspire more parents and children. “In my life as an educator, coach, and teacher, I have left footprints behind.”

Subban told parents that how they see their children is how those children see themselves. He called on parents to motivate their kids, show them kindness, love, and emotional support.

When asked about race and how it might affect one’s success, he had this to say,

“I didn’t want race to be the reason we didn’t achieve or succeed; I’m not gonna use race as an excuse.”

Just like Martin Luther King said, “you have to find a way to move forward.”

Lastly, Subban encouraged children to read every day, saying that reading would help improve the way they speak, write and it would open up their minds.

The event was also attended by a few other big names; former Toronto Argonauts legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons, TDSB trustee Tiffany Ford and Minister of Children and Youth Services Michael Coteau, all came out to and interacted with families before and after the event.

There were lots of praises for Devon Jones who made the event possible, Subban took a moment out to recognize the work Devon Jones; the

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director of YAAACE is doing for the community.

“Devon Jones is helping change and raise children, he’s helping them see the way,” said Subban.

Michael “Pinball” Clemons whose foundation partnered with YAAACE to launch a year-round program called ‘Baby Jays’ for under-resourced or at-risk children and youth also praised Devon Jones, calling him the “real hero and engine who’s making a tangible difference and being productive in the community.”

Subban took time out after the event to sign copies of his newly released book titled “How We Did It: The Subban Plan For Success In Hockey, School And Life,” for parents and got to talk one on one with some of them; answering some lingering questions as well as just getting to know them.

Subban, a father of five has witnessed his five children find success in their respective fields; with three of them finding that success in the hockey world after being drafted by three National Hockey League (NHL) teams; P.K. Subban was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens and now plays for the Nashville Predators. Malcolm Subban was drafted by the Boston Bruins and now plays for the Las Vegas Golden Knights; his son Jordan Subban was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks.

Subban has worked for over thirty years as a schoolteacher and administrator with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Subban’s family immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 1970 and settled in Sudbury, Ontario.

Subban credits hockey for helping him adapt to his new home.

According to their vision statement, YAAACE is “is a community organization that seeks to engage children and youth from all communities – particularly those from marginalized and poor under-resourced communities through participation in yearround comprehensive programming and activities (academics, athletics, recreation, technology and the arts).”

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Piggott Claims PP, PNM Interference at EFCL

TRINIDAD -- Former Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) chairman Arnold Piggott has described the organisation which he inherited as one in which collusion, bid-rigging, favouritism, nepotism and political interference were rampart.

He also alleged interference from high-ranking officials in the current Cabinet and the Ministry of Education, while the Office of the Attorney General also got involved after the suspension of Louis Frederick.

“There was a meeting on August 16, the day after Mr (Louis) Frederick, the executive head was suspended ... There was a meeting summoned by the Attorney General. It appears that at least two people in the organisation had the ear of politicians and felt empowered to deal with matters within the EFCL based on that empowerment ... one was the HR manager Gillis Noel and one was Louis Frederick,” Piggott said during Monday’s Joint Select Committee meeting in Parliament

Piggott said there was a written request to re-engage Frederick following his suspension while there were also political interventions by the Finance Minister during his tenure at the EFCL.

He also spoke of a contract “mill room” set up during the People’s Partnership’s term in office, which resulted in the urgent need for forensic auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers. In this “mill room,” Piggott said State invoices were generated under the watch of senior executives, adding that there were some 160 cheques drawn in favour of contractors amounting to some $33 million.

“Records show in excess of 120 contracts to one contractor for some $40 million and another with some 42 contracts with some $825 million,” Piggott added.

He said the work of certain contractors was questioned after the EFCL board he chaired inherited 108 unfinished schools for which the contracts were awarded in excess of $2 million and which then required $1.5 million to complete.

Citing the Five Rivers Secondary School as one example where wrong doing occurred, Piggott said this was reflective in a $4.49 million contract which was awarded while at another school a contract was awarded but the contractor “mobilised even before the date of submission.”

Piggott, who was at the helm of the EFCL for some 17 months, said in the case of the Five Rivers Secondary there was an unso-

licited bid for some $4 million. Saying there were clear breaches of the tender rules, Piggott reiterated that certain contractors were given preferential treatment.

“There were budget sums approved by the Education Ministry which were being leaked to contractors from inside the EFCL,” Piggott said.

He said there was also gross indiscipline within the human resources department and tampering by the information technology department.

“We had a situation where the HR manager was not responsive to discipline with respect to employees. That manager resigned but is still with the EFCL,” Piggott said.

He said there were people who did not have the nation’s children at heart working within the EFCL.

JSC chairman David Small said from what was revealed during the proceedings it showed malfeasance in public office in the company.

The EFCL board of directors now comprises deputy chairman Ricardo Vasquez and members Anthony Bisnath, Jeffery Francis, Indu Sharma, Christopher Brathwaite, Clyde Permell, Dean Burgen and Steven Samlalsingh.

Audit Committee probe almost done Contacted Monday on claims raise by former EFCL chairman Arnold Piggott at Monday’s JSC hearing, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said the Central Audit Committee probe ordered by his office to decipher if there was wrongdoing under Piggott’s tenure was almost complete. He said following this the appropriate steps will then be taken.

The AG said the officers had already done all their field work and were in the process of writing up a report which was expected to be completed within the coming weeks.

However, he made it clear that he had an obligation to investigate allegations of wrongdoing under both the present administration and when the PP was in office.

On Frederick’s suspension from the EFCL, sources close to the team from within the AG’s Office investigating the EFCL described the move as unjust, saying Frederick had raised concern after being ordered to sign off on certain documents. They said he subsequently refused to sign off on the documents and was suspended.

- Trinidad Guardian

Ex-EFCL Chair: I Was Not Forced Out

TRINIDAD -- Former Educational Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) chairman Arnold Piggott has insisted he was not forced out from the organisation by the People’s National Movement (PNM) or by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as publicly perceived, but rather left on his own volition.

“I was not asked to resign despite what has been out in the public domain. There was absolutely no pressure placed on me to resign,” Piggott said as he appeared before Monday’s Joint Select Committee in Parliament, where he cleared the air surrounding his departure from the EFCL.

He denied he was forced to follow instructions from Balisier House when the issue was put to him by Senator Wade Mark, who asked whether he was influenced by the PNM to resign from his position. He said his resignation was a “combination of a number of things,” including questions regarding contracts for school repairs and gross mismanagement by company officials.

“We were asked to reinstate Mr Louis Frederick (executive manager) after he had walked off the job. Had he returned the board would be handicapped and he did return after being requested to re-engage him and perhaps that should have been my last call,” Piggott cited as one of the reasons which led to his resignation.

Piggott, who also said he attended

Monday’s JSC’s meeting on his own accord, was in November threatened with a summons from the JSC after failing to attend a previous committee hearing.

But he made it clear Monday that Parliament does not posses that power to summon him.

“I am appearing before this Joint Select Committee today voluntarily, notwithstanding the advice by senior counsel that the Parliament does not have the authority to summon me,” Piggott said, adding that he ought to receive “courtesy and respect which he deserved.”

In May this year, Piggott tendered his resignation from the EFCL, saying he was doing so for the “protection of my reputation and family name” and protecting the PNM.

In his resignation letter dated May 27 to Education Minister Anthony Garcia and copied to Rowley and corporation sole, Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Piggott said he had resigned “due to family commitments requiring greater attention at home and abroad.”

He cited that while he had the privilege to work closely with “a diligent, dedicated and professional team of board members,” they had gone through many challenges, including “reputational risks.”

- Trinidad Guardian

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Cop Killed During Botched Restaurant Robbery - Suspect Shot, 2 Cohorts Held

TRINIDAD -- Special Reserve police officer Richard Babwah was killed last evening during an attempted robbery at a Chinese restaurant in Arouca.

Babwah, the father of two girls, was killed after he was fired upon by two bandits who stormed the restaurant shortly after 6 pm.

He was last night described as a hero by his colleagues, as they said “this just showed the extent of his dedication to his job…sad as it is.”

Babwah, 31, who was assigned to Region 2 Homicide, had reportedly just left work at the Arouca Police Station and was on his way home when he stopped at the Long Yuan Chinese Restaurant to purchase dinner to take home to his family.

According to preliminary reports, Babwah was in the restaurant when two men walked in and announced a robbery. Babwah attempted to draw his firearm but was fatally shot by one of the bandits. Police sources said the safety lock on Babwah’s firearm was on when he drew it and the delay allowed one of the bandits to shoot him. Police said the men then subsequently escaped in a waiting vehicle – a red Almera licensed PCM 1625.

Police officers who responded within minutes to the attack later spotted the getaway vehicle travelling east along the Eastern Main Road. A high-speed chase ensued and the police intercepted the vehicle near Pelican Lane in Maloney. Police said the men shot at the police as they attempted

Ministry Investigates Another School Bullying Video

TRINIDAD -- The Ministry of Education is investigating a video posted on social media which has gone viral involving several students bullying another student at a prestige school in Diego Martin.

In two of the videos posted on social media, the student is seen shielding himself while several boys physically assault him.

In the second video, the same boy is heard screaming before he is taken and thrown into the school’s swimming pool. No teachers were seen in the video.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Lovell Francis said the ministry was adopting zero tolerance to indiscipline in schools.

“We are very much against this kind of indiscipline and violence in the school.

We are having a zero tolerance towards this and we would have it investigated,” he said.

Founder of Stop the Bullying, a page dedicated to eradicating bullying in schools on Facebook, Lana Maharaj-Boodoo, said the police needed to be active in engaging students at school.

“It (school indiscipline) is getting out of hand and suspension and expelling is not going to solve this problem.

TRINIDAD -- There is a view the criminals now believe they have the upper hand and are exploiting divisions in society following the failure to pass the Anti-Gang Bill in the House of Representatives.

Some stakeholders say the Government and Opposition should have discussed their differences behind closed doors but ultimately come to a unified position in the interest of the country. The legislation is viewed as a key component in the fight against criminal gangs

Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, defended the Opposition’s vote against the legislation, saying the Opposition was not prepared to give the Government “four years to experiment with legislation. He said they suggested two years with a sunset clause to “review the legislation, its limitations, successes and statistics.”

However, Pastor Clive Dottin, who works in communities where gang warfare is prevalent, said: “This was not the time to try to score cheap points.” The outspoken Seventh Day Adventist minister urged the two sides to meet and come up with a legislative

“The Government needs to have a programme to deal with these children psychologically. They (bullies) need to stop beating people children. They are not punching bags,” she said.

Maharaj-Boodoo said she was very concerned since the student could have drowned.

“Just now we have to go to schools with a hearse. They did not know if he could swim. Suppose he drowned? The school thinking about their reputation but you have to think of the victim. You can’t just want to let your school have a good name and parents need to wake,” she said.

She said if children did not listen to their parents they should take them to the police.

“If you leave them they will become a problem for society. The ministry needs to get the police or army to visits schools once a month. To get some personnel to visit talk to them and educate them and find out what is their problem. Sometimes nobody knows not even the parent,” she said.

Attempts made to contact president of the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai proved futile.

- Trinidad Guardian

to escape, forcing the officers to return fire.

One of the suspects was shot and another was immediately arrested. A third suspect, the driver, managed to escape but police held him hours later. The wounded suspect was up to late last night being treated for gunshot wounds at the Arima District Hospital.

At the scene, Babwah’s relatives arrived at about 7.30 pm where they viewed his body. They were inconsolable and were seen comforting each other outside the restaurant.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian Monday, one of Babwah’s colleagues described the incident as “very tragic.”

“He was a very hard working officer and everyone would always like to work alongside with him because he makes his job

Female Officer in Gun Photo Now Facing Probe

TRINIDAD -- The T&T Police Service is now investigating one of its own, after a photo surfaced on social media over the weekend of a woman holding what appears to be a gun near the head of a baby also in her arms.

In a release Monday, the TTPS confirmed the woman in the photo was a member of the service and that the acting Commissioner of Police had since ordered the Professional Standards Bureau to start an immediate investigation.

“The public will be updated on the outcome of said investigation when completed,” the release added.

The photo drew scathing criticism from some on social media, since the woman seemed to be holding it close to the child’s mouth. However, close friends of the woman seen posing in a picture Monday came to her defence, saying they believe the photo was

Stakeholders: T&T Needs Anti-Gang Law

package that would benefit the country

‘The bandits are laughing at us and exploiting the divisions in the society,” he said.

“It is a case of unite now or perish later. The gangs believe they are winning the battle.”

Even more tragic, Dottin said, is that citizens believe the protective services are losing the battle.

Manager and founder of the St James Police Youth Club Officer Derrick Sharbodie said it was unfortunate that the legislation was not passed.

“Sometimes you have to agree to disagree but you need to look at the greater good,” he said.

Sharbodie said the legislation was critical to send a message to gang leaders that the police and the security forces are being given the power to “destroy, dismember and ensure that gangs in the country do not blossom.” He said passage of the legislation would have sent a message to gang members that the country’s legislators mean business.

It would have also shown that they

and others around him enjoyable,” Babwah’s colleague said.

T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association president Michael Seales last night extended deepest condolences to Babwah’s family.

“The association is in shock at this time…our heart goes out to the family…this by itself tells you that with our job we can leave for work and never be sure to return home, especially around this time, Christmas time, where robberies are very prevalent,” Seales said.

Investigating officers were up to late last night still processing the scene. Investigations are continuing.

- Trinidad Guardian

can come together in a collective effort to make a statement, he said.

“Unfortunately that statement was not made,” Sharbodie said.

Criminal defence attorney Israel Khan SC said the anti-gang laws are of extreme importance but requires the Opposition and Government working together.

Khan said by voting against the legislation the Opposition “inadvertently played into the hands of the Government.”

He warned that they could face a backlash. “If the Opposition was saying to change certain clauses they could have postponed the discussion in Parliament and get behind closed doors and agree to a common position,” he said.

Khan said the legislation by itself will not solve the crime problem as it relates to gang activity.

“There will continue to be criminal elements in the country because the basis of crime is that the wealth of the country is not being distributed for the common good of all,” he said.

“Even if the Opposition had sup-

maliciously posted onto social media. One of the woman’s friends, who did not want to be identified, said the photo was taken about ten years ago before the woman was enrolled into the TTPS. She said she believed the image was posted in an attempt to discredit the woman’s actions and “destroy her character.”

Another close friend described her as an ambitious young lady.

“That’s my girl…some people could be so WICKED…But God is good! She’s one of the most ambitious young ladies I know.

People just like to talk what they don’t know.”

The T&T Guardian understands a man the woman knew very well at the time took the photo. It is alleged the man is a also police officer and the gun belonged to him.

- Trinidad Guardian

ported the legislation, when you lock up one gang member another one will come. What you need to do is wean them away from crime and get some proper training and programmes for them to get them away from crime,” he said.

Former head of the National Operations Centre Garvin Heerah said the delay in passing the bill should not be viewed as a failure, but must be taken in “positive stride of optimism that must now challenge the strategists and the decision-makers to explore workable solutions and not lose focus of the end game.”

He said law enforcement will have to explore the laws that exist and “escalate a high visibility to ensure that all existing threats and challenges are brought under control.”Heerah said there is need to address weak points in socio-economic sectors, reach out to young people and work closely with international partners to foster relations that could be results-based and measured over time.

- Trinidad Guardian

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

President Plugs Education, Agro-Processing to Transform Berbice River

GUYANA -- President David Granger on Sunday visited the villages of Kimbia and Hururu, located along the Berbice River in Upper Demerara- Berbice (Region 10) as part of his annual tradition of distributing toys to children across the country during the Christmas season.

The Head of State used the opportunity to tell residents that emphasis on education, agriculture and value-added production along with the preservation of the environment, will play a leading role in the transformation of the villages and Region into booming economic hubs.

At Kimbia, where he became the first sitting Head of State to visit the village, President David Granger, while addressing residents from surrounding villages, including Calcuni, Maria Henrietta, Sand Hills, Ebini and Hururu at the Kimbia Primary School, said that the Berbice River possesses vast natural resources.

However, he believes that in order for communities to take advantage of those resources to improve economic prospects, education is key. The President pointed out that this is the reason he has ensured that school boats have been provided to the children of their communities under the ‘Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books or Five B’s Programme.

“The children of Guyana must lead us to the future but to do that, we must have an educated nation. The first thing is education. You must stay in school. Every single child must go to school. You must go to school and when we get enough money, we will put more boats in this river. No child should stay at home because they can’t get to school, but education must not stop at nursery. It must go on to Primary and Secondary and I want children from Kimbia to be graduating from the University of Guyana. Don’t drop out and don’t quit and whatever we can do to get you to school we will do that,” he said.

The President said that more innovative approaches, through education, must be taken to further develop Guyana’s agricultural potential and this is where investment in education and technology transfer becomes critically important.

“Here in this Berbice River we have abundant resources and we hope to discuss with the Chairman and his councillors how we are going to generate agro-processing in the Berbice River. Everything you can grow let us process these goods and get them out to New Amsterdam, Georgetown and the Caribbean. To do these things you need power; solar energy and so I will be discussing with the regional administration and the Member of Parliament how we can start getting electricity into these communities,” he said.

The President also committed to exploring the possibility of providing transportation for the movement of local produce to market centres. This call to action by the Head of State was echoed by a resident of the village, who called on the residents of the Berbice River to focus on becoming self-sufficient. “We have the resources and let us exploit it and work for the development of Guyana. I have confidence in President Granger and I know what he came into office and met but let us be patient. I have seen progress in such a short time. We have to work to help ourselves. We have coconut trees here and I am seeing coconut sugar, coconut flour, coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut milk powder on the market. These are things we can produce right here,” she said.

President Granger called on residents to take a more responsible approach to the protection of the environment, since this is what they rely on for their livelihoods. He added that all Guyanese should be proud of the nation’s patrimony and become stewards of what he called ‘the land of giants’.

“I want to call on you to protect the environment. Without the environment we won’t be able to plant and grow food.

So I ask you to look after your education, employment of the young people and environment. You have to live but do not destroy the environment,” he said. Toshao of Kimbia Village, Mr. Ashton Boyle lauded the President’s stance on education and youth development. “Our President is especially interested in the future of this

country. That is why he is placing emphasis in our youths. President Granger you have done well being the first President to ever visit Kimbia. We are overjoyed to have you here with us and you are always welcomed,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Hururu, the President met with workers from the bauxite company, RUSAL Guyana (Russkiy alyuminiy), who used the opportunity to appeal to him to bring a resolution to ongoing issues related to outstanding payments and tax-free allowances. The Head of State Committed to looking into the matter and working to ensure that workers get what is owed to them.

During his address to residents there, the President also issued the call for them to make sustainable use of their abundant resources. He told the residents that while much of his year is spent visiting other parts of the country, he takes pleasure in visiting the villages along the Rivers at Christmas time, which are often forgotten and bringing cheer to the many faces. “We have come to celebrate with you and brings gifts for the children. We are celebrating the birth of Christ and we have come to celebrate that with you. In celebrating this season, we want to honour our children because they represent our future. The children here at Hururu represent the future of this country,” he said.

More than 300 children from Aruaima, Calcuni, Coomacka, Lonsdale, Wiruni received Christmas gifts at Hururu, while in excess of 100 children at Kimbia received toys as well. President Granger was accompanied during the visits by Minister of Public Affairs in the Ministry of the Presidency, Mrs. Dawn HastingsWilliams; Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson; his granddaughter, Ms. Athena Gaskin; Member of Parliament, Mr. Jermaine Figueira; Regional Chairman, Mr. Renis Morian; and Chairperson of the People’s National Congress-Region 10, Ms. Sandra Adams. (Ministry of the Presidency).

- Guyana Chronicle

Mutilated Qualfon Teen Found in Cemetery

GUYANA -- Five persons are being questioned following the brutal murder of 18-year-old Raynelle Benfield whose body with her face mutilated was discovered in the Muslim Cemetery along Beterverwagting main road on Monday morning.

Police said she was last seen alive by her colleagues at 18:00hrs on Saturday.

Detectives are of the opinion that she was the victim of a heinous crime in which she knew her attacker(s) and was probably held at gunpoint or knifepoint and taken forcefully into the cemetery where she was beaten to the point where her head was smashed in.

The body was found with her hands resting on her stomach near one of the many tombs in the burial ground.

Sleuths said a handbag which relatives said belong to the teen was re-

trieved near the body but her cell phone was not among the items in it.

Police are optimistic that they will soon crack the case since her relatives are assisting with the investigations.

The body was found shortly after 08:00hrs on Monday when a passer-by decided to check after experiencing a strong stench emanating from the cemetery.

After that individual made the discovery the police were summoned and they cordoned off the scene and the body was removed.

As news of the young woman’s homicide began to spread in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, residents were thrown into a state of grief and shock.

The Qualfon employee of Lot 66 Republic Drive, Beterverwagting was last seen alive when she left home for work on

Saturday morning by her relatives, who told police that it was unlike her to stay away from home.

When she failed to return home Saturday night they launched a search for her and began making enquiries.

However, they were of the opinion that their loved one was working an extra shift and she would eventually show up.

Family members only learnt of her murder when the police showed up at their home after which the elder Benfield upon hearing the dreaded news of his daughter’s demise collapsed.

He was taken to the Beterverwagting Health Centre where he received medical attention and was later escorted to the nearby police station where he gave a statement.

- Guyana Chronicle

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Cops to Flood Streets of MoBay

JAMAICA -- Residents in St James can expect to see a more robust police presence on the streets of that parish following a high-level meeting with members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Monday.

In fact, the police have decided to increase their public order activities, especially as it relates to illegal vending and traffic congestion in Montego Bay.

In a statement Monday, the police high command said the decisions were taken at a meeting convened at the Office of the Commissioner of Police to examine the escalating crime situation in St James. The aim of the meeting, according to the release, was also to develop a Strategic Policing Plan for 2018 for the parish.

According to the statement, several issues were discussed, including improving intelligence capacity; enhancing investigative capabilities; greater use of technology to assist with

investigations; reviewing and redefining the divisional command and staff structure; increasing collaboration with local, regional and international law enforcement agencies, especially on transnational and financial crimes; strengthening partnerships with various public and private sector stakeholders; enhancing community collaboration with community stakeholders and groups; boosting the morale of staff through increased training and development for persons within the police division; and the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) were jointly tasked to aggressively tackle organised and financial crime.

The police high command also said MOCA will be refocusing their efforts on issues of police corruption.

Meanwhile, the police high command said also coming out of the

meeting, the JCF will continue to maintain all critical elements of its security apparatus, while deploying its resources effectively to provide the highest levels of security for all Jamaicans.

“These changes, among many others, will go a long way in helping us to achieve the objective of building safer and more secure communities, and we will be relying on the support of every Jamaican,” the high command said Monday.

The JCF also continued to implore the public “to tell what you know and give up criminals and their guns”.

In the release, the public was also reminded “not to create a safe haven for criminal elements as this may put them at risk of becoming victims of crime due to their association” with such nefarious individuals or groups.

- Jamaica Observer

Broilers Projects Poultry Industry Will Earn $54b This Year, Plans Education Campaign

JAMAICA -- Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG) has projected that the local poultry industry will bring in approximately $54 billion in retail sales this year and, as such, the company said it will be launching a national public education campaign on the industry’s contribution to the economy.

The announcement was made by Conley Salmon, president, JBG Jamaica operations, at the Best Dressed Chicken Farmers Awards luncheon on December 4 at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, a company news release stated.

Commending players in the industry for their professionalism and hard work, Salmon said the time had come for the wider public to better understand the industry’s impact on employment provided by the 60,000 contract farmers, over 2,000 large ones, as well as an increasing group of backyard growers.

“We are preparing a booklet which will highlight the poultry industry’s contribution to nation-building, including the fact that farmers pay taxes amounting to about $46 billion a year, which help to maintain such social amenities as roads and schools,” he said.

According to Salmon, local broiler farmers produce between 2.5 million and three million kilos of chicken meat every week.

“This is big business, but it is vulnerable to an ever present threat from the dumping of cheap imports. This is the reason we have to keep the public educated as to the value of the industry and how it contributes to communities.

We have had good partnerships over the years with the respective governments, but must maintain an effective lobby with the nation’s leaders to ensure we operate free of unfair competition from dumped, subsidised chicken,” the release quotes Salmon.

“Many people have no idea about the size of our industry, which involves a variety of skill sets, such as the farmers, vets, truck drivers, retailers, wholesalers, and food vendors,” he said, adding that the projected $54 billion in retail sales represent about 50 per cent of the revenue from non-traditional agricultural products in Jamaica.

“Over the past five years the layer and broiler industries combined have grown by close to 25 per cent — a remarkable achievement, of which we can be proud. This also speaks to the close co-operation between the Government and the industries, aimed at feeding our nation,” Salmon said.

He also told his audience that the importation of chicken neck and back had declined drastically in recent times, as backyard farmers were able to produce more whole chickens at the same cost as the retail price of between $90 and $100 per pound for imported neck and back, effectively outdoing low quality imports.

“These industrious farmers feed themselves and neighbours on a superior, home-grown product, while saving foreign exchange. So we need to encourage them. In fact, the majority of backyard farmers are women who support their families with that income. When they sell meat from 100 chickens at retail value, they earn about six weeks’ minimum wage. And that’s a success story more people need to hear about,” Salmon said.

He also pointed out that the layer industry had grown by 54 per cent over the last five years, with about 950,000 birds in production at present. However, he lamented the fact that, unlike chicken meat, or any other agricultural product in Jamaica, eggs attract GCT, which, he said, was a “growing shame”.

“Production by egg farmers is increasing, and egg consumption has also moved up from an average of one egg per person per week to close to an average of two eggs per person per week. These farmers also earn minimum wage every week from 150 hens,” Salmon noted.

Jamaica Broilers Group President and CEO Christopher Levy described contract farmers as the “real investors” in the island’s poultry industry.

“They are the ones who leverage their assets and invest in their farms for the long term,” he told guests at the awards ceremony.

In recognising the confidence they have placed in the group, Levy noted that JBG had grown over the past 59 years to become a multinational company with 300 contract farmers in the USA, while in Haiti the group had 500,000 layers on a 300-acre farm to meet the demands for eggs, which are the main source of protein in that country. Expansion in Jamaica includes doubling the capacity of the group’s hatchery operations and installing a third pellet mill at its Best Dressed Feed Mill.

“The diversification of our operations has allowed us to leverage the expertise we have in the group, especially in the areas of management, marketing and technology,” Levy noted.

He said as the group , which will observe its 60th anniversary in 2018, had grown significantly from its early days when it produced 10,000 birds per week to 12,000 birds an hour currently.

Among the farmers awarded for outstanding performance at the function were Alexander Grant Farm as Top Producer with less than 96,000 birds and Azan’s Farm, which was declared Top Producer with more than 96,000 birds.

- Jamaica Observer

entertainment

PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

SuperBlue will be Honored in 2018

Entertainment For the past 38 years, the name Super Blue has been respected, revered by fellow Calypso and Soca artistes and even as the winds of change continue to blow, ‘Super’ is still the man. His songs, ‘Soca Baptist’- the track that won him his first Road March in 1980, ‘Ethel’, ‘Barbara’, ‘Lara’, ‘Flag Party’ and countless other hit Soca tracks have cemented Austin ‘Super Blue’ Lyons’ name in Soca’s Hall of fame, if there ever was one. In 2018, he will be honored in a very special way.

Fifteen years ago, Randy Glasgow Productions- one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most renowned promotional entities, hosted its very first event. That event was Super Blue in concert. In 2018, CEO of the company that has since delivered major events such as Ladies Night Out and the Chutney Brass Festival, Randy Glasgow, says Super will be honored, as he should be. “His music has stood the test of time.

His performances have told a story of this country’s vibrancy and more than that, ev-

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women who paved the way for the fresh, new faces and voices we’re enjoying today, where would we be?” asked Glasgow.

The promoter says Super’s tribute is simply the second of many to come from his outfit.

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ery bit of Super Blue’s exhilarating stage shows have been the blueprint for much of what is seen when Soca stars such as Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Super’s daughter, Fay Ann Lyons and many others, mount stages around the world today.

Randy Glasgow Productions will honor Superblue on February 17th, 2018 with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. “The award will be presented at the Calypso and Comedy Cool Down concert we’re hosting at NAPA in Port-ofSpain, next year,” said Glasgow. He said Super will also be a featured act at the annual Ladies Night Out Mega Concert set to be held on February 26th in Port-of-Spain.

This year, Glasgow and his hard working team delivered a tributary accolade to Dil-E-Nadan’s Raymond Ramnarine at the annual Chutney Brass Festival in South, Trinidad. This year the award was presented by Trinidad and Tobago’s President, Anthony Carmona, and Glasgow says the President has once again been invited to be a focal part of this auspicious event in 2018.

The Carnival 2018 season fast approaching, all systems are in place for major surprises and top-notch events by Randy Glasgow Productions. “We want everyone to come out to our events and walk away completely satisfied. Honoring the greats is truly a necessary part of our shows. Without these legendary men and

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feature

PAGE 19

Words of Resilience “I Can & I Will” It takes a special kind of person to see that which cannot be seen, to look inside ourselves and discover the power we did not know we had. Words are a driving factor in that process, the way we speak to ourselves, about ourselves, and encourage the motivation and growth that will take us to the next level.

Bold, eccentric, luminous, versatile and a catalyst for positive change, Kym Niles is an individual who stands out from the crowd, a leader, a commanding presence, and a woman who marches to the beat of her own drum.

Born of Jamaican and Trinidadian heritage, Kym is a woman who holds nothing back. From very young Kym has been recognized as a born leader. In high school, she was the president of her student council, in her career someone who could be relied on to turn any hopeless situation around. Her ability to take charge of a situation, vocalize her thoughts and actively work implementing a plan of action is evident in every task she takes responsibility for.

“Beginning with the end in mind is something I have embodied for the majority of my life,” Kym says. “I’m always the person to be able to visualize the path before them, and create a plan for where we have to go.”

Having to rely on herself and her own abilities early in life, Kym quickly learned how to problem solve to survive. At sixteen years old she already had three jobs, implementing a delicate balancing between work and school, while also taking on a myriad of side projects simultaneously. She was the poster girl of hustling hard, her drive indomitable.

“I always knew I wanted to become someone, and at that point in my life, I didn’t know what that meant,” Kym explains. “I wanted to be someone of influence, and I wanted to make a difference.”

During those years, in her pursuit of working towards becoming someone who could make a difference, the work she did, and the projects she took on really helped to build up her character and strengthen her resilience.

“There are days that you don’t want to wake up, and you don’t want to do it,” Kym admits. “It always came down to how do I keep

going, how do I stay focused, and I would always keep something in my circle to keep me excited.”

Armed with a strong sense of responsibility Kym had originally intended on becoming a lawyer. On more than one occasion she felt a strong sense of justice to fight for one side of an argument or another. “When I believe in something I’ll go full out to defend it, I’m always willing to dig to get to the answer,” she assures. “Once I’m firm in my opinion of something it’s hard to discourage me.”

Unfortunately, the more time she spent studying the legal system, she found there was a lot that didn’t sit well with her, and so she agreed to disagree with the justice system and moved on to the next enticing project.

At seventeen she found herself working in retail, and she realized that she found a sense of gratification in leading people. She was put in charge of managing teams of people, something that is no small feat, and during that time she learned that she was equipped with a skill set that allowed her to take care of these other employees, working to keep them happy and productive.

“I spent a lot of time observing people,” Kym explains. “I observed how they would behave or how they would respond to certain situations and listen to understand their needs.”

During that time she was still taking courses in college, subconsciously gathering more insight on leadership, management, and development, all things that became transferable skills she was able to apply in different aspects of her career.

“Always did a great job of taking care of people, and never did a great job of taking care of myself and that was an eye-opener for me,” Kym admits.

After that, Kym established herself as an authority in various different positions where she was a respected manager and leader in everything she chose to embark on. Company higher-ups would come seeking her out to help save their businesses, recreate business plans and whip their company and employees into shape.

In every new endeavor Kym embarked on, she invested her time and energy into helping people and making them feel better. With every opportunity she left a positive impression, people would leave her care smiling. The ability to touch lives in a positive way was making a difference and creating an impact and with every new position or project she took on she fit another piece of the puzzle together in what she eventually established as her own company I Can & I Will.

“I was put in a position where I was starting to talk to people about their well being,” Kym explains. “A lot of my journey began with helping women build their confidence, slowly progressing from there and eventually venturing into the world of fitness with strength and conditioning.”

I Can & I Will was founded out of an opportunity to utilize all of the skills she had gained over the years and create something that she could call her own. Over the years she realized that she had spent too much time working for other people, and eventually the universe provided her with the ultimate opportunity to put her passion behind something that was 100% her own vision.

Kym seized the moment one day while working out when the words she constantly shared with her clients came to her ‘I can and I will.’ That affirmation allowed her to create her own company, one focused on empowering people to take positive action that will result in positive self-esteem and mastery.

“It came from a place of opportunity, I began working with clients one on one, personal training, coaching them not only in body but also in mind,” Kym shares. “I started working with youth in the community, young black girls and women to become more comfortable in their skin.”

I Can & I Will offers group and personal training sessions, practical physical activity that is designed for your dynamic, consistent, and focused lifestyle. Their belief system is that your training sessions should be functional and transfer over to real life. They offer a number of workshops that cover a wide variety of topics relating to your mental and

physical health addressing topics like self-love, body image, self-confidence, self-esteem and any other opportunities you might be looking to address in your life.

“My personal mantra is to leave you better than I met you,” Kym shares. Her experience mentoring and coaching hundreds of individuals both personally and professionally allows her to offer mentorship to anyone looking to improve their self-development, discovering who you are, and who you want to be.

“I have a natural passion for people with a belief system that anything is possible if you truly want it…There are no limits, just the ones you set for yourself.” Kym explains.

She is there to hold you accountable and for you to understand your behavioral patterns and the root causes, which in turn affect your daily wellbeing.

“I like to understand why I’m doing something whether I’m being paid or not, I want to know the outcome, what is the desired outcome we’re looking for that to me is so important,” Kym says.

In addition to everything that she does Kym is always giving back. As an extension of I Can & I Will, Selflove Youth Wellness & Empowerment is their corporate responsibility. Their goal is to empower youth to use fitness activities for both mental and physical health through wellness workshops at no cost.

In the future, Kym hopes that she can take the impact of I Can & I Will international to help people all over the world, especially in the Caribbean. On her journey, she has become a certified wellness coach, trainer, motivational speaker and consultant and there is still so much she hopes to do moving forward.

“If I’m going to do something I do it with passion, I dedicate the time to figure out how to do it properly and increase productivity, so I can work it to the fullest extent of my ability.”

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

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PAGE 22

travel

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Turks & Caicos Islands - Beautiful by Nature

The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles southeast of Miami and 39 miles south east of Mayaguana in the Bahamas. Covering 193 square miles of the Atlantic ocean, Turks and Caicos Islands has one of the longest coral reefs in the world, making it a premier diving destination.

One of the most valuable possessions of the islands are the white sandy beaches, which in total cover 230 miles and are complimented with crystal clear waters. The islands are relatively flat but depending on the island, the terrain can vary from sand dunes to lush green vegetation. There are eight major islands: Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos, East Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales and West Caicos. The people on the islands are known for their friendliness.

East Caicos and West Caicos are uninhabited.

The Tourism industry gives Turks and Caicos its main revenue. In addition to this the islands are also a major offshore financial center. There is a small traditional fishing industry that continues throughout Turks and

Caicos. On the islands of Providenciales and Grand Turk you will find International style hotel accommodations, each one has its own unique set up and surroundings. Native dishes are served along with international cuisine, you will find this at most of the restaurants.

More casual and serene accommodations can be found on the other islands and smaller cays.

History: The Turks and Caicos Islands are named after the indigenous Turk’s Head “fez” cactus, and the Lucayan term “caya hico,” meaning string of islands. Columbus was said to have discovered the islands in 1492, but some still argue that Ponce de Leon arrived first. Whichever it was, the first people to truly discover the islands were the Taino Indians, who unfortunately left little behind but ancient utensils. The Tainos were eventually replaced by another Indian people, the Lucayans; but by the middle of the 16th Century they too had disappeared, victims of Spanish enslavement and imported disease.

The 17th century saw the arrival of

WIN TER

FOOD

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settlers from Bermuda, who established themselves on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos. They used slaves to rake salt for British colonies in America, and were later joined by British Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The economy of the island revolved around the rich cotton and sisal plantations, their harvests sold in London and New York.

Due to competition and the thin soil, however, the cotton plantations slowly deteriorated, most of them finally perishing in a hurricane in 1813. Solar salt became the main economy of the islands.

In 1776, after being controlled by the Spanish, French and British, Turks and Caicos became part of the Bahamas colony, but attempts to integrate failed and were abandoned in 1848. London - Kingston boats frequently visited Turks and Caicos, so links with Jamaica were well developed. Turks and Caicos became a British Crown Colony in 1962 and links were maintained to the Bahamas through the Anglican Church.

The 1976 elections were won by the PDM, the People’s Democratic Movement, who were then to negotiate independence if they won the next elections in 1980. But the other main political party, the Progressive National Party (PNP), won the 1980 elections and plans for independence have for now been set aside.

The People: The English speaking population of 20,500 are dispersed over the eight main islands, the native people are descendants from African slaves who were originally brought over to grow cotton on the island of Providenciales. The natives are very kind and friendly people and are also very religious. The “expat” community of British, American, French, Canadian and Scandinavian gives the islands some European influence. The people of the islands have a very relaxed attitude that helps to create a perfect environment for you to unwind.

- Geographia

HELP US SUPPORT THE LIVES OF OUR YOUTH THIS SEASON. The Brij Team will be providing and accepting donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, and personal supplies for Youth Without Shelter.

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Drop off your food at our office, at 96 Rexdale Blvd., or pass it on to one of our team members.

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PAGE 28

food

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Healthy Snacking: Tips to Cope With Food Cravings cessed, and high in salt, sugar, and fat. Craving these types of foods can be a major roadblock for people trying to maintain a healthy weight or switch to a more healthful diet.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to help cope with cravings. Here are some tips:

Eartha Lowe

1. Don’t wait for intense feelings of hunger before you eat. Have a regular pattern of meals and healthful snacks planned throughout the day.

2. Eat mindfully. One of the keys to better health is to enjoy eating your food slowly and in a stress-free environment. Take the time to pay attention to each bite, noticing how your food looks, tastes and smells.

3. Start new habits. Replace the activities that trigger food cravings with something else.

Go for a walk, have a good stretch, or enjoy a cup of herbal tea.

4. Uncover nutrient deficiencies. Recognize what you truly need and find a healthy alternative.

5. If you crave foods like store bought potato chips for example, why not discover a healthier version that’s homemade?

eartha@carib101.com

Green Healthy Eating Craving: an intense, urgent, or strong feeling of wanting something Craven: a Jamaican patois (patwah) word that means “greedy” Foodie: “a term of endearment used to describe a “craven” person with a never-ending “craving” for food (in my opinion) Food cravings are to be expected, but ask yourself, “am I really hungry?” A food craving is an intense, and sometimes uncontrollable desire for a specific food. Feeling stressed may also promote emotional eating and cravings for comfort foods. These types of foods are often junk, pro-

Sweet Potato Chips are delicious! They’re also super easy to make. Slice the sweet potato as thin

as possible to get a crispy chip. Thicker chips will be more chewy than crispy.

You’ll need • 2 large sweet potatoes, thinly sliced (as thin as possible) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 250°F. 2. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato slices with the olive oil. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the sea salt.

3. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 2 hours. Rotate the pan and flip the chips after 1 hour.

4. Once the chips are light and crisp, remove them from the oven. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. The chips will crisp as they cool. Serve immediately.

Category: vegan, vegetarian Prep and cook time: 2.5 hours Serves: 4 Difficulty: easy Lemon-Blueberry Smoothie: Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are potent

sources of antioxidants. Berries are high in fiber, which benefits the digestive tract, cardiovascular system, and blood sugar levels. Rather than relying upon blueberries incorporated only into baked desserts – because, like other fruits, raw blueberries provide you with the best flavor and the greatest nutritional benefits – enjoy a hearty serving of berries in a tasty, energizing smoothie.

Smoothies are a great way to get a healthy dose of vegetables and fruits into you, meanwhile helping to curb cravings for something sweet.

You’ll need • 1 cup fresh blueberries • 1 frozen banana, peeled and sliced • 1/2 cup rolled oats • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk • Crushed ice (optional) Directions Add all the ingredients to a blender; blend until smooth. Serve chilled.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

beauty

PAGE 31

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for Beauty Lovers amples of last minute gift ideas that anyone will be sure to enjoy.

Kizzy Courtney

kizzy@carib101.com

Beauty Tips

Have you left your Christmas shopping for the last minute? If you’re anything like me, then despite all the planning and preparation you do during December you still find yourself needing to pick up some last-minute presents before Christmas. Luckily, if the person on your list is especially into all things beauty and makeup related, there are plenty of easy, inexpensive gifts you can pick up that they’re sure to love. Choosing the right gift doesn’t mean you should spend hundreds of dollars.

It’s the thought that is put into your gift that truly makes the difference. Here are a few ex-

Beauty Gift Sets: Christmas is fast approaching which means there are beauty gift sets galore from amazing brands including Nuxe, Avene, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Nars, MAC, etc. etc. etc. There are way too many to name them all but it sure is fun admiring them.

Bath Bombs: Of course, LUSH makes the best ones, but sometimes you don’t have time to make it to the mall. Amazon has an array of bath bombs to choose from that I hear are very good, and many come in pretty gift boxes. If you’re a Prime member and have one-day shipping, then there’s no need to worry about your gifts not arriving before the Big Day. Makeup Brushes: Everyone needs makeup brushes but rarely thinks about buying them for themselves. A set of brushes to do a complete look will be much appreciated by any makeup lover. Luckily, we have some brands that offer inexpensive brush sets to choose

from. BH Cosmetics and E.L.F are a few brands that offer great brushes at great prices.

Spin Brush: Skincare is very important, so gifting someone with a spin brush such as a Clarisonic Mia Fit or a Spin For Perfect Skin brush from Vanity Planet is always a good idea. These brushes are ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your hands and take up little space. Adding a spin brush to their regular skincare routine will boost the cleansing power and allow the products to work deeper. These brushes are also a perfect gift for the traveler in your life.

Gift Cards: This isn’t always seen as an easy way out. Gift cards for services you wouldn’t splurge on yourself, like a manicure or facials, are always welcome. For the makeup obsessed, MAC and Sephora gift cards are always a good choice. Knowing the gift receiver’s current needs will help decided the perfect gift card to give them. Did your friend just move to a new place for instance? Then a gift card to Homesense or Pier One will be the perfect gift to give.

Fragrance Sampler: Let’s face it perfumes are expensive. If you have a perfume lover in your life then a fragrance sample set is the best gift to give them. Shopper’s Drug Mart carries a fragrance sampler set that contains a gift certificate that your fragrance lover can redeem for a full-size bottle of their favorite sampler scent. Usually, these sampler sets come with 8-10 perfumes samples to choose from which I’m sure they’ll love.

I know it can be difficult trying to find the perfect gift for someone, so these are great ideas if you’re stuck on what to buy a friend or family member who enjoys trying out new beauty products. And if you’re buying for someone who really has got everything, why not book them a luxurious spa break? This is a Christmas gift idea I’d love to wake up to on Christmas morning! Hope these holiday gift ideas help take some of the stress out of shopping this year!

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yoga

PAGE 34

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Yoga & Anxiety Trisha Curling

trishacurling@carib101.com

Yoga It can be very difficult to admit that we suffer from varying degrees of anxiety. If we have experienced some type of trauma I think it is important to recognize that it will take time to heal from that. It is also important to understand that during and within, part of that healing is a certain level of anxiety.

I wrote about meditation in the last edition and how helpful it can be to reduce mind chatter by focussing on our breath.

This helps to increase the balance between

the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. This helps to move our bodies into a more settled state. We can both slow the heart rate and improve our ability to breathe correctly. Calming and improving our breath can more positively influence our thoughts. Changing the perspective within our thoughts can help to alleviate the anxiety we may be experiencing. Just saying yoga is the answer is not enough. There are specific yoga postures and other strategies that we can practice to help us and/or put us on the right path to reducing the negative effects anxiety can have in our lives.

Anxiety has a direct impact on our breathing. We tend to engage in more shallow breathing patterns, rather than using the full capability of the diaphragm and other accessory breathing muscles like the intercostals (that live between the ribs). One way to begin to open the intercostals is to sit crosslegged (maybe on top of a bolster or pillow).

Gently place one hand (i.e. left hand) on the floor/mat beside you while taking the length

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of your thumb on the right hand and placing it between the space of two ribs on the right side of your body. On a breath in, stretch your torso towards the left, taking a big side body stretch all while pressing the right hip down towards the floor or mat. Return to a more upright position on your breath out.

Imagine yourself making more space between the ribs with your thumb. Take full deep breaths by extending your ribs out to the sides of your body with each breath in.

Repeat this in other parts of the rib cage and then repeat on the other side of the body.

When we practice sitting with and getting to know our own breath we can also greatly influence our physiological response to stress and anxiety. “By breathing through the nose on exhalation, the exhalation is lengthened and the respiratory rate is slowed (because the nasal passages are narrower than the mouth and offer more resistance to airflow), both actions tend to promote calmness of the mind. Rapid anxious breathing, on the other hand, serves to further activate

the sympathetic nervous system, causing the release of stress hormones…” (Yoga as Medicine, Timothy McCall M.D. pg. 138).

This breathing might also be known as Ujjayi breath (breathing in and out through the nose) in your yoga practice.

A steady practice ingratitude can be more powerful than you would ever believe.

Steering our thoughts to being grateful for what we already have and/or what is already going well, can bring more calm into our lives. Grab a journal and commit to writing for just a couple of minutes per day. Make a list. The list can include simple things like the food you took out to cook for dinner, your favorite underwear. It doesn’t take that much once you start.

These strategies sound simple, maybe even insignificant, but with consistent practice, they can greatly reduce feelings of anxiety that may be playing a very significant role in your life right now.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

health

Nine Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is considered a high risk factor for heart at- tacks and strokes as well as kidney failure. Many have high BP, but most don’t know as it doesn’t usually have its own symptoms.

Blood pressure readings are in two sets of numbers. The top number, systolic pressure, indicates pressure on the artery walls when the heart beats. The lower num- ber, diastolic pressure, shows the pressure on artery walls between heart beats.

A normal reading is 120/80. Above those numbers up to 140/90 is considered prehypertension while above 140/90 is hy- pertension. But people with normal health in the prehypertension zone are not considered at risk for strokes, heart, or kidney failure.

Those who are overweight or dia- betic are more at risk with higher than nor- mal BP. Over half of the high BP population is diabetic.

Men are more likely to have high BP, and those who smoke and drink alcohol excessively are more likely to have high BP.

Pharmaceutical medications with decongestants, NSAIDs (non-steroid ant- inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, ste- roids, birth control pills, and antidepressants are likely to raise blood pressure. Main- stream medicine considers salt/sodium con- sumption as a main factor of high BP.

But processed and fast foods ac- count for over 80 percent of the sodium in- take using toxic processed salt, mixed with other health damaging additives such as HFCS and trans-fat-

ty acid oils, which are more responsible for causing high blood pressure than pure, unprocessed sea salt.

Foods that can help reduce high blood pressure 1. Cayenne is in chili peppers. Using those with food is good for reducing blood pressure, even though it may not feel that way.

Herbal masters Dr. Christopher and Dr. Schulz recommend taking a teaspoon of at least 40,000 heat units of cayenne pepper powder mixed in water two times daily to support complete heart health and more.

2. Hibiscus or Jamaica (hu-my- ca) tea on ice is well known as a refreshing beverage in the Caribbean islands, South America, and Mexico. It has been clinically proven to lower high BP. You can dowse the flame out of your mouth from cayenne with a Jamaica iced tea and double the benefits.Dried hibiscus flower petals are used to make the tea.

Some health food stores may have them.

Stores specializing in Hispanic foods most likely will. Or you can order them online.

To prepare: Simply cover the bot- tom of a large pan thickly with the petals, then pour hot (not boiling) water over them. Cover and let it steep for a half hour. Strain while pouring into a glass container then re- frigerate and use when desired.

3. A Louisville medical center study found that snacking on raisins three times daily could reduce BP among those in a prehy-

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

pertension group. Amazingly, they even used processed food snacks containing raisins.

The American Heart Associa- tion has discovered through research that eating three kiwis a day reduces BP. The American Chemical Soci- ety claims purple root vegetables, such as purple potatoes, have chemical properties that reduce BP. A Florida State University study found that watermelon lowers BP. In addi- tion to watermelon’s potassium contribution, they found a specific amino acid that con- tributes to lowering BP. Speaking of potassium, don’t forget to eat bananas. The Harvard Medical School reported a UK study that determined foods containing potassium nitrate were even better than supplements using potas- sium chloride for lowering BP. Hawthorne berries have both herbalists and mainstream medicos agreeing on its blood pressure lowering ability. Its tea has been a Chinese household heart tonic for centuries.

If you can’t find a Chinese food specialty store, go online or use Hawthorne extract supplements.We can’t forget chocolate, can we? It should be organic and dark or bitter- sweet without milk and with very little sugar. Yes, it has been researched; there are com- pounds in cacao that dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

- Natural News

Calcium Supplements Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Men

Calcium supplements seem to be more popu- lar than ever, with a growing number of people from all age groups taking them daily in the belief that they’re guarding themselves from osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Accord- ing to researchers from the National Cancer In- stitute in Besthesda, Maryland, however, older men who have a high intake of calcium supple- ments put themselves at considerable risk of CVD death.

The researchers, whose study was published in the February 2013 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, monitored the health of 388,229 male and female volunteers be- tween the ages of 50 to 71 years over an av- erage of 12 years. During that period, 51 per- cent of the 7,904 male volunteers who suffered cardiovascular disease-related deaths regularly took calcium supplements, versus 70 percent of the 3,874 female volunteers.

Furthermore, the results showed that men who regularly took 1,000 mg/day of calcium supplementation had a 20 percent greater risk of suffering from CVD death than men who avoided calcium supplements altogether. The same group also had a 19 percent greater risk of heart disease and a 14 percent greater risk of

cerebrovascular disease. Women, on the other hand, seemed to be unaffected by the problems that the supplements posed to men.

“Whether there is a sex difference in the cardiovascular effect of calcium supplement warrants further investigation. Given the extensive use of calcium supplement in the population, it is of great importance to assess the effect of supplemental calcium use beyond bone health,” concluded lead researcher, Dr. Qian Xiao.

The study showed no connection between dietary calcium and cardiovascular disease.

Nutrients Work in Tandem, Not in Isolation The main problem with calcium supplements, including supplements containing calcium derived from natural sources, is that they tend to contain calcium alone. However, in the natural world, nutrients such as calcium are not isolated from other nutrients but rather mixed with complementary nutrients to facilitate superior absorption.

Studies have shown, for example, that calcium will accumulate in our bones – ul- ti-

mately leading to artery calcification and thus cardiovascular disease – if it is not consumed in conjunction with vitamin K2 and/or vitamin D. Since most calcium supplements do not provide us with vitamin K2 or vitamin D, they increase the risk of heart disease.

Natural foods that are rich in calcium, though, tend to contain complementary levels of vitamins K2 and D. This is especially the case with leafy green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, okra, and spring onions. If the older male volunteers who partook in Dr. Xiao’s study had favored natural, foodbased sources of calcium over calcium supplements, it is possible that many of them wouldn’t have succumbed to CVD death. As Dr. Susanna Larsson, a nutritionist from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, con- cluded when asked to comment on Dr. Xiao’s findings:

“A safe alternative to calcium supplements is to consume calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat dairy foods, beans, and green leafy vegetables, which contain not only calcium but also a cocktail of essential minerals and vitamins.”

- Natural News

Passion Flower is Effective For Countering Anxiety and Stress Spanish missionaries gave the plant its name, “passion flower,” because certain aspects of it reminded them of the wounds, whips and stigma linked to the passion of Christ. This herb should definitely be one of the first that comes to mind when looking to naturally treat condi- tions of anxiety, seizures, nervousness, insom- nia and even hysteria.

Scientists have reason to believe that passion flower’s effectiveness primarily stems from its ability to increase the presence of a substance in the brain known as gamma-ami- nobutyric acid (GABA). Specialists agree that this chemical reduces the activity of certain brain cells, which then leads to putting you in a more relaxed state of mind.

As with most other medicinal herbs, passion flower is also filled with protective antioxidant elements such as vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, apigenin and luteolin glycosides. There seems to be a perfect interaction between the plant’s alkaloids and bioflavonoids, thus encouraging physical heal-

ing and general wellness.

Passion flower is a safe alternative to get rid of anxiety As you may know by now, when there’s not much money to make out of it, research tends to be scarce. Fortunately, enough was done to demonstrate that passion flower may be just as powerful in treating general anxiety disorders as the usual drug used to do so. A past study involving 36 individuals showed that passion flower was as efficient as oxazepam (Serax) for dealing with these symptoms. Another study conducted with 91 participants present- ing anxiety symptoms proved that passion flower-derived products effected much better results than their placebo counterparts. Fur- ther research was also able to conclude that patients who were given passion flower prior to undergoing surgery became less anxious and recovered just as fast as those given a simple placebo.

The Department of Pharmaceutics at Florida’s College of Pharmacy was also able to

demonstrate that passion flower helps neutralize or at the very least greatly diminish anxiety symptoms in rats. Knowing that rodents usual- ly have an aversion for open spaces, the scien- tists used what is called the elevated plus maze model in order to come up with their findings. It turned out that rats were significantly more inclined to go through the open spaces of the specific maze model when passion flower dos- es of 375 mg/kg were given to them.

Passion flower can also be used to reduce pain, thanks to its antispasmodic and sedative virtues. The Encyclopedia of Medici- nal Plants actually recommends using it as an alternative to relieve pain that may prevent you from falling asleep. The herb may also be able to alleviate premenstrual cramps, headaches, toothaches and general muscle soreness.

Some scientists believe that passion flower supplements may provide benefits for women that cannot or decide not to use hor- mone replacement during menopause.

- Natural News

PAGE 35

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Division Of Assets After A Short Marriage

Valerie Dye

valerie@carib101.com

Legal Matters Under the Family Law Act (the Àct`), where one party owns a home prior to marriage and the home becomes the matrimonial home that home is included in calculations for the purpose of property division (i.e. equalization). Thus, while other assets owned by the spouse prior to marriage are not included in the equalization process, a matrimonial home is not treated in the same way.

This is a general rule and the Courts have recognized that it can often lead to unconscionable results especially where

a marriage lasts for only a short period of time. Consider the situation where Party A owned a home prior to his or her marriage to Party B. One year after the marriage the parties separate. Based on the Act the home is included in the calculations to determine how much each party is entitled to upon the division of assets. If Party A`s net family property (including the home) is valued at $800,000 and Party B`s net family property is $100,000, then Party A will pay Party B the sum of $350,000. Essentially Party B will get a share of the home which was owned by Party A prior to marriage.

In Stergiopoulos v. Von Biehler (2014 ONSC 6391) the husband owned the matrimonial home prior to marriage. The marriage only lasted 20 months. The court referred to section 5(6) of the Act which states that:

The court may award a spouse an amount that is more or less than half the difference between the net family properties if the court is of the opinion that equalizing the

net family properties would be unconscionable, having regard to, (e) the fact that the amount a spouse would otherwise receive is disproportionately large in relation to a period of cohabitation that is less than five years.

The court concluded that 20 months was one-third of the five-year period and therefore the wife should be awarded only one-third of the value of the home.

In Burden v. Burden, 2014] O.J. No. 5192 (S.C.J.) the husband owned the matrimonial property before the marriage and the marriage lasted only 17.5 months. Taking into consideration the requirement for a fiveyear marriage duration in accordance with section 5(6) of the Act, the court proportionately reduced the amount of equalization payment the wife was entitled to.

Where a marriage has lasted close to five years the court may be less inclined to reduce the amount of payment to which the non-owning spouse is entitled. In Rinaldi v. Branch, 2016 ONSC 38, the parties

Education - The Magic Key

Kathy McDonald kathy@carib101.com

Education Over the last two weeks, just about every conference, parent or school meeting and presentation that I was involved with had as its main theme that education is key. I was particularly excited to be involved in the anti-racism directorates inaugural conference on Anti–Racism. They conducted an online poll and asked participants to choose what the most important issue is. Racism and education lead the polls by leaps and bounds.

It was followed in the distance by justice then health and then child welfare.

It was very disappointing but not shocking to read the headlines in the paper that a teacher in Ontario is accused of making a racist statement. In my role of trustee, these are cases that I deal with far too often.

Again, every time I bring to the forefront the negative behaviors of teachers I feel very strongly that it’s important to recognize that the vast majority of teachers take their duty to care for their students seriously. We must

remember while school boards do their best to hire great teachers they invariably let a few undesirables in. This is where as parents we need to be vigilant. Far too often we don’t take action to make sure problems are rectified.

Recently, an angry parent called me about a comment an occasional teacher (substitute teacher) made. The teacher allegedly said to the student “You are not acting like a good Indian”. There have been other allegations like the teacher who announced to his class that a student was “dumb because he is Black” and my final example is a teacher threatening to come to school and “gun down” the students if they don’t behave. Please note that by recent I mean recent, within the last week and one case dating back one year. Parents need to start speaking up and holding their school boards accountable. I would never suggest going to the media first to solve an issue. I always encourage the parents to resolve the issue with their child’s school. As most schools value parents as indispensable partners that are working together for the same goal, letting your child be the best that they can be.

The key is accountability. Parents I can’t emphasize enough how a vital part of the accountability equation is you, the parent. Let your voice be heard. Learn how to effectively advocate for your child. Parents you must also prioritize your child’s education. Remember one of the greatest gifts a

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parent can give their child is that of time.

Anti-racism is gaining momentum across the province in all sectors and it is up to us to participate and ensure that the various initiatives across the province, across all sectors don’t fizzle out. All voices matter.

Each of us from the Black and Caribbean community needs to ensure that all levels of government are held accountable. We should speak up about any form of discrimination.

We all have different methods that we may choose to be engaged. The important thing is that we get engaged and remain engaged until all systemic biases that discriminate against students on race, abilities, creed, gender, or any other reason is permanently dismantled.

Now, we must remember that this work at times can seem daunting. I would encourage all parents to consult your child’s school board website to garner the relevant information needed to guide you through the process. If the information is not forthcoming call your child’s school, they are usually willing to resolve issues. If you still feel that you are not satisfied, then you could call your local trustee. They will help you resolve the issue and explain the policies and procedures and the reasoning behind them.

There will be times that you make feel frustrated and resigned to give up. I would encourage you to persevere to the end.

Any form of advocacy can often leave one feeling frustrated. The bottom line

life

PAGE 37

separated one month short of five years. The wife had owned the house prior to marriage and sought to invoke the provisions of section 5 (6) of the Act to prevent the husband from obtaining a share of the matrimonial home. The court considered the fact that the marriage lasted almost five years and, although the wife owned the home prior to marriage the husband was still able to benefit from an equalization payment which took into consideration the value of the home.

The conclusion is that even if you own your home prior to marriage your spouse may be able to benefit from a share of that home unless your marriage lasted for a period that is significantly less than five years.

The only way to prevent one party from benefitting unfairly from assets owned by the other party prior to the marriage is to have a marriage contract.

is that invariably any disruptions in an organization are not welcomed even if they lead to positive outcomes. At the end of the day, the holders of power usually don’t willingly relinquish their power. In fact, demanding equitable treatment for all students should not be seen as one group losing power. When we empower all students and set all students up for success the society as a whole benefits. The society as a whole sees huge economic gains and the society is healthier, happier and safer. Having a highly educated student body where all students achieve is a no-brainer and parents must insist that their students are served in an equitable, caring and healthy and safe environment. When parents do their part and the school and the community work together for student success the entire community benefits.

In the final analysis when all is said and done, as parents, we must zealously guard our children’s educational journey and do all in our power to make sure their full potential is realized. It is only through education that our children will maximize their potential. Regardless of the pathway that the student chooses, in the end, it’s their education, this magical key that will unlock their hopes, dreams, and opportunities. So, journey with me as we ensure that all our children get the keys they need for their life’s journey. Walk Good, Belle Marché.

PAGE 38

community

From All Of Us At

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

The Wisdom of Elders; Why it is Important to Have a Team of Elders in Your Circle Simone Smith

simone@carib101.com

A Better Tomorrow “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was*?” Satchel Paige (19061982) When I was younger, of course I thought I knew everything. I was raised with my grandmother, so I always remember her sprouting out words of wisdom. I also remember me ignoring them and just dismissing her as an old person. As I have gotten older, I now see how important these words of wisdom were, and I wish I had her back to say them again.

They would have so much meaning because I have just begun to live life; to truly understand that experience is everything.

I attended an event honouring the great Mr. Jane and Finch himself, Winston LaRose on Friday, December 1st, 2017. He had just turned 80 years old, and the community was out celebrating this great man who had done so much in his time here. I

was of course impressed by the work that was put into the event. Brand EQ had done a great time gathering, and had all of Winston’s friends, coworkers, and community leaders together. As he spoke, one thing that crossed my mind was that he had lived such a meaningful and successful life. I made sure to tune my ears and listen to what he had to say. I want to share what I have learned from elders in my past, and also what I heard repeated by a man of success who had made it to his 80’s and was young enough to Salsa dance with a woman half his age with such energy and life. “Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Edward Stanley (1826-1893)

One thing that I have learned is prevention is better than cure. Seeing Winston dancing on Friday showed me that living a healthy balanced life is the way to go. We are in an age of consumption, and not everything we are consuming is good for us. What makes things worse is that we do not balance it out in a healthy way. Then you add stress to that….. Well as you can imagine, it is the reason why heart disease is on the rise. We have to take better care of ourselves now, so we don’t feel it later. “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

The moment you start looking at yourself as old, you become old. If you see life for what it is; opportunity to live more

Be Your Best Self

Colleen Lindberg

colleen@carib101.com

Personal Development I’m not sure if you’ve heard this term before.

“Be your best self.” Some of us have and some of us haven’t, and some of us aren’t even sure what that really means.

Exploring yourself and figuring yourself out is one of the key pieces in order to continue moving forward in life. This really means owning the skill set that you have, the talents you were born with and for you to be able to take yourself into the next chapter of your life.

But first, you need to discover who you really are and what the best self of you looks like. I was just recently on Matthew Hussey’s retreat program that was happen-

ing in Ft. Lauderdale and he had us write out our identity statements. This means “Who is it that you want to be in the next chapter of your life? What characteristics, values does that person represent? Who is that woman or man and what do they want to accomplish?” That could include values like integrity, honesty, confidence, any type of values you could have in that identity statement. It could be things that you want to make sure that you accomplish. It could be stuff that you want to recognize or make sure that you talk to yourself about them every day.

An identity statement should be read every day, to be kept as a foundation piece. It’s almost an affirmation of the things that you are creating. My identity statement talks about how I will live with love and light every day. How my laughter will fill up a room and how I will spread laughter on a daily basis. It also says that I will not make any excuses and will take responsibility for my life and for driving my goals forward. It talks about having a love connection, it talks about being of integrity and charisma and from a loving space, integrating conversations in my community.

fully, and gratefulness for the fact that you still have strength, this is what allows you to age well. Many of the elders that I speak of shun the idea of retirement. They have found what they love to do, and it has become a meaningful part of their lives. Due to this, retirement is not even seen as an option. No longer look at the age of 65 as the age to retire, but as an age to inspire. “We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.” – Australian Aboriginal saying.

As you get older, you realize that life is what it is. We are just visitors here, and when speaking with elders, they stress this. We are here to observe life, grow from our mistakes, and to love completely and fully. When we are gone, we cannot do this anymore, so take advantage. The more you know, the less you need. -Australian Aboriginal saying.

All the material things that we work so hard in our younger years for mean nothing in the future. They become just stuff; things collected. “We cannot take it to the grave,” my dad always says.

Have a group of elders around you to keep you humble, and to keep you focused. Let us not forget that they have experienced what we have twenty times over.

So, all of those things can come out in what we call our best selves, so who do you represent? A really cool thing is getting a list of values put together, or looking online for different values and figuring out the top five of those that represent your next chapter in your life and who you are looking to be, at who you already are and looking to enhance. And from that standpoint integrating and making sure you are standing locked into those values on an everyday basis and making sure you’re honoring that energy for yourself which will be a key important piece.

Another thing to consider is, what are the goals you need to set in any avenue of your life in order to get you closer to your best self? Have you ever heard of rituals before?

Rituals are the consistent action that you take on a daily basis to move things forward, align yourself with a certain energy or create. They vary in form and are usually done on a consistent basis at certain times of the day. I highly suggest integrating some into your practice.

Here is to our best selves!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

How To Get Through The Holiday Season Being Single Kezia Royer-Burkett kezia@carib101.com

Loves, Likes & Shares The holiday season is meant to be a joyous, fun, memorable time or at least that’s how it’s advertised. But for most, it’s a time of high expectations, anxiousness, guilt, and disappointment. I never really loved the holidays, I saw it as a time that people came together and were fake and ate yummy food. One year when I was fifteen years old the phone rang on Christmas day, and it was my boyfriend at the time. I thought he was calling to wish me a Merry Christmas, and I was so very excited and I answered my house phone on the first ring. Instead of my boyfriend wishing me Merry Christmas since I wasn’t expecting a gift from him, he told me that sometimes when we were together, he missed his ex-girlfriend, Samantha, so he was breaking up with me. He broke up with me on Christmas day and crushed my poor teenage heart, and his sorry sad excuse was that he didn’t realize it was Christmas because his family didn’t celebrate holidays. I’ll never forget being dumped on Christmas day, and even seventeen years later my expectations for holidays have remained very low. Last year right before Christmas I changed my phone number so none of my exes could contact me even if they wanted to.

Being a single parent during the holidays has been another tough pill to swallow. I always dreamed of spending Christmas morning and the holiday season with my husband, our children and our extended family. Instead, I feel like during the holiday season I am always reminded of how much my little family doesn’t look like the cookie cutter, mainstream status quo of a family. Usually, I’m ok with my family dynamics, but during the holiday season for some odd reason, I feel inadequate. And questions like when are you getting married? don’t seem to help my situation either.

Social media can sometimes make the holiday season even more depressing, if you haven’t unfollowed all of your ex’s on social media, do it NOW!!!. It’s hard to see the appearance of your ex moving

on and enjoying their holidays with someone new. They may not be enjoying the holiday season, but the appearance alone can send some into a deep depression. So, I have come up with ten reminders and strategies to get any single person through the holiday season.

1. Understand that the advertisements on television, billboards and social media, is a form of idealism and NO ONE lives a perfect life 2. Unfollow exes and frenemies on social media. (no need to follow people you don’t like; that’s called stalking LOL) 3. Stop looking to the past for better days; your best is yet to come. Remember the present is called that for a reason 4. Let go of the idea that being single during the holidays makes you less of an accomplished person. Being in a relationship shouldn’t be for status!

5. Remember the holiday season is customizable, do what makes you happy with the people that make you happy.

No need to keep up with the Jones’; Christmas is just another day 6. Give yourself some perspective and remember some children all over the world have nothing and that being single is the least of your worries, being single is a first world problem 7. Create/start new holiday traditions with yourself or with anyone in your community 8. Use free time wisely to connect with yourself or start that project that has been on your mind, DO not to wallow and just watch television to distract yourself 9. Find and focus on the images and aspects of the holiday season that best suit your lifestyle and your way of living and leave everything for everyone else. Feel confident in your life situation and accomplishments 10. Buy yourself a gift or treat yourself to an experience that you want, so you can remember that you are the primary person that can provide for you what you truly want and need Bonus: Enjoy all the seasonal food and remember Joy and Goodwill are the reasons for this season.

Have any stories you’d like to share about love and relationships? Are you dealing with being single during the holiday season and have some advice for the readers? Email me at Kezia@carib101. com Always, Love and Light.

in the six

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technology

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

New High-Speed Internet Debuts in Rural Canadian Communities

People across the country can now enjoy high-speed digital connectivity and the many benefits it brings.

High-speed internet across rural Canada has experienced amazing growth, with companies like Xplornet Communications leading the charge by offering speeds up to 25 mbps in many areas. These speeds can get your entire family connected, regardless of what they’re doing online. Here are four things to look forward to while making the most of being online.

Movie nights. With Blockbuster going the way of the dodo bird, streaming companies like Netflix are here to stay. The service’s incredible movie selections and bingeworthy television shows in high definition mean all you need to do is gather the family and make the popcorn.

Connecting with family around the

world. If you live far away from a loved one, calls are fine but there’s nothing like a face to face conversations. With a great high-speed internet connection, your friends and family are just a few clicks away.

Education. From grade school homework to online university courses, from Reddit posts to the National Post, high-speed internet connects you to an incredible world of information.

Career opportunities. More companies than ever have employees who work remotely, which opens up a world of career opportunities for folks living in more remote communities. So, say goodbye to long commutes, and hello to pajamas at work.

- News Canada

3 Reasons Why You Need to be Streaming TV

For much of rural Canada, the idea of cordcutting is a foreign concept, reserved only for those living in urban areas. Until now, that is.

Cord-cutting means cancelling traditional television services, such as satellite or cable television, and using online streaming services instead, such as Netflix and CraveTV.

Companies like Xplornet are making cord-cutting possible no matter where you live by offering download speeds up to 25 mbps — enough for streaming TV, movies and sports.

Here are three reasons why you need to cut your traditional television services.

1. Amazing selection. When Netflix first launched, the choice of television shows and movies wasn’t amazing, but those days are long gone. Streaming services now carry an incredible variety of shows and movies across every genre. From classic television shows like Seinfeld, to recent blockbuster movies like The Avengers, it is

all at your fingertips.

2. On-demand viewing. Whether you only want to watch a single episode of your favourite show or you’re ready to binge-watch a full season, you control when and where you watch. Most television shows are released in full seasons at a time, while new episodes of current hits are released each week.

Either way, you can fit it in your schedule because everything is on demand.

3. Affordable price point. How much money do you pay each month for your cable or satellite subscription?

Many of us pay upwards of $100 each month, if not more. Prices keep rising, and so do the number of channels that all seem to play the same television shows. Meanwhile, many streaming services are a fraction of the cost, with packages at around $10 per month.

Sports fans are covered too — leagues like the NHL also have streaming services that give you access to every game for less than a basic cable subscription.

- News Canada

real estate

PAGE 42

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Stress Test!

Jay Brijpaul

brijpaul@carib101.com

Real Estate The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) introduced a stress test as a new way to qualify buyers. A stress test, as you know it, will tell you how well your heart handles its workload. A mortgage stress test will tell you how much financial pressure you can carry. Mortgage stress tests were used in the past to qualify buyers who had less than 20% down payment. These mortgages are called insured mortgages.

About 54% of buyers have insured mortgages. As of January 2018, every buyer, insured or uninsured, will be qualified based on the

stress test.

With the stress test, buyers must qualify if interest rates rise above the fiveyear benchmark rate from the Bank of Canada or 2% higher than the bank discount rate, whichever is higher. As a result, buyers will qualify for about 20% less mortgage. A family with an annual income of $100,000 will qualify for around $726,000 based on an interest rate of a 2.8% and a twenty-five year payment plan. With the new system, the family will qualify for about $574,000. That’s a reduction of $150,000. When buyers qualify for less, it will cause home prices to drop.

With the implementation of Ontario’s fair housing plan and two interest rate increases this year, home prices came down by about 20% and may drop another 10%-20% as of January 2018. This will affect move-up buyers the hardest as their equity will be eroded, and at the same time, they will qualify for less mortgage, reducing their buying power.

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) said that OSFI changes are “over-

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kill” and that they “will hurt middle-class families and punish careful savers most. It’s time for governments to hit the brakes on more demand-side policy interventions and take a wait and see approach.”

Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper said, “The 416 has shaken off the spring-triggered market correction and is moving along quite nicely. But the 905, which relative to the underlying value of the land, overshot more than the core did in 2015 to early 2017 market expansion — it’s still in tenuous recovery mode.”

With the new qualifying guidelines, some buyers will be forced out of the market and continue to rent, while others will choose to buy a less desirable property. Some buyers will move to small towns where prices are reasonable and well within their qualification range. Prices on homes with registered basement apartments will climb because rental income from the secondary suite will help buyers qualify for a larger mortgage. The extra income from the

apartment will assist buyers to quickly pay down their mortgage and build equity.

Owners with pre-existing mortgages will not be required to take the stress test at renewal unless they choose to refinance or apply for a line of credit. It would become more difficult to shop around for mortgages at renewal times because changing institutions will trigger requalification based on the stress test.

“We have strong population growth, we still have relatively low interest and job growth has been robust. Consumers are confident, so it’s not as if this will drive the market down abruptly but it will have a significant dampening impact,” says BMO financial group chief economist Doug Porter.

This new measure will make homeownership affordable. The rental market is at an all-time high and investors should take advantage.

The demand for housing will increase with immigration and create an upward pressure on home prices. The stress test will only slow the market down temporarily.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

TAURUS

Whether its been long overdue or you’ve been recently stymied, Mercury retrograde can provide a fresh opportunity to get back into action. Despite the retrograde, now through the end of next week, you should see better progress. On the other hand, you may get extended time to figure it out better.

Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, makes you sharper, sexier, and more resourceful.

On the go again! You should find you can chase it or them down with better success.

Too, you can resume the project or revisit the conversation and get more out of it this time.

Even so, relationship-wise, you may have to adjust your high expectations. Overspending happens far too easily. Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, requires you to play it smarter.

March 20 - April 19

CANCER

If you can get it all done in one place, visit, or conversation, great, but know that repeats and revisits are typical of Mercury retrograde. Try not to overcommit your time or wear out the credit card. Moderation is wise.

Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, can help you to streamline effort and increase efficiency. Make health and healthy choices a priority.

It can take longer to heal, fix it, or find a solution you can live with. Rather than get twisted about it, see it for the opportunity it is. Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, is an empowering transit for your sign. As of the new week, your options and communication tracks will improve. Overall, you should feel that you are making better inroads.

LEO

VIRGO

If the start of Mercury retrograde has slowed you down, it won’t be for long. In fact, now through next weekend keeps you going full tilt. It’s the best week of the month to get on it or to meet up. Although the social activity continues, Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, switches your prior attention to home, family, and personal matters.

Travelling home for the holidays? Mercury retrograde is good for revisiting places or faces. Allow extra time to get to your destination and to get the job done, too. The transit can sidetrack you temporarily or take you through another go-round. Try not to assume you’ll get more of the same. Sometimes those expectations are met; at other times, you could be surprised.

IN THE STANDS

June 21 - July 22

August 22 - September 22

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Creativity and sponta­neity make the weekend entertaining. You could bump into or hear from someone out of the blue. Enjoy and spend more time, but keep tabs on your credit card. Money can go quickly. Mars leaves Libra on Saturday, but you’ll continue to feel it even more deeply and have even sharper radar while it tours Scorpio. Sunday through Tuesday, you’re on a roll.

Mercury retrograde is ideal for a regroup, rethink, or top-up. You could stumble upon a better solution or gain a second chance to take it further or talk it out. More work can come your way; earnings can increase, but spending can too. Trust instincts and intuition. Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, boosts your energy, motivation, savvy, and sexy.

September 22 - October 23

October 23 - November 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

Another check-in with yourself and a review of recent happenings is appropriate during Mercury retrograde. If you have any doubt about how to play it next, let the moment dictate. Now through the end of next week, the stars are optimized. Regarding activity, connecting, creating, and decision-making, the stars keep the dial-up on that right-time, right-place feel.

Feeling swamped or overwhelmed? While you may have more of everything to contend with, for the most part the stars keep it rolling smoothly for this next week or so. If you are already off the hook, lucky you! You’ll have no trouble hitting the target once Mars enters sharp, shrewd, and sexy Scorpio on Saturday.

November 22 - December 21

December 21 - January 19

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Whether it is planned or spontaneous, expect to meet up with folks you haven’t seen for a while. Beyond socializing, travel, earning more, and spending more, Mercury retrograde could also spark a great idea or two or get something important off the ground. Explore, allow, don’t force. Each day through next Saturday holds good potential.

While Mercury tours retrograde, you may need to revise your goals, rules, or expectations. Try to delegate more. Ease up on unnecessary pressure, worry, or running around. If you’ve lost steam, you’ll pick it up now. Mars in Scorpio, starting Saturday, along with great Mercury aspects over this next week, keeps it rolling well.

January 19 - February 18

PRINCESS

April 19 - May 20

GEMINI

July 22 - August 22

Down 1) Book holders 2) Book filled with facts 4) Twilight author Stephenie 6) Helpful employee 8) Opposite of hardcover 9) Keep items longer 13) Internet access machine

PAGE 43

ARIES

May 20 - June 21

Across 3) The ____ Games 5) Decimal system 7) Bedtime ____] 8) Harry ____] 10) Dictionary section 11) Penalty if you’re late 12) Main activity 13) Proof of membership 14) Made-up stories 15) On CD, vinyl or tape 16) To check out a book

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PAGE 48

finance

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Spend Wisely On Gifts This Christmas Fazaad Bacchus

fazaad@carib101.com

Finance Specialist

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Christmas is a time of great joy and cheer, it’s a time when the geese are getting fat and when you need to put a penny in the old man’s hat. Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate Christmas every year as most everyone has accepted that this is one of the most celebrated times of the year. We all grew up knowing that on this special day, we will be having our special ginger beer or sorrel or black cake. And if you grew up in a poor family, you were sure that on this day even if it’s just once per year, turkey might be served. We watched with delight as little kids how our parents hung up new curtains on Christmas Eve and what euphoria. Today we try to re-live the same memories here in a foreign country, a little parang, a little house

lime and eat something before you go!

But something has changed from back then. Back in those days’ parents had little money and each child got one or two toys at the most. Typically, boys got a cap gun and girls got a little dolly. We would all treasure our little gift tremendously because we didn’t know when we would be getting another. Even if your birthday was coming up shortly there was no telling if a gift was coming or not. So, what has changed?

We are living in a time and place of consumerism. Buying has become the center of everything, the more you buy the better things look. But is it really how it is supposed to be? Today I see kids receiving so many toys at Christmas time that none of the toys are special enough and they quickly get bored with them. You know, I had one red plastic truck growing up as a boy and I tied a string to the front and pulled that truck for a whole year, I’m sure the mileage and warranty had long passed its mark, but hey it was going strong!

So how can we spend wisely on gifts this Christmas?

First, everyone doesn’t have to get gifts from

everyone else. It is much better to buy a worthwhile gift where everyone contributes towards a single gift than everyone buying a small or cheap gift. Johnny doesn’t have to get a gift from everyone, ask him to write a wish list or a Santa’s list and then the family sits down and makes the best decision on a gift for him. This one special gift will have a lot more sentimental value and he will treasure it for a much longer time.

Buy gifts that add value to the home or increases time spent with the family. For example, give Johnny or his dad a chess, monopoly or board game. This will increase time spent with his dad or other siblings as they play together. If you buy toys that are only toys Johnny will play but will not learn.

Buy the children educational toys. There are many play computers that teach children early math and science etc. And don’t be carried away with tablets, kids use them mainly to download games; it may appear that they are learning but they become addicted to games.

Let Christmas be a time of good cheer and don’t waste your money on cheap things.

Widow Over 65? Retired Single? How Can You Be Prepared Andrew Stewart

andrew@carib101.com

Family Advisor One of the fastest growing groups of people in poverty is widows over the age of 65.

That is a very scary statistic. Most widows confront financial illiteracy at the same time they have to deal with the emotional upheaval of one of the most stressful human experiences. Truly a double whammy.

Women who were never enlightened to their family’s finances and those who relied solely on their husbands’ financial acumen or his advisors, should be aware. The number of currently married women who will live alone at some point during their retirement years continues to grow at a steady pace, and many may find themselves unprepared to fly financially solo. No matter when it happens, becoming single is a stressful and emotional experience. It can also be a financial burden, especially during your retirement years. In many households, only one spouse handles the finances, retirement planning, investing and legal matters. If you are not that spouse and something happens, you may feel overwhelmed and confused about what steps you should be taking. Here are things to be aware of and ways to be better prepared, just

in case.

How much life insurance did your husband have and where are the policies?

There are two potential sources of life insurance coverage to pursue: insurance you and your husband bought through an insurance agent and any employer policies that might exist. If your husband was an employee and only had life insurance under his companies group coverage till retirement, you will discover that his coverage will be gone after retirement. If you had large term insurance policies while your children were at home or to cover debt and income replacement the premium renewals could have become too high to sustain and also ended.

Actively manage and plan your financial future When there are meetings with your financial planner or attorney, make sure you are present and involved in the discussions. While you may fully trust your spouse to handle your finances, you still need to know what’s going on so if you are left alone, you can continue with those plans without feeling overwhelmed or confused.

Who are your advisors & where is the paperwork?

You may have been introduced to lawyers, insurance advisors, certified public accountants and financial planners but don’t feel comfortable going to any of them for advice.

It’s important to have a relationship with the different professionals that will handle your finances. Attorneys will help guide you

through the probate process and will be able to make modifications to your estate planning documents, including updating your will, your living will and powers of attorney to reflect your new circumstances. CPA is a welcome partner. When it comes time to filing taxes, your CPA can help you maximize deductions and plan for all your upcoming tax obligations, which may include estate taxes and returns for living trusts. Your financial planner can assess your current financial situation and the impact of your husband’s passing on your financial situation going forward.

Calculate your potential income and expenses at retirement Probably the most important part of contingency planning for your retirement years is figuring out how to live on just one income instead of two. Planning for life if you survive your spouse is financially easier than contingencies for a late divorce. In a divorce, you are often dividing most of your assets, including your home, and then determining how best to live off of what is left. Start with what income sources you will have available to you in your name and determine what the best Social Security claiming options might be. Once you have a better idea of your potential income, compare that to your expenses. Create a mock budget and determine where you may need to make adjustments.

One way to make sure that you will still be able to meet monthly obligations if you are single in retirement is to have a plan in place to pay off large debts before retirement.

RCM_ToCaribb_1/2p_Nov29&Dec12.qxp_Layout 1 2017-11-27 10:14 AM Page 1

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PAGE 50

sports

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Radford Invokes Leeds Memories as Windies Face Daunting Task NEW ZEALAND -- West Indies assistant coach Toby Radford was quick to invoke memories of the now famous Headingley run chase, after the Caribbean were handed a world-record target of 444 runs to win the second Test at Seddon Park.

Last August with the odds stacked against them, the Windies remarkably chased down 322 on the final day of the second Test in Leeds to beat England by five wickets, with Shai Hope gathering a hundred and Kraigg Brathwaite, 90-odd.

Incidently, both batsmen were unbeaten at stumps on the third day Monday with West Indies tottering on 30 for two, and Radford said he was hoping the pair could repeat history.

“I think what we are wanting is a lot of fight and to really show what we can do,” the Englishman said. “I’d love to see Kraigg and Shai do something similar to what they achieved at Headingley against England a couple of months ago. Bat long, get a couple of hundreds and show people what we can really do. “Roston Chase has had a very good year, scored hundreds against Pakistan.

It’s about doing it here, isn’t it.”

West Indies were outplayed by New Zealand Monday, bowled out for 221 in the day’s third over in reply to the hosts’ 373, to concede a lead of 152 on first innings.

Ross Taylor then stroked a recordtying 17th Test hundred— 107 not out—

and captain Kane Williamson got 54, as the Black Caps declared on 291 for eight. With 40 minutes left to navigate in the final session, the Windies lost Kieran Powell (0) and Shimron Hetmyer (15) to find themselves needing miracle to evade defeat.

“We would have liked to go in tonight with no wickets down. Obviously it’s going to be a stiff task,” Radford admitted.

“It’s about individual performances, It’s their last opportunity in Test match cricket for a good number of months now.

So I’m sure they’ll really want to finish the year with a personal milestone or go out on a bang, as well as a team effort.”

West Indies hold the world record for the highest run chase, overhauling 418 in Antigua 14 years ago. The record on New Zealand soil is 348, set by West Indies at Eden Park nearly half a century ago.

Though acknowledging the massive task, Radford said the Windies would not be simply hoping to survive.

“I think it’ll be ‘play hour by hour and session by session’, and break it down into manageable bits,” he explained.

“But [you] also still [want] be positive. You don’t just want to be batting to survive, you’ve still got to put bad balls away and still look positive at the crease and move positively.”

- Trinidad Guardian

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