2012 Chutney Soca Monarch King - K.I. Persaud Trinidad’s Kris ‘KI’ Persad has officially taken the reigns as king for this years Chutney Soca Monarch Competition with his latest track “Single Forever”
happy with the decision of Southex Promotions’ George Singh to include a clause in the Chutney Soca Monarch competiton that limits “rum song” lyrics.
The Contriversal lyrics from the song may have upset some, but has definitely become a hit at the finals.
This years theme at the competition was meant to reflect Caribbean spirit, Caribbean music and Caribbean people.
The 25-year-old, who has kept a hectic schedule for this years Carnival, said the song was co-written with his father Veerendra Persad, leader of the famous band JMC 3Veni.
The competition was one of the first in 17 years to allow a major participation from Guyanese artistes.
KI said he didn’t believe the tune would receive so much attention, but he is
Top three results for the finals: 1 - KI with 36,737 text votes 2 - Rikki Jai with 32,731 votes 3 - Rick Ramoutar with 3,982 votes
Pop icon Whitney Houston dead at 48
LOS ANGELES (NYT) -- Whitney Houston, the multimillion-selling singer who emerged in the 1980s as one of her generation’s greatest R & B voices, only to deteriorate through years of cocaine use and an abusive marriage, died on Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 48.
Ms. Houston was — for all her difficulties over the years — one of its queens. She was staying at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday to attend a pre-Grammy party being hosted by Clive Davis, the founder of Arista Records, who had been her pop mentor.
Her death came as the music industry descended on Los Angeles for the annual celebration of the Gram my Awards, and
Ms. Houston was found in her room at 3:55 p.m., and paramedics spent close to 20 minutes trying to revive her, the authorities said. There was no immediate word
on the cause of her death, but the authorities said there were no signs of foul play. From the start of her career more than two decades ago, Ms. Houston had the talent, looks and pedigree of a pop superstar. She was the daughter of Cissy Houston, a gospel and pop singer who had backed up Aretha Franklin, and the cousin of Dionne Warwick. (Ms. Franklin is Ms. Houston’s godmother.)
Continued On Page 5
PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Munro pulls out the stops to ensure bigger, better, safer show
the stadium, they would be able to tell their children’s children it was the most fantastic night they ever had,” Munro said: Munro added: “We eliminated the VIP section to accommodate guests in a more comfortable manner. They complained the bar was small. We are extending the bar three times the size. People would have easy access to the food and drinks. People had complained it was difficult to get to the food and drinks.”
TRINIDAD (TG) -- Legions of soca connoisseurs are preparing to show their solidarity with 2011 reigning Power Soca monarch Machel Montano and Groovy Soca champion Kees Dieffenthaller, at Fantastic Friday for The International Soca Monarch 2012 finals, Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Friday. The countdown is on for soca supremacy at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Creme-de-la-creme artistes are competing for coveted titles, such as Digicel International Power Soca Monarch and Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch. The NLCB Tribute to the Classics will showcase veterans like Lord Nelson and former champion SuperBlue. The momentum is building for Bacchanalist, especially chief architect Kerwin Du Bois. Scores of Swappi supporters are walking with their buckets come Friday.
Tiffany, 26, aka “TiffHoney”, is a local model who has a pas-
sion for fashion and music. She is a certified hairstylist and Nail Technician and one days wants to own her own salon and spa. She would like to send a personal thanks to Mahing Photography (Roger M) for his ongoing support and outstanding photography. You could be our next editions “TC Girl”! To enter, send your photo and a brief description to info@carib101.com
International and Caribbean visitors would have converged on the mecca of steelpan and calypso. Apart from a dip in Maracas Bay or a trek to Asa Wright Nature Centre, Blanchisseuse, they are in town for the calendar event. It is staged by Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF). Guardian Media Ltd is the official media sponsor. C2k12 is the 20th edition. Generally, all systems are coming together. But chairman of Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) William Munro admitted there were some problems and a bit of tweaking was needed to provide a top-notch quality product. In previous interviews, Munro had deemed Soca Monarch the People’s Product. Rough production costs had placed it between $20 to $24 million. Interviewed on Tuesday at the T&T Guardian boardroom, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, Munro identified the VIP section, toilets, tents and security, as some of the areas he had focused on to provide a truly enjoyable evening. He was accompanied by his special adviser Gregory Fernandez and co-ordinator Kareena Sukhu. Constructive criticisms worked Reflecting on 2011, Munro said he had listened to constructive criticism and made the necessary adjustments. In fact, the VIP section made way for the VVIP section. “Last year I was not satisfied with the VIP section. I found they did not get a proper deal. I found there was the need to improve the evening much more. We made a lot of adjustments, so when they leave the stadium it would not only be Fantastic Friday...when they leave
Waxing warm about the exotic blends and premium drinks, Munro identified Johnny Walker as having a place of honour on the shelves. “You know me, I love the Johnny Walker Black and the Chivas Regal and all the other drinks. We will be having lots of top drinks.” Coupled with drinks, Munro rattled off local delicacies like bake and shark, doubles and corn soup to whet the appetite. Those victuals would be accompanied by a sumptuous dinner. Fix tents, cleaner toilets Patrons had complained about being blocked by the tents. Erection of the tents in the best possible angle and vantage point was taken into consideration, to ensure specially invited guests would be able to view the spectacle effortlessly. Munro said: “I was not satisfied with the tents. I had to ensure there were quality standards.” Filthy toilets and limited bathroom tissue have been eliminated. An efficient cleaning crew will provide janitorial services throughout the night. Munro said: “A lot of people complained about the toilets. We went all out to get more cleaners...a specialist team to ensure the toilets are up to standard. We want the washrooms to be spick-and-span around the clock.” Celebrating 20 years Patting himself on the back, Munro admitted 20 years was a milestone. He paid kudos to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Minister of Arts and Multicultaralism Winston Peters, artistes, public and all stakeholders who had supported him. Munro had a “magnificent obsession” to create the Soca Monarch and the Junior segment. It was intended to give uptempo soca music much deserved recognition among the pantheon of indigenous genres including calypso, chutney and soca parang. Pulling out the stops, Munro said he wanted to incorporate all facets of indigenous cultural expressions for the grand finale. The cultural extravaganza starts from 5 pm when gates open. Munro said: “We are asking patrons to come in early. We have a food court outside. Take a little chip with the steelband. Dance to a little tassa. Take a jump with the iron section. We want to set the mood for partying.” Dwarfing the mammoth crowd will be moko jumbies and fancy sailors in full regalia. Continued On Page 4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 3
Mas can impact positively on Catholicism
TRINIDAD (TG) -- At this time of year
in Trinidad and Tobago the word culture is bandied about quite a lot. Every facet of the annual celebrations is referred to as culture, whether by tradition or invention. Calypso, in its original form, as well as all its derivations (soca and groovy soca) born over the decades, stickfighting, chutney, ole mas’, although this component of our Carnival is dying a slow and painful death simply because of the sheer inability of our people to be creative, are all being claimed as “we culture.” But while everybody is laying claim to what constitutes culture, as Catholics we have a specific mandate to properly articulate our culture and identity as it relates to our faith. One description of culture is the sum total of a people’s social and psychological organisation which shapes the way they perceive, relate to and interpret themselves and the world, including values, language, beliefs, customs, food and child-rearing practices. It is also, social organisation, educational systems, history, political structure and religious expression. For anthropologists and other behavioural scientists, culture is the full range of learned human behaviour. When therefore, we examine the Second
Pastoral Priority—Revitalising Catholic Culture and Identity, it becomes necessary to look at what has impacted on and shaped culture over the centuries and which has resulted in changes, radical in some instances, because culture is dynamic and ever changing. While it is accepted that we cannot return to past generations to resuscitate their practices, we can however, bring the richness of those generations into the lives of the people of today, thus grounding them in a Catholic culture that is based on Gospel values in the midst of a secularised world.
Last year, when members of a parish in the Northern Vicariate decided to “bring out a mas’ band,” a major discussion erupted from people within and outside of the church, as to whether Catholics should be involved in such a high profile manner in the Carnival. Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival is a far cry from what obtained in the glory days of the Roman Empire. It is totally different and has, over the centuries, morphed into something that is unique to our country, and while in many ways the festival has degenerated into a massive wine and jam street party dominated by scantily clad female participants, the original Carnival was born from a desire for freedom of expression.
So the question arises: Is it wrong for Catholics to be active masqueraders on the Carnival days? The answer obviously is “no!” Carnival, as we know it today, has been part of our cultural landscape for more generations than we would care to count. So active participation in Carnival via parties or a band of costumed masqueraders can serve Catholicism in a very positive way using the opportunity to convey the message that “playing mas with clothes” can be just as enjoyable and the merriment ecstatically immeasurable. Word Associates therefore, with its 2012 presentation, Exodus, is actually pioneering a new era in our Carnival. In its own way it is signalling the revitalisation of our Catholic culture and identity in keeping with the Synod mandate, and the organisers should be congratulated on taking this bold, innovative step in a season that is incontrovertibly the most banal in our society today. Word is also showing it is eminently possible for people of any religious persuasion to fully participate in the Carnival celebrations without descending into the depths of depravity and salacious behaviour. Word and Associates must be congratulated for taking their bold step.
Bunji, Fay Ann back Iwer for Power Soca Monarch vital endorsements in his bid to become the new Digicel International Power Soca Monarch. Former International Power Soca Monarchs Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) and wife Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez have thrown their support behind “The Boss,” following their decision to bow out of the competition produced by Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF), at least, for this year.
TRINIDAD (TG) -- Top entertainer Iwer “The Boss” George has picked up
Machel Montano is the reigning International Power Soca Monarch and will be defending his title on February 17, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He has also entered the Play Whe Groovy Soca
Monarch category and will seek to defeat present titleholder Kees Dieffenthaller. Guardian Media Ltd is the official media partner for the soca monarch brands. Interviewed, Bunji Garlin predicted that “The Boss” would take the crown. Fay-Ann shared her husband’s choice to win the coveted title. She said: “I’m supporting all the artistes, but he (The Boss) is from Point Fortin, so I have to support him.” Asked if she had any predictions for the groovy monarch category, Fay Ann said while she was feeling the vibes of Kerwin Du Bois and Nadia Batson, everything came down to performance.
Landlord gets taste of “Real Jerk” with an illuminated “Open For Business” sign to hang in the window of the iconic Caribbean Restaurant.
The Real Jerk Restaurant owners and staff announced their victory in court February 1st after a successful injunction application against an eviction, which was heard in superior court. Staff and supporters of the restaurant presented owner Ed Pottinger
With the January 31st eviction notice no longer valid the restaurant can operate until a full hearing of the issues in the disagreement between the new landlord and The Real Jerk can be heard. The hearing may take months to conclude. “We hired lawyers at Weir Foulds to investigate our options and took the next step to seek relief.” said Ed Pottinger referring to his restaurant staff who would have lost their jobs if the restaurant was forced to close its doors.
The website www.SavetheRealJerk.com received over 2,600 signatures in just 16 days. More signatures are welcome as the court case will still continue. “The public response to our pending eviction has been tremendously encouraging. Our customers are the real inspiration for fighting on. They have said that the Real Jerk helped to revitalize this neighbourhood and now we’re here to help you.” said Pottinger. “We will prevail no matter what happens in court”
PAGE 4 - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Haiti, a country still in turmoil….2012 • Many abandoned/orphaned girls become child servants sold to families as slaves. • 80% of Haiti’s orphanages are unregulated and unsupervised. • Of the 1500 children adopted out of Haiti each year, most have parents who just couldn’t keep them. • Only 1 in 3 children in Haiti go to school. The cost of school is more than most people make in one year.
CEO of 10,000 Toys For Haiti, Allison Harvey visiting Haiti Christmas 2011
Almost
half the population in Haiti is under the age of fifteen and 500,000 of these children are orphans. • 50% of the population is under 18: 4 million children • The earthquake left 300,000 dead and 1.5 million homeless in less than 60 seconds. • Before the earthquake, one in 10 children in Haiti was abandoned or orphaned.
What is 10,000 Toys For Haiti? This is an initiative that started with the idea that, “One Person Can Make a Difference”, after the devastating earthquake occurred on the 12th of January 2010, Allison wanted to do something that would make a difference and the idea of children being orphans with nothing to get on the day that we proclaim is for children, Christmas Day the idea took root, that this organization would provide that gift of a toy for as many children as we could collect. On December, 2010, she was able to travel to Haiti, (my first visit there) and give these toys to hundreds of orphans there. The goal one year is to provide 10,000 toys to boys and girls in Haiti for the Christmas holiday.
Every year will be a growth year to take us to our target, we estimate 3-5 years to get there!
ment or start a business without having to resort to living on the streets of Port Au Prince.
Her heart is for the children; hence this initiative will only grow as the years go by. The eventual goal is to provide a school for the teenagers when they leave the benefits of the orphanage at the age of 18 to assist them in obtaining diplomas/certificates in fields where they will be able to obtain employ-
My vision is to provide dren as I can with an change their lives with “One Person Can Make
as many chilopportunity to the belief that a Difference”.
Contact: Founder Allison Harvey @ 416-8803622 to find out how you can make a difference!
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Continued From Page 2 - Garbed in colourful clothing, these custodians of traditional Carnival will enhance the Carnivalesque experience with their movements. Meretriciously-attired in red, yellow and blue, fancy sailors might have to duck the crack of whips from the fearsome jab jabs. Hot competitor Iwer George will be throwing in a jab jab song. Munro said: “It would be a splendid sight to see fancy sailors dancing and moko jumbies in the mix. Oh what a night!” ‘A tight, impactful show’ Assuring soca lovers every effort would be made to move the show along seamlessly, Munro said the production would be “tight and impactful.” He said: “We don’t want to prolong the show. Between the guests and the artistes we would have about 36. “We want people to feel the power and the energy. We don’t want any long gaps. We want to keep it moving. “It is the last Friday before Carnival Monday and Tuesday. You can expect something special coming immediately after the Groovy. I know when it comes to Power Soca is pressure. Is fire. Is rhythm. Is pace. As Calypso Rose said: “Is Tempo...Gimme more Tempo.” On a serious note, Munro assured patrons they would be partying in safety since the security issues were addressed. He said: “We have systems in place for crowd control. We will ensure the safety protocol is observed. We will be spending a lot on private security. Besides the police, we had
an additional 500 security personnel. We have security hired to control the crowd.” Veterans in the mix Another segment guaranteed to take some patrons down memory lane and whip up new excitement is the NLCB Classics which will feature veterans. These gentlemen of the art form have held court in Caribbean, North America and European countries. Among them are Winston Henry (Explainer) singing Lorraine. For the uninitiated, it is an ode to his beloved in Brooklyn, New York. Henry’s about to board the flight and his girl is grieving because he “can’t miss the jamming.” Toco resident Timothy Watkins, fondly known as the Baron, will belt out Sweet Soca Man. Coincidentally, Watkins, renowned for the Spanish Woman, celebrated 40 years in the business. Leroy Calliste, who responds to the sobriquet Stalin, will render the Black Man Feeling To Party. It echoes the sentiments of all those gathered there. Lord Nelson will be embracing the audience as Meh Lover. He doesn’t need to coax the audience to have a good, good time. They are willing to go with the flow. Allrounder will be serving up dollops of Garlic Sauce. Guaranteed to send the audience into a frenzy is the appearance of Point Fortin’s Austin Lyons (Superblue) of Ethel Fame. He has the distinction of being the first Soca Monarch champion in 1993 with Bacchanal Time. In 1994, once more he made it to winner’s row with Flag Party.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 5
Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48 At Central Park in 2009, singing for “Good Morning America,” her voice was frayed, and on the world tour that followed the release of the album “I Look to You” that year, she was often shaky. Whitney Houston was born on Aug. 9, 1963, in Newark. She sang in church, and as a teenager in the 1970s and early 1980s, she worked as a backup studio singer and featured vocalist with acts including Chaka Khan, the Neville Brothers and Bill Laswell’s Material.
Continued From Page 1 - Ms. Hous-
ton’s range spanned three octaves, and her voice was plush, vibrant and often spectacular. She could pour on the exuberant flourishes of gospel or peal a simple pop chorus; she could sing sweetly or unleash a sultry rasp. Dressed in everything from formal gowns to T-shirts, she cultivated the image of a fun-loving but ardent good girl, the voice behind songs as perky as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and as torchy as what became her signature song, a version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” But by the mid-1990s, even as she was moving into acting with films like “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife,” she became what she described, in a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, as a “heavy” user of marijuana and cocaine. By the 2000s she was struggling; her voice grew smaller, scratchier and less secure, and her performances grew erratic. All of Ms. Houston’s studio albums were million-sellers, and two have sold more than 10 million copies in the United States alone: her 1985 debut album and the 1992 soundtrack to “The Bodyguard,” which includes “I Will Always Love You.” But her marriage to the singer Bobby Brown — which was, at one point, documented in a Bravo reality television series, “Being Bobby Brown” — grew miserable, and in the 2000s, her singles slipped from the top 10. Ms. Houston became a tabloid subject: the National Enquirer ran a photo of her bathroom showing drug paraphernalia. And each new album — “Just Whitney” in 2002 and “I Look to You” in 2009 — became a comeback.
Mr. Davis signed her after hearing her perform in a New York City nightclub, and spent two years supervising production of the album “Whitney Houston,” which was released in 1985. It placed her remarkable voice in polished, catchy songs that straddled pop and R & B, and it included three No. 1 singles: “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know” and “The Greatest Love of All.” Because Ms. Houston had been credited on previous recordings, including a 1984 duet with Teddy Pendergrass, she was ruled ineligible for the best new artist category of the Grammy Awards; the eligibility criteria have since been changed. But with “Saving All My Love for You,” she won her first Grammy award, for best female pop vocal performance, an award she would win twice more. Her popularity soared for the next decade. Her second album, “Whitney,” in 1987, became the first album by a woman to enter the Billboard charts at No. 1, and it included four No. 1 singles. She shifted her pop slightly toward R & B on her third album, “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” in 1990, which had three more No. 1 singles. For much of the 1990s, she turned to acting, bolstered by her music. She played a pop diva in “The Bodyguard,” and its soundtrack album — including the hits “I Will Always Love You,” “I’m Every Woman,” “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You” — went on to sell 17 million copies in the United States. It won the Grammy for album of the year, and “I Will Always Love You” won record of the year (for a single). After making the films “Waiting To Exhale” in 1995 and “The Preacher’s Wife” in 1996 — which gave her the occasion to make a gospel album — Ms. Houston resumed her pop career with “My Love Is Your Love” in 1998. Ms. Houston married Mr. Brown in 1992, and in 1993 they had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who survives her.
Ms. Houston’s 2009 interview with Ms. Winfrey portrayed it as a passionate and then turbulent marriage, marred by drug use and by his professional jealousy, psychological abuse and physical confrontations. They divorced in 2007. Her albums in the 2000s advanced a new persona for Ms. Houston. “Just Whitney,” in 2002, was defensive and scrappy, lashing out at the media and insisting on her loyalty to her man. Her most recent studio album, “I Look to You,” appeared in 2009, and it, too, reached No. 1. The album included a hard-headed breakup song, “Salute,” and a hymnlike anthem, “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” Ms. Houston sang, “I crashed down and I tumbled, but I did not crumble/I got through all the pain,” in a voice that showed scars. “A light has been dimmed in our music community today,” he said. Lt. Mark Rosen, a spokesman for the Beverly Hills Police Department, said that emergency workers responded to a 911 call from security at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Wilshire Boulevard at 3:43 p.m., saying that Ms. Houston was unconscious in her fourth-floor suite. He said that some Fire Department personnel were already on the scene to help prepare for a pre-Grammy party. Lieutenant Rosen said that detectives had arrived to conduct what he said was a full-scale investigation into the death. He said that Ms. Houston’s body was still in the hotel room as of 8 p.m. and would not be removed until the investigation was completed. “There were no obvious signs of foul play,” he said. “It’s still fresh an investigation to know whether — the reality is she was too far too young to die and any time you have the death of someone this age it is the subject of an investigation.” Ms. Houston arrived at the hotel with what Lieutenant Rosen described as an entourage of friends and family, some of whom were in the hotel suite at the time. He said that police had notified Ms. Houston’s mother and daughter of the death; it was unclear whether or not they were there. At Mr. Davis’s party, where Ms. Houston was a regular guest and performer, tourists shot cellphone pictures of a police crime laboratory van parked outside. But inside, the glamour of the event seemed undiminished, even if Ms Houston’s name was on everyone’s lips
The streets in front of the Beverly Hilton, already crowded because of the Grammy Awards party taking place there, swarmed with reporters and fans, drawn by the news of this latest highprofile pop star dying in Los Angeles. Even after the news of Ms. Houston’s death had been released, celebrities and other partygoers continued to arrive for the Davis event, which went on as planned, while fans stood behind a rope trying to take pictures. Dressed in evening gowns and tuxedos, people stepped out of limousines at curbside and streamed into the hotel. A number of fans came to mourn Ms. Houston and to show their support. “I was in utter, total disbelief,” Lavetris Singleton said. “Who was not a fan of Whitney Houston at some point?” “I want to show support because she inspired a lot of people and nobody’s perfect,” she said. “But if we’re not out here then she’ll be forgotten.We are her legacy.” Performers at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where the Grammys are to be held, heard about Ms. Houston’s death just as Rihanna and Coldplay were about to rehearse their number for the awards. The show’s producer, Ken Ehrlich, debated about how to acknowledge Ms. Houston’s death. (The show is already scheduled to include a tribute by Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt to Etta James, the blues singer who died last month, as well as a video segment about music figures who died in 2011.) After the initial shock, Mr. Ehrlich said he called Jennifer Hudson and asked her to come and sing one of Ms. Houston’s songs during the televised show on Sunday as a simple memorial. “We are going to do something very simple, not elaborate,” he said. “We just want to keep it respectful.” “My feeling was it’s too early to do an extended tribute,” Mr. Ehrlich added, “but we really wanted to remember her because she was so closely tied to the Grammys.” Besides her daughter, now 18, Ms. Houston is survived by her mother. A woman who answered the telephone at the Edgewater, N.J., home of Ms. Houston’s mother on Saturday night said she would not speak to reporters.
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PAGE 8 - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN
Inflammation and its effect on our body Trish Browning Contributor As I begin to pay attention to my health more closely, I start to realize a few things. We simply over look things that with neglect can turn into major issues in the future. One of these is Inflammation! What is inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s basic response to injury. A sequence of complicated interrelated events work to defend the body. Inflammation affects us in many dif-
ferent ways, depending on what part of your body it is attacking. A cut often becomes inflamed as your body tries to prevent bacteria and viruses from infecting us. Inflammation in any part of your body can be painful and limit motion. It is linked to such things as premature wrinkles, acid reflux, cancer, skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, acne), arthritis, bronchitis, chronic pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heart disease and urinary tract infections.
the inner wall of the arteries. This triggers an inflammatory response, which actually speeds up the accumulation of cholesterol in the artery wall. This in turn produces more inflammation. Eventually the deposited cholesterol hardens into a plaque, which can rupture and lead to blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.
At first I was surprised. I learned that inflammation causes so many of these conditions. For example; if your joints are inflamed, you may develop arthritis. If your kidneys are inflamed, you may develop high blood pressure. When high levels of cholesterol occur in the bloodstream, excess LDL begins to seep into
We can reduce inflammation by eliminating the conditions that causes it in the first place. We can eliminate the viral and fungal infections by increasing our mineral intake and eat foods with high anti -inflammatory properties. Eliminating simple sugars and processed foods, while concentrating on healthy fats. We need to reduce
So, as you can see if we can keep the inflammation from increasing in our bodies we may have a chance at a healthier future.
stress, take supplements and exercise. We can begin this journey by making small changes in our daily lives. Switch the coffee and donut for a healthier alternative maybe some warm oats. Include a multi vitamin into your daily routine. Our foods do not contain sufficient vitamin and nutrients today. Taking an antioxidant to help with the free radical damage and unhealthy oxidation that happens on the inside. Try walking short distances instead of driving. By introducing small changes into our lifestyle, this will help us on a path to a much healthier body and hopefully a better and longer life. Watch for my next article. I will be talking about some of the foods that have high anti-inflammatory properties.
Are we really getting what we need from our foods? benefits of using food to heal and maintain wellbeing. Vegan and vegetarian lifestyles fall into the category of holistic nutrition.
Deborah Allen The Healthy Diva Caribbean folks have known the benefits of eating foods fresh from the earth for centuries however, today with the advent of agricultural automation, excess pesticide use, hybridization and genetic modification people are eating foods that are no longer nutrient rich and sadly their bodies are telling the tale!. Here are some tips you can use to bring your body back into balance using organic or the best quality nutrition you can afford or find for improved wellbeing. Holistic Nutrition What is holistic nutrition: Holistic Nutrition is looking at the whole person and their lifestyle and not just a portion of their diet and uses nutrition to balance the body and heal or improve specific conditions. How is it different from regular nutrition? unfortunately regular nutrition does not take into account the healing properties of food as a curative option. Nutrition is seen as a source of calories that do not have anything to do with healing or balancing the body. How can it be used to keep my family and I healthy? By adopting an attitude that food plays a part in the healthy lifestyle of an individual you will begin to reap the
A holistic diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity and many other lifestyle illnesses. As with any diet, it is important to ensure that it is well balanced. This can be achieved by adhering to the following guidelines: 1. 5-a-day: the Department of Health recommends a minimum five portions of fruit and vegetables should be eaten each day. Include a variety of different-coloured vegetables and fruit to ensure a range of health-giving vitamins and minerals. 2. Limit the use of refined grains: (processed flour, pasta’s etc) since much of the nutrient content is lost, polished away or stripped from the plant. Whole grains, on the other hand, are associated with many health benefits as their primary nutrients have not been removed from the plant. 3. Avoid hydrogenated fats: (vegetable oils, mixed oils, canola because of its modification) which are damaging to health. Good fats (coconut, avocado, olive, sunflower) provide good omegas. Stay away from modified oils like rapeseed oil, which is a cheaper quality of oil but is readily readily available. 4. Stop the use of refined salt: DO NOT WHITE SEA SALT even if it says “sea salt” on the container…it has been bleached! Instead use CELTIC, HIMALAYAN OR BRITTANY which you can find at any health store. Doing your best to adopt some or all of these tips will help you improve your wellbeing and reduce a significant amount
of dependency on medications and allow you to rely more on your food as medicine.
Stay tuned for the next four tips on detox, showing how to remove toxins when you can’t afford to eat organic. By Deborah Allen THE HEALTHY
DIVA. She is a holistic nutritionist, detox therapist, vegan chef and instructor. She has been practicing wellness for over a decade and is known for educating corporate clients, individuals and families on green living, detox and vegan lifestyles you can find her at 647477-9349 or www.pranawellness.com
Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant 2012 The annual Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant 2012 is already set to be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Pearson Convention Center. The possibilities a pageant brings with beautiful, talented, intelligent, and cultured women can only enhance the spirit of the community. We would like to encourage everyone to attend the show and cheer them on.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 9
Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant 2012 Devi Teluckdharry, MissWest West Indian Canadian Pageant The annual Miss Indian Canadian 2011, is of 2012 is already set to be held on Sunday, October Guyanese heritage and is the 21, 2012 at ofPearson Convention Center. The possisecond winner the pageant which was established in 2010. Devi will bilities a pageant brings with beautiful, talented, innow go on to reign in 2012 and telligent, and cultured women can only enhance the represent the pageant. She will be a spirit of the community. We would like to encourage role model for young girls and an inspiration toto everyone big show and cheer them on. everyone attendwiththe dreams. Contact us to have Devi attend your community events or Devi Teluckdharry, Miss fundraisers for support.
West Indian Canadian 2011, is of Guyanese heritage and is the secThe West Indian Canadian Expo ond winner of the pageant which was established will also be held on the same day in 2010. will now go on to reign in 2012 which will beDevi filled with exhibitors and represent the ofpageant. She will be a role modcatering to every facet our entertainment lifestyle from bridal, el for young girls and an inspiration to everyone arts & entertainment, and health & with big dreams. Contact us to have Devi attend beauty. There will be lots of free your community events food sampling, great singers andor fundraisers for support. dancers, tassa, henna tattoo, and much more. The expo displays a The West Indian Canadian Expo will culturally rich event uniting on the which exhibitorssame from a day diverse market.will be filled
also be held with exhibitors catering to every facet of our entertainment The organizer, Julie Rambali, has lifestyle from bridal, arts & entertainment, and been getting a lot of requests to health beauty. will be lots of free food samorganize& a Little MissThere West Indian Canadian Pageant however, she has always been hesitant due to the impractical level of competition pling, great singers and dancers, tassa, henna tat-
other little miss pageants have imprinted on young girls. She believes that instead of teaching our young girls competition at such a young age, we should make it fun for them and an experience they will always remember. With a lot of thought and consideration, Wi Canadian will present Little Miss West Indian Canadian 2012 without the pressure of competition. All Little Miss West Indian Canadian contestants are guaranteed a crown, sash, dinner, a group photo shoot in Wi Canadian Magazine, and much more. They will all be winners and also get to model on stage in true pageantry style.
Top 5 tips for losing weight and keeping it off (Beginner)
For more information or to register for the Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant and the Little Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant, please visit www.wicanadian.com.
Amrita Ramsingh Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Consultant 1. Lose weight slowly with small changes Remember losing 10 lbs in one week is nothing to celebrate, try to remember the more quickly u lose it the more likely you are to gain it back; plus some; most likely the loss is coming from water and not fat. Realize that fat loss is achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week. 2. Portion Control You can’t starve yourself for the whole day! no breakfast, no lunch, no snacks then at dinner time you sit with one plate of rice and curry or fried chicken and peas and rice Then you don’t understand how you gain weight cause you only eat once a day. Try eating 3 meals and 2 snacks every day, not big meals. Breakfast is particularly important. Keep your metabolism busy all day. 3. Don’t Rush your meals the food is not going anywhere Eat slowly; chew your food com-
pletely before swallowing. It can take 30 minutes for the brain to realize the stomach is full. Put your spoon down between mouthfuls while you’re chewing. Drink a glass of water before your meal then drink during your meal. 4. Track Your Calories and Read Labels The only way to be sure if you are going over or under your daily quota is to track your calories, every single one counts. The key is to be conscious of your food intake. Fat loss is about the ratio of calories in versus calories out, plain and simple. There are no magic pills! no magic diets, 3,500 calories equals one pound 5 Exercise See your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program. Start slow; if you are a beginner, maybe start with a walking program. Schedule your workouts each week just as you would any other appointments. Set weekly goals, long term goals are great but are so far away that we forget why we are working so hard. Amrita Ramsingh www.curveappeal.ca E-mail: amrita@curveappeal.ca Phone: 647-638-4847
too, and much more. The expo displays a culturally rich event uniting exhibitors from a diverse market. The organizer, Julie Rambali, has been getting a lot of requests to organize a Little Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant however, she has always been hesitant due to the impractical level of competition other little miss pageants have imprinted on young girls. She believes that instead of teaching our young girls competition at such a young age, we should make it fun for them and an experience they will always remember. With a lot of thought and consideration, Wi Canadian will present Little Miss West Indian Canadian 2012 without the pressure of competition. All Little Miss West Indian Canadian contestants are guaranteed a crown, sash, dinner, a group photo shoot in Wi Canadian Magazine, and much more. They will all be winners and also get to model on stage in true pageantry style. For more information or to register for the Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant and the Little Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant, please visit www.wicanadian.com.
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Your Horoscope - Feb. 2012 Aries Horoscope (March 21-April 20): A sort of transformation will begin to take place in your life. It has to do with your destiny. You may not be aware of it but it will still occur anyway. The shift has to do with how you look at money and how you share it. Also, how you view and take responsibility in relationships. Tests will come. You will pass. Taurus Horoscope (April 21-May 21): A spiritual reality becomes more focused as you consider how to have a profession that is focus in Spirit of things, yet resources and needs are not denied. Instead they are insured and secured. You must read Oct. 11th article in The New Yorker about hip-hop Reverend Creflo Dollar, of World Changers Church, who preaches what is widely called prosperity theology. Dollar’s almost as good as Jabez. Gemini Horoscope (May 23-June 20): As others shift and shatter, you will be the one to take the lead in decisions. Duality is very prominent. Who else can explain it to everyone and help them make decisions? Try and provide a bit more depth than usual. Neptune calls for everyone to be refined. You’re the spokesperson. Retreat later. Cancer Horoscope (June 21-July 20): You may not have any patience if something feels drab and routine becomes tedious. If you labor under tiresome conditions your patience will flag and your discipline drop. You also may have headaches. It’s important that exhaustion not enter into your every day. Communication now proceeds forward, though in slow motion. Things missing soon appear. Leo Horoscope (July 21-Aug. 22): After much consultation and communication, which may continue for a year, you finally put yourself on pause and take yourself to the comforting shapes and shadows of home. And hide away awhile so you can decide which is most important now. Home or profession. Both are, yes. But one must be in the spotlight. Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Things hidden within the daily life, come out into the open and into the light of the Sun. Neptune, previously shrouding many things, no longer allows this to occur. Neptune can feel like it’s dissolving things. But really it’s just hiding them. Then it refines them. Be resourceful with resources. Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Whereas you didn’t know anything last
Month concerning your needs and wants, you definitely know now. Be careful, though. Everyone provides a lot to you always. This year, why don’t you attempt to provide others who love you with recognition, praise, and gifts? Doing this builds and illumines your self-identity. Try it. Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A most important idea in the Mind of God takes root in yours. You are able to hold this idea, gestate it, and bring it into form at a later time. This is most important for Earth and for the United States (Gemini rising) in the tribulations to come. You are the messenger who brings the message of spirituality into the “world of men (mind).” You therefore carry the virtues of the world later to be dispersed. Carry them well. Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): You’ll need time alone to think, consider, contemplate, reason, and researchwhich path to pursue in the future. Your head is filled with multiple choices, like a test you’d rather not take. But soon it will clear if you let it take it’s own good time to inform you. Careful with communication this coming month to self and others. You’ll be tempted. Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): Beauty and balance will be what you seek out in the world because it will be what seems to define you. Partially, it will be. The other part is Right Human Relations, which when implements, creates beauty and balance. And a new order of things. Do you need someone to help you with money, accounts, and business procedures? Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18): Some sort of public recognition and praise should occur and it could be rather unexpected. If the public doesn’t recognize your gifts then your family will. If you family doesn’t then your pets certainly do. Anyway, the stars call you to a vacation somewhere. Can to comply? Are you free? Money arrives. Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20): You will feel an internal pressure and search for your authentic working style for you need your life to feel fuller, more interesting, more worthwhile. This occurs automatically as you slow down a bit, downshift, so to speak, and live and work at a slower pace. You then fulfill yourself and seek not the “other.”
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - TORONTO CARIBBEAN - PAGE 11
Citizens take action over 407 high interest charges and overpriced tolls appear the media and politicians are afraid of burning bridges. We hope to change that by way of an awareness campaign. I believe that the public deserves to know the truth about what has happened to this very valuable piece of public infrastructure. The Province has the responsibility to listen to what we want for this highway. We need to come out of hiding and knock on doors until one opens that will fix the problems this company has caused. I am confident that eventually we will find that door and although this company thinks it’s on the higher level, we will bring them down to our level... face to face.
Tammy Flores, who has been fighting 407 ETR charges for many years, says she got a collection call over the disputed debt less than a week after pleading her case in a meeting with a 407 executive. Photo: Toronto Star
Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power is a group of concerned citizens that are focused on shedding some light on the issues that exist with the private/public/partnership (better known as P3’s) between the Ministry of Transportation and the 407 ETR. We started off as a Facebook group to give all those in the Greater Toronto Area, that has ever had an issue with the current operators of Highway 407, a voice. Part of the issue here is that P3’s are relatively new. Canada started to look at them in the 1990’s as a way to fund large infrastructure projects. The 407 ETR is a bi-product of its introduction to Canada. A very convoluted Act (The 407 Act) was set up as a way of governing it. The interpretation of this Act so far has proven that it is not balanced and completely ignores all the other laws and principles that govern business in Canada and more specifically, Ontario and is in need of amendment to better reflect Consumers rights. However, Ontario’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles is an independent, quasi-judicial provincial official (which means they have powers resembling those of a court of law or judge and is able to remedy a situation or impose legal penalties on a person or organization). It is up to them to decide if the 407 ETR’s customer service, systems, and technology are accurate, and meet all aspects of the Highway 407 Act. The 407 Act must be amended to reflect what we have come to expect when
dealing with Consumer issues here in Canada. The Province has a responsibility to level the playing field by either suasion or legislation so that when Consumers have an issue with this private corporation our hands are not tied by way of Plate Denial and forced to pay an amount of money that is unjust, unfair and in some cases, boarder line of being criminal, in my opinion. Kevin Sack, VP of Communications and Government Relations for the 407 ETR, has been told that the company he works for has a responsibility to the public. Sure they provide jobs and a service people use, but companies can’t always be about the bottom line. There is a social impact they must consider. The 407 ETR has been charitable to York University and Sick Kids but, there is more to being charitable than the amount of money they give to chosen causes. In my opinion, being charitable as a corporation (you know the whole giving back to your community) has more to do with how they are listening to the public and how they get involved in the communities they serve. They have a responsibility to be forthright, honest and transparent. From my experience, and many others in the group of people that have very valid grievances against this company, the 407 ETR has not been forthright, honest or transparent. They have been evasive, secretive, devious and they cloud the picture of what’s happening and spin the message they want people to hear. For the most part, it would
We are tired of the run around and have been actively Lobbying politicians, on all levels of government, to curb the powers of Plate Denial. So far, MPP Bob Delaney (Minister of Education) and MPP Bob Cherielli (Minister of Transportation) have stepped up to the plate and are working on a bill to accomplish this. Also we have an upcoming meeting at the Ministry
of Transportation to articulate exactly what the issues are and a friend of the group has a meeting with Premier McGuinty to discuss the issues. We are doing our part to hold this private corporation accountable and we need your help. We are asking people to please write to their MPP’s to help raise awareness to the issues and to please write in to us and tell us your stories, good or bad. We want to know the social/economic impact driving on this highway has had on you. Please write to Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power, 75 Bayly Street, PO Box 14524, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 7K7 or email us at 407AbuseofPower@hotmail.ca . You can also find us at www.407etrabuseofpower.com . If you would like to keep up to date with what’s happening on a daily basis, please join our Facebook group “Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power” or you can follow us on Twitter @407AbuseofPower.
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