Police Carding Come To A Halt 011415

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THE END POLICE CARDING COMES TO A HALT JORDAN MAXWELL/TORONTO TO CARIBBEAN It shouldn’t have taken thousands sands of dollars in studies and surveys to identify dentify that police carding was an issue when hen members of the black community expressed sed there was a problem, former mayor candidate ndidate and activist Dewitt Lee said.

“It was a special moment where white and black, rich and poor, privileged and underprivileged people came together for a common goal but it’ss unacceptable that it has to come this far,” Lee said, who’s held a series of demonstrations ons about black violence and police carding ng in the past month.

Continued ed On Page 11

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Dwania Peele; Entreprenuer and Chemist Dwania Peele is a Jamaican born immigrant. After moving to Canada, Dwania attended The University of Windsor, where she earned Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Political Science. She also holds a diploma from St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in Chemical Laboratory Technology. In 2008, her first business Tiny Delights Cupcakes and Pies was born.

Business was slow, because Dwania didn’t know how to go about making a proper business or marketing plan. She didn’t have the basic knowledge of how to start a business or what type of business she should start.

Dwania put the cupcake business on hold and went back to work in Chemistry for about two years before moving from Windsor to Toronto. In Toronto, Dwania began working in a position that was not to her liking. This position gave her the push necessary to resurrect Tiny Delights Inc. After much research, she learned to write a business plan and also learned how to incorporate her business. After getting it all started, she began to wonder why it seemed so difficult to start a business. Why did it seem like all the information wasn’t accessible?

She put that thought behind her and focused

on her business and also on her professional life. Late in 2012, Dwania found herself helping a friend who had a small business idea. After giving her advice and being able to point her in the right direction, Dwania decided that she would pool all her resources and store them in one place. In January of 2013, Canadian Small Business Women was born.

Canadian Small Business Women is a website and blog that aims to provide aspiring small business women of Canada a place to find all the resources required to start a business. It provides marketing tools for current business owners who wish to take their businesses to the next level. The blog feature provides a unique opportunity for experts to give advice to readers on different topics relating to Small Business.

The blog portion of the business offers a special feature called Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month. This allows business women to submit a short autobiography or a bio of a fellow business woman to be featured in an article. It also gives the reader the chance to receive advice from experts in various fields related to small business such as Small Business Banking, Social Media,

Financing, Taxes, Business Management, Business Development and Web Development.

Social Media: You can follow her on Facebook @ Dwania Peele or @Canadian Small Business Women. You can follow her business on Twitter @CdnSmallBizWmn.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

A charity of the heart - One manʼs trash is another manʼs treasure Alyssa Mahadeo TC Reporter Operating solely from his garage in Brampton, Krishendath Roopnarine’s passion for hard work and helping others has brought smiles to the faces of less fortunate. Through his generous donations of restored wheelchairs, he has provided a new way of living for those in need.

When Kris immigrated to Canada from Trinidad, four years ago, he knew in his heart that his one purpose would be to assist people in any way that he could. With the support of his wife, Dhanmatie, and his sons, Demitri and Yuri, he began a charitable movement providing refurbished medical equipment and other useful items to countries in need.

It all started one day while out for an evening walk with his wife, when he saw that someone had thrown out an old wheelchair. It had some minor problems and a missing wheel, but it was nothing that a little TLC and elbow grease couldn’t fix. He took the chair home, repaired and polished it up until it looked as good as new, when it dawned on him the potential of what could be done.

In the beginning, he faced many challenges because it was hard to gain trust and convince people of his cause. People were skeptical of what he was doing with the old chairs, and wondered if he was really donating them to charity, or reselling them on Kijiji. Kris searched for institutions that would have surplus and defective medical equipment. He faced a lot of resistance from hospitals and nursing homes, because they were uncertain about his motives. He worked hard to assure them that his acts were unselfish, and what he was doing was purely authentic.

For little over a year now, Kris has been bringing new life to used and broken medical equipment by completely repairing and refurbishing them, and shipping them off to countries to be distributed to the less fortunate. Every one of the wheelchairs donated has been stripped bare, sanitized, restored and then put back together by Kris

himself. He takes extra care to ensure that each chair is clean, and in proper working condition before sending them off. When he is finished with them, everything looks brand new.

Kris has developed a system by which he obtains his equipment, recycles them, and then distributes them. He makes it his personal mission to find out exactly where each and every one of his wheelchairs went, who received them, and how it has benefitted them even in the smallest ways.

He corresponds with Consulate Generals of countries in need, sharing his mission, and how he is making a positive difference.

Some of the countries that have received his generous donations are St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Kris’s donations have also gone out to people in his community, as well as others who have learned about what he does.

Kris asks for nothing in return for his efforts. His only concern is that someone has received a device that can benefit them, and that it has made their lives easier and more functional. He hopes to start a chain reaction with his acts of kindness to inspire more people to join in the work that he is doing for those that cannot afford the better things in life.

Through his loving nature and the teachings of the Hindu faith, the joy he receives from witnessing the smiles of gratitude is enough for Kris. He finds peace knowing that he is making a difference by helping mankind. His goal is to never discriminate against anyone in need because he strives to see God in everyone.

Looking ahead, Kris still faces many challenges. People still accuse him of doing things for show or monetary gain. He wants people to understand that he isn’t doing it for the name, but it is genuinely an act of kindness inspired by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. He hopes that he can someday invest in a warehouse where he can keep more wheelchairs in holding so he can send out bigger shipments. From his garage alone, he has shipped almost 300 types of medical equipment to half a dozen countries. With God’s grace, Kris will touch many more lives through his noble efforts.

If you have any questions or would like to help Kris is in his efforts, you can contact him through his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Kris Roopnarine.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Vice-chairman of China legislature to visit Jamaica JAMAICA -- Vice -chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Zhang Baowen, is expected to meet with members of Jamaica’s Parliament when he visits the island this week.

Zhang, who will be here January 15-16, will be accompanied by a delegation from China’s 150-member NPC standing committee. Their visit is said to be part of an effort to promote co-operation between the two legislative bodies, and strengthen bilateral relations.

He will also make courtesy calls on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness.

The House of Representatives is expected to resume on Tuesday, after its Christmas break which began in mid-December.

Zhang, an academic with a background in agriculture, was a professor at Northwest China Agricultural University up to 1996 when he became president of the university.

He was made the vice-chairman of

the eighth Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League in 1997 and later that year served as the vice-chairman and the secretary-general of the 8th China Democratic League Central Committee. In 2000 he was appointed vice-minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, and in 2013 became vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th NPC. The NPC’s the national legislature of the PRC, with approximately 3,000 members, and is the largest parliamentary body in the world.

The standing committee of the NPC has the constitutional authority to modify legislation within limits set by the NPC, and thus acts as a de facto legislative body. It is led by a chairman, China’s top legislator, who is conventionally ranked third in the political ranking system behind the general secretary and president, which is usually the same person, and the premier of the state council of the PRC. The current chairman is Zhang Dejiang.

- Jamaica Observer

New secondary school among projects budgeted for 2015 in Region 2 GUYANA-- Region 2 Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud has said that the Regional Administration has budgeted for a new, modern secondary school for Abram Zuil among several major projects for 2015.

Speaking on an RCA Channel 8 programme with Minister Norman Whittaker on Wednesday in Essequibo, Mr. Persaud said the new secondary school is listed in the capital works programme for this year, and once the national budget for this year is passed in Parliament, the project will come on stream.

In highlighting some of the major projects for Region 2 for this year, the chairman said the main canal is also listed for desilting, so farmers can have a better flow of irrigation water from conservancies to their rice fields; and the Region 2 budget has catered for a new power station with three new engines to give a reliable supply of electricity to residents, and to meet the demand of the business and manufacturing sectors.

He said also that it has been budgeted for Charity and the schemes to have a better potable water system, and for a $75M rice cereal factory to be constructed at Anna Regina so the rice industry can have valueadded industries.

Mr. Persaud said a new, modern hospital is also budgeted for this year. The building is to be constructed with three wings, and the Charity hospital will be fully equipped this year to perform surgeries. Oxygen will also be available to all patients at health centres across the coast.

The Chairman said the budget would also cater for a secondary education programme to be started this year at Kabakaburi, and for the road leading to Red Lock Bridge aback Anna Regina to be upgraded and paved. The road leading to Mashabo is also budgeted for upgrading this year.

The Chairman said the Anna Regina Multilateral School playground is budgeted for development this year, so that schools can use it for their sports activities.

He said more dams leading to rice fields are budgeted for upgrading with sand and loam, while the Dawa Pump Station is listed for maintenance work during 2015.

The Chairman said a large pump will also be set up at Lima this year to improve drainage.

He said the contract for the setting up of the pump is already awarded to Mr. Doodnauth Samaroo of Hampton Court.

- Guyana Chronicle

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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6 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Despers manager: We have to continue TRINIDAD -- Practise was postponed Sunday at the Desperadoes panyard after one of the workers contracted to move the steelpan rack was shot during gang warfare at Rudolph Link Road in Laventille. Atiba Pantin, of Diego Martin, died while receiving treatment at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. His killing pushed the toll to 17. A report said around 11 am, Pantin, who was hired by a contractor, was moving pan racks along with four other men when gunfire rang out.

Chavez Best, the driver who employed Pantin, was also shot in the upper right side of his body, police said. Investigators said Best remained in stable condition up to late Sunday. Faced with high crime and violence in the Laventille

community in 2009, Desperadoes had to flee their panyard’s Auditorium and Theatre Centre to hold practice sessions in Belmont.

Members of National Panorama champion Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra on Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, were also forced to abruptly end Panorama rehearsals when loud explosions were heard in its catchment area last year. In an interview Sunday at the panyard at Queen’s Park East, manager of Desperadoes, Finbar Fletcher, said Pantin was not a member of the band.

For the most, six people were at the panyard, speaking in quiet tones.

“He was contracted to move the instrument and like he got caught in the cross-

fire. Shots were fired while the truck was coming down to bring the pans down to practise at Queen’s Park East. That is all I know that it happened while they were moving it down,” he said. Fletcher said the players no longer practise at the panyard in Laventille.

“We have more racks to bring down because there is only a quarter of them here. The contractor is shaken up and said they will move the rest of the racks tomorrow (this) morning,” he said.

Fletcher said hopefully band members could start practising by today or tomorrow or by Wednesday for the latest. “A lot of the players heard and we were supposed to start here (to practise at Queen’s Park East) at 2 pm,” Fletcher said, as he looked at his wristwatch. “Let them stay

home and rest,” he added.

When asked if he had any opinion on Pantin’s death or the crime situation, he said he did not “wish to comment at this time.” Fletcher said the band will practise three or four tunes after which the arranger will say which of the compositions will be played at the Panorama competition. “Practise will be affected for the day but not for the rest of the week. We have to continue,” he said.

A post-mortem on Pantin’s body is expected to be done today at the Forensic Science Centre at Federation Park. Homicide officers are continuing investigations.

- Trinidad Guardian

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Khalid Hassanali orders Petrotrin cutbacks and says: We can manage for short time TRINIDAD -- Petrotrin president Khalid Hassanali is forecasting a dim 2015, saying the state-owned oil company could lose 4050 per cent in revenue due to the continuing sip in global oil and gas prices.

As such, he says the company has readjusted its budget and will also have to slash drilling and development programmes.

The revised budget will take into consideration its revenue forecast over a five-year period, he said.

Hassanali made the comment following the opening of a workshop on incident command systems at Petrotrin’s staff club at Pointe-a-Pierre. He said the company suffered a loss last year and expected to do the same again this year. “As you know, we are in a down cycle and in these down cycles we still have to prepare for when prices will ‘re rise.’ “We are experiencing about a 40 to 50 per cent loss in gross revenue but, like I said, we manage our cash flows very carefully in these times,� he said.

Hassanali’s statement comes mere days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that Government would peg its national budget figure on US$45 a barrel for oil and $2.25 for gas, as well as various cutbacks in Government spending, due to the falling global prices.

Monday, Hassanali said Petrotrin would use the down cycle not only to optimise and restructure the company but also be

prepared for when the prices began to rise.

Hassanali said the company would reduce spending on its drilling and developmental programmes as many of its aged assets needed to be replaced. The focus too, he said, would be on cash management rather than accounting profits.

He added: “We will continue to cut, maybe to a reduced extent, our drilling programmes, our developmental programmes, because we have an asset that has to be replaced. “We have just come out of acquisition of seismic at the marine acreages in Trinmar. We have certain responsibilities there and we also have already started development drilling in terms of our land seismic

so there is a lot of potential.�

Although the oil price ended Monday at US$46.30 a barrel with gas at $2.81 per trump, Hassanali said that would be sufficient to withstand the current crisis, although he said that would only be for a short time.

He said there were several initiatives with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs to manage cost carefully. “If you think of that in terms of our lifting cost, in other words, the money that is required to take a barrel of oil out of the ground, we can manage at the current pricing scenario. We can manage on a cash basis, not forever, but we can manage for a period of time.�

Financial hole Last month, Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine announced in the Senate that Petrotrin had suffered a loss of $346 million in fiscal 2014 and had a total debt of $14.38 billion.

He made the comment as he appealed to Petrotrin workers not to carry through on a proposed strike action over the company’s claim that it could not increase salaries. “This is not a time for acrimony at Petrotrin. This is not a time to break down Petrotrin but to build up Petrotrin,� he said.

Ramnarine said the company’s poor financial performance was partly due to losses by the refining arm of the company.

The way forward for the company was to increase its crude oil and gas production through its own efforts as well as from ventures, such as its lease operatorship, farmout, incremental production service contract (IPSC) and joint venture programmes.

He said improved production was expected from the Trinmar operations in the Jubilee field and the ongoing South West Soldado project.

Contacted Monday, Petrotrin’s communications department said at the end of 2013-2014 fiscal period, the company revenue was TT$29.285 billion and there was a loss of $347 million. The main contributor to the loss was a low refinery margin.

- Trinidad Guardian

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10 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Dr Wayne Kublalsingh: Continuation of highway is criminal TRINIDAD -- Hunger striker Dr Wayne Kublalsingh says continuing the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the Point Fortin Highway in this time of diminishing oil prices constitutes criminality in public office.

“Debe to Mon Desir is excessive, wasteful, destructive and possibly violently corrupt. Any attempt to now take a loan or persist with Debe to Mon Desir, when there is a superior alternative available, the taxpayer is already saddled with debt, oil and gas prices are diminishing and massive destruction will be incurred, constitutes criminality in public office. “It deserves the firm-

est possible public reprimand and sanction.

It is rubbing salt into our economic wound.”

Kublalsingh, whose protest hunger strike is well over 100 days, was responding to the an announcement in Parliament by Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan that the billion-dollar Point Fortin Highway project will not be stopped in planned cutbacks for 2015. Kublalsingh, head of the Highway Re-route Movement, had said in December last year the Government will be forced to stop the project because of falling oil prices and that will be a victory for the people.

Clearly upset Sunday, he recalled

in a release that the Inter-American Development Bank, in a feasibility study of the Point Fortin Highway, had said it was over designed, too expensive, a better alternative was possible and the tendering process was questionable. The IADB had said it would not entertain any proposal for funding this project.

Rambachan said the National Infrastructure Development Company had secured a final loan of $1.5 billion last December for the project and money was available to continue it.

- Trinidad Guardian

Jean-Michel Basquiat: A legacy comes alive at the Art Gallery of Ontario Emily Singh TC Reporter “I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.”- Jean- Michel Basquiat Simple words that you probably have never heard before spoken by an artist that was anything but simple. Jean-Michel Basquiat lived a short but fruitful life and touched the lives of many through his pieces that spoke volumes about racism, poverty and political distress.

Starting February 7, 2015 the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat will come alive inside The Art Gallery of Ontario. This stunning exhibition entitled “Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now’s The Time” will feature

over 100 pieces. But who is Jean-Michel Baquiat? Now’s the time to find out. Born to a Haitian father and Puerto Rican mother Basquiat was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where his passion for art developed. Although his career began from just messing around with a friend doing graffiti art under bridges it soon took off with him landing a job in the art department of the Unique Clothing Warehouse in Broadway, New York. It was here that he could express himself and create art that would be appreciated by others and showcased instead of his talent remaining hidden under bridges and frowned upon.

Once Basquiat became known to the world there was no stopping him especially when he gained attention in the Hollywood scene. Many began to put a face to his paintings when he was featured in a Blondie music video and began dating superstar Madonna. However one of the most pivotal points of his short life was when he became the youngest artist at the tender age of 21 to have his work featured in Documenta, an art exhibit held in Germany every five years

that showcases the best of contemporary and modern art work.

Basquiat’s artistic style was a mix of punk and symbolism. Graffiti art was where he first channeled his creativity and many of his pieces after that often incorporated graffiti styles into them. Egyptian history and symbolism was also a favourite of his as it gave him the opportunity to express his views on racism.

On August 12, 1988 at the age of only 27, Basquiat suffered from a Heroine overdose inside his art studio in New York.

Even after his untimely death his legacy remains alive especially in the world of rap music. Musicians such as Frank Ocean, Kanye West, J.Cole, Nicki Minaj, Jay Z, ASAP Rocky and Macklemore have made reference to Basquiat and his work in their songs.

Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario located at 317 Dundas Street West in Toronto between February 7, 2015 and May 10, 2015 to view the exhibit and see some of the remarkable pieces that will forever uphold the legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Two men including a teacher arrested for extortion JAMAICA -The police have arrested two men, including a teacher, after they allegedly attempted to extort a substantial sum of money from a St Elizabeth businessman.

Reports are that between Saturday, November 22, 2014 and Sunday, January 4, 2015 a St Elizabeth businessman was contacted by the two accused men, who demanded money so that his life would be spared, as there was a hit out on him.

The police say that the accused men contacted the businessman several times in relation to paying over the money, warning

him that a deposit had already been collected for his assassination and that he should pay over the balance in order to prevent it.

According to the police, the businessman, in fear of his life, agreed to pay over the sum of J$265,000 to the men, after which he reported the matter.

On January 7 the National Strategic Anti-Gang Unit (NSAU) at the Organized Crime Investigations Division (OCID) and the St Elizabeth Proactive Investigations Team (PIT) commenced an investigation.

The businessman’s cell phone was

sent to the Communication Forensic and Cybercrimes Unit (CFCU) for data to be extracted.

One of the men was subsequently nabbed in Nain, St Elizabeth and the teacher, employed to a prominent high school in Clarendon, caught in May Pen during a sting operation on Friday, January 9 the police say.

The identities of the two are being withheld pending further investigations.

- Jamaica Observer

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11

Police carding comes to a halt Jordan Maxwell TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- “We really showed what can be done, but the Police Board didn’t have to spend all that money on studies when the black community has been echoing this for years.”

Police carding came to a halt last week as Toronto police chief Bill Blair announced that police would be suspending the process until further notice.

The decision from the chief’s office comes after a December police board meeting at which Mayor John Tory, in his first inaugural appearance before the board, said called police carding “corrosive”.

The system has drawn controversy from the black community, who say that young blacks are being unfairly targeted in their own backyards for alleged crimes or unjust interrogations while police say the system has long been used to get guns off the street.

Ken Bruzual, a former police officer in Trinidad and citizen of Toronto, said that while the move may be seen as positive, it’s simply a delay in the inevitable reality

that there is a culture of domination and discrimination that has plagued the black community, and will continue to do so until we unite to change it.

“The culture of domination is the main problem that we have in the world and it doesn’t just rest with the black community,” he said in an interview with Toronto Caribbean News.

“We have a responsibility to hold them accountable and we have to start looking at the root causes of police carding and other crimes against the black community in a logical, legitimate and legal way.”

Carding procedures are expected to be finalized by Feb. 19 so the rules can be in line with the board’s new community contacts policy — which passed in last April and emphasizes citizen rights, including the right of an individual to walk away from the encounter if the person is not being investigated for a specific crime, according to an article in the Star.

Between 2008 and 2012, police recorded 1.8 million contact cards in police stops that resulted in no arrests and no charges in more than 70 of the city’s patrol zones Police stats also showed that the proportion of blacks relegated to the stopand-frisk program was three times greater than other groups and what’s more between the same timeframe, the number of street checks rose 23 per cent.

Knia Singh, chair of the Caribbean Arts Group (CAG), said that he was optimistic about the change in tone from Toronto

Police, but expressed skepticism on the specifics of the sabbatical.

“I see it as a positive step in the right direction and for them to make this decision means that they’ve acknowledged that something is wrong,” Singh said.

“It’s undeniable that there’s an issue in the relationship between police and members of the black community and they’re taking step to address t h a t (os-

tensibly).”

Lee echoed Singh’s sentiments and hoped to see better community engagement and relationships being built as opposed to just suspending carding, adding that it doesn’t fix the damage that’s been done to some communities.

“We have to keep the pressure up.

The next chief will be under tough standards and we’ll be watching. One thing I want to see is that they admit guilt for this; to apologize the community and do better.”

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Iwer hints at return to Soca Monarch.

But didnʼt he bow out last year?

Aba Luke Entertainment Iwer George might be many things, but a sore loser he isn’t so there’s no question that his decision to bow out of the International Soca Monarch following the show in 2014, wasn’t about his loss to Mr. Killa and Monk Monty as Machel Montano’s now calling himself. He told ETCETERABUZZ that he thought his kids would be ready to take on the big stage in 2015, so in 2014 he announced that he would be leaving the International Soca Monarch stage. Lo and behold though, the excitement of C2K15 is building and Iwer George has disclosed that he just might climb the stage again.

Last Thursday, in an exclusive one on one with us, the Boss who has already released a few tracks for the season, and plans on releasing a couple others, said he awaits

word from his fans on whether they want to see him enter the race again. “To be honest with you, I leave it up to the people and they have a few more days to decide,” said Iwer when asked whether he would be sticking to his decision to bow out of the carnival competition. He said he really had no idea when the final date for registration would be but when we checked, the registration deadline was already upon him as it was January 9th.

Now, with that said, we know that if Iwer George takes the stage this year at the semi finals of the International Soca Monarch, he would have already registered prior to our interview or just after.

Iwer has been a big gun in the competition over the years. His contributions thus far this season are, “King George”, “Play De Mas”, “Jab Jab Man”, “Wave & Wine”, “Jump Up Island” and “Party Man.” He told us that he’s happy about the reception he’s been receiving this season from fans and promises that there’s a big track set for release, one he says will take the Road March title. Think he can blow the rest out of the race? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

- Et-Cet-Era Buzz

New blood with bold mindset hits the Soca circuit Aba Luke Entertainment There’s no room in the soca music industry for the faint hearted. Armed with this understanding, one Trinidad and Tobago newbie to the soca circuit is preparing to launch his efforts this carnival and he isn’t about to take no for an answer.

K Sly’s been honing his craft for

the past few years, having realized that he’s got a natural knack for the genre. A native of Aripero, South Trinidad, K Sly’s got a single called ‘Carnival Zombie’ that’s just about ready to be delivered to carnival lovers across T&T and certainly worldwide.

His passion for creating soca music is unmistakable. In fact, K Sly whose real name is Kiwaine Jones, says he wanted to get into the business because he had an innate love for the music, and having realized that he was quite capable of creating and delivering, he never questioned the urge to dive in.

In 2015, a road mix of his new single will be released for the masqueraders, and despite being new to the scene and facing the possibility of not being given

that desired chance to shine, K Sly says he will make a strong impression no matter what the outcome may be. “The harder the battle, the tougher I fight,” he says, a mantra he lives by and one that arguably applies to this circumstance.

The young entertainer has been producing reggae and calypso music as well. Influenced musically by the likes of The Mighty Sparrow, Benjai, Bob Marley and even R&B crooner, Alicia Keys, K Sly admits that his desire is to essentially share his music with a worldwide audience. He has recorded five soca tracks, four reggae singles and two calypsos, undoubtedly proving his commitment to the music business of which he is surely becoming a part.

His plans for the season include entering

several competitions in T&T, among them, the Young Kings, Calypso Monarch and even the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions. “Where I come from, there’s often the perception that nothing good ever comes forth but I’m about to prove the naysayers wrong. Music is my vehicle to change that perception,” he said.

In the Carnival season ahead, K Sly plans to continue his work with producers at Corosive Studios in Point Fortin and beyond that, he says the sky is the limit. “I’m not about to stop or be deterred.

My voice will be heard and my persistence and consistency will pay off,” he said.

- Et-Cet-Era Buzz

14 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Record chase hands WI big win SOUTH AFRICA -- Chris Gayle was again sensational as West Indies incredibly pulled off the highest ever run chase in the history of Twenty20 Internationals, to beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare, and clinch a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday.

The big-hitting opener top-scored with a stunning 90 off 41 balls to help West Indies overhaul South Africa’s 231 for seven and silence a capacity crowd which crammed into the Wanderers.

Gayle struck nine fours and seven sixes and put on a record 152 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels who stroked a classy 60 from a mere 39 balls, with seven fours and two sixes.

Their heroics outshone South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis who unfurled a classic 119 off 56 balls, his maiden T20 hundred, to guide the hosts to the fourth highest T20 International total, after they were sent in.

South Africa lost two early wickets but du Plessis counted 11 fours and five sixes and combined with David Miller, who struck 47 off 26 balls with four fours and three sixes, in an up tempo 105 for the third wicket.

The partnership was finally broken when Andre Russell ran out Miller at the nonstriker’s end in the 11th over with the Windies running out of ideas, and du Plessis added a further 66 for the fifth wicket with Farhaan Behardien (8 not out), before he holed out at the end of the 19th over off pacer Jason Holder.

Seamer Dwayne Bravo (2-32) and Holder (2-40) finished with two wickets apiece.

Left with the challenge of re-writing history, the Windies seemed in danger of wasting the brilliance of Gayle and Samu-

els when they lost five wickets for 38 runs, slumping from 171 for one in the 14th over to 206 for six in the 18th.

But captain Darren Sammy uncorked a little cameo of 20 not out off seven balls, with two fours and a six, that lifted West Indies over the line.

The game, though, remained up for grabs with the Caribbean side requiring 21 runs from the last two overs only for Sammy and Denesh Ramdin (7 not out) to belt wayward speedster Kyle Abbott for 18 runs off the penultimate over.

With three runs needed from the last six balls and victory all but assured, Sammy finished the game in style by depositing fast bowler Marchant de Lange over the ropes at deep mid-wicket, to spark celebrations among the visitors.

Needing to score at nearly 12 an over to win, West Indies displayed their attacking intent from as early as the first over when Dwayne Smith gathered three fours off Abbott. He took another one off de Lange in the second over before missing the next delivery and falling lbw for 17.

Gayle and Samuels then launched an exhibition of stroke-play which left South Africa in disarray.

While Gayle struck the ball with brute force, Samuels was surgical in his execution, as they scored at a remarkable rate of 13 runs an over through the first ten overs.

The left-handed Gayle came to life in the third over bowled by Abbott. The first ball was a dot one but Gayle then crunched four consecutive off-side boundaries before finishing off with a six over mid-wicket.

Not to be left out, Samuels punched seamer David Wiese past mid-off for four in the next over and then struck him for a straight six to end the over—a shot that

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raised the Windies fifty off just 24 deliveries.

Gayle took another two fours and a six off Abbott in the fifth over that cost 15 runs while Samuels singlehandedly took another 16 from the sixth over from Wiese, as the first six overs gushed 86 runs.

A straight six off leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s third ball of the innings brought Gayle his second half-century in three days, and his 13th in T20 Internationals, and he quickly celebrated by tearing into Aaron Phangiso with two sixes and a four in the left-arm spinner’s second over.

The century stand—the best for any wicket against the Proteas in T20s—came off 43 balls in the ninth over and Samuels strolled to his half-century off 29 balls in the 13th over, before the partnership ended when Gayle missed a tired- looking dab to third man and was caught behind off Wiese (3-43).

Samuels followed nine balls later with seven runs added, holing out to long on in Wiese’s next over, and the customary collapse followed with Kieron Pollard (7), Andre Russell (14) and Bravo (10) all perishing cheaply as the game tilted South Africa’s way.

Sammy, however, kept his wits about him and pulled the innings around with a late flourish. (CMC) SCOREBOARD West Indies vs South Africa SOUTH AFRICA R Rossouw c wkp Ramdin b Holder . . . . .15 M van Wyk c Pollard b Benn . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 F du Plessis c Bravo b Holder . . . . . . . . . .119 D Miller run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 J Ontong c Holder b Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 F Behardien not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 D Wiese c Smith b Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

K Abbott run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Extras (lb2, w7, nb2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Did not bat: M de Lange, Imran Tahir, A Phangiso Fall of wickets: 1-5 (van Wyk, 0.5 overs), 2-21 (Rossouw, 2.2), 3-126 (Miller, 10.3), 4156 (Ontong, 13.3), 5-222 (du Plessis, 19), 6228 (Wiese, 19.2), 7-231 (Abbott, 20) Bowling: Benn 3-0-42-1, Cottrell 3-0-47-0 (nb1), Holder 4-0-40-2 (w2), Russell 4-039-0 (w4, nb1), Bravo 4-0-32-2 (w1), Sammy 1-0-17-0, Pollard 1-0-12-0.

WEST INDIES D Smith lbw b de Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 C Gayle c wkp van Wyk b Wiese . . . . . . . .90 M Samuels c Behardien b Wiese . . . . . . . 60 K Pollard c Behardien b Wiese . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A Russell c Miller b Abbott . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 DJ Bravo c Ontong b Phangiso . . . . . . . . . .10 D Sammy not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 D Ramdin not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Extras (b4, w7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 TOTAL (6 wkts, 19.2 overs) . . . . . . . . . 236 Did not bat: J Holder, S Benn, S Cottrell.

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Smith, 1.5 overs), 2171 (Gayle, 13.4), 3-178 (Samuels, 15.1), 4185 (Pollard, 15.5), 5-198 (Russell, 16.4), 6-209 (Bravo, 17.4) Bowling: Abbott 4-0-68-1 (w1), de Lange 3.2-0-42-1 (w2), Wiese 4-0-43-3 (w3), Phangiso 3-0-33-1, Imran Tahir 4-0-29-0 (w1), Ontong 1-0-17-0.

Result: West Indies won by four wickets.

Series: West Indies lead three-match series. Man-of-the-Match: Chris Gayle.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: S George, A Holdstock; TV—J Cloete.

- Trinidad Guardian

16 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Gayle says axing of Pollard, Bravo ridiculous SOUTH AFRICA -- An upset Chris Gayle has blasted the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies squad for next month’s World Cup as “ridiculous”, and says it smacks of victimisation.

Speaking after firing West Indies to an historic victory in the second Twenty20 International against South Africa at the Wanderers on Sunday, the maverick opener lashed out at selectors for axing the all-rounders, arguing the move weakened the one-day side.

“How can those two guys not be in the team? To me it got to be like victimisation when you look at it towards those two guys,” Gayle ranted.

“Come on, guys. It is just ridiculous. Come on. Ridiculous. [I’m] really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings, which I’m doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced. It is just sad.”

The claim of victimisation is in reference to the role Pollard and Bravo played on the controversial abandoned tour of India when the one-day team abruptly quit the series over a contracts dispute with their players union, WIPA. Bravo, the one-day skipper at the time, led the fight for the players against WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board, as the players spokesman.

Pollard, meanwhile, was one of the senior members.

In selecting the squad for South Africa and the World Cup, West Indies selectors said they were looking to rebuild the squad, naming rookie fast bowler Jason Holder as the new captain.

And on Sunday, WICB president Dave Cameron rejected claims Pollard and Bravo had been victimised,

contending the squads had been selected on a cricketing basis only.

A furious Gayle said, however, the strength of the one-day side would be impacted by the move.

“It is a big batting line-up when you look at our team. But it’s just disappointing when you look at the 50-over format – we won’t be at our strongest,” Gayle said.

“We don’t have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key all-rounders as well, very good in the outfield.

“I don’t know what’s the history behind it, but it is a ridiculous selection from my point of view.”

He added: “I don’t know where our cricket is actually going to … where we are heading with this sort of situation.

But it is really sad. Actually we won the [Twenty20] series with our best team and now there will be changes, with two of our biggest players in ODI cricket not involved in the 50-over format and the World Cup. “It really hurts but I’m really, really glad that we won the series for Pollard and Bravo.”

West Indies pulled off the highest run chase in Twenty20 Internationals to beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare here Sunday, and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Gayle smashed a top score of 90 from 41 balls to record his second halfcentury and Man-of-the-Match award in the space of three days.

- Trinidad Guardian

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Caribbean beef, sweet potato and pumpkin soup Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking That bone chilling cold is back and with a vengeance. Over the Christmas holidays it was relatively mild by Canadian standards, but this morning the mercury dropped to -28 C (-18.4 F). Like a true son of the Caribbean soil, I’m battling back with a hearty beef with sweet potato and pumpkin soup to warm up the mind, soul and body! We’ll start off by roasting the pieces of beef (with bones) in the oven, something which is not traditional in Caribbean soup making, but that roasted flavor will elevate this soup to a HIGHER level! Then we go in with pieces of pumpkin and sweet potato, followed by fresh herbs and other flavor ingredients.

Y Yo You’ll ou’ u’ll N Need: eeed: d: 22-3 -3 llbs bs be beef eeeff bbones ones on es 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 carrots 1 large onion 2 stalks celery 2 large sweet potatoes 1 medium butternut squash 2-3 cups diced pumpkin water * or Beef stock 3 cloves garlic 3 tablespoon olive oil (divided) 4 sprigs thyme 1 scotch bonnet pepper 2 tablespoon chopped parsley 1 stock cube 2 scallions 3-4 allspice berries optional.. flour dumplings, potato and ground provisions.

Note: It’s important that you use pieces of beef with bones for maximum flavor and it’s normally the cheapest cut of meat. Wash and pat the beef dry, then place in a baking dish with the cubed celery and carrots. Toss with 2 tablespoon olive oil and roast on the mid-

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ddle le ra rrack ack k ooff yo yyour our ur ooven ven for ve ven for 45 m mins ins @ 40 ins 400 400F. 0F. 0F A Ass the h bbeef eeff roast in thee ov oven oven, en ppeel eel and cube the pumpkin, squash and sweet potato. You’ll notice that I used traditional Caribbean sweet potato (purple/red colour) and what is called ‘yams (sort of orange colour) in North American grocery stores.

We’ll cook this for a long time, so feel free to cut them in large pieces.

Remove the roasted beef from the oven and get ready to put everything together so we can started on our soup. If you prep the vegetables in advance, cover them with water so they don’t go discolored on you.

In a large soup pot, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and go in with the diced onion, garlic, black pepper, chopped scallion and thyme on a low heat and cook for about 3-4 minutes.

Turn up the heat, add the roasted beef and vegetables.. be sure to get all the stuff at the bottom of the roasting pan and give the pot a good stir. Now go in with all the other ingredients, cover with water or beef stock and bring to a boil.

You will notice a few things. 1. If using beef stock, keep in mind that it will have a lot of sodium so be mindful when

add ad adding ddiing ng m more ore sal or ssalt. sa alt ltt.. 2.

2. I aadded dded dd ed tthe he sscotch he cotch co cotc ttcch bo bbononn-on ne net et ‘w ‘‘whole’ who hole le’ to le’ to gget et tthe et he fl he flaaavor vor andd no nott th thee ra rraw aw heat. if you break it – be prepared for that Caribbean sunshine. and 3. If adding flour dumplings, do so the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Reduce to a gentle boil and allow to cook for about an hour and 3/4 or until the beef is tender. The vegetables will fall apart for the most part, but that will give you a nice thick soup. If you want your vegetables with texture, you can add them the last 35 minutes of cooking. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly and remember to remove that scotch bonnet pepper at the end of cooking.

Serve HOT (forget the warm thing).. this is meant to warm you up on those cold winter days or when you just want a taste of home! If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Flour dumplings will NOT be an option.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 21

Find your lifeʼs purpose Have you ever woken up and wondered What am I doing here on this planet? In any given day we have so many opportunities, so many choices to make. Most consider just getting through their day a triumph, but at some point that mere existence begs the question What is my purpose in life?

Lately, so many people have crossed my path asking this question, but not directly.

What first presents itself is their overall lack of joy in life. Their sense that if they were to disappear tomorrow, their existence wouldn’t have mattered. Many people are searching for a happiness that is illusive.

I’d like to share some good news. It is possible to find your life’s purpose, to wake and then return to rest at the end of the day feeling completely fulfilled. You can experience a state of constant joy for having the gift of life and being able to live another day.

To journey into finding your life’s purpose, there are a few key steps that might help.

Let go of ego and go to the source, your soul To experience this kind of joy you must know a secret. Well, maybe not a secret, but something that feels a bit like that. So many people are miserable that it may feel like a secret when they discover it.

The first step in the process is to look long and hard in a mirror. Once there, give yourself permission to jump inside the eyes staring back at you and have a chat with your soul. Yes, your soul. We all have one. It’s that little voice inside you that tells you there’s more to life. That part of you that stirs when you barely finish yet another day in complete exhaustion and frustration and ask yourself, How can this be my life? It’s not even satisfactory!

The one challenge you’ll face is getting past the gatekeeper – your ego – that aspect of self that holds you back by reminding you of all the reasons why your soul shouldn’t be involved in this process. Decisions made from the ego usually involve some kind of legacy issues that the ego is perfectly fine living with.

For example, I’m not smart, I’m not worthy, I don’t deserve to be happy, I’m of no value to anyone. The ego develops all kinds of coping mechanisms that kidnap the life you should re-

ally be living, the one you became human to live.

So how do you get the ego out of the way?

Use meditation as a tool to reveal your soul’s desire For countless centuries, actualized wise beings used the tool of meditation to tap into their soul’s purpose. Many people shiver at the sound of the word meditation because they are so uncomfortable with silence; they run from it and choose a life of dissatisfaction over the discipline of self-peace.

Once you decide to seek your soul’s guidance, you must prepare your mind and body before you can start the conversation.

How does one prepare for talking to his or her soul? Sounds crazy, but it’s possible. The only way you’ll get to your soul’s guidance is through the portal of stillness. The power of meditation comes from understanding this, for you’ll never have peace until you can get to the stillness.

There, I said it. Never is a powerful word, but there’s a reality to it. It’s shocking that we have this ability within, a power to get to clarity, but people rarely take steps to acquire it. Most feel discomfort because the discipline required isn’t easy at first. But if you just show up and open your mind to the possibility, amazing things will begin to happen. Magical life shifts start to occur.

Commit to 21 days of meditation and listen for your soul’s direction When you make the commitment to stillness, when you actually sit still and quiet your mind, you’ll hear your soul speak to you. What comes up at first might be the laundry list of things to – just to be clear, that’s not your soul. That’s your to-do list and you can gently recognize it but let it go; float it down a river in your mind until silence returns. Sometimes focusing on one word that is simple and peaceful and clear can help still the mind. Maybe it’s joy. Maybe it’s clarity. Maybe it’s I am. Maybe it’s OM. In your mind, just repeat that one word when other distracting thoughts jump in. Begin to feel the gaps of silence. Honor those gaps.

The silence is the door to your soul’s

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Life’s brighter under the sun

direction.

When you meditate daily over the course of 21 days, be prepared for a new awareness to emerge. A new conversation with yourself begins. You’ll start seeing new opportunities show up in your life. Give yourself permission to listen and then act on the ideas that present themselves. This is your soul talking to you, teasing you to jump into the truth of you and what you came here to do.

New opportunities appear through deep self-acceptance and action This is the beginning of flow and self-acceptance, and you don’t have to do anything to make it happen except begin leaning into aspects of life that bring you joy. New opportunities will start showing up in your life, and with your new awareness you’ll be able to give yourself permission to explore with action.

If you love writing but are stuck at some dead-end job, maybe you’ll see an email or website or a poster in a café advertising a book club or an author reading. Step out of your comfort zone and participate in the opportunities that begin to pop up all around you.

Lean into opportunities that titillate you, that

inspire you!

Life flows to reveal your true purpose Again, you don’t set out to make anything happen. With your awareness shifted, life begins to reveal real opportunities that were always around you, and your life begins to flow when you sign up and fully participate. Ultimately, self-love is needed to begin this whole process.

And then guess what happens? By telling yourself you are worth this journey to joy, fulfillment and actualization, you begin to live your truth and start to manifest the life you want to wake up to each day. A deep sense of satisfaction enters the picture, and from there you find your life’s purpose! Sounds simplistic, but I’m telling you from personal experience it isn’t. This process is straightforward. And what’s so beautiful is that it’s risk-free! What’s keeping you from giving it a go? Be still, listen and then let your purpose unfold. Go ahead.

“The task is not to seek love, but merely find all the values within yourself that you’ve built against it.” – Rumi - My Yoga Online

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Monsantoʼs fraudulent tomato patent revoked by patent office In an effort to help consumers make smart food decisions and not be strong armed into choosing edibles produced by a select few shady mega-corporations like Monsanto, No Patents on Seeds! has made significant strides. The coalition made tremendous headway when they, along with Nunhems/Bayer CropScience, filed petitions against Monsanto regarding the GMO giant’s tomato patent. Ultimately, Monsanto’s patent was revoked by the European Patent Office (EPO) -- not because the EPO initiated it, but because they agreed to Monsanto’s request to do so.

The reason for the patent not going through is, unfortunately, not much of a surprise.

As Natural News readers know, there are many documents riddled with loopholes and laws that squeak by based on cleverly crafted words. The situation was no different in this case; it was ultimately determined that Monsanto was attempting to be wise wordsmiths, saying that their patent focused on conventionally bred tomatoes that had a natural resistance to botrytis, a fungal disease, and should therefore be considered as an intervention. However, the tomatoes for the patent were accessed from an area in Germany that already

had the resistance to begin with; Monsanto was attempting to pull the wool over people’s eyes by indicating that their techniques were unique and, therefore, patent-worthy.

Monsanto’s patent attempt “abuse of patent law and biopiracy” “Revoking this patent is an important success,” said Christopher Then, a coordinator with No Patents on Seeds! “It was more or less based on a combination of fraud, abuse of patent law and biopiracy. The patent could have been used to monopolise important genetic resources.

Now breeders, growers and consumers have a chance of benefiting from a greater diversity of tomatoes improved by further breeding.” He explained, “The intended resistance is based on complex genetic conditions, which are not known in detail. So genetic engineering is clearly not an option in this case.”

No Patents on Seeds! hopes that this success spurs many others. In particular, they’re eyeing the EPO for their slew of patentgranting practices that includes genetically engineered plants, many of which are owned by Monsanto. Considering that Monsanto already controls approximately 25 percent of the international seed market, No Patents on Seeds! is

striving to prevent them from expanding their market domination so that consumers have a range of food choices, and healthier ones at that. Specifically, they’re asking that the European government put more pressure on the EPO so that fair and accurate patent interpretation is practiced going forward. Furthermore, they would like to see revisions in European Patent Law so that breeding material, plants, animals and food derived from them are excluded from patentability.

Of the need to address these patent practices, the No Patents on Seeds! website asks, “Is the patent industry taking control of our food?” The related article further questions the future of food, honing in on the full patent opposition report regarding Monsanto’s tomato patent. “Will our daily food soon be controlled by big corporations and the patent industry, or will our politicians make decisions to ensure that patents on plants and animals are prohibited?”

Dire need to address plant and seed patents as “we are at a critical stage” The brief article precedes a PDF of the full patent opposition report, a report which includes highly scientific details pertaining mostly to

molecular markers and botrytis. A portion of it states the following: Thus far... breeding programs aimed at providing resistance to Botrytis in tomato have had limited success. The reasons for these poor results is at present not clear. For one part, this may be due to insufficient knowledge on the genetic basis and inheritance of Botrytisresistance. For another part, this may be due to the lace of proper bioassays for assessing Botrytis-resistance levels in tomato plants obtained in breeding programs. The lack of knowledge and methods also complicates the selection of plants among both wild accessions and offspring plants that compromise genes involved in resistance to Botrytis.

“We are at a critical stage,” the preceding article notes of the alarming amount of plant and seed patents either approved by, or slated to be approved by, the EPO. “The scope of many of the patents that have been granted is extremely broad and very often covers the whole food chain from production to consumption. These patents are an abuse of patent law, designed to take control of the resources needed for our daily living.”

- Natural News

Monsantoʼs fraudulent tomato patent revoked by patent office From everyday airborne allergens to countertop bacteria, your immune system is a complex network that is constantly battling to keep you safe from countless pathogens. It’s common knowledge that washing your hands before eating is a great way to help keep your immune system, because hand washing eliminates germs. Sometimes, though, we do things that weaken the immune system even though we’re not fully aware that this is what we’re doing. Enjoying a favorite food or beverage may remind you to watch your waistline. Many comfort foods and drinks are packed with fat and sugar. Naturally, this makes one think of the weight gain enjoying that certain food will bring. However, the effects of sugar and fat on the immune system may not necessarily dawn on most. A sedentary lifestyle, social isolation and even constipation can also weaken the immune system.

Eating fattening foods Foods naturally rich in healthy fats, like avo-

cados, walnuts and salmon, are actually beneficial. They provide healthy fat that nurtures your brain and body. Unhealthy fats are what can compromise the immune system. Foods like cookies, french fries and pizza are great examples of bad fat. The fat in these foods is not nutritional and leads to weight gain, high cholesterol and a compromised immune system. A thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy revealed that fatty food inhibits the body’s ability to fight bacteria. In the study, mice fed a lard-based diet over an extended period became worse at fighting bacteria in the blood.

Eating too much sugar Excess sugar consumption decreases immunity. Consuming 100 grams of sugar, equal to two and a half 12 ounce cans of soda, can reduce the germ-killing ability of white blood cells by 40 percent. After consuming sugar, its negative effects start suppressing the immune system in less than 30 minutes and can last up to five hours.

Ignoring constipation A large part of your immune system is in your gut. Waste stuck in the intestine prevents adequate absorption of nutrients. If constipation is ignored and waste builds up over a long period of time, it can have detrimental effects on the immune system. A balance of good bacteria in the digestive system is a key factor in keeping a healthy immune system. Good bacteria help with digestion and the breakdown of food, and produces substances that fight pathogens, like influenza. Constipation throws off that balance of this good bacteria.

Being sedentary One out of four American women don’t exercise at all. A sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact your health in a large way. Exercise releases endorphins which help us feel happy, it also helps fight cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and even cancer. Exercise also helps the lymphatic system, which works with

the immune system on a daily basis to help keep you healthy. The lymphatic system is made up of a series of nodes and vessels that filter lymphatic fluid. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump; for this reason, exercise is key to keeping the lymphatic system moving.

Being antisocial Social interaction can improve your immune functions. Stress is taxing on the immune system. Frequent interactions in the community lead to a reduction in stress. Some studies reveal that the more human interaction we have, the more likely we are to live longer and healthier lives. One study monitored 276 individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 discovered that those who had six or more human connections were four times better at combating cold-causing viruses.

- Natural News

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The best natural sources of manganese Manganese is a trace mineral that is present in only small amounts in our bodies. It is considered an essential nutrient and is responsible for a large number of biological roles, including proper enzyme functioning, wound healing, nutrient absorption and bone development. Manganese is also a component of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps fight celldamaging free radicals.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, up to 37 percent of the American population fails to meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) of manganese, which is 2.3 milligrams for adult men and 1.8 milligrams for adult women. Over time, this can lead to deficiency symptoms such as joint pain, poor bone health and fertility problems. Therefore, it’s important that we eat enough foods rich in manganese to maintain our health.

Excellent sources of manganese: Seafood: Though seafood is best-known for its rich concentrations of zinc, it is also one of the world’s finest sources of manganese.

In first place is mussels, which provide us with 5.8 milligrams of manganese, or 340 percent of our RDI, per 85 grams. Next on the list is clams (43 percent of our RDI per 85 grams), followed by crawfish (22 percent

of our RDI per 85 grams). Regular fish such as bass, trout, pike and perch are also excellent sources of manganese, with 85 grams of each providing us with between 38 and 48 grams of our RDI. Avoid contaminated seafood by favoring sustainably farmed produce sourced from the Atlantic Ocean.

Nuts: Nuts are one of the best sources of manganese for vegetarians and vegans. One 28 gram serving of hazelnuts, for instance, supplies us with 78 percent of our RDI. Pecans, macadamia nuts and walnuts also contain over 40 percent of our RDI per 28 grams. Other nuts, such as almonds, cashews and pistachios, contain fewer (but still high) concentrations of manganese.

Aside from their manganese content, nuts are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, plant sterols (which are known to reduce LDL cholesterol) and L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid that can boost cardiovascular function. Some people like to soak their nuts in water before eating them, since soaking mimics the natural germination process that occurs in nature, which helps neutralize anti-nutrients and activate certain enzymes.

Seeds: Seeds often contain similar nutritional profiles to nuts, so it isn’t surprising that they’re also high in manganese. Pumpkin

seeds seem to be the best source, containing 1.3 milligrams of the mineral (64 percent of the RDI) per 28 gram serving. Chia seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds are also excellent sources, with one 28 gram serving of each providing us with at least 30 percent of our RDI of manganese.

Seeds also tend to be rich in zinc, magnesium and beneficial plant compounds called phytosterols,. Like nuts, seeds (especially chia seeds) benefit from being soaked in water before consumption.

Beans: Beans are one of the longest-cultivated crops and have been an important source of protein throughout the Old and New World. They are also consistently high in manganese. Half of a cup (85 grams) of lima beans and winged beans, for example, contain just over half of our RDI. Chickpeas, adzuki beans and white beans are packed with manganese as well.

Other excellent sources of manganese include leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, most dried herbs and spices (especially cloves), rice bran, garlic, blackstrap molasses and sun-dried tomatoes.

Most whole foods contain small amounts of manganese, however, which is why people who eat a diet rich in organic whole foods are rarely deficient in it.

- Natural News

Cosmetic dentistry Dr. Matthew Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Dental Health

The main focus in the practice of cosmetic dentistry is to create a beautiful, pleasing smile in both the eyes of the patient and beholder or enhance the existing smile.

Bright smiles are like stars on a dark night.

They seldom go unnoticed. To be blessed with such a facial attribute gives one a feeling of wellbeing, confidence and access to limitless opportunities. This is a valuable asset to have if your career involves social interaction.

When a patient comes in with no smile or an unattractive smile and requests a makeover then a consultation is necessary

to address their needs and expectations, the different treatment plans, limitation to treatment, cost and time frame for the transformation. We attempt to focus on the chief concern first and how best the desired result can be accomplished. If there are no obstacles to treatment and motivation is high then a comprehensive treatment would yield the best results.

There are different treatment options and your dentist can advise you which is best for your case and can conform to your budget.

The options may range from whitening, bonding, veneers, crowns and bridges, implants, partial and full dentures, orthodontic treatment, and orthognatic surgery.

If the candidate for treatment is a pre-teen or teenager and has crooked teeth and a deformed mouth then orthodontic intervention would be the treatment of choice.

Front teeth with spaces can be quickly converted into normal looking teeth with no spaces and a lighter shade by

bonding. This treatment also works well on underdeveloped teeth such as peg shaped lateral incisors, often seen as a congenital developmental anomaly of the upper front teeth.

Veneers provide excellent esthetics.

These are thin porcelain shells that are attached to the outside surface of natural teeth with a cement bond. The outside visible surface of the tooth is ground down prior to cementation. However over time a veneer may fracture or get dislodged and would have to be replaced with a new one.

Crowns and bridges provide excellent durability and esthetics. Implant supported restorations also produce excellent results if the requirements for use such as excellent health and adequate healthy bone exist.

Partial dentures will restore a smile that was as a result of a missing teeth or injury. Full dentures are often the treatment of choice for a few elderly with no natural teeth.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Save money, eat healthy. Dr. Lydiaʼs top 5 cheap eats Dr. Lydia Thurton ND BASc

Health Tips With the holiday madness behind us it’s time to do the two things we resolve to do every New Year. Save money for next Christmas and recover our waistlines from holiday indulgences. Rest assured, you can do both. Let’s discuss the cheapest ways to eat healthy, promote blood sugar balance and stabilize weight. I’m going to give you my top five healthy, cheap eats.

Beans do not get enough credit.

These little power packs of protein and zinc, B vitamins, magnesium, fibre and iron are great for us. Regularly consuming beans can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is a whole variety to choose from. Chick peas to lentils. Kidney beans to black beans, you can find a type that suits your taste. When added to rice, as

is a common Caribbean custom, they help prevent the blood sugar spike we get from consuming rice alone. Keeping your blood sugar stable is one of the best ways to keep your weight in check.

There is a little known, but widely available, dairy product called kefir. It’s a runny yogurt drink that tastes slightly sour, but not offensive. A tub is a very reasonable price and will give you a great dose of probiotics. These friendly bacteria impact our health in so many beneficial ways, I’ll probably make it my next article. As little as ¾ of a cup of kefir can give you 20% of your daily calcium and 10 g of protein. The bacteria that ferments the dairy to make kefir also digests a lot of the lactose. This means people who are lactose intolerant oftentimes can tolerate kefir.

Sardines are poised to make a comeback. These little fish are low in mercury and high in healthy oils and protein.

Sardines have been ranked one of the top fish for environmental sustainability and nutritional value. Consuming the small bones is a source of calcium. Sardines offer us a great dose of vitamin B12, iodine and vitamin D. All of which are common deficiencies. Choose ones packed in olive oil, rather

than soya oil.

It’s time to ditch processed cereals.

They do not keep you full, they do not stabilize your blood sugar and they offer little in the way of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Enter steel cut oats. Perfect for this time of year. A hot bowl of oatmeal can keep you full much longer than a standard bowl of cereal. Add fruit, nuts, flax seeds, or vanilla and cinnamon to give the oatmeal the taste you desire. Steel cut oats are less processed than quick cook or rolled oats. Equally as affordable as other types of oatmeal, but with more fibre and vitamins. That’s a win win!

One of the best resolutions you can make for 2015 is to eat more greens.

It doesn’t matter what kind. Kale, broccoli, collard greens, dasheen, spinach are all so nutritious. Laden with iron, B vitamins, calcium, fibre and a whole host of plant compounds these veggies are just what the doctor ordered. You can reduce your risk of most of the major killers – diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancers by getting these leafy vegetables into your diet. There is no downside. Affordable and versatile, your body and your wallet will thank you.

The perfect exercise Monique Bartlett Fitness Have you ever heard that you should exercise less but with more intensity? Well if not, you’ve heard it now. There are too many people exercising too much but not with enough intensity. That’s good news if you find exercise long and boring and can’t wait to get it over with. Some people can spend hours at the gym but they are reading their book on the treadmill, socializing with their friends or just watch others as they work out. It’s great to say that you go to the gym but if you’re not actually exercising then what’s the point? It’s better to find the most efficient route to health and fitness so

you can spend more time enjoying life with your friends and family.

The way to get the results you want in a reasonable amount of time is to increase your intensity. Intensity will give you better results in a shorter amount of time making you more productive. The thing you need to remember though is that your body will still require enough time for rest and recovery.

You have to remember that you can work hard or you can work long but you can’t do both effectively. If you work hard, you won’t be able to work long. If you work long you won’t be able to work hard.

A great way to be more effective is to consider (HITT) High Intensity Interval Training or Cross Fit. These types of workout programs allow you to do high intensity full body workouts in a shorter amount of time providing you with maximum results.

The caveat is that you may want to do too much too soon. You need to be able to work within a duration and intensity that will provide you with results but will allow you to maintain proper health without injuring

yourself. It is recommended that you consult with your family physician before attempting any exercise program.

These programs are also a great way for you to add lean muscle mass so you can burn fat even when you’re not working out. Lean muscle burns more calories than fat so you can burn an extra 40-50 calories per day per pound of lean muscle. That means the more lean muscle you build the more calories you will burn. You will also increase your cardiovascular ability as well as lowering your risk for disease such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Shorter more intense exercise with time for optimal rest allows you to get better results faster. It will also allow you to have a lifestyle where you will be able to enjoy spending more time with your family and friends. Looking good and feeling great are the benefits of exercise but being able to live a longer and healthier life is a goal that is attainable for everyone if you’re willing to make your health and fitness a priority.

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Benefits of contributing to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) Stephen Mohammed Finance March 2nd, 2015 is the deadline for contributing to an RRSP for the 2014 tax year. The allowable RRSP deduction is 18% of your prior year’s earned income. The maximum RRSP contribution limit for 2015 is $24,930 which has increased from $24,270 in 2014.

However, if you have not used all of your RRSP contribution limit from previous years from 1991 to 2014, you can carry forward the unused amount to 2015. The purpose of an RRSP is to assist you in your goal to save for retirement and the contributions are used to reduce the amount of income tax that you pay on your earnings in previous year’s income tax.

You are permitted to overcontribute a cumulative lifetime total of $2,000 to your RRSP without incurring a penalty tax.

An overcontribution is not deductible from income in that tax year, but the advantage is that you can put the additional cash into your RRSP where it can compound on a taxdeferred basis for as long as it remains in the plan. Overcontributions may be deducted in the subsequent year when your actual RRSP contribution is less than the maximum allowed. A penalty tax of 1% per month applies to the amount of any overcontribution

in excess of $2,000.

Married or common-law spouses may contribute to their spouses RRSP, however the contribution limit must not exceed the contributing spouse’s individual RRSP limit. If funds are withdrawn from the RRSP within the first two years of the spousal contribution, the contributing spouse pays the tax after the first two years, the receiving spouse incurs the tax implications. A spousal RRSP helps in the retirement years when withdrawals are being made because the lower income spouse is in a lower tax bracket.

You cannot deduct the interest you paid on money you borrowed to contribute to an RRSP. You cannot claim a deduction for amounts you pay for administration services for an RRSP, brokerage fees charged to buy and/or dispose of securities within a trusteed RRSP, the interest you paid on money you borrowed to contribute to an RRSP or any capital losses within your RRSP. If you are repaying the loan used in the Home Buyers Plan (HBP) or Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) you have to indicate that on your income tax return even though you receive one total amount on your RRSP statement for contributions.

If you have children under the age of 18, you are most likely eligible for child tax benefit. Reducing your income by contributing to an RRSP may result in a tax refund and may increase the amount of child tax benefit you are eligible for. Speak to your accountant to find out how you may benefit from these options. You can also visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website for more information.

407ETR hearing before the Supreme Court of Canada January 15th, 2015 Tammy Flores 407ETR Matters When I decided to form a Facebook group back in 2010 to help bring forth a voice against 407 ETR’s abuse of the Plate Denial process, I had no idea that some of the issues would be before the Supreme Court of Canada now. I made this crude video of me basically talking over a clip of me being snarled in traffic on the 401 http://goo.gl/vDXPCw Fast forward to January 15th, 2015 and you have the hearing with respect to how 407 ETR has been treating bankrupts coming before the Supreme Court of Canada. I am confident that this company will finally be held accountable for how it arrogantly has been skirting consumer protection laws.

The group “Stop the 407 ETR’s

Abuse of Power” motto has always been “it starts with you”. It has been you lending your voice to the cause that has helped effect change. Although there is still more time needed to get it right, the company has made some positive changes over the past four years, changes that would never had been made if it weren’t for you. Please continue to write your MPP and government officials to act!

There is another case before the Supreme Court involving a man from Alberta that was uninsured and involved in a motor vehicle accident. A judgment was made against him in court and according to Provincial Law in Alberta, unless he pays the claim or enters into an agreement for payment in installments, he loses his vehicle permit and license. After claiming bankruptcy and being discharged in 2011, Alberta revived his disqualification to obtain a vehicle permit and license. Lawyers for the Alberta man are arguing that Alberta’s law, that it is mandatory to revive his disqualification for a vehicle permit and license, is constitutionally inoperative by reason of the doctrine of federal paramountcy.

- Continued On Page 27

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Winter auto maintenance - A go to guide Jelani Daniel Automotive Corner Freezing temperatures can cause a number of car issues including dead batteries, salt erosion, and gas line freezing. The cold weather can also affect a cars performance so here are some easy to use tips and tricks on keeping your newly leased or bought car in tip-top shape throughout the winter and throughout the year.

Battery Power: Your battery is essential to your car running every morning before work and every evening after work. At about -20 degrees Celsius, your battery may have a delayed start or no start at all. To make sure your car is properly prepared, make sure your battery is charged before your leave for work by using a battery charging system. They are cheap, effective, and can tell you how much output you have. If the charge is low, follow the instructions and charge your battery for the next day to avoid being stranded.

Tip: Remember to have a set of jumper cables and a blanket in your trunk in case of emergency situations.

Anti-Freeze: Being sure to check up on and top-off your antifreeze is important and

should be done with every oil change. To ensure your car is safe in temperatures below the -30 degree Celsius mark, mix anti-freeze with water at a 50/50 ratio. This will protect your car throughout the winter.

Fuel Fill Up: Gasoline fuels your car, so be sure to provide your car with the care it needs by keeping your tank full, or at least half way full, to avoid your fuel line becoming frozen.

Water can be left behind from freezing weather, and such frozen water can obstruct the fuel line, leaving you with a car that won’t start.

Emergency Measures: Being sure to keep a number of different items for emergencies is key to ensuring your safety and the safety of your family. Check the list below to make sure your car is stocked with these emergency supplies: • • • • • • •

Portable battery charger Blanket Mini shovel Booster cables Kitty litter (in the event of being stuck in snow, it adds traction) First Aid Kit Brush for snow and ice

It may be a good idea to also have some nuts or dried fruit in case you have to wait for a tow truck during an emergency.

Overall, there are a number of different measures you can take to ensure your newly leased or bought vehicle is safe to drive during the winter. Taking care early can save you money in later years.

Drive safe and stay warm!

407ETR hearing Continued From Page 26 -- It’s no surprise that 407 ETR’s lawyers are drawing comparisons to this case to make their case.

I would say there is a huge difference between a traffic offense, a criminal offense and a purely consumer related transaction.

Will this company ever realize that they are just a company like any other company?

I wrote an article back in May 2014 entitled “407 ETR Fees & Interest are Not Fines” http://goo.gl/mrXADb I went on to explain the difference between Provincial offences/enforcement agencies and 407 ETR’s unique ability to deny a person’s plate for renewal. Unlike a Provincial offence that goes though the “default fine control center” and the courts, the interest and fees 407 ETR charges are NOT fines. They are interest and fees and subject to our consumer protection laws.

This company is a private, for profit company. However, we have been having a difficult time getting them to comply because the Province did not appeal a decision made in a lower court that seems to allow this company unfettered judgment in what they charge people and how they apply their collection tool, the Plate Denial process.

Out of all the submissions by the Provinces that responded to this case, The

Attorney General for Ontario’s comments seem most hopeful that the court will draw the conclusion that there is a huge difference between 407 ETR’s debt collection remedy and traffic offences that endanger the public. In this case Ontario seems to be focusing on the offense committed, driving without insurance. Their submission makes some interesting statements like “the fresh start provided by a discharge in bankruptcy was never intended to wipe away the consequences of the manner in which the bankrupt had participated in a regulated activity” and “ provisions in all other provinces’ and territories’ legislation, does not frustrate the fresh start purpose of the BIA because it imposes a license suspension as a regulatory, rather than merely as a debt-collection measure.” There is also mention of non-compliance in accordance to conditions under which a license is issued. All of these comments make it clear that there is a difference between 407 ETR’s case and this man’s case that choose to drive without insurance. 407 ETR is definitely reaching by comparing the two.

We remain hopeful that the Supreme Court of Canada will get it right and finally reign in this company once and for all.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 27

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30 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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Your Horoscope - January 14th 2015 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

While a looming pressure ceiling and an added headache are things you’d rather do without, sometimes they push the right button. That’s exactly how it works for you in the coming week. Tackle the work through Saturday and the people or the money Sunday/Monday. Venus, Mercury, and Mars help you to hit your mark well. Past Wednesday, you’re over the hump.

Whether you need to psych yourself up or you already have your sleeves rolled up, now through next Wednesday keeps you on a produc-tive track. Venus and Mercury advocate for you to try a new approach or avenue. Something you may not have considered previously could be the “it” ticket.

How will you know? It should seem like the most natural option.

Attitude is everything. With Venus and Mercury in cahoots through the next couple of weeks, you should feel well fuelled by “can do”. Both planets keep opportunity and intellectual, social, and creative stimulation going strong. Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday are great for connecting, sharing, and piecing it together. On Monday, Mars into Pisces could add or peel away an extra layer.

Are you considering creative moneymaking options? Craving something fresh and new in the intimacy department? All great ventures start with an idea and an imagination.

Where they go from there depends on how much you allow yourself to explore. Over the next couple of weeks, Venus and Mercury stimulate your interest, curiosity, and creativity. Mars in Pisces, starting Monday, begins an opportunity-flow cycle.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Talking yourself into it is often the hardest part. Once you get on task, the rest of it should prove easier to live with. A fresh infusion or challenge, or a new goal, can do wonders for body, mind, and soul. Friday/ Saturday, accomplishment comes easily.

Sunday/Monday, you may prefer to relax or let it slide, but Mars and Saturn will keep pushing you through Wednesday.

Are you up for the challenge? Venus and Mercury suggest yes, you are. Through mid next week, added patience is required.

You may not go as far or as fast while Mars squares Saturn; call it a work in progress.

Despite frustrations, you will get through what you need to. Bonus: you’ll improve your game along the way. Expect a busy week ahead.

Catch a breath and give yourself ample personal space through Saturday. Tend to health and necessary errands, no more. By Sunday/ Monday, you’ll feel refuelled and ready to resurface. Watch for Mars in Pisces to submerge you even deeper into work, studies, or a new health regimen. Optimize now for your future gain. Give your undivided all to the get-ahead program.

Keep chipping away at it and by mid next week, you should feel you’ve made it to somewhere good. Tuesday through Thursday gives you something more solid to work with. Even though Mercury will be retrograde for a good portion of it, for the next six weeks, Mars in Pisces will help you to tap your creativity and maximize on opportunity.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

When you set your mind to it, it’s amazing what you can accomplish. Through Saturday, the stars help you to make good use of your time. On Monday, you could get scattered or derailed, but if so, it’s only temporary. Tuesday onward, you should regain your footing.

Even so, Mars in Pisces will challenge you to keep both feet on solid ground.

You have places to go and things to do. Mars square Saturn keeps you especially driven through mid next week. Despite the added tension they may produce, overall it’s rolling along well, especially through Saturday.

Monday through Wednesday, there’s more to sort out. By next Thursday, you’ll be over the hump and on to a clearer, easier sail.

Venus and Mercury in Aquarius keep you on the ball. You should find you can make good inroads with folks and that in general things work in your favour. As of Monday, Mars exits your sign, but through Wednesday, he’s still on a big push. Tuesday onward, smarter not harder is the way to play it.

Even if you had no intention of getting at it, that’s probably what you’ll do. By the end of the weekend, you should have plenty to show for yourself. On Monday, dive in fresh, dive in early. Through Wednesday you’ll need to stay on top of it, but overall the stars help you use your time, smarts, and resources well.

March 20 - April 19

July 22 - August 22

November 22 - December 21

April 19 - May 20

August 22 - September 22

December 21 - January 19

May 20 - June 21

September 22 - October 23

January 19 - February 18

June 21 - July 22

October 23 - November 22

February 18 - March 19

Across 1) Contestant from District 4 4) Catching ____ 6) Katniss’ sister 7) Katniss’ mentor 9) Hunger Games contestant 10) President of Panem 12) Centre of power 13) Hunger Games venue 14) Best friend from District 12 16) Actress Jennifer 17) Peeta ____

Down 2) Author Suzanne 3) Post-apocalyptic nation 5) Poisonous berries 8) Symbolic bird 9) Katniss’ district 11) ____ Quell 15) Bow and ____

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Lets talk... Winter Tires!

Sherene Cole

CIP, CRM, CAIB, LLQP

Insurance Matters

After years of justifying that my well-treaded all season radials were good enough for the winter roads, I finally decided to invest in a set of winter tires this year.

For the money, is was a wise move and it made a world of difference in my driving experience.

When you consider that winter tires lengthen the use of our summer tires, the cost difference is not that great. A combination of snows and summers should last about 4 years on average vs just summer/all season with the same mileage, about 2 years.

The majority of Ontario drivers understand the importance of snow tires for safer driving, but only about half actually install them on their own vehicles, according to a recent survey commissioned by Centennial College’s School of Transportation.

Among just over 800 Ontario drivers surveyed online, 79% said that snow tires

create a safer winter driving experience, with 87% also understanding that all-wheel drive vehicles also require the special tires.

Still, only 53% of drivers in the province actually install snow tires, the survey suggests.

A slightly higher percentage of women install the tires (55% compared with 52% of men). That’s despite a higher percentage of women (47%) than men (28%) saying they get nervous and stressed about winter driving.

Forty percent of men also say they are confident in their winter driving skills, compared with only 16% of women surveyed.

Overall, 44% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 say winter driving makes them stressed, compared with only 31% for those 55 and older.

“The vast majority of Ontario drivers know they should use winter tires but only half do so,” Stephen Leroux, a Centennial College automotive professor commented in a statement on the survey results. “This truly is a conundrum for all road users.”

Several Ontario insurance companies now give discounts of up to 10%, if your car is equipped with winter tires from November - April of each year. Isn’t that another good reason to get them installed?

Winter tire safty tips Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada advise motorists to think about safe driving in winter.

Vehicle handling will be improved when tires of the same type, size, speed rating and load index are installed on all four wheels.

If you intend driving in severe winter conditions, install four winter tires that meet the “snow tire” designation on your vehicle. These snow tires will assist you to control your vehicle safely in slippery conditions.

Other Tires Tires marked “M + S” – or “mud and snow” tires, also known as “all-season” tires— continue to provide safe all-weather performance, but may not always be suitable for severe snow conditions.

Wide, high performance tires, other than those that are specifically designed as snow tires, are not suitable for use on snow covered roads.

What Snow Tires are Available You can contact tire dealers or manufacturers to obtain information on which models meet this new designation.

Remember: • Install four winter tires - To help maintain control and stability of your vehicle in icy conditions, Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada recommend that you install winter tires in sets of four.

• Mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction, and size degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.

• As a tire wears, snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicators have reduced traction and should not be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions.

• Proper air pressure extends tread life, improves safety, and reduces fuel consumption — all vital factors in saving energy and protecting the environment.

Tire pressure decreases as temperatures drop, so be sure to check the pressures at least once a month when the tires are cold, preferably after the car has been out all night.

- Transport Canada

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 31

32 Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Thinking about starting a business?

Colleen Lindberg Business Development It’s 2015, people are setting new goals, considering new things and maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a business this year. If you are thinking about it and ready to take action here are some things for you to consider.

Timelines are super important for the success and productivity of a business. It’s probably one of the biggest pieces that I find is lacking when people start a business. It’s not because they don’t know they should, it’s more that they don’t know how. Timelines are the foundation to the business, breaking down each task into dates and executables will create consistency but also what needs to happen and then doing it.

A few pointers, the more detailed the better. Let me give you an example… Setting

up your computer system. You will need to break it down into small tasks.

1-Purchase computer and printer 2Purchase computer software 3- Set up computer 4- Set up software for computer and printer 5- Connect printer 6- Purchase supplies for office including printer paper 7- Establish what accounting software you will use 8- Set up accounting software etc.

Do you see where I am going with this? This one task broken down will give you a more detailed and tangible outline to work with. Then you add your start date and completion date to it and who will do the task. It might be you have employees that can help, maybe you are getting into a partnership or maybe it’s just you, (then of course you won’t have to add in the names) but using this type of accountability for the processes will help you out immensely.

Yes, this task could be a tedious one and it could take hours to do, it probably will as it did for me but it will pay off, I promise.

With this timeline I also suggest putting it into categories like marketing, operations, training, software, equipment, if it’s a retail space building/design, etc. This will allow you to have it in categories and you will be able to focus on one category at a time when you are thinking of what needs to get done

allowing you to potentially not forget things.

Remember this is also a working document so it can be added to and changed at any point in time, it is not set in stone, nor should it be.

Another thing with this timeline is to create weekly timelines from this big scope.

Pull out everything you need to do this week, break it into days and then use that daily as your guide. Not only will it help you stay on track but it will help you see what has to get done today, instead of becoming overwhelmed with everything that has to get done in two months. It has been a really great tool for me and has allowed me to really get focused day to day.

Here are some other things to think about when you are starting a business. These of course will be added into your timeline: • • • • • •

Have you registered a business name?

Are you a sole proprietor or will you be incorporating?

Do you need an HST number?

Do you need a website? Social Media presence?

Business cards been ordered? Do you need any other items, letterhead, pens etc.?

How are you going to promote yourself?

•

• • • • •

If you are opening up a commercial business or retail space do you need any special licenses or permits? Do you need uniforms?

Do you need any training? Have you booked it?

Who will be your accountant? Lawyer?

Bookkeeper?

What policies will you need in place?

Health and Safety? Human Resources?

Disability?

Do you need a phone line? Internet? Interact machine?

What type of insurance will you need?

These are a few of the many things that you will have to think about being a business owner. The list gets a lot more extensive if you are moving into a building or opening up a shop outside the home. Although there is lots to do, if you organize yourself accordingly, it will go smoothly and you will be right on track. Entrepreneurship is a way of life and has a lot of perks to it. Yes it is a lot work but definitely worth it! I hope this helps you get going and moving through your idea. There is no better feeling than working for yourself and seeing that project come to life.

Ronson Professional Group I M M I G R AT I O N S P E C I A L I S T S

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