Haiti Help 011514

CARIBBEAN NEWS, EVENTS, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE & MORE ONLINE: TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM ARIBBEAN.COM • TO ADVERTISE: 647-722-6298 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 24 • WEDNESDAY,, JJANUARY AN A NUA UARY RY 15TH 2014

HAITI HELP One person can

make a difference There are only a few chosen ones on this earth that we have learned from. These prominent figures made a difference in their lifetime and their work lives on like a legacy. Such great leaders who helped steer our world in the right path are people such as: Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, Mahatma Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, and even some people who are presently living like Oprah Winfrey and Malala. People stress at times that you are only one voice crying out in the wilderness but sometimes it just takes one voice to be truly heard. You are the Charismatic leader with your crown, throne and sceptre and you have the drive, skill and ambition to achieve your overall goal of making a good difference on this earth.

My topic this week will be the country “Haiti” and what it is all about and I hope you learn how fortunate you are when finished reading the magnum opus I am about to reveal…

Read More On Page 2

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Allison Harvey on Haiti Ebony Narpatty TC Reporter

Nicolette, 20, Trinidadian who recently accomplished her diploma in Early Childhood Education and is continuing her education to become an Elementary School Teacher.

In her spare time, Nicolette enjoys volunteering at childcare centers and schools within her community. Her goal is to become a role model for the younger generation.

Continued From Page 1 -- Haiti according to Wikipedia Encyclopedia is rightfully called “The Republic of Haiti” a Caribbean country that occupies the Western smaller portion of an island of Hispaniola, in the greater Antillean archipelago which is shared with the Dominican Republic. It is considered the 3rd largest Caribbean nation with 27,750 square kilometres. The capital city is Port-au-Prince and the mother tongue spoken there is French among Haitian Creole which are considered official languages of the country. The population of Haiti is roughly 9.7 million and is the most populated CARICOM (Caribbean Community) country. Under its geography and geology it has many faults. After the earthquake in 2010, there was no evidence found that caused the surface rupture, based on seismological, geological and ground deformation data. As for Flora though, in 1925 Haiti was lush with 60% of original forestry covering its lands and mountain regions. Since then Haiti residents have cut down the estimated 98% of its original forest cover for use as fuel for cook stoves and in this process they have destroyed fertile farmland soil contributing to desertification. When it comes to the Environment of Haiti, soil erosion, deforestation has caused periodic flooding as seen last on 17th September 2004. May 2004 floods killed over 3000 people on Haiti’s Southern border with the Dominican Republic. There has been little marine, coastal and river basin management. Forests covering the steep hills surrounding Haiti’s river begins to retain its soil which in turn retains water from

the rainfall, which reduces river flooding and conserving flows in the dry season. Deforestation resulted in much of the soil being released from the upper catchments. Many of Haiti’s rivers are now highly unstable rapidly from destructive flooding to inadequate flows. Crime in Haiti has constantly been ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world on the “Corruption Perceptions Index” On the other hand, the Tourism Sector in Haiti was a popular hot spot destination for tourists in the US and Europe in the 1950’s. Even a four-star Marriot Hotel in the Turgeaue area of Port-au-Prince is in existence there. As for the Religion being practiced in Haiti, 80% of Haitians professed to be Catholics. Protestants make up about 16% of the population. Some Haitians combine their Catholicism with elements of Voodoo.

I was asked to conduct an interview for the Toronto Caribbean with Ms. Allison Harvey who shares with me her amazing story of helping Haiti. She is a one in a million who took the time and passion to engage in work to help out the homeless kids in Haiti that have been affected by the previous earthquake that occurred on January 12th 2010.

At the end of 2010, Allison Harvey was self – motivated and answered her calling cause on this earth that God has given her to help these innocent unfortunate children who suffer with poor living conditions, nothing to eat and no education in Haiti. Her big dream is “All kids in Haiti should have Access to free Education.” “Our black youths have access to education in Canada but 70% choose to be high school drop outs and become wayward in society,” Harvey claims. Allison Harvey is a born and raised Trinidadian but her ambition is to do work for Haiti which is a country in ultimate need and lacks infrastructure. She says she chose Haiti because of the devastating triumphant encounters the people are facing there and she says Trinidad is already developed and that we should focus our attention to places that truly need real development.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

What if Your Trip is Cancelled?

• By having a trip interruption/cancellation plan you can travel with peace of mind.

Many of the plans will cover you if you Olivia •should lose any of your luggage while traveling - baggage loss or damage coverBoodram age.

Contributor We have seen record temperatures dip below the freezing mark more times in the last 30 days than we have seen in last 30 years. With the ice storm, power outage, breaking trees, snow accumulation, freezing rain many Canadians (and I’m sure our neighbours in the northern States) have had enough of this winter already. Many of us would love to see more of the white stuff, by that we are talking about the sugary white, fine grains of sand on a beach.

But severe weather conditions have caused flights to be cancelled or delayed, which has consequently caused some significant upsets to some of the passengers travel/vacation plans. And besides the inconvenience of not getting to enjoy their vacation, for the full duration, there usually is some kind of financial set back to their agenda.

True story - Greg and Sandy were sitting on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson International Airport and both were anxiously awaiting their trip to San Francisco to board their cruise ship for their one month sailing trip to Hawaii, South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. But their flight was cancelled. The plane was scheduled to land in Chicago, and due to severe weather conditions at this airport, other plans had to be arranged. They immediately called the insurance company to inform them of the trip interruption, which caused them to miss the cruise ship designated sail time. Arrangements were made to fly the couple to Hawaii, and put them up in a hotel, while they waited for the ship’s arrival in five days. They were refunded the money for hotel, meals and the five days they missed being on the cruise.

All because they had - Trip Interruption/ Trip Cancellation insurance.

Here are the main benefits of taking out Trip Interruption Trip Cancellation coverage:

• Trip cancellation will cover the cost of your trip up to the insured amount if the trip is canceled due to sudden and/or unexpected reasons as defined in the policy.

• Trip Interruption will compensate you if you need to return home due to a sudden or unexpected emergency as defined in the policy.

• Coverage will protect you, should your trip be canceled due: to an act of nature, unexpected sickness, natural disaster, travel advisory, subpoena jury duty, involuntary job loss, missed connection, the nonissuance of a travel visa, injury, and/or death for you, or your travelling companion (this extends to your immediate family or your travelling companion’s immediate family) and more*.

• A trip cancellation plan is recommended for all Canadian travelers.

Here is how the process works with most of the insurance carriers to make the claim go as smoothly as possible.

Call the company as early as possible, giving them your policy number, and the details of your situation. Make sure you get the name of the person you are speaking with and also their extension number. They should now be able to give you a reference number for your case, which you will use in any of your further communications. Most of the carriers are very efficient at following up with an email or through the mail. If however you have not received any communication in at least 2 weeks then follow up with them again. But remember if you are working with a Travel Insurance Specialist they are also a good source of reference and communication on your behalf. *Review your policy for the definition and limits of the protection coverage.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

XCITE launches style and bacchanal Mash band GUYANA -XCITE, one of the newest Mashramani bands in Guyana, was officially launched in December with the objective of offering the ultimate Mash experience to masqueraders. The name speaks for itself and will provide style, vibes and bacchanal next month.

XCITE aims to explore the underlying concept of Mashramani by offering a theme of peace, love and unity.

Designer Surida Nagreadi feels that in Guyana, with its diverse richness in culture, Mashramani is the opportune time to create a costume to unite people, thus displaying a blending of ideas, talents and culture.

The costumes will also showcase Guyana’s rich tourism destinations which play an integral part in this country’s development, while showcasing skills, talents, art, drama and culture. These will be combined to provide a carnival-like atmosphere.

The group is also looking at the aspect of fashion and designing and XCITE is hoping to draw at least 100 revellers to take to the streets on Mash Day.

Those who wish to be a part of the event still have time to do so. The costumes are very affordable and were designed in such a way as to accommodate any budget.

50 PER CENT DOWN PAYMENT To further encourage participation, the group is offering a 50 per cent down payment option where masqueraders will have a certain time to clear all payments before the big day. Their displays are located at GT Courtyard on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Nagreadi said she has put together two beautiful pieces, namely Serenity and Fusion. Serenity is the Front Line section which is the VIP package, while Fusion is the Back Line section.

Both sections are inclusive of drinks, food and security. There are also optional costumes for those who do not wish to wear the main costumes.

The MASH theme for 2014 is “Love & Colour”. (Guyana Chronicle)

Portmore boundary dispute JAMAICA -- Five months after the death of Portmore mayor George Lee, residents are yet to get word on plans for his replacement.

divisions fall outside the Portmore boundary but said the ministry was working to have the matter resolved.

At the heart of the problem, the Jamaica Observer understands, is a disagreement relating to boundary rights, without the resolution of which a bi- election to elect the new mayor cannot be held.

“We are going to send a proposal to Cabinet on how to resolve the issue, as soon as the Attorney General’s Chambers provides us with feedback on the matter,” he said.

Minister of Local Government Noel Arscott said councillors and citizens of both Portmore Pines and Greater Portmore North divisions are complaining about their inability to vote on matters relating to the municipality, as they are considered part of the St Catherine Parish Council, rather than the Portmore Municipal Council.

Arscott explained that small sections of both

Acting mayor Leon Thomas confirmed that he will be running for the office.

“I have served my division well and I want to continue serving my division,” said Thomas, who is councillor for the Hellshire division.

Lee passed away in September last year, after losing a battle with bone cancer. He was the first mayor of Portmore and the country’s first directly elected mayor. (Jamaica Observer)

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Thugs extorting Money from contractors: We will stamp it out TRINIDAD -- The police and army may soon be requested on job sites as Minister of Works Surujrattan Rambachan says criminals are dishing out death threats and cutlass attacks against employees. The revelation comes just three days after gangs vandalised the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) apartments in Lisas Gardens, Couva, in an attempt to extort money from contractors.

On Thursday, residents of Annabelle Street discovered threats and derogatory graffiti painted on the walls of buildings 11 and 12. It follows the January 3 gun attack on a work crew contracted by the HDC. However, Rambachan said these gang-related crimes were not limited to one area as workers in Chaguanas, Diego Martin, Matelot and Claxton Bay are abandoning job sites in fear for their lives.

When asked if police and army would be required, Rambachan said: “We will probably have to do that but what is happening is that a lot of the workers are abandoning their jobs. They don’t want to go back to work there because they are personally being threatened and people are telling them, ‘we know where your family lives.’”

Speaking to reporters at Claxton Bay, the minister said contractors are being intimidated to pay criminals to perform no work. On one occasion the army and police

had to step in to quell a heated protest in Moruga where workers were accosted while repairing a bridge.

He said: “We continue to face this problem with people coming and stopping the works. Mr (Errol) Mc Leod referred to the Battoo Boulevard pavilion. On several occasions they came out with cutlasses and stopped the contractors and the workers. The contractor had to end up paying them to sit there and they did not do anything.

“We have faced it in the Diego Martin area: in River Estate we had a problem where someone went and sit in a contractor’s car and demanded money. Sunday, a contractor came to see me because he had to abandon a work in Enterprise, where people came and stopped the work.

“These are criminal elements who want to tax people. It is going to be combated. We’re going to stamp it out. This is not a situation that can be tolerated and the strong arm of the law will have to kick in to situations as this,” Rambachan said. While protests have been ongoing in Moruga for repairs to the La Lune Road, Rambachan said residents there were responsible for the delays as they protested against work that was being done to a bridge two weeks ago.

However, he said the entire Moruga Road is carded for reconstruction and that the first phase of work is expected to begin in

March. “Well I did send people down to La Lune and they have done the survey on what has to be done. The MP told me that some temporary relief has been brought but that is an area we have had some problems. We went there to fix a bridge, it was to repair the planks and the people protested and stopped the workers from fixing the bridge.

“I had to get the army to go out there to get the work done. This is the kind of lawlessness we have to stamp out and we are going to be dealing with that situation up in La Lune, so too the situation up in Mate-

lot. “You cannot have people willing to work in this country, even for the minimum wage, and you have people who want to tax them and not do anything in this country, it cannot be. We have to reach a situation where the law overrides everything else and those who want to work hard are supported and protected.”

Rambachan added that in making arrangement with contractors, the ministry negotiates that 20 per cent of the workforce is employed from the area where the work is being done. (Trinidad Guardian)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Guyana hailed as leader in regional fight against climate change GUYANA -- AS St Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia and Dominica continue to grapple with the devastating effects of the torrential rains that assailed the Eastern Caribbean states last month, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General, has assured that climate change will be a focus for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) moving forward.Hailing Guyana as a leader in the region, Ambassador LaRocque praised the efforts of both former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the support of current President Donald Ramotar in sending assistance to the beleaguered EC island states. He said, “Guyana continues to be supportive of the region’s approach to tackling climate change.

“Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is a key regional player; and recently, President Donald Ramotar has called for greater rallying of efforts to address the threat of climate change.”

The Secretary-General noted that climate change was, is, and will continue to

be advanced as a major focus area for CARICOM. “We need to build our resilience to withstand the shock,” LaRocque said.

He said that those who remain climate change skeptics only need to visit the Eastern Caribbean countries that are dealing with the aftermath of the devastating effects of a climatic event that hit hard during the Christmas season.

He said, “These natural events — earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and torrential rains and floods — destroy lives, property and infrastructure; but they also bring out the best in our Community — our solidarity. “…the Community is here for every member state and every CARICOM citizen, and it is here most especially in times of distress,” LaRocque said as he reiterated the importance of climate change on the CARICOM agenda. “We expect it to be a focus of the next meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.”

In the last week, President Ramotar received a delegation from the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and among issues raised by President Ramotar was Guyana’s keen interest in promoting and supporting increased action in the Caribbean region on the issue of climate change.

He indicated to the delegation that in light of the increasing and devastating impacts to the region from extreme weather events linked to climate change, Guyana would be advocating that climate change be a main item for discussion at the next session of CARIOCM Heads of Government.

The President also welcomed the recent statement made by incoming Chairman of CARICOM, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which calls for CARICOM’s prioritisation of climate change issues. He underlined the need for the region to be more vocal on climate change, and the need for a strong presence by CARICOM Heads of

Government in 2014 at two main climate change fora: the UN Secretary General’s Climate Change Summit, slated for September, on the margins of the UN General Assembly; and the Conference of Parties Meeting on the Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in Lima, Peru, in December.

President Ramotar stressed the need for the region’s negotiators to be provided with clear guidance in accordance with the region’s position on key issues. He referred to the fact that while the region has a strong position on climate change, as outlined in the Liliendaal Declaration of 2009, there is room for a strengthening of that position.

President Ramotar also made clear Guyana’s willingness to work with the CCCCC and CARICOM to support briefing sessions for the negotiators prior to major UNFCCC sessions, as well as on sharing Guyana’s experience in developing and implementing a Low Carbon Development Strategy and its REDD+ initiatives. (Guyana Chronicle)

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Local tilapia farmers to benefit from spill TRINIDAD -- While Petrotrin’s 11 oil spills continue to put hundreds of fishermen in the South out of a livelihood, one fish farming group is moving to capitalise on the devastation for the upcoming Lent. The spills, which covered the coastline and mangrove along the south-western peninsula, have put fishermen out of business since December. However, the 25 members of the Tilapia Growers’ Association will now have an oportunity to corner the market, especially with the growing demand for fish for the upcoming Lenten season.

President of the association, Gerard Weekes said the spills would give the farmers an opportunity to sell its farm-raised tilapia between March and April without facing much competition. The association rears two types of tilapia, the red and silver, which grows up to one pound in weight in less than eight months.

Weekes said “to say they (farmers) can meet an increased demand based on what is happening in the Gulf, I don’t think that will happen at this point in time. Like everything else, the situation at La Brea has taken everyone by surprise. It was not something we were prepared for.” Weekes said the farmers usually sell ten to 15 tonnes of tilapia for Lent. This year, the farmers are hoping to fetch $15 a pound for uncleaned and ungutted tilapia at stalls, supermarkets, from caterers, restaurants and hotels.

However, tilapia that have been gutted, cleaned and processed will come with a $30-a-pound price tag, Weekes said.

Weekes said their price would be far cheaper compared to the $50 to $60 a pound kingfish and carite sell for at Lent. Outside of Lent, fish lovers pay $10 per pound retail. It costs a tilapia farmer $7.50 to rear one fingerling to an adult fish. The association produces as much as 27 tonnes of tilapia yearly. They want to increase this to 90 tonnes. “Our demand far outweighs our supply.”

Weekes said the spill has prepared the farmers for a greater fish demand from now until 2015. “I think we can double our capacity. Should there be any demand on the industry for fish and it cannot be supplied by the seafood farmers, it is going to give our farmers an added incentive to increase production level. It would also give the ministry the realisation that they have to support the inland farmers to meet the protein demand.”

Of the local farmers, Gerard Weekes runs the largest tilapia farm on the island and also owns the Tech Outsource Hatchery in Cunupia. Weekes uses genetically modified tilapia which makes them better suited for industrial aquaculture, such as faster growth, disease resistance, larger muscles, and temperature tolerance. Approximately 135 tonnes of tilapia is consumed in T&T annually, but only 22 tonnes are produced locally. The rest is imported.

CHRONOLOGY OF INCIDENTS Pointe-a-Pierre, December 17: A leak was discovered on the No. 10 Sea Line at the Petrotrin Pointe-a-Pierre Port during fuel oil bunkers loading operations for the barge

Marabella.

Point Fortin, Petrotrin’s Marine Operations, December 17: A gasket on a 16” line on Riser Platform 5 in Main Field area leaked and oil spilled into the sea La Brea, 2013, December 18: Petrotrin received reports of oil at the Coffee Beach/ Carrat Shed Beach areas in La Brea, affecting the beach and fishing vessels Point Fortin, December 19: An oil leak was reported in the area of Platform 17 in Petrotrin’s Marine Operations East Field.

Rancho Quemado, Erin, December 21: Oil leak reported from Lease Operators (to Petrotrin) Trinity Exploration and Production. Two three-inch bull plugs were discovered removed from two separate wellsite production tanks resulting in approximately 100 barrels of oil being discharged into the environment.

Brighton Marine Field, December 24: Oil was reported leaking from Well Antilles Brighton Marine (ABM) 151 in the Brighton Marine Field, operated by Joint Venture Operators (with Petrotrin) Trinity Exploration and Production.

Brighton Marine Field, December 24: A second report was received that oil was leaking from a leaking conductor on well ABM 67 on Brighton Marine Platform 3.

Moruga, Hudlin Trace, Rock River Village, December 25: Residents reported oil flowing down the Marac River in Moruga and emanating from the Moruga West Joint Venture (with Petrotrin) operated by Neal and Massy Energy Resources Ltd (NMERL).

Pointe-a-Pierre, Port and Marine Facilities, December 26: It was observed that No. 15 Sea Line, during the pumping of fuel oil to a tanker, became detached from Main Viaduct and fell into the sea, resulting in a quantity of fuel oil being spilled into the sea.

Icacos, December 27: Oil spreads to Granville and Icacos. Most of the affected coastline leading to Icacos Point is treated.

La Brea, December 28: More oil flows at Station Beach and Coffee Bay, La Brea. Residents accuse Petrotrin contractors of burying oil at the river mouth. Several residents fall ill.

January 3: Environmentalists take media to a tour of the polluted mangroves at Aripero and Otaheite.

January 7: Petrotrin is fined $20 million by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

January 8: Claxton Bay Fishing Association calls for compensation because of the oil spill. (Trinidad Guardian)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

One person really can make a difference Continued From Page 2 -- Questions and Answers Q. 1. Ebony Narpatty, “So tell me about the work you do in Haiti?”

A. 1. Allison Harvey, “Well… I started off with one orphanage in Haiti i.e. my group and myself. It is called “10,000 for Haiti” and it started off small being just grassroots compared to other non – profit organisations that seek funding for kids in Haiti as well.

My mission was to supply T-shirts and a feeding program and it did happen in a 2-3 weeks period. All I wanted to do was provide the basic needs and to try as best as our group could. After that first visit and work completed in December 2010, I felt like I had to do more for Haiti so I continued my venture of helping out the kids in Haiti. I now have 8 orphanages that contribute towards helping the kids with the basic necessities: food, clothing and shelter but this is not enough.

I am urging the public from this article to come out and contribute towards the success of helping all the helpless kids in Haiti with toys and cash donations. The kids and youths that the group and I help out are not all orphans but abandoned children as well. Education is not free. This is something I see as very unfair because all Caribbean countries have access to free education but Haiti you have to pay to just gather a little education at primary school. Even though there are the big powerful NGO’s that help out Haiti, this country is overpopulated and we can use all the help we can get. The NGO’s have to pay a lot of administrative costs the reason why the charity money is not enough. 5% of the populace in Haiti is under 18 and 73% is illiterate so we have to all work together and do something to help Haiti develop at a more faster pace.

Q. 2. Ebony Narpatty. “What is a typical day like in Haiti and at one of your orphanages?”

A. 2. Allison Harvey, “A typical day is an amazing and invigorating experience I have achieved. Well the group of us involved in taking care of the kids would try to get them up for breakfast first, there is no electricity, no running water, so we have to know how to work with these conditions and food has to be prepared for these kids and other activities too. At the end of the day, the bottom line is that the kids need and want to survive.

They just have to get access to food for consumption and I feel there is a great need that a lot more can be done if everyone can contribute towards this cause. I am not asking for people to adopt a kid here that would take 3 years. I am asking them to sponsor a child at $50 a month. The kids would not want to leave their culture and their friends in their homeland and would want to stay right where they belong but they just need finance to survive. That is what my organisation “10 000 for Haiti” is about. We are an organisation that offers you to pay $50 a month so that a child can survive. With sponsoring a

child / youth for $50 this will help our organisation provide food, clothing and shelter for these vulnerable kids. These humans are desperate and are counting on you to make their cries turn into smiles.

Q. 3. Ebony Narpatty, “Describe the economy and atmosphere of Haiti and what it is made up of?”

A.3. Allison Harvey, “People are hungry and that makes angry people. One of my friends got shot and I still do not know why? I am not asking anyone to come and risk their lives in Haiti. I am asking them to make a difference through my group “10 000 for Haiti” by donating $50 a month by sponsoring a child to have access to food, clothing and education. The 8 orphanages I run take care of roughly 1500 – 2000 children but how about the so many more out there that are hungry and do not have a shelter over their heads? Can we not come together and collectively collaborate and help these kids and youths in need? There is no excuse not to help out. It costs $600 - $1000 to fly to Haiti, the reason I prefer people to contribute towards my organisation rather than to come and not feel comfortable with the living conditions here I Haiti. As for transportation, you need your own to travel here.

People will attack you like any other country because you are strange so you need a rental to go around with. The public transportation is not even proper with a TAP TAP people use to commute i.e. an old run down pick-up truck. Yes there is government political corruption, the reason for slow improvements.

As for cash, people are hired next to nothing to work under arduous work conditions. It is like the government is creating a capitalist market by enforcing cheap labour among humans here. As for the Agriculture sector, there are produce being grown and picked everyday like: bananas, breadfruit, but there is a lot of deforestation occurring. They do not replant the trees being cut down. Well it is what the government allows to happen. From the earthquake there is still a lot of rubble around but a lot has been moved away as well. Buildings are going up meaning infrastructure is on the go but there are still nasty diseases like cholera that needs to be addressed.”

Allison Harvey has established her foundation of “10 000 for Haiti” a dream that has been materialised to make a great difference on this earth, towards the desperate survival in Haiti. This is to show all my readers out there that yes, you can make a difference if you really want to. You can move a mountain by starting off solo but you need others to support your mission, your good deed, your initiative. I have the ambition to take care of issues that affect the Guyana, Berbice society such as Human Rights, Women’s Rights, High School Drop Outs, Human Trafficking, Child Pornography etc… by addressing them first then getting people to support my cause. Even though you are living in Canada now, you should not forget the

country that gave birth to you, you should do something in return. For example, do not criticise “Oh Guyana will never change?” It can change if you want to make a change and encourage others to follow up with that great new wonderful change. I do hope others out there can see the point I am trying to make and try to be like Allison Harvey, starting off with nothing and getting into something that is powerful and is a good change. After my 40 minutes interview with Ms. Harvey, I learned a lot that many different things are happening around us around the world and if we can focus at least at one country and its problems, we can strive successfully and move forward. Allison Harvey will be keeping a special event in Toronto upcoming in August 2014 and it will be called “Destination Haiti” it will be an exhibition focused on Haiti, the culture, food, arts and economy. She also was nominated recently for an award for the work she has done so far in Haiti. Her organisation is located in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince and she will be looking forward to your sponsorship. Her Official Website is: 10000toysforhaiti.com and her cell No. is 647-713-3622 where she can be contacted for future reference about the work she does towards Haiti or to sponsor a child.

What I learned from Allison and Wikipedia about Haiti, is that the deforestation caused the constant flooding and natural disasters to occur and reoccur in Haiti over the recent years, the reason why our previous president of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo won the Doctor of the Earth award and funding from Norway because he proved his point that Guyana will not cut down their rainforests but will sustain a green environment to contribute towards Carbon dioxide and living in a safe, green and healthy environment. It is the trees and the green environment that has helped Guyana from future high tide flooding the reason we are so determined strongly to preserve our green environments and support Climate Change. As for the religious beliefs of Haitians, someone once told me, maybe they should turn over themselves fully to God and stop worshipping evil spirits which is the act of voodoo, so that they can be cleansed and lead a better life and they will become progressive in doing so. I believe people should thank the good Lord for providing so much for them that the food, clothes, shelter, family and education they have, they disregard them as important but should take the opportunity to honor how better off they are in life rather than to be a victim of circumstances. Go sponsor those kids! Make a difference today! Go make a change on this earth! It takes only one human being to make a great difference. Do something for your country, don’t be ungrateful or ashamed of your mother country. Or just do something great for a country you are fond of that is in need for development. There is always room for improvements. Good luck on your next mission my readers. Until next time… Take care and focus on doing good deeds on this earth for the New Year 2014!

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Several homeless after early morning fire GUYANA -- Several persons were rendered homeless early Saturday morning after fire completely destroyed a two-flat house and severely damaged a three-storied property in which several persons lived. Up to late last evening the Guyana Fire Service could not give a confirmed report about the cause of the fire since the investigations are still ongoing.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the fire started at approximately 02:30 hrs at Lot 9, Charles Street Charlestown, Georgetown. No one could say what really caused the fire although there were speculations that the fire might have been electrical in origin.

One occupant of the house reported to this newspaper Saturday morning, that he was at home when he heard someone raising an alarm that there was a fire and immediately everyone began to scatter as they scrambled what they could have.

While no one was injured as a result of the fire, four children are among the homeless even as residents of the area claimed that they

heard sparks minutes before the fire.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area at dayclean, Saturday morning, persons were still effecting clearing of debris and other unwanted materials left lying around after the fire. The response of the Guyana Fire Service was praised while others accused them engagm of eng ngag aging in looting. One occupant of one of thee hhouses ousess related too that by the time the fire service arrived vicce arri riv ved the other building had already begun ca catching. atch hing. g.

Meanwhile, Saturday, the Gu Guyana Fire uyaanaa F ire ir Service came in for some really harsh w words orrds aafter fte ter persons alleged that firemen entered the room he ro oom tto o battle the blaze and carted off items w which were hiich w ere not suppose to be removed from the home. ome.

The property was one that house housed ed sseveveral rooms for which persons paid indi individual ivid dual rental. They said that their rent monies were oniees w ere removed, passports missing, and several verrall oother ther items.

Efforts to get a response from Guyana om G uyana Fire Chief Marlon Gentle proved futile. e. ((Guyana Guyana Chronicle)

Man shot near doubles stand TRINIDAD -- A 47-year-old Arima man is fighting for his life after being shot near his home Sunday. According to reports, around 9.45 am, Sheldon Isaac, of Savannah Road, Peytonville, Arima, went to purchase doubles from a group of vendors at the corner of Spancrete Boulevard and O’Meara Road, Arima. Eyewitnesses told police when Issac was returning to his green Toyota Corolla, which was parked nearby, he was confronted by a gunman.

The gunman drew a gun and shot Isaac

several times in his chest, head and right arm.

As Isaac collapsed next to his car, the gunman ran away. Northern Division Police led by Sgts Toorie and Katwaroo arrived on the scene within minutes and took Isaac to the Arima Health Facility. Isaac was then transfered to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where he remained warded in a critical condition, up to late Sunday. Police arrested a man fitting the description of the suspect near the scene.

(Trinidad Guardian)

Fewer drunk drivers last Christmas — police JAMAICA -- Head of the police traffic division Deputy Superintendent Gary McKenzie says there were significant gains made during the Yuletide season with relation to road safety, despite the fact that road fatalities for the year went over the 300 mark.

“What we have been able to achieve over the holiday period was really significant.

We did not actually meet our target as we had planned to hold fatal crashes below 300, but ended the year at 305. However, what I can say is that for the month of December we really put out a lot of effort and in relation to the traffic band policy it would appear that persons were much more responsible as it relates to drinking and driving with alcohol,” McKenzie told the Jamaica Observer Wednesday.

The police, in partnership with the National Road Safety Council, had indicated that it would be ensuring that the Police Traffic Band policy was fully active over the holiday season.

The policy, which is put into operation between midnight and 8:00 am, allows the police to stop anyone they suspect of driving under the influence and adminster breathalyser tests.

“We were able to carry out a large number of tests, [numbering] close to 1,000 for the holiday period and we had about six positive

tests. That was significant; I think persons heeded the call for driving without alcohol on their breath,” DSP McKenzie said.

“I must say we are very grateful, especially to those who were advertising entertainment events. We heard where persons were advised to drink responsibly, which is something the police is very grateful for,” he added.

In the meantime, he said there was a “slowing down of the crashes going towards the end of December, which was a good sign”. Up to last Wednesday, he said there had been a reduction in the number of crashes, in comparison to the same period last year. It is a trend the police are hoping will continue.

Meanwhile, McKenzie said the traffic police will continue to maintain their high visibility on the roads, which he said forces motorists to be more careful. He said the recent addition of a number of motor cars to the division’s fleet has been helpful.

“For example, we have patrol cars along the route from Papine to Half-Way-Tree, from Constant Spring to Half-Way-Tree, from Cross Roads to Half-Way-Tree, in Three Miles, from Dunrobin to Ferry, along Marcus Garvey Drive, and other arterial roads,” McKenzie said.

(Jamaica Observer)

14 Wednesday, January 15, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Investors chased away, young professionals targeted, development undermined GUYANA -- Between the A People’s Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), there is a collective effort to rid Guyana of all its human and financial resources.

This has become even clearer with recent events that are unfolding before the public.So far we have seen the Joint Opposition’s consorted effort to chase away investors from Guyana. In less than six months two major international investors, Muri Brasil Ventures and Blackstone Group which pulled out of the Amaila Project, were forced to walk away from doing business in Guyana as a direct result of Opposition hostility.

As if chasing away investors is not enough to satisfy their lust for power afforded by their one seat majority, they now move to attack and ultimately chase our human resources: our young qualified professionals working in Government.

Just months ago the AFC waged a campaign to discredit the head of the Guyana Energy Agency, Mahender Sharma, son of CN Sharma. Now APNU’s Joe Harmon is copying from his AFC’s friend playbook, by doing the same thing to Alexei Ramotar and the project he leads. It is not by coincidence that Harmon and his party chose to publicly question the merit of Mr. Ramotar. This was strategically done because Alexei Ramotar is the son of President Donald Ramotar. Alexei Ramotar was hired in 2010, prior to his father’s run for Presidential Office and was deemed the most qualified for the job at that time. Sunday he remains one of Guyana’s most qualified in his field, with a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, over a decade of work experience where he led numerous projects in his field, and several academic awards

and publications.

APNU has called on government to provide jobs for young people and to utilize Guyana’s local human resources. But when young professionals return to work for government in a field of expertise that is sought after internationally and are not paid at a competitive rate they otherwise would receive in developed countries, they are attacked and demoralised by the opposition.

Therefore, at a time where there is a high global demand for skilled personnel, politicians and policy makers alike, should support and encourage young professionals to remain and contribute to Guyana’s development and not attack them and render them collateral damage of personal political vendetta .

How can Guyana attract qualified skilled personnel to stay when they are vilified, much the same like international investors, by the Opposition?

The AFC and the APNU has made every effort to stagnate the development of Guyana for their personal political gains via their one seat Parliamentary majority. In addition to chasing and vilifying investors and qualified young professionals, the Joint Parliamentary Opposition has gone as far as to ensure Guyana is now internationally blacklisted by international financial institutions by their non- support for the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. These resentful and vindictive acts by the AFC and APNU are clear indicators that they have no intention to foster financial, professional or investor credibility for Guyana, and similarly have no intention of doing what is best for the good of this nation. (Guyana Chronicle)

Dredging studies ready JAMAICA -The technical studies for the dredging of the Kingston Harbour have been completed, according to chairman of the Logistics and Investment Task Force in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr Eric Deans.

The studies, which were completed in December, will form part of activities to determine, among other things, how much dredging of the area will be required.

“They are now...doing the data analysis to see exactly how much dredging and what type of material is there...,” Dr Deans said at a Think Tank held at the Jamaica Information Service headquarters in Kingston on Thursday.

He informed that the bidders for the project have already been pre-qualified, and that Cabinet is in the process of reviewing the pre-qualification documents. He said that once that review process is completed, then the contract should be awarded for work to get under way.

“The dredging process takes

only six months so if we award the contract in March, it will be finished before the end of the year,” he pointed out.

The dredging of the Kingston Harbour and expansion of the port facilities form part of a package of investment projects aimed at developing the country’s shipping and logistics hub industry.

Other projects include establishing a dry dock facility at Jackson Bay, Clarendon, and a bunkering facility at Cow Bay in Yallahs, St Thomas; construction of a cargo and maintenance, repair and operations facility at Vernamfield, Clarendon; and the development of the Caymanas Economic Zone.

The development of the hub will position Jamaica as a major logistics point that will be able to benefit from increased trade activities through the Caribbean as a result of the expansion of the Panama Canal.

When achieved, it will position Jamaica to become the fourth node in the global logistics chain.(Jamaica Observer)

16 Wednesday, January 15, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Tino Best laments lack of big hitters TRINIDAD -- West Indies fast bowler Tino Best believes that West Indies are on course to defending their World T20 title in March in Bangladesh despite their current up and down performances in New Zealand and their recent losses in India.

Best said the current group in New Zealand was not a full strength West Indies team but the Caribbean was likely to be back to its best players for the defence of its title.

He said the weakened squad had made the New Zealand tour much tougher.

He noted that the absence of their big hitters, due to injuries, impacted the West Indies performance “I can tell you, if our key players were here like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Smith, it would be a whole different ballgame. When we played them (New Zealand) in the Caribbean with our full-strength team, they didn’t turn up but here, we’re in their backyard and a bit weakened. But we’ve still got a good team spirit going so we have to keep fighting. The guys feel very very positive,” Best said.

Best picked up 3 for 40 from his

four overs in a huge West Indies loss by 81 runs in the first T20 on Saturday. New Zealand made 189 and West Indies replied with 108.

Asked if the disappointing tour was getting to the West Indies players, Best said, “International cricket is hard so you’ll be a bit chirpy. It’s a gentleman’s game, yes, but in T20 cricket, you get more fired up (as a bowler) as guys will play extraordinary shots off you. So you just want to give them a twerp to let them know that you’re still bowling hard and to show some respect. But it’s all good out there.”

Best said New Zealand played well. “I thought New Zealand played well.

They played to their strengths so all credit to them,” he said. “I think that in our situation right now, we don’t have all our big hitters.

In T20s, you need all your six hitters. But we have one more game to go and can level the series there.”

West Indies need to win the second game in Wellington on Wednesday to square the series. (Trinidad Guardian)

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18 Wednesday, January 15, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Caribbean Pot: How to make Kurma (known as Mithai in Guyana) Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking Kurma is one of those snacks I fondly recall buying with my daily school allowance at recess and at lunch break as it was not something regularly made at home and which kid does not like sweets? Mind-you, come Divali time, mom’s cousin who was a Hindu would always invite us to her home to celebrate with her family where she would prepare an assortment of desserts and snacks along with a ton of curry dishes (good times). Yea, I live for these occasions as she would make some of the best Kurma I’ve ever had.

You’ll Need: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoon butter 1 cup evaporated milk pinch salt

1 1/2 cups sugar (white) 1/2 cup water thick slice of ginger 1/2 cinnamon stick Veg oil for frying. (about 2-3 cups) We’ve got to make the dough so it can rest for a few minutes before we get to making the actual kurma… so in a bowl place the flour, pinch of salt and butter and work with your fingers. It will get like little pebbles. Now start adding the evaporated milk..start with 1/2 and add as needed. Knead until you have a smooth dough ball.

Add milk as needed.

Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel and allow to rest for about 15 minutes. The following step is my moms way of making it easier to cut the individual kurma and not necessarily the traditional way. The traditional way would be to simply roll out and cut…fry!

Dust your surface with flour and roll out the dough ball into a large circle.. the size of your tawa (a griddle or non stick frying pan will also work). Heat the tawa on a medium flame, then place the rolled out dough (about 1/4 inch thick) on it, leave for 10 seconds, flip and cook another 10 seconds. You ONLY looking for the dough to set a bit.

Place the now slightly firm rolled out dough onto your cutting board and cut into strips about 1/2 inch thick and about 3 inches long.

As you do so, heat your vegetable oil (medium flame) in a wide pan (we used a small Wok) so when we fry the kurma there won’t be oil spilling over the high edges onto the stove.

Have a large metal bowl handy! Now gently place the cut kurma into the heated oil and cook (flip around) until they are golden brown.

Takes about 2-4 minutes. Drain and place them immediately into the metal bowl. Remember the metal bowl will heat as you add the fried kurma to it, so handle with care.

In a sauce pan place the water, sugar, cinnamon and ginger over a medium flame and bring to a boil. Allow this to reduce until it thickens up. You’re looking for a thick syrup con-

sistency (coat the back of a spoon). Now pour this liquid over the fried kurma and mix fast and well. The goal is to coat all the fried kurma with this heavenly syrup. It will cool fast, so this step needs quick action. Remember what I said earlier about the metal bowl getting hot to handle.

Remove the ginger and cinnamon stick and get ready to enjoy!

The melted sugar will give the kurma a sort of frosting as it cools, so do keep that in mind when serving these to your kids (no need for a sugar rush/overload). Store in a air tight container to maintain it’s freshness.. can store for about 5-7 days.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014 19

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Pranayama and headaches Geeta Maraj Yoga Headaches can be diminished through breathing techniques known in yoga as ‘pranayama’. This is a Sanskrit word consisting of ‘prana’ which means ‘breath’ and ‘yama’ which translates to ‘length or expansion’. As such, pranayama refers to the extension and control of the breath.

When the body is stressed, it begins to give us signs – like tension of the facial muscles, a feeling of being drained, both mentally and physically. However, we rarely focus on these initial hints of the body as it begins to harbor stress. It is this mental and physical fatigue which reveals itself as various forms of tension headaches. Only when we feel totally incapacitated by this discomfort, do we seek to find a remedy. Prevention is better than cure, however, and through a basic yoga routine, tension and migraine headaches can become easily avoidable.

In order to diminish headaches through yoga, we must first be aware of the intricate and fragile balance of the body, the mind and the spirit. Any change in this balance is immediately noticed in the pattern of our breathing. Once we understand the complex balance

of our mind and body to our breathing, then, we can slowly sense the silent language of the body as it begins to feel tension.

When the mind is disturbed, the breath gets affected, and once we breathe incorrectly, our body becomes stressed. It is this imbalance between the breath, mind and body which creates tension and vascular headaches.

While the yogic breathing, pranayama, can help to prevent and alleviate headaches, it is necessary to understand firstly, how to breathe correctly. Hardly are we aware that we rarely breathe properly. The majority of time, we tend to shallow breathe, permitting very little oxygen to enter the lungs. Equally, we rarely exhale completely, thus, leaving stale, stagnant air at the bottom of our lungs. Given the poor air quality we are already exposed to, combined with poor breathing habits, we gradually build stress in our body which, often is reflected as tension and migraine headaches.

In order to begin breathing correctly, we need to pay attention to the movement of our body as we breathe. It is the physical movement of the body upon each breath that is most important in mastering correct breathing rhythm.

To breathe with correct rhythm of the body: When we inhale our chest should rise and our abdomen should extend. Similarly, upon exhaling, our abdomen should contract and our chest should fall. Once this body rhythm is mastered, we can then start to practice balancing our breath.

that our in-breath and out-breath must be for the same duration of time. That is, the length of time one inhales must be the same as the length of time one takes to exhale. So for instance, if you inhale to the count of five seconds, then you must exhale for five seconds. Once we are able to balance our in-breath and out-breath, then we are able to control the time it takes to breathe a cycle of breath.

Timing our balanced breath: The length of time it takes to inhale a breath tells the level of stress the body feels. It is for this reason when someone is agitated they tend to breathe very rapidly. Similarly, when someone is at peace, they tend to breathe very slowly. You can start timing your breathing by inhaling for 3 seconds and exhaling for the same length of time. Once you are comfortable breathing evenly for 3 seconds, then you can increase the time by adding an additional second to your breath. Gradually the aim is to accomplish a 30 seconds timing of in-breath and out-breath.

When you are able to control the length of time you inhale to 30 seconds and exhale for 30 seconds, it means you are breathing a single cycle of breath per minute. This comes with time and practice at strengthening the lungs. However, once this is accomplished, it becomes an easy task at controlling your emotions and stress, thereby, preventing headaches from ever becoming an impediment to your day. In addition, pranayama not only helps to control headaches, but by mastering this type of breathing, you equally can reduce the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Balanced breathing: A balanced breath means

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Banana diet gives woman better mental clarity, improves her overall health When Yulia Tarbath decided that she needed to give her health a boost, she went to banana island. However, this island wasn’t the kind that most people imagine, brimming with beachside hammocks and drinks with cute umbrellas. Rather, “banana island” is a term commonly used to describe the consumption of only one fruit, and no other foods, for a determined length of time. Also known as “mono-fruiting,” it’s touted by many as a method to detox their way to significantly better health.

Tarbath, who enjoys a high-fruit and low-fat raw vegan lifestyle with her husband, says that any fruit can be used, but bananas are often selected for their ease of eating, nutritional content and affordable cost.

Furthermore, she says greens may be added, but suggests also going mono by using only one kind of green such as celery. By following a banana-only diet for 12 days, drinking plenty of water and getting rest and exercise, she saw vast improvements in her physical and emotional well-being.

The benefits of a mono-fruit diet First, she was aware that her digestion was better and free of any complications. In fact, she didn’t even experience any detox symptoms at all! Bananas, which are fiber-rich (one has about 12% of the FDA’s recommended daily value of 25 g), are known for their ability to aid in digestion by regulating electrolytes and flushing toxins from the body.

Secondly, she says she felt “calm and peaceful” and “a lot more creative” while enjoying her banana diet. “I experienced tremendous mental clarity and focus,” Tarbath says, adding that it was as if “extra time” was given to her. Bananas’ levels of potassium and tryptophan are responsible for this feeling, helping with cell communication and maintaining proper oxygen levels in the brain.

With the ability to accomplish more through this heightened focus and increased energy, she explains how she even beat her personal best fitness records.

As if all of this wasn’t amazing enough, her skin became softer and shinier.

Eating raw foods and enjoying occasional mono-fruiting has allowed Tarbath to live life to the fullest. Once struggling with candida, hypoglycemia, bad food cravings and severe mood swings, she now finds herself free of such complications, attributing her raw food lifestyle as the reason behind her gradual healing.

She and her husband are now Natural Health and Holistic Nutrition Practitioners, traveling the world to attend raw food festivals and outings. There, they meet with other health-conscious people to share ideas and personal healing stories and reinforce the importance of a healthy diet. Based on their success and enjoyment of this lifestyle, the two created a web site, Rawsomehealthy. com, which outlines the beneficial ways that eating fruits and vegetables can keep people healthy, focused and full of energy. (NaturalNews)

Take control of your life: Donʼt eat Cancer In the United States, cancer statistically now strikes half of all men, and a third of all women. Those tough odds are compounded by the odds of surviving that cancer. Why is this happening, and what factors can improve our chances?

The rise of diseases now typical of Western society has coincided oddly enough with the industrialization of the modern diet - food allergies, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, GERD, peptic ulcers, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, diabetes, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome... and ultimately cancer. How does our food supply contribute to this common thread of illness, debilitation and early death?

The answer is staring us in the face - chemicals!

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which most Americans believe is in place to protect our food and guard our health, has instead allowed more than 70,000 chemicals to infiltrate our food supply. Many of these dangerous ingredients are outright toxins, and until we stop eating them, we are poisoning ourselves, undermining our health and allowing cancer to enter our bodies.

Author Sean David Cohen cuts through the myriad symptoms and the labyrinth of technical information in the medical and academic literature to give readers an easily digestible guide to the harmful additives lurking in our food - so you can stop eating them!

In simple language and colorful illustrations, Don’t Eat Cancer provides prudent advice that you can put to use immediately to identify toxic ingredients hiding in processed foods, beverages, gums, candy and even cosmetics and cigarettes that are weakening your body and inviting in cancer every time they are consumed.

Learn how to read labels, and then clean out your pantry and clean up your life so you can avoid adulterated additives and stop eating cancer - that is, stop putting harmful foods into your body that are only contributing to illness and early death.

Instead, you could teach yourself to steer clear of the most dangerous ingredients and start living a revitalized life with a rich, toxin-free diet! Protect yourself, improve your health and boost your energy, armed with straightforward information about “what cancer is, where it comes from, and how to impede its development.”

The importance of this information is all about the health and wellness of

the end user, so it is designed as the ultimate layman’s guide - with very user-friendly language that clues you in on the most important FDA-approved poisons you and your family have likely never even heard of.

Stop guessing how to “eat healthy” and start avoiding the chemicals that are known to disrupt normal cell behavior and ultimately bring down your immune system.

Whether you know it or not, eating “just a little bit” of these ingredients every day is accumulating a toxic result.

Don’t Eat Cancer will teach you how not to be a victim in the kitchen, the grocery store, restaurants and more.

According to author Sean David Cohen, it is time to change the way that we look at cancer, as well as how to cure it: “View it as a disciplined, active prevention plan, and the cure will follow. Even if you already have cancer, if you stop pouring in the poisons, your own good cells will have a much better chance of fighting and surviving the bad ones. It’s common sense.”

“There are enough chemicals in common products to easily end your life in the next 10 to 20 years,” Cohen writes.

So there is no time to waste in getting up to speed in how to protect your body from the daily chemical invasion, and stopping eating cancer already. (NaturalNews)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014 21

22 Wednesday, January 15, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

A ʻjuicingʼ a day keeps the doctor away One of the best things to do for health is daily juicing of organic vegetables and fruits. The initial investment in a juicer will pay off in daily detoxification and supplying the body with healthy antioxidants and nutrients. Several health experts recommend juicing as an important part of a healthy lifestyle, along with its curative powers to heal various diseases.

Juicing provides a safe way to help remove dangerous heavy metals from the body, which are hard to completely avoid in today’s toxic world. Health advocates have their favorite juicing recipes, but a practical, easy key is to use vegetable and fruit combinations that taste good enough to enjoy daily.

Health advocates agree on juicing benefits While holistic dietary approaches vary, between raw primal, nutrient-dense Weston Price, Paleo, vegetarian and others, nearly every dietary philosophy agrees on the health benefits of vegetable juicing. Some experts advise limiting the use of fruits due to the sugar content, but vegetable juicing is almost universally recommended.

Which expert recommends juicing?

Physician Max Gerson developed his “Gerson therapy” in the 1930s originally to cure himself from debilitating migraines. He later found that his treatment also cured skin tuberculosis, diabetes and cancer. His famous therapy was focused on the consumption of organic vegetable and fruit juices. The current Gerson therapy includes the consumption of up to 13 daily glasses of raw juices using carrots, apples and greens, along with three cooked vegetarian meals.

Dr. Natasha Campbell, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome, recommends juicing as part of her dietary protocol to heal and detoxify those suffering from a range of illnesses including autism, ADD, depression and schizophrenia.

Authors Jordan Rubin, creator of Garden of Life raw food supplements, and Joseph Brasco, an integrative gastroenterologist, recommend juicing as part of their healing regimen for intestinal diseases. Because the vegetables are broken down, digestion and

absorption of the nutrients occur more easily, something critical for someone suffering from digestive health issues.

Renowned neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock recommends consuming vegetable juice but prefers juicing with a blender to optimize the amounts of phytochemicals preserved in the fresh juice. Phytochemicals are nutrients that have disease-preventive properties. There are hundreds of these nutrients in fresh food, primarily fruits and vegetables.

The health benefits Juicing provides antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and nutrients. Antioxidants protect the body from cellular damage caused by free radicals. Fresh juicing provides healthy, intact enzymes essential for digestion, plus a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients.

Tips for juicing Although large quantities would need to be ingested to cause serious harm, it is advised to avoid apple seeds and rhubarb leaves. Apple seeds contain the poison cyanide, and the

leaves of rhubarb are also considered toxic.

Both are best avoided. Onions may be juiced and are considered healthy, but small quantities are suggested due to its strong flavor.

For optimal benefits, one should consume juice immediately. If that is not possible, juice should be refrigerated and consumed within 24 hours, as nutrients are lost with time.

Favorite vegetables and fruits used Carrots are a cornerstone for most juicing recipes. Other vegetables commonly used are greens, including kale and spinach, beets, celery and broccoli. Fruits popular for juicing include oranges and apples, with orange skins removed. Beet leaves and other vegetable leaves can be included.

Many other combinations can be tried, depending on taste preference and goals desired. The most important thing to do is get in the habit of daily, delicious juicing. While an apple a day is still a useful adage, a “juicing a day” can provide an even more powerful punch of daily nutrient density. (NaturalNews)

Five traditional foods that everyone should be eating for exceptional health Oftentimes, the most simple solution to avoiding health problems can be found in the past - namely, time-honored foods that are rooted in tradition and wisdom. Longestablished cultures, through observation and a close connection with the land and its people, developed exceptionally nourishing food staples. A modern revival of these most basic, yet remarkable, foods is on the upswing - with the following five edibles leading the way.

Traditional fare for outstanding vitality Fermented cod liver oil - Scandinavian vikings had drums of cod livers fermenting by the doors of their homes. Likewise, Roman soldiers used cod liver oil daily. Historically, the oil was used to keep populations strong and disease-free. Unknown at the time, fermented cod liver oil contained substantial levels of naturally occurring vitamins A and D. Unfortunately, modern processing strips these valuable nutrients, which then requires

“enriching” the final oil with synthetic vitamins. Low-temperature fermentation of cod liver bypasses this issue and retains all the healthy perks of the natural oil, including heightened immunity and protection against Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, inflammation, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Kefir - Long-used in the Caucasus Mountain region of Eastern Europe, kefir employs between 10 and 20 varieties of bacteria and yeast during culturing, thereby creating a richer probiotic profile than yogurt, which only utilizes a few strains. Moreover, kefir supplies generous amounts of calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins and protein. It’s also a significant source of tryptophan (think relaxation and sound sleep) as well as kefiran, which has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure in test animals. Instructions for making your own kefir can be found here.

Bone broth - The age-old custom of eating

chicken soup for curing a cold isn’t simply a wives’ tale; traditional cultures sensed the healing wisdom behind the practice. Brimming with essential nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, along with collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, slow-simmered bone broth is an important addition to a healthful diet. It alleviates inflammation, heals a leaky gut and fortifies against bacterial and viral infections. Bone broth also strengthens the teeth, joints, bones, skin and hair. Just be sure to use only pastured, grassfed animals, or wild game, to avoid toxins. If you would like to reap the benefits of bone broth, have a look at this straightforward recipe.

Beet kvass - A deeply cleansing brew, with an exceptional antioxidant profile, beet kvass may not be well-known, but it’s certainly a potent tonic for health. Kvass is said to soothe systemic inflammation (which effectively reduces the risk of diabetes, cancer

and cardiovascular disease), boost immunity and enhance digestion. Simple steps for making beet kvass at home can be found here.

Sourdough - Up until the development of commercial baking yeast in the 1850s, all bread was fermented with naturally occurring yeasts found in the air and on the surface of grains. With modern bread making, we have sacrificed well-being for convenience leading to a sharp rise in gluten intolerance and digestive disorders, while tooth and bone issues are becoming far too common. A classically prepared sourdough can help alleviate these problems and more. Through a long fermentation process, lactic acid builds, which helps mitigate phytates - troublesome elements found in grains, nuts and seeds that block nutrient absorption. And research in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that, when wheat bread is thoroughly fermented, gluten content drops to 12 ppm - a level which is deemed gluten-free. (NaturalNews)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Healthy habits Monique Bartlett Fitness How do you make a positive impact on your health? Start with small changes. By adopting a few simple, healthy daily habits you will feel better. Make sure you find the time to squeeze them into your daily routine.

Believe it or not caffeine may improve your memory and protect against Alzheimer’s disease. As caffeine consumption increases, incidence of Alzheimer’s disease

seems to decrease. Caffeine seems to blocks adenosine receptors (“activators”) in the brain, and adenosine is known to slow cognition and affect memory. Caffeine also seems to increase focus and concentration, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. It’s also beneficial in increasing your metabolism and helping to keep your weight in check.

Just don’t have too much caffeine. Caffeine overload may result in jitters, a headache or a stomachache.

Find someone who motivates you and puts a smile on your face. Being happy, laughing and smiling helps to release endorphins, which not only make you feel better but also are beneficial to your overall health.

Not only will it be beneficial to you, it may also be beneficial to your friend as well.

Stretching before bedtime can actually help you have a better sleep. Besides improving flexibility and circulation, stretching can help your body to release stress and ten-

sion from a long day. Yoga is a great exercise to implement, which will also increase your balance and strength. Relaxing your body with yoga or stretching can also help relax your brain. This healthy habit is an important part of a healthy sleep routine.

Too many people engage in stimulating practices before bed, like watching TV, doing chores and surfing the net. All of these do not promote a good night’s sleep.

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night will make a huge change in your quest for overall health. A proper amount of sleep will help improve your immune system and concentration.

Making your own well being a priority doesn’t take much time, and it doesn’t mean you have to take time away from your friends and family. Adopting healthy habits like these also sets a good example for others, showing them that sometimes life really is all about the little things.

10 easy changes you can make to eat healthier get hungry again now is the time to eat more.

Dr. Lydia Thurton ND BASc

Health Tips Holidays are officially over and we are all back to work. Although the average person only gains one pound over the winter break, many people strengthen their resolve to get their eating habits back on track. So this weekend, I’d like to present you with 10 easy things you can do to improve your nutrition 1) Cook more food than you need at dinner.

By cooking extras at dinner it makes for easy lunches the next day that do not involve take out. Cooking extra protein can be added to a salad or be substituted for not-so-healthy sandwich meats.

2) Stop eating just before you need to unbutton your pants. I know your mother told you to eat everything on your plate, but portion sizes, especially restaurant meals, have gone up drastically. And so has our waistbands.

Eat until you are full, but be conscious of when you are over eating and take a break.

The food is not going anywhere and if you

3) Switch your snacks from carbohydrate rich to protein rich foods. Snacking on protein keeps you full longer and stabilizes your blood sugar. Instead of crackers or chips eat a seasoned chicken breast from your dinner last night. Greek yogurt, a can of flavored tuna or a bean salad are other high protein ideas.

4) Stop making food the centre of your social life. If dinners and drinks out are the main ways you socialize with your friends, try a new activity. Doing some window shopping, going to a Toronto Raptors game, ping pong, or bowling. Do something active. Alternatively, a pot luck of home cooked healthy foods will avoid the high calorie costs of restaurant meals.

5) Follow an 80/20 rule. Generally, it is fine to have cake at a birthday party and those types of social events. You do not have to be perfect. 80% of the time, aim for home cooked whole foods and then the other 20% you can enjoy more indulgent foods, especially in a social setting.

6) Get a naturopathic doctor to test your food sensitivities. Frequently, people eat foods that are not suitable for their body and this can lead to problems from weight gain to acne. Figuring out what individual foods

are not right for you helps you focus on the foods that your body does like.

7) Shop smart. Going to the grocery store when you’re hungry and tired is a sure fire way to end up with a cart of Oreos and Cheetos. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store and stock up on fresh produce. What you bring home, will be what you eat, so make wise choices. If you really want that chocolate bar, walk to your corner store to buy it.

8) As a continuation to point seven, shop at farmers markets. Getting local produce at great prices and supporting our local Ontario farmers is an excellent way to eat seasonally and ensure fresh food.

9) Get your sleep on track. I know this is an article about nutrition, but when people are overtired they make poor food choices and tend to opt for sugary snacks and quick fast food meals. A naturopathic doctor can help you.

10) Try not to drink your calories. Dilute your juice, opt for water whenever possible.

Brew a large pot of green or herbal tea and pour it in a juice jug and keep it in the fridge.

People can lose serious pounds by changing pop and juice to water and herbal teas.

Hope this helps! Happy New Year to our readers!

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Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) Stephen Mohammed Finance March 3rd, 2014 is the deadline for contributing to an RRSP for the 2013 tax year.

The allowable RRSP deduction is eighteen percent of your prior year’s earned income.

The maximum RRSP contribution limit for 2014 is $24,270 which has increased from $23,820 in 2013. However, if you have not used all of your RRSP contribution limit from previous the years from 1991 to 2013, you can carry forward the unused amount to 2014. 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 over contribute a cumulative lifetime total of $2,000 to your RRSP without incurring a penalty tax.

An over contribution 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. Over contributions may be deducted in the subsequent year when your actual RRSP contribution is less than the maximum allowed. A penalty tax of one percent per month applies to the amount of any over contribution 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.

Canadian Experience Class If you have work experience in Canada, either as a temporary foreign worker or through work permit options available to graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions, you could qualify for permanent resident status in Canada.

There is an immigration category designed for people in these circumstances.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) recognizes that you may already have the knowledge, skills and experience you need to succeed in Canada. The CEC allows temporary foreign workers and foreign students who meet certain requirements to apply to stay in Canada permanently. The CEC is a unique program as your experience in Canada is a key selection factor when you apply for permanent residence.

To apply for permanent resident status through the CEC, individuals must be

temporary foreign workers with at least two years of eligible work experience in Canada or, alternatively, must have graduated from an eligible post-secondary program in Canada with at least one year of eligible work experience after graduation.

In addition, they must also be able to communicate in one of Canada’s two official languages, although the required level of ability in English or French will vary depending on the type of work. For example, the language requirements for managerial and professional occupations are higher than the requirements for applicants who have been working in a technical occupation or in a skilled trade. More information about specific language requirements can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website. (CIC)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

What to do if you are in plate denial & went bankrupt Tammy Flores 407ETR Matters Last week you’ll recall we informed you on an exciting decision made by the Appeal Court of Ontario. 407ETR is not exempt from the Bankruptcy Insolvency Act. This means the Ministry of Transportation is to release people who have claimed bankruptcy with a 407ETR debt from Plate Denial.

Members of the group, Stop the 407ETR’s Abuse of Power, that had been in Plate Denial, although having had claimed bankruptcy, have had mixed responses on how to go about getting their plates reinstated.

One member of the group, Tracey, wrote 407ETR requesting that they reinstate

her plate and got the following response from Marion Richardson, Personal Bankruptcy Rep., and Collections Department for 407ETR: “Regarding The Appeal Court of Ontario’s decision, 407ETR is currently seeking from the Ontario Court of Appeal a Stay. In the interim, 407ETR prefers not to take any steps regarding matters covered by the Court of Appeal decision until the issue of the Stay and any Appeal has been decided. If you wish to be removed from Plate Denial at this time, you will have to pay the full amount owing to 407ETR (including any pre-bankruptcy amounts) or make an arrangement with 407ETR to pay a lesser amount.”

At this point, 407ETR has no legal basis to keep somebody in Plate Denial that has gone bankrupt. It doesn’t matter what they “prefer”. They are currently breaking the law!

Another member of the group, Peter Teolis, who is named on the Class Action documents against 407ETR, contacted Ser-

vice Ontario to see if his Plate Denial was lifted and reported on the group FaceBook page: “I called Services Ontario to inquire on my plate denial. IT IS GONE. IT IS GONE. IT IS GONE. IT IS GONE. IT IS GONE. I can live as a human again and get my plates back on my car...Round One goes to the good guys!”

In lieu of the mixed responses, Stop the 407ETR’s Abuse of Power has asked people that have claimed bankruptcy and remain in Plate Denial to contact their trustee as well as Service Ontario.

Also, readers have been writing in wishing to add their names to the Class Action lawsuit against 407ETR on behalf of Bankrupts. If you wish to be added to Scarfone Hawkins LLP’s database of claimants please email cyates@shlaw.ca You can also contact Scarfone Hawkins LLP by telephone (905) 526-4394 or by fax (905) 523-5878. Due to the volume of inquiries, please allow one week for a response.

Sustained high numbers of visas issued from Chandigarh and New Delhi missions in 2013 SAHIB -- Canada is a destination of choice for visitors, students and business travellers from India. A high number of visitor visas (84,672) and study permits (13,613) were issued from Canada’s Chandigarh and New Delhi offices between January and December 2013, the Honourable Tim Uppal, Minister of State for Multiculturalism announced today at the Pravasi Punjabi Divas Sammelan conference in Anandpur Sahib.

The Business Express Program (BEP), in place in India since June 2008, is another example of Canada’s commitment to facilitating linkages between our two coun-

tries. The BEP was created to provide qualified businesses and their employees with a number of service advantages, including less paperwork, priority processing of visa applications, and a dedicated service to respond to the needs of those within the program.

Several new tools have been put in place to attract visitors to Canada and facilitate their travel. For example, in July 2011, the duration of multiple-entry visas was extended from five to ten years, allowing visitors to enter and exit Canada for up to six months at a time over a ten-year period. In addition, parents and grandparents of Ca-

nadian citizens and permanent residents are now eligible to apply for the new Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, which is also valid for up to ten years and allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for up to 24 months at a time.

Quick facts - The number of visitor visas issued in 2013 represents an increase of 73% since 2008.

- The number of study permits represents an increase of more that 321% since 2008.

- Between January and December of 2013, 2,793 visas were issued under the BEP. (CIC)

Hiring temporary foreign workers Short-term labour shortages are a common occurrence in many sectors of Canada’s economy. They can affect workplaces that need employees with highly specialized skills, seasonal businesses such as tourism and agriculture, or entire regions during periods of rapid economic expansion, like the pre-Olympics construction boom in British Columbia or the development of the oil and gas sector in Alberta.

When employers look for workers, their first task is to find and hire Canadians or permanent residents for those positions.

If they are unsuccessful at finding available workers in Canada to do the job, the Government of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Work-

er Program (TFWP) can help them manage their short-term labour needs.

The TFWP is jointly managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). It gives employers from all types of businesses the opportunity to recruit foreign workers with the skills they need to address temporary shortages when they experience them.

Employers will usually need to get authorization from HRSDC first before they can hire a temporary foreign worker (TFW).

This is known as a positive “Labour Market Opinion” (LMO). A positive LMO will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill

the job and that no Canadian worker can do the job.

In most cases, TFWs need a permit to work in Canada and, depending on their country of residence, they may also need to obtain a temporary resident visa to enter Canada.

While in Canada, TFWs have the same rights as any other employee — for example, their pay must be consistent with the prevailing wages paid to Canadians in the same occupation in the same region, and working conditions for the occupation must meet the standards of the province in which they are employed. (CIC)

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Blaxx Giving Soca Monarch Another Go For The Fans Following the release of a single called ‘Fete Away’ on his birthday in December, Soca artiste Blaxx is warning of some massive collaborations set to be unleashed in the next few days and weeks. The Roy Cape All Stars leading vocalist has admitted to working with a number of big music producers already for the season, among them Juelio Nelson, Kernal Roberts who produced ‘Fete Away’ and Barbados’ Peter Coppin and King Bubba- known for their great work. With eyes set on the big Carnival prizes, Blaxx has also made a decision he says is all about his supporters.

2013 showcase, may seem weak, but according to Blaxx, it’s something he feels he has to do for his fans once again. “Realistically, thousands come out to this event annually.

It’s probably the one event in carnival that sees such a huge turnout. The people come to the venue expecting to see and hear the best Soca artistes sing the best songs. I have always been a part of that dynamic and for years, I’ve gotten the support of the people. I know there are people who come out just to see what I will bring each year. I just can’t disappoint my die hard fans,” he said.

A performance in Barbados some two months ago heard the artiste indicate his decision to exempt himself from the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Monarch competition while chatting with his audience on stage.

He says he was jeered for the comment and immediately regretted it, having witnessed first hand, the effect it had on his fans. “I feel like I have no choice but to give the people what they want. They want me in the competition and because of that, I’ll be in the Soca Monarch competition, God’s willing, in 2014,” said the entertainer. He knows that for some people, him reneging on his previous words, which highlighted that he would not partake in the competition following the

Separately, Blaxx says he is extremely excited about the prospects that lie in wait for the Soca music genre- all with Bunji’s recent Soul Train Award win for Best International Performance, followed by the MTV Iggy tie for the coveted Song Of the Year title. “I’ll be next on the list of people to watch,” he said with a little laugh, albeit with a sense of seriousness that almost guarantees that he will be among the top runners of Soca in 2014. No matter where this season takes him however, Blaxx says he is happy to still be among the forces, delivering great music alongside a team he coins ‘the best band around’. He’s been at the forefront of Roy Cape for many years and in 2014, he says the band will present what he calls an entou-

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rage. “Things will be a little different with Roy Cape this year. There’ll be a lot of artistes hitting the stage with us at the various venues this carnival. Fya Empress is among them and of course there will be several others- some of whom I’ve done collaborations with,” he explained.

Amid the excitement felt among Trinbagonians and Caribbean people in general, in the past few weeks and months, relative to the music of the diaspora and how it has infectiously touched the world, Blaxx is calling on Caribbean people to support the cultures of each island. “Just like we’ve supported reggae and dancehall music over the years, I would like to believe that Jamaicans, St. Lucians, Barbadians and all other West Indians are supporting the development of Soca music and rooting for the genre to go global. That’s what we need- more unity, because we all know unity is strength and strength is power,” he said.

(EtceteraBuzz.com)

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28 Wednesday, January 15, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Your Horoscope - January 15th 2014 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Venus retrograde puts added emphasis on reevaluating your professional goals and priorities. Family and financial obligations are also up for review. Saturday can make you more aware of your options and limitations, and/or solidify a new course of action. Tuesday/Wednesday forces you to set new ground rules or compels you to action. Either way, you gain. The results work in your favour.

You can coast through Monday, but take action and easy- rolling stars will help you get somewhere good. It’s an ideal weekend to revisit the place, face, conversation, or past; to repeat a success or revamp the expectations, goal, or business plan. Mercury in Aquarius sets up something fresh. Handle mid next week with care—and be gentle on yourself.

Now through the end of next week is a good time to put your money down, seal the deal, sign up, and/or make it official. Starting Saturday, Mercury in Aquarius perks up your social life and lucrative prospects, and keeps you well stimulated and entertained.

Regarding health, wealth, or a tender heart, extra safety precautions are wise Tuesday/ Wednesday. Bundle up or shore it up.

You’ll get a faster move-on now. Beyond a special event or meet-up, Saturday’s sun/Venus conjunction can illuminate or crystallize a reality. It’s a great day to decide it, buy it, say it, sign it, do it, renew it, or make it official. Wednesday’s stage-setting full moon brings confirmation, security, completion, reward, compensation, a solid fresh start, and/or something more substantial to go on.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

The stars keep you especially quick on the uptake. You don’t need to say a lot to get your point across. The action or the presentation speaks for itself. Saturday/Sunday can be especially productive or informative.

Attend a workshop or meeting, get something social cooking, try someone or something new. Wednesday’s full moon brings a brewing potential into fuller view. Follow through, seize opportunity.

Thursday through Saturday, the stars keep life on the straightforward dial. You’ll sort it out well and see it all fall into place just fine.

A sense of accomplishment or confirmation can be growing for you now. While Wednesday’s full moon could bring a review, reminder, or backtrack, overall the past is receding fast and your future is gaining more solid ground.

Risk-taking will prove to be of substantial benefit now and in the long term. Saturday’s Venus/sun benefits matters to do with home, family, boundary-setting, real estate, and business development. Mercury in Aquarius, starting Saturday, pushes your Refresh button. Tuesday to Thursday can help you gain added recognition or nail down a professional or financial contract.

Thursday/Friday, simplicity sets a ready breeding ground for satisfaction. Interactions should prove to be fairly straightforward. On Saturday/Sunday, business, study, and pleasure can mix just fine. Get back in touch with an old friend or colleague, or forge a new bond. Wednesday’s lucrative full moon brings big news; a substantial opportunity, gain, invitation, or gift; travel; and added advantage, luck, or popularity.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Keep at it, and by the weekend you should have plenty to show for your efforts. Saturday’s Venus/sun conjunction calls for a full investment or commitment. Sign on for the long haul. Wednesday’s full moon can bring substantial financial opportunity, perhaps through a significant other or parent. It can also see love or family blossom, or prompt a new home address.

Mars keeps you steadily breaking away from the past and breaking new ground. Venus puts you back in touch with yourself and what’s most important. Saturday can bring a realization, added attention, or an opportunity to do something good for yourself. Tuesday/ Wednesday prompts a big move, decision, announcement, purchase, or investment. An interview or presentation goes well.

Saturday/Sunday pushes your Refresh button. Mercury into Aquarius boosts you with a fresh stimulus and plenty of can-do.

Tuesday/Wednesday, work or compromised health can overtake you. On the plus side, it’s an auspicious time to sign a contract or make a commitment. As well, you can gain added support, good advice or test results, or an opportunity to prove yourself.

Now through the weekend, a reconnect or revisit is well timed. Saturday through Monday can spark something fresh. Tuesday/ Wednesday sets you or someone you love into a positive growth spurt. Your ability to convince, emote, or perform is at peak.

Watch for a major turnaround or news, for something opportune or long sought-after to come into being.

July 21 - August 22

July 21 - August 22

(April 21 - May 21)

(August 23 - September 22)

(December 21 - January 20)

(May 23 - June 20)

(September 23 - October 22)

(January 21 - February 18)

Answers available on www.TorontoCaribbean.com

(March 21 - April 20)

Across 3) Break in play [TIMEOUT] 4) Target [HOOP] 6) 24 to shoot [SECONDS] 8) Bounce the ball [DRIBBLE] 9) Storied franchise in L.A. [LAKERS]

Down 1) Blows the whistle [REFEREE] 2) Toronto team [RAPTORS] 5) Rule infraction [FOUL] 6) Easy basket [SLAMDUNK] 7) Footwear of choice [SNEAKERS] 10) Starts the game [JUMPBALL] 11) Four in a game [QUARTERS] 13) ____-pointer [THREE]

(June 21 - July 20)

(October 23 - November 21)

(February 18 - March 20)

10) Bulls #23 [JORDAN] 12) Floor to play on [COURT] 14) ____-and-roll [PICK] 15) Uniform bottoms [SHORTS] 16) ____ James [LEBRON]

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Pick up the phone! the holiday. Perhaps just slow down!

Below are three reasons why you should continue during the holidays

Jim Networking There could be great networking events to over the holiday season. This is a Pagiamtzis attend great way to meet new people for your netBusiness Development Even though we are in the midst of the holiday season, there is still business to be done.

I have been calling a few people and getting voicemail. As I continued making calls, I did reach a coach that I had met in late November and first thing she said was “Thank you for following up” While we were speaking, she told me that she had recently signed up for my newsletter on the weekend! How cool is that!

You need to keep the momentum going in your business and not shut down for

work going into the New Year.

Resources As you network you may come across new resources. This could be an added value for you and your business connections.

Opportunities “Opportunities are everywhere”. This is a statement that entrepreneur Wendy Ladd said all the time. Take that attitude as you network and meet new people.

Take advantage of the Holiday Season and connect with new people in your network and create momentum going into 2014!

Creating a free personal assistant for your business - Part 3 Tina Dietz Business Development Relationships are the lifeblood of all business. You don’t gots people, you don’t gots NOTHIN’. But as your network grows, how do you keep up with and keep track of your network? I’ve covered tips on how to network, how not to network, and having an appreciation system for your network before because I love it and networking is one of the gifts I love to share the most. HOWEVER, keeping up with your network and continuing to develop high value relationships can be time consuming.

Now that your phone, er, free personal assistant is taking notes, emails, and ideas down for you, and helping you expand

your network and clean up your desk, we want to take it a step further and bring your appreciation system to your phone.

Let’s say you get out of a meeting and you want to send a thank you follow up, or you find out over lunch that one of your colleague’s kids has just gotten into the college of their dreams. You KNOW that if you wait to go buy and send a card it’s going to cut into your other, high dividend activities.

Skip the trip and use the Send Out Cards app on your phone.

This is a simplified, free app version of Send Out Cards, which I’ve lavished love on before because of its usefulness in marketing and appreciation systems. With the phone app, you can pick from a card catalog by topic, write a note, and send the card to any phone contact in just a minute or so.

If you don’t have a Send Out Cards account and want to give this a shot, you can go to http://www.sendoutcards.com/appreciationsystem and send 2 cards anywhere in the US with my compliments, because that’s how I roll. (**yes, I love it so I’m an affiliate)

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More zzzzzʼs equals a better life!

Tina Dietz Business Development For something that seems so simple, getting a good night’s sleep can be a real chore for many people. Over half of us experience insomnia, including problems falling asleep, frequent awakenings, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. It’s nothing to take lightly: research shows lack of sleep in linked to weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and depression.

When sleep doesn’t come Problems with the sleep-wake circadian rhythms occur as a result of melatonin and serotonin imbalances. Unfortunately, we produce less melatonin as we age. Geography can also complicate matters: people living in northern latitudes get less daylight in winter months, leading to reduced serotonin levels. Deficiency of the essential amino acid tryptophan as well as vitamin B6 and carbohydrates can also limit serotonin production.

Up all night Your choice of breakfast food can also be responsible for those middle of the night awakenings: when blood sugar levels rapidly rise and fall in response to foods that are easily digested, the rollercoaster effect continues well after you stop eating. Nighttime awakenings are often associated with

a sudden a drop in blood sugar, which triggers an adrenaline release to stabilize blood glucose in the brain. The shot of adrenaline is enough to wake you up – and often keep you that way. To protect your sleep, enjoy a low glycemic index (GI) breakfast with slow-digesting foods like protein (eggs) and complex carbohydrates (steel cut oats).

Maintain steady blood sugar throughout the day by continuing to choose low GI and high fibre foods.

Hormone havoc Peri-menopause also plays a role for women who have difficulty falling asleep, or falling asleep but waking up a few hours later. This kind of insomnia may be associated with an imbalance of progesterone to estrogen, either because estrogen is too high, or progesterone is too low. Limit your exposure to exogenous hormones (outside the body)

by eating organic foods whenever possible (without petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides etc.) and limiting chemical hormones in body and home care products.

Sleep is an under-rated tool in the bag of tricks that will help keep you healthy, and I know it can be a challenge for women on the peri-menopausal journey. (And if you’re over age 35, you are!) Learn how to improve the quality and quantity of your zzzzzz so you can look and feel your very best.

There’s so many factors that go into healthy living, and when you’re ready to make sense of your body I’d love to share more with you about how to fall in love with yourself and get you feeling vibrant and sexy! Don’t wait for an emergency, let’s have you reach your best health NOW.