Alarming State! 031214

CARIBBEAN NEWS, EVENTS, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE & MORE ONLINE: TORONTOCARIBBEAN ONLINE TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM COM • TO ADVERTISE ADVERTISE: 647 647-722-6298 -722-6298 722 6298 • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY WED WEDNESDAY, EDN ED NE ESDAY SDA , MARCH 12TH 2014 SD

Alarming State!

Guyanaʼs Berbice: Suicide, Robberies, Unemployment, Lead to a Depressing Place EBONY NARPATTY/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

There has been quite a lot of crime going on in Guyana in recent times. We wonder what goes on in these criminal minds and why the person of interest lurks in our society today. They could be anyone, your maid, your security guard, your gardener, employees, best friend or even your next door neighbour, anyone it can be, who disguises himself as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Yes the convict walks the dark streets at large and sometimes has accomplices that helps him/ her with the endeavour. The predator paints himself in black with his fellow associates to break and enter innocent people’s homes, traumatises a family, demands a hefty ransom, makes a heist, ties the family up, terrorises them by brandishing their weaponries in their faces then physically abuses them by beating them mercilessly with the weapons then killing them at the end of the ordeal. The questions that run through our

minds are… Why did this happen?

Why did it happen to these good souls? Where were the Police? How come nobody saw anything? They got the money, why did they have to kill?

So many questions boggle our minds and there seems to be no answers and some mysteries are left unsolved. I will now unfold the sad but true stories that have been constantly reoccurring in Guyana so far… According to Guyana Times article captioned “154 murders recorded last year – Police” dated January 9th 2014 The statistics comparison of 139 murders 2012 to the 154 murders last year 2013, 61 were of the disorderly type, 24 were committed during armed robberies, 4 execution style and 24 were domestically related while 41 remain undetermined. The

total number of reports on serious crimes for the year 2013 were 4,007 compared to 3,760 for 2012.

Some of these crimes were: murder, robbery armed robbery, robbery with violence, larceny, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping. These were just the statistics for last year and the year before so this issue remains continuous in this present year 2014.

Continued On Page 11

2 Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Marijuana on Caricom agenda

Priscilla, a real “Be-Leafer” is an owner/operator of a auto

leasing company in the Niagara area. She prides herself of her current accomplishments and is always up for a challenge. In her spare time she enjoys music and spending time with family and friends.

Photo Courtesy: Kysme Shand Photography

LADIES! You could be featured in our next edition! To enter, send photos to info@torontocaribbean.com

TRINIDAD -- Light up or not? T&T’s position on decriminalising use of marijuana for medical reasons is among front burner issues at Caricom’s 25th Intersessional meeting starting Monday in St Vincent. Caricom chairman St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves who led a regional call to decriminalise use of the herb for medicinal purposes has placed the matter on the Intersessional’s agenda for discussions.

Gonsalves met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the issue last September when Persad-Bissessar was Caricom chairman. T&T’s positions on these and other matters will be presented at the Intersessional by Persad-Bissessar and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran. Gonsalves said there is “quite a long” agenda.” for the two-day meeting.

The annual caucus is usually held in February. Gonsalves is quoted by CMC as saying that the decision to postpone it to this month was due to the absence of PersadBissessar, who chairs Caricom’s security committee. Persad-Bissessar returned from China last week. Gonsalves said he wanted crime and security discussed and PersadBissessar was the lead prime minister on that in the region.

Decriminalising marijuana use is among newer Caricom matters on the agenda. Caricom spokesman Leonard Robertson said a preliminary report on the issue done by researchers, which indicates that decriminalising the herb could help the region’s ailing economies, will be discussed. After Jamaica signalled its intention to decriminalise marijuana use for medical purposes by year end, the Bahamas indicated it was open to discussing the issue at this week’s Intersessional.

While the matter has become a headline grabber, propelled by activists in Jamaica, St Lucia and St Vincent, other agenda items expected to command equal attention focus on information communication technology and human resource development, Foreign Affairs Minister Dookeran said yesterday. Dookeran said the decriminalisation suggestion stemmed from a proposal in a drug report done by the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Gonsalves and Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart met with PersadBissessar last September to discuss the issue.

In a letter to Persad-Bissessar seeking the meeting, Gonsalves said it was “high time” Caricom addressed this matter in a “sensible, focused, not hysterical manner.”

He said debate on the issue in Jamaica and other Caricom states about the possibilities of medical marijuana as an economic and commercial industry. Gonsalves said the public was disappointed with Caricom’s failure to jettison “unnecessary caution and lethargy” in addressing some controversial contemporary issues of “real import.”

Just before the meeting, T&T Chief Justice Ivor Archie had said this country’s criminal justice system was in crisis and urgent remedies were needed, adding that one such remedy was decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of marijuana. After the meeting with Gonsalves and Stuart, Persad-Bissessar said Caricom hasn’t taken any decision to support decriminalisation of marijuana in the Caribbean region, although it is conducting research on medicinal use of the plant.

She said Caricom wasn’t in a position at this time to take a decision on the matter. Persad-Bissessar added that T&T’s Government would give the matter consideration but took no position on it. Persad-Bissessar added that much more consultation must take place in Caricom member states with their various stakeholder groups before any consideration to decriminalise marijuana and approve its use for health purposes She also said that Caricom’s Secretariat was mandated to research the issue with respect to the medical use and the legislative issues. Persad-Bissessar said TT’s National Drug Council, which had been addressing use of cannabis for medical purposes, developed a concept paper which was to be passed to the Caricom Secretariat. Gonsalves said St Vincent had no plan to pass the issue, but would work on it through Caricom.

He said he knew people in St Vincent who used the marijuana for medicinal purposes and the proposal wouldn’t mean legalising it, nor had he reached the stage of seeking decriminalisation for small amounts.

He said he was only seeking discussion on medicinal purposes, adding that a plea by St Lucian Prime Minster Kenny Anthony for a Caricom Commission on marijuana fell on deaf ears. (Trinidad Guardian)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Europe hot for Vybz Kartel JAMAICA -- As the Vybz Kartel murder trial winds down, the distributor of a multisong album containing some of the deejay’s biggest hit songs, says interest in his music continues to grow.

Tad Dawkins, owner of Tad’s Record, told the Jamaica Observer that Kartel Forever: Trilogy, the 60-track album released by the company last September, has sold well in Europe where the flamboyant Kartel has a strong base.

“People in that part of the world still love their roots-rocking reggae but there’s something about him (Kartel) that they love,” said Dawkins. “I don’t know if it’s his personality or his controversy, but they love him.”

Kartel (given name Adidja Palmer), Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, Shane Williams and Andre St John are charged with the August 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. The incident allegedly took place at Kartel’s home in Havendale, St Andrew.

The five men have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Monday, High Court judge Justice Lennox Campbell, who is presiding over the case, will continue his summation.

Since he was arrested and jailed al-

most three years ago, the lanky Kartel’s mystique has grown among diehard supporters.

Many of them show up for his dates at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston.

Dawkins says the greatest support for Trilogy is in Europe, especially France and Germany, countries that usually favour roots-reggae. According to last week’s SoundScan (which tracks music sales in the United States) figures, Trilogy had sold a paltry 400-plus copies.

Trilogy is the latest Kartel project released by Tad’s Record, an independent company with offices in South Florida and Jamaica. They previously distributed the Pon Di Gaza 2.0 and Pon Di Gaza Mi Sey albums.

Vybz Kartel’s career has been marred by several run-ins with the law. His controversial posture has endeared him to the dancehall underground as well as highprofile acts such as American rappers Busta Rhymes and Eminem, with whom he has recorded.

In 2010, Kartel had a sizable hit in the United Kingdom with Clarks, which was done with fellow deejay Popcaan. (Jamaica Observer)

National Security gives statistics on safe Carnival TRINIDAD -- Although nine people were killed during the Carnival period, police say none of them took place during Carnival related activities and with 46 serious crimes reported for the period nationwide, the Ministry of National Security is thanking the public for assisting them in decreasing the figure from previous years. In a full page advertisement, the ministry said the country recorded 46 serious crimes for the Carnival period compared to 109 last year and 122 the year before.

“Law abiding citizens working with law enforcement officers equates to 100 per cent unbeatable success against criminals” the ad stated. The lowest reports were in Eastern and Northern Divisions which recorded one serious crime in each policing district, with Tobago and Central each recording two serious crimes.

For the same police zone, Eastern Division recorded 16 serious crimes last year

and five the year before, while Northern had 21 last year and 20 the previous year. Tobago maintained its low rate last year, also recording two serious crimes and three the previous year ,while Central Division had nine last year and 21 the year before that.

The ministry attributed this success to “proper law enforcement policies and strategies as well as the professionalism and dedication of law enforcement officers, the perception and fear of crime was reduced”, adding that ‘ teamwork between the officers and citizens gave Trinidad and Tobago its safest Carnival ever in 2014.”

Most of serious crimes took place in Port-of-Spain which had 16 this year, 17 last year and 36 the year before. Serious crimes include but are not limited to wounding, burglary, robbery with or without violence, sexual assault and possession of dangerous weapons. (Trinidad Guardian)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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4 Wednesday, March 12, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Grenada leads region Joins ʻabove-30 per centʼ club for highest electoral gain for women GENEVA -- The United Nations says Grenada is the only Caribbean country to join the “above-30 per cent” club for the highest electoral gain for women in the world.

In the latest annual review of Women in Parliament, released at UN headquarters here by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organisation of parliamentarians, which works closely with the United Nations, 39 countries have reached the “above-30 percent” club.

In addition to Grenada, newcomers to this “30 per cent club” include Austria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe (both houses), the review said.

It said the Latin America/Caribbean region on a whole recorded the highest electoral gain with women in Ecuador, Grenada and Argentina occupying more than 30 per cent in those three countries, “a percentage considered a critical mass to effect change.”

Rwanda led the list of 189 countries surveyed, with its Chamber of Duties recording more than 60 per cent women.

But at the same time, the IPU said

a new growing concern has emerged regarding the rise in violence against women candidates running for political office.

“We know more about what is going on around elections. Thanks to social media, we know about negative elections, also more about violence, threats of violence, against women candidates,” IPU Secretary-General Anders B Johnsson told reporters at the report’s launch. “There are worrying reports we need to address.”

He said the Americas, which include the Caribbean and Latin America, topped the chart in 2013, with one out of every four members of parliament being a woman. In addition, he said the United States and Canada are “not doing as well”, with the former ranked 83rd out of the 189 countries surveyed as of January 1, 2014 and the latter 54th.

Of the top 10 performing countries globally, Johnsson said four are on the African continent, which recorded a “very, very healthy increase.” (CMC)

Trinidad deports ultra-Orthodox Jewish group TRINIDAD -- Nine members of a Canadian-based ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, Lev Tahor, were deported to Canada on Saturday, less than 48 hours after a High Court here dismissed an application for a habeas corpus writ to have them released from detention in Trinidad and Tobago.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan confirmed that the members of the group, which included children, were removed from a hotel near the Piarco International Airport, east of here and placed on a plane to Canada.

He said the Trinidad and Tobago Government could not breach an order from a competent court in Canada and that failure to send the members back to Quebec could have resulted in diplomatic problems between the two countries.

Romlogan said that Trinidad and Tobago could not turn its back to the Court ruling regarding the Child Protection Order whereby the children would have been handed over to child protection agencies in Canada.

“The welfare of the children was foremost,” he said on television, adding that the decision to deport the members of the group came after their appeals of the High Court order to the Immigration authorities were denied.

He said he had been asked to provide legal advice on the matter and that he had informed the immigration authorities that the appeal was not within the time limit included in the Immigration Act and as a result “there was no legal basis or justification for the group to remain in Trinidad and Tobago”.

Those deported are Ester Hayon, 50; Azar Hayon, 59; Avrohom Dinkel, 22; Yeshivia Hayon, 15; Tehila Hayon, 13; Yehodit Nechama Soleimani, 16; Mariam Soleimani, 15; Shira Hayon, 11; and Moshe Yochanan, nine.

A statement issued by the Ministry of National Security earlier last week, said that the group had arrived here on Monday on board a West Jet flight from Canada.

It said they had been interviewed by immigration authorities “who discovered inconsistencies in their responses.

“As a consequence, and in adherence to international immigration protocols, the group was rejected and advised of their inability to travel on to Guatemala,” the statement said, adding that the group subsequently employed local attorney Farah Masai “who began advocating their concerns with the airline and immigration authorities”.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith said local authorities were holding talks with their Canadian counterparts on the matter.

Several members of the religious group were scheduled to appear before a court in Chatam-Kent, Canada, on Wednesday when a decision was expected to be made regarding 14 Lev Tahor children who were to be returned to Quebec and placed in foster care.

The application for the habeas corpus writ was filed at the High Court on Wednesday night.

Their attorneys had argued that their clients were being detained in insanitary conditions, and were only allowed food on Tuesday night. They claimed also that the detention at the Piarco International Hotel was unlawful as they had not been charged with any criminal offence.

However, the High Court ruled that evidence in the application was lacking and that one of the attorneys in his affidavit had pointed out that his clients were being kept in less than humane conditions, but there was nothing further in the affidavit to expand on this claim. (CMC)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Buju pays tribute to late attorney JAMAICA -- Incarcerated Reggae icon Buju Banton has issued a heart-rending tribute to his former lead attorney and late Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Kwame Lumumba, who died under mysterious circumstances last week.

Writing from a federal prison in Miami, Florida, Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, blasted the system which he claimed entrapped and imprisoned him for his beliefs. Here is the full text of Banton’s letter.

Mark Anthony Myrie (86700004) (Buju Banton) To the family and friends of the late Chokwe Lumumba: My heart goes out to you all. I share in your grief immensely.

Having been one of the many lives Atty Lumumba has touched, it’s with a deep sense of privation that I mourn the passing of my friend and another great black freedom fighter. Atty Chokwe Lumumba, a warrior just like the great leader Patrice Lumumba who fought for the liberation of the Congo in Africa.

Atty Lumumba fought for many who could not stand up against a profaned system that is filled with injustice. A welldisciplined and principled man.

We first met while I was going through the litigation process stemming from the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision to reinstate a gun charge. A charge that was previously dismissed by the district court judge.

This tall, dignified black man walked into the visiting room at the FCI Miami, introduced himself and got right down to business. Atty Lumumba had already done his homework concerning my case and clearly saw that something was amiss. He never tried to sugar-coat his thoughts.

Atty Lumumba believed it was imperative and made it very clear that I should do the same.

Throughout those protracted months I spent at the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa, Florida, Atty Lumumba called at least twice weekly to discuss my case and ascertain all was well with me.

He travelled all the way from Mississippi to Florida for attorney client visits.

All these actions of genuine interest in my situation gave me confidence in Atty Lu-

mumba. We developed mutual respect for each other.

His appraisal of my chances as it regards justice were always realistic, hence his proactive approach as opposed to being reactive.

This brought about a favourable outcome, with the gun charge being dismissed.

At the end of the evidentiary hearings in 2013, Atty Lumumba looked me in the eyes and said: “What did you do to these people. This is not justice at all. From the gate, you have been screwed”.

Atty Lumumba also advised me that having been elected Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, he was unable to continue his career as a defence attorney.

However, he went on to recommend a few attorneys whom he believed would effectively assist me. Atty Lumumba also reached out to my current attorney, Professor Charles Ogletree.

In parting, Atty Lumumba again said: “Mark, it’s going to be an uphill struggle. I saw what they did to you and, unfortunately, you didn’t see it coming. Once they have you, it’s hell to break free from their chains son. I wish you all the best. You can call me anytime for anything at all. However, I can render assistance, trust me I will”.

We spoke several times after he was no longer my official representative, even through third parties, even as recent as two days before his passing. So I was not only shocked but also in a state of denial.

Atty Lumumba was vigorous and energetic. Even when he spoke in a subtle manner. How could this happen without warning? This is really sad. I just have to pay my respects in whatever way I can.

Thank you for the time you dedicated to my cause. It will be with me forever and the countless others whom you have touched with your passion for justice.

I know you are in a much better place. If what they say is true, then you are still fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Farewell, my friend. You shall be greatly missed. Friends for life and even after. Mark Myrie aka Buju Banton (Jamaica Observer)

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

7

Mammoth gathering overwhelms Babu John Memorial site : As a nation pays homage to its ʻFallen Father and Heroʼ GUYANA -- The vision of the ‘Father of the Nation’, the late former president, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, continues to inform the policies of his party, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), with the intent to improve the lives of all citizens of Guyana.

And at yesterday’s memorial for Dr. Jagan, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar — who spoke on behalf of her husband, President Donald Ramotar, who is away on government business –- was the first to make note of this when she said “…this ‘Man of the People’ remains alive as a living guide for as long as his vision remains alive.”

The First Lady’s observations were preceded by a massive march of over 300 members of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) who, decked out in red, yellow and black, moved along the Port Mourant Public Road shouting: “Long live Cheddi Jagan!” “Long live the PYO!” “Cheddi Jagan: Man of the People!” and “Long live the PPP!” The energy of the PYO enthused the already mammoth gathering at the Babu John memorial site, where the march ended.

With accommodation for the large gathering being insufficient, many had to squat on the ground, as encouraged by the host, Navin Chandarpal, whose squatting quip was one of the many light moments at the solemn occasion.

Bob Marley’s ‘Don’t worry’ added to the tangibly charged atmosphere, where the gathering was united by their intention to pay tribute to a man who was unquestionably a man of and for the Guyanese people.

Vision Relevant Monday

This charged disposition was evident when Party General Secretary, Clement Rohee took the platform and underscored the relevance of Dr. Jagan’s vision even today. He said, “His life and work has been enduring, and has stood the test of time, and all leaders of the PPP have drawn examples from his life as guidance.”

Rohee added that the party’s legacy is a rich one, grounded in a “fight” against political bullies for democracy, for peace and progress, and to create a new Global Human Order.

The New Global Human Order was adopted at the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. The crux of Dr. Jagan’s New Global Human Order is that there is enough food and resources in the world to feed every man, woman and child. The problem essentially has to do with the distribution of such resources, which are heavily skewed in favour of the rich. In addition to the uneven distribution of resources, there is also the question of valuable resources being spent on weapons of mass destruction; whereas, if that money were mobilized for human development, it could end hunger, death and ignorance in the world at large.

As the name implies, the New Global Human Order speaks to a more humane and caring society; one in which the resources of the world are spent on the uplifting of humanity as a whole, and not to fatten the already rich and powerful. In this regard, the resolution acknowledges that human development is inextricably linked to peace and security.

It is to the credit of Dr. Jagan and the diplomatic efforts of the Foreign Affairs

Ministry that the resolution received cosponsorship of some 74 countries, including China and India, two of the most populous countries of the world. The resolution received co-sponsorship from the neighbouring countries of Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela, in addition to that of the CARICOM grouping of countries.

The PPP General-Secretary stated that while much has been done, there is still much to do; but he said that the party’s programmes are a work in progress, even as he reiterated the commitment expressed by the President and members of the current Administration to the flagship development projects, such as the Amaila Falls Hydropower project.

“The PPP will remain solid as a rock!” Rohee assured.

Elections Hint Addressing the ongoing political gridlock in the National Assembly, the General-Secretary hinted at the possibility of elections.

“The Parliament is a forum for a struggle for political power,” Rohee said.

He made it clear that the people are tired of the ‘shenanigans’ of the combined Opposition.

Rohee referred to the challenges being encountered with regard to passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, on which there is agreement, but the Opposition are withholding their support until several demands are met.

He said the people’s disgust would be best demonstrated at the polls.

“Guyanese have had enough of messing with

their lives by their political predecessors,” Rohee opined.

According to him, the Opposition’s “game-plan” is clear for all to see, and it is one that would land Guyana into economic ruin.

He acknowledged that the PPP/C has made mistakes, but noted that the party is “bold and big” enough to admit to such errors, and work to make up for them. “The PPP/C remains the strongest political force in this country!” Rohee posited.

Rohee said that the best way to pay tribute to Dr. Cheddi Jagan is for all of his supporters to work “hard, ceaselessly and indefatigably” to retake the majority in the National Assembly.

“The struggle continues, but victory is inevitable,” he said.

Acting President Samuel Hinds echoed similar sentiments, and called for the Guyanese people to recommit to the ideals that were Dr. Jagan’s.

The desire for such a commitment was evident by personal encounters with longstanding fighters in the party and Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s two sisters, who were present for the memorial, as well as by emotive responses by some as they laid wreaths to pay homage to the fallen leader; and even by some of the attendees as they listened to the tributes being made.

Strikingly evident was consensus on the potential Dr. Jagan’s vision has to see Guyana advance, and have the Guyanese people truly participate in a New Global Human Order. (Guyana Chronicle)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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Trinidad Land Minister: Police unit to crack down on squatters TRINIDAD -- Land and Marine Resources Minister Jairam Seemungal says he ask Cabinet to establish a police unit to stop illegal occupation of state lands by squatter. He said in the past two weeks his ministry had to intervene in 75 areas to deal with squatters encroaching on state lands. The minister said squatting is still a challenge for his ministry, which also has to manage some 60,000 regularised squatters.

“We are now putting a lot of polices and procedures in place to deal with (squatting). Manpower has always been an issue in the ministry and now we increasing for the very first time the manpower in the ministry to deal with it,” he said in an interview at Paria Suites, La Romain Sunday following a function to distribute 76 lots to squatters affected by construction of the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway.

Seemungal urged the squatters, who were given certificates of land tenure for lots at Picton Phase 2 Settlement, not to sell their lots or let anyone fool them into giving away their land. “Use the land wisely,” he said.

The minister later said: “A lot of people over the last eight to ten years felt that they could go on state lands and just encroach and occupy and no one is looking at it,” he said.

“I will be taking a note to Cabinet

to seek some form of police squad that will work along with the ministry (that) will be dealing… with the people who feel that all these lands are there for grabs.” Seemungal said Cabinet had approved relocation of 162 squatters affected by the highway construction.

Status change for squatters Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surajrattan Rambachan told the squatters they have been given a great opportunity to improve their status which has been uplifted from squatter to land owner. He said the land they have been given is valued at $200,000 and will appreciate to $500,000 and more in years to come. “You have been given a land payment of $50,000 over the next 30 years,” he said.

Rambachan said each squatter will pay $1750 annually for the next 30 years and the lease will be renewed at the end of that period. The squatters have the option of approaching the T&T Mortgage Finance for funding to construct their homes and will be eligible for a two percent interest rate.

Among the beneficiaries Sunday was Bridmohan Roopnarine Singh, 69, and his wife Samdaye Mohanie Bridgemohan, 70, of Super Extension, Saltmine Trace, Fyz-

abad, expressed joy at receiving their lot of land. Singh said when they were told they would have to move to make way for the highway they were worried.

“We are grateful that we have somewhere to live. We are happy the Prime Minister kept her promise. She said she not going to put nobody on the road and she kept her word,” Singh said, with tears in his eyes.

However Jassodra Singh, 57, of St Mary’s Village Oropouche, said she was not pleased that she has to move since she has been living in that area for the last 20 years. “It is uncomfortable and heartbreaking. At this age it is very hard to move but we have accept it for the highway,” she said. (Trinidad Guardian)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Berbice: suicide, robberies, unemployment Ebony Narpatty TC Reporter Continued For Page 1 -Robberies have been taking place from in front of your eyes to masked bandits because of the major unemployment rate in Guyana.

People are trying to survive and doing it at any cost. This includes local crimes and local people stealing from you. Someone would not leave Georgetown to steal from someone in Berbice, they don’t even know you; it is usually a good friend that knows your entire business or a next door neighbor/villager that you trust who knows where you keep your treasures and your whereabouts. Even drunks steal causing these local crimes by coming as a gardener to work then steal your tools or any valuables you have loitering around.

These people don’t care if they are sent to jail, they don’t care if they will be beaten to death as a consequence and they don’t care if it was a cherished possession towards a newcomer overseas business family in the village area. They steal because they only care about themselves. Guyana’s current government is to be blamed for the present unemployment situation that the majority of the population has been suffering from. Employment is a key factor for survival. I have been stressing over this the past years that Guyana needs to create factories to cure the stagnant unemployment situation at hand. I wrote an article for the Guyana Chronicle for Agriculture Month dated August 2012 as a gift towards Guyana on how to create a vibrant work atmosphere for Guyanese with their natural resources of the vegetables they produce organically and with fertilities by packaging and canning the produce instead of dumping it in the garbage. The factories created would have increased employment in many fields’ administrative and laborious jobs and a population of 2,000 persons per factory depending on how intricate the work is. There are factories that don’t create pollution which Guyana could get involved in such as sewing/clothing manufacturing, bakery, processing fruits, vegetables, meats, a pasteurization plant for proper milk consumption etc… One factory in one area creates more than one hundred jobs and more than one hundred smiles. If the government is blind not to see this I dare private investors to take up this offer up for grabs. I understand that public policy is a balancing act and government needs a tax increase in order to create future employment but nothing is wrong with increasing the cost of living once citizens get a chance to survive by going out there and working in the real world. This will curb the larceny rate, prostitution, allow women’s independence to open up more freely and combatting the many aspects of crime that plague our communities.

As for the shocking suicide rate that has taken place in Guyana for the brand new year already does not have to be alarm-

ing since we know the reason why this has happened. Yes it is an important matter!

The reason for suicide is so very evident.

Depression! Depression! Depression! Yes this is the missing link to the many recent deaths. Berbice is seen to be a very depressing state because of the lifestyle and the state of monotony that confines the areas in which people dwell. I have brought up this topic and I had some disagreements on it but I lived there over a dozen years so who would know better?

An overseas based Guyanese or someone who lived there a while and understands the surroundings. The typical day of a Guyanese housewife or single woman at home would be to be a slave in the house i.e. Wake up 5:00am, start sweeping out the downstairs concrete before the sun comes out, wash and scrub the concrete floor, make breakfast and pack lunch for her husband or others in the household, wash dishes, beat clothes, hang and pack dried laundry, start cooking up a storm for lunch, clean up the kitchen when you are done, start sweeping and mopping the house indoors also cleaning and arranging living room and bedroom areas, eat a big plate of unhealthy lunch of rice and curry while watching a soap opera, relax only for half an hour than get ready to do the dishes again and prepare dinner so the husband or other family members don’t get angry when they come home from a hard day’s work. As for the man on the other side, he would just leave all the work for the lady to do as the maid of the house and eat dinner than go out with friends and drink which leads to alcoholism and domestic violence in the home.

It’s like their life is a routine and there is nothing good or different to look forward to in society because entertainment is not being developed. The regular culture of Guyanese entertainment would be going out to the market on Saturdays then going to a restaurant afterwards before going home and getting ready for a Sunday sport at 63 beach. It is a regular routine and never seems to change. Sometimes it is done with the entire family circle but mostly done with friends or other member of the family. Spending quality time with family is a must. It makes you feel loved and better about yourself. It also allows the individual not to lead a selfish life and knows how to up-bring a life with family around them. Georgetown people are not only people. Guyanese in Berbice deserve to be treated as people too! It is costly for people to go to Georgetown for entertainment. I know they live in the countryside Corentyne/Berbice (coastal plain area) but there are some small towns in Canada right here like: Etobicoke and Mississauga that are well developed with shopping malls, plazas and recreational facilities. People don’t have money but need to keep themselves busy. The government should pitch in and help locals with a bus to take them to their destination such as the public library, an educational workshop, a resource centre to keep them busy by learning a skill a trade or engaging in some form of art. If the facilities are government owned it would be better since the public would not have to pay or pay a small fee to use it rather than a private investment where a businessman looks for returns from his community. I suggest

that there should be more entertainment in Berbice especially along the coastline village areas. Come on people! Don’t make me look like I am insane here! I am talking about all luxuries in life that Canadian/Guyanese have available to them every weekend in North America such as: movies/theatres, shopping malls/plazas, grand buffets, walking your fluffy dog, going to recreational parks located in every community, bowling, visiting art galleries/ museums, a family day at a game centre/ amusement park, spending quality time within your family circle, attending reception banquets for special gala events, and many more glamorous ways you may live but then again people cannot leave their depressing lifestyles if they are not open towards the employment market. Stories that have been targeting these topic areas are as follows: According to Pride newspaper January 15th 2014 edition a captioned article “Guyana Authorities Worried at High Rate of Suicides” It is mentioned that since the beginning of the year 2014, 20 people have committed suicide while several others are recovering from failed attempts… It is said that suicide appears to be more prevalent in the East Berbice area (Region 6) (Corentyne/Berbice) which warrants intervention of national level and calls on authorities to proclaim suicide as a national priority. If so I summon the government to employ all of its many hundred graduates in social work to go out there and tackle this issue at hand. This can be done by having a call centre that people can call so they can speak to a social worker when they are suffering from psychological traumatic syndrome, depression, domestic violence, verbal abuse, physical/ mental/emotional abuse and the many more issues people face in their personal lives as well as their mental health.

According to Stabroeknews.com Thursday 6th March 2014 – captioned… “111 Suicides Last Year – Police” The Guyana Police force reveals that for the year 2013 the total amount of suicides countrywide were 111 persons according to Police records in Guyana. People have been killing themselves in various manners and hail from a variety of backgrounds such as: university students, housewives, children, men, labourers etc.

I can stress more on the topic of crime, there is so much more to say but all I can do is encourage people out there in Guyana to try their best to avoid crime scenes, be a good neighbor and improve society instead of breaking it down. Remember foremost of all to think positive, take away suicide from the mind. I know life can be hard at times but stay busy and pray because if you are a good person God will provide better days ahead for you. I suggest some of you Canadian-based Guyanese to call and talk to your relatives in Guyana to help prevent suicidal thoughts and be their perseverance and make them feel good about themselves and what they do in their lives and tell them about the hard life in Canada too instead of showing off your luxurious lifestyles in Canada. I believe every person on this earth has a purpose and sometimes we have to search for what makes us shine out from the rest.

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West Kingston residents march for peace JAMAICA -- More than 1,000 residents from communities in and around West Kingston Sunday took to the streets with placards as they called for peace in the violence-torn section of the Jamaican capital.

“We are tired of the crime; enough is enough,” said Kageeh Thomas, who noted that it had been almost three years since he was able to walk through some sections of the area because of violence.

The 20-year-old man was among the large group of men, women and children who, during the march, said that their lives had been placed on hold because of gang violence and that they were desperate for a change.

The peace march, which started at the intersection of Slipe Pen Road and Hannah Street, Denham Town, and ended at the neighbouring Tivoli Gardens Police Post, saw Security Minister Peter Bunting, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, led by Commissioner Owen Ellington, and officials from churches from several communities in West Kingston walking the streets to show their support.

“The children of this [and other] communities deserve peace; they deserve to grow up without being molested, they deserve to grow up the normal way children all across the world are allowed to grow up,” said Minister Bunting as he addressed a large crowd of men, women and children gathered at the intersection of Regent Street and North Street — one of several stops made through the more than three-hour-long march.

He was supported by Ellington, who challenged residents to join the police in the fight against crime.

“We would like to defend your com-

munities from the onslaught of gangs, but we (police) cannot do it along we need your support,” said the police chief.

“It is time to change; we cannot afford to live under these conditions,” added Ellington, who warned that the police would leave no stone unturned in their efforts to rid communities of criminal gangs.

He also warned of the anti-gang law, which he made clear would make life uneasy for those who made it their intention to hurt law-abiding citizens.

“We really think it (march) is a good

idea and we believe that it is really God that is behind this initiative; enough is enough,” said senior citizen Marlene O’Sullivan. She said that despite suffering from three strokes in the past, she made an effort to participate in the march as people moved though a section of Tivoli Gardens known as Lizard Town.

Another resident, Margaret Ormsby, said she was hoping that the initiative would make a change.

Sunday, Assistant Commissioner George Quallo, head of Police Area Four, of which West Kingston is a part, said he was

encouraged by the turnout. “This is the third in a series of initiatives in Area 4 to join with residents and other organisations to take back communities from these criminal gangs, and we are really happy to see the turnout,” said Quallo.

Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor, who heads the West Kingston Division, shared similar sentiments. “To see people coming this way is really an encouraging sign and we are hoping and will be working to ensure that the initiative is maintained,” said McGregor. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica to ratify ILO Household Workers Convention JAMAICA -- Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller says the Government is moving to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189, which stipulates safeguards for the welfare of household workers globally, and outlines provisions to significantly enhance their status and working conditions.

“This is a matter which the Bureau (of Women’s Affairs) has partnered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the (Jamaica) Household Workers Union (on), to bring (it) to a successful outcome,” Simpson Miller told Friday’s cocktail reception at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, to commemorate the Bureau’s 40th Anniversary, and International Women’s Day, which was observed on March 8.

Governments’ ratification of the agreement signals their commitment to revising, where necessary, the relevant laws in their respective countries governing the welfare of household workers, male and female,

and undertaking other supporting interventions, consistent with the Convention’s provisions, according to Simpson Miller.

The prime minister’s announcement received rousing applause and approval from guests attending the reception, including president of the 3,600-member strong Jamaica Household Workers Union, Shirley Pryce, who has long advocated the ratification.

Simpson Miller, at the same time, highlighted the bureau’s growth and development since its inception, pointing out that by “learning from the successes and failures of the 40 years”, the organisation is now better positioned for an even more effective future.

She said that consequent on its role in advancing the welfare of women and the positive results arising, the bureau has been and remains pivotal to national development.

In this regard, she commended the bureau’s leadership over the years, for spearheading

and guiding the positive image in which the agency has been shaped.

The prime minister also noted the exploits of the women who advocated protection of the rights and welfare of their colleagues during the pre-independence period.

“They were stalwarts who worked to change the attitudes and the conditions which held our women back and limited both their rights and the value which they could add to development of the broader society,” Simpson Miller said.

She urged the audience to remember the part played by the country’s political leadership to this end, through changes effected to the institutional and legal frameworks, policies, and conditions, which ultimately laid the foundation to safeguard the welfare of Jamaican women, safeguard them against discrimination, and advance their growth and development. (Jamaica Observer)

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International Womenʼs Day celebration…Women at the forefront at every level of educational system-President Ramotar GUYANA -- International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

President Mr. Donald Ramotar, expressed his appreciation to all women and recognises their fight against all the odds to reach where they are Sunday. He highlighted that “now we are seeing at every level of the educational system girls and women are at the forefront. We have come a long way but our journey has not yet ended”.

In an exclusive interview, Mrs. In-

dra Chandarpaul explained that “WPO has been the first organistaion in the country that started to celebrate International Women’s Day. The first celebration occurred at the same venue in 1957 which was hosted by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan. We have decided to focus on our grassroot women in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) because they do not get a chance to be involved, since they are the ones that have been doing most of the work for us in their respective communities, they are the foot soldiers of the PPP”.

“In the past, women lived under a fourth terrain, that is the one of men, which is no longer so in our present society, since

Nacta on popularity poll: Penny and Kamla tied TRINIDAD -- An opinion poll conducted by the North American Teachers Association (Nacta) last week found PNM Lady Vice Chair Penny Beckles holding a slight lead over Kamla Persad Bissessar, leader of the UNC and the Peoples Partnership, in popularity (likeability) and in terms of preference for prime minister. Penny leads Kamla by two per cent in both categories but with a margin of error of four per cent, it is a statistical tie.

A similar poll conducted two weeks earlier featuring a match up between Kamla and Dr. Keith Rowley placed Kamla ahead by two per cent (a statistical tie when factoring in the four per cent margin of error) with 16 per cent undecided, suggesting the next election will be keenly contested. The findings of the poll are obtained from interviews with 506 respondents— 44 per cent Indians, 37 per cent Africans, 18 per cent mixed and one per cent others—reflecting the demographics of the population.

Asked whether they have a positive, negative, neutral or unsure view of the two po-

litical personalities, 57 per cent said they have a positive view of Penny, while 56 per cent gave Kamla’s a positive rating—a lead of one per cent.

Some 32 per cent of the respondents say they have a negative view of Penny, with 11 per cent giving her a neutral rating or “unsure” response.

Subtracting Penny’s negative from her positive yields a net likeability rating of 25 per cent positive. Kamla’s negative rating of 33 per cent is slightly higher than Penny’s.

Overall, Kamla’s positive likeability rating is 23 per cent, two percent behind Penny’s.

In terms of popular support, Penny has a two per cent advantage over Kamla—44 per cent of the voters said they will support Penny as against 42 per cent for Kamla. But when factoring in the sampling error, the two are in a statistical tie. Some 14 per cent of the voters are undecided holding the key to the outcome of an election that may feature both political figures as head of their party. (Trinidad Guardian)

our women have now become more career oriented. We find their husbands at home caring for the children and cooking the food” said Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

PPP General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee reiterated that our women have come a far way in society but still the journey has now begun. He said: “Domestic violence and single parenting are two of the major problems our women face Sunday and we have to work together to help in eradicating this parasite from our society” Mrs. Patrica Benn former president of the WPO (1957-1964) explained the struggles faced by women during her era

“and worked together to spread the word of women’s unity and strengthen the development of Guyana. Their first priority was to encourage parents to send their girl child to school” General Secretary of WPO, Sheila Verasammy, like the speakers before her correlated the struggles that women faced over the last 60 years that the WPO has been in existence and this has not deterred their efforts. “We, the women of the WPO, have tangibly contributed towards the development of women lives in Guyana”. (Guyana Chronicle)

Boy, 7, shot in gunfight TRINIDAD -- Ongoing gun battles in East Portof-Spain claimed another casualty on Saturday afternoon, this time a 7-year-old boy who was playing near his home. According to police reports, Abhola Buckin was playing between building 58 and 60 at around 5 pm on Saturday when neighbours reportedly heard gunshots. After the shooting stopped, the child and two other had been shot. The boy was shot in the left hand.

Vanessa Solomon, of Champ Fleurs, who was in a taxi heading south along Nelson Street was shot along with Clyde Mattion who was in a car behind her. Mattion lives at Laventille Road. Solomon was shot in the right shoulder and Mattion was shot in the left hand. All three were taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where they were listed in a stable condition up to Sunday.

In an unrelated incident, two police officers attached to the Freeport Police Station were injured in a high speed chase along the Solomon Hochoy Highway. At around 11 am Sunday of-

ficers of the Highway Patrol noticed a stolen grey Nissan B-13 heading north along the highway.

The occupants of the stolen vehicle attempted to escape and collided with the officers’ vehicle. The chase ended near Grand Bazaar. The officers, who were not seriously injured, were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Complex, treated and discharged. All three suspects were arrested. In another incident, Southern Division officers are searching for five men who shot a man in San Fernando after robbing him of $13,000 in cash and a gold chain.

At around 2 pm on Saturday, Elvis Matiste was standing near St James Street, San Fernando, when a car with the five men pulled up and announced a hold up. The men beat Matiste and took his valuables before shooting him on the left hand. Investigations are continuing into all three matters. (Trinidad Guardian)

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Singing Sandra Comes Real Again With Youthful Production of 2014ʼs Mankind Aba Luke Entertainment The year 2014 has been dubbed the year of evolution for one of Trinidad and Tobago’s foremost calypsonians- a woman who has stood firmly for the people, annually delivering strong messages and showing heart each time she makes her presentations to the world. Sandra De Vignes- Millington, best known by her stage name, Singing Sandra, is preparing to unleash a musical monster in the

calypso arena, a song both she and her producers believe will bring her closer than ever to the coveted Calypso Monarch crown.

This year, Singing Sandra celebrates a milestone in the business. She will commemorate her 30-year anniversary in calypso with the presentation of a song entitled, ‘Mankind’. The East Dry River, Port-of-Spain native will likely woo audiences from Trinidad and Tobago during carnival, to nations across the Caribbean and the world thereafter, when she performs this powerful song.

‘Mankind’ has seen Sandra lean on young producers, Shawn ‘Spine’ Stewart and Ato ‘Five’ Williams, who aptly demonstrated their ability, delivering to the veteran artiste, a musical masterpiece that she is proud to share

with the people of T&T and by extension, the world. ‘Mankind’, written by Jason Jackson, speaks of society’s ills and much like Sandra’s many hardhitting renditions of the past, hears her reach deep within herself to exude and deliver a piece of her heart in every word sung. “The composition will make you think and the music will make you dance,” said the woman many refer to as mother. For Singing Sandra, this is yet another humble effort to open the eyes of the people. As a strong advocate for the youth of T&T, Sandra’s voice through music, personifies her beliefs and with that voice, she shares knowledge and wisdom, hoping to reach and touch those in need of inspiration.

Having won the Calypso Monarch title on two previous occasions- the

only female calypsonian to have ever accomplished this feat, Singing Sandra and her team are optimistic in 2014. Their confidence is heard in the production and the vocal execution of every lyric of this powerful composition. And at a time when her homeland of Trinidad and Tobago is besieged by criminal disturbances, Sandra and the musicians who stand beside her this year, are hopeful that the words of ‘Mankind’ will bring a desire to create change among those who know that change is needed in their lives.

Singing Sandra will stand erect beside many of the industry’s leading male calypsonians in the days ahead.

Her great hope is that at the end of each rendition of the song, the power of the lyrics brings hope for the world that we all share. (EtceteraBuzz.com)

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Hosein spins T&T to crushing win TRINIDAD -- The Windward Islands were mesmerised by a cunning exhibition of spin Sunday as left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein finished with match figures of 11/67 to give Trinidad and Tobago an emphatic 186-run win in the fourday regional tournament at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Hosein, who took 6/33 in the first innings, continued his fantastic form with figures of 10-1-34-5 in the second innings to dismiss the visitors for 124 in chase of a massive 311 for victory.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel tested the top order of the Windwards with pace and bounce early in their second innings. After captain Rayad Emrit gave Gabriel the ball from the southern end of the ground, wickets began to tumble. Gabriel first disturbed the furniture of Tyrone Theophille for eight. Shortly after, Dalton Polius was back in the pavilion as he found the edge to give Yannic Cariah a simple catch in second slip.

This left the Windwards on 47/2.

Opening batsman Devon Smith who batted throughout the first innings, again looked solid, taking the Windwards to 60/2 at the tea break with 34 to his name. Keddy Lesporis was with Smith on five. Gabriel’s impressive figures at the tea break read 8-4-19-2.

Immediately after tea, Hosein, T&T’s hero in the first innings, removed Lesporis (nine) and Romel Currency (two) to reduce the Windwards to 68/4.

Wickets continued to fall as Smith remained unfazed.

However, shortly after bringing up his half-century, Smith lost his wicket for a valiant 55, a knock that included nine fours. Leg spinner Imran Khan got the prized wicket of Smith as Adrian Barath took a smart catch at short leg.

The score was 101/7 and T&T’s victory was in sight.

Hosein and Khan finished off proceedings, grabbing the final three wickets together to end the match inside three days. Khan ended with 3/16.

Earlier, the lower order of the T&T batting added a valuable 83 runs to their overnight second innings score of 127/7 to destroy the Windwards chances of a comeback. Cariah led the T&T resistance, but was unfortunately dismissed right after lunch for a well played 49, a knock that included six fours. Mar-

lon Richards struck 21. Darren Bravo was the home team’s top scorer, adding 12 to his overnight 57. Bravo’s watchful 69-run knock came off 188 balls and included 10 fours, ending his recent poor run of form. Kenroy Peters (3/37) and Nelon Pascal (3/40) both snatched three wickets for the Windwards.

SCOREBOARD T&T vs WINDWARDS T&T lst Inns – 222 Windwards lst Inns – 122 T&T 2nd Inns (o/n) 127/7 A Barath c L James b N Pascal 6 E Lewis lbw b D Johnson 0 D Bravo c T Theophille b K Peters 69 J Mohammed lbw b D Johnson 6 S Katwaroo+ b L Sebastien 2 I khan lbw b K Peters 25 A Hosein lbw b K Peters 0 R Emrit lbw b N Pascal 18 Y Cariah c R Currency b A Bobb 49 M Richards c T Theophille b N Pascal 21 S Gabriel not out 0 Extras 4nb 1w 8lb 1b 14 Total (all out) 210 Fall of Wkts: 2, 8, 28, 32, 59, 59, 106, 167, 209, 210 Bowling: N Pascal 14-1-40-3, D Johnson 11-6-24-2, A Bobb 13-4-31-1, L Sebastien 21-7-54-1, K Peters 13-4-37-3, D Polius 7-2-15-0 Windwards 2nd Inns D Smith c A Barath b I khan 55 T Theophille b S Gabriel 8 D Polius c Y Cariah b S Gabriel 10 K Lesporis c D Bravo b A Hosein 9 R Currency lbw b A Hosein 2 L Sebastien b A Hosein 0 L James+ c J Mohammed b A Hosein 5 A Bobb c A Barath b I khan 14 K Peters not out 7 D Johnson c Y Cariah b A Hosein 0 N Pascal b I Khan 11 Extras 1w 2lb 3 Total (all out) 124 FOW: 22, 47, 64, 68, 70, 80, 101, 112, 113, 124 Bowling: S Gabriel 8-4-19-2, M Richards 3-0-13-0, R Emrit 5-1-14-0, A Hosein 10-1-34-5, J Mohammed 7-3-160, Y Cariah 4-0-10-0, I khan 5.1-2-16-3 Result: T&T won by 186 runs(Trinidad Guardian)

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Caribbean Pot: Quick and tasty curry chicken livers Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking A coworker had invited me out for lunch many moons ago saying that the restaurant in the mall where we worked had the best liver with onions on special every Thursday… I still recall his enthusiasm when he spoke about how delicious they were. I also recall other coworkers having a sort of disgusting look on their faces as they heard him describe this liver with onions. No-Lie it was the most revolting thing I had ever tasted. Still a bit bloody and that metallic taste stuck with me the rest of the day. No wonder parents in North America struggle to get their children to eat chicken liver. It’s

tth the he wa he w way ay YO Y YOU OU cook co ookk it! it! t!

IIff yyou’ve ou’’vee ttried ried ied d m my y ot oother the h r chi chicken hickken ken liver recipe : Caribbean Inspired Stewed Livers , you’ll know it’s all about flavor so don’t be alarmed when I get all the liver haters loving livers.

You’ll Need: 1 lb Chicken Livers pinch black pepper 1 tablespoon veg oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup bell pepper 2 scallions (green onions) 1 shallot (or small onion) 4 cloves garlic 2 sprigs thyme 4 bird’s eye pepper (or 1/4 scotch bonnet) 3 leaves shado beni (or cilantro) 1 tablespoon curry powder Shado Beni (Chadon beni) can be found at most West Indian stores as well as Asian

aan and nd La L Latino ati tino no m markets arkkkeets ar ts w where here he ree iitt ma m may ay bbee ccalled alllle al led led cculantro. ulant ntro nt ro Th The he bbe best esstt sub est substitute ubsttit itut utee is is ccilantro ilan il antr troo or coriander.

Prepare the ingredients (slice the shallot, bell pepper and scallion, then diced the garlic and shado beni). Please leave the bird’s eye pepper whole as we want the flavor but not the raw heat. Obviously if you want the kick, dice them. Bearing in mind that the seeds will pack a real kick if you include them. Clean, chop the liver in equal sized pieces (so they cook evenly) and wash/ drain.

Heat the oil on a medium heat then add the shallots and garlic, lower the heat and let it cook slowly for a couple minutes.

Now add the curry powder and cook (still on low) for another 2-3 minutes. The curry will go a bit darker and grainy. The goal here is to wake-up the spices which make up the curry blend.

Toss in the whole peppers (stems removed) and heat through, then add the pieces of liver to the pot and stir well to coat

with wi th h tthat hat lo hat ha llovely love ove vely ly ccurry urry bbase urry ur ase w as wee ccreated. reeatteed d. Tu T Turn urn r th the he hea hheat he eat at uup p to to m medium/high eed dium/ m highh now now. Th Then n ttop op with everything else except the shado beni, stir well and cook for about 5 minutes.

It’s important to not cover the pot or it will release a ton of moisture and then it will mean cooking longer than necessary to burn off that liquid. The last minute of cooking, top with the finely chopped shado beni or cilantro. Taste for salt as your tolerance for salt will be different than mine.

Now here’s the kicker (after my gallivanting above about how YOU cook livers).. our girls refuse to eat liver, even with this delicious version. Liver has a bad reputation, falsely spread by people who (in most cases) have never given them a try. Yes the texture is a bit weird, but once cooked correctly, the tasty flavor will make up for that. Serve warm!

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Defeating joint stiffness in the morning Geeta Maraj Yoga If you suffer from aching muscles, arthritis or other types of joint pains, you already know your challenges upon waking up every morning. This is especially so as the barometric pressure falls when rain is in the forecast. Yoga asanas (postures) are most beneficial in alleviating joint pain and muscle tenderness. Best of all, most of these stretches can be performed before getting out of bed in the morning.

Here are a few stretches which you can try when you awake: Resistance stretch for limbs: Lie in the centre of the bed without any pillows. Keep your arms about 4-6 inches from your body with your palms facing downward. Bring your legs to about 6-8 inches apart. Keep the elbows locked - meaning that you let your elbows be as straight as possible. Breathe in, and push your left arm onto the bed, as if you are trying to push the mattress away with your entire arm. This creates a resistance in the full length of your arm, causing the muscles to tense. Then as you breathe out, relax the arm slowly, and feel the muscles become

loose. Repeat the same stretch with the right arm. Then try to do the same resistance push against the mattress with both arms at the same time. This exercise can be repeated 3 to 6 times or as is bearable.

A similar stretch can be performed with the legs. As you breathe in, push the entire left leg against the mattress with us much force as you can, keeping the knee locked.

As you breathe out, relax the leg and feel the blood flow back into the leg muscles.

Repeat the same exercise with the right leg in similar fashion. Depending on your level of stiffness, you may try to do both legs at the same time if you are not in extreme pain.

Always remember to breathe in as you begin the posture and exhale as you come out of the posture.

Spinal stretch: After stretching the legs it is important to stretch the spine. This is done by outstretching your arms at shoulder level across the bed (similar to making a T-shape with your body). Place your palms facing upwards. Bring your legs together and pull both knees towards your chest. Keep your torso in as straight a position as possible, and swing both knees to the right side of the bed.

Turn your head to face the left hand. Hold this position for a few minutes and breathe long deep breaths. To come out of this position you simply swing your legs back to the centre position towards your chest then stretch them out. Turn your head back to the original position where your chin is in alignment with the middle of your chest. Repeat this exercise onto the other side by taking both knees onto the left side while turning your head to the right side. Remember to

breathe long deep breaths while holding the position.

Neck stretch: Lying on your back in the centre of the bed, keep your legs together and arms close to your body. Place your palms facing downwards. Crawl your fingers toward your feet - as if you are trying to reach your knees without bending forward. When your arms are very tense, hold the position.

As you breathe in, turn your head to the right side - as far right as you possibly can turn.

Hold the position and keep breathing so as to relax the muscles of the neck. Return to centre position, breathe in and then repeat onto the left side.

Entire body stretch: From the centre of the bed, breathe in and hold your breath.

Tense the arms by making a fist and stretch the arms towards the feet so as to lengthen them as much as possible. Tense the legs by pushing out your heels - as if you are pointing outward with your heels. Lift your head off the bed and push your chin towards your chest, all the while holding your breath.

Your entire body should be very tense while you are holding your breath and your chin is pushed toward your chest.

To relax out of this asana, bring your head back onto the bed and exhale through your mouth, allowing your entire body to relax all at once.

These variations of yoga stretches should be performed on a daily basis, upon awakening, and/or before you sleep. These stretches will help to strengthen your muscles, thereby benefiting your joints.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The best dietary sources of iodine Iodine is an essential trace nutrient that is responsible for producing thyroid hormones.

These hormones are responsible for regulating the metabolism, which affects the speed with which our bodies use energy, the regulation of body temperatures, cholesterol, and heart rates, mental and physical growth, and more. Without an adequate intake of iodine, our metabolism would become sluggish, resulting in a plethora of serious medical conditions – including an inability to lose weight.

Sadly, iodine deficiencies are widespread throughout the world because iodine is seldom found in land-based foods such as fruits and vegetables. In order to receive enough of this vital nutrient through diet, we need to look to the oceans.

Foods Rich in Iodine Sea vegetables: Sea vegetables, or seaweeds, are the kings of iodine – which makes sense, since iodine ions mainly concentrate in oceans and saltwater pools. Though all sea vegetables are rich in iodine, perhaps the greatest source is bladderwrack. 50 grams of dried bladderwrack contain over 100 percent of our recommended daily intake (RDI) of iodine. Moreover, since bladderwrack is a natural seawater plant, its iodine ions are more easily-absorbed than those of iodized

salt and other inorganic sources. Other sea vegetables with unusually high levels of iodine include arame, dulse, kombu, nori, and wakame. 50 grams of each will almost certainly meet an adult’s RDI of iodine, unless the seaweed is of poor quality.

Himalayan salt: Though many people meet their RDI of iodine through iodized table salt, I cannot recommend it since table salt (sodium chloride) is toxic to the human body, and the iodine with which it is fortified is inorganic and synthetic. Instead, favor real salt such as unrefined sea salt or – better yet – Himalayan salt. Half a gram of Himalayan salt contains a full spectrum of 84 trace minerals, including 250 micrograms of iodine (or 167 percent of our RDI). The great thing about real salt is that it can be added to almost any meal. Simply sprinkle it atop your food and you’ll never have to worry about iodine again.

Fish: Most fish and seafood are good sources of iodine. One three-ounce serving of cod, for instance, provides us with 99 micrograms of iodine (or 66 percent of our RDI). Another great source is shrimp (three-ounces provides us with 23 percent of our RDI). Even processed fish foods such as Fish Sticks and Fish Fingers contain small amounts of iodine, though I don’t recommend them for

obvious reasons.

Baked potatoes: Baked potatoes are one of the best land-based source of iodine, but please remember that soil quality plays an important role here. Generally speaking, one medium-sized baked potato with skin contains approximately 60 micrograms of iodine, or 40 percent of our RDI. Organicallyfarmed potatoes, grown on nutrient-rich soil, often contain more.

Plain yogurt: Though yogurt is best-known for its calcium and protein content, this curdled milk product is also surprisingly rich in iodine. One cup of yogurt provides us with 90 micrograms of it, or 60 percent of our RDI. For comparison, one cup of milk contains 56 micrograms of iodine.

Navy beans: Beans are highly nutritious, and can be found in many “foods richest in” lists. Iodine is no exception. Half a cup of cooked navy beans, for example, provides us with 32 micrograms of iodine, or 21 percent of our RDI. Other good sources include lima beans, string beans, and soybeans.

Other decent sources of iodine include turkey breasts, boiled eggs, dried prunes, strawberries, and cranberries. (NaturalNews)

Research suggests a diet rich in probiotics discourages colon cancer Good news: If you’re a fan of probiotics, another health benefit has been added to the ranks, this time concerning lowered colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A known immune booster, probiotics also hinder harmful pathogens in the gut that can lead to cellular mutations. Not only that, certain species of beneficial bacteria form conjugated linoleic acid in the colon, which may inhibit the development of cancer through anti-inflammatory action.

Keeping the colon healthy and disease-free According to Cancer Active, Professor Ian Rowland at the University of Ulster, a leading expert on diet and cancer prevention, notes: “Studies using cultures of human colon cells grown in flasks show that probiotics can interfere with the action of cancer forming substances. When probiotics have been given to laboratory rats, they have decreased the level of gene damage (an important event in cancer) and reduced the numbers of tumours induced in the colon. There are only a few studies in humans because of the difficulties in studying the effects of diet on human cancer. However, in the few studies that have been done, probiotics - some-

times in combination with prebiotics - have shown effects suggesting that they may reduce the risk of colon cancer.”

At a molecular level, researchers believe probiotics help discourage colon cancer by: Stimulating the immune systemProducing beneficial short-chain fatty acidsHindering enzymic activities linked with carcinogensActivating beneficial anti-carcinogenic enzymesEncouraging higher levels of butyric acid in the colon (an important growth regulator for colon cells) Probiotics also bind to bile salts.

Epidemiological studies have found a strong connection between CRC risk and diets that are high in certain types of fat, such as corn oil, safflower oil, lard or beef tallow. Researchers believe this is due to increased level of bile acids, which are necessary to digest fat. When the bile is broken down in the colon, the byproducts have a cytotoxic effect on colon cells, triggering proliferation and the possibility of cancer. Probiotics help protect against this hazard in the following manner: modulation of enzymes that create harmful wastes and also by reducing the toxicity of bile salts through a binding effect.

Moreover, two types of probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bififobacterium lactis, demonstrate antibacterial characteristics by producing lactic acid and

corresponding short-chain fatty acids. When lactic acid is present, the gut environment becomes more acidic, which inhibits potentially carcinogenic bacteria. To encourage the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the gut, make sure you are getting enough soluble fiber (examples include oats, apples, barley, flaxseed and Brussels sprouts), and consider supplementing with a prebiotic like inulin, oligofructose, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or galactooligosaccharides (GOS).

Professor Rowland concludes: “There is a lot of evidence from studies on cell cultures and in animals that probiotics, prebiotics and combinations of the two can exert anticancer effects. Until recently, there has been little work conducted in humans.

However a paper soon to be published reports a study conducted as part of the European Union funded SYNCAN Project. In this experiment volunteers were fed a mixture of pro and prebiotics, or placebo, for eight weeks and a wide range of indicators of colon cancer risk were measured. Those subjects on the pro/prebiotics had less DNA damage and a lower rate of cell proliferation in biopsies taken from their colons. Additionally pro/prebiotic feeding resulted in improvements in certain characteristics of stool samples that may be indicative of reduced cancer risk.” (NaturalNews)

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24 Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

FDA affirms irradiation of lettuce and spinach despite objections The regulation of irradiation in the production, processing and handling of our food, is set forth in 21 CFR 179. It has long since provided for the irradiation of meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables, spices and more and is largely controlled by the FDA, because it is considered to be a “food additive.” The FDA stated purpose for approving the irradiation of our food, is to control food borne pathogens and extend shelf life.

A petition was filed by the National Food Processors Association which is now part of the notorious Grocery Manufactur-

ers Association, to amend 21 CFR 179 to, among other things, finalize the extention of irradiation to fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach. Notwithstanding numerous objections filed with requests for a stay pending a hearing, the FDA has granted the petition.

In denying all requests for a stay and hearing the FDA concluded that, “…the objections do not raise issues of material fact that justify a hearing… .” Unfortunately, the FDA sounds more like a judge issuing a court decision rather than a governmental agency designed to protect the people.

Perhaps the FDA should be more concerned with the concept of “error on the side of caution” rather than extending the shelf life of our food. In the days preceding our “advanced technology,” we didn’t need to irradiate, bleach or label our food organic.

Perhaps the reason we have created a “need” for these things today, has something to do with the ill conceived and money driven food manufacturing process in our country that is controlled by big business.

The FDA reliance on irradiation enables the problem of unsanitary produc-

tion, processing and handling of our food to continue, without addressing the cause of the problem. If the FDA’s job description was changed from solving problems in our food supply to masking them, then it appears that the American people did not get the memo, nor should they accept it. It has become painfully self-evident, that American consumers must remain informed and vigilant in protecting themselves. (NaturalNews)

Children with rheumatoid arthritis may experience relief by going gluten-free: study A silent epidemic known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), which is now believed to afflict nearly 300,000 children under the age of 18, could be the result of undiagnosed gluten sensitivity or even celiac disease (CD) in some children, suggests a little-known study published in the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology (SJG).

Researchers from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia discovered that children with JRA who also show signs of CD may experience dramatic improvements after starting a gluten-free diet.

These same children may also experience dramatic symptom reductions after cutting wheat and wheat-based foods out of their diets, an outcome observed in at least one child who showed clear markers of CD during the study.

According to the research, this child, who had anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA) in conjunction with a CD diagnosis, showed improvements in both growth parameter and articular symptoms upon adoption of a gluten-free diet.

This reduction in articular symptoms, a designation that collectively marks the types

of joint pain experienced by sufferers of JRA, suggests that gluten itself could be the actual cause of these symptoms, and that cutting it out could help all children with JRA experience relief. Though the Saudi study focuses specifically on JRA sufferers who also show signs of CD, the fact that eliminating gluten addressed JRA symptoms directly points to much wider therapeutic potential.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, procured even stronger evidence of this in a study which they conducted two years prior. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Rheumatology, their groundbreaking research revealed that the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in general respond well to a diet free of gluten.

“The data provide evidence that dietary modification may be of clinical benefit for certain RA patients, and that this benefit may be related to a reduction in immunoreactivity to food antigens eliminated by the change in diet,” the researchers wrote.

Modern wheat varieties structurally different than ʻheritageʼ wheat, which did not cause disease While neither study pinpoints which came first, the RA or the CD, or whether one causes the other, both studies suggest that wheat and gluten consumption is probably not the best dietary choice for sufferers of RA and JRA. This is especially true due to the fact that modern, hybridized wheat varieties contain altered proteins and unique antigens, which some say is a major driver behind the sharp rise in gluten intolerance and celiac disease in the industrialized world.

“The astounding list of problems we have with modern wheat is not due to an increase in gluten content,” claims Dr. William Davis, author of The New York Times (NYT) bestseller Wheat Belly. “It is due to other changes, including:” “[a]ltered structure of the gliadin proteins,” “[c]hange in the structure of wheat

germ agglutinin” and “[u]nique antigens (allergy- and immune-stimulating proteins).”

Studies linking the origins of both RA and JRA to chronic gut problems further suggest that, at best, consumption of modern wheat and wheat derivatives exacerbates a health condition that science shows is already a product of gut inflammation. At worst, these chronic joint diseases are the product of an ever-evolving food supply that is increasingly modified, contaminated and generally harmful to human health.

“Gluten is only one of the reasons to fear wheat, since it triggers a host of immune diseases like celiac, rheumatoid arthritis, and gluten encephalopathy (dementia from wheat),” adds Dr. Davis. “Beyond gluten, there are over 1000 other proteins in wheat that also have potential for odd or unexpected responses. You might say that wheat is a perfectly crafted Frankengrain that almost appears like it was created to exert maximum health damage in the most desirable, irresistible form possible.” (NaturalNews)

WOMAN ON FIRE GALA! Sunday 27th April 2014

www.womanonfiregala.com

Info/tickets: 647-713-3622

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Deep scaling Dr. Matthew Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Dental Health

Deep scaling or periodontal scaling is the major treatment for advanced periodontal disease. Both mild to moderate non symptomatic periodontal disease is treated by scaling but the depth of scaling is less intrusive. For mild scaling the depth of cleaning is superficial compared to advanced or severe periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is basically an inflammatory process in the gum and bone

surrounding the teeth known as the periodontium. It holds the teeth in place like concrete around the posts of a fence. It provides stability for the teeth. However if the amount of support around the teeth is progressively diminishing the teeth will become loose, the gum will become red, and may recede exposing the roots of the teeth. The acute advanced stage of this disease may be the cause of dull throbbing to severe pain around one or several teeth.

Advanced periodontal disease is common in adults especially those that did not have check-ups and cleanings regularly in their early years and have poor oral hygiene. Food builds up around and between the teeth of all humans, children and adults.

If the food particles are not removed at regular intervals it promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth which then destroys the gum and bone. The destruction of bone between

the teeth leads to the creation of pockets where hardened food deposits provide a safe haven for bacteria, which accelerate the rate of bone destruction.

Patients can enquire from their dentist the state of their periodontal health.

A general periodontal assessment requires a full set of x-rays and measurements of bone around the teeth.

If the diagnosis is advanced periodontitis as characterized by bleeding gum and significant bone loss, to prevent any further deterioration, deep scaling should be done without delay. This procedure may require more than one visit. The thorough and complete removal of deposits may require anesthetizing the areas to be treated.

The benefits of treatment are usually realized soon after treatment. However for long term results, this depends on the patient’s cooperation, and following the treatment plan.

5 health warning signs that should not be ignored Dr. Lydia Thurton ND BASc

Health Tips Early detection of health problems can make the difference between life and death. Let’s have a look at five signs that your body could be trouble.

So many of us are trying to lose weight it can feel great when we see the number on the scale steadily dropping. However, if you find that your weight is declining rapidly and you have not made significant lifestyle changes, it is essential that you get a full work up by your doctor. Weight loss of over or around 10lbs per month is considered abnormal. On the other hand, a rapid increase in weight can also signal something is amiss. If you feel more bloated, or like you are retaining water that is abnormal for you, this can be a sign of serious problems. Can-

cer in particular tends to induce rapid, unexplained, weight loss.

Research has shown that men who have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection are at increased risk of having cardiovascular disease. This is not the only reason for erectile dysfunction, but it can be the first sign that circulation is compromised.

For women, intercourse that has suddenly become painful is also worth looking into with an ultrasound or physical exam. As is abnormal menstrual bleeding that occurs at odd times in the month.

The feeling of “burnout” is not frequently discussed in our medical system but it is a very real issue. Before a breakdown, there are major warning signs that a person’s nervous system is having difficulty managing stress. I ask my patients if they feel “wired but tired.” This is a common feeling for people who are overwhelmed. Simultaneously, they feel exhausted, but also unable to relax. When it is time for bed they cannot shut their mind off despite being very fatigued. Nip a breakdown in the bud and speak to a naturopath if you are feeling chronically overwhelmed.

Look before you flush. Changes in

your poop can signal serious digestive problems. It is normal to have temporary bouts with either loose stool or constipation. However, if you see blood, or lots undigested food or mucous, a colonoscopy is probably in order. Long skinny poops can indicate that there is narrowing of the colon due to an obstruction or tumor. Again, one odd poop is not a big deal, but if you notice that over the course of weeks your feces looks or even smells very different please get checked out.

Keeping an eye on changes to our skin is also a good idea. Changes in moles like crusting, bleeding or scaling can indicate that cancerous cells have begun to take hold. If you have a mole that is raised, or has irregular borders or is larger than 1cm in diameter it is worth monitoring. If you have a large mole on your back, periodically get your partner to check you out. Even if you do not have moles, changes in skin pigmentation are worth investigating.

These tips are not meant to scare you. There are many reasons why we experience changes in our bodies and most of them are not dangerous. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and get checked out.

Diet from fitness Monique Bartlett Fitness Many people nowadays are very conscious about their health and fitness. They have the desire to sculpt their bodies to achieve that magazine-cover look. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have popped all over to cater to their needs.

But exercise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails a certain amount of responsibility on the foods you chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires you to observe your diet and fitness.

Diet for fitness is as necessary as the exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth.

Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. Among these diets are high carb diets and high fat diets. Which one is more effective and which one should someone choose to follow?

As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydraterich foods while high fat diets promote fatrich foods. High carb diets are utilized by glycogen stored in the liver and muscles.

Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.

Fats, on the other hand, are wellknown for being the richest source of calories. Fat actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. So which one to follow? It is abso-

lutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.

Diet programs can help you shed excess pounds, but only one diet can help you reach your goal, and it is the one that satisfies you the most. Other important aspects of having a diet for fitness are moderation, balance and variation. You must be careful not to leave out important nutrients necessary for healthy body functioning.

Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work but which will work for you. Striving for a healthy body does not have to be a burden. Diet for fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. Be adventurous and try out new foods.

Who knows? You may even discover a new favourite food.

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Investing in Real Estate Stephen Mohammed Finance Real Estate is the driving force in any economy. Housing starts create jobs in industries such as forestry, construction, retail and manufacturing to name a few but not limited to. Everyone has to live somewhere. Either you rent or you own, you can be a tenant or a landlord.

If you rent for twenty five years, at the end of the twenty fifth year you do not have any money or assets to reflect the financial contributions made towards the right to use the property. In ownership, the payments made over a twenty five year period pays down the mortgage as well as the value of the property appreciates creating substantial equity or savings in the property.

Buyers of newly constructed or substantially renovated housing for use as the primary place of residence will receive a rebate of the provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) up to twenty four thousand dollars regardless of the price of the new home. The investment in your primary residence grows tax free. You may withdraw any equity available to you without any tax implications. You are also able to sell the primary residence once a year without any tax implications. This is a good strategy for anyone to wants to create a larger down payment

for a bigger home in the future. You may be able to generate cash flow from renting out a legal basement apartment and may be eligible for tax deductions and tax credits.

You may purchase a rental property and become a landlord generating a monthly cash flow. You make the initial down payment, obtain a mortgage and the tenant pays down the mortgage with the monthly rental payments. The property also appreciates in value over time. You may refinance to withdraw the equity available without any tax implications until the property is sold. When the property is sold only the difference from the original purchase price and the sold price is considered capital gains and taxed accordingly. You may also be eligible for tax deductions and tax credits.

You may obtain financing from a bank but don’t be afraid of non traditional or alternative financing to secure the property.

You may even qualify for a cash back mortgage. Real estate has always been location, location, location. Don’t miss an opportunity by not exploring all the options and resources available to you. Look for fixer uppers, power of sale and foreclosure properties listed below market value to maximize the return on your investment (ROI).

First time home buyers may use up to twenty five thousand dollars (per applicant) of their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution as the down payment without any tax implications. If you’re thinking saving for a down payment is challenging, the RRSP is a great tool to help you save while benefitting from the initial tax break. First-time homebuyers may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the land transfer tax.

New Canadian citizens in February 2014 almost double compared to one year ago OTTAWA -- More than 19,200 people from 193 countries have become Canadian citizens at citizenship ceremonies held across Canada over the month of February. This is almost 100 percent higher compared to the same period last year (February 2013) when approximately 9,980 people were granted citizenship across Canada.

At 220 citizenship ceremonies held across the country this past month, from school gymnasiums, to Citizenship and Immigration offices, to city halls and hotel conference rooms, Canada has welcomed our newest citizens.

These high numbers demonstrate that the system is becoming more efficient and the backlog of citizenship applications is decreasing, helping more people realize their dream of becoming Canadian sooner. The government’s proposed changes in Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, will also reduce wait times by streamlining the decision-making process for citizenship.

It is expected that these changes will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under one year and that the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80 percent by 2015-2016. (CIC)

Providing greater opportunities for Irish and Canadian youth OTTAWA -- Young people from Canada and Ireland will have more opportunities to work and travel abroad, thanks to the signing of an amendment to the youth mobility agreement enjoyed between the two countries.

Today, Canada and Ireland signed an amendment that will expand on the existing agreement on youth mobility beyond the everpopular Working Holiday category. Two new categories have been added to better meet the needs of participants and prospective employers and the total number of spots available is rising to 10,700 for 2014, a significant increase from the 6,350 spaces available in 2013.

Known in Canada as International Experience Canada (IEC), the youth mobility program provides opportunities for Irish citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 to travel and work in

Canada for up to 24 months. In exchange, young Canadians can travel and work in Ireland. Young participants benefit from these opportunities by gaining a better understanding of the other country’s culture and society through their work and life experiences abroad.

With today’s announcement, two employer-specific categories have been added as options for young people from both countries.

Young people with a pre-arranged contract of employment in support of their career development now have the option of applying to the Young Professionals category. Full-time students who have arranged a work placement or internship as part of their academic curriculum will now be able to apply to the International Co-op category.

(CIC)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Who is looking over the shoulder of 407ETR? Tammy Flores 407ETR Matters Who is looking over the shoulder of 407ETR? The most direct answer is NOBODY! The 407ETR seems to be an island on their own, with the power to withhold people’s vehicle registrations, a government provision ... with absolutely no oversight.

In my last article we revealed how the Ministry of Transportation gives out misinformation on how Plate Denial is applied. The fact that a request for Plate Denial comes from 407ETR directly and not the Default Fine Control Centre is very telling.

I have heard people liken outstanding 407 tolls to fines. They are not fines. Even Kevin Sack, 407ETR’s VP of Communications, will tell you they are in the business of

collecting tolls, not interest and fees. He will never tell you that they impose a fine on people. NEVER!!!

A fine is a penalty a “superior authority”, such as a government agency, imposes on someone as a form of punishment or to deter a crime or offense.

I can understand how some would feel that 407ETR should be in a position to deter people from toll evasion. I agree with that.

That is why they have the heavy penalty of denying someone their vehicle registration until tolls are paid. So what’s with the heavy interest and fees that are often hidden from people for years? Opportunism at its finest in my opinion.

Despite provisions in the 407Act to be able to dispute bills independently of the company and the famous court decision in 2006 saying disputes should be independent of the company, the company calls all the shots.

No decision is made without 407ETR’s influence. The Province likes to point to that court decision and say “we have no choice, we have to honor 407’s request for Plate Denial”, why can’t they say “we have no choice, we have to allow the people an independent dispute process”?

It appears the Ministry of Transpor-

tation has dropped the ball and has allowed 407ETR to call all the shots. Not only does 407ETR have an internal dispute process they push people through, which is very bias and for the most part, does not acknowledge mistakes the company makes, but even how the company reports to the Ministry of Transportation is completely without any independent scrutiny.

The biggest complaint consumers have is that they never received a bill indicating tolls occurred and when they did receive a bill, there was no information on what the actual tolls were. Just a number on a bill claiming that they owed the company money. The company does not provide customers with documentation that would indicate what the actual tolls are and they don’t provide the information to the Ministry of Transportation either.

How can the Ministry of Transportation justify blindly honoring requests for payment from 407ETR, without an independent process?

The Ministry of Transportation shouldn’t be allowed to do this, but unless you start speaking up, the 407ETR will continue to get away with “Highway Robbery”.

Nobody is looking over the shoulder of 407ETR and you know what they say... absolute power corrupts absolutely.

A guide to purchasing travel insurance Olivia Boodram Travel Every day thousands of people buy travel insurance. Compare the various policies and you’ll see what a diverse and confusing issue it can sometimes be. Here we have provided you with some advice on how to find the best policy for you and those you may be traveling with. There is a lot to think about when you want to buy travel insurance - but most important, get a policy that covers everything you need and suits your unique needs.

What type of policy do you need?

This is the first question you should ask yourself when you are looking at travel insurance products. Compare single trip deals with multi trip policies and see which one

makes the most sense for you. If you know you will only take one trip during an entire year then a single-trip policy will be best for you. Alternatively if you know you will be going away more frequently throughout the year then you should consider getting a multi-trip policy to cover you for all the trips. Not only does this save you money, but it also saves you the time and aggravation of arranging for coverage each time.

Do you have any special requirements?

Some policies do not cover specific things.

For example extreme sports are rarely covered by travel insurance. Compare the small print on different policies to see what is and isn’t covered. Sometimes you may have to declare anything like this just to ensure it is added and noted down in your case. It may not mean you have to pay anything extra, but you have to declare it so the company is aware of it. At other times you may need to take out a specific policy that will cover the activities you wish to do. The main thing is to be sure they are going to cover you, if you have signed up for that scuba diving lesson, or decided to take on the challenge of

the new and exciting popular sport of “ziplining.”

Prices and details Before jumping at the best deal you can find – yes it is important to make sure you look for an affordable deal. But it is much more important that your policy covers you, for your very specific and exclusive needs.

This becomes extremely important if you are dealing with a “Pre-existing condition.”

Always take the time to make sure you will be covered, because a cheap policy that does not cover you for your condition, is of no use to you, and may end up costing you thousands of dollars. This is why it is always best to evaluate all the information you can get, so you are able to find the best deal. It also reduces the odds of buying the wrong policy.

As you can see, it makes sense to spend a little time looking for the best deal on your travel insurance. When you do you will very likely be amply rewarded for your efforts - and Peace of Mind.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 27

FOR SALE FOR SALE METAL SHELVES: 3 metal shelve cases for cargo van. 1 in excellent condition, 2 in good condition. $500 for all 3. 647-3094606 DVDs: Assorted DVDs for sale or swap.

Contact Jim for more information. 416-8947859 JAMAICA HOME: Jamaica Home for Sale. Near Ocho Rios. Spacious 2 story house, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, hot and cold water, security grills, fully fenced yard, seasonal fruit trees, move in condition. Contact Yvonne 416-786-5149 msamie@rogers.com 2002 HONDA ACCORD COUPE: Model SE, sun roof, spoiler and heated seats. In great condition, includes new winter tires, black on black interior. Certified and Emission tested, asking $4500. 416-705-9907 SALT WATER AQUARIUM: 40 gal Red Sea tank value at $900 alone. includes all live stock, equiptment ,LED lights. Owner willing to setup. Asking $1000 416-7059907.

AQUARIUM: Fresh Water Aquarium (approx 70 gallons) includes stand, pump and decoration. $200. 416-705-9907.

LAND IN TOBAGO: On Riseland Road, 10,500 square feet near the Airport, Royal Bank Plaza, Store Bay Beach and Mount Irvine Golf Course. Contact 647-467-3171 FREEHOLD LAND: Harriman Park Point Fortin Trinidad. 27 Main Road - 6450 square feet. 18 Hillcrest Road - 9935 square feet. Serious bids to lamsaleslam@gmail. com or call 1-868-347-6191

FOR SALE FOR SALE

FORWANTED SALE HELP

HOUSE FOR SALE: 3 Bedroom house in Willowdeen St Catherin off Old Harbor Road, fully grilled, move in condition, fruit trees. Call 416-749-0148

BUSY BRAMPTON ROTI SHOP: Immediate help wanted. Please call 905-497-6800

FOR RENT SALE FOR ROOM FOR RENT: Student Preferable.

Victoria Park and Main/Danfort. Call 416938-3753. Message 416-686-5502

DRIVER: Driver wanted for a cargo van.

Must have a G or G2 License. Call 416938-3753. Message 416-686-5502

FOR SALE WANTED

HOUSE FOR RENT: Available for January 1st 2014. 45 Amethyst Circle, Brampton, The Gore Road/Contrelle Blvd. 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, full wash, spacious living room/dining room. Close to shopping area, businesses Call 416-570-0925 or 416722-6528 ALL SEASON COTTAGE: Wasaga Beach. 4 Bedroom, sleeps 10. 15 Minutes drive from Blue Mountain and Beach. Log on to www.wasagabeachretreat.ca for more info or call 905-495-8901 SALON CHAIR: Available for rent to an establish stylist or someone who is interested in building a clientele. Contact Gurline 647-345-1752 WORSHIP SPACE: Space available for Worship. Available from 2pm Location Warden and St Clair. Call 416-938-3753.

Message 416-686-5502 ESTHETICS ROOM: In the Oakwood ave and St Clair area contact Gurline 647345-1752

FOR SALE SERVICES

PERSONAL TRAINING: Free personal training using either Chiropractor or Athletic Therapy insurance benefits email eric@habitual.ca for more info!

FOR SALE OPPORTUNITIES

WORK FROM HOME: Looking for a part time job that I can do from home. NO MLM please, I’m looking for work - Sunil 647-988-3002 FRIDGE: Looking for a fridge for our church. Free or $50 and less. Call 416-9383753. Message 416-686-5502

FOR SALE WORSHIP

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED: Looking for self motivated individuals to help promote some natural health products. 416-721-9945

FOR SALE PERSONALS

Mature man looking for a Guyanese Indian woman - divorced, widowed or wealthy for companionship

Call 647-854-0335 COMPANION: Looking for a companion to share a cabin on a boat cruise. Please call after 6pm. Sally 647-344-4650

FORWANTED SALE HELP SALES REPS NEEDED: Seeking sales reps to increase new business. Confident and self-motivated, highly skilled at aquiring new business. 647-722-6298

PEN PALS: Looking for male pen pals from Guyana or Trinidad. Between the ages of 50-59. Please email sharmen.singh@ yahoo.com

30 Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Your Horoscope - March 12th 2014 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

If you find yourself thinking and feeling your way along new lines, then you’re well aligned with your stars. The best way to redesign your life is to redesign yourself first.

Venus, freshly into Aquarius, helps you do just that. Social life and financial prospects also get a fresh boost now. Monday, you’ll earn it. Tuesday onward, you’ll make good progress.

Venus in Aquarius brings today’s reality into fuller light. Jupiter in Cancer increases the desire, the need, and the resources. Moving it forward requires taking a risk on the uncharted, but isn’t every choice a gamble?

Make liberated, free, clear, and clean your top priorities. Formidable pressure builds through Monday. By Tuesday, you’re on a complete switch-up.

It’s time to freshen up the message, the conversation, or the presentation. Mercury continues in social Aquarius for another 10 days and attraction planet Venus does so for the next month. Both increase your ability to connect, create, gain, and prosper, but first Mercury has to sort it out with Saturn, the reality-check planet. Past Monday, your stars hit Go.

These past four months of Jupiter retrograde have given you an opportunity to take a look at yourself and your future. For the same time frame, Venus in Capricorn has given you a more sober look at relationships, finances, ambitions, commitments, and goals. Both planets are on the move, and you should be too. By Monday/Tuesday, the stars push you past another hurdle.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Now through April 5, Venus in Aquarius boosts your social life. It also gives you an opportunity to test-drive a new side of yourself. Upgrades of all kinds are well timed, attitude included. Jupiter strengthens inner security and increases your intuitive take on things. Monday forces you to push through.

Priorities need to be addressed. By Tuesday, you’ll have it sorted out.

Try something a new way; it could prove to be quite an improvement. Look to Jupiter and Venus to assist you where it does you the most good. Monday pinpoints it. Once past the hurdle, correction, or hard start, relief follows. Even though there’s more work and a full-moon weekend ahead, you should find you make much better progress from here.

Communicate what’s on your mind, put it out there, give it a try. Jupiter loans you more security and confidence. Helping you gain favour and positive attention, and make good progress in matters of heart and wallet, Venus, your ruler, is in a strong position now through the beginning of April. Even so, know that Monday’s stars are particularly hard-edged.

Mercury and Saturn in Scorpio are building significant pressure or steam. The start of the new week delivers your answer, result, deadline, ultimatum, confirmation, and/or Go signal. Until then, stay open-ended, keep a close eye on yourself, and let the moment play itself out. Once it’s spoken, settled, released, or unleashed, the rest falls into place quite readily.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

In a holding pattern no longer, Jupiter and Venus will help you to better gains, especially regarding finances, home, family, an intimate relationship, and/or a matter dear to the heart. Better support can be found, but first there’s an important conversation or negotiation to broach, an announcement or decision to make, or a paper to sign. Monday calls for a big push.

You’ve been building it for a while, and now you’ll gain a much better sense of where to take it next. The end of Jupiter retrograde increases your financial, personal, social, and professional options. A key relationship, learning curve, or financial track hits a growth spurt now too. Monday thrusts you over a definitive, no-turning-back threshold.

As of Thursday’s sudden burst or spurt, you’ll make faster, better tracks. Venus and Mercury springboard you onto something new and exceptionally opportune, perhaps unexpectedly so. First, though, there’s an important threshold to cross or challenge to surpass. Monday hits it full thrust. Tuesday onward, the brakes come off. You’ll find yourself on an upswing for the rest of the week.

The end of Jupiter retrograde launches your next growth spurt. Life, love, opportunity, and the potential for greater personal fulfillment lead you onto a new track. Monday is a breakthrough, eventful, or results-producing day. Defining the shape of things to come, once past this threshold, you’re on to a productive and lucrative week ahead.

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) ____ Four [FANTASTIC] 7) Lex ____ [LUTHOR] 9) Tony Stark’s alter ego [IRONMAN] 11) Big, green and angry [HULK] 12) X-Men’s nemesis [MAGNETO] 14) ____ Woman [WONDER] 15) Has adamantium blades [WOLVERINE] 16) Clownish villain [JOKER] 17) Man of Steel [SUPERMAN]

Down 1) Blind lawyer by day [DAREDEVIL] 2) Really, really fast [FLASH] 4) Web slinger [SPIDERMAN] 5) Norse god [THOR] 6) aka Bruce Wayne [BATMAN] 8) Green ____ [LANTERN] 10) Captain ____ [AMERICA] 11) Expert archer [HAWKEYE] 13) Doctor ____ [OCTOPUS]

(June 21 - July 20)

(October 23 - November 21)

(February 18 - March 20)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

3 tips to miracle-gro the garden of your mind Tina Dietz Business Development Anyone will tell you that in the world of real, growing plants-I have a black thumb.

I killed bamboo once. But when it comes to my mind, I can garden with the best of them. Our minds are very busy places and if we leave them to their own devices our thinking-and the actions that come from that thinking-can be unruly and unsatisfying. On the other hand, a well-tended mind creates beauty, shines with creativity, and is a haven for anyone who wanders near.

If you step back from yourself for a moment and imagine that your mind is a garden-what would it look like? Do you have a tiered, terraformed hill? An explosion of wildflowers? How about an English garden, organized with pathways between?

Perhaps you have a little pool to gaze at your reflection. Is your garden fenced in, or is it an expanse of meadow? And of course… what shall we do about the weeds?

We all have a crab apple or two in our mental gardens, and you have to appreciate the tenacity of dandelions with their sunny little heads, tasty leaves, and extraor-

dinary ability to spread themselves around so easily-so don’t be too quick to prune everything in sight or judge that your magnolias are mixed with your mums. Here’s a tussie mussie of ways to channel your inner Miracle Gro. 1. Shhhhhhhh…..listen to the birds. We are so bombarded with stimulation all the time, our garden minds need a break from technology and the outside world. Take 10 minutes a day to be quiet and pay attention to your breathing, or just sit and observe your thoughts without judgment.

2. Weed & Feed your mind. So many of our thoughts are automatic and repetitive, just like the Creeping Charlie that weaves its way through your lawn. But instead of trying to rip out the thoughts you don’t like and getting frustrated, instead just don’t pay much attention to them. Give your energy instead to tending, feeding, and growing the thoughts and beliefs that you love and that serve you. A healthy garden or lawn resists intruders all on its own.

3. Visit the Nursery. With each season, plant something new in the garden of your mind to keep it strong, experiment with what fits into your garden, and keep things expanding. You will stay interested and enlivened and your garden will attract new and interesting critters to pollinate your flowers and veggies. Who knows, maybe you’ll invent a whole new hybrid or species!

Critical illness - itʼs indiscriminate!

Sherene Cole

CIP, CRM, CAIB, LLQP

Insurance Matters

The future has a way of arriving unannounced – Here is one more thing you can do to prepare for it: purchase critical illness insurance while you are still healthy. If you consider yourself an average person in Canada, your financial situation could change drastically if you suffer a critical illness like cancer, heart attack, stroke, heart bypass surgery and major organ transplants. Take the time now to think about how you would cope.

CRITICAL ILLNESS is indiscriminate and can strike anyone regardless of age, occupation, sex or income level. Below are some facts about critical illnesses that may interest you: Did you know in Canada: • 1 in 2 people will contract heart disease.

• 1 in 2 heart attack victims are under age 65.

• 1 in 4 people will suffer kidney failure.

• 1 in 20 people run the risk of having a stroke before age 70.

• 1 in 500 is the incidence rate of Multiple Sclerosis.

• 40% of heart attacks are cause by stress.

• 1% increase per year in cancer incidence since 1970.

• 70% of open heart operations are coronary bypasses.

• A new case of cancer is being diagnosed every 4 minutes.

• 500 new cases of paralysis of at least 2 limbs each year.

• 30% of cancer victims are completely cured.

• 50% decrease in the death rate from heart attacks and strokes over the past 40 years.

• 75% of stroke victims survive the initial event.

• 80% of kidney transplants are successful.

• 95% of heart attack victims survive the initial attack.

• The average length of stay in hospitals for men with heart attacks is 15 days, and for women 23 days.

FACT: The financial consequences of a serious illness are often worse than those of death! A ratio of 8 to 1!

FACT: 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime; 60% will survive more than 5 years.

FACT: 70,000 Canadians suffer heart attacks and another 50,000 strokes every year Critical Illness insurance was designed to provide financial support to solve these problems in a way that disability, life, and medical insurance could not. It pays the insured person while they’re alive, from $10,000 up to a $2,000,000 maximum in a tax-free lump sum. The money is paid on the diagnosis of one or up to 25 critical illnesses, if you survive 30 days or more after diagnosis, depending on the condition. A unique benefit of this coverage is that you can spend the money any way you choose to.

But you must have this coverage in place, BEFORE illness strikes.

For questions or comments or if you would like to see a particular subject covered in future issues, please refer to the editorial section on page 5 for my contact details.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 31

32 Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Networking what?

Colleen Lindberg Business Development How often do we hear the word “Networking”? Everywhere I go I can attest to hearing it often, but what does it really mean and how can this term (or the action of) really impact your business?

Have you ever been to a networking event before? You walked in the room (not really knowing anyone there) and then got into a conversation with someone where all they talked about was themselves. They didn’t ask about what you do, they have no interest in listening to you (in case you might have the off chance of getting a word in) and they monopolize your time, not realizing that you might want to meet other people in the room.

They then proceeded to push a business card on you and when you get home you’ve been added to their mailing list and already have 3 emails from them. Can you relate to this?

You then make a decision that networking doesn’t work, you vow never to go to another one of “those” events and your chances of really networking in arenas like this are flushed down the toilet from the bad experience of someone who doesn’t understand the value of getting to know people, building trust and connecting into a genuine business relationship.

No matter how many events you go to, and trust me I’ve been to many myself, you will always find people like this in the room.

It is important to recognize them, acknowledge them and politely excuse yourself from their space and move on to another conversation. Now in case you are the “Business Card Pusher” this is your chance to shift gears and change your networking habits. These four tips outlined below will assist you in building solid business relationships, enhancing your ability to engage people in a room and will set you apart from your competition.

Four Tips to Effective Networking 1) Listen to what the other person has to say and be genuinely interested: Networking is about getting to know people and figuring out if there is a way that you can work together, whether it be as a client relationship, a referral partner affiliation or even just in a supportive relationship of business owners. If you are not listening to what the other person has to say, how will you ever know if there is a possibility of ever doing business together?

Remembering something someone said and being able to repeat it back to them is a sign of interest and respect. It tells me that you really care about what they have to say. Building that trust is a key to long-term clients and business growth. Without listening you won’t be able to establish this type of connection.

2) Be authentic and be yourself: Why waste time pretending to be something you are not.

As a potential client, I will eventually see through the mask that you are wearing and there will be a lot of time wasted for you and me. Have confidence that you will attract peo-

ple that will align with your company values, your services and your authenticity. You want your customers to respect you for who you are, what talents you bring to the table and for you, not for the made up a version of you that you think you have to be in order to “sell” yourself. Remember that we all bring value as people. Bring your value, stand in who you are and watch to see the relationships that you are able to build because of it.

3) Ask thought provoking questions: Ask people questions that are out of the ordinary.

Instead of the regular “What do you do?” kind of questions, what if you asked them some like this: “What are you most passionate about?”

“What is your top goal in 2014?”

“If you were to donate 1 million dollars to a charity of choice, which one would it be and why?”

“What is your greatest accomplishment?” or how about this one “How can I help you to reach that goal of 2014?”

Do you see how these questions can open up into a more connected conversation and how you will be able to better understand people using them? Do you see how this could create more value for this relationship and open up more doors? Now the relationship becomes personal and real, it becomes authentic. How powerful is that.

4) Follow up, Follow up, and Follow up: You have heard it all before, the money is in the follow up, really think about this. Networking events are not a place to close business, they are not a place to spend the whole event talking to one person. They are set up for people to walk around a room and meet

numerous people attending the event. The goal from there is to figure out which out of the people you have met that you want to get to know better. Then you can book more time to build this relationship, learn about the ins and outs of their business and talk about how you could possibly work together. When I am at an event and I really connect with someone, I will get my calendar out right there and schedule a time with them to do lunch, or go for a coffee or to set up a follow up call time. I will also tell others that I want to get to know better that I will email them on this date to set up a time to do the same. If I don’t have a chance to do this at the event in question, then I will make a call a couple days later and connect with them again. Some of my best clients came from these initial meetings, from following up, getting to know them better and staying connected to them. If you haven’t heard from someone in a few months, take the time to connect back to that relationship.

It is an action that shows that you care and are really interested in keeping them in your life.

Reading these four tips might make networking seem really simple, and it should be because all we are really doing is building relationships but if reading them causes you some fear, or some challenges, I encourage you to try them anyways. You know it might make you stretch yourself to get outside of your current box and do something a bit different, what if it was worth it? What if you could increase business and build a more solid foundation in your business? I know off hand and from others in my life that these tips work. I dare you to try them. Really what do you have to lose? Again, what if they work?

Here’s to some great networking!”

CELEBRATE * MOTIVATE * NOMINATE

WOMAN ON FIRE

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