Diamonds In The Rough 111815

EVERYTHING EVERYTHIN NG YOU NEED IIN NO ONE NE NEWS NEWSPAPER SPAPER TO ADVERTISE: 647-722-6298 • ONLINE ONLINE: E: T E: TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM OR O RO ON NTOCARIBBEAN.COM TO TO • V VO VOLUME OL OL LU UME M 4 • ISSUE 20 • W WE WEDNESDAY, EDNESDAY, NOVEMB NOVEMBER BE B ER 1 18 18TH 8T TH H 2015

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH Photo: Phot Ph oto: o: A ALY ALYSSA LYSS SSA A MA MAHA MAHADEO/TORONTO HADE DEO O/T /TOR ORON ONTO TO CARIBBEAN CAR C ARIB IBBE BEAN AN

Brilliant Minded Women Dazzle the Community with Outstanding Accomplishments

ALYSSA MAHADEO/TORONTO SSA M AHAD AH ADEO EO//TO TORO RONT NTO O CARIBBEAN CARI CA RIBB BBEA EAN N After many years of being repressed and having their opinions ignored, the women of today’s society have been working hard in their efforts to be the positive change we see in the world. They have banded together through inspiration and determination to raise awareness for the concerns they have about our ever changing communities and the challenges they face. Together they have taken huge strides in making it their personal mission to do whatever it takes to accomplish and reach their goals.

At the young age of twenty five polish native Agata Klimczak, immigrated

to Canada. Living in unfamiliar territory, with the world at her feet, there were infinite possibilities for what she could accomplish. Agata cultivated her knowledge and skills growing into a successful and dynamic leader in network and business marketing. Through her success she founded the Brilliant Minded Women Network, helping to create new opportunities for other female entrepreneurs.

On Saturday November 7th, at Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton she hosted the 2nd annual Brilliant Women Grand Gala. This gala was organized to

acknowledge the achievements and leadership of female entrepreneurs and to celebrate how much they matter to the community. This focused and inspiring event, allows women to connect with one another, introducing them to influential leaders that will motivate them to take their careers to the next level, while also allowing them to use their collective power to raise funds for local and international causes.

Continued On Page 5

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Julie Rambali; Keeping the culture alive As a little girl born in Guyana in 1977, Julie Rambali always knew there was a greater purpose for her in life. Julie immigrated to Canada when she was nine years old, with her family. While trying to adapt to the new environment she stuck close to her family, who instilled some of her most coveted morals and values, teaching her to always keep an open mind and to be unique. When she started school her teachers noticed that she had a bright young mind, however she would never put up her hand to answer questions when the time came. They realized that like many immigrant families Julie was experiencing culture shock and enrolled her in a morning school program where she had the chance to be around kids like herself. It helped her to build up her confidence being around children of the same culture, participating in familiar activities that they had back in Guyana.

Julie went on to graduate from Parklawn Junior Middle School and has attended high school at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, Western Tech Collegiate Institute and completed her high school Diploma at Thistletown Collegiate Institute. While attending Western Tech, she felt a huge amount of culture shock that prompted her

to switch schools. Julie was finally able to find comfort in the diverse ethnicities and discover who she was herself while attending Thistletown Collegiate Institute.

Throughout those years Julie used her athletic abilities and vibrant personality to participate in many extracurricular activities, being recognized as the MVP on many of the school sports teams, winning many competitions and even the class presidency. While attending high school Julie realized her love and skill for computers. She graduated from Seneca College in 1999 with a diploma in Computer Programming and Design. In 1998 while at Seneca College, she anticipated the major career opportunities within website design. She then decided to launch her own business, Infinite Linx, which offers website development, domain hosting, graphic designing and printing of which she continues to operate successfully from the comfort of her home since 1998.

Although she has been living in Toronto for so long, Julie has never forgotten her West Indian Heritage. In addition to running her own business, she is also the CEO of the annual WI Canadian Expo, WI Can Dance Competition and the Miss West

Indian Canadian Pageant. Every year she aspires to make it bigger and better than the last. She feels that she carries the weight of the entire West Indian Community on her shoulders, but enjoys the opportunity to help young women like herself, aspire to reach their fullest potential. Her reputation for being organized and strong minded is what helps her to keep everything running smoothly and though she has dedicated so much of her energy and efforts to the cause she’d rather remain behind scenes.

Julie’s advice for other women is to “Continue supporting each other in the community keep the pride, culture and heritage alive!” She encourages other women to empower each other, enhance their confidence and most importantly to follow their dreams.

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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Miss Diwali Canada crowns their first Queen!

Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter The first ever Miss Diwali Canada pageant was held on Sunday November 8th, at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall in Etobicoke. Epic Entertainment presented the first Diya Divas pageant, inviting contestants to take part in this amazing opportunity to be crowned the first Miss Diwali Canada.

It was an evening filled with highly anticipated performances and fierce competition as seven delegates contended for the title of Miss Diwali Canada 2015. Keeping in accordance with traditions followed on the Hindu auspicious festival of Diwali, the contestants took part in a celebration of talent, intelligence and beauty lighting up the stage with their vibrant and enchanting personalities.

Pageant director, Rajmini Ramkumar shares that it was always her dream to host this type of event. After her own daughter Chalisa had competed in pageants, she

aspired to one day organize her own event within the community to show everyone what their culture is all about. For Rajmini, the initiative to start her own pageant was always at the forefront of her mind, and this year she was presented with the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

The evening commenced with an opening prayer led by pundits from the community, with those in attendance including: Pt. Vishnu Persaud Misra, Pt. Maharaj Doobay, Pt. Manni Mahabir, Pt. Harrilal Sharma, Pt. Rajesh, Pt. Nandalal, Pt. Sewlal Persaud, Pt. Jagdeo Maharaj, Pt. Krish Harpaul and Mr. Bansingh. In welcoming the celebration of Diwali, bhajans were sung to bring the warmth and light of Mother Lakshmi to the event with a dance performed in her honor.

The evening was packed with many performances for the audience to enjoy, with appearances by Suresh Hanoman, Arvin, Bishram, Anjana and Terry Gajraj. In addition to these singers there was a selection of high-energy dance performances by Chris Badree, Sara and Anissa.

The delegates took to the stage with grace and poise as they were introduced to the crowd and the judges for the evening.

The contestants were a selection of stunning young women that demonstrated a refreshing balance of beauty and brains including Nirvanee Ramnarine, Pooja Maharaj,

Abigale Motiram, Anjeli Bissoon, Lisa Jewanram, Dannilian Motilal and Tricia Mahabir. Each participant modeled a colorful and dazzling saree of their choice, performing an array of competitive talents before answering a Diwali related question to decide the final score.

Finally after much anticipation a Queen was chosen! Miss Dannilian Motilal was crowned the first ever Miss Diwali Canada for 2015! Coming in as 1st Runner-up was Miss Anjeli Bisson and 2nd Runner-up was Miss Pooja Maharaj. Each girl brought something unique to the table and they are all commended for their amazing performances. This was a strong start for the Miss Diwali Canada, Diya Divas Pageant. They had an amazing turnout and it was a huge success. We can’t wait to see what next year has in store!

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Diamonds in the rough •

Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- It was a luxurious event, strategically designed to make all of the women in the room feel like royalty. It was an elegant and sophisticated affair with a combination of dinner, networking, live entertainment and the opportunity to be inspired by the many speakers who are leading women entrepreneurs.

Over the course of the evening guests were privileged to hear women from all walks of life speak about the charities they founded and the challenges that they faced and overcame coming out as stronger and more resilient individuals in the end. They were able to share real and relatable stories that provoked a sense of awareness to the problems that every one of us are affected by in the community, letting us know that we aren’t alone and that there is always someone there who is willing to lend a helping hand.

The audience was able to hear a first hand account of keynote speaker Rhiannon Traill’s personal struggles from her early life to the changes she made and the challenges she endured to become the successful woman that she is today. Other speakers included Theresa Laurico and Pierre Lalande. Live entertainment included upbeat and engaging performances by singer Jay Harmony Davis and dancer Trishya Perera.

The awards presented throughout the evening recognized eighteen women for their inspiring accomplishments, each with their own unique backstory, but all with one mission in mind: support, grow and inspire.

Winners of the 2015 Brilliant Minded Women Awards included: • Charity of the Year – Deborah Bianchi • Philanthropist of the Year – Marilyn Field • Lifetime Achievement Award – Jody Steinhauer

• • • • • • • • •

Volunteer of the Year – Jolanta Morgenstern, Leslie Silvestri Arts and Entertainment Award – Maria Nowotarska Student of the Year – Joanna Klimczak Maria Martini Resilience Award – Helena Kameka Mind, Body and Spirit Award – Danuta Domurad & Magdalena Gessler Business Development and Growth Award – Sabina M. DeVita Global Excellence Award – Hazel McCallion Political Leadership Award – Bonnie Crombie Self Development Award – Joan John Best Community Service Award – Marcia Brown & Anna Lopes

Many of these women have aspired to do great things regardless of the hands they were dealt in life. Some have immigrated here to Canada, searching for a better life and had to overcome the challenges of adjusting, to make something of themselves, confronting every problem with a determined attitude keeping their heads held high.

Collectively they all found a cause worth fighting for and they took the necessary steps to do their part and give back to the community. Amongst the awardees included two ladies from Jamaica, Marcia Brown for her community service through the youth community support organization she founded Trust 15 and Joan John, for overcoming the challenges she faced early in life when she was a visitor to Canada rising above the discrimination, intimidation and Systematic Justice to obtain an education.

The Brilliant Minded Women network has become an outlet where innovative and successful women can develop strong supportive relationships sharing new ways to grow their business.

The evening was a huge success thanks to all of the sponsors that contributed to making it possible, all gaining valuable exposure for themselves and their companies. If you are interested in learning more about the Brilliant Minded Women Network and would like to join their movement please visit www.brilliantmindedwomen.com.

community

PAGE 5

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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PAGE 7

Applications now open for Grace Kennedy Jamaican birthright programme Kevin Yeboah

kevin@carib101.com

TC Reporter One of the most ironic things an individual can tell to another is, “go back to where ever you came from” especially in situations where the other party has yet to go back there! Likewise having the stigma from family, friends or folks of your background who find it unfathomable that anyone could grow up without knowing the core and integral aspects of culture to their life. First, second, third; however many generations down the

line you can go, these people are almost never fully absorbed into their culture, students especially. However, in recent years there have been programs and good people who care about the state of tradition and culture to learn these students, giving them an opportunity to get involved, be proactive and apart of the conversation.

The GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme is just the right outlet to introducing people (more specifically post-secondary students) to an enriched, prolonged experience exposing, enriching and enlightening students on the Jamaican experience. Through music, social activity, professional tutelage and internships at GraceKennedy, students become not only more sensitive to their Jamaican background but acutely aware in the things that inherently involve themselves as Jamaican people.

The year 2015 was a huge success as four

students, Kira Starks, Janae Bell, Ukpong Etang and Jamila Turner Dell’Acqua, were selected out of many applications spanning from across Canada, the US and the UK. “It has been a fruitful experience, full of exciting, adventurous activities and provided a great insight into the Jamaican culture. The professional element of the internship was very rewarding and allowed me to develop teamwork and leadership skills.” said twenty one year old Jamila Turner a Dance Graduate and one of four in the 2015 round of participants. According to Janae a Harvard U student, “I really developed a love and appreciation for Jamaica on this trip. I was able to experience the life and culture as a resident rather than a tourist. The GK Birthright Programme is one I recommend all students of Jamaican heritage take part in.” A very stark and telling insight to the GraceKennedy program to Jamaica. Whilst

having raving reviews across the board.

Although the GraceKennedy Programme is a somewhat short experience as students are sent off for a full month, (granted that they attend a post-secondary institution, are passing with adequate marks, have yet to experience an extended six month period in Jamaica whilst being of some Jamaican decent) it still begs to pose an inner spark in these students to be aware of their culture.

Even more so being second or third generational children growing up in sometimes completely oppositional circumstances to what their origins truly are. The GraceKennedy Programme has made a continual effort in taking strides to have second and third generational students grow in light of their culture as these future influential working people in the world can have a wide scope and a boisterous attitude in tackling issues of their culture should they arise.

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The politics of engagement in a world of fear Hugh Anthony Guest Writer The terrorist attacks in Paris have left an indelible scar on our consciousness as individuals and collective societies as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) claims responsibility, yet again given the attacks in Beirut a few days ago. In our Western democracies, it goes against the ideals of our democracy we embrace and hold so dear and is represented by • • • • • •

Freedom of speech Freedom of equality The right to practice any religion The right to fair trial The right to vote A government elected by the people

We ought not to give into a world of fear, which has been so effectively utilized, not just

by ISIS, but also by our very own democracies to isolate and divide, as with the recent elections in Canada and Poland. What this politics of fear does is create a void and isolate citizens and people who want to embrace and understand the collective political norms rooted in democratic values. As our societies embrace immigrants and minorities that will change the status quo of our hegemonic views that Western societies hold to so dearly, we have to share the values that have held our societies together and live them, not just when it is convenient, but making it a way of life.

Our societies need to share their values, not rules; how we integrate, not isolate; how we play our game, not our rights only to arms and shoot our guns; and how we affirm our reality, not our ideals. For some western societies, their goals should be to challenge the status quo of fear and reaffirm its founding values and agreed policies and guidelines for political engagement. To do otherwise, will put our values and our democracies at peril; and on a collision path where we are responding from the axis of fear, rather than from the vantage point of political engagement. How I define political engagement is not in a traditional context, as we have come to know it, but how we collectively understand the means, ways, outlets and platforms of expression, advocacy and constructive dialogue for meaningful and sustainable change.

The responses to the terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut, and the other cities over the past years Alexandria, Brussels, Copenhagen, Delhi, London, Madrid, Nairobi, Ottawa, Peshawar, and Sinai, and how do we move from the politics of fear to a politics of engagement, I propose three steps: Engagement of Youths If there was ever a time that’s considered the Enlightenment of Technological Engagement it is now. Our youths in Western democracies are now more connected to social media

more ways than we want to believe than five years ago during the Arab Spring. The era of clicktivism, where at the click or tap of a button, youths become exposed to information whether or not it is factual, it impacts how their opinions are formed and how they act. It is our collective responsibility – civil society, business community, and political directorate to make youth engagement a strategic priority. To do otherwise or to hold on to the old conventional view that youths are not engaged, is misguided and will result in the reinforcement of that view and further disenfranchise them. The guided view and belief we need to embrace is that young people are willing to be involved in contributing to life and to living in a responsible manner. Thus, it challenges the notions and engages them to act and create positive social change. To do otherwise, a feeling of despair may emerge and radicalization can replace inclusive engagement. For meaningful engagement, we need to involve the youths in planning and decision-making such as social innovation, education, entrepreneurship and political advocacy, given that they affect and effect them and their peers. There are benefits to be gained by leveraging the platforms that they actively participate on and in. Our youths are not just amazing consumers, they are also excellent decision makers and innovators, who should have a say on how they curate their very own futures as well as ours.

Engagement of Minority communities A research by the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo), based at Coventry University, suggests that we are still failing to understand and reflect the growing diversity within our minority – and majority – communities. This is partly due to the sheer pace of change and increasing complexity of the diversity around us.

With the sheer pace of change in our societies, the situated and cultural context of minority communities often conflicts with mainstream ideals, not their values. To effectively engage minority communities, we have to adjust the lens from which we seek to glean their contextual realities and lived experiences. The need to engage minority communities should not be done only through traditional modalities such as through elders and community leaders alone, there is no better way to gain credibility in minority communities than by building partnerships and relationships with individuals and organization within them that have authority and collective persuasion that espouse an understanding of their socio-cultural and psycho-spiritual dynamics, their livelihoods, language, recreation and education.

The reinforcement of policies in the provision of services to minority communities within Western democracies that usually undermine their lived experiences, realities and socio-cultural contexts need to be reviewed.

For change to happen we need to review and recommend strategies that incorporate an understanding of minority communities to bring about sustainable change and well-being. To do otherwise, it isolates them and undermines our abilities to build a cohesive and coherent approach for all citizens and civil society.

The priority for all societies that wants to harness the synergies of these minority communities for the collective good is to acknowledge that race and ethnicity are framed in the United Nations Human Rights Charter

and incorporate that recognition in their governance framework. The issue of engagement must not only be general but specific in relations to how we recommend strategies of engagement for minority communities and how they are served and be willing to be served.

That is, with dignity, respect, recognition, equality and ability, not from a perspective of fear, disdain, contempt, but seeing our differences as strength and how our similar we are, even though we appear different. Our blood is all red in color, I infer!

Engagement of Civil Society The capacity for engagement in civil society must not only come from within dominant groups or majority population within democratic societies, but also from key affected populations, in particular, women, minorities, indigenous groups, underserved communities (such lesbian, gays, bisexual, two-spirited, queer and MSM) and youths. For this to be meaningful and sustainable, civil society actors – private, public sector and non-profit organizations - must be held to a higher level of accountability to provide greater access to affected populations.

The digital age has provided unfettered access to information in real time and at practically no cost. This media and the medium of technology can be leveraged to assist in how we engage civil society and our constituents, and how it can help them deliver and manage change in a more effective and efficient way.

As Suzanne Nazal noted “social media has transferred power to the people and has given rise to online activism.” She further noted that our ability for engagement has become easier and accessible to citizens to express support for a cause or start a campaign.

There are opportunities for civil society to explore in how we communicate beyond the traditional and/or comfortable modalities.

The alternative forms offer invaluable dialogue and have the potential to build a network of committed, active citizens that can positively influence civil society. The need for commitment to engagement from governments, the business community and the third sector to foster, facilitate and enable environments for organizing, championing, advocating and engaging both affected and majority communities is crucial for sustainability and livelihoods within democratic societies to operate on the values they foster, not just the ideals espoused.

While we continue to build consensus around the most momentous challenges facing our world - terrorism and terrorist attacks - let our collective energies build bridges to healing, not exacerbate tensions and our vulnerabilities that currently exist even within our own societies. But most importantly, let us not divert attention from the serious challenges of youth engagement, engagement of minorities and the collective responsibilities of civil society. They all contribute to the mosaic that creates a safe, meaningful and just society that provides a blueprint for strategic imperatives and political engagement that will create the quilt that becomes the premise upon which we strengthen the values that hold us as a society together, instead of dividing us, and foster our abilities that can help distort and destroy the politics of fear.

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Discover Kingston; Experience the heartbeat of Jamaica!

Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter The initial response when I told my friends and family that I was headed to Kingston, Jamaica were reactions of well wishes, envy, skepticism and most importantly expressed concerns for my well being, with many reminders to be careful and to stay safe. It’s enough to make anyone travelling alone a little bit nervous, heading to a country that I had little knowledge about, with people I wasn’t even acquainted with.

I was familiar with the Caribbean islands, with my parents being from the island of Trinidad and Tobago, but I had only heard stories of Jamaica’s beauty without ever having the opportunity to experience it for myself.

Many tourists who come to experience Jamaica end up going to the all-inclusive resorts out in

Montego Bay and Ocho Rios for the beautiful turquoise waters and white sand beaches. They completely bypass the capital city of Kingston; wary of what interesting attractions it could possibly have to offer.

In reality there is much that Kingston has to offer the travelling explorer. It has been underrated and not as heavily marketed as it’s all-inclusive counterparts, however if you are looking to experience the roots of what brings Jamaica alive Kingston is the place to see.

Jamaica has a lush landscape of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches.

With its British colonial architecture filled with culture and history, Kingston is a treasure trove, for experiencing the arts, entertainment and heritage of the Jamaican people.

Throughout Kingston there is much to see and explore. For those interested in learning more about the vast history of the island, a trip to the National Museum of Jamaica or the Institute of Jamaica is definitely top of the list.

The Jamaican people have been working hard in their efforts to preserve and educate people about their heritage and culture to ensure that it will live on in the years to come. The National Museum of Jamaica takes you back in time to learn about the Taino’s the first inhabitants of the island, while a knowledgeable guide pro-

vides lessons and explanations to their lifestyle.

Here you can also learn about the Rastafarian culture, how it traces back and was integrated as a belief system recognized in the world today.

Known throughout the world as the birthplace of reggae, Kingston is the home of the Bob Marley Museum, Bob’s house preserved from the time when he resided there, allowing tourists to experience the space which inspired him to write many of his legendary hits. Another famous house in the area set amongst appointed, luxurious landscaped gardens spanning eleven acres is the Devon house, one of Kingston’s most visited attractions where you can sample one of the most famous desserts in the world, Devon House Ice Cream.

Kingston offers a unique take on the arts; with theatres you can visit to catch live and entertaining plays put on by the locals. While we were there we got to experience ‘Baby Scam’ a comedy featuring Jamaican actors and actresses putting on a hilarious performance you won’t want to miss. There is always something happening in Kingston, with a wide selection of concerts and music festivals to attend especially in the upcoming year. Some notable events taking place in the next couple of months is their annual Reggae Festival, complete with Bob Marley celebrations from February 1-6th.

If you are looking for a more scenic route Jamaica offers many tours of its beautiful landscape and exotic regions such as Forres Park with its picturesque and lush surroundings, and Dunn’s River Falls a 600 ft. climb through cool and refreshing water as it cascades over a natural limestone terrace. If you enjoy hiking the Blue Mountains and Strawberry Hills presents the opportunity for bird watching and coffee plantation tours while immersing yourself in Mother Nature.

The Jamaican Tourist Board offers lots of insight and advice for those looking to experience the authentic flavors of heritage and culture that Kingston has to offer. Their knowledgeable guides will point you in the right direction or offer to help take you around wherever it is that you want to go. It is most important to mention that the entire time we were there wasn’t a time where I didn’t feel safe. The reputation that Kingston has for being dangerous, should be taken with a grain of salt, as we experienced many precarious situations no matter where we visit in the world. Head down to Kingston, Jamaica and experience a new perspective; educate yourself and you just might find that you like what it has to offer.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Jamaica government urged to secure share of international ganja market JAMAICA -- President of the Westmoreland Hemp and Ganja Farmers Association Ras Iyah is urging the Government to “align” with other countries to secure a slice of the international marijuana market.

“I think the Government of Jamaica has a duty and responsibility to align themselves with other countries, because I know there are other countries, here in the Caribbean, in Latin America...that are against this big stick that America has over our heads that says ‘you can do what I say but not what I do’,” he argued.

According to Ras Iyah: “Unity is strength, and as such whether from a regional bloc or from a point of view, that we...make sure that we become strengthen in such a way that we have a say on the international political field,” Ras Iyah stated. “Otherwise we will always have to succumb to the big stick that America has over our heads.”

He accused the US of using state laws as a smokescreen to stifle the emerging ganja industry in Third World countries while promoting theirs.

“I know that the United States of America is using state laws as a guise to develop their cannabis industry and at the same time to fight against Third World countries development. I don’t think the State would have been doing what they want if the Federal Government was not in league with it...without some form of backing,” the veteran ganja advocate charged.

He was speaking on day one of the two-day Beckley Foundation Conference on Jamaica’s Cannabis Reforms at the Swept Away Resort in Negril, Westmoreland, last Friday.

Meanwhile, Dr Kathy-Ann Brown, deputy solicitor general in the

Attorney General’s Chamber brought to the fore, international conventions and financial policies challenging the international cannabis industry.

“On the one hand you have conventions dealing with international cooperation to fight money laundering and anything dealing with financial crimes and cannabis/ ganja being treated as something which once you deal with it, if it is not for medical or financial purposes its basically something which is bad money. So how do you apply a regime in conflicting rules because bad money mixes with good?” Dr Brown questioned.

Meanwhile, Ras Iyah noted that while Rastafarians owe no international obligation to the International Narcotic Board, they are willing to support the Government. “...at the end of the day whether we want it or don’t want it, there are certain rules and regulations that we must abide by simply, because Jamaica has been so mismanaged that we no longer control our destiny. IMF run Jamaica, the World Bank run Jamaica in ways as if we are just a puppet,” the Rastafarian said.

The ‘Ganja Law’ or ‘Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015’, was passed by both Houses of Parliament in February this year.

The changes to the Act allows possession of two ounces or less of marijuana a non-arrestable, ticketable offence, that attracts no criminal record.

Jamaica is now in the process of establishing a legal cannabis industry comprising two product streams namely: industrial hemp amd medical marijuana.

- Jamaica Observer

Policy to reduce entry barriers to Jaʼs wireless telecoms industry, says Paulwell JAMAICA -- The Government will shortly implement a co-location policy, aimed at facilitating increased participation by new entrants in Jamaica’s wireless telecommunications industry.

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell says the policy will enable new investors to access existing infrastructure, primarily cell towers, owned by existing service providers, at a cost, in establishing their operations, thereby minimizing “entry barriers to the industry.”

Speaking with JIS news recently, Paulwell said the regulations, slated to come on stream in early 2016, are being developed within the context of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, which was amended in 2012.

He explained that the Act “provides for the minister, in association with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), to make these regulations, which will

mandate and provide the framework for new players to have full access to existing infrastructure.”

“So, the existing players will be required to do the accommodation, and of course, it is going to be supervised by the Office of Utilities Regulation,” the minister added.

Paulwell said the move is also intended to ensure that “new players (do) not have to expend resources putting up their own infrastructure.”

This, he noted, is expected to “cut the cost of a new investor getting involved in the business,” while curtailing the “proliferation” of cell towers islandwide.

“We want to see more investors, because more competition means lower price, better quality of service, and more access to broadband (internet service),” Paulwell pointed out.

- Jamaica Observer

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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Ramayya promises a better Berbice - in spite of attempts at ʻcharacter assassinationʼ GUYANA -- Newly-appointed Regional Executive Officer [REO] for Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya is out to prove his detractors wrong by getting the job done to the best of his ability. “I will do my best; I will never make the President or the Prime Minister or the other members hand fall. I was placed here with the confidence of President Granger, to bring betterment to Region 6,” he told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday during an interview at his Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam office.

The bone of contention, it seems, is an article carried in the November 10, 2015 edition of the Guyana Times, under the headline, ‘Region 6 REO’s inexperience may cost residents millions: RDC Chairman’.

Noting that on reading the article at reference, he was “surprised and shocked” to learn that the unsavoury comments were coming from the sitting regional chairman, Mr David Armogan, Ramayya said: “I see the entire article, not as a vendetta, but for the region itself, which has predominantly PPP members in the Regional Council; it is they who are stymying progress, by oppressing and saying that Berbice Region Six is not going forward; they have their agenda of haemorrhageing the system.

“In my opinion, the vendetta that they want to execute is for character assassination, in that I am not capable of running the Region.”

He recalled that it was only a few weeks ago that a representative of the very Guyana Times called, enquiring about his qualifications. It so happened that the paper’s Berbice correspondent, Andrew Carmicheal was there at his office, so he seized the opportunity to show them to him.

Many Certificates “He took over an hour to write the amount of certificates; I stopped him from making copies. But that article was never published,

because they are ashamed,” Ramayya said, adding: “That by itself would allow the Chairman and the people of Region 6 to decide whether I am qualified, not as an accountant, but, I was in Real Estate. I did accountancy in college…”

But to return to the damning article of November 10, Armogan, besides deeming Ramayya unfit for the job, was also quoted as saying that although $260 million was awarded to the region for its advancement and to cater for the needs of the people in the area, only $15 million in capital works had to date been expended.

Ramayya denied this, too, saying: “I just spoke to my engineer, and we have already paid out close to $38 million as partial payment to contractors. The work that is currently in progress is worth $200 million; over 65 per cent of the capital works are completed.”

And, addressing the No-Confidence Motion which the Region Six RDC had successfully passed at the November 5 statutory sitting of regional councillors, Ramayya seized the opportunity to take former Alliance For Change (AFC) member, Mr Haseef Yusuf to task for his hand in the motion.

Playing Well “He played the game quite well with the PPP government, by lambasting and degrading persons, but, by the same token, he is degrading himself as a person who claims to be an accountant and an intellectual,” Ramayya said of Yusuf, who now sits on the opposition benches.

Still on Yusuf’s case, Ramayya said: “I had sent him a letter, where he took government property, the Civic Centre at Belvedere, which consists of a Skills Training Centre and a playground. I got several complaints that the children were not given access to the premises.

“He was served a letter for immediate removal; that was enough for him to come up with the idea of how to remove Ramayya, the biggest threat for the PPP in Region 6.

“I remember in 2011, it was Yusuf, in collaboration with myself, who joined forces to put the PPP out of power. Tuesday, he is an opportunist, trying to be devious…

“Accordingly, the whole fabrication is coming to let the public know that I am not capable of being efficient as a REO. But, my biggest question is the fear that they have, that the programmes that I set for Berbice will not only win the support of the Afro-Guyanese, but also the Indo- Guyanese.

“They always believe that Berbice belongs to the PPP; they are going around saying that we are doing this and we are doing that. I have never heard them say that it is the Government of the day that is executing the programmes.

“I wish that one day, the Regional Chairman can say, this Government is executing what was mentioned in the Manifesto of the 2015 campaign.”

Ramayya also made mention of another motion condemning the increase of government salaries, and the fact that the sugar factories, especially the Skeldon Estate, have surpassed their target, thereby allowing sugar workers to have an increase in payments.

“We have already found new markets for our rice; Berbice is on the progressive road,” he said, adding: “There is massive infrastructure development. In Black Bush Polder, almost all the bridges are completed. We are currently doing community bridges in the four polders. Prior to this, there was much improprieties, as materials, diesel, and lubricants were taken elsewhere.”

- Guyana Chronicle

Guyana local Muslim bodies condemn Paris attacks - as ʻatrocity against all civilised peopleʼ GUYANA -- The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (SADR) have joined other Muslim organisations throughout the world in severely condemning the terrorist attacks in Paris that resulted in the loss of over one hundred lives and severe injuries to hundreds of others.ACIC President General Hakeem Khan said no religious teaching can justify or condone the barbaric and ruthless killings.

“We wish to express to the government and people of France our deepest condolences and our prayers, especially to the family and loved ones of those who died in the attack. In order for peace to reign throughout the world, brutality and hatred must be swiftly condemned and punished,” the ACIC President said.

He also said that the Paris attack was an act by those who engage in tyranny and oppression under the name of Islam, and such acts have no place in Islam and must be condemned by all.

“Islam rejects and condemns every form of terrorism. Islam is not a shade for the justification of any act of violence against humans and humanity, whether committed by an individual, group or country. Certainly, freedom of religion and expression is one of the fundamental rights recognised in the international world and is enshrined in democratic values. But this right as well as other human rights and freedoms have bounds and limits, and no one has the right to abuse this right and impose one’s religious beliefs on others,” Khan underscored.

No religion, Khan added, can be portrayed by brutality, killing, oppression and misguidance. No Muslim allows himself to be overwhelmed by fanaticism through misguided ideology to take actions to which Islam prohibits. “ Where do you find that the Prophet and his Companions murdered the innocent?

These attacks must be seen as provocative to any sane human being. The senseless violence, attacks and killings carried out

by Muslims under the banner of Islam is an atrocity against all civilised people.”

The organisations indicated their support to the Government of France in hunting down and bringing to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“These persons are traitors to Islam and humanity. They have brought shame and disgrace to Islam and have declared that in their world, there is no room for differences and the resolving of same in a civilised manner.”

He continued: “We again reiterate the call for all of humanity to fight this ideology that is bringing wanton destruction to our civilised world. Unless we can eradicate this baseless ideology of these terrorists, others will continue to be indoctrinated to the evil ideology. We again express our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of France.”

- Guyana Chronicle

PAGE 13

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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TT now more at risk than in 1990 - Prime Minister Keith Rowley TRINIDAD -- After what was witnessed in France last Friday, those in T&T who experienced the 1990 failed coup attempt “must know that we are not just vulnerable but we are more vulnerable now than in 1990,” Prime Minister Keith Rowley warned Monday.

“We have to be vigilant in every single area. We have to be always vigilant and cognisant that we are exposed as everybody else in the world to this particular threat,” Rowley said.

He assured that the question of returning T&T-born foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) was being addressed.

Rowley, at Monday’s launch of a committee to examine the local health system, was responding to questions on T&T’s position following last Friday’s seven terrorist attacks in Paris. The launch was held at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

Some 129 people were killed, 352 injured (99 seriously), leading to high level global caucuses on the matter and a flurry of activity among global security sectors.

A manhunt is on for Salah Abdelsalam believed to be the eighth person involved with the seven Paris assassins in the attacks.

After the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility, France bombed Isis locations in Syria and massive sweeps are

underway in France, Belgium, Greece and other states where the attack is believed to have been hatched.

Several US states have announced they would not be taking in Syrian refugees, though the Obama administration is committed to doing this. Monday, a new video surfaced in which Isis insurgents warned of striking the US. Clarifying last Sunday’s reported quotes (not the T&T Guardian’s) from National Security Minister Edmund Dillon that “ Isis wasn’t a threat to TT,“ Rowley said: “There are a couple statements attributed to Mr Dillon. One of the perils we face (as politicians) is we are subjected to interpretation and angles. It’s one of those situations.

“I don’t know that he was saying Isis is not a threat. This thing called Isis is a global threat and if anyone understands that, it’s the National Security Minister.

“If you look at the story in one of the other newspapers, it’s quite clear and different to the headline story that ‘Isis is not a threat.’”

Rowley continued: “We in T&T would know this modern development can, even by us, be viewed as an evolution of 1990.

“T&T was impacted upon by a sect in T&T, which in some way had a Middle

Eastern influence so we cannot at any time take any position that we are immune to developments out there.

“Then comes the 21st century and there is this idea of this group in the Middle East which we call Isis, whose modus operandi is, as what we have seen in France.

“And we who experienced 1990 must know that we are not only just vulnerable but we are more vulnerable now than in 1990.

“In 1990, those persons who took up arms against the State didn’t have social media and I daresay, were not as barbarous as those Tuesday who can train anywhere in the world... as unknown persons anywhere... and put one person to upset a nation. So what we should be focusing on is our readiness to respond to the threat that we all face:” The PM said T&T’s National Security Council met fairly regularly and there were security arrangements and contingencies in place.

Saying the question of T&T’s FTF returnees will certainly be examined by Government, he added: “It’s not just a question that people can’t come back home even people who we know now we don’t want to enter our borders are entering.

“So we just have to be vigilant in every single area, in particular in co-operating with the rest of the world and persons

who may be engaged in this.”

Rowley acknowledged there could also be “persons who may never leave here but who may share the views and who may be encouraged to take action against us.

“So this is a very unusual development in history and T&T simply has to do the best that we can at the national and international levels in responding to this global phenomenon.”

On whether T&T is involved in international “sweeps” for planners of the Paris attack, Rowley said not specifically in the last day or so “but T&T is engaging a number of regional and international initiatives geared to respond to situations.”

He noted T&T was head of Caricom’s regional security committee and was on good terms with international neighbours who were directly involved in different types of responses.

He added: “What we have to do is stay engaged and we’re doing that. I know the population would like to know a lot about what we are doing but sometimes things are better done in a particular way.

“But rest assured, there is a National Security Council in T&T and those persons in T&T whose duty is to respond are responding and responding as part of an international arrangement.”

- Trinidad Guardian

Worrying trend in human trafficking TRINIDAD -- Seventh Day Adventist pastor Clive Dottin says over the past five years there has been an upswing in human trafficking in T&T but as a society he says we are always in denial hence the apparent inaction to the growing problem.

According to Dottin the stark reality is that as long as there is a drug trade which is not being properly managed, you will have human trafficking.

Speaking recently to the GML Enterprise team, Dottin said: “It starts off with using the women as couriers and sometimes the women are aware that where they will end up after dropping the drugs will be prostitution because they have to live.”

However, he says, sometimes the women are not always aware what was in store for them and they are simply “promised jobs, apartments and when it’s too late they realise that they are victims of human trafficking.”

He recalled two recent visits, one to an Eastern Caribbean country where he says he was told there was a nightclub with a sparkling name and girls from all over the Caribbean, including T&T, were working.

On another trip to Curacao he was told of a big club where young women from Colombia, Santo Domingo and the Caribbean were working. “Many of them claim they are victims of human trafficking but he says they just don’t know how to get out,” he said.

The scary part of what was happening, he says, was that more and more young people are being wooed into illegal activity.

“There is an alarming phenomenon in Trinidad of the teenage drug dealer,” he added.

Dottin says he has received reports that where there are two drug dealers on a street, they mentor two teenage drug dealers, who in turn, are close to teenage girls, and

the girls get pulled into the maze.

Only recently he said a father came to him and told him that he was concerned that security officials may be involved in human trafficking.

When he asked the man why he said that the man told him he went to a certain place in north Trinidad looking for a female relative and he saw lots of young girls who were drugged. The man told him he was lucky to get his relative out since security at the place was extremely tight.

Dottin estimates that there are 150,000 people in this country who depend directly or indirectly on illegal activity, and according to him there are three levels of involvement. Those who are employed and making an extra buck, some who are underemployed and need more money and the most vulnerable are the young girls and boys who are on the streets.

These groups, according to Dottin,

are easy prey for the drug dealers who invariably are also involved in the gun trade because they have to protect huge sums of money, “we talking billions.”

The Caribbean Task Force estimates that the drug trade in the region was valued at just over US$50 billion and the worldwide estimate was over US$600 billion. “It’s a huge amount of assets to protect. What fuels a lot of the gun trade was the protection of the drug trade. The turfs are being split up, so you will have human trafficking,” he added.

With more young people being lured into the den of those whom he calls the “narcotic vampires,” Dottin is now urging the authorities to do more to stop the trade in guns and drugs. It is only when the problem was addressed at the source, he says, that the problem of human trafficking could be wiped out.

- Trinidad Guardian

Wednesday, November 18,, 2015 20 2 01 15 5|w www.torontocaribbean.com ww..ttor ww orontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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A fresh new perspective on Jamaican Cuisine... in Orangeville!

When we think of a restaurant serving authentic Jamaican cuisine, we consider your typical dishes of classic jerk chicken, rice and peas.

Usually it comes from a hole in the wall establishment served in a styrofoam container with very little aesthetic value and if you’re lucky you might get little bit of coleslaw on the side.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enjoy that same food in a more upscale or presentable atmosphere? Out in the town of Orangeville, one of those rare places does exist, a place where you can enjoy Jamaican cuisine in a fine dining establishment with all of the flavors and comforts of home. Soulyve Restaurant, tucked away on the corner of 34 Mill Street in downtown Orangeville is the perfect mix of Caribbean culture in a more modernized and smart way.

Chef and owner of Soulyve Restaurant, Philip DeWar was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Canada in 1998 where he took up residence in Brampton. Brampton was nowhere near being the city that it has evolved into today, but there were still many different cultures reflected in the community. When Philip moved to Orangeville in 2000, he realized that he had taken the diversity of Brampton for granted as the foods that he had grown up with and had grown accustomed to were no longer as easily accessible in his new community.

At one point in his high school ventures he found himself in heap of trouble. Facing suspension he had to make the decision to give up his lunch for detention. Not having much of a choice he was subjected to life in the cafeteria every lunch hour. His principal sent him to work in the cafeteria to teach him a lesson where he hoped its desired effect would be to embarrass or discourage him from making more trouble. Fortunately for Philip it did just the opposite, becoming a blessing in dis-

guise giving him credibility in school at his new station, making him master of a new type of hustle. Besides the equity that it gave him with his peers, Philip actually enjoyed working with the ladies in the cafeteria.

He found that through his every day practice he actually had some skills in food preparation. Growing up in a Jamaican household it was customary to help prepare meals and be an active presence in the kitchen while your parents were making dinner. In a family of six kids everyone was expected to pitch in and do their part to put dinner on the table.

Philip decided to set a new course of action, taking the prerequisite courses he needed to step into the culinary arts, learning about what it takes to do this type of work. He wasn’t strong academically, but he had a knack for the culinary arts and it became a love affair that he continued to feed.

His woodworking teacher at the time recognized his strengths and urged him to consider a career path in the culinary field, informing him that it was possible for him to make a living with his talents making him understand that you don’t have to be a straight ‘A’ student to make a name for yourself in the world.

After graduating from High School, he took some time off and started working at Hockley Valley Resort just outside of Orangeville, honing his skills for two years, before enrolling himself in the culinary arts program at Humber College and keeping his job there part time. In his studies, he was required to take a Hospitality course, where he learned about proper service, food, beverages and wine. His was able to experience the service industry from all aspects, but his favourite was the semester he was able to get back into the kitchen. Working in the kitchen re-ignited his passion, he realized, “I didn’t want to be

working at a front desk, or even in a host position, I wanted to be in the kitchen, behind the fire, making a difference introducing people to what I knew was good food.”

All he had learned about since coming to Canada was about the exquisite taste and flavors of the French, Italian and Chinese cuisines. There were many high end restaurants in the GTA that offered an upscale dining experience to its customers, but it made him wonder, where were all of the fancy Jamaican restaurants?

He realized that although there were places that you could buy Caribbean cuisine, it wasn’t being represented as a glamorous dining experience, because the reputation that had been established in the city was of grungy, hole in the wall establishments, in the back of a strip mall plaza that gave the food a cheap and understated appearance.

When he took stock of the type of people that were paying money to stay in lavish hotels, or travel to an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean it wasn’t Caribbean people it was everyone else living in Canada, the Europeans, the Asians, the Mediterranean cultures that wanted to experience the beauty of the islands and taste authentic food from the Caribbean not those that were already familiar with it.

Philip realized he needed to do something different, he needed to put Caribbean cuisine back on the map and give it the attention it deserved, putting it back on top of the pedestal with the other lavish dining experiences that people sought after.

“The Caribbean people have devalued their product,” he shares. “In our community we have simplified it to the point that if it’s not in a takeout container with enough gravy or stewed a certain way it, it isn’t authentic.”

At Soulyve Restaurant, Philip has strived to take Caribbean food to the next level, giving each dish his own unique spin mixing up the tastes and flavors of other popular cuisines and creating his own medley of crowd pleasing favorites. In his kitchen you can find dishes like Plantain Bruschetta, Tamarind Glazed Short Rib, Guava Glazed Salmon, Guyanese Curry Chicken, Hot Trini doubles, Samosas, Jamaican Patties, ensuring to keep classics like Jerk Pork, Oxtail with peas and rice alive and offering a little something for everyone to sample a taste of the Caribbean in a chic welcoming and homey environment.

Soulyve is a licensed establishment carrying your favorite brews from the islands for when you are craving an ice cold Carib or a bottle of Red Stripe. Just last year they moved to their new establishment, right down the street from the old one, to accommodate for the demand for more space. By next summer they are hoping to have a fully operational outdoor patio service, expanding their catering services and booking more group parties and events in the second floor private guest rooms.

Featured on the Food Nework’s ‘You Gotta Eat Here!’ Philips establishment is definitely somewhere you can bring everyone; whether it is on a first date, or a casual girls night out. He wants to keep the culture and heritage of the Caribbean alive through the food he serves and the live Caribbean vibes.

Soulyve offers an authentic Caribbean dine-in experience that won’t disappoint, so head on out to Orangeville today and check them out.

You’ll definitely do a double take!

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

entertainment

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Radio DJ Romie Rome captures COTT award, promises further musical masterpieces Aba Luke

aba@carib101.com

Entertainment The island of Trinidad and Tobago is proving, almost daily that it holds, within its bosom, some of the most talented and strong willed people in the world.

A young DJ has worked his way to becoming a force not to be overlooked or slighted in the songwriting and music production business and he’s done this through sheer perseverance and the un-

wavering support of some of his peers.

The Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago recently held it’s annual awards show in Trinidad and among the recipients of awards was none other than 30-year-old radio DJ turned music producer and songwriter, Jerome Antoine, known best among his peers as Romie Rome. For many outside of Rome’s circle, this would certainly have come as quite a surprise. He’d been known for his DJing skills, being a staple to urban radio frequency, RED 96.7FM since 2006, but in 2015, he would prove to be much more than meets the eye, becoming a key element of the creation process for the Jam Band riddim, which featured Trinidad and Tobago soca hit makers such as Machel Montano, Kes

Two hot guys of Soca teaming up to deliver possible Carnival blockBuster Aba Luke

aba@carib101.com

Entertainment Just a tease. That’s what Kees Dieffenthaller and recent COTT award recipient, Lyrikal Martin gave fans this weekend. The two, in a video posted to social media, revealed that they’ve been in studio, collaborating on what undoubtedly sounds like it will be a true crowdpleaser, in the season ahead.

Since taking the Groovy Soca Monarch title with “Wotless” in 2011, Dieffenthaller has delivered, however there has been a general feeling that he’s been holding back for some reason.

Now, judging from this latest tidbit circulated, we’re calling it first and saying

that Kees will see a rejuvenated love from his fanbase in the season ahead.

And that Lyrikal… he’s more than meets the eye, no doubt! Lyrikal’s literally been transforming the Soca industry outlook with his visually edgy appeal that’s got a bit of Caribbean flavour mixed with that Brooklyn heat that the ladies love. Already, Lyrikal’s riding high on the release of “Dip and Roll” – a song that simply oozes vibes and of course, even before that, his 2015 track “Loner” also written by Jason Shaft Bishop, made carnival lovers feel that euphoria throughout the year.

We’re certainly anxious to hear the final package of this collaboration between these two dreadlocked hotties of Soca. The track is scheduled for release on Tuesday- the Divali holiday so we’ve just gotta stay close to the airwaves to find out just how this one turns out!

- EtceteraBuzz

The Band, Shradah, Ricardo Drue and Erphaan Alves. Rome had produced the riddim with the assistance of Precision Productions’ Kasey Phillips. It was for this deliverable that he secured honors from the COTT committee who coined him the year’s best new male songwriter.

Certainly a major accomplishment for the young up and comer, the accolade now places him in a position to penetrate the soca market even further.

“Getting to this point and being awarded for what others felt was good, feels really good and makes me want to strive to keep that happening,” he said. He’s got the support of some of the local music industry’s biggest names, among them, his Radioactive Sound system mentor, Hypa Hoppa and RED96.7FM prime-

time host, Chinee who has a strong voice and major following on the urban dial.

Antoine has been making his mark in various facets of the music industry and plans on challenging himself to be the greatest he can be as his journey continues. Ahead of the upcoming Carnival season in T&T, Rome is working arduously alongside some well known and up and coming acts. Presently, he’s preoccupied with offerings still to be released by Shradah, Erphaan Alves, Preedy and Sekon Sta. To follow this young, innovative music maker’s journey, check out his social media pages on Instagram and Twitter @romieromeplays.

- EtceteraBuzz

Rikki Jaiʼs Shaft written hit, making heads roll Aba Luke

aba@carib101.com

Entertainment Jason Shaft Bishop may certainly be the man to call on when you want that perfect soca anthem! He’s proven it in the past and with carnival 2016 in Trinidad and Tobago certainly the topic of much talk these days, Shaft’s name keeps popping up. His latest success story is the Chutney Soca King himself, Rikki Jai, a man who’s conquered that industry and seems set to make heads roll in the mainstream soca circuit in the upcoming season.

Jai’s 2016 contribution, “Leh We Fete” is a Red Boys Production which means it has definitely gotten

the magic touch from the main men of Barbados; the men who’s made Farmer Nappy a blowout Groovy soca success time and time again. In T&T, where every bit of radio airplay matters, Jai’s definitely making inroads. The song has become a sing along tune, enticing soca lovers everywhere for the past couple weeks.

Shaft has also penned songs for Lyrikal, Lil Bitts, Jaiga and Granny and Baron most recently. He told EtceteraBuzz there are releases to come from Olatunji and several others this season.

The super songwriter recently took home the COTT award for Jiggle of the Year for Massy Stores’ “Lucy” jingle.

Keep your ears open and eyes peeled…Ricki Jai’s “Leh We Fete” just might surprise many of you out there, even though it really shouldn’t after all it’s been touched by Shaft! For more on Shaft’s work, check out his Facebook page.

- EtceteraBuzz

sports

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 21

Women Warriors bash St Lucia 8-1 TRINIDAD -- Ten or more Olympic Champions by the year 2024. Groundbreaking. Significant. Trinidad and Tobago Olympic and sport history in the making. What’s the one thing that must be done to create that reality?

Many of our Olympic and world level athletes feel trapped in a time warp facing formidable challenges. Trapped but not defeated. Their silent screams go unheard in the cacophony of noise emanating from the uncaring mob whose only desire is to ride the bandwagon of glory. The process required to create the demanded glory bypassed as an inconvenient plea.

Those who really care seem few while the majority can sometimes be shamed into acting in the athletes’ best interest. Trapped as the world of sport advances in a technological age. Bonds formed under duress, desperate souls wondering what comes next may well describe the T&T ath-

lete striving to be a World and Olympic champion.

Often, little decisions are more revealing than big ones. Athlete centred is the buzz word.

But every day decisions are made that point to the fact that athlete centred is not a deep commitment.

Athletes and those aspiring to achieve world class and Olympic status continue to battle the forces of mediocrity.

The courage to pursue a dream is not all that is needed. Discipline and the temerity to persevere and focus on what you can control and to treat what you can’t control as distractions is an aquired habit. Striving to be significant not just successful.

Michael Johnson and his team at Michael Johnson Performance Centre during last week’s first ever bpTT/TTOC /MJP High Performance Summit sought to provide our athletes with an intense week of focused high performance treatment and service.

BpTT, a TTOC partner and official sup-

porter of the Olympic Committee created the opportunity for the TTOC to partner with the MJP Centre and the legendary founder of MJP, Olympic and World Champion Michael Johnson.

Individual athletes would have had the opportunity to experience the high quality and cutting edge centre and services. Last week was however the first ever training camp type summit. If you want to be the best, get advice from the best. Also at the summit was TTO multiple Olympic medal legend, Ato Boldon.

In striving for 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024 a system of excellence that is clear and defined that provides a development pathway and performance management system is a critical success factor. The demands of world and Olympic level sport is not a nuisance value and a waste of financial resources.

Extraordinary as it may seem TTO ath-

letes must make a choice. Following their dream of Olympic and World titles and being the absolute best is not as important as fitting into traditional thinking as to what is a career. The journey to excellence for T&T athletes in both individual and team sports remains a labour of love and a step too far.

Dreams are brutally destroyed on the jagged rocks of harsh and unkind words and old ways of thinking and doing things. As a nation we celebrate every success but ignore the process. Athletes who follow their dreams have to rise above what can feel like an ongoing barrage of emotional and mental insensitivity at best or deliberate destruction at worse.

Trinidad and Tobago our talented sportsmen and women are facing unkind obstacles that can be removed with a sincere effort to understand the realities of the modern world of global sport.

- Trinidad Guardian

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sports

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Tadpole best Blended cricketer TRINIDAD -- Former West Indies players Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed was crowned “Cricketer-of-the-Year 2015” when Blended Sports Club staged their Annual PrizeGiving Ceremony at the home of the club’s vice-president Dennis Williams on Circular Street, Princes Town on Sunday.

All-rounder Mohammed got the nod after being nominated for the prestigious honour for finishing the season with a haul of 45 wickets in seven matches at a miserly average of 8.1. He also scored 387 runs at an average of 55.3.

Amongst his outstanding season with the ball were three five-wicket hauls as well as two 10-wicket performances.

Mohammed`s 10 wickets for 24 runs against Sancho St Julien in Round One was his best bowling in a match for the club.

He also collected an award for Highest Individual Score (115) struck against Forest Reserve in the first Innings of the Fifth Round of the South East Zone League Competition.

Alfaz Hosein, was among the outstanding awardees for taking five wickets (6\41) in an innings against Strivers Sports in the send innings of the Second Round in the League competition.

Feraaz Abdool also bagged five wickets (5\10) against Untouchables in the Second Innings of the Seventh Round of the League.

The “Best All-rounder Award” went to Aron Maingot. In seven matches he posted 222 runs at 31.7, and copped 24 wick-

tional sports organisation in T&T by a wide margin.

BLENDED AWARDEES Cricketer of The Year: Dave Mohammed Batting: 7 Innings; Runs: 387; Ave. 55.3 Bowling: 129-24-364-45 Ave. 8.1 Best All-rounder – Aron Maingot Matches: 7 Innings; Runs: 222; Ave. 31.7 Bowling: 110-10-469-25 Ave. 19.5 5 Wickets In An Innings – Dave Mohammed (3) Rd 1-Blended Club vs. Sancho St Julien Sports Club (07-03-13-06) Rd 2-Blended Club vs. Christian Conquerors Sports Club (11-00-29-05) Rd 3-Blended Club vs. Forest Reserve Club (18-04-40-06) ets at an average of 19.5. The “Most Promising Player” Award went to Kiel Dorner.

Special awards were also presented to Kishor Nandlal, former Secretary of South East Zone and Blended Club, for his Long and Meritorious Service. And the mother of “Cricketer of the Year” Mohammed was acknowledged with a hamper for her dedication to and support of the Blended club.

Present at the function was Azim Bassarath, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and a former chairman of the South East Zone of the TTCB. He warmly complimented Blended on their very successful 2015 cricket season. And in introducing TTCB General Secretary of the

TTCB, Ajoon Ramlal and third vice president Patrick Rampersad, Bassarath said the club was privileged to have three leading officials present at their gala ceremony.

He said he could not recall when such a high level TTCB delegation honoured and graced the proceedings of the Blended Sports Club in the recent past, if at all in their history.

Ramlal delivered an inspirational feature address and gave an overview of the organisational structure of the TTCB to the satisfaction of all present. He reminded attendees that Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Daryl Smith recently publicly stated that the TTCB is the best functioning na-

Five Wickets In An Innings – Alfaz Hosein Rd 2 -Blended Club vs. Strivers Sports Club (11-02-41-06) Five Wickets In An Innings – Feraaz Abdool Rd 7- Blended Club vs. Untouchables Sports Club (04-00-10-05) Ten Wickets In A Match – Dave Mohammed (2) Rd 1-Blended Club vs. Sancho St Julien Sports Club (14-06-28-10) Rd 6-Blended Club vs. Forest Reserve Sports Club (41-10-98-10) - Trinidad Guardian

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PAGE 26

food

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Quick Jamaican callaloo fried rice Chris De La Rosa chris@carib101.com

Caribbean Cooking One of the things my parents instilled in us from an early age, was to NEVER waste food, so growing up you’d always find containers (usually old margarine containers) with leftover food in the fridge. I love rice (brown parboiled) in just about any way it can be cooked, so having leftover rice in the fridge is like seeing the pieces of puzzle waiting to be put together. Said puzzle does

f picture i ll ’ not hhave an after to ffollow, so iit’s rare that my final fried rice is ever the same.

This time I’m using some fresh Jamaican callaloo (called chorai bhagi or spinach in the rest of the Caribbean) from my garden.

You’ll Need: 2-3 cups cooked rice (chilled) 1 tablespoon veg oil 1 shallot (or small onion) 1 clove garlic 1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (optional) 1 teaspoon soy sauce (see note below) 1/2 cup diced bell pepper 1/3 cup diced carrot 1 cup prepared Jamaican callaloo (trimmed) 2 okra 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Be sure to use gluten free soy sauce if doing

hi gluten l ffriendly i dl and d if you want more off this that vegetable – add about a cup more of the prepared Jamaican callaloo.

Make sure the rice is chilled so you’ll get a nice grainy fried rice at the end. Prepare all your ingredients in advance (chop/dice) as this recipe cooks very fast.

Heat the veg oil on a medium flame in a wok or non-stick pan and add the garlic, shallot, diced peppers, carrot and black pepper.

Cook for 2-3 mins.

Then add the prepared (chopped) Jamaican Callaloo and diced scotch bonnet pepper. Remember to wash your hands after handling the scotch bonnet, don’t use any of the seeds or white membrane surrounding the seeds and tailor the amount used to your own tolerance.

Now add the chopped okra, soy sauce (see note above about gluten free) and

il and d cook for another 2-3 minsesame oil utes. The callaloo will wilt.

Basically all you have to do now is add the rice, mix well and warm though and you’re done. You’ll notice that I did not add any salt as my rice was cooked in salted water and the soy sauce will add that extra sodium element. For a bit more flavor you can always add a tiny bit of freshly grated ginger at the start.

A delightful way to make use of leftover rice and for the doubters who think vegetarian food is bland and boring – guess again! This is a superb way to enjoy a quick meal with fresh ingredients (except the rice) and truly comforting.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

travel

PAGE 27

Pamper yourself with a spa holiday Micca Vanvield

micca@carib101.com

Travel Specialist A spa holiday has proven to many as being an indulgence in many different ways. It allows you to enhance your spiritual awareness, heal emotional distress, rid the body of toxins, improve circulation and give the mind and body a chance to fully repair and relax from the stresses of our everyday lives.

However, you may not be aware of all the variations of spas and the variety of treatments that they provide. From healthy spa breaks to wellbeing holidays this article will give you a breakdown of the different types of spa holidays that you can indulge in when you take your next vacation.

Traditional Spa: A traditional spa provides an extensive variety of spa treatments and therapies, all providing the benefits of improving health, beauty and relaxation, resulting in an unforgettable spa experience. It is likely to contain facilities such as a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room that you may use in addition to your treatments. It could also include hydrotherapy circuits, a fitness center

and swimming pool.

One of my favorite traditional spas is the Hard Rock Hotels All Inclusive Collection. They have definitely stayed true to their brand and have put a Rockstar twist on everything including their spa treatments known as Rockspa. Balance, energize and chill. That is the mantra that sums up the luxurious, ultra-pampering world of Hard Rock’s Rock Spa. This is one of my personal favorites as they have the most complete hydrotherapy center with lagoons, whirlpools, steam room, sauna, food creek pathway, hydroreflexology, sensory expertise pool and a cutting edge ice room. Their spas have been designed to give guests privacy, signature personalized service, discreet attention and the ultimate in relaxation and revitalization with the most unique services like Rhythm and Motion which is the world’s first fully immersive music-centric spa menu utilizing amplified vibrations, pressures and patterns, as the foundation of its treatments. There are currently four Hard Rock All Inclusive Hotels through Dominican Republic and Mexico and more to come over the next two years.

A trip to a Hard Rock will definitely guarantee you pampering as the chain includes $1800 in credits which can all be used at the spa.

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physical fitness activities, holistic exercise classes, wellness lectures and healthy cuisine. It is typical for guests to actively partake in the program at the spa and fully integrate it into their wellbeing holiday, rather than visiting for a single treatment whilst at the destination.

My clients have always boasted about one of their favorite destination spas which just happens to be in St. Lucia called The Body Holiday LeSport. If you are looking for a luxury resort then surely this would be a perfect choice. They are an inclusive resort which is unparalleled in terms of its facilities, offerings, service and cuisine. The wellness center has been voted as one of the best spas in St Lucia and this resort has been voted one of the top all-inclusive resorts in the world.

The TAO restaurant was also voted

by Condé Nast as one of the top sixty tables in the world. Based on the four key pillars of relaxation, restorative beauty, exercise and good diet, The Body Holiday has been created specifically to ensure that its guests leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and recharged.

They offer spa treatments that you can take advantage of everyday, a variety of therapies and activities such as archery to scuba diving, spinning, Pilates and Ayurvedic treatments to Reiki. Twice a year they also run a yoga retreat dedicated to helping guests improve their skills.

Meditation Retreats: There are a number of

meditation retreats throughout the Caribbean that offers their guests an opportunity to really unplug from everyday living and really immerse yourself into connecting with you.

The Rolling Meadows Meditation Retreat runs several times a year in Tulum, which is a beautiful spot on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. This is where ancient Mayan ruins overlook the Caribbean Sea. This spiritual retreat takes place in a rustic beachside camp where it’s teaching guides its guests to be self-referenced through attention to breathing, sensations of the body and whatever arises in every moment. It reaches the process of letting go, or “undoing” by listening, trusting and surrendering to the body. Ultimately it is about being, rather than doing.

The retreats are a week long and all participants follow a daily schedule of meditation and yoga. The retreat accommodations consists of thirteen thatch-roofed cabanas which have private baths, tiled floors and king-size beds. There is however no electricity.

Whatever your style of spa holiday you choose, it will definitely be an experience to remember. Life can seem to offer us adversities and place us in situations where we feel we just need to get away. The next time you get this feeling, plan your next vacation and make it a spa getaway. You will definitely return feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and revitalized.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

body & soul

PAGE 29

Yoga: Path to awarenss Melissa Goodman

melissa@carib101.com

Yoga Specialist In our fast paced society we are constantly surrounded by distractions. Endless emails to respond to, cell phones always attached to our side, family obligations, television and movies, the list goes on.

There are thousands of distractions daily that lead us into our mind usually causing us to disassociate from our own bodies. Sensing the depth of our own existence can be hard as we live thousands

of miles outside our bodies. Every emotion, thought, feeling, conversation and experience we have is felt in the body whether we are aware of it or not. We often miss the impact this has on us at a cellular level until the body demands we listen. So we listen until the body becomes quiet or we learn to live with it so we can return to our fast paced life.

What if there was something we could do for ourselves that would help us slow down and restore balance. This technique could call us from our minds into our own bodies teaching us the subtleties that are ever present.

Yoga is one avenue that will guide us back to our bodies through awareness. This awareness often takes time to develop because as a culture we often know more about the latest celebrity gossip than we do about our own

bodies and the systems that make it up.

There is no reason to feel guilt or judgement about this but rather be aware if this is true for you or not.

At the beginning of the journey into awareness it may seem overwhelming. What do you focus on - alignment, breath or what you are feeling? If you notice these thoughts you have moved out of the body and returned to the mind.

Rather bring your awareness to the moment you are in, with a competent teacher they will help guide you deeper into the body and breath. It may be a challenge to stay present but with time, patience and practice this becomes easier.

I have seen it often in class as I guide everyone into a pose, for example, draw your right hip forward and left hip back. Some move right into it, others pause and I can see them trying to

process how they will move their bodies like this. With a hands on adjustment, the puzzled look on their face turns into an aha moment, they just deepened their connection with their body.

It’s similar to building a foundation for a home. Once the foundation is in place the rest of the structure will slowly be placed upon it which adds depth and dimension. The foundation of yoga is awareness, learning to move your body in a way that is respectful. From there you begin to deepen your practice. Communication is restored between the left and right side of the brain, the organs awaken with a sense of flexibility as the nervous system starts to fire back up. We begin to respect and see our bodies in a whole new light.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

health news

This common plant can be used as food, medicine and a survival tool

Aside from the many easy-to-grow plants that can be used for food and medicine during a prolonged survival scenario, there are also many wild plants that can be used for similar purposes.

In particular, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) -- a plant which grows wild throughout much of the United States and Canada -- is especially beneficial as it has great value when preparing for the unforeseeable. It’s used for food, medicine and even for making candle wicks.

Milkweed is typically found on roadsides and in fields, and often grows as tall as six feet. Recognizing the plant is fairly easy as it has broad leaves, green pods and pink or purple flowers. The plant generally blooms from early summer to early fall.

Before getting into the many benefits of milkweed, the first thing you should know milkweed is the fact that the milky sap can cause irritation of the eyes, so care must be taken not to rub your eyes when handling the plant. Milkweed sap, if it gets on the skin, can also cause an allergic skin reaction in some people.

Milkweed as food The seeds, seed pods, leaves, flowers and oil from the milkweed plant are all edible and can be eaten in many ways.

For a flavor that is similar to brown sugar, boil the pods down and consume. If peas is more pleasing to you, then cook the unopened flower buds and eat. Craving asparagus? Consider eating the young shoots of milkweed as they have a similar flavor.

Its pods can also be used to enhance flavoring or act as a soup thickener.

Oil can even be pressed out of its seeds and the latex in its stems has been found to be a good substitute for chicle; it can even be made into chewing gum.

Milkweed as medicine Milkweed also extends a multitude of health benefits, taking on several medicinal properties.

Its root, for example, is also considered to act as everything from a diuretic to an expectorant.

Furthermore, milkweed’s leaves

can be infused to make a tea useful for treating coughs, fever and asthma. The infusion can also be used to help in passing kidney stones.

Additional uses for this popular plant Milkweed has several practical uses aside from its nutritional and medicinal properties.

The inner bark of the stems can be dried and used to make twine, paper and cloth while milkweed oils can be used to make liquid soap.

The seed floss obtained from the pods can also be used for making candle wicks, stuffing pillows and in making cloth when mixed with other fibers. For instance, milkweed floss is amazingly buoyant -- six times more than cork -- and is sometimes used to make life jackets for that reason.

Milkweed is just one of many wild plants that can be used for a variety of purposes. A knowledge of wild plants and their uses can prove to be crucial to survival when the SHTF. - Natural News

6 ways to use apple cider vinegar for treating arthritis Apple cider vinegar has been recognized as one of the most effective home remedies to relieve arthritis pain. It works so great due to its nutrients and the healing properties: Apple cider vinegar is rich in potassium, it’s well known that potassium deficiency eventually causes joint stiffness. The rich content of potassium in apple cider vinegar helps removing toxins from the body to maintain joint pliability.

Apple cider vinegar is also packed with other nutrients to help the body dull the arthritis pain, such as sulphur, iron, phosphorus, copper, natural sodium, fluorine and silicon.

It is also rich in enzymes that promote the absorption of the nutrients which are essential to healthy joints.

Apple cider vinegar also contains rich antioxidants and natural acids(malic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid). The natural acids helps balancing acid levels in the digestive system to improve digestion and deters disease-producing bacteria growth. Antioxidants also block the damaging effects of free radicals, preventing the diseases like arthri-

tis.

There are several popular methods to use apple cider vinegar to relieve arthritis pain. And there are so many people are suffering from the side effects of drugs prescribed for arthritis and using apple cider vinegar is with no harm, so why not give a try? Below are some natural remedies, try to find the one that works best for you to relieve the arthritis pain: 1-Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic Prepare a cup of peppermint tea. Mix in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of raw honey, and stir in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Drink it one time a day to relieve arthritis pain.

2-Apple Cider Vinegar and Water Prepare a cup water and mix with 1-3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, add a little honey to improve flavor, stir well and drink 3 times before meals.

3-Apple Cider Vinegar and Cherry Juice Mix 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar into a tall

glass of cherry juice, drink 2 times a day to relieve the pain caused by arthritis. Cherries are also effective at boosting energy and improving immune system.

4-Apple Cider Vinegar Soak Add 2-3 cups apple cider vinegar to a full tub of warm water and soaking for 30 minutes.

Massage the joints for a better result.

5-Apple Cider Vinegar oil with Carrier Oil You can make a joint massage oil with apple cider vinegar. Simply mixed 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. Massage this mixture into the pained joints for a few minutes. Repeat regularly in a day for pain relief.

6-Apple cider vinegar with Castor Oil Castor oil has anti-inflammation properties, it also boosts your immune system. When using, apply a few apple cider vinegar to the painful joints first, after some minutes, massage the part with castor oil.

- Natural News

7 remarkable facts you should drink raw tomato juice daily Rich in anti-oxidant lycopene, tomato is another gift of Mexicans to this world. Raw tomato juice provides all the important nutrients your body needs to function properly.

It’s loaded with phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals! It’s like a full meal in itself.

Nutrition Value It have vitamin A, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, Also have magnesium, iron and phosphorous.

7 Remarkable Facts You Should Drink Raw Tomato Juice Anti-Inflammation Daily glass of tomato juice lowers a person’s primary marker for inflammation by nearly a third. Free radicals cause excess production of oxidative stress in the system, which triggers inflammation. This inflammation is linked to a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Drinking tomato juice reduces the damage caused by free radicals, reducing inflammation.

Reduces Breast Cancer Risk Bosom growth can likewise be diminished with tomatoes. Energizing research in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute demonstrates that higher measures of carotenoids including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and aggregate carotenoids may have a decreased danger of bosom growth.

Lower Cholesterol Raw tomato juice is one of the best treatments there is for reducing high cholesterol levels. It contains a great deal of fiber, which breaks down LDL cholesterol in the body.

Tomatoes also contain niacin, which has also shown positive effects on high cholesterol levels.

Prostate Health The lycopene and other protective phytonutrients in tomatoes promote prostate health.

The lycopene works in conjunction with carotenoids to prevent prostate cancer. Tomatoes are considered by many to be the single best addition to your diet to protect prostate health.

Reduce smoking damage Tomatoes won’t stop you smoking but they will reduce the damage that the tar-filled smoke does to your body. They contain chlorogenic and coumaric acid which fight carcinogens introduced by smoking.

Improves Vision Vitamin A, present in tomatoes, aids in improving vision, as well as in preventing night-blindness and macular degeneration.

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that can be formed from an excess of beta-carotene in the body. A lot of vision problems occur due to the negative effects of free radicals, and vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant.

Prevents UTI Tomato intake also reduces the incidence of urinary tract infections, as well as bladder cancer. This is because tomatoes are high in water content, which can stimulate urination, so tomatoes are a diuretic in certain ways.

This increases the elimination of toxins from the body, as well as excess water, salts, uric acid, and some fat as well!

- Natural News

PAGE 31

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

health news

PAGE 33

7 effective home remedies to get rid of a Keloid Keloids are raised, lumpy, irregular shaped scars that extend beyond the borders of a cutaneous injury. They grow continuously for weeks, months and even years. It vary in color and will definitely distort the look of you natural skin.

7 Effective Home Remedies to Get Rid of a Keloid Lemon juice Lemon is an exfoliant and lightening agent that helps in treating keloids as well as other forms of scars. Lemon is more effective on mild forms of keloids. Take fresh lemon juice and apply on the keloid scar every day.

Honey Honey can be used as a natural treatment against keloids. Massage the area with honey. Do this about 2 – 3 times a day. This can be done in a span of a month or more depending on how you would like the results to be.

ender effective against keloids. Place a few drops of lavender oil on top of the keloid.

Massage gently on the keloid to allow the oil to be absorbed well. Do this for about 15 minutes. You can repeat this about thrice a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar Another great home remedy for skin regenerating and keloid scar reduction is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar along with the ‘mother’ has to be used on the scar for maximum results. Apply every day and gently massage to absorb into the skin.

Aloe Vera It is mild yet effective for treatment of keloids. It also reduces inflammation, prevents infections and moisturizes skin. It is recommended that you use aloe Vera juice directly from the plant rather than buying from the store. Aloe Vera is also a great for skin whitening and moisturizing.

Lavender Oil Due to its skin regenerating properties lav-

Garlic Garlic is also useful to cure Keloids in a very

efficient manner. Take some garlic cloves and crush it properly. Apply the crush garlic cloves directly on the Keloids. Keep it for around 15 minutes and then wash it properly with water. The cloves of garlic can some time cause irritation to skin. In such cases, wash the Keloids with warm water.

Black Gram And Sandalwood Black gram can also help to get rid of scars from the skin. Take some black gram and sandalwood powder to make paste. Apply this paste on the Keloids and wait for some time. Repeat the process regularly to permanently cure Keloids.

- Natural News

How to treat IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) naturally IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome can happen to anyone. Usually, people who suffer from IBS don’t have a healthy diet and/or are exposed to stressors regularly. Then, there are also those who have IBS due to food allergies that they are not aware of. And in extreme cases, people who have depression and/or anxiety disorder can also be victims of IBS. Do note that IBS is different from LBM (Loose Bowel Movement or, in layman’s terms, diarrhea). While both are characterized by diarrhea and stomach cramps, IBS has other symptoms, such as bloating, constipation, gas, mucus in the stool, and irregular bowel movement.

It’s tempting to treat IBS using prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications since these can give you a quick fix — but why not go the natural route and leave those chemicals behind? Plus, you lower your chances of experiencing side effects from taking these pills.

Here are some suggestions on IBS natural treatment

Learn how to manage your stress better When you are stressed out, your hormones not only go haywire; your stomach’s acidity will also shoot up. When that happens, your digestive system (particularly the small intestine) is affected negatively, thus leading to IBS. Not everyone is equipped with the right disposition and mindset to deal with stress properly. Sometimes, you get so stressed that you fail to see how you can get out of that abyss you are in. The solution: Try meditation and other relaxing techniques to help you cope with stress better. Deep breathing exercises as soon as you wake up and before you go to sleep at night can help.

Changing your perspective is a great way to manage stress better, too. Instead of dwelling in negativity, keep telling yourself that you are stronger than you think — and therefore, you will be able to deal with stressful people and situations better.

Another IBS natural treatment is to anticipate which triggers stress. How do you

do this? Start keeping a journal (it doesn’t matter if it’s a handwritten or “digital” one) and jot down the stressful incidents, events, and people that you face. Doing so will help you identify these IBS stress-related causes — and learn how to cope with them, if not avoid them completely.

Find out if you’re allergic to certain types of food People have this preconceived notion that allergies appear as early as infancy or childhood. However, the truth is that some allergies develop over time. For example, you may have been fine eating seafood before, yet suddenly you’re breaking out in hives and experiencing IBS after consuming a seafood-laden pasta dish. If this occurs once or twice, that may be okay, but if it keeps recurring, then you may have to get tested for food allergies.

If you don’t have the budget — or time — to get yourself tested, try eliminating seafood, nuts, eggs and other dairy products, and other common food allergens (such as

soy, yeast, dairy, and gluten) from your diet.

Avoid these typical allergens for 12 weeks, then reintroduce them again one by one so you can narrow down which ones are causing the allergies.

Eat healthy Making your diet more nutritious is an effective IBS natural treatment. Incorporate fiberrich foods such as leafy greens and fruits into your diet, but don’t shock your system with too much of these if you’re not used to eating fruits and veggies on a regular basis.

The best way is to increase the amount of fiber gradually.

Make it a point to regularly drink peppermint or ginger tea, which are both known to soothe stomach and digestive problems. IBS can also strip away good bacteria (which you need to keep IBS at bay) from your digestive system, so load up with foods that contain good bacteria, such as cultured (coconut) yogurt, miso, and sauerkraut.

- Natural News

PAGE 34

health & you

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Youʼve lost weight! Great! So now what?

Dr. Lydia Thurton

drlydia@carib101.com

Health Tips Congratulations, you’ve reached a weight loss goal. You made diet changes, which took you most of the way there. And added in an exercise routine which encouraged some calorie burning. Feels great! Just as important as losing unwanted pounds is the ability to maintain. Research suggests that somewhere between 10-36% of people are able to maintain weight losses for five years or more. That means that most people are yoyo dieting. Losing weight only to regain it all back again. There is only one tip I have

for long term weight loss. Whatever it is you are doing to maintain, you need to enjoy it.

It needs to feel natural. While it may take mindfulness and effort, by and large, if you feel deprived or stressed out by your routine you will gain the weight back.

Here are a few tricks. Exercise is a slow and not terribly effective way to lose weight for most people. I will say though, exercise is an excellent way to maintain weight losses. Choose a time efficient routine. Everyone is busy. Develop a sweat session circuit you can do in twenty minutes Work most of your major muscle groups and get your heart pumping. Working out for short bursts, more frequently, has the same benefit as working out for long stretches. If time is an issue, just commit to consistency.

A short work out is better than no work out at all. You will see and feel results.

If there is a food you love to eat, you should eat it. A diet that doesn’t include the foods you love is a diet that is doomed to fail. Not only that, when people restrict

intake for extended periods of time, with no end in sight, it creates a physiological desire to seek out food. Especially high calorie foods. Choose quality over quantity. This is not a “cheat” meal. You haven’t “cheated” anything. This is an essential component of having a psychologically healthy relationship to food and your new body weight.

Get a scale that measures body fat percentage and body water percentage.

Much of your daily fluctuation in weight is water mass. The number you read on the scale is only telling you part of the story. Understanding your body composition is more important than fixating on a number on the scale. Water weight is the couple of pounds that appears and disappears between days.

Fat mass creeps on little by little. Learning to love a healthy lifestyle is the key to long term success. If you don’t love it analyze why and try to remove that barrier. You don’t have to be perfect, you have to be consistent.

Headaches and TMJ Dr. Matthew Weekes drweekes@carib101.com

Dental Health Dental treatment can be helpful in the prevention, treatment and elimination of severe headaches.

Among the distressing symptoms of TMD (Tempero Mandibular Dysfunction) commonly referred to a TMJ, are severe headaches. Very often this type of reoccurring, annoying excruciating pain is described as a migraine headache. Because of the location of the pain, seldom does the sufferer think that there is a dental connection.

In TMD, there is dysfunction of the joint between the upper and lower jaw.

It is in an abnormal, unhealthy state. The normal anatomy has been altered either by inherent factors or by external forces causing the joint to become deranged. The malposition of the cartilage disc, which is an important part of the joint, adversely affects the smooth frictionless opening and closing of the mouth. This results in the stretching and compression of muscles, ligaments and nerves beyond their normal limits. Trigger points are created which refer painful impulses to the forehead, temple, under the eyes, ears, neck, and other parts of the head.

There are certain developmental abnormalities of the jaws and unfavourable arrangement of teeth that manifest early in life, such as deep bites, underbites, underdeveloped or overdeveloped jaws. If not corrected, TMD may develop later. Early orthodontic and orthopedic intervention is essential in maintaining healthy joints and

preventing TMD. Steps taken to prevent injury to the head also has a positive effect such as wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.

The restoration of decayed or damaged teeth or the replacement of missing teeth in areas critical to the health of the TMJ sufferer is beneficial.

A dentist should be among the front line of professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD. If you have most of the symptoms or conditions mentioned below you may be suffering fromTMD. The most common symptoms are severe headaches, a fall or accident causing trauma to the head, whiplash, sounds in the jaw joints and ear, pain with no infection, difficulty opening and closing the mouth, jaw locking, neck pain, clenching teeth during the day and grinding teeth at night.

Making time to exercise Monique Bartlett

monique@carib101.com

Fitness Most of us have very busy schedules and find it very difficult to fit in time for exercise. To increase the amount of time you exercise, you need to do it gradually. If you change everything all at once you will become overwhelmed and not do anything at all. If you make up your mind to do it, you just can.

Take a look at your lifestyle and decide what type of exercise you can fit into it. You have to understand that even more important than the exercise itself, is sticking to it. So unless you choose something

that suits your lifestyle, you are not going to stick on to it.

If you’re an early morning person, perhaps you can fit in a 20 minute walk or run before you head off to work. If you’re an evening person, maybe there is a gym close by that you can go to for 30 minutes before you head home. You can even do simple things such as walking around instead of standing in one spot during the day.

If you can stand, then do that instead of sitting. It will help you burn more calories.

The easiest thing in the world is to become a couch potato. Not only do you sit on the couch watching countless hours of TV, you’re usually snacking mindlessly at the same time. Instead of your comfortable couch or chair, perhaps get something a little less comfortable that you won’t want to sit in as long.

If you have a job where you sit all day, take the time to stand up and stretch or go for a quick walk around the office every

half hour or so. Today’s world is much more sedentary due to all the technology and social media that has taken over our lives. The same is true for talking on the phone. Instead of sitting down while you’re talking on the phone, get up and walk around. You won’t even realize how much of a difference doing this one thing can make.

If there is the opportunity, use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can. Elevators are very convenient but elevators also make us very lazy. Even if you just choose to walk down the stairs instead of climbing up them, it’s better than not doing it at all. If you think about it, it will probably take about the same amount of time to get down when you consider that you first have to wait for the elevator and then have to stop at every other floor besides your own before you get to the ground floor.

Small changes can make a big difference. What small change can you make in your life in order to see results?

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

health & you

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Kick the winter blues find out more about S.A.D Michelle Smith

michelle@carib101.com

Health Care Welcome winter with some house rules for your body. Rules should include routine visits with your physician, consulting with a health advocate, eating right and staying active especially as the season changes. Did you know that between 60% and 90% of people with SAD are women? It’s true. If you are a female between fifteen and fifty five, you are more likely to develop S.A.D. It’s been noted that during the winter months we all tend to get comfortable, let’s remember that those yummy comfort foods help to add those extra winter pounds. As well it has been noted that during the winter they have found higher incidences of S.A.D and depression.

What is S.A.D - Seasonal Affective Disorder? Many people experience seasonal changes in feelings of well-being and in energy, sleep patterns and eating patterns, to a greater or lesser degree generally called the “Winter Blues”. But some people experience powerful changes to the degree that it becomes a form of clinical depression,

called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D).

It has been cited that about 2% to 6% of Canadians will experience S.A.D. in their lifetime. Another 15% will experience a milder form of S.A.D. Who is at risk of developing Seasonal Affective Disorder? Women are up to eight times as likely as men to report having S.A.D. People in northern countries are more likely to experience S.A.D. than those who live closer to the equator because the days get shorter the further north you go.

S.A.D. tends to run in families - most individuals with S.A.D. have at least one close relative with a history of depression.

• • • •

What are the risk factors/triggers for Seasonal Affective Disorder? A variety of psychological, social and biological factors may contribute to S.A.D. Some known factors are: • Inherent vulnerability • Light deprivation • Stress • Biological factors unique to the individual, as well as hormonal changes due to physical conditions • Early childhood trauma

Discuss all of your symptoms with your doctor and describe how they are affecting your life (e.g. sleeping several extra hours per day and missing work/school/appointments). Your doctor can suggest or provide appropriate therapy. Make sure to discuss all of the available treatments and medications and their benefits and side effects before making any decisions.

Other treatment options such as massage therapy, music therapy, meditation, shiatsu, therapeutic touch, aromatherapy or tai chi, Pilates and yoga can also help to improve wellness.

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

• Oversleeping - sometimes an increase of two to four or more hours per day • Lethargy (low energy)

Intense craving for carbohydrates Weight gain Withdrawal from social contacts Depressed mood occurring over at least two consecutive winters, alternating with non-depressed periods in the spring and summer

What do I need to tell my doctor?

• Write down any symptoms you’ve had • Write down key personal information • Make a list of all medications you are taking • Write down questions to ask your doctor • Take a family member or friend along

Always remember to: • Stick to your treatment plan. Don’t skip psychotherapy sessions. Even if you’re

feeling well, continue to take medication as prescribed.

• Learn about S.A.D. Empower yourself by learning about your condition.

• Pay attention to the warning signs. Find out what triggers your S.A.D. Make a plan so that you know what to do if your symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor, therapist or health advocate if you notice any changes. Ask friends or family to watch out for warning signs.

• Get exercise. Physical activity may help reduce the symptoms of S.A.D. Consider walking, jogging, swimming, gardening, or any other physical activity.

• Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. It may seem like they lessen your problems, but in the long run, they generally worsen symptoms and make S.A.D. harder to treat.

• Get adequate sleep. This is especially important. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about what you can do.

• Maintain an adequate diet. The Canada Food Guide is a useful reference in helping you choose to eat well. Choose more protein and Omega 3. Eat fewer simple carbohydrates, substituting more complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains.

Remember you are the most important part of your health care team.

life

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Whatʼs the deal with a segregated fund investment?

Fazaad Bacchus

fazaad@carib101.com

Finance Specialist Often times when we think of investing we ask ourselves a few questions like where and what to invest in. Should it be stocks, bonds, mutual funds, segregated funds or simply stay with a GIC cash investment? Of course your safest bet is staying with a GIC, but that has its limitations of a low interest rate payout due to its security. As you would remember from previous reading “Risk is equal to return”. So while investing in a GIC creates safety it lacks the return you need to keep pace with inflation.

Most individuals would like to invest but want a guarantee of principal more

than anything else in the world, where can you find such an investment that gives you a reasonable return but also protects your capital.

Let us examine the pros and cons of a Segregated Fund herein after called a Seg fund. First off, a Seg fund is sold by an insurance company which offers you the opportunity of investment growth but with added insurance protection. Let’s say you invest $20,000 in a Seg fund, over the duration of the contract, your investment may fluctuate in value but it has a built in guarantee (insurance) that at time of maturity or death your principal is assured. Any investment with a principal guarantee is an attractive option; however this benefit comes at a cost.

Also your principal is not guaranteed before maturity so you may receive less that the amount invested should you redeem prior to maturity.

Most investments will pay the value of the investment at time of death; a Seg fund on the other hand will pay according to contract stipulation, so you may have 100%

of your funds passed on to your beneficiaries.

Further to that, Seg funds allow you to name a beneficiary which means the proceeds are not subject to probate or probate fees as they pass directly to your beneficiaries!

Another great feature of investing in a Seg Fund is the fact that it can provide potential creditor protection. This is important to business owners who need to make sure that funds can be protected.

So why aren’t more people investing in Seg funds over Mutual Funds, well simply this, all those benefits don’t come for free. The main reason is that the cost or MER is usually higher than in mutual funds; therefore your investments need to perform at a much higher level to get a good net rate of return. The MER or fees are higher because you are paying for the guarantee of principal.

Segregated funds actually mirror mutual funds, or mutual funds are the underlying instruments. This means that the investment is identical, except for the fact that there is insurance on the Seg Fund, it is sold by an insurance company and by licensed

life insurance agents.

Your dilemma is whether to buy a Seg or a Mutual Fund. If you are at the bank and the representative suggests a mutual fund, it might be worth your while to discuss with your financial advisor the merit and application of a Seg Fund especially if you are saving for your retirement.

The benefits even though positive must be weighed against the MER to be able to determine a positive return. If you are concerned about the amount of fees your advisor is earning then investing in a Seg fund puts you in a position where the fees are higher and Seg funds do not follow the disclosure rules as do mutual funds. In any event though, investors are willing to pay for quality, if you receive quality advice and good service and good returns from your investments, then fees should not be the focal point.

Talk to your financial advisor about your investment performance, his fees and whether a Seg or Mutual fund is better for you.

Work to rule comes to an end Kathy McDonald kathy@carib101.com

Student Education The Principals and Vice Principals were about the only group that were not on strike when the school year started. By the end of September OSSTF had settled. ETFO teachers and occasional teachers have now ratified the terms of the agreement by the November 13th deadline. CUPE members, have until December 4th to do the same. Elementary schools can begin transitioning to their regular routines. During this period of transition parents must remember to be patient and understanding as it’s not business as usual just yet. There are relationships that need to heal; backlogs that need to be cleared; eager students waiting for their extra-curricular ac-

tivities to resume and parents wanting report cards. As a mother of four, I understand the frustrations of parents but please pack your patience.

It is my belief that most teachers will be consummate professionals that diligently work to create resilient lifelong learners. Parents will still have a role to play throughout this transition period. If you feel the need to speak to your child’s teacher remember that parent /teacher interviews will be granted at the teacher’s discretion. They are not bound to conduct interviews this time. Teachers will only do interviews where they have a specific concern and so they can refuse a request for an interview. So if a teacher does not request to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress and you feel the need to you will have to politely request a meeting.

Parents need to remember, last June, some boards did not issue report cards (Boards selected by ETFO to be part of the Teachers work to rule). Only a letter of completion was issued at the PDSB. If principals provided marks in writing these marks did

not go into the student’s Ontario Student Record (OSR). These marks will not be officially kept by the Board. Considering that no formal record exists I would advise parents that want these marks to ask for them before December.

Here are some of the highlights of the ETFO deal. Class sizes were capped.

So is this a net zero deal after all? Well the money used to provide an increase in salaries to cover the cost of capping class sizes was generated from a reduction of elementary professional learning cutting one day of class time and by allowing teachers to cash in on banked sick days at today’s rate rather than the projected rate of retirement. ETFO will still retain the right to challenge Bill 115 (back to work legislation that was imposed on teachers in 2012). ETFO remains committed to reducing split classes and School Boards will implement the 2012 Health and Safety Task Force recommendations.

Is the debate about whether or not the $600,000 in the ETFO deal is a secret payout a matter of semantics? You decide. $600,000 was not directly deposited into the

ETFO coffers slated for bargaining costs.

They walked away with an extra $600,000 for professional development for supply teachers. Secondary teachers as well as elementary teachers will receive a 1% lump sum payment this year, 1% next year and 0.5% raise payment through the next school year.

ETFO also represents Education Support Personnel (ESP), Professional Support Personnel (PSP) and Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECE). ETFO is still negotiating for these members centrally. I remain optimistic that the worst is over. So parents, they are all coming: Progress Reports, IEPs (Individual Educational Plan), school council elections and meetings, pizza days, fundraising…those chocolates and Christmas delights, extra-curricular activities and so much more…including the training for the new HPE (Health and Physical Education Curriculum) . Ahh the New SexEd. Ohh… I am out of space. So in the meantime enjoy the ride. We will Labrish in two weeks.

Walk Good - Belle Marche!!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Spousal support and taxation Valerie Dye

valerie@carib101.com

Legal Matters Spousal support payments can be made in several ways. They can be made retroactive to a date before the application was brought before the court, they may be made in a lump sum or may be made periodically. An order or agreement for payment of spousal support may be either for indefinite support or for support over a brief period. Payment of spousal support may also be binding upon the payor’s estate so that if the payor dies this does not end the recipient spouse’s entitlement to receive support.

Taxation of support payments The Canada Revenue Agency has issued interpretation bulletins regarding the taxation of support payments. The most recent update to the bulletin is chapter S1-F3-C3. The Canada Revenue agency has determined that support payments may be taxable and tax deductible in certain cases. It should be noted that whereas child support payments ordered after 1997 are neither taxable nor tax deductible, spousal support payments are both taxable and tax deductible. In addition, whether or not spousal support is taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the payor depends in the manner in which the support is made and also on whether it fits the requirements stated by the Canada revenue agency.

To qualify as a support payment for the purpose of taxation the payment must be made as an allowance on a periodic basis; it must be made either for the support of the spouse or for the spouse and children; the amount must be payable under a court order

or written agreement.

While these requirements seem straightforward, they have implications for whether or not there can be tax consequences from the payment. More particularly, since the requirement for tax purposes is that the payment should be periodic, a lump sum payment may not be tax deductible by the payor or taxable to the recipient. Furthermore, even periodic payments must be carefully applied in order to be tax deductible.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency, weekly or monthly payments easily qualify as periodic payments. However, if payments ae made over longer periods such as every six months or every year, those payments may be considered as payments of installments of a lump sum payment and may not qualify for tax deduction.

In terms of determining whether or not a payment qualifies as an allowance it is not necessary for the amount of the payment to be specified. The amount may be stated as a percentage of the payor’s earnings or as a percentage of bonuses which the payor receives regularly. However, if these bonuses are not received at regular intervals then the payments from such will not qualify as support for taxation purposes.

To benefit from tax consequences the payor also needs to ensure that the support payment is being made pursuant to a court order or agreement. Payments made before the date of a court order or agreement will only be tax deductible if made during the year the order or agreement was made or during the preceding year. Any payments made before the year preceding the date of the order or agreement will not be tax deductible or taxable.

Although the issues mentioned here relate more to taxation than to family law they are important considerations for parties who will be paying or receiving support payments. For instance, it is very common for support payments to be made in a lump sum and parties need to be aware that in such cases there will be no tax benefits to the payor.

The high cost of risky driving Jelani Daniel

jelani@carib101.com

Automotive Corner Insurance premiums are tough enough to tackle even with a spotless driving record.

What happens when you have a not-so-clean driving history and a fiery investment into a new sports car? You have a high-risk formula for increased insurance premiums.

How Risk Works: Low, intermediate and high-risk are contributing factors when brokers calculate your insurance premium. What you may not know, your driving history as well as the make or model of your car (year included) are considered forms of risk.

High-Risk Vehicles: Vehicles themselves can be ‘high’ or ‘low’ in terms of risk depending on the model, as well as the year. For instance, in Quebec, the motorcycle Aprilia ranks the highest in risk, just above BMW, then Ducati. The 2014 models of each were considered less risk than all the 2015 models mentioned, show-

ing the younger bikes were a cause for increased risk. Therefore, the make is a major factor (speed, color, etc.), but the year is a primary determining factor.

High-Risk Drivers: Your driving record is another factor taken into consideration when looking into what premium to charge the driver. If the driver has had a series of accidents, regardless of fault, it shows a higher likelihood that the insurance will have to pay money to the driver in the future in the case of an accident.

It is not uncommon for the accident to not be the fault of the driver due to unavoidable weather conditions from long commutes or an irresponsible driver that hits them. Regardless, the driver pays the premium, but the good news is that your driving record (if not criminal) will likely be clean after roughly three years for minor traffic violations.

The Low Risk Formula: If you want to lower your insurance premium, a low-risk formula is the best way to manage your money. Using a low-risk car and driving with care are the two best ways to minimize risk. If you have long commutes, try to use public transit to lower the chance of an accident or carpool with colleagues.

Overall, if you want to drive a highrisk vehicle, it is best to be a low-risk driver, but still prepare for a higher premium than a low-risk vehicle.

life

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life

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Supreme Court of Canada rules 407ETR cannot deny your plate after bankruptcy Tammy Flores

tammy@carib101.com

407ETR Matters Today is a great day for consumers! In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed 407 ETR’s appeal to continue collecting on discharged bankrupts, with costs. The group “Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power” has maintained, from the beginning, that the 407 Act did not give 407 ETR the right to ignore consumer protection laws. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of Canada proves this to be so.

Today’s decision is estimated to affect approximately 7,000 people, in the Province of Ontario, that have been discharged under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, but yet, 407 ETR continued to try and collect from them by placing them in “Plate Denial “until they paid up. Plate Denial means that you will not be able to renew your sticker on your vehicle’s license plate until you pay the company what it says you owe.

When 407 ETR set up shop here in Canada, the company promised it would follow the laws of the land it operated in. However, it became evident early on that this company had no respect for our consumer protection laws and because of their business model, it exerted itself like as if it had some sort of special status. The company was NEVER given special status however, because events like the epic court case between the Province of Ontario and the company… it gave weight to the appearance that the company had special status.

What this decision proves is that our laws are standing the test of time in this ever changing global landscape we find ourselves in. We are living in a period of time whereby treaties are signed,

by our leaders, such as NAFTA and TPP, which can cause a lot of confusion and debate in the marketplace on matters of sovereignty. Some fear provisions in these agreements give investors, that ARE NOT nationals, more of a voice on policy matters than citizens in our nation. This decision shows that, that is NOT the case. When foreign, multinational corporations set up shop, they agree to follow the laws of the land they operate within. They are not given special status.

The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act has been in place for more than a century and it doesn’t just benefit individual consumers that find themselves in dire straits. In recent years we have seen large corporations like those in the automotive and banking industries find financial protection within these statutes.

It’s given these companies the ability to reorganize and continue to operate their businesses. Likewise, for consumers that find themselves in over their heads, we are thankful we live in a country that gives people a second chance to reorganize their lives and continue to thrive after falling into financial troubles.

407 ETR has been ignoring our laws on how companies are to treat consumers for far too long. It’s about time the wind is taken out of their sails. This decision heps level the playing field for consumers. Prior to this decision, it seemed regardless of what our consumer protection laws said, this company exerted themselves like as if they were above the law. Their chosen business model doesn’t mean we have to change our laws to suit them. They set up shop here and promised to follow the laws of the land they operated within. They failed to do so. This ruling pulled a few of the company’s teeth and their bite isn’t so bad anymore. Thousands of consumers will now be free from this company once and for all!

We wait to hear from Class Action lawyers with respects to the certification of their lawsuit against the company. We aren’t finished with this company yet.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

insight

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Persuasive Development Disorders Autism; it cannot be ignored! Issaʼs story Simone Smith

simone@carib101.com

A Better Tomorrow Good Week Toronto Caribbean readers. I am happy that many of you have been following this series, Pervasive Development Disorders; Autism, it cannot be Ignored.

Some great things have come from writing this series. One of the greatest outcomes is that there is a better understanding of what Pervasive Developmental Disorders are. We are learning together that not everyone communicates in this world the same way. Many of us take for granted how easy it is for us to go to the store, pick up something, communicate with the sales clerk, pay for the item and leave. This sequence of events can be very difficult for some people, and many of them do not even know why these tasks are so difficult. My joy is researching and learning alongside the readers; this

week, I will be featuring one of my families who have had to face Autism head on. I am proud of them because they have faced it and learned from it. I have had the opportunity to work closely with the family, and their story continues to move me. I would like to present to you, Issa’s Story.

Issa Ibrahim is a friendly, fun loving child who is full of energy and loves to be around people. Issa was developing at the same level as his cohorts, but his mother Marian noticed that at the age of three, his words began to disappear. This worried her and caused a great deal of anxiety as she watched her son lose himself in his own world. Instead of ignoring the issue that was in front of her, she decided to educate herself on what was happening to her child. Marian and her older children decided that they would do some research and discovered that Issa did in fact have Autism. As we know, Autism runs on a spectrum and Issa was diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism.

With moderate to severe Autism, a developing child has extreme difficulties expressing themselves and this can lead to self-injurious behavior. Behavior issues like biting, screaming, temper tantrums and excessive crying are prevalent with children

who have moderate to severe Autism. When Marian noticed that this behavior was beginning to spiral out of control, she decided to look for help outside the home. This brought her to Erin Oaks. It was time for her to learn more about the disorder, which would allow her to work with Issa at home.

Marian started to attend parent coaching sessions along with seminars that were put on by the staff at Erin Oaks. Now, this was not an easy task for her. She also had to take one of her other children, who happens to be homeschooled, to extracurricular activities in Toronto. This meant that she was commuting back and forth from Toronto to Oakville three to four times a day.

We all know what this can be like. It takes on average forty five to ninety minutes getting from midtown to the suburbs. Marian did this willingly, without complaints five days a week and continued to attend seminars in the evening. She was determined to develop strategies that would enable her to teach Issa at home. She prided herself on her ability to learn the strategies, and then transfer them to working with Issa.

We have watched Issa go from a child who would be unable to go out in public without causing a scene, to being able to

go to Tim Horton’s with mom and their parenting coach Nate. Nate raves about Issa’s ability to stand in line, order with mom what he wants and leave the Tim Horton’s like any young growing boy can with his family.

Mom continues to credit Nate and the other supportive workers at Erin Oaks for helping her with Issa. They still have some challenges to face, but with such a dedicated family and a strong support system, Issa will be able to develop into an independent man.

Here is what I would like everyone to take from this story. We all have struggles.

We all feel like our struggles are unique; in a way they are, but we must understand that there are others experiencing events in their lives that are similar to yours. The more we are able to share our stories and open up about some of the issues occurring in our community, the better it will be for everyone.

Sharing our stories can not only help others, but help to strengthen the community from the inside out. Let us continue to share with each other, encourage each other and seek refuge with each other. Stay blessed readers and enjoy your week! Until next time, stay focused on positive thoughts and know that your situation does not determine your outcome.

FORWANTED SALE HELP

FOR SALE COMMUNITY EVENTS

BARBER: For Stylesz Unisex Hair Salon and Barber Shop 416-281-8000 or 647-2812447

FOR SALE WANTED

FOR SALE WORSHIP

BETHLEHEM ALIVE: A journey to reveal the Christmas Story. November 28, 2015. At Prince of Peace R.C. Church 265 Alton Towers 5 pm- 8 pm Admission: food for the food bank

KITCHEN HELP Now hiring Chinese Chef and West India Cook for busy Mississauga Restaurant/ Bar. Please contact Caribbean Sunset

905-564-7800 SALES: Now hiring full/part time sales reps. MUST be experienced and self motivated. Great income potential. Serious inquiries only please. Please contact Avi 647-722-6298 SEEKING A JOB: A Part time Registered PSW, looking for a part time job. call 647 466 1661.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Community Christmas Bazaar. Sat Novt 28 at 12:00pm to 5:pm At Global Kingdom Ministries 1250 Markham Road at Tuxado Court CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY: December 6th , 2015 Time 2pm to 5pm Cost $10.00 per child Location; JCA: 995 Arrow Rd. Toronto. For info call : 416.746.5772 x 249 CHRISTMAS GRAND MARKET: Last minute Christmas Shopping. Dec 23 & Dec 24th From 12pm to 12am Location; JCA: 995 Arrow Rd. Toronto 416.746.5772 x 249

FOR SALE WORSHIP WORSHIP: Worship with us at Solid Rock Miracle Center 689 Warden Ave at 11am .

Sunday school at 10.05am. 416-293-1839 WEST INDIAN CONGREGATION Emmanuel. Mission Church of the Nazarene.

Service at 1.30 p.m.1875 Sheppard Ave. West, Toronto, ON, M3L 1Y6 For info call Rev. Jerold Boodhoo 416-303-7163

LIST UP TO 30 WORDS FREE!

Send your information to info@torontocaribbean.com or call 647-722-6298

SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Reverend Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Ministering For info call: 416 748 0211 RECOVERY THURSDAYS: You CAN recover from your hurts, habits and hangups! Rosewood Church of the Nazarene, 657 Milner Ave, Scarborough, ON. M1B 2K4. Free. Light dinner at 6:30pm. Meeting 7pm-9pm Pastor Arnie 416-459-1462

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astrology

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

ARIES

TAURUS

Thanks to Mars on the move, expect all facets of life to get busier. Whether it lasts or not, a new passion or love interest can strike it hot. Friday is full but easy to manage. If Saturday/Sunday puts a lid on it, it won’t be for long. Monday and Tuesday are your best days for connecting, talks, sales, and getting a jump-start.

Now is the time to get at it. As of Thursday, Mars joins Venus in your work, health, and improvement sector. It’s to your advantage to participate, pool resources, join forces, and/ or get onboard. A second opinion or second try can be advantageous. Tuesday is optimal for a talk, a meet-up, or getting it sorted out.

GEMINI

CANCER

Strike while the iron’s hot. Mars in Libra is one of your best social and moneymaking transits. A particular relationship or initiative now gains a good wind. A new love or passion can keep you in glow mode too. Thursday/Friday, you’ve got it going on. Monday through Wednesday gives you a monopoly on synchronicity. Your timing is right on the money.

As of Thursday, Mars puts family, home, and real-estate matters on the upswing. Thursday and Friday can be productive work or work-itout days. Economize on effort and output Saturday/Sunday. Monday begins a productive week. On Tuesday, you are sharp, articulate, and reading them well. Mercury/Sun helps you cut to the chase and stay on target. Your best option should present itself.

LEO

VIRGO

Spending is sure to increase, but when it provides pleasure or fun, you won’t let anyone talk you out of it! Consider Mars into Libra the official launch of office-party season.

Start to finish, you’re in for a good go of it on Friday. Duty calls for the weekend. Monday/ Tuesday a conversation, an introduction, or a look/see could spark something good.

The end of the workweek buys you an easy go of it. Dine out and indulge on Friday night—you deserve it! Saturday/Sunday, a steady pace gets you there just as fast. If it isn’t necessary, don’t take it on. Monday/ Tuesday can call for on-the-spot thinking or a quick decision. Listen to your instincts; go with your first hit or impulse.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Want more attention? You’ll get it now. As of Thursday, Mars in Libra boosts you with even more spark and sass. Venus in Libra will continue to gift you and give you good feedback through November, while hotstuff Mars keeps you rocking it through the start of January. Friday, Monday, and Tuesday are great get-it-going days.

Mars exits your social sector and reduces your visibility, but it won’t slow you down.

The sun and Mercury in Scorpio keep you motoring right along. The stars will keep you going strong from now through the start of the new year. Monday/Tuesday can be newsworthy. A fresh idea, conversation, or spontaneous whim can strike great flint.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

Come Friday, you’re likely to feel as if someone has opened a window and let you out. Take the ball and run with it. The weekend is for keeping it on track. Monday/Tuesday lights a fresh spark. These are lucrative days to have a conversation, scout around, shop, introduce yourself, or take on something new.

Thursday/Friday, out of sight is where/how you’ll get the most value out of your time.

Saturday through Monday, you’re in charge and you prefer it that way. Tuesday’s a newsworthy day. You’ll bump into or hear from folks you know. The shopping, sharing, or inspiration is great. You’re on a roll; take it as far as you can.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Mars into Libra makes for a lighter and brighter feel. Along with Venus also being in an upbeat and social mood, the next few weeks are sure to get you smiling more.

Saturday through Monday helps you to stay practical and on track. Tuesday is your best day to scoop a bargain or cut a deal.

Mars and Venus in Libra can put money in your pocket. Of course, given the time of year, they can see you spend more, too. This duo could do you great justice in the romance and intimacy department too. Choose quality over quantity this weekend. Monday through Wednesday can spark something good. Stay alert, seize the now.

March 20 - April 19

May 20 - June 21

July 22 - August 22

September 22 - October 23

November 22 - December 21

January 19 - February 18

April 19 - May 20

June 21 - July 22

August 22 - September 22

Across 1) Home borough of the Yankees 4) The Big ____ 6) Current mayor 8) ____ State Building 10) New Year’s Eve locale 12) New York Stock Exchange home 14) ____ Square Garden 15) “The Great White Way” 17) Blue-clad football team

October 23 - November 22

December 21 - January 19

February 18 - March 19

Down 2) ____ Center, home of NBC 3) Radio City resident dancers 5) Huge park created in 1850s 7) Statue of ____ 9) National League team 11) One way to get around 13) “No Sleep ’Til ____” 14) Borough that’s also a drink 16) NBA team

self help

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The necklace of life

lessons too good to keep hidden.

Keisha Johnson

keisha@carib101.com

Professional Development Sometimes when we are in the midst of uncertainty it is difficult to know which decision to trust. Especially when the choices we face are time sensitive, competing or challenge our ideals.

We can either throw caution to the wind and risk the unknown or vacillate between indecision and procrastination.

One thing is clear, experiences are like beads strung on the necklace of life.

Their real beauty and value may not be fully evident until they are strung together. More importantly, what those beads look like are determined by the choices we make.

This truth came home forcefully to me recently and reinforced some invaluable

Descramble the Fear of Loss: I’ve been itching to move forward with a long held vision. Out of the blue an opportunity came to fulfill it. It seemed good. Checked most of my ideals. But something was missing.

It wasn’t evident what that was, but I had a limited window to make a decision whether to take the opportunity or not. The anxiety of ‘what ifs’ loomed and a quandary of questions engulfed me.

Do I run with the opportunity or do I risk everything and give it up? If I do, what other options are available to make this dream a reality? In what timeframe and what will it take? If I proceed, what am I compromising? Is that compromise redeemable? How? When? What impact would it have on the vision? What is the absolute worst that could happen?

Have you ever been there? The fear of loss was about to entangle me in chaos. These were all worthwhile questions. But as I thought about them I recognized that they were all fear based. A great realization but

still no decision was forthcoming and everyone invested began to lose patience with me. To get clarity demanded a different approach. My Mom challenged me to ditch my comfort zone and launch out into deeper waters. In my gut I knew she was right and in my gut I knew that was scary as hell!

Get to Visioning: Unwilling to let the unknowns usurp wisdom and peace of mind, I pulled back and quieted my mind. I heard Napolean Hill quietly echoing, “Whatever the heart of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” In stillness and solitude I envisioned the best possible outcomes; the most extravagant fulfillment of my vision.

I pushed my brain beyond the present opportunity, financial constraints, insufficient knowledge, professional inexperience and every other limitation to a new limitless ideal.

Embrace Clarity: In that moment I began to see the forest and not just the trees. The decision became clear. This opportunity was not the vehicle to fulfill the vision, instead it was a catalyst to envision a bigger vision with greater possibilities. It ignited in me a

fervor to pursue this dream beyond the small beginning I originally had in mind and expand to greater terrain. I could see it, touch it, and feel it!

With that bit of clarity, the fear of a missed opportunity yielded to the reality of attaining something beyond my capacity. I began to share the revised bigger vision and immediately it started to attract the required resources to fulfill it.

Recalibrate and proceed with great expectations: What appeared to be my big break became a stepping stone and a precedent for when uncertainty and the fear of loss looms, to be bold and courageous and proceed knowing that: where I am at and whatever I am facing may just be a starting point on which to build, that there is nothing to fear but fear itself and that visioning doesn’t cost anything. Therefore I can give myself permission to dream big and embrace a reality of limitless possibilities. Then watch it come together.

This experience has fulfilled its purpose. We can now string it on the necklace of life to be a reference when next it becomes difficult to see the forest for the trees.

What to do with a dollar?

Try the seventy, tn, by ten, by ten percent solution!

Jerrold Johnson jerrold@jnbs.ca

Guest Writer Many years ago, when I started my financial planning career, it was the beginning of a quest to discover how to secure my financial future and that of my family for generations to come. As the journey began, I quickly discovered that it would not be about securing me and mine; but, rather about empowering as many others people’s lives as possible.

I started learning and teaching others about: budgets, spending plans, investment and retirement planning. All of this was great and important; however, one day

I met a billionaire who taught me that, “Simplicity is the key! Here’s a million dollar idea you can apply in life and business…find a few simple steps that can be duplicated, over a consistent period of time, by a large group of people.”

Now, I can share with you something that is very simple. You will be able to learn it quickly and even teach to your children. And, it will have a massive impact on your financial life, if you stick to the basic principle.

The simple concept is: If you know what to do with $1.00, you’ll know what to do with $10.00. And, if you know what to do when $100.00, you will know what to do when $1 Million, or $10 Million, or even when $100 Million finds its way into your hands.

However, before we break down the concept, we must ensure that we have the right thinking or philosophy about money.

The purpose of money is to serve you and what you wish to do with it. You should not

simply live or work for money. Your money should be working for you! Contrary to popular belief, “money is NOT the root of all evil!”

The ancient text, often misquoted and misused, actually says: “For the LOVE of money that is the root of all kinds of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10). Therefore, many people have recorded it in their subconscious that money is bad. This affects how they view money and how they treat it. If you correct that negative concept, you will be well on your way to mastering money management, instead of it mastering you.

I first learned this simple percentage concept from renowned author, Jim Rohn. “What to do with a dollar?” Some persons may not remember what a cent is, because some vendors refuse to accept them.

But, remember that it takes 100 cents to make up one dollar. For simplicity, let’s use percentages.

Here is what you need to remember about the 70-10-10-10 Percent Solution: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Never spend more than 70% of your income. That includes your salary, commission, gifts, interest, dividends, and capital gains, etc.

Give 10% to charity. Some call it tithe, and others just give generously.

Invest 10% for capital to generate a profit. Consider this to be active capital. And, capital is any funds you set aside to be invested in an enterprise that brings value to the market place hoping to bring a profit.

Invest 10% for someone else to use; that is, in a financial institution, where it will gain interest; and you can consider that to be passive capital.

Consider adopting the 70-10-10-10 Percent Solution, and you will be well on your way to mastering the management of your financial resources and your life!

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