Ramnarine Captures Chutney Soca Crown 013013

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EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

RAMNARINE CAPTURES CHUTNEY SOCA CROWN TRINIDAD (TG) -- New 2013 Chutney Soca Monarch Raymond Ramnarine was brought to tears at Skinner Park, San Fernando, yesterday morning after the results were announced. An emotional Ramnarine, frontline singer for Dil-E-Nadan, beat 16 other competitors with his song I eh Marridin No More to take the crown.

And even before Ramnarine was announced the winner, patrons began chanting his name loudly, and thunderous applause and cheers followed when he came on stage to collect his $1 million prize from Attorney General Anand Ramlogan. Singing in seventh position, Ramnarine slipped passed multiple

chutney soca monarch title holder Rikki Jai (Samraj Jaimungal) putting him at second place, and dethroned last year’s winner Kris “KI” Persad who came third.

Rikki Jai took $300,000 while KI received $200,000. Ramnarine who entered the competition for the first time and also topped the semifinals at Rienzi Complex said he was shocked because he was not sure whether the text votes would go in his favour. He was clearly the people’s champion since the judges allocated 30 per cent of the points while text votes from fans made up the other 70 per cent.

Ramnarine said: “Since I came here

I had my deya lighting and praying. I was back stage listening to the results and my heart was pounding so much.” As the new Chutney Soca king, Ramnarine said his goal is to elevate the culture. “I came here not thinking about the bright lights and big stage, not about the money,” he said.

“I came here for one reason and now my journey has just started...I want to go out and really, really inspire the young ones and bring Indian culture to the highest level.”

Saying it was about making positive difference, Ramnarine intends to go into schools to educate the youths about the culture.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Trans Pacific Auto Sales takes promotion to Berbice GUYANA (GC) -- Trans Pacific Auto Sales on Saturday took their “Countrywide Promotion” to Sukhpaul’s Gas Station at Corriverton Berbice.

This promotion by the auto sale company enabled persons living in the Corentyne area the chance to pay just 20 percent down of the cost of a vehicle and drive away.

Persons who were interested in buying were asked to walk with a valid form of identification, proof of income and address along with their TIN certificate. There were 14 cars for 14 potential buyers; the cars were all sold out in approximately three hours.

Management announced that they will be extending this promotion until today, and this will therefore mean that more Berbicians will have access to the bank to be a part of this opportunity as there were many persons who showed up and expressed the view of not having access to finance as a result of the banks being closed on Saturdays.

Assistant Sales Manager, Mr. Anerud Jagarnauth stated that it is the vision of his boss being Proprietor of Trans Auto Mr. Harripersaud Ramsewak to see every Guyanese being able to own a vehicle, whether one is from Berbice, Demerara or Essequibo, and to own one at an affordable cost.

He further stated that this promotion

is also to let persons know about Trans Pacific and the great deals and bargains they have to offer.

Mr. Ramsewak highlighted that he is very satisfied with the response to this promotion from the Corentyne residents and they have already been serving Berbicians through the Sukpaul’s Auto by supplying them with the vehicles to sell to persons.

He noted that this is a special promotion with full-coverage insurance , also, persons don’t need to take a loan from the bank, but can pay the auto company on a monthly basis as they take the vehicle away on a layaway basis and offered perhaps the best interests rates at just 15 percent per annum.

He concluded that Trans Pacific has the best customer service, and promotions are ongoing and will be taken to Linden and the county of Essequibo in February.

A few of the customers who purchased their vehicles yesterday lauded Trans Pacific for their thoughtfulness and for taking the need for affordable motor vehicles into consideration as there aren’t many auto sales companies in the county.

Hylton reopened scrap metal trade to appease constituents - Mair

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JAMAICA (JO) -- Opposition spokesman for Industry, Gregory Mair, says that Minister Anthony Hylton has placed the interest of his constituents above that of the nation in the reopening the scrap metal industry.

“While there may be benefits to reopening the trade, it must be done with sensible and pragmatic policies guided by a feasibility study,” Mair said in a statement Sunday.

According to Mair many of the dealers in the industry operated in Hylton’s constituency and the reopening of the trade was done to appease those dealers.

Mair questioned if there were any guarantees that foreign exchange earned through the industry would return to Jamaica.

He also questioned the cost to taxpayers for monitoring the trade, against the projected income into government’s coffers

and whether any broad feasibility study was done to support government’s policy actions.

He argued that the minister’s actions will very likely amount to the “institutionalisation of the theft of property across the island including manhole covers, railings on roadways and bridges, water pumps, gates, cables, utility company equipment, traffic signs and roofs”.

Mair insisted that supply could not meet the demand for non-industrial scrap metal on a sustainable basis.

“At the very least the best way forward for the industry is to have legal owners of non-industrial scrap metal periodically negotiate in the marketplace directly with legitimate dealers,” he suggested.

The trade reopens Monday after a ban.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Frances-Anne Solomon, a Caribbean Filmmaker with a difference

Cindy Ramkumar Reporter TORONTO -- As we celebrate Black History month in the next couple days (February), I would like to open with saluting a visionary in the field of Caribbean Filmmaking, Ms. Frances-Anne Solomon.

I had the opportunity of meeting and talking to Frances-Anne Solomon. She is an awesome woman with lots of talent and years of contribution to the West Indian Toronto filmmaking community. FrancesAnne Solomon is a Caribbean filmmaker, writer, producer, entrepreneur and visionary feminine advocate of Caribbean films. She was born in England, to Trinidadian parents.

Frances-Anne is the grand-daughter to Dr. Patrick Solomon (former Trinidadian politician).

Frances-Anne, is committed to developing an infrastructure and international profile for Caribbean films. She lives be-

tween Canada and the Caribbean, was educated in Toronto, England and Trinidad, and dedicates her life to helping to enhance the lives of upcoming and aspiring Caribbean nationals, both in Toronto and the Caribbean.

Frances-Anne, known as an accomplished Toronto-based Trinidadian Filmmaker, had her most recent award-winning feature film A Winter Tale winning international acclaim. She also received the Community Leadership Award along with Ray Chang, from Tropicana Enterprises. She is also the President and Artistic Director of two companies, Leda Serene Films and Caribbean Tales.

Caribbean Tales, founded by Frances-Anne, is a non-profit organisation, producing Caribbean educational stories and projects. Her most recent projects include Heart Beat (a documentary series profiling Caribbean Musical creators; Literature Alive, and Gemini-nominated Lord have Mercy! (Canada’s landmark multicultural sitcom originally created for Vision TV, Toronto1, APTN, and Showcase).

The Caribbean Tales Film Festival was started in 2006 by Frances-Anne.

This Film Festival created the platform for the exhibition of Caribbean Diaspora films.

Caribbean Tales Annual Film Festival aims

to entertain and educate through a series of industry panels, filmmakers’ discussions and presentations on both historical and contemporary filmmaking throughout the Caribbean and the rest of the diaspora. Caribbean Tales showcases the best of Caribbean Cinema, at home and abroad, classical and Creole, digital and celluloid.

Frances-Anne dedicated and tireless contribution to the Canadian Caribbean community, has garnered the respect and support of filmmakers around the world.

She is well known and respected amongst her peers and is fully committed to promoting and engaging the youths of challenged neighbourhoods to change their lives namely the 48 hours Film Challenge.

Added to her accolades, FrancesAnne, was a film teacher at the University of the West Indies in 2009 and has won numerous awards including, Best Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Producer Award, Best Short Film and Best Foreign Film Awards.

For 2013, great things are happening for Frances-Anne, the launch of Caribbean Tales TV, and online VOD portal, where all the Caribbean films will be available in CTWD catalogue. Keep on reading future articles as there are more surprises planned for the Caribbean Film Industry by FrancesAnne and her team.

Sat calls for Tobago boycott, says Indo-Trinidadians not welcome there TRINIDAD (TG) -- The leader of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) wants independence for Tobago. Speaking with the Sunday Guardian, Sat Maharaj, secretary general of the SDMS, said Tobago should fend for itself and stop being a drain on the treasury.

Maharaj said billions of dollars were being spent in Tobago to benefit a handful of the national population. Maharaj said he wants the Government to stop subsidising the cost of the fast-ferry service and the airbridge service to Tobago. He said millions of dollars were being spent to send tourists from Trinidad to Tobago. “Let everyone pay the full cost to travel,” he stated.

Maharaj said the Government cannot continue to help pay for joyrides between the islands. Maharaj said he saw no relevance in maintaining a unitary state of Trinidad and Tobago since the Indo-Trinidadian population, which makes up 42 percent of the national population, did not feel welcome in Tobago.

Maharaj claimed that Trinidadians

were generally ill-treated by Tobagonians when on business or vacation on the island.

He said Indians are now feeling alienated and are refusing to go to Tobago since the “Calcutta ship” comments by THA execu-

tive member Hilton Sandy.

The Maha Sabha leader also claimed that Tobagonians had always rejected Indians and Hindus, in particular. Citing an example, he said the SDMS had purchased land in Tobago for the construction of a temple at Carnbee over five years ago but the THA had refused to grant permission for construction even though there was a Christian church in the area.

He said the THA also promised to grant a half acre of land at Signal Hill to the various Indian organisations on the island.

However, the THA came up with an excuse at the last minute and reneged on its promise.

“Calcutta ship can’t land, but one from the Congo can,” Maharaj commented.

Maharaj said until Tobago gets independence he wanted everyone to boycott Tobago. Maharaj said Trinidadians could enjoy themselves vacationing elsewhere. In the meantime, he suspected that the THA would move to patch things up and save face by giving “curry favour” to one of the three Indo-based organisations on the island.

Jack on local elections: PNM ‘fear campaign’ won’t work in Trinidad TRINIDAD (TG) -- No PNM fear campaign will catch hold in Trinidad for the upcoming local government elections, says UNC chairman Jack Warner. He was speaking with the media yesterday at his Chaguanas West constituency offices at Caroni Savannah Road. Warner, who also celebrated his birthday yesterday, took time off from attending to the needs of over 300 people who had come from as far as Laventille seeking his assistance.

Warner said the UNC will sit and discuss strategies for local government at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, and analyse the outcome of the elections in Tobago and see if there were any other reasons to explain what led to the PNM taking all 12 seats

in the Tobago House of Assembly.

He said the party would then make an official statement afterwards. Warner said local government elections were, at most, six months away. He said the PNM would not be allowed to inject a fear campaign based on race into the upcoming elections.

However, Warner said he believes that Trinidadians are more mature voters who contemplate the issues facing the country when they cast ballots. Warner said the PP was planning an intense campaign and is even hoping to make inroads into opposition turf.

70th birthday wish: To see T&T safer, more secure Speaking of security issues for Carnival, Warner said he held dis-

cussions with the Commissioner of Police, who assured that citizens as well as tourists can be assured of a crime-free Carnival.

Warner said security was the number-one priority and assured that there would be adequate police at major events. “There will be no cause for worry and security and safety of the country are in good hands.”

Warner said he chose to spend his 70th birthday in a low-keyed manner, doing what he loves most—“serving the people.”

“I have been here from 2 am and I have listened to the cries of 300 people,” Warner said. He added that his birthday wish was to see T&T become safer, more secure than ever and crime-free.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Presidential grant initiative continues transforming Amerindian villages

GUYANA (GC) -- One of the major initiatives by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has been the introduction of the presidential grant programme in 2007, by former President Bharrat Jagdeo which provides for Amerindian communities to receive specific sums to aid in their development.

The presidential grant is financial assistance given to the communities to establish income generating projects to advance their growth. When it was launched, $150M was allocated towards meeting the social and economic needs of 140 communities. Today there are more communities on board and more money involved.

This initiative has helped to improve village life through the creation of employment for villagers and food security, improved access and mobility through the purchase of vehicles.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai said that government invested approximately $323M over the last

two years in presidential grants alone. These grants funded projects such as the construction of village shops, passenger cargo and fishing boats, minibuses, tractors and All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to improve life at the village level.

The minister said that about 57 villages are yet to collect their 2010 and 2011 grants. This is because the projects that they want to embark on require an investment that is beyond the value of the grant and as such, they have decided to wait until the sum is accumulated. She explained that until then, the funds are deposited into accounts, until the villages are ready.

“I have just recently returned from Taushida, (Region 9), a village which is nestled around the mountain ranges. It was difficult to access in the past but it’s more accessible now, because they received a tractor and every year they have received their grant and they have each project lined up,” she stated.

Taushida village now has a shop, a sewing shop, a guest house, students’ dormitory and a community centre.

Success stories Crash Water Residents of Crash Water, Region Nine in particular, have seen tremendous positive impacts from this programme and have been able to successfully sustain the projects that they use their grant to invest in.

“When you look at those remote communities (referring to Crash Water) investing $1M, $500,000 into the crab wood oil and the other $500,000 into a guest house and when you visit that community you can see both infrastructure standing, you are satisfied that the investment is making a positive impact in communities,” Minister Sukhai stated.

The Crash Water crab oil venture produces bottles of oil from the seed obtained in the forest.

Tuseneng This village has utilised some of its grants to build a shop, and several other projects. The village shop has been in existence for about four years now and serving the community well because not everyone has the means to traverse to Lethem to buy goods.

“You should see their cattle project, they have taken some of their grants over the years to build a herd of cattle and now people are complaining of the culture of the cattle roaming,” Minister Sukhai said.

Taushida

Dealing with problematic projects

In terms of projects that have failed to achieve the required results, the ministry has had to make interventions; providing additional support to ensure that they are not stalled or abandoned and the villagers derive optimum benefits.

“We have also moved away from giving the main village the funds because we have had some instances whereby the main village was utilising the funds, only on projects for the centre of the community; while satellite villages were being deprived,” Minister Sukhai said.

The ministry has not been able to allocate funds for presidential grants for 2012 due to the allocation for this initiative being cut from the national budget by the combined parliamentary Opposition.

Minister Sukhai said that if this approach is again taken this year by the Opposition, then Amerindian communities will be denied of this much needed programme that seeks, not only to uplift their living standards, but to guarantee them more economic freedom.

This programme is only one of several that were severely affected by the $20B Opposition-imposed budget cuts.

In July 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo announced a 56% increase in Presidential grants for Amerindian villages, from $320M to $500M for the period 2010 and 2011.

From 2006 to 2009, government expended more than $460M in presidential grants for the undertaking of economic projects.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Chutney Soca King Continued From Page 1 -- Sending out his love to all his fans, family and supporters, he beamed: I am proud and happy and I more humbled and blessed to be the new Chutney Soca Monarch 2013.” The show kicked off with a legends of chutney segment, but the actual competition began around 11 pm.

And also making his debut at the competition in his dazzling outfit was the popular Prophet Benjamin (Devon Samuel), who was well received with his entertaining performance of No Lokani. His performance landed him in eighth position. The competition ended just before 3 am. Former chutney soca monarch Ravi B and his band Karma entertained the audience while the results were being tallied.

Ravi B who was reprimanded and discharged last year on a charge of causing the crowd at the 2011 final to throw missiles when he did not win, promised to re-enter the competition soon.

The top ten: 1. Raymond Ramnarine 2. Rikki Jai 3. KI 4. Kenneth Supersad 5. Drupatee Ramgoonai 6. Anil Bheem 7. Hunter and Junjeezy, Rick Ramoutar (tie) 8. Prophet Benjamin 9. Omadath Maharaj, Sally Sagram (tie) 10. Saleem ‘Stinky’ Beharry

Five farmers’ groups receive $10M funding under READ project GUYANA (GC) -- Five groups of farmers last Friday received $10.3M under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Rural Enterprise Agricultural Development (READ) project.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy pointed out that the integration of small farmers into large scale agriculture is not just an option, but an imperative and a priority.

Dr. Ramsammy noted that the government never embraces initiatives that engage subsistence livelihood; rather it is done to create wealth and encourage investment.

He highlighted that putting in labour and energy will be done by the farmers, and in this case the ministry is assisting these groups and others, with the finance as “seed money” where they will continue to generate funds through profits to sustain their business. He noted that there is no guarantee that there will be additional funds since this money was bargained for by the Government of Guyana.

He congratulated the groups and urged that wealth generation comes from exports and value-added: “Our aspiration should be to have our produce meet on the shelves of supermarkets internationally,” he declared.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Alli Baksh said that he was happy to see so many women involved in the groups and in agriculture as a whole noting that several other groups are in the making, and it is the intention of government to keep engaging all stakeholders in the process.

He observed that sustainability is the name of the game for these groups and this type of funding is being handed to persons who are serious about developing themselves. He said sustainability of projects means a lot to the ministry, and noted that it is constantly looking for new and emerging markets to absorb farmers’ produce.

At the handing over ceremony, Mr. Ramesh Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) emphasized the need for farmers to be united, and also underscored the need for training for farmers.

Mr. Tappin, a farmers’ representative from the Region Ten Farmers’ Association (RFTA) extended thanks to the ministry for the support as well as for capacity building training that was given to them.

Beneficiary groups The groups that received funding are: Lower Akawini Farmers’ Association and Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors Association of Region Two, Central Mahaicony-Perth Village Farmers’ Association and Young Women’s Christian Association of Region Five and the Region Ten Farmers’ Association.

READ is a six-year project funded

by Government of Guyana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as a loan/grant of US$6.9M. The project is being implemented in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10.

Rural Enterprise Development is a component with two major areas of activity – Market Development and Rural Enterprise Development. The target groups are male and female rural households, women-headed households, women, youth and Amerindians communities. Also, small scale male and female non-traditional farmers who have an average of five acres under cultivation and depend on farming as their major source of income, as well as male and female headed farm families that have generally been unable to participate in the synergistic benefits of integrating production, processing and marketing of their produce.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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East coast farmers get big post-Sandy boost JAMAICA (JO) -- The north-eastern coastal parishes of St Thomas, Portland and St Mary, which were battered by Hurricane Sandy in late October, are to receive the bulk of some $55 million in recovery assistance for farmers, according to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke.

Clarke told the House of Representatives last Tuesday that his ministry, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), has provided assistance for approximately 6,000 farmers in the aftermath of the hurricane, including 4,000 produce farmers, 1,500 fisherfolk and 500 cocoa growers.

Information provided by the minister in response to questions tabled

by Opposition spokesman JC Hutchinson, showed that Portland, St Mary and St Thomas each received $1.7 million for land preparation, compared to St Andrew’s $750,000, the next highest land preparation figure.

St Mary got the most funding for broiler chickens and feed, $700,000, followed by St Thomas with $650,000 and Portland, St Andrew and St Catherine with $500,000 each.

Farmers in these parishes also received bags of fertiliser and seeds, and Clarke promised that an additional $3 million would be spent on providing more fertiliser.

The parishes of Hanover, St Elizabeth and St James only received fertiliser, while Kingston and Westmoreland re-

ceived no farm recovery support.

Clarke said that an assistance package has also been put together which includes the $120 million in the Banana Resuscitation (Loan) Programme, an agricultural and productivity project primarily financed by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) to the tune of $100 million.

In addition, the ministry has provided $13.5 million at the National PC Bank to reduce the interest rate from 8.5 per cent to five per cent for loans disbursed to banana and plantain farmers. The other $5 million is being contributed by the Agricultural Credit Board (ACB) to enable supervision of the loans and provision of technical advice.

The European Union (EU) has agreed to contribute euro 100,000 ($13.5 million) in fertiliser and insecticides to the farmers, and the distribution will be facilitated through the RADA offices. Approximately 1,000 farmers will benefit from this facility.

The grant will be given only to legitimate registered banana and plantain farmers, who must present documentation to verify registration. RADA will procure and distribute materials to the farmers and utilisation of the materials grant will be supervised by the Banana Board.

Clarke said that the Coffee Industry Board has received $40 million from the ministry, and has engaged the Jamaica Coffee Exporters’ Association and the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association in the logistics for the distribution of inputs.

The fisheries subsector has received $15 million to assist recovery efforts, and the cocoa subsector has received $15 million since December 2012 to assist farmers in St Ann, Portland, St Mary, St Catherine and Clarendon.

Clarke explained that RADA is the agency focusing on distributing the benefits to the farmers, but that the Banana Board, the DBJ through PC Banks, the Agricultural Credit Board and the European

Banana Support Programme are the main channels for distribution for banana farmers.

The Coffee Industry Board will be distributing inputs through the Jamaica Coffee Exporters’ Association and the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association. The Cocoa Industry Board will oversee the distribution of benefits to affected cocoa farmers in five parishes.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Giving to charity the affordable way

Geeta Maraj Contributor We often give monetary donations to charities and are unsure as to what percentage of our contribution actually gets to the people who need it most. There are ample sites on the internet that give you a breakdown of what percentage goes to administrative costs versus reaching the poor. However, whether these figures are correct or not, there is one way of actually reaching the needy directly - through donations of your slightly used or unused items that go directly to an orphanage.

It is generally assumed that if a charitable organization is spending more than 33.3% of their budget on overhead, then that organization is not efficiently dispersing its funds to the people who need it most. Often we donate items to foundations that come to our door to pick up our contribution. These items are then sold to the poor to raise funds for research of various diseases and ailments.

So how do we personally reach the poor or needy directly, cutting out administrative costs and the middle man? Give what can be directly utilized by the poor – clothing, food, school supplies, games and toys.

As a community having migrated

from places like Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica, we are in awe of the excesses which we accumulate and wish to pass on to those in need in our old country. Now there is a way to do just that, knowing that your contribution is being directly given to those in need.

R&S Cargo Express Inc., a shipping company, based in Mississauga, ships to Guyana and various parts of the Caribbean.

This company is now giving the people of Toronto a chance to ship their unwanted gifts directly to an orphanage in the old country.

R&S Cargo Express Inc. allows you to come to their warehouse, where a special room is assigned for those wishing to pack a barrel of donated items to ship to their favorite charity or orphanage. R & S Cargo Express, pays 20% of the cost to buy and ship the barrel. Unwanted gifts can be dropped off and packed into a barrel to be shipped directly to an orphanage in the old country.

Rai Singh, the president of R&S Cargo Express Inc., feels very privileged to be able to offer this opportunity to their customers. He sees as a way of giving directly to the needy, and states, “My family has always given to charity. I grew up in a home that was always visited by those who were less fortunate, and watched my parents give generously to various causes. I feel honored to carry on this tradition in as many ways as I can. Giving customers an opportunity to ship their unwanted gifts to people who greatly appreciate it is very rewarding to both the sender and the people receiving the gifts.”

If you have a new unwanted gift or

item you feel would serve someone else better, please consider donating it to the various charities willing to receive these gifts. They will be shipped in barrels directly to charitable organizations in Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados, and will be distributed directly to the poor. These organizations

include orphanages and shelters for women and the elderly. For details on drop off sites, please contact R&S Cargo Express Inc., directly at 905-677-6400 for more information.

You will be notified by e-mail once the shipment has arrived in the specific country of your choice.

Crime impacting regional economies WASHINGTON (CNC) -The InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) says several commissioned studies have revealed that crime and violence have had a dramatic impact on women, youth and the economic well-being of families in Latin America and the Caribbean. The new studies “underscore the more hidden dimensions of the cost of crime” on regional economies, by looking at issues such as women’s health and property values” said a statement issued by the organisation.

The studies were the result of a call for proposals to academics and other experts to use innovative and appropriate methodologies to measure the cost of crime and violence in the region, the IDB said. Out of a total of 117 proposals received, eight were presented by their authors at a January 24– 25 seminar at the IDB headquarters here.

“The children of women who have suffered from domestic violence have a

greater risk of being born underweight, and grow up with more feeble health, with less chance they will be vaccinated and more likely to suffer from diarrhea,” said the IDB about one of the studies.

The Washington-based financial institution said Latin American and Caribbean citizens cite crime and violence as their top concern, above unemployment, healthcare and other issues. It said the region suffers from some of the world’s highest homicide rates, stating that 20 of the world’s most violence cities are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Crime has tangible direct costs, such as the cost of funding a private and public security infrastructure to prevent and combat crime,” said Ana Corbacho, sector economic advisor of the IDB’s Institutions for Development (IFD) Sector, which covers citizen security at the IDB.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Windies aim to start tour on high

CANBERRA (TG) -- West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson said yesterday the Caribbean side needed to make the most of tomorrow’s warm-up clash with the Prime Minister’s XI, as they prepare to face Australia in a five-match one-day series starting later in the week.

The contest, scheduled for Manuka Oval, is the only tour fixture before West Indies square off with the Aussies starting with a doubleheader in Perth next Friday and Sunday.

“We’re hoping we can hit the ground running. We’ve just come out of a tournament (Caribbean Twenty20) at home so everyone has been playing cricket and the guys have shown good form,” Gibson said.

“We believe we’ve got a good mix of some young players and some very experienced players.”

He added: “This is our one opportunity for preparation and it gives us a good

chance to get some practice. We’re looking forward to it and we want to entertain the Prime Minister with a full ground and hopefully we put on a good show.

“But the main aim is to get our preparation right for the One-Day Series which begins in Perth on Friday.”

Last time West Indies faced Australia, they pulled off a thrilling 2-2 tie in a five-match one-day series in the Caribbean last year.

The series sparked an enterprising run by West Indies which was capped by their spectacular triumph in the Twenty20 World Cup in October, when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final.

Though obviously still savouring the thrill of that triumph, Gibson said his side now needed to focus on improving their one-day ranking and doing better in that format.

“We are the T20 World Champions

and we are proud of what we achieved in that tournament, but that doesn’t put any added pressure on the team. Hopefully with that victory and what we achieved more people come and watch us,” Gibson pointed out.

“It’s something we have to move on from and think about moving up the ladder in One-Day cricket and getting ourselves in the mix with the best teams in the world. We believe we’re a top team, but we now have to show it with the way we play.”

Australia are coming off a tough one-day series against Sri Lanka where they battled to a 2-2 draw, before also losing Saturday’s opening Twenty20 of the doubleheader.

Despite these results, Gibson was quick to brush aside any suggestions of West Indies capitalising on chinks in the Aussies’ armour.

“I don’t know if they’re vulnerable … we try not to get caught up in that though, we’re just gearing for five tough One-Day International games and a tough T20 to

come,” he said.

PM XI -- Ricky Ponting (captain), Brad Haddin, Fawad Ahmed, Jono Dean, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Alister McDermott, Gurinder Sandhu, Ashton Turner, Nick Winter (12th man) WEST INDIES -- Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Tino Best, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Devon Thomas” February Schedule Friday 1: 1st ODI– WACA, Perth Sunday 3: 2nd ODI – WACA Wednesday 6: 3rd ODl – Manuka Oval Friday 8: 4th ODl – SCG, Sydney Sunday 10: 5th ODl – MCG, Melbourne Wednesday 13: T20 International – The Gabba, Brisbane

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Caribbean Pot: Curry shrimp with butternut squash

Chris De La Rosa Contributor How I love me some shrimp cooked in butternut squash or pumpkin.. let me count the ways. This is one of my favorite recipes and it’s a take on another one I shared a while back which our mom is a boss at making – shrimp cooked in pumpkin. But this time we’ll be adding some additional flavor by incorporating a madras blend curry into the mix. Not only is this a delightful way to prepare butternut squash (you can also use Caribbean style pumpkin), it’s a great way to add flavor to what could be considered a typically boring dish.

Ingredients 1 lb shrimp (peeled/deveined) 1 med butternut squash (about 4-5 cups) 1 small onion (diced) 3 cloves garlic crushed 3/4 teaspoon salt (divided) 1 tablespoon curry powder 1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (no seeds) 3 tables spoons olive oil (divided) 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger 1 tablespoon green seasoning 1 tablespoon brown sugar * For the green seasoning mix, see : Carib-

bean Green Seasoning. I used a madras curry powder blend from the Caribbean Much different than what you’d find elsewhere and can be found at your local West Indian grocery store and some online stores.

Peel, devein, wash and drain the shrimp and get ready for seasoning. In a bowl place the cleaned shrimp and add 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the green seasoning, give it a good mix and allow it to marinate while we prep the butternut squash. Try to not let the shrimp marinate more than 15 minutes.

If you’ve never worked with butternut squash you’ll find it a bit tough to cut and peel, so it’s important that you have a sharp knife. It will have a sort of bottle shape, so the first thing I do is to cut off the sort of ‘neck’ shape (see pic). Make it easier to handle. I then cut the sort of ball shape in half to expose the seeds. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and stuff surrounding the seeds.

Discard or save to roast as you would pumpkin seeds.

Then cut into smaller more manageable pieces and peel with a sharp pairing knife or potato peeler. You’ll find the skin is tough and somewhat waxy. Cubed into 1 inch pieces and rinse with cool water. If you’re doing this in advance, be sure to place it in a bowl and cover with cool water so it remains fresh and not discolored.

In a deep sauce pan heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on low heat, then add the diced onion and crushed garlic. Let that cook for about 4 minutes so it releases it’s wonderful flavors. Then add the scotch bonnet pepper, grated ginger (dice fine – wear gloves when handling scotch bonnet peppers

and wash your hands with soap) and curry powder. With your heat still on low.. we’re cooking the curry so you don’t get a raw curry taste later on.

Now turn up the heat to med/high and toss in the seasoned shrimp. Cook for 3-4 minutes (we don’t want to over cook the shrimp) with the pot open. Remember to stir well and try to get the shrimp to pick up some of the base flavors we started with.

Remove the shrimp and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.

Toss in the cubed squash and give it a good stir. Now add the remaining salt, brown sugar and black pepper. Give it another quick stir, reduce the heat to med/low and cover the pot. Allow that to cook for about 15-20 minutes (remember to stir often). With the lid closed the squash will spring it’s own juices. If you find that it starts sticking to the bottom of the pot, lower the heat.

After 15 minutes, turn up the heat and remove the lid off the pot. We’re now trying to burn off any excess liquid. We also want to control the texture (I like it a like a thick paste) so using the back of my cooking

spoon I pressed down on any chunky pieces of squash.

With most of the liquid burned off, it’s time to add the pre-cooked shrimp back to the pot and give it a good stir and taste for salt. Adjust accordingly.

Do try your best to burn off as much liquid as you can so you don’t have a soup consistency. This will heighten the overall flavor of the completed dish and with that curry shrimp base.. it will be fantastic.

After adding the shrimp try not to cook too long (about 2-3 minutes) as we don’t want the shrimp to go chewy.

This curry shrimp with butternut squash is good with roti, rice, bread or you can treat it like any typical side. You can certainly leave out the shrimp if you want to keep this a vegetarian dish and if you’re wondering.. there’s enough here as a side dish for 5-6 people.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 13

How Influenza is affecting us this season and is the Flu Vaccine making a difference.

Trish Browning Contributor Influenza or the flu is a common, infectious respiratory disease that begins in your nose and throat. It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly from person to person.

Three types of influenza are currently in the news: human influenza, avian influenza and pandemic influenza.

Human influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Strains circulate every year, making people sick. Influenza typically starts with a headache, chills and cough, followed rapidly by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur, especially in children.

Most people will recover from influenza within a week or ten days, but some - including those over 65 and adults and children with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cancer - are at greater risk of more severe complications, such as pneumonia. Between 2 000 and 8 000 Canadians can die of influenza and its complications annually, depending on the severity of the season.

In the US there has been a significant increase in people showing up at emergency

rooms, in recent weeks due to widespread outbreaks of flu-like symptoms. And because many of these people have already been vaccinated for the flu this season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) basically has to admit that the flu shot is not nearly as effective as we have all been told it is.

Even though about 65 percent of adults 65 years of age and older get the flu shot every year, this age group continues to be the hardest hit by influenza. Even children are falling victim to the flu.

A new scientific study published in The Lancet reveals that influenza vaccines only prevent influenza in 1.5 out of every 100 adults who are injected with the flu vaccine.

When you take into account possible margins of error and other discrepancies, the true effectiveness of the flu shot is negligible, based on all available data.

With different results being published I ask myself, what do I believe and if this vaccine is supposed to help prevent sickness why is it not working?

So I decided to find out how they determine which flu strains are to be included in the seasonal flu vaccine The influenza (flu) viruses selected for inclusion in the seasonal flu vaccines are updated each year based on which influenza virus strains are circulating, how they are spreading, and how well current vaccine strains protect against newly identified strains.

Currently, 130 national influenza centers in 101 countries conduct year-round surveillance for influenza and study influenza disease

trends. These laboratories also send influenza viruses to the five World Health Organization (WHO).

The seasonal flu vaccine is a trivalent vaccine (a three component vaccine) with each component selected to protect against one of the three main groups of influenza viruses circulating in humans.

The influenza viruses in the seasonal flu vaccine are selected each year based on surveillance-based forecasts about what viruses are most likely to cause illness in the coming season. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends specific vaccine viruses for inclusion in influenza vaccines, but then each individual country makes their own decision for which strains should be included in influenza vaccines licensed in their country.

As soon as a recommendation has been issued about what viruses should be included in the vaccine, private sector manufacturers begin the process of producing vaccine.

In fact, some manufacturers may start growing one or more virus strains for the vaccine even before a WHO (World Health Organization) or FDA decision is made based on what they think may be the recommended strains. This allows manufacturers more time to make vaccine for the fall; the more time a manufacturer has to make vaccine, the greater the number of doses that can be produced.

It takes at least six months to produce large quantities of influenza vaccine. For vaccine to be delivered in time for vaccination to begin in October and November manufacturers may begin to grow one or more of the virus strains in January based on their best guess as

to what strains are most likely to be included in the vaccine.

How well the flu vaccine works each year depends in part on how closely related (or “matched”) the viruses in the vaccine are to the flu viruses circulating that year. Vaccine effectiveness also varies depending on how well a vaccinated person responds to the vaccine in terms of making protective antibody, and how successful vaccination programs are at vaccinating people in advance of the season. Elderly persons and others who may have weakened immune systems may have a lower antibody response than young, healthy persons.

A good match is said to occur when the viruses in the vaccine and the viruses circulating among people during a given influenza season are closely related and the antibodies produced by the vaccine are able to provide protection against infection.

A “mismatch” is said to occur when the viruses in the vaccine are significantly different from those circulating in the community. In years when the vaccine strains are not well matched to circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. However, even when the viruses in the vaccine and circulating viruses are not well matched, a vaccine may still offer some protection against circulating viruses.

So the question remains it is worth introducing something that may or may not help. Since there is no way of telling which virus will cause an outbreak, are the positives outweighing the negatives and what is the side effect of injecting the body with all this foreign matter.

14 Wednesday, January 30, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The simplest yet most important posture in yoga

Geeta Maraj Contributor The Corpse Pose or Savasana is the simplest asana or posture to perform in yoga, while being one of the most important and beneficial. This posture may appear as if you are simply lying on the ground, in a supine position, with your eyes closed. If done correctly, the corpse posture can lessen stress, lower your heart rate, control your blood pressure, and increase your concentration and focus – to name a few benefits.

This asana is usually performed many times during a yoga routine as a way of resting the body between stretches. But while the body rests, there are many other connections to this posture which, if utilized effectively, aids the mind, the internal organs and overall energy of the practitioner.

The mind benefits when lying in the corpse position by first of all reminding us of the lesson this posture is meant to illustrate. Interestingly, this posture is also called mrtasana, where ‘mrta’ comes from the

Sanskrit word which means ‘death’. Similarly, the word savasana stems from the word ‘sava’ which means ‘corpse’. Hence, while lying in this posture, if you are to think of what it means to no longer exist as of that moment, you begin to surrender. Suddenly all issues and commitment to work, family, and the general routine of life become meaningless. It is by accepting that life carries on without us, and that we are replaceable in spite of the importance of our contributions, that we detach from the issues which bring us stress and elevates our blood pressure and heart rate.

Similarly, slowing down our breath by counting how long it takes us to breathe in, and match that length of time by breathing out for the same period of time, we lower our heart rate and slow down our busy mind.

By controlling the length of time it takes for us to breathe a single breath, we control our thought process. The longer it takes to breathe a single breath, the calmer the heart rate and fewer thoughts bombard the mind.

Once the heart rate is slower, this benefits the organs of the body by reducing tension and stress, which in turn helps to develop concentration and focus.

While you count your breath to ensure you are breathing as slowing as possible, at the same time you are performing what is called breath meditation. This is where you are using your breath as your point of focus,

detaching from all other thoughts. Meditation of any form brings not only a sense of peace and tranquility, but calmness to the body and the mind. This sense of calm works wonders in helping to alleviate high blood pressure, lower back pain and joint pain.

Once the mind learns to focus and move into a form of breath mediation while in the corpse posture, the energy within the body begins to change into one which is purer, brighter and more luminous. This is what gives the performer a glow at the end of a yoga routine.

To perform the corpse posture: 1. Lie on the ground, facing upwards, preferably on a yoga mat.

2. Let your legs spread apart to the width of your yoga mat with your feet falling away from each other.

3. Bring your arms alongside your body on the mat, with your palms facing upwards.

4. Relax your neck by turning your head from side to side and then bring it back to the center position, ensuring your chin is aligned with the centre of your chest. There should be no tension in your shoulders.

5. Close your eyes and bring a slight smile to your lips.

6. Once you catch your breath (from the stretch you may have just performed), begin to pay attention to your breath, making your in breath and out breath even and prolonged.

Ways to reach your weight loss goal

Monique Bartlett Contributor Whenever you start a diet, you usually do so with a specific goal weight in mind. Maybe you chose that number because you’re hoping to get back down to the weight you were before you were married or had children. Whatever your reason, it’s important to assess that your goal is one you can actually reach. Use the guidelines below to make sure your ideal weight is a healthy one.

Genetics: What you weigh is largely

determined by genetics. So take a look at your parents, are they thin or have they struggled with their weight? This will help you set a realistic goal for yourself. Now keep in mind, just because your parents are overweight doesn’t mean that you can’t lose weight. Genetics may play a role but environment plays just as much of a role in your weight loss success.

Your Choices: Your choices and habits can alter your weight destiny, so assess your lifestyle, starting with your childhood. Were you an active child or sedentary and overweight?

What has been the lowest weight you’ve been able to maintain as an adult? All of these things will affect what a healthy weight will be for you now. However, it’s not even really all about your lifestyle. Is there something that happened in life that makes you want to hold on to the weight? Are you trying to punish someone else by holding on to your weight? It’s a tough question to ask, but the answer can be life changing.

Your commitment: Figure out how much time and effort you are willing to devote to exercise and diet. Figure it out not just for right now, but for the rest of your life. If you focus only on the short term, you may be able to reach your long term goal. Remember that along the way there may be ups and downs but keep the end goal in mind. Not surprisingly, the stronger your commitment, the more likely it is that you will achieve a greater weight loss.

Your accomplishments: When you’re looking to drop 30 pounds or more, a loss of five pounds might seem like nothing.

However, research suggests that a 5 to 10 percent reduction in weight can have a significant effect on your health. So, while you’re keeping your eye on your end goal, make sure to celebrate the small successes along the way. Each positive step forward brings you that much closer to your goal and that’s something that you should be proud of and will keep you going.

turbance and annoyance in the household.

Accusing spouses are usually quieted down by having the same charges brought against each other since snorers usually don’t hear themselves.

What causes snoring? The noise is caused by the air that is interrupted by anatomical obstructions as it makes its way through the nostrils or mouth along the airway space to the lungs. For most snorers apart from the possible relationship affects there is no physical impairment. However some people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA which is an absence of breathing resulting in a lack of oxygen to the lungs, brain and vital organs which could lead to death if medical emergency intervention is slow in being administered. People with severe OSA usually snore and the airway collaps-

es causing difficult breathing, a stoppage of breathing or a pause in the snoring and waking up often as the cycle repeats itself.

What are some of the obstructions to breathing?

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, tumors, enlarged tongue, or any other abnormality in the area. Members of the medical and dental profession have an important role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. Referrals may be done between professionals. The diagnosis is performed by a sleep specialist using a test called a polysomnogram.

The dentist can detect potential problems in children and treat them before they lead to snoring and OSA.

Snoring Dr. Matthew S Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Contributor Snoring is a common human experience and a significant number of people both young and old snore. The sounds are not pleasant to the ear but like pain they alert us that some part of the body is not functioning to its full capacity.

There are social and health implications.

The heavy snorer is often a source of dis-

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 15

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Immigration Issues: Are you an employer seeking to hire temporary foreign workers?

Equity Law Contributor Employers seeking to hire Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) to commence working in Spring 2013 may encounter a high degree of challenge in finding TFWs to meet the language requirement imposed on July 1, 2012.

While thousands of TFWs who entered Canada before July 1st were not required to meet language requirement then, as TFWs seek to return to work legally in Canada this Spring, issuance of the work permit will be incumbent on the TFW’s ability to prove his/her competence in English or French; Canada’s official languages.

In this regard, no work permit will be granted to unskilled workers who falls within National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels C & D unless they are able meet basic proficiency of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de CompĂŠtence Linguistque Canadiens (NCLC). The test results are acceptable from institutions designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC); and come at a cost.

Employers seeking Temporary Foreign Workers for unskilled jobs, such as: agricultural, hotel, restaurant, clerical and manufacturing industries may seek the as-

sistance of an Authorized Representative to meet, adhere and uphold the Regulations.

Not only is it illegal to charge TFWs to find a job in Canada, Employers in breach of Canada’s TFW Program will be barred from hiring TFWs for 2-years and their name will be displayed on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) TFW Program Ineligible Employers website.

When hiring TFWs, the first step is for the Employer to demonstrate they have met the advisement requirements, the job offer is a legit and meets provincial/territorial employment standards, comply with wages, duties, work conditions, recruitment fees, immigration fees; paying airfare to and from Canada, providing accommodation, health insurance, etcetera. If the Employer is in full compliance, Service Canada issues a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO).

The second step is: Authorized Representatives act as counsel to TFWs, assesses new language requirements, ensure TFWs understand their obligations to the Employers and the Government of Canada by upholding their temporary residence obligations, prepares TFWs for Work Permit interview, finalize Work Permit applications according to Canada’s Immigration Act, Regulations and other invaluable resources before submitting the application to the Canadian High Commission/Embassy repre-

senting the TFWs homeland.

The third step is when the Visa Officer representing the Government of Canada at a Canadian High Commission/Embassy in the TFWs homeland, double-check positive LMOs issued by HRSDC, determine if Employers, Authorized Representatives and TFWs are in compliance with Canada’s Immigration Act and Regulations. TFWs language requirement, skill, experience, credibility, etcetera are also assessed and the Visa Officer makes a final Decision to issue or refuse Work Permit.

The final step is: TFWs getting beyond Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers upon arrival in Canada.

CBSA officers are responsible to triplecheck positive LMOs issued by HRSDC,

double-check Work Permit, screen TFWs protect border crossing and airport. At this point TFWs can be denied entry into Canada if CBSA believes that Employers, Authorized Representatives and/or TFWs are in breach IRPA and/or Regulations.

After TFWs are admitted to Canada, Authorized Representatives continue to represent Employers in applications to Extend LMO and TFWs in extending their Work Permits.

Warning: Under Canada’s Immigration laws, it is illegal for an Unauthorized Representative to charge a fee for advice on immigration matters. The penalty for Ghost Consultants who provides immigration representation or advice for a fee is $100,000 and/or two years in jail.

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Your Horoscope - January 30th 2013 Aries Horoscope (March 21-April 20): On Thursday and Friday, you can do battle with your wants or your wallet, but outside of that you’ll find yourself in good spirits and good company. Saturday’s full moon keeps the conversation, entertainment, and stimulation going strong. Monday could be a write-off, but look to the end of Jupiter retrograde to help you get those derailed wheels back on track.

Taurus Horoscope (April 21May 21): FriOn Thursday and Friday, ask for help or advice when you need it. Someone who’s been there, done that can set you on the right track. A change of plans or an unexpected piece of information could let you off the hook. In-the-moment delivers it best through Saturday’s full moon. As of Wednesday, Jupiter provides you with more to work with, rather than against.

Gemini Horoscope (May 23June 20): Outside of Friday morning’s snag, you’ll stay on a roll through Saturday’s full moon. The sun trine Jupiter can bring added luck, opportunity, good news, or something to celebrate, but you don’t need an excuse to enjoy, indulge, or splurge. Once Jupiter ends retrograde on Wednesday, plans and intentions will gain better traction. You’ll make better connections too.

Cancer Horoscope (June 21-July 20): Your attitude, insights, ideas, and people connections are in great working shape on Thursday and Friday.

Watch for a sudden breakthrough to occur where it will offer you the most welcome relief or opportunity. The stars continue to keep you on a good build-up curve through the end of the month. As of Wednesday, Jupiter signals better financial and relationship opportunities ahead.

Leo Horoscope (July 21Aug. 22): Thursday and Friday, go back over things and have a fresh look or another conversation. Better opportunity, choices, and solutions are right in front of your nose. Try an instant pick or a first date; your luck runs high. A special event or spontaneous get-together keeps your buzz going strong through Saturday’s full moon.

Wednesday onward, Jupiter helps you gain even better mileage.

Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23Sept. 22): On Thursday or Friday, have the talk or tackle something you’ve been reluctant to face. A fresh angle or an alternate choice could deliver betterthan-average results. Advice is worth heeding. On Sunday and Monday, you could face extra dilemmas or push-pull. Don’t over-project or over-analyze. As of Wednesday, Jupiter ends a four-month setup phase.

You’ll gain more solid footing from here.

Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23Oct. 22): The end of the week takes you over a hump and on to something fresh. You’ll get the maximum out of your conversations, visits, scouting, and shopping missions. Moderation can be lost through Saturday’s full moon, but it’s way more fun that way. You may be somewhat directionless on Monday, but by Wednesday it’s full steam ahead.

Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Special recognition, a significant contract, or an award appears to be in the works. Saturday’s full moon places you at a career, family, or personal milestone. A new private-life chapter shapes up now too. It’s an ideal time to get a new address, launch a business or project, or renovate. The end of Jupiter retrograde also enhances financial prospects and relationship potentials.

Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): The next few days can move you past a creative block and/or bring more out into the open. An airclearing or change of scenery might do you good. On Thursday/Friday, seek and you will find. A great time is easy to come by. A relationship or health matter, a contract, or a marketing mission gains ground thanks to the end of Jupiter retrograde.

Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): The tradeoff is worth it, so don’t hesitate to cancel out, spend more/get more, or reroute yourself. An upgrade, a fresh approach, a job, or a project could be the ticket. Work or working it out can be a cinch Thursday through Saturday.

By mid next week, you can resume or complete what you couldn’t get to earlier.

Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18): You’re on a great build-up curve through the weekend. Thursday through Saturday, creativity, intuition, synchronicity, and same-page accords are especially well sparked. The next few days could deliver too much of a good thing, but who’s complaining? As of Wednesday, opportunity planet Jupiter favours you even more.

Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20): The end of the week could move you past an internal or external block.

Past mid next week, your timing can work like a charm. Saturday’s full moon in Leo upgrades your health, vitality, confidence, and effectiveness. Expectations can run high too, but you should find that most plans and ambitions deliver the goods.

The more things open up for you, the more your confidence grows.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 17

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How reigning in the 407ETR will help gridlock

Tammy Flores Contributor It appears my January 5th, 2013 article on Gridlock being a main concern this year has proved to be true. This is great for all you out there that agree with me that the 407ETR should be reined in by the Province. The City of Toronto has started a campaign called “Feeling Congested?”

Toronto is launching a major Transportation consultation. The first public meeting is being held at York Civic Centre on February 4th, 2013 at 4-6:30 PM and 6:30-9

PM. For more information on upcoming public meetings in Toronto please go to www.feelingcongested.com .

Also, other municipalities are following the Metrolinx “Big Move” campaign. Some of those public meetings have already occurred but there is still time for those of you in Durham. Oshawa will have theirs on February 7th, 2013 at the Jubilee Pavilion from 6-8PM. Please visit www.bigmove.ca for more information on what’s happening in your municipality.

Although a lot of these campaigns are focused on improving transit, there is still a chance for people to raise concerns with traffic on the 401 and how reigning in the 407ETR will contribute to easing that congestion. Speak up! Tweet them @Metrolinx and @CongestedTO and tell them reigning in the 407ETR is part of the solution and don’t forget to sign the petition at www.tinyurl.com/407petition

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

3 ways to maximize your network relationships had worked in the insurance industry…”

Through this simple conversation, you did a few things including reminding him where you met and remembering what business he was in. You are also letting him know that the connection was important to you. From here you could talk about his industry and make recommendations that could assist him, such as ideas to increase his referrals.

You can touch base again and again, making a similar call, and each time solidify your ongoing relationship with the contact.

Jim Pagiamtzis Contributor One door closes, but two other doors open. That’s how the saying goes; however, often, when networking, it may feel like many doors are being closed and few are opening. By using a few key strategies, you can actively ensure that so many doors are opening that you are constantly introduced to new opportunities.

By maximizing your communication with potential clients and target markets, you will open several doors and in so doing, build greater opportunities for your business and for those on your network.

1. Social Networks LinkedIn is a great website! You can create a professional profile and take advantage of strategic features. Three that I recommend are as follows: • Get your profile to 100% as quickly as you can. There is a bar on the top left which indicates how close you are.

Things such as adding your current status, adding previous employers, etc. will get you closer, faster.

• Continually connect with and add people to your network. If you are out networking, shaking hands and meeting new people, you are starting the momentum to growing your connections and inviting professionals to your LinkedIn account.

• Get recommendations from friends and previous employers. This will add credibility to your profile and add interest for your growing connections.

2. Telephone As you meet new people and attend various events, it important to keep the

connection moving forward. You can do this, for example, by placing a simple phone call and saying something such as, “Hi John, this is Jim Pagiamtzis.

We met at the International networking show last week. So I recall you said you

3. Email Email is an effective communication tool for basic communication, but it can also be an effective tool for creating interest and keeping people updated.

The key is creating pro-active emails. You can discuss relevant articles you’ve read, industry news, or use the tool as a means of recognizing achievements by people in your network.

Remember it’s not only about you, but the success of everyone in your network.

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JNBS Toronto Members and Friends Meeting - Feb 15, 2013 at 6 pm At the International Centre (6900 Airport Road, Suite 120 Mississauga, Ontario) You must RSVP to attend, space is limited

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