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I hate needles. I don’t think there’s anything in this world that can send shivers down my spine the way that a freshly unpackaged needle can. I have extremely unpleasant middle school memories of lining up to get my shots for meningococcal disease, hepatitis B and HPV. Outside of the freedom of getting out of math class

for thirty minutes, I didn’t see much of a reason behind these vaccines. Twelve years later, I can see that this heavily debated topic is something far bigger than the realm of my middle school. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) claims that vaccines help to prevent 2-3 million deaths from a multitude

of life-threatening diseases, there’s still a strong opposing voice against them. How could that be? How could there be a voice against lifesaving medicine? Continued On Page 8

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FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

SUZANNE COY Living a life with ZERO limitations

Written by Janiece Campbell Toronto Caribbean News “There’s a shadow of fear looming across the world to capture our creative imagination. Now, more than ever, it’s time to decide where we place our divine attention.” The art of acting is quite complex. Its more than just reciting memorized words with amusing inflections. It is a total out-of-body experience – one that releases you into a realm of… well, whoever you choose to be. Jamaican-born actress Suzanne Coy is no stranger to this sentiment. For her, theatre and spirituality go hand-in-hand. Her love for the art began to grow before she realized it even existed. Settling into Canada as the only black family in Athabasca, a small town just 145 kilometres north of Edmonton, Suzanne had copious encounters of racial discrimination. Outside of being called hateful slurs, she had experienced first-hand degradation within the school system. “I came to this country when I was seven years old, and I had the worst patois dialect that you could ever imagine,” she says. “The teachers wanted to wrong me and call me stupid because they couldn’t understand my accent. But I was a fiery bright genius!” As she moved on to high school, that fire refused to die. She discovered theatre, which she described as “a spiritual experience.” For Suzanne, drama awoke something within her that was much deeper than the surface. “It was the freedom from being imprisoned by other people’s perceptions of me and how they think I should be or how I should look. It was a freedom to understand humanity. When you’re not

a part of the herd, when you have the ‘ugly duckling’ experience… it’s a gift. How are you going to channel something original if you’re within the tribe?” After winning best actress awards annually, she decided that it was time to free herself from the desert of Athabasca upon graduation. She had met a fork in the road, one with a path that could possibly change her life forever. “I wrote to Mother Teresa, to come and work with her. I was accepted to go to Jordan, but I was also accepted to go to the National Theatre School in Montreal. To me, they were the same in a sense because I always viewed theatre as sacred. I always saw it as a way of expanding beyond stereotypes and limitations. I always saw it as both a service to the community and yourself.” Suzanne had walked in faith and chose to attend the National Theatre School. After graduating and venturing into the industry, her resume has been far from short. With countless Canadian television credits, from ‘Heartland’ to ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation, this brilliant woman has not only shown her versatility on-camera, but she has also mastered over thirty dialects. As a natural counselor, one who used to play the roles of both an educator and a psychiatrist to her younger sister, it’s not a surprise that her passion for teaching children is still evident today. Originally applying her studies in her capacity as a program manager for at-risk youth, for over twenty years, she has participated in community arts programs that use creativity to teach life skills. “When kids have problems with literacy

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and numeracy, they often end up being the ones with other problems too. My job is to recognize the genius in every child and to help bring it out. That kind of individual assessment is missing in our school system. When a kid feels seen, that can change their entire life.” Founder and CEO of her own production company, ACT from the HEART, she specializes in coaching and educating artists through entertaining transformation workshops. “I have my own memorandum of my approach to acting, which is not to groom the ego but to grow our humility and compassion. It’s a way of experiencing walking in another person’s shoes. It’s a way to surrender to spirit. And that view may not be popular to the art form, but it’s an ancient view,” says Suzanne. ‘ACT from the HEART’ means being a conscious being who is trying to expand in receiving love, being love and serving all life.” Already possessing a successful career thus far, Suzanne says she’s only getting started. Her upcoming endeavour is producing a new children’s web series – Mission Bonita, a sketch comedy show based on the popular book series Miss Bonita and Friends by Lisa Lallouz. The easily accessible show is set to premiere on YouTube on August 15th . Targeted towards children between the ages of 6-10, she personally wants to positively alter what kids consume on their hypnotising technologies. “In such tumultuous times, with so many kids glued to the screens, I’m proud to be a part of a brand that’s offering a wonderful option in the vast sea of streams. Mission Bonita pro-

vides creative solutions to problem solving, while thoroughly entertaining young audiences with extraordinary characters that seamlessly move between fantasy and everyday reality. It’s a magical school bus of emotional intelligence.” A show that strives to be inclusive and a direct reflection of the society many of us live in, it contains characters of a variety of cultural and racial backgrounds. The creative series effortlessly encompasses humour while also touching on heavier topics including divorce, racism, anger, bullying, self-esteem, and many more. “It starts with a 17-year-old character, Miss Bonita, who has a magical message box, where she receives letters from children all over the world. They write to her about all of their problems, but she doesn’t have all the answers, she’s only 17! She invites a host of magical characters to help solve the problems, while also interactively involving the kids at home watching too.” With the pandemic now slowly beginning to ease up day by day, COVID-19 was never a threat to the goals she aspired to accomplish. From plans of continuing to build her brand, to publishing her own poetry book, Suzanne Coy is taking this ‘away’ time as a blessing in disguise. “I think there’s a great opportunity here with COVID. This is the time to make a spiritual choice on whether we’re going to stay entangled with fear, or are we going to ascend and claim this time as our own golden age to anchor infinite creativity,” she says. “It’s time to let go of the past and have the gratitude that every day we’re being blessed and guided.”

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PAGE 3

On the continent special Welcome to PopUp Coaching! SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“We were very discouraged when COVID-19 hit. We were on such a high, and then we felt like we fell flat on our faces. We had to try to think about how to rebrand a new business.” Chevonne Dickson As I sat on the phone, I listened empathetically to this story. As you can imagine, life has not been the same for anyone. Many of us in North America have had to resurrect our lives in unprecedented ways. What I was listening to was a story from the beautiful continent of Africa. A story that tells the tale of two women who pushed for their dreams, despite their current circumstances. In recent years, we have seen the rise of life coaching. It has acquired a considerable mainstream presence, and you will see life coaches being utilized: on reality shows, in primetime television; well, you might even know someone who either is a life coach, or is seeing a life coach. Creatives, executives, entrepreneurs, and even organizations have turned to life coaches to assist them in successfully reaching their goals. They are great at: helping you clarify any goals you have for yourself, identifying the external, and internal obstacles holding you back, and helping come up with strategies to overcome those obstacles. Just like a workout coach, they push you when you don’t think you can do anymore. They are that added motivation during those hard times. A good friend, and co-writer of mine Daniel Cole introduced me to Cherie Palmer, and Chevonne Dickson. He had been telling me that he wanted me to meet these ladies for weeks, and finally we made it happen. This is how I ended up on the phone, listening to the story of these courageous young women, who started their business, at the beginning of the pandemic, and found the fortitude to follow

through with their purpose. Cherie Palmer (Life Coach and NLP Practitioner), and Chevonne Dickson (Life Coach and NLP Practitioner), are the co-founders of Popup Coaching. This is life coaching with a twist. The pop-up culture has taken over the scene here in North America. They have also been seen in other places around the world. They come in the forms of nomadic bars and cinemas. There are also supper clubs and pop-up restaurants. There are even pocket parks that can be found in certain city’s vacant lots. What started off, as a niche practice is now ubiquitous in Europe, and North America. Pop-ups are only now beginning to make an appearance on the continent of Africa, and Cherie and Chevonne are forward thinking visionaries. They are using pop-ups to reinterpret and rebrand life coaching. “We both were so excited, and we felt our purpose was being uncovered. We feel there is more to what we are doing, and where we are!” Cherie Palmer I could feel their energy through the phone. I had asked them both about the magic behind them starting their company, and Cherie had begun to share her story with me. “I work full time at a promotional and marketing company. I must admit, it is not my passion, but it allows me to be creative. I am a dreamer, and sometimes all I need is a push to send me in the right direction. It feels very close to my heart to help people, and this is why when the idea of life coaching was brought up to me, it resonated instantly. Interestingly enough, this idea was brought up to me twice. The second time I heard it, I knew that I had to do something about it.” “What about you Chevonne?” I asked. “I guess you could say I was born into coaching. My father is an Executive, and a Career Coach. I grew up being exposed to coaching. My father saw a coach in me, and I fought the idea. I didn’t think I was ready. I swear Simone. I ran from it a long time. I pursued a role in corporate (banking) for ten years. There was this nagging feeling that I could do something more. I took some time to take a break. My dad started his coaching

Photo provided by Cherie Palmer & Chevonne Dickson

company, so I decided to help him. During the process, I began to see how I fit into the industry. I started doing research on certifications; I got so much value out of it. It was my something else that I could share with other people. I felt like I was sleepwalking my way through life. This coaching journey helped me with those aspects of it.” Let me throw in something here. What I didn’t mention is that Cherie and Chevonne are childhood friends. They didn’t get to talk all the time, but for some reason, they were both going on this journey, and it only came up when they happened to meet up for lunch one day…. “We had one of our catch-up lunches, and during that catch up, we discovered we were both doing life-coaching certifications.” Chevonne shares with me. “It seemed like divine intervention. We both had unique skills that we brought to the table, so here was the birth of PopUp Coaching.” Cherie tells me jovially. In other parts of the world you will find more of this, but in South Africa,

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it is a rare delicacy. They opened the business in November 2019 and had their first successful event in February. It was a tremendous experience. Cherie recalls, “We had Chevonne’s father speak on coaching in today’s world, and the benefits of coaching. We got great feedback. Even through all the nerves leading up to the event, we were able to impact people’s lives.” Cherie and Chevonne walked away from the experience empowered and ready to tackle their next pop up. Then COVID-19 hit. “We were very discouraged, but there is no way that we are going to give up. With everything going virtual now, PopUp Coaching is just going to have to go a different direction. Keep an eye out for us!” Chevonne tells me enthusiastically. I am definitely going to keep an eye out for these warrior women, but if you are interested in speaking with them about their experience of life coaching on the continent, you can email Cherie at cheriep@popupcoaching.co.za, or Chevonne at chevonned@popcoaching.co.za.

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

We cannot be erased! Jamaican filmmaker documentary picked up by CTV Gems SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The colours of the Jamaican flag, familiar old school, and dancehall tunes coming from Treasure Isle Records, the smell of curry, mixed with a little bit of jerk, and a hint of Pizza Pizza. Repurposed oil drums with steam coming out the top. Your mouth waters as you walk down the street. If you live in the city of Toronto, you know exactly what area I am talking about. For those who are not familiar with this great city, I am going to do the soft introduction, and then I am going to point you in the direction of writer and filmmaker Sharine Taylor. It is because of her, a relevant part of Jamaican history will be archived, and it could not come at a better time. “I began thinking about preservation and archiving. Many first-gens who share complicated hyphenated identities have to explore the histories of where they come from outside our home.” In the mid-twentieth century, African immigrants from the Caribbean began arriving in large numbers to the city of Toronto. They settled in areas such as: Bathurst and Bloor, the community around Jane and

Finch and Eglinton West. During this time, widespread housing discrimination was the norm, and these geographic enclaves became spaces of refuge and belonging. It is where Jamaican families began to: establish communities, institutions and culture in a land that was completely foreign to them Since then, the historical Little Jamaica has been a transnational space for new immigrants and successive generations of the Caribbean diaspora to connect with home. That memory of a vibrant, pulsating and dynamic community is what inspired writer and director Sharine Taylor to forge a short documentary called Tallawah Abroad: Remembering Little Jamaica, which premiered at the Montreal Black Film Festival. Sharine moved out of the neighbourhood and into the suburbs as a child, so when she returned in 2017 (almost two decades later), she was stunned to see the transformation. Shuttered storefronts, clouds of dust and cranes reaching to the sky were now the features that characterize Eglinton West. Little Jamaica’s devolution into a virtual ghost town is a direct result of the ambitious, costly and several-times delayed transit project: the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit. Years of noisy construction, constant road closures and hijacked sidewalks have led to a plunge in revenue for the local businesses that once populated the area. Hair salons, barbershops, Caribbean grocery stores, clothing stores, music stores and restaurants have experienced plum-

meting revenues, forcing many businesses to close their doors forever. Naturally, with the addition of a pandemic, it has become even harder for business owners to stay afloat. “When my grandma first came to Toronto in the ‘70s, Eglinton West was a place that she frequented to get specific brands or food items that weren’t as widely available as they are now.” Sharine shared with me. “I lived right off Tretheway Drive, inside a low-rise, yellow-brick apartment with my mom, aunt, and cousin. Every other weekend, my aunt used to drag us to Eglinton Avenue West to get her nails and hair done. To see what has become of my memories; all the sights and sounds; it is vey disheartening. It is why I knew that I had to do this project. I didn’t realize that it would consume me the way that it did. Yes, filmmaking can be daunting and challenging, but what really stuck with me is the fact that when I stopped filming, the people who lived, worked, had families, and were part of this community would still have to contend with their tragic reality. Tallawah Abroad: Remembering

Little Jamaica, has been written about in numerous magazines and newspapers, including an article done by our own Selina McCallum, but there have been some exciting updates. The short film was picked for distribution, and in September 2020, you will be able to catch this heart warming, archival documentary on CTV Gems. In the documentary, Sharine follows Vernal Small, the owner of a 47-year old business Jamall Caribbean Custom Tailor, who is now tasked with confronting how the rapid changes on Eglinton West are: shifting the dynamics, changing the future, and slowly erasing the presence of his once thriving community. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper is proud of Sharine for sharing a story with the world that could very easily be shrouded in the dust of the current construction, and difficult social climate. “Who can tell the story of the paradoxical black experience better than us? We’re made to feel both hyper visible and invisible. Our community is everywhere, but nowhere. We are known and unknown, and maybe that aspect of our identity makes us unique.”

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further COVID-19 testing upon arrival and quarantined until the results are ready.

JONELL PANTLITZ jonell@carib101.com

TC JR. REPORTER If you are ready to travel, we got you covered. Here is a break down of some Caribbean Islands whose borders are open. First, make sure to register as a Canadian Abroad. It is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest. Now that you are covered there, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get you travelling. Aruba: In Aruba, visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insurance is mandatory. Proof that you do not have COVID-19 is also a mandatory requirement to enter Aruba. Take good notice of the mandatory quarantine period of 24 hours in case one opts to be tested upon arrival. Purchase Arubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 insurance and agree to health screening as well as temperature checks on arrival. Antigua and Barbuda: Borders are open to foreign travellers. All travellers and transit passengers arriving by international flights must have evidence of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR medical certificate issued within seven days of their flight. Upon arrival, visitors are subject to medical screening and must complete a health declaration form. Barbados: All travellers should have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result. Travellers are also required to complete the online Immigration and Customs Form, which will be available 72 hours prior to your arrival in Barbados. Anyone who arrives without being tested will be subjected to a mandatory test on arrival and must wait in isolation until the results are ready. The Bahamas: All travellers must fill out an online Health Visa, present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result that has been taken no more than ten days prior to the date of arrival, and undergo mandatory quarantine at their own cost for 14 days. Bermuda: Visitors need to have a negative predeparture test result to travel to Bermuda, taken no more than seven days before departure. Visitors without a negative pre-departure test result cannot obtain Travel Authorization. This applies to all visitors from the US, UK and Canada. Eligible travellers must fill out a screening form, show proof of health insurance, undergo

Cuba: Currently, any asymptomatic travellers do not have to quarantine. Tourists arriving in Cuba will be tested at the airport. After the test is taken, the traveller will quarantine at their hotel for a maximum of 24 hours for test results. If the test is negative, the traveller can enjoy their vacation. The test upon arrival is free for all tourists. Dominican Republic: All passengers must fill out a completed Travellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Affidavit. All travellers must provide evidence of a negative PCR test result, taken no more than five days prior to arrival. If you arrive without a negative result, you will undergo a PCR test.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Grenada: Travellers from low-risk countries are permitted to enter the island. All travellers must fill out a health declaration form, register and download the Grenada contact tracing app, and will be given a rapid test on arrival. Travellers from medium and high-risk countries must produce a negative PCR test result seven days before departure. Haiti: Some international flights have resumed from July 1st, 2020. Passengers must complete a COVID-19 health questionnaire, and anyone with a temperature above 100.4ÂşF will not be allowed to board the flight. St Lucia: Travellers arriving from outside the Caribbean bubble must have a negative COVID-19 PCR result from within seven days. All arrivals will be screened upon entry and are required to fill out a Pre-Arrival registration form. St Vincent and the Grenadines: All arriving passengers must have a negative result from a PCR test done no more than seven days prior to arrival in Saint Lucia. Passengers must adhere to all protocols relevant to the airport they will be screened at, and all symptomatic passengers will be immediately isolated and tested. If the test result is positive for COVID-19, the passenger will be transferred to the Respiratory Hospital for treatment and care at their cost. Jamaica: Borders are open to foreign travellers. Prior to check-in for a flight to Jamaica, all passengers require Travel Authorization. Turks and Caicos: Eligible visitors must complete travel authorization via the TCI Assured portal 72 hours before departure, have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a test taken within five days of travel, proof of health/ travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage, and must complete a health screening questionnaire. The information in this article can change due to changing times. To stay up to date, visit the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government website.

CANADAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING CARIBBEAN NEWSPAPER Selina McCallum TC REPORTER selina@carib101.com

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Michael Thomas TC REPORTER michael@carib101.com

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Errol A. Gibbs PHILOSOPHER errol@carib101.com

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Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Maestro Fresh Wes performed at first ever drive in hip-hop concert in Newmarket SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Forget clapping and cheering at concerts now, the new normal involves sitting in your car and honking to show your appreciation and love for an artist that is performing. On Sunday, July 26th, a concert called Together at the Drive-In was held in Newmarket in the afternoon. Together at the Drive-In is a socially distance friendly event series, which safely brings together families and friends this summer, for a cause. Together Toronto seeks to showcase, support, and cultivate the diversity of Toronto, its people, and its small businesses. They believe that being united is the key to happiness and well-being. Their work is powered by a coalition of socially minded business owners, community organizers, passionate private citizens, and generous donors. The Stardust Drive-In Theatre was transformed into a two-day socially distance friendly drive-in event. Together Toronto created an immersive experience featuring films, live shows with local DJs and artists. All proceeds from the sales will go-towards helping to support the artists and purchasing meals from partnered restaurants to be donated to shelters, food banks and communities in need. The lineup included well known artists like Maestro, Kardinal Offishall, and Karl Wolf, and emerging, talented artists like Töme and Ari, from the city of Toronto and GTA area. There were dozens of cars that attended the event. While most people stayed in or near their cars and enjoyed the music, others walked up to the front of the stage wearing their masks and staying slightly away from others. Maestro, also known as Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper record producer, actor, and author. One of the earliest Canadian rappers to achieve mainstream success, he is credited as the “God-

father of Canadian hip hop”. Earlier this year he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “I’m the first hip-hop artist to ever get inducted with that. That just goes to show that we got history when it comes to this,” said Maestro. When asked by Toronto Caribbean Newspaper reporter, Simone Jennifer Smith, how he keeps his momentum and motivation up he mentioned the artists that he looks up to. “I think of James Brown, I think of the Rolling Stones, I think of the iconic artists that had longevity in their careers,” said Maestro. “We made history right now, this is Toronto’s first drive-in concert.” Maestro performed his hit song, “Let Your Backbone Slide.” “Let Your Backbone Slide” is the debut single by Maestro Fresh-Wes, released in 1989 from his first album, Symphony in Effect. In Canada, over 50,000 copies of the single were sold, making Maestro the first Canadian rapper to have a gold single. In the United States, 25,000 copies were sold in its first few weeks of release. It remained the best-selling Canadian hip hop single of all time until 2008, when it was surpassed by Kardinal Offishall’s song with Akon, “Dangerous”. Due to the pandemic, Maestro, like many artists, have also performed online. “I have a show coming up on Thursday. I’ve been doing some IG Lives,” said the Canadian hip-hop artist. “I’m working on another album right now too.” He says that the pandemic has affected him. “The pandemic definitely affected me. Nobody is 100% okay, everybody was affected in some way. Thank God I’ve been diversifying,” said Maestro. Proceeds from the sales of the event went towards supporting community groups, artists and purchasing meals from Toronto Together’s hospitality and food partners and will be donated to shelters, food banks and communities in need. For Toronto’s first drive-in hiphop and r&b concert, it brought in a good, diverse crowd that, for the most part, were all following social distancing protocols.

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NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

What the African-Caribbean Community needs to know about vaccines JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 -- Smallpox was a devastating disease thought to date back to the Egyptian Empire around the 3rd century BCE. This speculation is based on a smallpox-like rash found on three mummies, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 1967, the Intensified Eradication Program initiated with a plan to globally eliminate the illness through the introduction of a high-quality vaccine. By 1972, the United States had eradicated smallpox and on May 8th, 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared the world free of the disease. This is considered the biggest achievement in international public health thus far. As the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the globe, countries around the world are anxious to get their hands on a vaccine as soon as possible. With the millions of dollars invested into the hunt for a vaccine, many researchers worldwide are aiming for approval by the beginning of 2021. The re-opening of the economy and global efforts for a cure have re-energized anti-vaccine critics who are already protesting for what they refer to as their ‘medical freedom.’ Although often dismissed, the anti-vaccination groups may have a striking argument about the awaiting COVID-19 vaccine. If vaccine development normally has to go through five vigorous stages over the course of at least ten years, how can we trust a vaccine to be safely tested and available on the market within a few months? In an exclusive interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s own Simone Smith had an in-depth conversation about the safety and efficiency of vaccinations. Kennedy, a renowned voice in the vaccine movement since 2005, founded the Children’s Health Defense (previously called World Mercury Project) to challenge and advocate against vaccine regulation, and fluoridation of drinking water. “I am not anti-vaccine. People call me that as a way of discrediting me or marginalizing me,” he firmly states. “I support safe vaccines that are tested in the way that other products have to be tested.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has quite an unsettling reputation surrounding his claims on how harmful vaccinations can be, especially within his own family. In 2019, his siblings

and niece published a piece on Politico, stating that he’s tragically wrong about vaccines. “His and others’ work against vaccines is having heartbreaking consequences. The challenge for public health officials right now is that many people are more afraid of the vaccines than the diseases, because they’ve been lucky enough to have never seen the diseases and their devastating impact. But that’s not luck; it’s the result of concerted vaccination efforts over many years. We don’t need measles outbreaks to remind us of the value of vaccination,” an excerpt from the article reads. In the last year, a record breaking high of 1,282 individual cases of measles were diagnosed in the United States, the greatest number since 1992. The majority of cases were among people who were not vaccinated for measles, according to the CDC. Still yet, Kennedy is certain on his beliefs and says that he has observed the effects of vaccination first-hand within his own immediate family. “In 1986, when [Congress passed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act] we were seeing an epidemic of chronic disease in Canada and the United States. I had 11 brothers and sisters. I had 77 cousins. I didn’t know of anybody with a food allergy or eczema. And yet, I have six kids and they all have allergies. Why is that? Whatever happened began in 1986. That same year, the odds of chronic disease raised from 1 in 10,000 in my generation to 1 in 34 children today.” Chronic disease refers to a multitude of lifelong illnesses such as lupus, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and developmental disorders. Some would argue that many of these abnormalities are inherited genetically or caused by an error in the human DNA. Kennedy thinks otherwise. “Epidemics are not caused by genes; they’re caused by toxins in the environment. Genes can give you the vulnerability, but you need to add the toxins. There are lots of new toxins. We have cellphones, and neonicotinoid pesticides. There are a lot of things you can blame for this explosion of chronic disease. But the best of science has linked the cascade of chronic disease to vaccines. I gave my kids every vaccine that was recommended. Now, I wish I could go back in time.” There seems to be a global race amongst nations on who will get access to the COVID-19 vaccine first. Although the issue at hand is urgent, should we really be opting for a ‘quick-fix’ solution? “Roughly a vaccine takes about fifteen years to get to the market. What if a vaccine causes cancer? You won’t know that

for at least four to five years. If you only test a vaccine for forty-five days, you’re only going to see what happens in fortyfive days. They’re doing a lot of shady things in these tests.” He continues. “The leading vaccine right now is the Moderna vaccine and it was tested on 45 people. Bill Gates is one of the investors and Dr. Anthony Fauci put half a million dollars of our taxpayer money into that vaccine. They tested it in Washington and gave it to 45 volunteers. Fifteen got the low dose, fifteen got the medium dose, and fifteen got the high dose. In the low dose group, 1 of the people got sick. That’s 6%. That’s very alarming. In the high dose group, 3 of them got sick. They’re going to give this to a billion people. If 20% of a high dose group is getting sick, then who wants to take that chance?” Point taken – those statistics do sound pretty frightening out loud. But the question remains. If vaccination isn’t the safest way to go, then how do we battle this highly infectious virus? “The FDA is saying that they’re going to allow vaccines that are 30-50% efficacious. Well, I can tell you a vaccine that is 99.8% efficacious – it’s called the human immune system! You can bolster your chances of not getting infected by taking vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc. Generally speaking, the people who have those things in their system are not affected by COVID, or they’ll recover very quickly. That’s what we ought to be focussing on: therapeutic drugs rather than the vaccine.” What does this have to do with the African-Caribbean Community? Systemic racism is not only evident within the criminal justice system. According to the New York Times, African-American and Latin residents of the United States have been three times as likely to become infected as their white neighbours. Data shows that they are also nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as well. Mr. Kennedy took time to educate the community on what we need to know. “Polling shows that the skepticism is the highest in the African-American community, and there’s good reason for that. There’s lots of studies that show that African-Americans are much more vulnerable to vaccine injury. Vaccine injury, along with other disease like COVID, targets people with vitamin D deficiency. You’ll notice about 95% of people who died from COVID are vitamin D deficient. And that may be one of the reasons why it is attacking African-Americans because virtually,

every black person is vitamin D deficient.” Vitamin D insufficiency is fairly prevalent among black people. Melanin lowers the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure, as it blocks out twice as much UV radiation as white skin. According to the Cooper institute, there tends to be a greater risk for chronic and potentially life-shortening conditions such as stoke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, some of which are associated with vitamin D deficiency. “African-Americans also have higher testosterone than caucasians. Testosterone amplifies the neurotoxicity, particularly of mercury. Estrogen tends to wrap around the mercury molecules and protect the female brain. Autism and other developmental disorders are more pronounced in the male population due to the testosterone.” Lest we forget the horrific 1932 Tuskegee syphilis study, where 399 black men infected with syphilis were manipulated into being a part of a 40-year study. The men, who were promised: free medical exams, free meals and burial insurance, were unaware that the study was to observe the effects of the untreated infection. Even with the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s, the men were never given the drug. 28 of the original 399 black men died of syphilis, 100 died of related complications, 40 of their wives were infected, and 19 of their children were born with congenital syphilis. It’s no surprise that people of colour are inadequately represented in medicine, due to heartbreakingly having mistrust towards medical institutions from past instances like this. “We know that African-Americans react differently to vaccines than Caucasians. They’re more sensitive to antigens. They need half the antigens that Caucasians need; yet, it’s a one-size-fit-all program. Maybe some benefit from vaccines, but it’s clearly true that African-Americans are disproportionately injured by vaccines.” So, what do we believe? The WHO claims that vaccine hesitancy is one of the top ten threats to global health, so should we be the first in line once the COVID-19 vaccine is mandated? Kennedy concludes with an ominously thought-provoking line. “Don’t trust me. Don’t trust your doctor. Don’t trust the CDC. Do your own research.”

Watch the full Robert F. Kennedy Jr. interview by going to TorontoCaribbean.com/RobertKennedyJr

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PAGE 10

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Colleen Russell-Rawlins is named PDSB’s first black female director PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

History was made on July 16th, 2020 when Bruce Rodrigues, the Ministry appointed supervisor announced the appointment of Colleen Russell -Rawlins as the Peel District School Board’s permanent interim director (www.pdsb.ca). She is the first black female director in the history of the Peel District School Board. She will take over on August 5th, 2020. In a PDSB’s news release, supervisor Bruce Rodrigues applauded her appointment. He stated, “We are confident that Ms Russell- Rawlins possesses all the necessary attributes to move the Peel board forward.

She brings with her a strong commitment to student learning and success, an exceptional background in addressing issues of antiblack, African and Caribbean racism, antioppression and equity. We are delighted to have her and look forward to working with her.” In response to her appointment, Ms. Russell-Rawlins highlights the importance of what her appointment means to the PDSB at this crucial and critical time. She stated, “I am honoured to serve as the interim Director of the Peel Board at this pivotal time in its efforts to achieve racial equity and dismantle anti-black racism. I look forward to learning from and with the Peel community in pursuit of these goals and improving all other aspects of education. Whether we work or send our children to schools in the Peel board, we all have an important role to play in student success. We all share in the leadership, the responsibility and accountability for creating the conditions where all of our children, regardless of their identity, can thrive.” She is grateful to be in this position. Ms. Russell-Rawlins has an out-

standing background in her twenty-nineyears with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). She has served in several capacities as a: teacher, principal, consultant and superintendent. She has been part of the MultiYear Strategic Plan (MYSB) which has set directions, and identifies five system goals to drive it, as well as school improvement goals related to: achievement, well-being and equity. These action plans have been in place since 2018. In her present role, she serves as an Associate Director of Equity, Well-Being, and Early Years and School Improvement. She was responsible for the de-streaming initiatives, as well as early literacy intervention steps. Ms. Russell-Rawlins played a major role in the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement that the TDSB announced on June 23rd, 2020. She has also been part of the Executive Council of the TDSB. She was President of the Ontario Supervisory Officers’ Association in 2018. She is one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women honoured in 2020. Her advice for the next generation is, “Most of us live textured lives weaved with purpose,

promise and challenge. The key to life is learning from adversity without letting challenges negatively influence how you define yourself.” She is passionate about people. Ms. Russell-Rawlins has many challenges ahead of her in the PDSB. She is replacing the controversial Peter Joshua who was been at the helm since 2019 and was fired on June 23rd, 2020. There is much acrimony between the Trustees that still has to be resolved. This was highlighted in the investigation report that was released by Arleen Huggins on May 15th, 2020 in response to concerns about the PDSB’s non-compliance of six specific ministerial directions of the twenty-seven that the Minister of Education issued on March 13th, 2020. The arrival of a new director signals a new start for the PDSB as it seeks to ensure that the Board reflects tolerance, equity, inclusivity, fairness and accountability. There is much hope and expectation that the black community’s concerns, issues and voices will be heard. It will be a chance to ensure that there will be proper governance, mutual respect between Trustees and the rebuilding of trust and collaboration.

Staying inside causes domestic violence to rise; this black woman-owned shelter needs your help! JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“My vision is to have a world free from domestic violence against women and human trafficking. I know that I cannot fully eradicate violence, but I know that by helping just one person, that person will be able to help another and then eventually, someday, the cycle will be broken.” Lisa Ogbole In the small community of Alliston, Ontario, a black-owned women’s shelter stands assertively – Imani’s Place. Imani’s Place is a faith-based nonprofit organization that houses, mentors and supports vulnerable young women who have been affected by domestic abuse and exploitation. The non-traditional cozy haven can accommodate up to six women and offers an extensive list of services including one-on-one counselling, referrals for medical care, legal assistance for immigrants, transportation and weekly life skill workshops. Lisa Ogbole founded the transitional

home after successfully escaping her own past abusive relationship. “I was a victim of domestic violence for eight years. During that time, there was no support whatsoever. It was a tough time for me.” The strong-willed Nigerian native regretfully began to think about ending her life. “I didn’t want to wake up to see another day. I was living with my abuser and he cut off all the ties I had with friends and family. There were times when I’d get beaten and I’d have no one to talk to. I vowed to myself that if I ever survived the trauma, I would help other women that are in the same situation. Lisa Ogbole kept that promise and in October 2019, Imani’s Place proudly opened its doors to women in need, with a primary focus on serving the black, Indigenous and people of colour community. The Swahili name “Imani” translates to “faith,” a means of encouragement that Ogbole says all at-risk women need. “I think that for you to be able to get the change you want to see, you have to believe in it, and you also have to believe in yourself,” she says. While being open to all women, regardless of race or sexual orientation, there is still a strong commitment to creating a safe space for black women specifically. Og-

bole recognized the reoccurring instances of systemic racism within the shelters and transitional housing networks. She believes that there are many misconceptions when it comes to black women entangled in the system and frankly, sometimes it’s just easier to relate to your own. “Black women resonate better with black women, and that’s normal. When dealing with social service workers who are nonblack, they may not be comfortable opening up which will prevent them from receiving the support they need,” she says. “Black people have become victimized in the traditional shelter system because these social service providers don’t understand black people or how we may react to situations. They don’t know how we handle frustration. They assume we are aggressive and default to putting us on medication rather than having the patience to work with us.” The COVID-19 pandemic has not made maintaining the shelter any easier. According to Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Maryam Monsef, not only has the pandemic empowered perpetrators of domestic abuse, but several parts of the country are experiencing a 20% to 30% increase in gender-based violence. For Ogbole, she’s witnessed a 40% increase in calls and is now fundraising and searching for volunteers to upkeep Imani’s Place.

“It’s been really tough because Imani’s Place is funded mostly out-of-pocket. We used to work with volunteers, but once the government put in health and safety protocols, many of the volunteers couldn’t continue. We refuse to let our passion for helping women die, so I’ve personally dug into my line of credit to continue keeping Imani’s Place open.” With future plans for further expansion across the Greater Toronto Area, Lisa Ogbole has ambitions to support both women and the Canadian economy. “Our goal is to remove 250 women from the social service system by 2025. We will do that by providing them with the tools they need to be financially stable, and ultimately giving them the right mindset to kick down those walls and do whatever it takes to make themselves self-sufficient. Canada has been great to us, so we want to give back to our society by building up our women who in turn will contribute to building our economic development.” For anyone looking to donate to Imani’s Place, a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $100,000 is available on their website: www.imanisplace.org. Likewise, women in unsafe situations are encouraged to call their free and completely confidential 24-hour crisis hotline: 1-888-836-6570.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

NEWS

PAGE 11

A family that farms together, grows together; Introducing Seki’s Diner SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As soon as I walked through the door, I knew I was in trouble. “We’re here!” I called out. “Come in,” a voice responded. “We are in the kitchen.” The smell got stronger as I approached the kitchen. “You are just in time.” “Welcome Simone! Welcome Dave! It’s been a long time.” Even though she was busy, one of the designated sous chefs Kamoy stopped just long enough to give us a hug. “You are just in time. Are you ready to eat?” We were supposed to be fasting, but I am going to tell the truth; I caved. Hard! I received an invitation from a dear friend, and active community member Sheena Blake, wanting to share with us

the harvest of her families’ COVID-19 experience. Well really, her daughter’s experience. Sheena was in the garden when I got there, harvesting tomatoes. She came over and gave me a big hug. “Sekmet is on her way back from the park. I hope you are ready for this.” “We are, but we are supposed to be fasting. I guess that’s done.” I replied. Sheena sat down with me to tell me about what had prompted her daughter to open what is now called “Seki’s Diner!” “Simone! What Corona taught us is that we as community have to develop our self-sufficiency and interdependence. With everything going on, food sovereignty is of most importance. We as a people have the right to health and culturally appropriate food produced by us, using ecologically sound and sustainable methods. Food must be seen as more than just a commodity. I have been able to build and teach my children the traditional knowledge that goes into farming, and this is what sparked Sekmet’s interest in cooking. She was growing her food and taking it right into the kitchen to cook it.” At that moment Sekmet walked into the kitchen. She had a big smile on her face. “Hi Simone! Hi Dave!”

“Hi Sekmet! What is on the menu today?” “Well,” she began. “We are going to start with a Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl, made with chia seeds, fresh mint from our garden, coconut water, and coconut milk. Next, you are going to have Zucchini Bread, with Chicken Butternut Squash Soup (all ingredients locally grown). It has lots of dumplings in it Simone. I can’t eat any soup without dumpling.” I had to laugh, because I was the same way. “I think that you will really like the Caulicrisps. These are cauliflower leaves fried in coconut oil, and sprinkled with Cayenne peppers, and Himalayan Sea Salt. We also have a Fresh Cellulous Bowl, filled with ingredients straight from our garden. And we can’t forget your Zucchini Pizza. I learned how to make this at my Bubi’s house. We saw it on a YouTube video, and decided to recreate it. It is delicious. Enjoy!” What an eclectic spread, and I loved every bit of it. What I found amazing was that this young lady had taken her free time to learn how to cook, and garden. Now, she wanted to share it with the community. To think; all that food for $25.00, I asked her what she was going to do with the money she had raised. “It started off when we found out we needed a new vacuum. As a family we

sat together and discussed how we were going to raise the money. We all decided to do it this way, and I had really started enjoying cooking. I wanted to invite all my favourite people and make a special day out of it. That is how we came up with Seki’s Diner.” What I love about what this family has done is they used the down time to grow together. What they learned as a family can be shared with the greater community and passed to future generations. To think, their simple actions allowed them to grow their own food that they know is not contaminated. They began to recognize that food is a gift of life and is not to be squandered. They were able to support local growers, which was also helpful in reducing the distance between food providers and their kitchen. This family found a way to model a way of life, which will be very relevant in the future, and a young lady has learned how to farm, and turn her work into a business. Amazing work! “Don’t forget your Sorrel Freezies Dave and Simone.” Sekmet reminded us as we were leaving. “Can’t forget those beautiful. Thank you!” Yes, I broke my fast, but it was so worth it.

PAGE 12

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

A taste of Jamaica’s culinary evolution - Centuries of flavours NOEL CUNNINGHAM noel@carib101.com

CULINARY REPORTER

As we celebrate Jamaica’s 58th Independence under the theme ‘Resilient and Strong.’ The Government is urging everyone, home and abroad to celebrate the spirit of Independence. There is no celebration without food which led me to take a look at some of the memorable milestones that helped to shape, change and redefine the culinary landscape in Jamaica as it continues to evolve. Below is a list of some of the events and organizations that are changing the game as we continue to develop Jamaica as a gastronomy center of excellence. 1962 Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition (JCDC) This year will mark 57 years since the establishment of what is now known as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), first called the ‘Festival Office’. With an expanded mandate to “Unearth, develop, promote, and preserve the creative talents and cultural expressions of the Jamaican people.” The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s annual Culinary Arts Competition provided opportunities for Jamaicans to express their creativity while preserving its rich culinary history by turning ordinary food into something extraordinary. The work of the JCDC, is the strengthening, promotion, and maintaining Jamaica’s rich culinary history. 1999 Jamaica Observer Food Awards The Jamaica Observer has helped to shape, redefine and develop the local culinary industry with its marquis event - the annual Table Talk Food Awards, a first of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Created 22 years ago, the Jamaica Food Awards applauds the efforts of its stakeholders working tirelessly to preserve Jamaica’s food heritage. This event has brought deserved recognition to the individuals, and companies who have continued to play a vital part in the culinary arts.

2003 Port Royal Seafood Festival Now in its 17th year, this festival has become a staple on the calendar of events traditionally held over the Heroes’ Weekend holiday, which is staged in one of the most historic communities in the world. At the Port Royal Seafood Festival, throughout the day, patrons enjoy delicious seafood offerings from various vendors, while the children have fun on various rides along with celebrity chefs cook-off, and the evening ends with live entertainment from top reggae, gospel and dancehall artists. “This occasion additionally enables people and organizations to flourish, while enabling the seafood capital of Jamaica to appreciate the spotlight and some buzz.” says organizer Jenny Jenny. 2004 Restaurant Week Jamaica Restaurant Week is a week-long, family-oriented event that encourages patrons to have fun and dine in restaurants across the island. This one week provides the opportunities for people to experience more of the culinary culture. Menu items are themed with different price categories. Food lovers can look forward to a wide range of cuisine to excite the palate and tease the mind; all centred around great ambiance and good vibes. 2007 Culinary Federation of Jamaica The Culinary Federation (CFJ) is an association formed to bring together chefs at all levels in the world of chefdom, and highlights suppliers and manufacturers of food related goods and services from across the island. The CFJ is involved in projects that will further develop brand Jamaica as a culinary destination - culinary tourism. The Federation’s primary intention is to unearth, train and promote the culinary arts. One avenue through which this is accomplished is the annual Taste of the Jamaica Culinary Competition, which is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. From the novice, to the amateur, the homecook to the profesional is given the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills, albeit for prizes and bragging rights. 2010 Montego Bay Jerk Festival The Montego Bay Jerk Festival was created 11 years ago to provide an environment to showcase authentic Jamaican culinary delights, while preserving the authentic taste

of jerk that everyone around the world has come to love. Montego Bay Jerk Festival continues to attract overseas visitors (foodies) through food (or culinary) tourism, facilitating mouth-watering jerk entrees and presenting authentic Jamaican entertainment. 2013 Jamaica’s Ackee And Saltfish rank number 2 on World’s Best National Dishes list National Geographic has ranked Jamaica’s national dish Ackee and Saltfish as second among the top 10 best national dishes in the world. The dish was a staple of enslaved people on the island during colonial times. Despite ackee’s unhappy origins as slave food, Jamaicans have reclaimed it as part of their national dish. A nutritious fruit with a buttery-nutty flavor, ackee resembles scrambled egg when boiled. Jamaicans sauté the boiled ackee with saltfish (salt-cured cod), onions, and tomatoes. Sometimes the dish is served atop bammy (deep-fried cassava cakes) with fried plantains. Jake’s Treasure Beach, is renowned for ackee and saltfish and also offers cooking classes. 2013 Jamaica Culinary Tours Jamaica Culinary Tours was established in November 2013 with the launch of the Falmouth Food Tour, the first such culinary walk in Jamaica. The company is the brainchild of two sisters, Janet and Anne Crick, who combined their passions for Jamaican history, culture, and food to develop an itinerary that presents an authentic story of the Jamaican people through the intriguing melting pot of the island’s culinary history. “My mission is to create authentic food tours that reflect the warmth of the island, the unmistakable “vibes”, spiciness and zest of the Jamaican people, and the rich diversity of a culture and cuisine infused with centuries of flavour and history.” (Janet Crick) 2015 Jamaica Jerk the Caribbean’s first Geographical Indication (GI) According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. This means producers who are not association members can use ‘jerk’ on their labels but not ‘Jamaica Jerk.’

2015 Jamaica Food and Drink Festival The Jamaica Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of great spirits, fine foods, live entertainment, and culinary mastery. It is held in Kingston, Jamaica annually in November. The festival offers five individual, themed nights, featuring some of the island’s best restaurants and chefs. 2017 Devon House launched as Jamaica’s first gastronomy centre Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Devon House gastronomy experience will be expanded to include a self-service kitchen, farmers’ market and food shops. 2018 The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience The original visitor center at the Appleton Estate opened in 1988 and has now reopened 30 years later, in January 2018, as Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience, named after Appleton’s Master Blender. During the tour, visitors will experience how the beloved rum has been made for more than 265 years, an overview of the work of rum, interactive guided tour through the history of the estate, and the cane-to-cup rum-making process, all topped off with a guided rum tasting. 2018 “Savouring Jamaica” at The James Beard House created a new culinary narrative for Jamaican gastronomy The event was created and produced by Annette Davidson of The Chef’s Advocate. Savoring Jamaica successfully redefined Jamaican gastronomy to a sold-out guest list of foodies, expats, executives and media. It would be the first time since the James Beard Foundation started its dinner series more than 20 years ago, that the Jamaican, culture and chefs would be highlighted over the course of an evening with an exclusive menu. 2019 Jamaica Rum Festival The Jamaica Rum Festival is a celebration of brand Jamaica. The festival offers rum tastings, rum and food pairing workshops, as well as live Jamaican musical acts throughout the day on both the main and demo stages. This festival shares the true spirit of Jamaica by showcasing our rum and our talented mixologists.

Reggae Sumfest 2020 opens it virtual doors to over 360 million viewers MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

After 26 years of thrilling the public, one of Jamaica’s biggest Reggae festivals has decided to take the show on a virtual platform and is letting their audience know that lock-down or not, the show must go on. Reggae Sumfest 2020 ran from July 20th-25th and this year, the festival was done as a week-long virtual experience for fans around the world, with: one-of-a-kind access to exclusive artist interviews, professional panels for content creators, artist spotlights from past performances, and live performances. This festival that is normally held in Montego Bay, climaxed with two final days of high-energy, live musical extravaganza, nonstop dancing and celebrations as the island’s

biggest artists took to the stage on July 24th and 25th. The exciting line-up featured performances by a volley of dancehall and reggae stars including: Chronic Law, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ding Dong, Agent Sasco, Spice, Maxi Priest, Koffee, Gyptian Freddie McGregor, and Shenseea. Both evenings of live performances were hosted by Yanique. The festival opened its virtual doors to over 360 million viewers using the Facebook and Instagram platforms for all lovers of reggae and dancehall music. The festival aimed to showcase Jamaica’s massive impact on the world as a powerhouse for music, culture, and lively celebrations. This year Sumfest also pooled together professional panels of musicians, producers, and industry leaders to learn the rules of leveraging social media platforms and successfully creating visibility for their brands. Panelists included Jessie Woo, DJ Noire, and Stefon Bristol. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Mr. Skatta Burrell before this reggae extravaganza. He is one of the coordinators/administrators and engineers behind this huge annual event about what it takes to sit in the driver’s seat of such a historic festi-

val. “What we are trying to do,” Burrell began, “Is to recreate Reggae Sumfest, but on a virtual level. We understand the strain that is on the entertainment business right now, so instead of sitting this entire year not doing anything, and just keeping our fingers crossed for 2021, we said listen, let’s take this virtual.” “Reggae Sumfest,” Burrell said, “Owes it to the fans, the community, and the fans across the world to at least reach them through music and unify the entire planet based on what is going on right now. You know a lot of stress is facing humanity.” Speaking of reaching everyone, Burrell said, “A lot of people would like everything to be channeled through one entity, we think it is better to have at least (four platforms) running where we can reach a wider audience, not everyone is on Facebook, not everyone is on Instagram, not everyone is on YouTube.” Judging from the rehearsals so far, the artists delivered just like there was a packed house on hand, “I think,” he said, “They have accepted that they can reach people through the screens, phone, and televisions.” “Everyone has accepted their fate

right now,” Burrell said, “We have accepted that 2020 is just a year that is filled with disaster and whatever comes you have to weather the storm. We are not hoping to get back to partying, we are saying this is what we have now, and we have to make the best of it.” Burrell, who has over 25 years of experience in the music business and has seen the highs and lows and is very confident that this venture will be a tremendous success for the artists musically as well as the fans. Burrell has been both a fan of Sumfest in its early years and now sits at the helm of the event, so he understands both sides of the coin. He takes his responsibility very seriously. “It is not easy, but things are not hard when you work as a team. The company that I work with purchased the brand Reggae Sumfest. I have a huge responsibility and a threshold to keep, but it is something I take with gratitude because our predecessors did a great job. When you look at the history of this festival, unquestionably they are number one. To learn more about this years Sumfest, visit www.reggaesumfest.com.

NEWS

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 13

Jay Douglas’s “Muschange” a new double-single which has a serious message about changing times former with a magical voice to match his everchanging stage moves. This Jamaican Canadian musical icon is second to none and has an international appearances list that is more than a mile long. Jay, as his friends call him received a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for the single “Jah Children” featuring General Trees. “Jah Children” is Douglas’ second JUNO Award nomination. The first being for 2012’s reggae release, Lover’s Paradise. Douglas has also won NOW Magazine’s (‘Best R&B Act,) the (Annual Toronto Reggae Awards Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year,) and the (BBPA Harry Jerome Awards’ ‘G98.7 Entertainment Award.) Douglas’ latest single “Muschange” featuring dancehall reggae recording DJ, Lord Sassafras, was released internationally on July 10th, 2020. “Muschange” is available through Slammin Media and distributed worldwide by Believe Distribution. This new track from Douglas, has a serious message about the changing times, mixed within the genuine Reggae

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Muschange came about just at the beginning of the pandemic when it hit worldwide everybody was running for cover, but there was no hiding place.” If anyone looks at Jay Douglas in a crowd, it is highly unlikely that that person would realize who is in front of them. From the simple way that he carries himself, to his soft-spoken tone and innocent smile nothing prepares you for the hurricane that is about to hit you musically. Douglas who began his musical career in the sixties is an electrifying per-

fabric. It was put together by Reggae drum and bass royalty Sly Dumber, and Robbie Shakespeare. His ensemble cast includes Donovan “Danny Maestro” Lee, who helped produce and engineer the track, Toots and the Maytals’ lead guitarist, Carl Harvey, and Michael McNeil on keyboard. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had a conversation with this exceptionally versatile entertainer on his talents, his knowledge, and his new single as well. When asked what was the motivation behind his new single called “Muschange,” Douglas said, “Muschange came about just at the beginning of the pandemic when it hit world-wide everybody was running for cover, but there was no hiding place.” Douglas said that he almost didn’t get the music he wanted for the song. Out of determination, he decided to press on with what he was given and that’s how the track (Muschange)really came along. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper asked Douglas, what is the secret of his

longevity in the music business? “Jah, “God, Jehovah, Yahweh, call him what you want,” he said, “It is a gift that is given to me from the most-high, I treat it with love, respect and reverence. It’s not my music I am just a messenger of peace and love.” As for what is in the works for Douglas? the crooner has a video out now for his new single (Muschange) on YouTube and is in the process of creating more new music with famed Grenadian producer Mr. Eddie Bullen. Douglas said all the accolades and everything that he has achieved is not for himself but the up and coming youth. “I give praises to the most-high every time and accept them with gratitude. All of this it is for the young people; they are the gem of the future. What I am working on, is to have a home base where I can share with these young aspiring artists. Tell them the truth. Hug them. Tell them I love them with Jah music, and show them the foundation of the business and the music.”

Less suspensions, more support; Ontario implements ban on suspensions Grade 3 and below PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The Ministry of Education announced in a press release on Thursday July 9th, 2020 that it would implement a ban on suspensions for kids from junior kindergarten to Grade 3 pending passage of Bill 197 on Tuesday, July 21st, 2020. The press release states that the government plans to get rid of discretionary suspension for students along with other changes. Premier Doug Ford stated in the press release, “To help our young people reach their full potential, we have to start earlier to create equal opportunity for them, whether that’s reforming suspensions for primary grades or ending the practice of streaming for Grade 9 students.” There has been much concerns expressed by the African-Canadian commu-

nity with respect to the high percentage of Afro-Caribbean students being suspended, especially since the influx of West Indians in the 1960s and 1980s. OPBC (founded in 1980) expressed concerns about suspensions in a report by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released in 2003. There were many reports that came out that showed significant community concern. The Stephen Lewis report released in 1992 was one of the first to highlight the pervasiveness of anti-black racism in Ontario. It was the Scarborough Board of Education that implemented a Safe Schools Policy on Violence and Weapons in 1993, which was the catalyst of official zero tolerance policy in Canada. Concerns were expressed about its adverse effects on African-Canadian students (as reported in a Toronto Star on March 20, 1994, Paul Irish).”Probe of black legal issues slams school violence policy.” It showed that black students were unfairly targeted and suspended. In a fact sheet on Black Student Achievement from 5679, TDSB students who were surveyed between 2006-2011, found that 42% of African students were

suspended at least once compared to 18% of white students (Black Demographic Data Advisory Committee). They are thus two times more likely to be suspended than whites at least once during high school. CBC News on July 6th referenced a 2017 study by Carl James which revealed that 42% of total black students in Toronto, York, Peel and Durham school boards were suspended at least one time before they graduate from school. In fact, in the school year 2018-2019, there were 65,000 elementary and secondary students were suspended in Ontario. Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) in a memo on Monday, July 20th, 2020, expressed concerns about changes to the policy in regards to suspensions of elementary students. It stated, “There are no details about how the government or school boards would address the issues that lead to suspensions, nor do they offer alternatives or support for school administrative to utilize.” OSSTF is pressing the Ministry of Education to release much more details. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) which represents 83,000 education workers made a state-

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ment, “ETFO agrees that suspensions have disproportionately affected black students compared to their white peers as well as students with unique learning needs. Getting rid of suspensions deals with a symptom but does not address the underlying problem, which is a lack of supports and resources for students. And the on-going issue of violent incidents by students with behavioural issues requires urgent attention in order to protect the health and safety of all students and staff.” In an interview with Karen Campbell, the first African-Canadian Vice-President in ETFO history, she expressed concerns about seeking a balance between changes to the disciplinary regulations and ensuring that students who need help are able to get to. She maintains that the Ministry of Education has to commit to helping families and students by providing them with mental and psychological support. In a press release on Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 ETFO states, “We need a balanced approach to suspensions through a meaningful consultations with all stakeholders and include discussions on the allocation of appropriate resources.”

PAGE 14

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Defacing of public monuments by Black Lives Matter ignites reaction PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Black Lives Matter-Toronto (BLMTO) has been involved in many peaceful protests, quiet demonstrations, and effective rallies in its four-year existence. On Saturday, July 18th, 2020, there was a march from Ryerson University to the Ontario legislature. According to City News and The Canadian Press, the police alleged that two women and a man proceeded to paint a statute of Egerton Ryerson with pink paint. A sign that was attached had the words, “Tear down monuments that represent slavery, colonialism and violence.” Subsequently, it is alleged that a female sprayed pink paint and affixed signs to the statutes of John A. Macdonald and King Edward VII, which are present on Queen’s Park. Messages in front of the statutes read, “Defund, Disarm. Dismantle, Abolish.” In response to the defacing of the

monuments Rodney Diverlus, one of the cofounder of BLMTO, told the press on Sunday, July 19th, 2020 that the art-based demonstration was intended to make a statement about racism and police violence, and the defacing of public monuments was misguided. He stated, “Symbols remain in our city that remind us of white supremacy and anti-black racism. If people care about statutes more than they care about lives, then I would ask them to question their priorities.” The police arrested three persons as a result. According to lawyer Saron Gebreselassie in a press conference on Sunday, July 19th, 2020, reported that it took over twelve hours before her clients were released from police custody. NDP Jill Andrew wrote in her community news update on July 20th, 2020, “The desperate need for change was highlighted again this weekend when three protestors from Black Lives Matter were arrested and detained without legal counsel for over twelve hours after splashing paints on statutes downtown. While the action drew a lot of attention, the real story is the treatment of the arrestees. It’s unacceptable that it took so long for protestors to be released and it’s intolerable that those who had been detained were denied access to their lawyers. I will be watching very closely to see how this story continues to develop.”

In a statement of solidarity released by Idle No More on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 in support of Black Lives Matter-Toronto, “Each statute is a symbol of white supremacy and this was made explicit when community members were arrested, imprisoned and denied legal counsel and medicine. These statutes uphold oppressive ideologies that directly harm black and Indigenous people and we refuse to let these symbols stand in our city unchallenged. These systems of oppression condition us to believe we should accept colonial violence in all its forms, including racist statutes protected by the police today.” (www.idlenomore.ca) The statute of John A. Macdonald, who was the first prime minister of Canada, has been a sore spot. According to BBC News on August 22nd, 2018 in a report titled, “Reference to Glasgow-born John A. Macdonald has been removed from Scotland,” revealed that all references have been erased from Scotland.org foundations because of his connection to the cultural genocide of Indigenous people. According to Idle No More, he was, “A white supremacist whose genocide policies sought to eradicate Indigenous people on the prairies. As the first prime minister, he helped to create the Indian Act and write Indian policy which would justify colonization, land theft and violence.” In addition, Egerton Ryerson, af-

ter whom Ryerson University is named and who is acknowledged to be the founder of the public-school system has been vilified. He,”played a role in the development of the Indian Residential School System, the profoundly damaging repercussions of which are still felt today.” This reality can be seen in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which was released in 2015. Its mandate was to, “inform Canadians about the truths of the Indian Residential System.” Furthermore, it gives reference to King Edward VII. The statement notes that he was, “a colonial ruler in Europe who assisted in colonization in India and other dominions of the era these statutes uphold. The statute originally stood in Delhi, India but was removed after independence and relocated in Toronto.” There are many who are disturbed by the defacement of these public monuments in Toronto. They perceive them to be acts of vandalism and agreed that the perpetrators should be fined and charged. On the other hand, supporters believed that these acts of protest and rebellion are needed to bring public attention to re-evaluating and questioning the role of these statutes. In the wake of the global protest since the death of George Floyd on May 25th, there are worldwide focuses on these historic symbols.

Addressing the Eurocentric narrative of Nelson Mandela; a sit down with Siyabulela Mandela SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“When one critically examines Mandela’s legacy they would find a leader that was principled and pragmatic, always prepared to throw away a theory or an idea that did not serve his cause which was not forgiveness but the liberation of the oppressed black people.” On July 18th, 2020 the world commemorated Mandela Day by dedicating 67 minutes to do charity work and service to the community. The 67 minutes acknowledged the 67 years that Nelson Mandela had struggled against colonialism, apartheid, and all forms of inequality, and injustice. I had the honour of meeting Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Siyabulela Mandela, when Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited to an exhibit last year. I was surprised when I arrived, and he was there with a friend. No press. No cameras just the three of us, and since then, we have developed a good friendship. Siyabulela Mandela is the Team Leader for Journalists for Human Rights in South Sudan and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations and Conflict resolution in the Department of Politics and Conflict Studies at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. We were having one of our catch up sessions, when he informed me that he was writing a piece on his grandfather. He promised to send it to me, and then we could discuss what he had written. I received it on July 20th, and I requested a phone call immediately. The piece is strong. Direct. It provides a history

that some of us do know, and some of us may not. This is a 10 page academic piece, and there is no way that I can cover it in one article, but if you are interested in reading the whole piece, feel free to reach out to me, and I will send it to you. Last Tuesday, I gave him a call, and one of the first questions I asked was, “What has the feedback been like since you wrote this piece?” “What kind of feedback do I need,” he said, and I laughed. “There are people who disagree with my stance, and these disagreements usually come in different forms. I draw inspiration, protection and wisdom from and I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors. I had to address this Eurocentric narrative of Nelson Mandela. They have misappropriated parts of his stories. I wrote this exposition “The Mandela I know” as a tribute to my great-grandfather Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, as a descendent of King Ngubengcuka of the Thembu Kingdom, also as a descendent of The House of Mandela, and a son to the late Nosipho and Boy Mandela. I pledge my allegiance to my ancestors: Madiba, Sophitsho, Yem-Yem, Gqolomsila, Dlomo, Zondwa and the House of Mandela.” He took a slight pause. I knew that he was about to go in, so I sat there on the phone and patiently waited. “I had to add my voice to clarify some of the misconceptions and mistakes on Mandela’s legacy and to put things into perspective. I endeavour to inspire my generation and the generation yet to come to understand this simple clarion call to action advanced by Frantz Fanon that ‘Each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it, in relative opacity.’ However, as one who comes from the Mandela lineage my commitment and contribution to the movement has often been viewed with suspicion and questionable judgement influenced by this dominant narrative of Mandela as a sell-out.” “Is this what provoked you to write this?” I queried. “I wrote this Simone, to correct

some of the biographies that have been written. This view of Mandela as a sellout became more prominent during the Rhodes and Fees Must Fall Movement and among the leaders of the movement and some from within the circles of my comrades. It was time to address the historians who have the tendency to minimize Nelson Mandela’s legacy.” His-Story “Today forgiveness is seen as a central component of Mandela’s legacy and this excessive focus on forgiveness diminishes Mandela’s political legacy and blunts his power.” “Let’s be clear Simone; the dominate narrative that is held, addresses the white fear. This narrative is what I am challenging, and will continue to challenge. Let’s go into my family history. Mandela’s father, Gadla Mphakanyiswa Mandela, was the Chief of the House of Mandela within the Thembu Kingdom. He was also a traditional and modern politician dating back to the Thembuland of the 19th century. Mandela’s father who was constantly at loggerheads with the colonial administration was later deposed of his position as the Chief of the House of Mandela by a colonial magistrate, and banished from his land. This resistance against colonization has existed in my family for centuries. It is of no surprise that Nelson would continue down the road paved for him. He led the African National Congress, when they started the Defiance Campaign in 1952. This campaign called on people to purposefully break the apartheid laws and offer themselves for arrest. The History of resistance against colonialism and apartheid by the ANC underwent three phases: the first was dialogue and petition, the second direct opposition and the last the period of exiled and underground armed struggle. In fact, in the 1980, Mandela was regarded by the western countries like the United States and the United Kingdom as a

terrorist advancing a communist agenda in Southern Africa Mandela was arrested on several occasions and stood trial four times from 1952 to 1964. It is in the Rivonia Trial of 1964 that Mandela was sentenced with seven of his comrades to life imprisonment and served 27 years of his sentence before he was unconditionally released. Another aspect of the Mandela legacy is the role that Winnie Mandela played. It is not strongly mentioned. When all the leaders were arrested, there were young people leading the struggle. She is accused of many crimes against humanity, because she became too political. Mandela’s Legacy Revisited During my talk with Siyabulela, I learned about some of the programmes and mandates that were put into play under Nelson Mandela’s leadership. Rural Development Programme This program provided social housing for the previously disadvantaged majority of black people, and the provision of social grants for the poor, orphans and the elderly. Truth and Reconciliation Commission based on Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No 34 of 1995 The commission was devised as a peace and reconciliation tool used to bring together both the victims and perpetrators of the violent apartheid regime to deliberate on what happened in the past. “You must support the African National Congress only so far as it delivers to its promises, and if it fails to stay true to the mandate given by the people, you must do to it as you have done to the apartheid regime.” Nelson Mandela There is so much still to learn about Nelson Mandela, and I am encouraged by the fact that one of his heirs, has decided to set the record straight.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

NEWS

PAGE 15

Assembly of First Nations open letter to Black Lives Matter OMNIYA ALI

amniya@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“It’s about exposure and understanding and respect.” The cure to racism could not have been broken down to a simpler equation by Marlene Poitras, Regional Chief of Assembly of First Nations Alberta Association. There is undeniably a shared history of colonial violence, enslavement, dehumanization, genocide and erasure in both the Indigenous and black communities in North America as mentioned by Ms. Poitras; and as echoed at several Black Lives Matter rallies “Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty are interwoven.” Canada has infinitely claimed an image that encompasses more compassion

and humanity than the rest of the world, that cannot stand true as long as its history is being censored through the education system to fit their desired image. The suffering that minority groups such as the Indigenous and black communities have endured throughout the decades in Canada is deserving at the very least of responsibility. “Education is a huge thing because our lives matter, black lives matter, Indigenous lives matter. We’re human beings like everyone else, the colour of our skin doesn’t dehumanize us because we all have the same aspirations and ways that we want to be dealt with fairly.” Reconciliation cannot be a term used lightly when the people in power are unable to declare the very existence of those atrocities in their fullest form. Dehumanization is truly taken to another level when the very right to the validity of trauma and suffering cannot be provided to those individuals. “Racism, a lot of it is learnt behaviour and in order to get rid of it, it’s going to be a while. But we just need to continue to educate people and be cognizant that it’s going to be a process that will take time to

unfold.” Much as Ms. Poitras stated dismantling a framework that has dominated since the beginning of time is not going to be a simple task. However, giving into the notion that individuals have too small of an effect is simply counterproductive. As B.C. Regional Chief Terry Tegee argued “We don’t need a reform of a broken system. We need a revolution of hearts, minds and souls to create justice and equality.” That can only be possible however, in the event that every individual retains hope and continues to fight for ultimate unity and justice. The list of actions that yet need to be pursued is never ending, however, on the individual level something as simple as reflecting on one’s values can make a plentiful difference. “The way that I was taught is that you regard another human being as a human with respect and dignity and that is something that I was taught and we just have to continue to educate people to try to dismantle the racism that exists.” Ms. Poitras goes on to add that it is almost completely in a parent’s control as to how their children treat and perceive others. If they have an understanding from a young age that we are all

humans with similar aspirations and desires many issues surrounding racism can easily be alleviated. Although education and exposure are the main keys to unlocking the ceaseless disputes of racism, another one according to Ms. Poitras is being given the opportunity to participate in the discussion. “Just giving us the opportunity to have discussions and to provide some recommendations on how the government is dealing with issues, even policies and legislations that impact Indigenous people and black people. We have to be at the table to have those discussions and to inform the government what’s going to work. We have to do it together. The way of dealing with us is not something that will be tolerated any longer.” Ultimately, people need to make a bigger effort to understand and learn about Canada’s history, learn, read, and discuss in order to be able to spot the indubitable existence of systemic racism with more ease. A good resource to begin with according to Ms. Poitras is “Unwritten Histories” guide to black history in Canada.

The journey of an artist; revisiting the dynamic Dana Baugh WAZARI JOHNSON wazari@carib101.com

JAMAICA TC REPORTER

JAMAICA -- In my last article about Dana Baugh I looked at some of the things that motivates her the most in her journey as a designer, we looked at the reason for the name Baughaus and what her favorite project was, amongst other things. In this article we continue to look at this intrepid designer. Dana is now in the phase of expanding her current studio, and this time she is using shipping containers to do so. She currently houses her studio in three of them to be precise, a very great idea if I do say so myself. People have been using shipping containers for business places for over two decades now, but in the last five years, Jamaica has

made them very popular to use. In recent years, they have also been explored extensively in the field of architecture for their availability, ease of installment, low cost and dynamic capabilities to create comfortable inhabitable spaces. Her primary container has a lot of flair, especially with the use of her colour choices: aquamarine, black and white. Outstanding graphic details on the exterior just pulls your eye in, and you naturally expect outstanding artistry on the inside. My favorite design feature in her studio is a light fixture she made from upcycled shipping pallets, it is a really wonderful shabby chic detail in the space and it also makes for a great conversation piece. I asked her what contributions she would love to make to our local creative industry and that of the wider Caribbean and she said “I would like to inspire others to follow and stick to their dreams. To inspire belief and support of locally made products and to usher in a new wave of products and ceramic designers and producers who can help build the local creative industries.”

The thing that I admire most about Dana is that she is quite expansive in her thinking. She does not limit herself as a designer or as a businessperson. She is open to experimentation and exploration. She is constantly working on new designs, and she is also usually engaged in research about market trends. She really desires to make an indelible mark on the creative industry, and she pushes herself to ensure that she accomplishes this. When I asked her what her personal goals as a designer were she had this to say: “I wear so many hats, not just as a designer, but a business owner. There is always something to work on. However, I strive to make well-made authentic Jamaican products that make people happy, and inspire better living. I am constantly improving, while at the same time learning how to manage time and lead people effectively.” Dana also expressed changes that she would want to see realized in terms of things happening on a governmental level “The most important change for me, would be to place more importance in teaching art

in primary and secondary schools. I believe there is a severe deficit in the quality of art education. We have diminished the creativity, problem solving and detailed oriented thinking needed to move the design industry forward. We have gotten so focused on building one side of the education system; we have neglected the other side. Secondly, I would love for the Government to radically support us, by creating policies that help to build instead of impede creatives and designers.” She has hopes that many more gifted youngsters will arise and decide to take up the challenge to be creative entrepreneurs and this is her advice to them “Be smart about it. Plan ahead and make strategic decisions to help you reach your goals. Be determined and always strive to be better than you were the day before. I say this, because we oftentimes compete with others when the competition should be internal.” I expect great things from Dana Baugh and I am excited to see what is next on her journey, I would encourage you dear reader to check her out online.

Systemic racism and the justice system OMNIYA ALI

amniya@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Racism, and in particular anti-black racism, is a part of our community’s psyche. A significant segment of our community holds overtly racist views. A much larger segment subconsciously operates on the basis of negative racial stereotypes. Furthermore, our institutions, including the criminal justice system, reflect and perpetuate those negative stereotypes. These elements combine to infect our society as a whole with the evil of racism. Blacks are among the primary victims of that evil.” The aforementioned quotation was taken from the defense council of R. v. Parks, a murder case that was tried in 1993 at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In this case,

the defendant was black while the deceased was white, all throughout the trial the defendant was referred to as a “black Jamaican immigrant”, none of which was relevant information but was used to sway the jury heedlessly. Fast-forward to 1999, in a similar case in the US where Adnan Syed was tried for the murder of Hae Min Lee his then girlfriend, merely based on hearsay and little to no physical evidence. The matter of the fact is a thorough investigation was not pursued and many can associate that to both his ethnicity and religion. In more recent events, anticlimactically enough, mass shooters like Alexandre Bissonnette are given the benefit of the doubt as long as they are white. Bissonnette attacked a Mosque in Quebec in 2017 injuring eight and killing six people. Although he was sentenced to 40 years in prison with no parole, his lawyers were quick to claim he was not racist or driven by a hate for Muslims in an attempt to lighten his sentence. Bissonnette’s legal team claimed that he “offered a portrait of a mentally troubled young man who needed a target for his violent rage.” As opposed to the cases above where irrelevant information such as im-

migration status was shared, Bissonnette’s legal team went on to explain that he had been suicidal since his teens, further driving the point that he was mentally unstable as a justification for his gruesome actions. This is not news to any member of a minority group. Countless other recent incidents consist of the same theme. White man commits a horrible crime and is automatically labeled a mentally unstable lone wolf, while people of colour are expected to be on their best behaviour at all times and still get profiled regardless. The basis of those realities doesn’t only lay within the institution and criminal justice systems of Canada but are also associated with the language we surround different races with. The distinction that white is good and black is bad is used pervasively in the English language, and so many different concepts of that nature have been derived from that. As long as Canada and America refer to Eastern countries as “culturally deprived,” “economically disadvantaged” and “underdeveloped”, there will always be that notion that they are superior, and we infinitely need their help to survive. In order for North America to progress into a land where all individuals are

equal no matter what skin colour or origins they come from; those frames of thought must be disassembled. The sad reality is that the facts stated by the defense council in the 1993 murder case still hold true 27 years later. In order to alleviate the racism from our community’s psyche, we first need to reframe the language surrounding it. “In fact, third world children are bicultural, and many are bilingual, having grown up and their own culture as well as absorbing the dominant culture. In many ways, they are equipped with skills and experiences which white youth have been deprived of, since most white youth develop in a monocultural, monolingual environment. Burgess suggests that the term “culturally deprived” be replaced with “culturally dispossessed,” and that term “economically disadvantaged” be replaced by economically exploited.” Both these terms present a perspective and implication that provide an entirely different frame of reference as to the reality of the third world experience in U.S. society” Cheney, LaFrance & Quinteros, 2006).

NEWS

PAGE 16

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

How safe and nutritious are stored canned goods? ous to get to a store or no power to cook food.

W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

How safe are canned foods? Compared to fresh produce, canned foods are far less likely to cause illness. The canning process used by commercial producers keeps food safe for long periods of time. Airtight containers and the application of heat to destroy microorganisms prevent spoilage. The canning process also deactivates enzymes that cause food to break down.

TC HEALTH REPORTER

Are you sufficiently prepared for another crisis? What might possibly be the next disaster? You might argue that we are not out of the mess of the current one. This should have us all thinking about keeping stock of essential supplies. Have you got the things you need? Hopefully not guns to protect your toilet paper! More importantly, what about canned foods? How nutritious are they compared to fresh produce? How long do they last stored under the bed? And when can they kill you? Even without a pandemic itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prudent to have a supply of canned goods. Remember the last snowstorm, flood, or natural disaster, when it was too danger-

How long can canned goods be stored under the bed? First, take a good look at the can. It should not be rusted, dented, or leaking. Moreover, if the can is swollen this means harmful bacteria are present. So, if there is any doubt, dispose of the can where it cannot harm anyone. Before placing cans under the bed, write down the date you purchased them. Authorities say that the safe limit for acidic foods such as tomatoes and other fruit is 18 months. For canned vegetables, beans, meat, and poultry, two to five years. The best stor-

age temperature is 50 to 75 degrees F. What about the nutritional value of canned food? A quick assumption might be theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not as nutritious as fresh or frozen foods. But not so fast in labelling them less nutritious! Foods, when they arrive at the company donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sit around waiting to be canned. Rather, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re canned within hours locking in their nutrients. However, the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture says the heating of canned foods does cause a loss of vitamins C and B. Contrast this to fresh food that, after harvesting, may travel many miles under less than ideal conditions before reaching you. During that interval it also loses some nutritious value. And, with canned tomatoes and carrots, heating the can increases the release of carotenoids from the cell wall increasing their nutritional value. So, take your choice! Look out for salt and sugar If you cannot find a No Salt or Low Salt option, drain the liquid from the can and rinse the food in water to lower the salt

content. Do the same for sugar and look for No Sugar Added or fruit that is packed in water. Can you safely store leftovers in an opened can? This is not a problem. But to preserve quality and flavour, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to place food in a storage container with a lid. What should you store? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal preference. But consider canned sardines and salmon high in protein and calcium. Sardines are low on the food chain, so less likely to contain contaminants such as larger fish like tuna. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget canned tomatoes and other vegetables. One bad decision With all this preparation for doomsday, you will get very hungry if you have forgotten a can opener. A gun might protect your toilet paper but wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t open a can.

Shocking cabinet reshuffle in Barbados Prime Minister Motley not afraid to make tough decisions observe and plan for the uncharted path ahead. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My first point of introspection, therefore, is my cabinet. Being Prime Minister believe you me, has its challenges and among them is the need to ever so often step aside and to watch, analyze and observe how best to operate in the circumstances that present themselves to us.â&#x20AC;? Before announcing the reshuffle, she announced the following persons would no longer have a ministry in her cabinet: â&#x20AC;˘ Senator Lucille Moe (Minister of Information Broadcasting and Public Affairs) â&#x20AC;˘ Edmund Hinkson (Minister of Home Affairs) â&#x20AC;˘ Trevor Prescod (Minister of the Environment and National Beautification) â&#x20AC;˘ George Payne (Minister of Housing Lands and Rural Development) â&#x20AC;˘ Neil Rowe (Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affair)

LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

BARBADOS TC REPORTER

BARBADOS -- Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Motley shocked the nation when she conducted a live address of national significance on July 22nd, 2020 outlining the first reshuffle to her administration after winning the 2018 elections 30-0. In the live address, which was televised on lone TV station Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), she noted the reshuffle of her cabinet. It has been criticized for being too large. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Government itself is readying and repositioning itself for the challenges that confront us, and for those that we anticipate will present themselves in the coming months and years. COVID will be with us for a little while, and we have to plan our defense not only with respect to the health aspects of it but also with respect to the consequences of the economy and the quality of life for all Barbadians,â&#x20AC;? Prime Minister Motley explained. While not stating if the changes made to her cabinet were due to her evaluating the performance of the Ministers in the past two years, she noted that as Prime Minister she has had time to watch, RY 10TH

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The following ministers were not changed from their current ministries: â&#x20AC;˘ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Investment) â&#x20AC;˘ Dale Marshall QC (Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs with responsibility for the Police) â&#x20AC;˘ Santia Bradshaw (Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Senator) â&#x20AC;˘ Dr.Jerome Walcott (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade) â&#x20AC;˘ Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery Bostic (Minister of Health and Wellness) â&#x20AC;˘ Cynthia Forde (Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs) â&#x20AC;˘ Ryan Straughn (Minister in the Ministry of Finance) â&#x20AC;˘ Marsha Caddle (Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment) â&#x20AC;˘ Sandra Husbands (Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) â&#x20AC;˘ Colin Jordan (Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations and the Third Sector) â&#x20AC;˘ Kirk Humphrey (Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy) â&#x20AC;˘ Indar Weir (Minister of Agriculture and Food Security) â&#x20AC;˘ Senator Rommel Springer (Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational

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Motley thanked them for their service, and told the reporters present that she will still be utilizing their services in Government. What is shocking about the stripping of portfolios is the removal of senior members of the Barbados Labour Party: Edmund Hinkson, Trevor Prescod, and George Payne who have been party faithful, and have provided safe seats for the Barbados Labour Party on consecutive occasions. Senator Lisa Cummins and Ian

Gooding-Edghill were sworn in by Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason in Illaro Court to serve as newly appointed Ministers.

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PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

A Giant Has Fallen! Owen Seymour Arthur dies at the age of 70 LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

BARBADOS TC REPORTER

BARBADOS -- On Monday, July 27th, 2020, Barbados went into mourning following the passing of Barbados’s fifth Prime Minister Professor Owen Seymour Arthur. Arthur completed his formative education at the All Saints Primary School after which he entered the Coleridge and Parry School and then Harrison College. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and History at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in 1974, and continued his tertiary education at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus where he completed his MSC in Economics. ‘Owen’ as he was affectionately called dedicated his life into active politics following being elected to the Senate of Barbados. This was after successfully winning a bi-election, which made him the representative of his birthplace, St. Peter,

a parish that he modernized and redeveloped over his 34 years as the Member of Parliament for the rural parish. On August 1st, 1993, he became the Leader of the Opposition until February 21st, 2013. One must note that in 2010, after four parliamentary colleagues gave him a vote of confidence, he returned as the leader of the opposition taking the reins from his successor Mia Amor Mottley. July 25th, 2014 Arthur shocked the entire country of Barbados when he stood in Parliament and declared he would be resigning from the Barbados Labour Party, a party that he toiled for almost four decades. He informed the nation that he would be continuing to serve as the Member of Parliament for St Peter as an independent. Arthur did not contest the 2018 general elections and gave full support to his successor Colin Jordan as the new Member of Parliament for St Peter, who is also the Minister of Labour and social partnership relations. Following this, he retired from active politics. January 2020, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley name Arthur as the Chairman of cash strapped LIAT, a shortlived position due to COVID 19. Arthur and his team advised LIAT be liquidized to pull the regional airline from its accumulating

debts. July 27th, 2020 the heartbreak of a nation could be seen in each half-mast Barbadian flag, and each tear shed by Barbadians as they mourned the loss of their son of the soil who never forgot from whence, he came. He transitioned to the spiritual realm on July 27th at 12:26 am after entering The Queen Elizabeth Hospital for heart complications. Tributes began to flow for the Former Prime Minister of Barbados from fellow regional Caribbean leaders, as well as the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley who described Arthur in an address to the nation as a man who wholeheartedly loved his country. “When it came to our country Owen defended Barbados with a ferocity that reinforced in many that he understood and accepted that those who went before had set a very high standard or the defense of our country and that he was bound to continue in the same vein.” Mottley in her speech said Owen Arthur was the first to believe in her when he made her Minister of Education in 1994, after he became the Prime Minister of Barbados, and despite many persons believing that she was too green for the task. “The Owen Arthur that I knew was never overwhelmed by the task at hand. Face it

or fix it was his mantra,” she said while adding that Arthur redefined the definition of a politician in the 1990s era. “Owen from the early 1990s molded a new class of politician in this country and changed in many ways how those representatives would serve the better chances and obligations of a politician as they serve their constituents.” Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley noted the country would have three days of mourning beginning on July 27th and ending July 30th, 2020. But noted all Barbadian flags will be flown at half-mast until Arthur is interred. She offered condolences to Arthur’s family and noted he will be awarded a state funeral, and the planning of the state funeral will be done by Arthur’s successor Colin Jordan. “My friends, our country Barbados is the poorer for his passing. His intellect was larger than life believe you me. His love of country was constant as a northern star. The last title he was bestowed on him was the most fitting, Professor of Practice (from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus) for Owen was first and foremost a teacher.” Arthur leaves to mourn his wife Julia and his daughters, Sabrina and Leah.

Come fly with me - Fashion model Naomie Trowers looks back at favourite shoot MKUU AMANI

mkuu@carib101.com

UK TC REPORTER

UK -- This Is Me by Naomie Trowers The soul is something deep down inside. Invisible but something I cannot hide. It controls who I am How I act I’ll describe this now for you. Mkuu Amani, in-fact. A complicated person you probably don’t know. Though I try to hide them by My emotions always show. That’s not a good thing I sometimes find But whatever happens, I try to be kind My life has a pattern I suppose in a way In confidence, I don’t lack, I have lots of fun, but I’m quite laid back, Gregarious and fancy-free, easy going that’s me, No hidden depth I’m not elusive To be quite conclusive, you get what you see. This is me. Mid-Summer, 2019. One minute you’re chilling in beautiful, sun-drenched Montego Bay with the fam-

ily. The next, a professional photographer wants you to fly out to a Greek island for a unique photo-shoot. Welcome to the incredible world of fashion model Naomie Trowers. The photographer was the renowned Anna Argiropoulou of Miss Santorini Flying Dresses and Anna A. Photography. After Naomie returned to the UK on August 2nd, she and Anna remained in contact. Two months later, and not for the first time, she made the two-thousandmile trip to Greece. “The journey was brilliant,” she told me, “I’m always back and forth from Santorini [Greece]. It’s my second home really. Since 2001 I’ve been back and forth then eventually, I lived there for four years. So, from 2007, every year or every other year I’m there.” She caught a plane from the UK’s Birmingham International Airport, landing around four hours later at Santorini’s national airport at Thira. From there, a journey south-east to Perissa, a coastal village known for its ‘endless lengths’ of glorious black sand beach. She would reside with friends in a villa there - in the days ahead of the shoot. So, what was it like arriving in Greece? “You can feel the heat. It’s like being in Jamaica when you step off the plane.” she explained. Her next journey would take her twelve miles north-west of Perissa, to the enthralling clifftop village of Imerovigli.

This time for the shoot itself. But that wouldn’t be for a few days. “The weather in October started to get a bit cloudy. Anna wanted some sunshine. So, we waited for the fifth or sixth day, when the sun was really bright.” Although she knew she’d be modelling a flying dress, Naomie was still not quite sure what to expect. “Anna did say they were flying dresses but she said ‘I’ve made a special one for you,’ and that turned out to be the royal purple one, which when they saw me in it I heard some say ‘woah Goddess.’ “ How did she feel when she saw the dress for the first time? “Anna actually sent me a photograph of what I’d be wearing. She’d made it a few days before arriving there, so I was the first girl to wear it. She’s an amazing lady.” “When I saw the dress on the mannequin,” she continued, “I thought ‘this is nice,’ but I didn’t know it was so long. I was quite flabbergasted when I saw the actual length.” It is little wonder that heads turned her way as the photo shoot progressed. The model and photographer produced some stunning shots together. Speaking about her associate, Anna said, “She [Naomie] is a beautiful woman and a beautiful soul. It was really a pleasure working with her.” “She is beautiful, smart and very easy going.” she added. Looking back at her career, Naomi had this to share, “It’s what’s inside that

counts. A good heart. A clean conscience. You can look so beautiful modelling fly dresses, but it’s always what’s inside you that matters. That’s what I’ve found. To express myself with all those colours, whether it was the royal purple or the pink fuschia, I felt like me, and it was amazing.” There is a twist in the tale. After just over two years in the industry, Naomie is hinting at retirement. Her January 30th TV appearance on ITV’s This Morning with Rochelle, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield may turn out to be her final public appearance. The Greek island paradise photograph shoot that she now sees as her best shoot to date may also be her swansong. However, she maintains a positive outlook about a future away from the cameras. She is after-all a former Science Technician, still holding an interest in the field. She speaks several languages and looks forward to being able to travel again with Africa, one of the destinations in mind. She won’t be short of things to do. “I write poetry, I like cooking, I used to bake and I also paint.” And what would Naomie say to someone considering a career as a fashion model? “Just be yourself. Remember that sometimes you can smile with your eyes. Be yourself, be natural, and then if you love fashion and wearing nice things it just comes natural.” You can view photographs of the photo-shoot on Instagram via Anna A Photography and Miss Santorini Flying Dresses.

PAGE 20

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

the the poetic poetic word word Dear Black Woman Pt 1 BY GLORIA O’KOYE You deserve more love than you receive From this world Especially from your own kind Grandmother of nations That became countless like the Planets & the moons, They need to humble themselves Give their appreciation, To the womb that gave them the gift of life Your back... Decorated with paintings of war, A lonely road of a resilient soul Even though your inner cries Seek out the protection From the ones that you Wouldn’t hesitate to jump in front for Your are a definition Of what vow-like love is Some may scold that it’ll be the downfall Because of how big your heart is We all know that kind of love is too rare And no one deserves it, But you still lovingly give The Enemies placed their hands To silence you, But little did they know You are the top fighter You wasn’t going to back down You have shown them Your needs and wants, In the tongue of mankind But they still didn’t understand So why would you expect The world be served to you on a golden platter? Even though We all know That you should be given a robe made of every star in the galaxies, Presented to you On diamond encrusted plate With nations far and wide Bowing down, Need to stop looking the other way Black Woman Your power Intimidates them We have fought too many civil wars When the serpents of this world declared There’ll be no mercy Trying to separate Because a full unison, Would lead to a clear Solid victory!

Le Club Boujee

A black-owned Toronto streetwear brand merging comfort and luxury SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

This streetwear brand doesn’t follow trends, but instead creates timeless pieces for anyone to enjoy and wear for any occasion. Le Club Boujee was founded in 2019 by Meshia and Dee from Toronto. They merged their creative designs, skills and extensive knowledge of the fashion industry to construct versatile pieces. Their mission is to produce luxury pieces while unifying sustainability and comfort. Not only are they business partners, but cousins. “I asked my cousin Dee to jump on board because we do take pride in the clothing that we wear. I wanted to start something that focused on quality clothing, sustainability and comfort, yet also still be affordable” said Meshia. Meshia takes care of most of the marketing and designs for Le Club Boujee, while Dee focuses on the public relation side of the business, like managing blog posts on the website. They launched their first collection in October of 2019, and although they had a small inventory they sold out. “At our core, we want to make sure that our brand isn’t causing a negative impact, we try to stay away from things that are trendy and fast fashion. We are looking more to be minimal, and create pieces where they’re classic, polished and refined. You’re able to interchange it. One day you may want to wear t-shirt and sweatpants, but then the other day you want to add a bodysuit with your Le Club Boujee sweatpants,” said Dee. Currently, Le Club Boujee sells unisex hoodies, crewnecks, t-shirts, and

sweatpants in grey, white, off-white, and black. The logo is very subtle in the front on the crewnecks and hoodies, and bold and enlarged at the back in a circle. Some pieces have the font in red, green, blue, white or black. The design is simple yet eye catching and unique. It is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to stand out too much, but still be noticeable. Their brand also attracts people who are concerned about the environment, as their t-shirts are made of eco-friendly materials. Meshia explains what luxury streetwear means to her. “This is something that I grew up on and I resonate with the style in the 90s since I was born in 1990. Luxury streetwear means simplicity but you’re still making a statement. You’re wearing quality pieces that will last a lifetime. It’s just a clean and polished look, yet you’re still making a statement,” said Meshia. The name of the brand, Le Club Boujee, was named by Meshia. “My family and friends like to call me bougie, but I like to call myself humbly bougie. That’s where Dee and I connect because her side of the family also says the same thing. But I like to take a little spin to it and say we are humbly bougie, we take pride in the quality of clothing that we wear but at the same time we’re not boastful,” said Meshia. The business partners and cousins say their relationship has been getting a lot closer since working on the business together. “So, we’ve always been very close because our families are very tightly knit, but now that we have started a company, we have gone through all the ups and the downs. Like when we did our first pop up shop, and the stress of making sure we had our inventory and ordering all of these accessories so we could set up our booth. You really get to know someone when you spend every single day with them,” Dee laughed. Dee says that they balance each other out well and both have different strengths where the other one may have

weaknesses. “I suffer from social and general anxiety and my cousin got to see that side of me now. Seeing how hard it is for me to open up and put ourselves out there, and because we are budding brand, that’s the main thing that we have to do so she supports me, and helps make the environment a little more comfortable so I can feel able to express my ideas,” said Dee. They send each other inspirational quotes or YouTube videos of words of affirmation to help each other start the day right as well. “I had to put my own fears away and be there for my cousin and say, you know what, I got us, we’re fine,” said Meshia. “Our relationship has gotten really close; I like to call her my best friend.” The founders of Le Club Boujee were planning to host events this summer before the pandemic interrupted their plans. “We were going to add some more items to our roster. Unfortunately, COVID put a wrench in that. We wanted to hold a humbly bougie event where we would incorporate yoga, meditation and mindfulness and sell some of our pieces,” said Dee. “When the pandemic occurred, everything just shut down.” “When the production company stopped producing, we were worried about our business, but I also feel like it was a blessing in disguise because we got the opportunity to build a smaller foundation and started to build a smaller team as well. Even though sales have been affected, we were able to build that smaller foundation within our company,” said Meshia. Many of Meshia and Dee’s family and friends have been supporting the clothing line. “I requested my loved one’s honest feedback and what I hear back every time is that the quality of our clothing is topnotch and it’s worth every penny. They become returning customers and they wear our clothes all the time,” said Meshia. To shop or learn more about Le Club Boujee, visit www.leclubboujee.com

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PAGE 22

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

MARIO GUILOMBO

The People’s Champion Nestled in a hidden corner of Jane and Finch, there are two portables, that at first glance may not seem of importance. It is on further investigation that I learned that it is the home to one of the largest Human Rights Organizations in the world, and it is run by a family, whose passion is focused on supporting disadvantaged immigrants who have been: harassed, wrongfully detained, tortured, or defamed. The Canadian Human Rights International Organization (C.H.R.I.O) is a non-profit organization whose aim is to defend the fundamental rights, human value, dignity, and equality of men and women around the world. The family that stands behind this organization are Mario Guilombo, his wife Liliana Angarita, and his daughter Lilian Julieth Guilombo. Their story as a family could be a whole other article, but today, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to highlight the work of a man, who is recognized as “The people’s champion,” the one and only Mario Guilombo. Born and raised in Columbia, Mario has a distinguished record of human rights advocacy in Canada. He is a lawyer and human rights activist who graduated from the Nueva Granada Military University with studies in human rights/international human rights, security and police sciences, forensic science, social work, psychology, international women’s health and human rights (Stanford University), and children’s human rights. Mario and his family had to flee Columbia in 2001, after facing persecution for his humanitarian work. At that point he had no choice. Some of the criminals he was suing had broken his daughter’s legs. She was only five years old at the time. It was a matter of life or death at that point. When he arrived in Canada, it didn’t take him long to begin the work that he was born to do. He started a project called Casa Latino Americana (now called Casa de las America), which he led until 2007. Since then, he has established and spearheaded several organizations that sup-

port and assists victims of violence, discrimination, racism, and other human rights violations. He witnessed a lack of support for programs promoting human rights, and this motivated him to create the Collective Human Rights Defender “Laura Acosta” International Organization of COHURIDELA (www.corhuridela.com), which supports disadvantaged immigrants. Since arriving in Canada as a refugee, Mario has worked to support over 22,000 families. In 2008, he submitted a fifteen-year plan to help improve Columbia’s National Plan of Action. In doing so, he has been able to develop campaigns to support families’ and has promoted programs for children, youth and seniors. His list of awards is a mile long, but to get a better snapshot of the type of man Mario Guilombo is, I thought it important to include some of them:

that he does outside of C.H.R.I.O, and COHURIDELA, you will truly have a glimpse at the heart of this man. His extra-curricular activities include:

•

• • • • • •

In 2009, he was one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Recipients for the defence of human rights and community support of immigrants 2010, Recipient of Recognitions by members of the Federal and Provincial Parliament and Municipal councillors for support in the defence of human rights 2011, Recipient of the Premier Ontario Recognition for Outstanding Community Service Again in 2011, he received the Prime Minister Recognition as New Pioneers of Canada 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, he received Volunteer Service Awards He was the Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2015, he was the Recipient of the Caring Canadian Governor’s General Award 2019, he was recognized as the best Human Rights Defence Lawyer

This is a very short list of what Mario has been recognized for, but when you look at the work

•

• •

Speaking in the Columbian Congress about the Columbian Human Rights Code, and the creation of a Ministry of Human Rights He is a human rights speaker, and speaks regularly on human rights and their protection Is the author behind the Columbian Human Rights Code project, as well as the Ministry of Human Rights project in Columbia Authored the Human Rights Advocacy as Human Rights book (Citizenship and Immigration in Canada) He is a human rights trainer, advocate and speaker on preventing elder abuse Is the author behind the Venezuelan Human Rights Code project, as well as the Ministry of Human Rights in Venezuela project

I asked him about how life had been for him during COVID-19. “It did not slow down here at all Simone. Human rights don’t take a day off. My family, and myself we continued to help people during the pandemic. Yes, people could not come to us directly like they usually do, but we were able to do most of our work over the phone, or via email. I actually have a few projects on the go right now; I have put together a Regularization proposal, which advocates on behalf of the estimated 500,000 families living in Canada without status. I am also addressing the plight of the Skilled Immigrants. We have identified several barriers that skilled immigrants face in Canada in regard to finding employment suited to their skills. There are also some larger projects

that I have taken on, more notably the alarm at Bill C-97. This Bill will make a person ineligible to claim as a refugee in Canada. This means that numerous refugee claimants, who may need Canada’s protection because they face persecution, torture or death in their country of origin will be denied access to Canada’s refugee determination system. The work does not stop!” He also shared his project, Project Promotion of Girls’ Rights to life and education; Fight against Pregnancies and Abortions in African High Schools, and the support that is being provided for thousands of families in Venezuela and Nicaragua. There is so much to say about this man, but I thought I would end it with two quotes that appear on the back of his card: “If I help one person to have hope, I will not have lived in vain.” “Life’s most Persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Written by Simone Smith Toronto Caribbean News

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PAGE 26

FOOD

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Jamaica’s Independence Eats

Middle Quarter Style Peppered Shrimp Chef Noel’s Peppered Shrimp Boil Serves: 4 Ingredients NOEL • 1 lb. of raw shrimp with shell and CUNNINGHAM head, deveined noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

When you think Jamaican food the first thing that comes to mind is jerk chicken or ackee and saltfish. As the Independence holiday approaches let us take a look at another Jamaican street food classics such as our beloved peppered shrimp or ‘Peppa swims’ as the locals call it. Peppered shrimp is a Jamaican delicacy that slowly makes it way to become a part of our culinary culture. It can be easily found in plastic bags at large events or along the street side. It is popular in the Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth in Jamaica, along beaches, primary and highschools and public bus stops. Like many other school kids, while I was attending primary school this was a favourite childhood snack. I think that’s how I developed my palate for pepper. This recipe calls for shrimp with head-on and shelled shrimp, don’t knock it until you try it. The shrimps with the shells give the dish its bright red colour once fully cooked and are also prepared with the heads on to preserve the rich flavour. If you haven’t tried shrimp with heads and shell this is your opportunity. You will be amazed at the rich flavour and how juicy these are. The shrimp head and the shell absorb the flavour of the spices which gives the natural flavour of the dish. You can always make this dish with peeled and headless shrimp if you like but I’m sure the flavours won’t be the same. This week I’m sharing with you a spin on the popular seafood boil using my peppered shrimp recipe with baby potatoes and corn to take it from a snack to a meal. Add some spice to your summer with this delicious spicy yet flavorful peppered shrimp recipe simmered slowly with tender baby potatoes and corn on the cob. This dish makes a great summer appetizer or main course. I’m also sharing my mango mojito to cool things down just in case things starts to get a bit hot. Bon Appetit!

• • • • • • • • • • •

1 scotch bonnet pepper, chopped 3 tbsp pepper sauce 2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp pimento powder/ crushes berries 1 sprig thyme leaves 1/4 cup warm water 1 cooked corn on the cob, sliced 6 cooked baby potatoes, cut in halves

Directions 1. Rinse the shrimp thoroughly with water and vinegar then season with the first eight ingredients and allow to marinate for up to an hour. 2. Meanwhile, boil potato and corn in lightly salted water until tender 3. Preheat a frying pan/dutch pot with 1-2 tbsp of oil over medium heat. 4. Using a slotted spoon to gently lower the shrimp into the pot and allow it to change 5. colour before you stir. 6. Once starting to change colour add the 1/4 cup of warm water, cooked potatoes and corn, then cover and leave to gently steam for five minutes. The shrimp should have a nice pinkish-reddish look and ready to eat. The sauce on the shrimp will thicken as it cools. Enjoy! Mango Mojito Serves: 1 Ingredients • 1/2 mango diced • 5 mint leaves, plus extra for garnish • 1 tsp brown sugar • 2 ounces white rum • juice from half a lime • club soda • ice cubes, to fill the glass Directions 1. Muddle together sugar, mint, lime juice, and mango in a cocktail shaker. Pour in rum and muddle to combine. 2. Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice, pour the mojito over the ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

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PAGE 28

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

5 ways to make e-shopping eco-friendly The impact of online shopping on the environment is largely dependent on consumer behaviour. Here are five ways to responsibly shop online and reduce your carbon footprint.

The experience of driving an EV Electric vehicles (EVs) are reliable, economical and eco-friendly. But what’s it like to drive one? Here’s what you should know.

1. CHOOSE CAREFULLY Take steps to ensure you won’t need to return a package as this creates more pollution. Refer to clothing size charts, customer reviews and product tests by experts before making a decision.

IN-TOWN DRIVING EVs are well suited to the stop-and-go nature of city driving. Thanks to the regenerative braking system in most models, the kinetic energy that’s lost every time you apply the brakes is recovered and used to power the motor. This allows you to drive longer on a single charge.

2. FAVOUR PROXIMITY To reduce transportation emissions, choose products that are made locally or sold by vendors in your area. Above all, avoid airfreight service as much as possible. 3. GROUP YOUR PURCHASES Wait until you need several items before placing an order or create one shopping list for your entire household. Make sure to request that your purchases be shipped together rather than as soon as each product becomes available. 4. ORDER IN ADVANCE An efficient delivery schedule minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, and express delivery service hinders a company’s ability to plan their shipping route. This results in more half-empty trucks on the road.

Since an EV’s motor doesn’t idle, you won’t waste any power if you get stuck in traffic. And when congested roads do clear, the instant torque of an electric car allows you to accelerate with ease. 5. PREPARE FOR PICKUP If you won’t be home when your package arrives, request to have it sent directly to a nearby post office or pickup location to avoid multiple delivery attempts. If possible, choose a spot along your commute. Although shopping online can be convenient, there are many benefits to doing it in person. You can see the product first-hand and draw on the staff’s expertise. Plus, you don’t have to wait for the item to be delivered.

How to make your pool more energy efficient Swimming pools require a ton of energy to heat and operate. Here’s how to make it less costly for you and the environment.

its operation. An in-ground pool will use up to 65 per cent less energy if an Energy Star certified pump is installed.

• Use a solar cover. It’ll capture the sun’s heat during the day and help maintain the water’s temperature at night. To maximize the benefits, keep your pool covered for at least 16 hours a day. A solar cover also allows you to conserve water (and the pool chemicals in it) by reducing evaporation.

• Opt for a heat pump. This type of pump draws considerably less electricity because it mostly relies on ambient summer air to heat the pool’s water. For increased energy savings, lower the programmed temperature by a few degrees.

• Install an efficient pump. Water needs to circulate through the pump faster for cleaning than it does for filtration. A variable or two-speed system automatically adjusts the flow rate based on

Even without investing in this equipment, you can reduce the amount of energy it takes to maintain your pool. Set up a timer on the pump so it’ll turn it off periodically. This allows the pump to use less power without compromising water quality.

Lastly, an increasing number of municipalities offer reserved or free parking for electric vehicles. HIGHWAY DRIVING Electric cars must meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles, so you can cruise down the highway without worry. Additionally, since the battery pack is usually installed in the floor, most models have a low centre of gravity which allows for better handling. Owning an EV can also speed up your commute since many areas allow you to use carpool lanes if you’re driving an electric car. You’ll also likely appreciate the quieter ride as they make considerably less noise than gas-powered cars. And if you need to use a toll road or take a ferry, many are cheaper or free for electric cars. Finally, since EVs have fewer parts than vehicles that run on fuel, they don’t require much in the way of maintenance and repairs. You’ll spend more time on the road and less at the garage.

HEALTH

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 29

Five reasons why chiropractic care is beneficial for children DR. VIKAS PURI drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

Chiropractic care has an important role in providing care to infants, children and adolescents for neuromusculoskeletal conditions that fall within the scope of chiropractic practice. It includes providing a conservative and natural approach to body mechanics, posture and function. Children of all ages should see a chiropractor because there are many benefits. Children can also suffer from neck and back pain, headaches and other spinal injuries just like adults – which have all responded well to chiropractic adjustments. Of course, the earlier a problem is treated, the less significant damage it may cause later on in life. Moreover, children continue to grow in their early years; therefore, it is even more crucial to make sure their bones, muscles and nerves stay in good health. Younger patients also have more flexible spines than adults, which means

smaller spinal problems can be treated easily. Children are often put in sports and can be more prone to injury. Furthermore, many teens also experience neck and back pain due to the time spent on computers and other forms of technology, leading to bad postural habits and discomfort. Chiropractic care can help alleviate this discomfort. For babies specifically, many do not know that they can experience spinal misalignments due to birth trauma, which of course can also be treated through gentle chiropractic adjustments and therapy. Chiropractic care is tailored to the individual and their condition, and children are no exception. Although children’s bodies are obviously smaller than adults, the basic principles of treatment are the same, however the technique is slightly changed to be more suitable for the smaller, and more delicate frames of children. This often includes gentle touch, spinal massage, soft tissue therapy, stretching and posture correction. Many chiropractors receive special training for working with children and younger patients. A common question asked is, “Is it safe?” The risks of a child suffering injury from a spinal adjustment are extremely minimal. Some signs which can indicate spinal problems include disturbed sleeping patterns (i.e. insomnia), breastfeeding difficulties in the very young, restricted head or neck

movement to one side, one shoulder higher than the other, and more.

also decrease stress and improve daily function.

There are several key benefits to kids being treated by a chiropractor, including:

Nervous system support The benefits of chiropractic care are endless and extend to the nervous system. Chiropractors make sure the spine is growing in the correct way and not only prevents but also treats certain nervous system issues.

Improved sleep Chiropractic care works to release stress in the body, which can improve quality of sleep. Ultimately, sleep is important for children because not only does it help them function throughout the day, but it is also essential for their development and emotional wellbeing. Immune system support Chiropractic care also has several benefits for immune system function in children. This can help a child who is suffering from an infection or a cold, as well as improve a child’s digestive system and other related issues. Chiropractic adjustments can help treat stomach problems such as constipation or reflux by way of a natural “side-effect” of the nervous system working more optimally. Better behavior If the body is experiencing any form of stress, adjustments can relieve those stresses, which in turn leads to better behavior. This can result in improvements in a child’s mood and attitude by releasing tension or stress. Nonetheless, if a child’s sleep is improved this will

Brain development Furthermore, chiropractic care can also have great benefits for your child’s neural brain development. Releasing pressure on not only the spine, but also joints and bones does this. In addition, increased brain development also promotes better concentration, improve focus and reduce hyperactivity. This is great for targeting conditions such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Ultimately, chiropractic works by: decreasing stress hormones in the body, improving the brain-body communication, and allowing our own innate intelligence to express itself without the nervous system obstruction caused by an improperly functioning spine. Have your child examined by a chiropractor today and see how his/her health can be improved.

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HEALTH

PAGE 31

How safe is it to send your child back to school? W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

Parents are wondering if it’s safe to send children back to school when so many are still becoming infected with coronavirus. What are the factors to consider? And what can parents do to help ensure children are protected? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports the academic, physical, and mental benefits of in-person learning outweigh coronavirus risks. Negative impacts on children during school closures include social isolation, substance abuse, depression and suicidal ideation. In fact, the detrimental effects of children missing out on school are well known, even before COVID-19. Millions of youngsters around the world suffer lifelong social and economic consequences when lacking access to quality education. But when it’s our children, the list of negatives grows longer by the hour and the heated

chorus of parents cannot be ignored in the halls of power. We need answers to questions about the nature of this virus, and we need them fast. Is it like the influenza virus? Exactly how readily does it spread among children and teens? On the one hand, reports from the U.S., Israel, and the Netherlands, suggest that children are less likely to become infected than adults, and less likely than adults to transmit the virus. In one French study, a boy with a confirmed infection of the coronavirus exposed over 80 other children at three schools to the disease. None of the students contracted it. Yet among the same students there was ample evidence of transmission of the common influenza virus. In another study in New South Wales, nine students and nine staff exposed 735 students and 128 staff to the coronavirus in15 schools. Only two infections resulted. But on the other hand, there are new concerns stemming from contradictory research suggesting that children can carry a comparable viral load of the infection as adults, and that they can transmit the virus on par with adults at similar stages of illness.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of bones and ligaments. If inflammation occurs in this area, it can lead to a potentially debilitating condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome. CAUSES The median nerve, which controls sensation and movement in most of your fingers, runs through the carpal tunnel into your hand. Inflammation in the wrist can compress this nerve and lead to pain, numbness and a weakened grip. Common causes of inflammation in the wrist include diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disorders. In addition, repeatedly straining your wrist can lead to inflammation. This includes any ongoing movement that overextends the wrist, prolonged exposure to vibrating tools and a lack of wrist support when using a keyboard or mouse. PREVENTION To prevent or minimize the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, avoid activities that overextend your wrist as much as possible. If you frequently use a computer, consider an ergonomic wrist rest. When engaging in an activity that requires repeti-

tive wrist motion, such as playing the piano, be sure to take frequent breaks. TREATMENT Effective options for treating carpal tunnel syndrome include taking anti-inflammatory drugs, icing your wrist and wearing wrist splints. A chiropractor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist can also suggest exercises and provide manual therapy to relieve pressure in the carpal tunnel. In severe cases, carpal tunnel release surgery may be necessary. If you experience symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, be sure to speak with a health-care professional as soon as possible.

What’s the take-home message? It’s reasonable to conclude, during lockdowns, children are not the driving bulk of new infections. It’s adults who are congregating in large numbers and too often impervious to sound advice from public health experts. All of us need to be disciplined in use of facemasks, social distancing, and disinfection. We’ll need to get meticulous when putting kids back in school. Temperatures must be checked daily before children get on buses or enter school buildings. Testing must be rigorous. And state-of-the-art contact tracing systems are key. School budgets will need a big boost to comply with safety regulations. For example, San Diego says it will cost US$90 million to disinfect buildings, purchase bus monitors, and hire extra nurses. In the province of Ontario, a new report estimates CA$3.2 billion to reopen schools safely. Readers will ask about facial masks. Any surgeon will tell you they spend thousands of hours working with a mask over the course of their careers. Masks are not a big problem and seem a sensible precaution. Not all share this view. Some critics argue that a mask holds onto hazardous

carbon dioxide resulting in oxygen deprivation and potentially triggering headaches, sleepiness, poor concentration, and an increased heart rate. For these people, we need to increase our social distancing and other infection control measures. There are challenges associated with very young children and masks. It’s a conundrum, as the very young derive high benefits from early childhood education. It’s unclear what governments and schools will mandate. But while we wait, what can parents do to help protect children? First, they need reassurance. Tell children that there is virtually zero chance of death if they catch the coronavirus. But since they can transmit the virus, emphasize the things they can do to protect those around them. Eat well, get rest, keep a distance, wash hands, and wear a mask. In our family, we’ve added security against any viral infection by teaching our kids to build up their immunity with vitamin C and D. For young children, 250 mg of C twice a day is a good start, increasing the dose to 1,000 mg twice a day for older teens. In addition, 2,000 international units (IU) daily vitamin D is a good recommendation. For more information on how to promote your immunity with natural approaches, visit your local health food store.

What to look for in a frozen meal It’s hard to deny that a frozen meal, ready in minutes, is a practical option at the end of a hectic day. The downside is they tend to be a poor source of nutrients. You’ll need to be careful with your selection if you want your ready-made meal to be an acceptable alternative to a home-cooked one. Here are a few things to look for on the Nutrition Facts label. • Protein. Light frozen dinners geared toward weight loss tend to be low in protein. You’ll need a meal that contains at least 15 grams of protein to satiate your hunger. • Fibre. To keep you feeling full and reduce your temptation to snack, look for frozen meals that have at least two grams of fibre. • Sodium. Most frozen dinners are high in salt, even if they don’t taste salty. The sodium content of your meal shouldn’t exceed 600 milligrams. • Fats. You should aim to not exceed 15 grams of fat per meal, and make sure no more than three grams of it is saturated. Avoid fried food, cream sauces and puff pastries.

Remember that you can always fill the nutritional gaps in your frozen meals with quick, fresh sides. If a dish doesn’t have enough protein, complete your meal with a small bowl of Greek yogurt or a hard-boiled egg. If a dish is lacking vegetables, throw together a salad or pour yourself a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice.

PAGE 32

COMMUNITY

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Is God, nature, “man”, machine, or the Devil responsible for the world’s chaos? Part 1

ERROL A. GIBBS errol@carib101.com

PHILOSOPHER

More than ever, in history, people are the question, “Who is responsible for the chaos in the world?” Surf the Internet, listen to the news media, talk to the clerics, or listen to international debates by the great scholarly minds from the great universities in the world - the “big” questions are the same. “Why is the world a “boiling pot of discontent,” evidenced by instability in every aspect of the lives of humankind? Despite monumental growth in scholarship academia, philosophy, theology, and technology, people throughout the world express ambivalence at the state of humanity. People feel a sense of misguidance and betrayal by world leaders in the public and private domains. Youths of every race, religion, and colour express “moral outrage” for leaders’ disregard for the sovereignty of human life - their “moral clichés,” their “moral alibis,” and their “moral inequities” in their countries. The evident spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, and physical imbalance in the world needs a higher level of understanding of the causes of the unrelent-

ing chaos. The COVID-19 pandemic is not responsible for the current state of the world. It has only helped reveal the “fissures” that undergird human life - exploited by all forms of leadership for the past 6000 years of recorded history. The world is this writer’s laboratory. It is his principal source of inquiry - evidence-based by what has happened and what is happening - observable, measurable, and impactually. There is a deficit in “leadership guidance,” despite the proliferation of institutions such as churches, chapels, cathedrals, monasteries, synagogues, temples, and mosques; likewise, schools, colleges, universities, and corporations. The messages are conflicted in the public square in a time when the world needs a universal message of hope. World leaders are unable to discern civic versus moral duty, economy versus humanity, wealth versus poverty, faith versus fear, and individualism versus collectivism. Is “collectivism” achievable in a world that distinguishes race, colour, culture, religion, and social and economic class status above all other human attributes? Leadership capacity seems to diminish daily, underpinned by selfish motive; hence, there is a growing apathy for some of these once noble institutions. The luxury of life in the West is a stark contrast to the hunger, poverty, and scarcity that persists in developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. More importantly, these institutions play an intricate role in the postmodern age of religious bifurcation, racial bias, gender

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bias, color prejudice, cultural insensitivity, refugee crisis, human trafficking, educational and employment inequity, and social and economic injustice. The reality is wealthy Western nations establish the patterns that other countries follow, leading with the expediency of money, wealth, and power - economy versus humanity in titanic strangulation by the haves versus the have-nots. These problems of humanity are not new. Like volcanoes in rhythmic patterns, these ruptures open up under the strain of some grave human tragedy likened to the COVID 19 pandemic, compounded by the death of George Floyd. On May 25, 2020, the 46-year-old black American male in Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed in police custody during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill; fissures in the black-white racial divide resulted in sympathetic responses - worldwide. People march, they cry out to God and their leaders for answers. Some lose control in deep frustration and violate their rights to peaceful protest, bringing condemnation upon themselves. FROM THIS BACKGROUND, LET US BEGIN THE INQUIRY: Were these two recent catastrophic events and other like incidents “Acts of God” - the fulfillment of prophecy? Did God ordain such acts to occur? Overshadowing Biblical prophecies are significant numbers of postmodern prophets who claim to have precise answers to these perplexing questions. They overwhelm the media land-

scape with prophetic messages about the state of the world and the coming apocalypses. FIRST: Respectfully, there is no “apocalyptic denial” by this writer nor the questioning of anyone’s personal belief. Nevertheless, the postmodern Prophets need to provide some clarification even to believers like this writer. There seems to be in a conflict in the spiritual versus the worldly narratives. Most, if not, all of the Prophets blame God for the state of the chaos in the world (they may not think so, but they do). They are unambiguous that God is responsible for all that is happening on the Earth, from time beginning to time end - meaning that everything in the world is predestined - determined in advance by God’s divine will. On the opposite end of the belief spectrum, perhaps an equal number of believers blame the Devil. Therefore, there cannot be any middle ground or room for reasoning, leading to multi-paradoxes. In the natural realm, people attribute responsibility to “man,” nature, and machine - meaning “man’s unintelligent use of artificial intelligence (AI). The “big” question, therefore, is “If God “predestined everything” in the world, would human life have a purpose? Do human beings have “free” will? Does God circumvent the “will” of human beings when it is convenient to Him? (Continued in Part 2 of 3.).

LIFE

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 33

Live a principle-centred life easily swayed by views, opinions and seemingly sound doctrines. Principles will always give a guaranteed outcome. The law of gravity or the gravitational pull is a universal principle which does not take into consideration your status or social standing; how rich or poor you are, your religious belief, be it, Christianity, Islamic, Scientology, Buddhism, or any for that matter, if you act in defiance to the law of gravity, you experience the consequence. It doesn’t care what your personal views or feelings are, the law stands; what goes up must come down. Write out the set of rules you want to live your life by, principles you want to define your life around. Principle of honesty, respect, growth, spirituality, kindness, and morality. Principle of hard work and integrity. Principle of boundaries and accountability. Principle of a healthy lifestyle, time and financial management. Principle of godly and edifying conversation. The truth is, once your life is defined by these principles, and you live by them, certain things about you becomes predictable. An example of a principle-centred life, according to Lovina Thakkar, your friends are calling you to hang out, but you have other priorities, and you say NO. Your mother is scolding you, you get irritated, you too want to shout at her, however, you hold it back and

DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

“Your life is a result of life’s principles that you either observed or violated.” How your life has turned out so far is as a result of a certain set of rules, principles, or beliefs you’ve lived by, either consciously or unconsciously. Sometimes, it only takes seeing a medical prescription to know what the patient is suffering from, suffice to say, the outcome of your life will always reflect the beliefs, ideals and principles that governed your life. Principles make an outcome predictable; if you don’t exercise, you become exposed to various kinds of illnesses. If you don’t get enough sleep, you put your heart at risk, you become susceptible to cancer, high blood pressure, forgetfulness, you gain weight, and your risk of having diabetes increases. If you don’t give time to study, train your mind, or invest in personal development, your approach to life will be from a position of ignorance, because you are ill-informed. You become

choose to listen instead. Your friends tried to force you to drink, smoke, watch porn, but you didn’t. Your ability to now always go with everyone’s flow is a true hallmark of maturity, and reflection of life governed values and principles. To earn the respect of others, let your life be governed by principles. A life of success is principled-centred. You are not being selfish by living a principled-centred life. It is your responsibility to control the trajectory of your life. In his book, PrincipleCentred Leadership, Stephen R. Covey wrote, “Effective people lead their lives and manage their relationships around principles; ineffective people attempt to manage their time around priorities and their tasks around goals. Think effectiveness with people; efficiency with things.” To live a progressive life, you must govern your life around a certain set of rules and a well-thoughtthrough ideal. Create a principle around conversation people are allowed to have with you and don’t give permission to others to cross those boundaries. You can’t get it wrong by choosing to live a principled-centred life.

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LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Waiting for the next shoe to drop! Reliving my past trauma Five dangerous social media challenges parents should be aware of! BY MAKAYLA B. 12 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR If you have technology, you’ll probably feel the need to always be on it and will have a hard time looking away from it because you feel you might miss something. What I have found is that paying attention to specific apps to complete challenges or try what’s “trending” could possibly kill you. Challenges like the “Tide Pod Challenge” where you have to eat a tide pod or even the “Rompcráneos Challenge”. Rompcráneos the Spanish name (translated as the Skull Breaker Game) is where three people stand side by side. The one in the middle has to jump, and the two on the sides have to try to kick out their feet before they land. The “Outlet Challenge” can risk the lives of everyone in the building this dangerous act is performed in. By sticking a phone charger partially into an outlet then putting a penny to touch the prongs of the charger could cause electricity to flow into you, possibly killing you or lighting the whole building on fire. The “Salt and Ice Challenge.” You’re probably thinking that this challenge is harmless, right? How could salt and ice have the ability of hurting, injuring, or even killing you? It’s all basic science. If you put salt, an ice-cube on top of another ice-cube, and push down on it, after a while the two cubes are stuck together. How does that relate to this “Salt and Ice Challenge?” Well, people are putting salt on their skin, and putting ice on that very same spot. They wait to see how long they can withstand the pain. Participants have been rewarded with second-degree burns and some have even received third-degree burns. After the challenge, some of the participants required skin grafts. The “Pass-out Challenge” also known as the “Choking Game” involves a person cutting off their oxygen on purpose trying to get euphoria but usually just losing consciousness. This challenge has caused people to die, due to the fact that the human body needs oxygen to survive, so by cutting that off you are intentionally stopping your body from getting one of the things it needs most. This challenge has caused people to be rushed to the hospital. The challenge I think is probably the most deadly is the “Fire Challenge” where participants pour flammable liquids all over their body, then intentionally light themselves on fire, becoming a flaming ball, and looking like a person made out of flames. I don’t know what they are thinking when they are doing it. I know. These sound really irresponsible, but there are some good challenges. I like the Ice Bucket Challenge, Tip Challenge, In My Feelings Challenge, and Git Up Challenge. They are not as dangerous, and the chances of getting hurt are not as bad. I want parents to know that things like this are going on. We may not tell you what we see, and you should be aware of that.

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SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“It’s not like I had any control before, but I sure liked to think so.” I must have fallen asleep sitting up because the next thing I heard was the heavy gate opening, and the light flicked on. I slowly opened my eyes, and waited for them to adjust to the light. I swear, God must have heard my prayers because in walked my angel. As he stepped in with our breakfast trays, he smiled at me and placed them on the ground. He said good morning to all of us, and said something else in Spanish to the girls. I vaguely made out the word coffee, and I knew that he was coming back with a special treat. When he turned around to leave, the girls began to giggle to themselves and looked over at me. Something about their laughter told me that they were not laughing at me, but they were sharing a semi-private joke that I could not understand because I was unable to make out their words. The older girl finally addressed me, “He like you. Is good!” “What!” I said with a sheepish grin

on my face. “He likes me?” “Si! Is good!” She reached past me and grabbed her plate. The gate opened again, and my angel came back with a small pot. I could smell the coffee as he came into the cell. “Gracias!” I said with the warmest smile I could muster. He smiled and replied, “Your welcome!” I was surprised. My angel could speak English. I quickly looked at his nametag so that I could learn the name of the man who my ancestors had sent to keep an eye on me. The tag said Rodriguez. I also happened to notice that he had the greenest eyes I had ever seen. They almost looked teal. I had to admit that even though I was in a pretty shitty situation, this man mesmerized me. Now that I look back at it, I realize that this man was sent to give me some hope. Even during the worst of times, God has a way of showing you that he is still there. Officer Rodriguez exited, and as usual, left the heavy gate open so that the girls and myself could watch the television. The room didn’t seem as small when the gate was open. The rest of the day I spent rebraiding my hair, and enjoying the Latin Soaps that were playing. I have never been a Soap watcher, but anything besides staring at the walls was better. I have no idea how much time had gone by, but the gate pulled back and Officer Rodriguez came in and greeted us warmly. He placed our food

down, and picked up the trays from the morning. I was really beginning to enjoy his visits, even though he was just doing his job. I finished off what was left of my hair and decided that it was time to take a little nap. The girls had busied themselves with a game of cards, and were laughing and chatting with each other. I figured I would take a shower, and begin to wind down. After my shower, I came out to one of the girls packing up her stuff. The gate and steel door was open, and there were more guards than usual. “What is going on?” I said to the older girl. “She go prison now!” - Prison! The word shot threw me like a bullet. All of a sudden it became difficult to breathe. Up until then, I had not thought of what would be next for me. The idea of being transported to a prison made my knees weak. It is not like I could do anything about it, but I had just begun to become accustomed to my current situation. One thing that had become part of my reality was that things could change in a moment, and I had no control over it. Not like I had any control before, but I sure liked to think so. The officers escorted the young lady out and closed the gate. I am guessing that Officer Rodriguez’s shift was over because the heavy gate remained closed for the evening. I remember staring at it thinking that the next time it opened, it could be me that they were escorting out.

The masks we wear to hide from others! GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Love & Light Gems! Sending you all an abundance of love. There seems to be a lot of talk about masks in the last few weeks. In most public places it is now required to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the virus. As talks around schools reopening in September, there is also a call for the children to wear masks for their safety as well. There are also many debates as to how safe and how effective masking is, as with most things this year, we will just have to wait and see. Today we are going to talk about different types of masks, emotional and spiritual masks. The mask that we cannot physically see, but many put on to feel safe or accepted. Some wear the mask to hide from others and worst, even themselves. Over the course of our lives we

have been subconsciously taught to wear masks. As early as our childhood we discovered this, just as many children are being exposed to the physical mask today. As children we mirrored what we saw. If our parents or guardians were extra happy when we were quiet, we began to mask our voices and feelings to receive their happiness as well. If our curiosity seemed to annoy our parents, we started to mask that curious side of us. Whatever the mask(s) we learned to wear as children, often follows us into our adulthood. It is because these masks are invisible at times that we ourselves don’t even remember we are wearing them. They mask years of experiences, situations, emotions and trauma. They mask hidden joys and memories of better days. The Full Moon in Aquarius is going to require you to remove your mask. Full Moons illuminate what is beneath the surface. Aquarius is the last air sign of the zodiac. It is intellectual, independant and has an unique outlook and perspective. Many say Aquarius is the sign of the future as it is very visionary of matters of the collective and humanity. This Full Moon will shine a bright light on your individual expression. Who are you without the mask? We are currently in Leo season, the fire sign of self expression. Both of these

energies are opposing each other during this full moon cycle. Are you truly expressing your true self? Have you been hiding behind your mask for acceptance or protection? Are your true desires in line with what you are seeking? Are your intentions aligned with what truly matters to you at your core? Each of us comes to this lifetime with our own unique energy stamp. By studying our natal charts, we understand that we are so much more than our sun sign. We get clarity on how all our individual energies work together to make up who we are and how we feel. Our unique energy mark is needed in raising the energy of the collective. When we all are living our own truths, falsehoods begin to fall away. At first it can be scary to remove the mask. What will you be exposing others to? More importantly what are you exposing yourself to? We might feel we will no longer be safe, but it is in facing our fears and overcoming them, we create and find a new place a safety where the mask is no longer required. Many of us have outgrown our masks, but we don’t know because we are afraid to face ourselves. The Full Moon in Aquarius is going to bring light to our darkness, we no longer need to be afraid of the dark. It is safe here to remove your mask, Take the mask off!

LIFE

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

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Continuing the legacy of the family’s name; the fearless and strong Amenhotep the 2nd DAVE RANKIN dave@carib101.com

AFRICAN HISTORY

Stepping into a great man’s shoes is no easy feat. But when your father happens to be one Kemet’s greatest nesew/pharaoh’s in history, you only do what you can to continue the legacy of the family’s name. Stepping into his role of nesew at the tender age of eighteen was Amenhotep the 2nd. Born of a non-royal mother Merytre-Hatshepsut, Amenhotep the 2nd was raised in Memphis. He was only considered for the role of nesew because Tuthmosis the 3rd’s Royal Wife Satiah and eldest son Amenenhat died somewhere between the 24-35 years of his reign leaving him with no heir. This prompted

a union between Tuthmosis the 3rd and Merytre-Hatshepsut, which of course bore Amenhotep the 2nd. As a young prince there was a great emphasis placed on his development in archery, hunting, aquatics, and horsemanship. There are records that show Amenhotep the 2nd was trained under an expert bowman named Miny. Amenhotep also had a great love for horses. The following text comes to us from the book When Egypt Ruled The East. “Now, indeed, when he was a still a youth he [Amenhotep] loved his horses and rejoiced in them. It made his heart strong to work with them, to learn their nature, to become skilled in taking care of them.” There’s even a part in the text where his father Tuthmosis the 3rd tells his son to, “Care for them but let them fear you. Trot them but break them if they resist you.” Amenhotep was also known for his uncanny physical strength. Aside from his Horus or Heru name, which meant ‘Powerful bull with great strength,’ He showed his prowess in sport especially in aquatics. The text continues, “He could

not be approached in fleetness. Strong was his arms, one who never wearied when he took the oar; but he rowed at the stern of his falcon-boat as the best of two hundred men.” There was a two-year co-regency before Amenhotep the 2nd took the throne approximately in the year 1450 BCE. When he did take the throne, he was first tasked with the funeral rites of burying his father in the Valley of the Kings (KV 34). Then he set his sites to Syria in a series of three campaigns. I’ve found that when there is a transition of power on the throne, there is usually an uprising in one of the occupied states of the empire. In year three of Amenhotep’s reign, the rebellion of Nahrim or the Mitanni, caused him to take to the battlefield. During this campaign, it was said that Amenhotep the 2nd ‘Singlehandedly killed seven princes at Kadesh’ and publicly displayed their bodies on the ‘Walls of Thebes and Napata.’ There were two other campaigns in years seven and nine of his reign against the Mitanni who were still vying for power

in Syria and Palestine. Eventually the two sides came to terms, with Amenhotep the 2nd agreeing to marry the daughter of the Mitannian king, Artatama 1st. Like other pharaohs or nesew before him, Amenhotep the 2nd erected a number of shrines and temples in about Thebes, Karnak, Armant, and other areas. At Giza, he built a temple dedicated to Horemakhet, the deity and true name of the Great Sphinx. Amenhotep the 2nd also assisted in erasing Hatshepsut’s name from her work continuing in his father’s footsteps. His mortuary temple was built in the Valley of the Kings (KV35) and when it was excavated, it was decorated with a complete version of the Book of what is in the Underworld. All in all, Amenhotep the 2nd’s reign was a peaceful one lasting approximately 35 years. He will be remembered as a man who loved sports, hunting animals and remaining steadfast in the traditions of his father.

A list of mental health resources available for our youth PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

EDUCATION

The aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant emotional, mental and psychological effect of students. Since the closure of schools from March break until now, over two million Ontario public school students have been confined to their homes. Now that most of the province is in Stage 3 of the reopening schedule, there will be opportunities for them to enjoy the outdoors. There is much help that youth can avail themselves of during this time of lockdown, isolation and confinement. On the Ministry of Education website (ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home) information is available not just for madein-Ontario activities and courses but also

for mental health support. School Mental Heath Ontario (smho-smso.ca/covid-19) has mental health advice for educators, students, parents and families. For students, there is an online hub of COVID-19 youth-focused mental health resources, which resulted from a partnership between Jack.org, and Kids Help Phone. It is intended to ensure that youths practice self-care and others. There is a Reaching-Out PDF students can access that has practical tips that can help students initiate conversations about mental health issues. Students can reach out to Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868 if they need to talk to someone, or The Hope for Wellness Help Line geared to Indigenous peoples across Canada at 1-855-242-3310. They have online chat counselling service available 24/7. There is Self-Care-101 PDF for students that provides useful informaton. In addition, Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CHMO) and Child and Youth Mental Health Centres provides: COVID-19 resources for kids, supports family’s mental wellness, talks to anxious children, and helps children

through grief. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) started a Black Student Support Group which it advertised on its website (tdsb.on.ca) as, “A space for TDSB students, grades 9-12 that identify as black to share in a community to support each other and stay well.” It is a virtual support group where TDSB students can drop in every Tuesday and Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. Students who are interested can register at the flowing link: https://bit.ly/blackstudentsupportgroup. Once students register, a Google meet link will be sent to them. The drop-in sessions run until July 30th. It is expected that the sessions will continue throughout the month of August. Peel Catholic District School Board (PCDSB) has launched a Summer Mental Health Support Line for students at www.pcdsb.org. Students can call or text 1-833-340-7067 or email mentalhealth@dpcdsb.org between Monday to Friday, and a mental health professional will return their call by the next business day until September 1st. “In recognition of the significant

impact of our current realities, the Ministry of Education has made it possible to provide short-term social work and psychology support to students and parents/ caregivers between July 13th to August 28th. These services are open to any students and their parents/caregivers registered with the PDSB.” (pdsb.on.ca) Any student who needs shortterm counselling, well-being check in, and knowledge on how to access community resources can get help. They can obtain the help of a social worker or a psychology staff member by contacting 905890-1010 ext. 2608 or summersupport@ peelsb.com. They will be able to help students between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. In addition, black mental health experts will be able assisting and talking with black students. The Peel Children’s Centre Crisis Response Team is available at 416-410-8615 for any student in a crisis. Students who require non-crisis children’s mental health services can contact WhereToStart.ca or call (905) 451-4655 to request an intake appointment.

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LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Provisions of the Safe Streets and Communities Act struck down by Court of Appeal A look at R. v. Sharma NANA ADJEI-POKU nana@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

On March 13th, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper passed the Safe Streets and Communities Act (SSCA). The Act was intended to be tough on crime by amending the Criminal Code of Canada to remove the availability of a conditional sentence where the crime committed had a maximum penalty of life in prison. On July 24th, 2000, Court of Appeal struck down sections 742.1(c) “the offence is not an offence, prosecuted by way of indictment, for which the maximum term of imprisonment is 14 years or life” and 742.1 (e) (ii) “the offence is not an offence, prosecuted by way of indictment, for which the maximum term of imprisonment is 10 years, that involved the import, export, trafficking or production of drugs.” These two sections removed the availability of conditional sentences as an alternative to custodial sentences for certain offences and were challenged under section 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 7 of the Charter states, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” Section 15(1) of the Charter states, “15(1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on: race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.” In R. v. Sharma, the Court of Appeal struck down these two sections. At the original trial in 2015, Cheyenne Sharma (“C.S.”), a 25-yr-old indigenous woman, plead guilty to importing 2 kgs of cocaine with an estimated street value of $130,000. Ms. Sharma had no prior criminal record. At the trial, the Judge noted that C.S. would have been a candidate for a conditional sentence, due to the fact

that she was a young single mother with no previous criminal record but was not able to hand down such a sentence due to the 2012 legislation. Counsel for C.S. stated that the two sections denied her the opportunity to seek a conditional sentence and were contrary to her Charter rights. She was not being able to seek a conditional sentence due to the fact that the offence she plead guilty to had a maximum incarceration sentence of ten years as they involved the trafficking of drugs. C.S.’ counsel also stated that a conditional sentence is a “necessary element of the remedial framework that was enacted to achieve equality through sentencing” and that the SSCA violated s. 15 of the Charter in this regard. Well, on July 24th, 2020, the Court of Appeal agreed with C.S. and held that the provisions under the Act discriminated against indigenous people who are convicted of crimes and struck them down effective immediately. The Court stated that, “restricting conditional sentences violated Section 15 by perpetuating the disproportionate incarceration of indigenous people in Canada which was contrary to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Gladue wherein the courts were directed to prioritize alternatives to jail sentences when it comes to indigenous offenders.” Conditional sentences are key for sentencing judges to apply the Gladue factors when dealing with indigenous accused. The Court also found that section 7 of the Charter was violated, because the two sections of the criminal code were overbroad in addressing Parliament’s stated purpose of ensuring jail time for serious crimes and the Charter clearly states that one must not be deprived except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. These two sections went over and beyond that. This argument pertaining to s.7 will also apply to non-indigenous individuals who are convicted of an offence in the SSCA. This is seen as a victory as the two provisions were struck down immediately, and now provides the availability to individuals who would not have had access to a conditional sentence where they would have qualified to seek one.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Getting with the times: Part two - some resources CHRISTINA GWIRA christina@carib101.com

TECH SPECIALIST

Forgive me Simone and readers, no Dell laptop review today. Today, we are going to go back and talk about “getting with the times”. I had written the first part of this article at the top of this year, pre-COVID, and a phone call today prompted me to put my laptop review on the back burner and focus on providing some resources to my community. What prompted this change of direction? Well as I had mentioned earlier, a phone call. I had just finished launching a client’s website and she posted her experience working with me in a popular Facebook group: Black Toronto Community Support. Once she had made said post, I received several Messenger requests and an email from an organization that was contemplating a website re-design. I was just about to make my lunch - I did, it was glorious, I love sweet potatoes now - and decided to squeeze the gentleman in before heading onto my next call. We spoke about his website’s needs and the needs of his organization as a whole. The one thing that he kept mentioning was the reluctance of the people that his organization serves in grasping technology. He himself wasn’t aware of the various tools that were available to him and his team either. Thus, today’s article topic was birthed. I’m not sure if this article will span several editions over the next couple of months - I feel like it will - but I think that it is very important that as a community, we make strides to, “get with the times” and start integrating technology into our daily lives. We can’t run away from it anymore. Due to COVID-19, my 62-year-old father now knows how to Zoom. If he can do it, I know that you and your teams can as well. For this series, I’m going to focus on resources in five categories: • Web design: As a web designer myself, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this section • Video conferencing: There’s more to life than just Zoom • Graphic design: Please stop using Canva • Courses and learning: The school of YouTube can take you far, but have you considered a free course in computer science with Yale? • Customer relationship management: also known as a CRM, this will definitely help you get your organization “all the way together”. Today, we’re going to focus on the first two sections: web design and video conferencing. Alright class let’s begin! Web design resources: These resources will help you to build a website. A website is your space on the world wide web. You can use it to share your thoughts, collect donations and so much more. Here are some places where you can start building your website: 1. Wordpress: I’ve written a few articles about the benefits of Wordpress. If you’re just getting started with your website, consider getting a free account on Wordpress.com to get your feet wet, before moving to purchasing hosting and a domain name 2. Squarespace: If your business or organization has many pretty photos, you’ll do well to create your website on Square-

space. In my professional opinion, their website builder is one of the easier ones to use and it’s hard to mess up your site with it. Also, you can have a store which will allow you to sell items such as tshirts, mugs, planners and more 3. Shopify: If you’re looking to bring your goods online, you need to use Shopify. They have a great arsenal of tools, tutorials and live support that can help you bring your products online Video conferencing: This is an area that many are more than aware with as many had to take video conferencing seriously during COVID-19. Some of the features that video conferencing solutions have is as follows: 1. Ability to screenshare: allow members of your meeting to see your computer or device screen 2. Ability to use video and audio: this is where your fancy headset comes in. 3. Ability to take over someone’s screen: this is a cool feature that allows a member of your meeting to be able to use your mouse and keyboard to show or present. I use this feature a lot when doing training for my clients. Here’s a short list of some of the contenders, as well as some use cases that each could handle very well: 1. Zoom: Some professionals have their qualms with Zoom, I am not one of those professionals. I like using Zoom and plan on upgrading to their premium version for my business. If you are looking to create conferences online, I’d highly recommend checking out Zoom. 2. Google Meet: I prefer using Google Meet for one-on-one meetings. If you have a Gmail account, you already have this solution, no need to purchase or download any software! Consider moving in-person phone calls or meetings to Google Meet instead. 3. Hopin: This is a new platform that I’m fairly new to but really enjoy. It has rooms where people can breakout from the main presentation, screen sharing but also a backup user portal where people can see notes, tasks and the like for their event. I used Hopin when I was a speaker at an online incubator during this COVID season. 4. GoToMeeting: More corporate organizations use GotoMeeting. I use it for my monthly Wordpress meetups. I find that it isn’t as intuitive as the other contenders in the list, but it has been around for much longer than most and has a solid track record. 5. Streamyard: This is one that I haven’t used as extensively as I would have thought. However, I’ve heard that it’s exceptional when you are doing more convention/conference style video setups. Whereas Zoom, Hopin and GoToMeeting put a focus on collaboration during the session, Streamyard has a presenter and then people can connect to the presentations that are being held. Again, a good way to bring conferences and conventions online. 6. Skype: I hate it, but it is something that is very, very popular with countries outside of the West. If you have clients or family that aren’t familiar with any of the above services, they are surely familiar with Skype As you can see, there are quite a few bits and bobs in relation to how we as a community can start to bring our events online, as well as how we can create our presence online as well. Over the course of the next couple of months, I’ll provide resources and clarity on some of the other sections discussed earlier. Have fun, get involved and open your mind to the possibilities that technology can bring to your business or mission.

TECHNOLOGY

PAGE 37

HOW TO

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

5 essential precautions if you have a wood-burning fireplace

3 advantages of floating floors

PAGE 38

A wood-burning fireplace can add warmth and charm to your home. However, if certain precautions aren’t taken, these devices pose a serious hazard. To ensure your home and family members remain safe, here are five practices you should adopt. 1. USE THE RIGHT WOOD Wood smoke contains a number of pollutants. To minimize emissions, opt for hardwood like elm, maple and oak, and avoid softwood such as spruce and fir. Additionally, make sure the logs are clean and dry. 2. INSTALL QUALITY ALARMS Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are

essential. Purchase quality devices from a recognized brand, test them regularly and always have extra batteries on hand. 3. KEEP AN EXTINGUISHER NEARBY A single misdirected spark or fallen ember can lead to a devastating fire. Make sure you always have easy access to a fire extinguisher and that you know how to use it. 4. STORE ASHES SAFELY Keep your fireplace clean by putting hot ashes in a sealed metal container outdoors and away from buildings and flammable materials. Wait a few days before transferring the ashes to the garbage. 5. CLEAN THE CHIMNEY Get a professional to clean and inspect your chimney every year. This will ensure proper ventilation and reduce the risk for chimney fires.

If you need to replace your flooring, keep in mind that the quality of floating floors continues to improve while its other enticing characteristics remain. Here’s what floating floors have to offer. 1. SUPERIOR RESISTANCE The most common type of floating floor material is laminate, which is resistant to impact, scratches and UV ray damage. Laminate does fine in a damp environment, so you can safely install it in a basement or bathroom. 2. AFFORDABLE PRICE A floating floor is an affordable solution that offers a balance between quality and price. Even if you opt for a higher quality floating floor material, the cost is

only about $5 per square foot. Installation tends to be cheaper as well. 3. EASY INSTALLATION This type of flooring is referred to as “floating” because it doesn’t need to be glued or nailed to the subfloor. Instead, each plank has grooves that make them interlock. With a few simple tools, you can install them yourself, although you’ll likely get better results if you hire a professional. Keep in mind that floating floors can mimic the appearance of wood, ceramic or stone. This means there’s a flooring choice that’s right for every room, and you won’t have to compromise on style.

If you carefully follow these tips, you and your family will be able to safely enjoy the benefits of having a wood-burning fireplace in your home.

4 perks of an open-concept floor plan

Does your home feel closed off and cramped? If you want to transform your living space, here are the benefits you can look forward to with an open-concept floor plan.

1. IT LETS IN MORE NATURAL LIGHT Removing interior walls is an effective way to brighten up your living space and allow natural light to extend further into your home. 2. IT MAXIMIZES SIGHT LINES Whether you enjoy hosting dinner parties or need to keep an eye on young children, an open-concept floor plan will offer you a clear view of the living and dining room while you work in the kitchen.

3. IT MAKES SMALL SPACES FEEL LARGER While you might not be able to add square footage to your home, taking down walls to combine several smaller rooms provides you with more usable space. 4. IT OFFERS FLEXIBLE DESIGN OPTIONS Without walls to delineate each room, you can easily rearrange the layout of your living space to suit the evolving needs and preferences of your family. If you want to have an open-concept home, keep in mind that restructuring a house’s floor plan is a major undertaking. To achieve the design of your dreams, be sure to enlist the help of experienced professionals including engineers, architects, contractors and interior decorators.

7 things that can liven up a corner Is there a corner in your home that could use a makeover? If so, here are seven items you can use to spruce it up. 1. BOOKSHELF Whether it’s designed for a corner or simply placed at an angle, a unit filled with books is a practical way to style an unused space. 2. FRAMES Hang an assortment of family photos, prints and artwork on both of the adjoining walls in an empty corner. Use similar frames for a cohesive look. 3. ARMCHAIR Transform an unoccupied corner into a comfortable reading nook with a soft, upholstered armchair. If you need a more compact alternative, consider a pouf, padded chair or stool. 4. LIGHTING Brighten up a dim corner with a few pendant lights hung at different heights. A classic floor lamp is another good option.

THE RIGHT SUPPORT Before you start knocking down walls, consult an engineer to determine if any of them are load-bearing. You may need to install support beams to help hold up the weight of your home.

5. BASKETS Suspend baskets from the ceiling or arrange them on wall-mounted shelves. You can do the same with wooden crates, or if the corner is

in a kitchen, you can hang pots and pans. 6. PLANTS Breathe new life into a forgotten corner with an arrangement of potted plants. You can display them on a stand, arrange them on the floor or suspend them with macrame hangers. 7. SHELVING Install a few corner-shaped floating shelves and decorate them with trinkets or practical items. You could display glassware in a dining room, cosmetics in a bathroom or candles in a living room. Feel free to mix and match these items to create a space that suits your needs and tastes.

FUN

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

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WEEK OF AUGUST 2 TO AUGUST 8, 2020

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: ARIES, TAURUS AND GEMINI

If you have young children, prep-arations will begin this week for the new school year. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself helping a loved one get organized.

TAURUS

You’ll want to reinvigorate your social life, but work and other obligations hold you back. Tack-ling your responsibilities before having fun will lift a weight off your shoulders.

PUZZLE NO. 715 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 715

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

Regardless of whether or not you’re on vacation this week, you’ll start planning your next getaway. You’ll also take the time to explore nearby places and get some fresh air.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

CANCER

You’ll feel overly emotional and vulnerable for a while, but you’ll soon have the opportunity to celebrate your renewed happiness. Remember, smile and the world smiles with you.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column, or 3x3 box.

LEO

You’ll be annoyed that a situation is consuming a lot of your free time. You’ll need to take steps to avoid miscommunications and ensure that others understand you better in the future.

PUZZLE NO. 5 others . . .” 42. Noggin 43. “____ Framed Roger Rabbit” 45. Dreary 50. Shaping tools 54. “____ of Two Cities” 55. Feel awful 56. Hubbub 57. Divided Asian country 58. Not nope 59. Sty 60. Clean with a broom

ACROSS 1. Spicy pepper 6. Lenten Wednesday 9. Possesses 12. Slugger Hank ____ 13. Batman and Robin, e.g. 14. Before, in

poems 15. Fat 16. Lack of sound 18. Gentle 20. Mr. Koppel 21. Loose garment 23. Hooked on 27. Ballet step 30. Likewise not 31. Hitched

32. North American deer 33. Sneer 36. Rascal 37. Plunder 39. Halloween greeting 40. Overhead railways 41. “Do ____

24. City in France 25. Kind of duck 26. Racetrack numbers 27. Land of the Incas 28. Thicke of “Growing Pains” 29. Short play 34. “The ____ Not Taken” 35. Alaskan bears 38. Elevator direc-

tion 42. Swarm 44. Stack 46. Pack away 47. Adult filly 48. Nautical term 49. Bound 50. Settle accounts 51. Tell a tall tale 52. High peak 53. Michael Douglas, to Kirk

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 5

DOWN 1. Toss 2. Despise 3. Smooth 4. Noisy 5. Young doctors 6. Notices 7. Apartment 8. Cavity 9. Barnyard layer 10. Curve 11. Notice 17. Change text 19. Space 22. Corrupt with money

VIRGO

Work will keep you busy this week. You’ll be reminded that it’s important to plan quality time with your partner and loved ones. Seek balance in all aspects of your life.

LIBRA

You’ll be surprised to discover changes at work when you re-turn from your vacation. You might even be offered a leader-ship role or a promotion follow-ing the departure of a colleague.

SCORPIO

You’ll throw yourself into sev-eral projects around the house. You might even decide to up-date your entire home. You’ll find you have a knack for using your hands, and you’ll be proud of the results.

SAGITTARIUS

Shopping will be the highlight of your week. You’ll be on the lookout for sales and make some great purchases. You might also stumble upon a valuable anti-que in your parents’ attic or basement.

CAPRICORN

After a hectic and stressful few weeks, you deserve to dedicate some time to self care. Treat yourself to a spa day and remem-ber to enjoy the present moment.

AQUARIUS

You’ll have the opportunity to let loose this week. If you’re head-ing back to work, you’ll need to be organized and create a sched-ule to get back on track.

PISCES

You’ll be surrounded by people and have the chance to be more outgoing. You’ll likely cap off your vacation by hosting a huge party for your family and friends.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

ICHF BabyHeart Trip to Guyana TCCF works with three international partners to treat poor and critically ill Caribbean children at four treatment centres. At Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, it works with the Herbie Fund to treat children su ering from most major ailments. In Austin Texas, it works with SpineHope to treat children su ering from spinal problems such as scoliosis. In Guyana and the Dominican Republic, it works with ICHF/BabyHeart Foundation to treat children su ering from congenital heart disease. The modus operandi at the two Caribbean centres is that TCCF assists with sending medical mission teams consisting of cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists and paediatric intensive care unit nurses to deliver treatment and also train local sta in post-operative care.

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PAGE 42

REAL ESTATE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Dishonest landlords can be fined $50,000 with Bill 184 JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing brought out Bill 184, Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, on March 12th 2020. The bill gained Royal Assent on July 21st and became law. Under the new law, landlords who give a tenant notice to end the tenancy on behalf of a purchaser must reimburse the tenant one month’s rent or offer the tenant another rental unit acceptable to the tenant. This only applies for rental properties with four or less units. Landlords who act in bad faith and evict a tenant under false pretense can be fined up to $50,000 and ordered to pay a specific sum, not exceeding the equivalent of 12 months of the last rent charged, to the former tenant. Let’s take a look at a typical scenario.

Tenant Trudy has rented a condo from landlord Larry for the past ten years. She currently pays $1,400 per month. Larry knows that with the current rental increase his condo can fetch $2,500 per month. He can only increase Trudy’s rent by $50.00 - the rental allowance allotted for that year. Larry filed an application to evict Trudy under the grounds that his son, Larry Junior, wants to live in the condo. Under the new bill, he must reimburse $1,400 to Trudy as an incentive to move. The application to end the tenancy was filed by Larry for a hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board. With the new bill, Larry must file an affidavit along with the application which needs to state that he requires the rental unit for his son. Along with the application and affidavit, Larry should state whether he had given any other notice to Trudy or to any other tenants in a different rental unit. If a notice was given, the Landlord and Tenant Board would need the date it was given, the address of the rental unit and the identity of the individual it was given to. The board can refuse to accept an application if these requirements are not met. With this information and any evidence provided by Trudy, the board will make a determination as to

whether or not Larry is acting in bad faith. Trudy needs to submit in advance, within the allowed time frame, any objections she may have in writing. If this is not done as prescribed by the board, Trudy’s objection becomes invalid. The intent is to streamline the process and allow quicker resolution between landlords and tenants. Let’s assume that at the hearing, the board agrees to terminate the lease. Trudy will have a set date when she must vacate the rental unit. Larry, in bad faith, rented the unit for $2,500 to a new tenant Melody. Trudy found out about this through her former neighbour and informed the board. Trudy needs to inform the board within a one-year window. The board can order Larry to compensate Trudy the equivalent of one-year rental payments and also to pay a fine, not to exceed $50,000. For a corporation, the fine cannot exceed $250,000. Let’s assume that Larry approached Trudy and negotiated a new rent for $2,500. Under the old rules, the board can deem this invalid if Trudy was not informed 90 days before the new rent kicks in and if it does not confirm to the rental guidelines. With the new rules, the increase cannot be voided if Trudy paid the new rent for 12 consecu-

tive months. Had Trudy filed an application objecting to the rental increase during the 12-month period, then, the increase can be voided. Many tenants are unable to pay their rent because of the pandemic. Landlords who applied to terminate the lease must first endeavour to work out an arrangement with their tenants to pay the arrears. The board may not grant eviction if this was not done. With Bill 184, landlords can file an application for compensation within one year after the formal tenant vacates for any rental arrears, unpaid utility bills and damage done to the rental unit. The landlord must give the tenant or former tenant a copy of the application and a copy of any notice of hearing issued by the board and must, in specified circumstances, file with the board a certificate of service on the tenant or former tenant. The revamped bill is designed to offer a quicker resolution to conflicts and give the board more flexibility. The GTA is evolving into a mega city and with it we need a system that can expedite conflicts and encourage quicker settlement between landlords and tenants.

PAGE 44

FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Five factors homebuyers need to examine during this time CLEVE DeSOUZA cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

If you think the 2020 pandemic is going to tame the Toronto housing market, think again. If you look at the history of real estate prices, they go one way – up. The pandemic won’t change that. Check out the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) website at crea.ca to see statistics on real estate trends. You’ll see May 2020 home sales increased about 56% over May 2019. Before the pandemic began, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board forecasted prices would jump by about 10% in 2020. The city was already among the 10 most expensive major housing markets in the world. But don’t spend much time on the website, and don’t worry about the statistics. What was happening last year doesn’t matter. You are buying a home now, not a year ago. If you work in the Toronto area, then you must live in or near this area. Besides, even though some may believe the current economic troubles will lead to plummeting home prices and create an opportunity to pick up houses at bar-

gain prices, it’s not likely to happen any time soon. The Canadian government is pumping about a billion dollars into the economy during the pandemic in order to avoid a catastrophe. And the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMCH) is changing its qualifying rules to tame the market and mitigate exposure to the mortgage insurance. The CMCH announced in June that it would reduce borrowing limits, demand higher credit scores, and restrict down payments to own-source for anyone who needs default insurance from the agency. All these changes are attempts to limit the agency’s exposure to the vibrant real estate market. Yet they spin it as if it protects us from default. This insurance does nothing to protect you. It protects lenders, even though borrowers pay for it. For homebuyers and real estate investors, these factors add up to one, simple fact: There’s no reason to delay buying a home. Even if home prices go into free-fall – which industry experts say is unlikely – then the government and lenders will take steps to steady the economy. Oil is down, the stock market is fragile, and real estate is holding up the market in many ways right now. I believe the government and other institutions will do whatever it takes to circumvent a crash. Real estate buying and selling happens in every kind of economy, from boom to bust. Instead of watching the economy,

buyers need to spend some time thinking about five different factors. 1. Calculate the price of the home that you can afford. Consider your income and debt as well as how much of a down payment you can make. (Remember, if you can increase your income or save more for a down payment, your options expand.) 2. Check if the location has good fundamentals that are likely to lead the property to appreciate in value. Remember, if your home’s value doesn’t rise, you are going to only pay interest and lose money in the end. 3. Can you live there? Consider how long you’ll spend each day commuting to work; the quality of schools in the area; and what neighbourhood features your family wants. 4. If you can’t live in the area – it’s too far from work, for example – can you buy a home and rent it out? As long as the rent is more than your mortgage and the home gains in value, this puts your money to work for you. Real estate is a proven way to build wealth. 5. Finally, enlist the aid of a trusted mortgage broker who can offer you a variety of options rather than you going from bank to bank. Not all brokers are made equal and care should be taken to work with someone who will see the bigger picture.

Alternating day classes or micro-schools: Parents will have tough choices and more costs ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

As the summer starts to wind down our attention has amplified on the upcoming fall school year and the possible issues around online learning and alternating classes. As working parents, we are faced with the agonizing truth that in-person school might not be safe. And if online is our only option, it will be ineffective, isolating, and unable to provide the care many parents will need. We have researched and discussed an alternate form of education called micro-school, where small groups of children learn together in private homes usually fewer than ten children. The idea and benefit are parents will share supervision of students during periods of online learning or they pool the money necessary to hire a full-time teacher to come to them and work directly with the children. Interest in this model has been growing in the U.S. for years and the pandemic has dramatically boosted the profile because it could provide families with a schooling option that feels safe. It also allows

kids to have fun, build social skills, and offer parents a break from what happened earlier this year when schools were shut down. Depending on how the pods are set up some of the drawbacks are it can be pricey, complicated to organize, and self-selecting. Also depending on the experience level of the teacher, this approach can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars a month per family, raising concerns about even more academic inequities for low-income families during the coming school year. My thoughts are that neither online learning nor micro-schooling will be healthy for parents’ mindset, energy, and patience and therefore will negatively affect family households. I look back at how we had to reorganize our house to accommodate two workspaces, an area for the children to learn and play, facilitate lunches, snacks, bathroom breaks and then transition into all the regular evening tasks. As I was writing this article it was announced that July 30th Ontario’s premier will unveil plans on how schools will reopen in September. Some questions may be answered but I am certain there will be many unanswered questions as well. You might be asking how this ties into or affects insurance? I know a lot of parents who purchased different forms of children’s insurance to offset the risks and costs of accidents, serious injuries, medical treatment from a doctor or dentist, prescription drugs, or crutches. You may be thinking, “I

don’t need this type of insurance. My government health care provides benefits.” or “My work plan has me covered”. In both situations, you might be only half-right! That is because when it comes to government and employer’s plans, there are expenses that you are covered for and many expenses that you are not covered for! Expenses that are not covered can include casts, crutches, tensor bandages, and other medical supplies, physiotherapy, dental care, and ambulance fees. What is more, even when you are covered for a specific expense, it is not always for the full amount you were expecting! That is where these policies help fill in the gaps. Understandably I would be questioning as a parent if this coverage is even essential if my child is not at school and is not nearly at the same risk if they are home all day. Arguably the biggest benefit of insurance is that it offers parents better peace of mind. And for parents who already must worry about adjusting work schedules, keeping up with expenses, or trying to find employment we are already doing the most we can to keep our children safe. Going back to the micro-schools, another concern is that families may not know how to minimize COVID risks. When you add together the teacher and all the kids’ family members, a seemingly small micro-school ends up including dozens of people, and the more people in it, the greater the risk for coronavirus exposure.

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PAGE 46

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 5, 2020

West Indies drop second and third Test at England, will now prepare for CPLd KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It was the first official return to International cricket since the COVID-19 pandemic and it did not disappoint. West Indies travelled to England to ensure that cricket fans would not be let down, and despite playing in an empty stadium; the intensity of this

matchup remained the same. Over three test matches, in the #RaiseTheBatSeries, West Indies captain Jason Holder showed up and put on a show. In the first test in Southhampton, West Indies went up 1-0 for the first time in two decades with help from a 95 from Jermaine Blackwood leading them to a target of 200 on the final day with West Indies winning by four wickets. The second test wasn’t as successful with England winning by 113 runs and in the final and third test at Old Trafford, Manchester, England won by a large margin of 269 runs, giving no chance to West Indies resulting in England taking the series 2-1. Jason Holder made 114 runs at 29 with 10 wickets at 30 and 5 catches.

He performed well in the first Test but unfortunately the Captain could not out play the England squad. West Indies’ batsmen failed to score runs because of the English’ bowling attack. Despite the tourist’s first victory, England’s Stuart Broad took 16 wickets including 500th in Tests. Alongside James Anderson, who is England’s all time leading wicket taker, Broad challenged West Indies in the third Test. Jermaine Blackwood, Kaigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks all reached fifty twice but neither went on to reach three figures, evidently contributing to West Indies defeat. Although it was a disappointing defeat for many, cricket fans don’t need to

worry about missing any more West Indies cricket as they prepare for the upcoming Caribbean Premiere League that will begin on August 18th. The runners-up from last year, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knightriders will face off in the first T20 match, taking place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. Twenty-three games will be held there, including the semi-finals and finals taking place on September 10th. The other 10 matches will be held at Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain. Just like the West Indies at England series, the T20 matches will be held behind closed doors due to COVID-19.

Warrior Profile: Daniel Cormier Taking a glance at one of the most famous modern warriors MARCEL MARIAK marcel@carib101.com

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

When people imagine a stereotypical professional fighter, they usually envision a towering, lean, muscular tank of a man. For the most part, the stereotype is correct. Professional fighters are elite athletes, surrounded by a professional team of coaches, nutritionists, doctors, and psychologists who ensure the fighter is in the best possible shape they can be. While the vast majority of fighters keep their bodies lean and muscular to complement their fighting style, some unique fighters tailor their fighting style to their bodies. The focal point of this week’s Warrior Profile is a combatant who shatters the stereotype of how a professional

fighter looks and behaves. Introducing: Daniel “DC” Cormier! The former Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight UFC champion, and one of the most popular fighters in the martial arts world! Early Career DC was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, with his two older siblings, Felicia and Joseph Cormier. He began competitively wrestling in the ninth grade and his talent for grappling quickly became apparent. Throughout secondary school, DC collected one wrestling medal and award after another; and by the end of high school, Daniel Cormier had acquired an unbelievable 101-9 competitive record. After high school, Cormier went to Oklahoma State University to get a degree in sociology and compete in NCAA Division 1 wrestling. He finished college with a 53-2 record; after which he went on to compete in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Starting his MMA Career Following the 2008 Olympics, DC joined the American Kickboxing Academy in San

Jose, California; where he began to train mixed martial arts and refine his striking and grappling. Soon, Cormier was ready for his professional MMA debut. He travelled to Australia where he fought for the Extreme MMA promotion. There, he won the XMMA Heavyweight Championship. Cormier would continue to travel around the world competing and winning titles in various MMA promotions until 2013 when he began his career with the UFC. Competing in the UFC On April 20th, 2013, DC made his UFC debut in the Heavyweight division against Frank Mir where he won by unanimous decision. Cormier had another fight in the Heavyweight division which he also won by unanimous decision against Roy Nelson. After that, Daniel Cormier moved to the Light Heavyweight division in order to avoid competing with his American Kickboxing Academy teammate and the Heavyweight Champion at the time, Cain Velasquez. In the Light Heavyweight division, DC continued to excel. He eventually

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won the UFC Light Heavyweight championship and defended the title four times. In December of 2018, DC relinquished his title in order to move up to the Heavyweight Division where he won the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Stipe Miocic. Cormier defended his championship once before Miocic returned to successfully reconquer his lost title. What’s next for Cormier? Cormier is scheduled to fight again on August 15th, 2020; in what will easily be one of his most anticipated fights. The battle will feature the third and final showdown between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic. With both fighters having defeated the other for the title, it’s only fitting that their rivalry be settled once and for all with an epic battle. Both warriors are formidable and famous fighters; and with Miocic having a significant height and reach advantage over DC, Cormier has a tough battle ahead of him if he wishes to recapture the UFC Heavyweight title!

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