Salute To 25 Years 012418

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 24 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24TH 2018

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SALUTE TO 25 YEARS

ALYSSA MAHADEO/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Smooth rhythms, melodic beats, honest lyrics, slow and steady irie vibes. Everything you could imagine at a reggae festival and more encompassed at one of the Caribbean’s biggest celebrations in the preservation of reggae music.

This January, Rebel Salute celebrated 25 exciting years of wholesome entertainment and is commended as one of the greatest roots reggae shows on this planet. It’s one thing for a person who is a lover of reggae music to attend a reggae festival, and it’s another thing for a person who has limited knowledge of reggae

music, it’s vast history and culture to go experience something so enlightening.

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited by the Jamaica Tourist Board to head down to Jamaica for the weekend to cover this must-see festival, listed in the Billboard Magazine’s top four festivals in the Caribbean. Rebel Salute began as a concert to celebrate the birthday of reggae icon Tony Rebel but has since evolved into a unique Jamaican entertainment brand that has managed to capture the hearts of thousands of reggae lovers at home and around the world.

The Reggae music genre is unique to Jamaica, but it’s roots lie in New Orleans R&B. Reggae’s direct forefather is ska, an uptempo, rhythmic variation based on the New Orleans R&B.

“Jamaican musicians heard broadcasts from the US on their transistor radios. Relying on skittering guitar and syncopated rhythms, ska was their interpretation of R&B and it was quite popular in the early ‘60s,” as cited from allmusic.com.

Continued On Page 7

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Woman on Fire

Pauline Christian Pauline Christian has already appeared and been featured in The Toronto Caribbean, and since then, she has managed to add to her growing resume of inspiring and motivating work. Her most recent event, “Martin Luther King Jr Celebration,” rightfully themed, “Own Your Dream, “was held on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at the McVety Centre in North York, Toronto. Her special guests included International recording artist, Anthony Brown, and the dynamic keynote speaker, Dr David Richardson, along with Police Chief Mark Saunders, Mayor John Tory, and many other dignitaries who all came to support Pauline. The night was filled with praise, joy, encouragement, motivation and calls to action by the speakers, entertainers and presenters.

Pauline is known for her “Call to Action Vision.” She is deeply passionate about using her leadership to mobilize, harmonize and develop her community, especially when it comes to realizing that socio-economic improvement and advancement is possible. Like many African Canadians, Pauline was not born here, but she did not allow that to be a reason that she would not make an impact. Upon her arrival in Canada, she immediately pursued her degree in Business Administration at York University; she minored in Political Science and Psychology and later pursued and successfully completed her Masters in Project Management at York University’s Schulich School of Business.

For twenty years, she worked in leadership roles in the service industry; she was then able to transfer her corporate knowledge to her own business, charities and community projects. She is the Founder, CEO, and President of the Best Lifestyle Residence Inc., a retirement facility in the county of Simcoe, Ontario.

With her intense commitment to the empowerment of Africans in Canada, she has made it her duty to hire from within her community. She understands the struggles that many African immigrants face here

in Canada, and she has always wanted to be able to provide employment opportunities to those who may not necessarily have them. Her commitment has been rewarded, as in the last few years, her retirement facility operations have grown exponentially.

In her need to give back to the African Community, Pauline became the President of the Black Business and Professional Association and remained President until October 26, 2017. During her first year of leadership at the BBPA, she initiated the first National Black Business and Professional Convention (NBBPC), with the powerful theme, “Stimulating Dialogue; Breaking Barriers, Creating Opportunities. With the support of the Municipal and Provincial Government and her team, she helped to open the Black Business and Professional Association Administrative offices and Centre of Excellence. Her business resume is accented with memberships in the World Who’s Who Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, and an acknowledgement by the Heritage Registry of Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals. She is a member of International Women Leadership Association and was recognized for her outstanding contribution to Leadership, Family, Career and Community.

She has served on the City of Toronto Black Business Advisory, and assisted in launching the first official black business survey in 2015 and was appointed to the Junior League of Toronto’s Community Advisory Panel named “Women Building Better Communities.” Pauline is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, community volunteer and advocate, who in 2001, was honoured with the Government of Canada Outstanding Volunteer award.

She has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 20 Women for 2010 by Women’s Post Canada, and she was included in the delegation of ten that accompanied Prime Minister Harper on his first historic trip to

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Jamaica. As you can see, Pauline has an omnipresence; she is everywhere at all times doing great things, which is why she is such a decorated woman.

To add to her list of achievements, she was one of the five faces on the 2011 Black History Month Poster that was presented to Parliament on February 1st, 2011, as well as being conferred with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution to Ontario and Canada. This hardworking and determined woman was quoted in, “A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider,” a book written by New York Times Best Seller, Ellen Vaughn, as well as co-authoring and acting as editor-in-chief of the BBPA Book of Excellence from 1983 – 2012.

I think it is important that we honour our local hero and heroines the same way that we will celebrate the achievement of those not from Toronto. If you are a young woman who is interested in doing more in her community, it would be beneficial to start here, and then continue your research on Pauline Christian. She is an inspiration to many young women across the world and remains open to doing more for her community. She has been able to achieve in one lifetime what many have not. It is with honour, we at the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper present to you, Queen Pauline Christian, a woman of action.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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19th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrating Owning Your Dreams Jelani Grant

jelani@carib101.com

TC Reporter The Black Business and Professional Association held their 19th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. at the McVety Conference Centre. Hosted by Kerry Lee Crawford, the celebration lifted people out of their seats with each inspiring speech and uplifting performance. Musical entertainment included routines from the Children and Youth Dance Theatre, the Crawford Jazz Ensemble, and singer Michelle Adams, with a special performance by urban contemporary gospel artist Anthony Brown.

This year’s theme was ‘Own Your Dream’, illustrated by everyone on the stage, including a young man named Keon Flash aka Little MLK. He delivered a speech to guests, describing the impact Dr. King has made in his life. The youth confidently informed the audience about how

Dr. King’s legacy taught him that he can be a change maker and because of the work done during the Civil Rights Movement, he now has many opportunities.

Crawford also told the crowd they should consider the impact Dr. King’s legacy personally had on everyone’s life and how his story should inspire everyone who knows it. “With challenge comes change,” Crawford told the crowd. “Challenge yourself and the people around you.”

Dignitaries in attendance included Toronto Chief of Police Mark Saunders, York Region Deputy Chief of Police Andre Crawford, Minister of Education Mitzi hunter, and Toronto Mayor John Tory.

Mayor Tory presented Christian and BBPA President Nadine Spencer with an official proclamation by the City of Toronto, recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The mayor also mentioned the newly approved 22-point Action Plan to Confront AntiBlack Racism, which recommends changes to issues such as community center funding, health services, and shelters while considering the impact policies have upon the black community. The next step of the action plan is confirmation of the budget, as this is the first anti-black action implemented in Toronto history. “I believe this plan will help everyone achieve their dreams,” he said. While on stage, Mayor Tory told

guests, “He told us we can all fight hatred and discrimination, we can all love, we can all serve so that kids can dream big.”

Oakwood University Vice President of Spiritual Life and Mission Dr. David Richardson traveled from Alabama to be the keynote speaker for this year’s celebration. Dr. Richardson began by discussing the United States Department of Interior’s list of endangered animals and plants, classified as such because the ability they have to survive is in jeopardy. He says the number one reason for this is “human activity is why some of these animals’ lives are in jeopardy…there are some communities that are in danger.”

He suggested that if the USDI can put in place policies and restrictions to protect these endangered animals and plants, that something could also be done for endangered people as well. “The Department of Interior had to come up with certain laws and measures in order to protect the birds, the animals, and the plants to make sure that they could survive. And if we would do that for birds, animals, and plants, then surely we should do that for those human groups that are in danger,” he shouted over applause.

His speech conveyed that through adversity, black people have managed to create community and now are able to

achieve any dream they strive for.

Executive Producer of the 19year old celebration Pauline Christian was given a warm introduction to the stage by her granddaughter. During her address to attendees, Christian reminded guests the reason everyone comes together every year is to give and love each other, in order to develop. “I believe in ownership. Ownership allows you to provide opportunities for others to learn through your gifts, be it financial gifts or whatever resources. The people who can, should stretch their hands out and give back,” Christian said.

A key example of Dr. King owning his dream is the Letter From Birmingham, written by the civil rights icon after he was arrested for ignoring an injunction against all protests during the Spring of 1963. The letter defended the non-violent resistance strategy while highlighting the many injustices that were occurring during that time. Instead of backing down to threats, Dr. King led around 1,000 protestors into the Birmingham Business District. He and Reverand Ralph B. Abernathy were arrested, but from his cell, Dr. King would write the letter which still resonates to this day.

“Our purpose when practicing civil disobedience is to call attention to the injustice or to an unjust law which we seek to change,” he wrote.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Youth In Motion - #SelfLove Promotes Youth Wellness and Empowerment Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter When you look into the mirror are you happy with what you see? Do you love the person staring back at you, or is unhappiness and self-loathing looming over your shoulder?

The journey to self-love is a long and arduous process for some, a battlefield littered with self-doubt, low self-esteem, body confidence issues, and waves of unwarranted judgement, fueled by societal pressures to aspire to perfection. The problem with that mindset is that nothing in this world is perfect, and perfection is relative to those that define it. In recent years, the idea of embracing your unique qualities has proven to lead you down a happier road.

Self Love Youth Wellness and Empowerment is a non-profit organization developed out of a need to engage youth in fitness while empowering them to be comfortable in their own skin.

Their goal is to have youth use fitness and movement for both a mental and physical outlet, which increases the chances of them becoming healthy active adults.

Their mission is to empower youth, to invest in their future and to allow them to discover their sense of self. Growing up is tough, and without the proper guidance it’s difficult to discern the right decisions to make, navigate the choices we have, and most importantly love the people who we are.

Women especially grow up with a multitude of insecurities that come from low selfesteem, body confidence and the incessant worry and fear of judgement from their peers. By taking action and addressing these issues at an early age young women can learn how to deal with and overcome these issues before they get the chance to have any lasting damaging effects.

#SelfLove Youth Wellness and Empowerment has a corporate responsibility to give back to the youth. I Can & I Will founder Kym Niles’s love for fitness and movement is the basis of these classes and alongside program director Vanessa Spence and youth leader Jade Johnson they work together to encourage young people to embrace fitness and movement as part of their lifestyle. Each class consists of ninety minutes of learning how to move well and move often, with a goal of helping to strengthen them both mentally and physically.

Fitness is infused with mentorship and broken up into fifty minutes of fitness and forty minutes of self-discovery activities. Through their workshops youth develop basic fundamentals necessary for success: discipline, follow-through, leadership, teamwork, hard work and self-acceptance.

“I want them to see that everything they are looking for outside is within, that is my main mission,” Kym founder and mentor at Self Love Youth says. “I want them to be comfortable in their own skin, because there are too many people who are not comfortable in their own skin and it leads

to so many other things happening.”

These classes will be held bi-weekly for girls aged 12 to 18, impressionable and formative years in a young girls life that inevitably decide what kind of person she will be as she grows into an adult.

This past weekend at the Ujima House, a community space located at the corner of Weston Rd & Lawrence most noted for being a home away from home, class goers were able to experience a taste of the fun, friendship, discipline and acceptance these classes have to offer.

The Ujima House is a child friendly space designed to reflect the comfort and sensibilities needed to create an environment conducive to growth and development. It is most frequently used as a space for Young Potential Fathers, were young fathers can learn and bond with their children.

The event welcomed young girls from the community to partake in activities such as dance, face painting with face and body painter Carissma Brave, making your own gemstone bracelet with Loc’d & Luscious hair and jewelry accessory maker Sharean Fairman and a special hands on African drumming demonstration with Quammie Williams.

“When you hear about things that people do in the world, like getting involved in gangs on the street, girls going to guys to feel better about themselves all of these different situations it’s because they are lacking in Self Love,” Kym explains.

“Self-love is a very loaded word, but what it means is recognizing and owning who you are, taking care of yourself, and not feeling like you’re being selfish by any means, because you deserve to be loved by you first.”

Self Love is all about confident women leading girls to love themselves. They understand that youth are the future and this is a timeless investment they had committed to in order to teach these young women the values of self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-discipline.

The Self Love Youth Wellness team is adept in the fitness industry with over twenty years of experience in fitness and mentorship.

“Once you set the standard, everyone around you will follow,” Kym affirms. “Every time I mentor a client or work with a youth I can see the lack of self-esteem, the lack of confidence, the piece that’s not yet fulfilled within them, and their looking for that attention and reassurance from outside,” she observes.

As parents and members of the community it is our obligation to work with and help these young people discover their self-worth. By encouraging them to become mentally and physically strong we show them they can be unstoppable. Self Love Youth Wellness classes began last year through founder Kym’s personal efforts supplemented through their workout apparel line with up to 20% from all sales contributed to the program. This particular project ‘In Motion’ is to reach and impact 100 girls. Through the funding of the Toronto Foundation, classes will be held regularly on a bi-weekly basis with 20 sessions at the Ujima House starting February 3rd, 2018. Those interested in taking part in classes are encouraged to visit their website at www.selfloveyouth.com.

“Once you can get a hold of your mind and become mentally strong, it’s the ultimate high and you being to walk to the beat of your own drum.”

local news

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

local news

Rebel Salute Music Festival Bringing Reggae Lovers Together for 25 Years Alyssa Mahadeo

alyssa@carib101.com

TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- However, during one very hot summer, the weather was too hot to either play or dance ska, so the beat was slowed down and reggae was born. Since then, reggae has proven to be as versatile as the blues, lending itself to a number of interpretations, from the melodic rock steady of Alton Ellis and the rock and folk-influenced songwriting of Bob Marley to the trippy, near-psychedelic soundscapes of dub artists like Lee “Scratch” Perry. It has crossed into the mainstream through the bright, bouncy “Reggae Sunsplash” festivals and pop-oriented bands like UB40, but more adventurous reggae artists, such as Marley and Perry, have influenced countless reggae, folk, rock and dance artists. Their contributions resonate throughout popular music.

Lovers of reggae music travel from near and far to attend Rebel Salute, it’s authentic tribute to good clean and honest music, a testament to the hearts of the people who create it. The lyrics of each song hold a deeper meaning, calling out injustice, discouraging hate, and exploring solutions to issues affecting people and the masses.

Right in line with the preservation of reggae is the Rastafari social movement fighting resistance and calling for social change. A very powerful means of spreading these messages is through reggae music. For a new movement to effectively change the system that is in place, it must realize several goals. The movement must have a clear ideology that is supported by the general population. The message of Rastafarianism has been spread worldwide by reggae artists like Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, and many others.

January 12th and 13th from dusk until dawn, a range of locally and internationally acclaimed artists provided an exciting lineup of mu-

sical entertainment at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St. Ann, a vast venue overlooking the Caribbean Sea. “Saluters” or festival patrons were treated to performance after performance and the many delights of the arts village and ital food vendors.

Back for another year was the Herb Curb implemented in 2016 featuring an array of exhibits, herb practitioners, educators, speakers and medical professionals who explore everything from the sacramental to the medicinal marvels of marijuana – as well as a private smoking lounge.

The curb’s enclosed area displays educational, spiritual, medicinal and recreational products and content which affords patrons the opportunity to unlock the world of marijuana, its uses, applications and numerous byproducts on the cutting edge of organic medicinal exploration are on full display for hands-on experience and sampling.

Rebel Salute served a strictly vegetarian menu of ital food selections complimented by a diet of cultural roots and other provisions as modeled by reggae’s finest. In tandem with this, was the concept of a drug-free, violence-free and non-alcoholic event which serves to further the movement and promote peace.

A little rain and mud were not enough to dampen the spirits of those in attendance, who came to enjoy the full Rebel Salute experience from the music, to the food, lifestyle and culture.

Island life is infamous for it’s relaxing and easygoing nature, and on an island like Jamaica rain or shine everything is ‘ALL RIGHT.’

Day one greeted the crowd with a warm-up and included a jam-packed list of headliners with so many names to mention, featuring locally and internationally renowned artists like Chevaughn, Anthony B, Big Youth, Bugle, Charly Black, DaVille, King Sounds, Mighty Mystic Lutan Fyah, Wickerman, Bushman, Jesse Royal, Agent Sasco, Prohgres, Notis Heavyweight Rockaz, Anthony Cruz, Zamunda, and of course the man himself Tony Rebel. Special surprise appearances from various artists also included reggae queen Marcia Griffiths and lovers rock aficionado, Beres Hammond.

Day two continued to deliver with even more explosive performances from the likes of Abatau, Admiral Tibet, Barrington Levy, Bernard Collins of the Abyssinians, Ding Dong, Duane

Stephenson, Fantan Mojah, Freddie McGregor, Garnet Silk Jr., Jahmiel, Kenyatta Hill, Leroy Gibbons, Leroy Sibbles, Little Hero, Louie Culture, Luciano, Meleku, Nitty Kutchie, Nkulee Dube, Pablo Moses, Pinchers, Ras Shiloh, Romain Virgo, Rondell Positive,Vanzo finally welcoming the rising sun with appearances by Gyptian, I-Octane, I-Wayne, Capleton, Elephant Man and Sanchez.

Gracing the stage right alongside their brethren were sistren JC Lodge, Glacia Robinson, Althea & Donna, Davianah, Ikaya, Nkulee Dube, and Queen Ifrica, powerful queens, spreading good clean music.

As the night went on more and more people filled the grounds to explore and enjoy the festival. The Prime Minister Andrew Holness made a short guest appearance and the event passed without conflict.

It’s hard to say that even after the sun was high in the sky the next morning that people were even remotely ready to go home. Every artist who took to the stage put on an unforgettable performance, commanding the crowd and leaving them wanting more. With the scent of herb high in the air, horns blared and praises of Jah were heard throughout the venue. It was a reggae music lovers dream, and for someone there for the first time definitely, something words can’t do justice, it’s better off experienced live in person.

The festivals impressive list of partners is what continues to contribute to its success.

The unwavering support of the Jamaica Tourist Board, Ministry of Culture Gender Entertainment & Sports, Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA), Television Jamaica (TVJ) and many more local hotels and resorts as well as media outlets have been critical to the success of the festival’s world-class production. With their help, Rebel Salute has been able to secure a steady population – tourists being 38% (the largest for any festival in Jamaica) and locals being 62%.

The islands lifestyle and culture encourage togetherness, comradery, and unity. Their warm hospitality and abundant culture allows for everyone to feel welcome, and their ability to throw a reggae festival cannot be underestimated.

Rebel Salute is an annual event where everyone is welcome. Consider heading down to Jamaica just once to experience the music first hand.

Black History Month Events Sponsored By TD Bank Group Announced Jelani Grant

jelani@carib101.com

TC Reporter TD Bank Group is hosting its Black History Month Media Day on January 23 and has announced their list of sponsored BHM events this year. Headlining events this year are the ROM-original exhibition ‘Here We Are Here’: Black Canadian Contemporary Art, two new exhibits at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery by artists who live overseas, ‘Of Ourselves’ presented by Wedge Curatorial Projects, the 6th Annual Toronto Black Film Festival, and the 3rd Annual Black Diamond Ball.

The 6th Annual Toronto Black Film Festival runs from Feb 14-19, showcasing outstanding and powerful Black films including the Canadian Premiere of Nancy Buirski’s documentary feature The Rape of Recy Taylor. “It is important for us to shed the light on this part of history, the climate that we’re in and the unprecedented transformational #MeToo movement that is empowering more women to speak up,” said Colas. The Fabienne Colas Foundation created TBFF in 2013, the Montreal International Film Festival, formerly the Montreal Haitian Film Festival, was founded in 2005.

Wedge Curatorial Projects presents ‘Of Ourselves’ at the Gladstone Hotel from Feb 1-24.

Curated by Emilie Croning and Hannah Traore, Of

Ourselves, examines the complexities of the Black experience and explores African-American writer and activist, W.E.B. DuBois’ concept of ‘double consciousness’. The opening reception and launch party will be on February 2nd. February 9th is scheduled for a panel discussion, and on February 20th there will be an Artist Talk.

Visual artist Michèle Pearson Clarke is one of the artists presenting her current project at the Royal Ontario Museum as part of the new exhibit for BHM. Clarke said she will be “using the oral gesture of sucking your teeth which is itself an expression of frustration.” The exhibit, scheduled to open Jan 27th, will feature the works of nine artists in total, exploring Black culture and identity in Canada.

To celebrate BHM the Power Plant Gallery will unveil two new exhibits intended to celebrate artists from around the world, as they draw connections from their own histories to themes pertinent to Canada’s current social and political landscape. The artists are French-born Kader Attia and Nigerian-born Emeka Ogboh’s whose works deal with the issues of slavery, reconciliation, emotional and psychological scars, nationality, and belonging. ‘The Field of Emotion’ will be Attia’s first solo exhibit in Canada, illustrating people’s irreparable traumas and the need to fix what is broken.

Emeka Ogboh’s ‘The Song of the Germans’ will demonstrate how private, public, and collective memories and histories are translated, transformed and encoded into sound through his audio instillations. Both exhibits will be open Jan 27th and will continue to be on display until May.

The 3rd annual Black Diamond Ball is scheduled for Feb 24th. The musical headliner and line-up for the highly anticipated event were revealed at the BHM Media Day on Jan 23rd. Those interested in attending most likely already locked

down their tickets as last year’s ball sold out in no time. Additionally, Brandy was the special guest last year so the hype for this year’s ball is not to be underestimated. BDD founder Shawn Cuffie sent out a warning on Rudy Blair Entertainment Media to get tickets as early as possible. “You got to get your tickets, people always wait and then all of sudden in one week they just go,” he said.

Though these are the major events sponsored by TD, there are a number of other events anyone in Toronto can enjoy. BHM at the Toronto Public Library will be on the 1st of the month at the Toronto Reference Library. Imbola Mbue, Donisha Prendergast, Robyn Maynard, Joy Lapps-Lewis and Desmond Cole and Canada’s Poet Laureate George Elliot Clark will lead the kick-off event to celebrate black history. Zuumba, which has been running at Harbourfront Centre Theatre for more than twenty years, will work with Black Lives Matter, Women’s Empowerment and The Invisible Majority to discuss issues currently affecting the community. On Feb 8th the Toronto Raptors’ President Massai Ujiri, Canadian hip-hop legend Maestro Fresh Wes, Pride Executive Director Olivia Nuamah, youth activist Aisha Addo, social justice advocate Anthony Morgan and writer Kim Katrin Milan will host Raising Our Voices. The free event will be a night of cocktails, canapés, and storytelling presented by Historica Canada.

Other events include the Tribute to the Legends of Reggae 2018 on Feb 17th, honoring distinguished reggae icons with tons of musical performances.

Also, the Portraits, Patterns, Possibilities: A Black Canadian Trilogy event will mark three milestones in black history on Feb 23rd, recognizing the slave who was the catalyst for the introduction into the Act Against Slavery Chloe Cooley, the first woman publisher in Canada Mary Ann Shadd, and NHL barrier breaker Willie O’Ree.

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Boscobel Jamming as One

BARBADOS -- They came together for a common cause in 2016, to offer each other relief and assistance when the island was struck by a water shortage that affected many parts of the north, including their community Boscobel, St Peter.

The group All Ah We Iz 1 was formed and last year they held the first-ever Boscobel Carnival to raise funds to continue the camaraderie and community work.

Organiser and vice-president Sasha Edwards said the street parade would be followed by a fun day at the Boscobel Playing Field and the money raised would be used to fund their planned community projects.

Edwards, who spoke from Farley Hill National Park where the street parade

started, said she hoped the series of activities would continue to enhance the togetherness and community spirit in the rural district.

They will raise funds to assist the elderly, sports clubs and the Elliott Belgrave Primary School [formerly Boscobel Primary].

It was at about 1 p.m. Sunday when the lone music truck, manned by The Dream Real Sound Solutions left Farley Hill National Park. It provided a nice mix of calypso and soca music for the revellers and filled the normally quiet countryside.

There was lots of partying for the over 100 participants, up from around 80.

Edwards said she was pleased with the increase in numbers and hoped to make it an annual event.

While it was mainly youngsters on the road, some of the older folk, including the group’s president Lybron Sobers who is also an acting assistant commissioner of police, gathered at Boscobel Playing Field and took in the activities there.

They enjoyed drinks and food including fish cakes and chicken wings, while the children had cotton candy and popcorn to choose from, in addition to a jumping tent, face-painting and games.

Edwards said the group was planning another event for Easter and with the Elliott Belgrave Primary school sports day coming up, they would be supporting the children.

- Nation News

Reported Power Outage Leaves Some Without Water

BARBADOS -- Some residents of St Philip were plunged into darkness following a power outage early this morning.

Barbados Water Authority’s rapid response and communication manager Joy-Ann Haigh said as a result, some parts of St Philip and Christ Church were left without water.

“In the wee hours of this morning there was a power outage in the St Philip area and it impacted our Hampton pumping station. Our electricians have been working on getting their problem rectified. After power was restored we recognised that we had some

challenges with our equipment,” she said during a telephone interview.

Haigh added that BWA engineers and electricians had been working all day to rectify the problem.

“All of the repairs have not been completed, and some water is coming back gradually. We’ve managed to restore some of the areas, but we’re still working toward completing the repairs, which will allow for everyone to get water. The station however works like this: you have to put it back up and running and pumping, but the reservoirs

connected to that would need some time to be restored to normal in order for everyone to get. It is not immediate when you turn on the pumps; we do have to allow the reservoirs to be replenished,” she said.

Meanwhile, communications coordinator at the Barbados Light & Power, Jennifer Blackman, said that she had spoken to those in charge of the control room and there were no reports of power outages in St Philip.

- Nation News

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BARBADOS -- Barbadians are being told to be wary of regional and international credit rating agencies, as these entities only seek to exploit the country.

This message comes from the ruling Democratic Labour Party Member of Parliament for St Michael West Central James Paul, just 11 days after regional credit rating agency Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS), handed the country its 23rd downgrade since the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took office in 2008.

Despite the fact that there is consensus in the economic community that downgrades impact on the country’s ability to secure funding, Paul, who was speaking to party supporters during a branch meeting at the Lawrence T Gay School last evening, suggested that there were racially tinged ulterior motives behind the issuing of ratings.

“Circumstances happen and I am saying to you that the circumstances that this country faces are as a result of trying to cater for people. So credit rating agencies don’t tell you how well you are managing the affairs of the country. You think those people from Standards and Poor’s or whoever cares anything

BARBADOS -- WITH OVER $200 MILLION being spent in the last two years to import cars, a cap on their importation, as well as properly maintaining the nation’s roads, could help save valuable foreign exchange.

According to senior lecturer in economics at the University of the West Indies, Dr Troy Lorde, doing this for a specified period would definitely help to ease the foreign exchange drain.

He however cautioned that any cap would have implications for employment as it would create “upward pressure on the prices of all vehicles because of the artificial scarcity created by the cap”.

His suggestion has come at a time when Barbados’ foreign reserves have nose-

about us. We have this thing that because they come from the great white country that we have to respect them. Respect them for what?

At the end of the day all they want to do is rape this country as much as possible,” Paul told the packed auditorium which responded with loud applause.

The St Michael West MP reiterated his party’s argument that a number of mitigating social factors, which results in the fiscal constraints of a country, are not taken into consideration by rating agencies.

“Credit ratings are what they are and it doesn’t define who you are. It doesn’t reflect the challenges that you face as a human being in terms of having to look after your children and their family. It is just a credit rating from somebody who doesn’t give two hoots about you,” said Paul.

“So when you hear the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) talking about this body give us a downgrade; so what? At the end of the day our people still eating, at the end of the day if they still want to go the hospital they are going to still get care, they could still get to school but the credit rating agencies don’t care anything about that. So why the heck

$200M Bill!

dived, standing at about eight weeks of import cover or about US$550 million as of September 2017.

Data from the Barbados Statistical Service showed almost 5 000 cars were imported last year with about 10 000 being brought from several countries over the twoyear period 2016 and 2017.

Last November during debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 in the House of Assembly, it was revealed that there were more than 130 000 vehicles on the roads.

Lorde, speaking to the Daily Nation, said the broader issue of the road network would also have to be tackled to ensure that the significant foreign exchange spent on importing car parts was also reduced.

should we care about what they say?” Paul questioned.

On January 10, CariCRIS reported that it had lowered the island’s foreign currency rating by one notch from CariBBB+ to CariBBB- and its local currency rating from CariBBB+ to CariBBB.

CariCRIS suggested that while the island’s creditworthiness was still adequate, it took the decision to downgrade the island because of the sustained reduction in net international reserves which had fallen to the equivalent of 2.2 months of import cover as at September 2017, below the internationally recognized minimum of three months or 12 weeks import cover, with foreign currency commitments, including the Government’s amortized debt commitments, outstripping foreign currency inflows.

The latest downgrade occurred just three months after the New York based Standard & Poor’s lowered the country’s credit rating from CCC- to CCC, warning that there was now a higher risk associated with maintaining the currency peg to the US dollar.

- Barbados Today

“A related drain in foreign exchange is caused by the severe wear and tear which Barbadian roads place on all vehicles, as auto spares such as tyres, wheel rims and suspension parts have to be replaced more frequently than would be normally expected.

“An improved road network would have significant costs up front, but would likely save a lot more foreign exchange in the long run,” he said.

Only last week, Deputy Chief Technical Officer (Operations) in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Philip Tudor, said the island needed to look at creating a more sustainable road network as it spent about $3 million a year on pothole patching.

- Nation News

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Holland Wants Bigger Stipends for Mayors

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GUYANA -- Mayor of Linden and President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) Carwyn Holland says it is about time the mayors’ stipend be increased from the meagre $15,000 where it currently stands.

Holland is currently attending a threeday conference of the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) in Trinidad and Tobago. The forum discussed among other things adequate funding for local government systems. Holland told the Guyana Chronicle that with respect to funding and capacity-building, Guyana has made progress in recent years.

“We have seen a greater increase in subventions for municipalities from 2016 and there has also been capacity-building and support with equipment from the Ministry of Communities,” Mayor Holland explained. He said too that GAM also welcomes the budgetary allocation by government for the facilitation of a countrywide valuation of properties to bring property values up to date, primarily those in municipalities. Unlike Trinidad’s current system where no property taxes are collected, the municipalities here depend heavily on the collection of rates and taxes to execute their mandates. These revenues complement the annual subventions given by the government.

Mayor Holland, however, believes that more can be done for the mayors, many of whom give yeoman service to their municipalities. He said stipends given to mayors who work on a 24hour basis leaves much to be desired. “Mayors have families and a monthly stipend of $15,000 or whatever small token is given cannot suffice for mayors with families to care for. The thrust of the old system for mayors offering full service being persons of good financial standing can no longer stand in today’s local government systems, where youths or young people are being asked to take part,” he explained.

According to him, in other Caribbean territories, the mayors are well taken care of for the service they provide through the provision of concessions and other benefits. “This is still a dark spot in Guyana’s system,” he posited.

That aside, the GAM President said Guyana can learn from other successful local government models for development being spearheaded by sister states in the region such as the “Municipal Bond” successfully implemented by Mayor of Belize City, Darren Bradley.

A municipal bond is a debt security issued by a state, municipality or county to finance its capital expenditures such as the construction of highways, bridges or schools. These bonds are usually exempt from most state and local taxes, making them attractive.

Mayor Holland also used the opportunity to express his appreciation to Government for the revival of local democracy in the country, and the opportunity it provides. “I agree that for years the local governance system was dysfunctional in Guyana, but there have been great efforts by the new administration to address it over the past two years and that started with the holding of LGE in 2016. GAM’s inactivity over the years has also pushed us to aggressively re-engage the Caribbean body to renew our membership and that is a

great step in keeping with our local mandate to be fully reintegrated with the institutions that drive LGOs across the Caribbean,” he explained.

It was noted too that GAM successfully got Guyana onto the executive body of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan being nominated for one of two ministerial spots on the board. GAM is now working to have two representatives sit on the regional body in accordance with its constitution for greater representation.

Like Mayor Holland, GAM Vice-President and Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall said the conference provided a platform for the sharing of best practices. These best practices, he emphasised, can help to strengthen local government organs. “This forum is an ideal opportunity for us to learn from each other and adapt best practices and of course go back to our municipalities and empower the people, because we believe in strengthening the communities,” Mayor Marshall posited.

He said once local leaders are empowered, they in turn will empower their constituencies and the domino effect will result in improved communities. “Once constituencies have effective representation through their reps, no constituency will be left behind,” he told this newspaper.

Marshall and Holland were accompanied by the Ministry of Communities Special Projects Officer (Planning) Roger Rogers. They are expected to return to Guyana today following the end of the two-day conference which started on Saturday. Apart from Guyana, the CALGA conference was attended by local government officials from Trinidad, Belize, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Dominica.

Meanwhile, established since 1992, CALGA is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates the further development of local government within the Caribbean Region with support from the European Union. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle from Port of Spain, CALGA’s second Vice President Anthony Roberts said among critical issues discussed was that of funding. “Different local government bodies within the Region are taking different approaches to this issue and it is important for us to meet and share our experiences from the different approaches. In Trinidad, we are looking to provide a secure source of funding for local government bodies through the collection of property taxes,” Roberts said.

He explained that under the former Trinidad government, the collection of property taxes was halted. The current administration, according to Roberts, is now taking the necessary legislative steps needed to have the collection of property taxes reinstituted, and for it to be collected by local government bodies there. Currently, the municipalities in Trinidad depend solely on government subventions for the execution of their functions. Roberts, who is among three Vice- Presidents sitting on CALGA, said aside from discussing issues, the conference provided an opportunity for the sharing of best practices and solutions to the challenges faced by member states.

- Guyana Chronicle

First Local Transport Sector Energy Audit for Bartica

GUYANA -- BARTICA, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) is closer to realising the dream of its leaders to become the first “green” town in Guyana, especially now that the Guyana Office of Climate Change is expected to conduct the first local transport energy audit this year in that part of the country.

In June 2017, the Government of Guyana received a US$650,000 grant from the Government of Italy in support of its model ‘Green’ Town, Bartica Project. The primary objective of the grant is to establish a reliable point of reference for the existing state of energy use in Bartica.

Project Manager of the Bartica transition to national energy security project, Gavin Bovell told this publication that the energy audit will focus on the use of energy in the transport sector, since that sector accounts for high energy consumption.

“When analysing the sector, our main focus will be on opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint,” he said. The audit will take into account motor vehicles, including boats because according to him, they do not want to limit the types of vehicles they analyse since residents in that area use boats to ply their trade.

Bovell believes that they will be able to identify the level of consumption and by extension provide opportunities for cutting costs. One of the likely outcomes of the audit is expected to be the recommendation of electric vehicles as opposed to fossil fuel vehicles, he said.

The project manager told the Guyana Chronicle that they hope to conclude the audit by June this year. He said they have started discussions with the various stakeholders, after which they intend to hire the consultants to conduct the audit. “Once we have concluded the evaluation project, we’ll start the hiring and go into the fields and get the job done,” he said.

The information and data gathered will not only guide Bartica, said Bovell, noting that it will also guide any agency in its move to implement strong renewable energy activities. In addition to the audit, the project also includes the sensitisation and awareness of Bartica’s populace; conducting of a Household Baseline Survey Study; energy audits of public institutions, facilities; and street lighting in Bartica.

At the end of the entire project, a database will be established in Bartica where all the information will be stored.

- Guyana Chronicle

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Wide Support for ERC

GUYANA -- Key stakeholders from across Guyana are in high praise of the National Assembly over its decision to approve the members of the Ethnic Relations Commission – a move that will result in the revitalisation of a constitutional organ that has been defunct since 2011.

The names of the 10 persons to sit on the commission were approved last Friday in the National Assembly after more than four years of consultations and reviews. In a late-night interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, who is also the General-Secretary of the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), said it is now for President David Granger to swear in the members and to have the commission reconstituted.

Though the process was delayed, Ally said the resuscitation of the commission is a timely one. “I trust it can benefit Guyanese— that is one of the reasons why the President placed emphasis on social cohesion…we have got to work in tandem with each other (Ministry of Social Cohesion and ERC),” Minister Ally said, while adding that the “country is plagued with racial peculiarities and we have to overcome that.” “It is my hope that with [the] ERC being re-established and working with the Ministry of Social Cohesion, we can certainly take Guyana a step further,” she further added.

Executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, told the Guyana Chronicle that the “development” is a welcomed one. “As a party that has never been shy about confronting our race problem, we feel that there should always be such a commission in place. The WPA played some role in the early days of the life of the commission and has continued to take a deep interest in its work,” Dr. Hinds said. He, however, expressed disappointment that for a period the ERC had become a “victim of the PPP agenda of dominance,” and the fact that it has been dysfunctional for such a long time. For him, “it is a crying shame.”

Dr. Hinds said the WPA remains hopeful that the commission will be able to truly fulfil its mandate. “We hope that now it has been reconstituted, it would undertake the kind of serious work that it was initially mandated to do. WPA still believes that good and constructive ethnic relations are pivotal to our collective sense of nationhood. It is for that reason that we feel the ERC should be a non-partisan institution not subject to political pressures from the political parties. This is our hope for the new commission,” he told this newspaper. “It is an oversight constitutional body that is in part in place to ensure that those who feel discriminated against because of their ethnicity have an institution through which to channel their grievance. The ERC, therefore, has a serious mandate in an environment that is often rife with charges of ethnic discrimination,” Dr. Hinds added. He

emphasised that the ERC has to strive for impartiality by avoiding partisan entrapment, warning that the WPA will be keeping an eye on the commission’s work to ensure that it does its work in keeping with the constitution.

Long overdue In a press statement on Sunday, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) also welcomed the move by the National Assembly, saying that it was long overdue. “This long overdue decision, for which the IAC has repeatedly called, clears the way for the members to be officially appointed and sworn in by H.E. President David Granger.

The IAC is therefore hoping that this process can be expedited, so that the commission can commence its work soonest,” the IAC stated. The IAC is of the strong belief that the ERC is critical in the process of fostering social cohesion among Guyanese. For this reason, the committee is urging that all Guyanese support the work of the commission and for it to be provided with the necessary resources to execute its functions.

African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Representative Barrington Braithwaite, who is among the 10 persons appointed to sit on the commission, said though delayed, he is pleased that the ERC is finally coming on stream. “It is four years late,” Braithwaite told this newspaper, noting that he was selected to sit on the Commission since 2014. Nonetheless, he said he is pleased that the members of the ERC have been approved. “It is a commission that will tend to monitor the outrageous expressions and propaganda with a racial overtone,” he posited, while adding that it will also provide clarity on myths that may have been inherited from the days of colonisation.

Private Sector Representative Ramesh Dookhoo said the private sector is “happy,” to have one of its stalwarts, Norman McLean, sit on the commission. McLean had previously served on the ERC in its earlier life. He noted that though the process of approving the members of the commission took some years, the PSC believes that the process was a democratic one. “We are actually very happy and we hope that the ERC can be effective as it should be, given what seems to be the growing ethnic tension in the country,” Dookhoo said.

The 10 approved members hail from different sectors of society. They are: Christian bodies, Dr. John O. Smith; Hindu bodies, Sister Rajkumarie Singh; Muslim bodies, Mr. Roshan Khan; Labour movement, Norris Emanuel Witter; Private Sector Organisations, Major-General (Retd.) Norman Mclean; Youth Organisations, Mr. Deodat Persaud; Women’s Organisations, Ms. Ruth Howard; Cultural/Ethnic bodies, Afro-Guyanese, Mr. Barrington Braithwaite; IndoGuyanese, Mr. Neaz Subhan and Indigenous bodies, Mr. Ashton Simon..

- Guyana Chronicle

Guyanese Seeks Joint Effort With Brazil for 100% Yellow Fever Coverage

GUYANA -- Guyana has proposed a joint effort with Brazil to ensure 100 percent coverage of Yellow Fever vaccination for this year.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persuad made the proposal on Friday when he held talks with Brazil’s Health Minister, Dr. Ricardo Jose Managaines Barros and his team. Persaud said the joint venture could be similar to the initiative between Guyana and Suriname. Guyana was able to achieve 98 percent vaccination coverage for 2017, one of the highest reports for yellow fever. Persaud emphasised the need to strengthen the relationship between the countries in order to ensure that the quality and standards are maintained.

“…an important issue for us is the movement of people, regardless if it is Venezuela, Guyana or some other (part) of our bordersharing countries. I think these concerns are great for health because people do not only move with their money, they move with their

illnesses, their infection, animals and even their food, so we have to look at that”, the CMO explained.

According to the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) website, the yellow fever vaccine, once administered, is valid for life.

However, these vaccines will be mandatory only for travelers moving between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil, and for children that are less than one year old. However, it was advised that the general public should also be immunised.

It was highlighted that both countries have directed their efforts in strengthening and promoting immunization. The PAHO/WHO had published a list of countries, including Guyana, which require visitors to show proof of immunisation before entry is granted.

- Guyana Chronicle

island news

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island news

TRINIDAD -- Chairman of the Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) Peter Scoon has said that this year’s offerings for the International Soca Monarch are “quality songs” but some of the big players have chosen cop-out of the competition due to monetary reasons. Soon assured, however, that the scaled back prizes would not affect the quality of the show.

Each year, Scoon said, the preliminary round draws around 150 to 200 artistes.“Some of the artistes stayed away this year due to money reasons but the show will be a quality show,” Scoon said.

The competition is being sponsored by Guardian Media Limited (GML). This year’s cash prizes saw a reduction from $500,000 to $300,000 for the first prize and $300,000 to $200,000 for the second prize. The semifinals are scheduled for January 25 at Queen’s Park Savannah at

TRINIDAD -- The meeting between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Tobago stakeholders at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort Monday has been described as fruitful.

A high-powered ministerial team led Rowley, a THA team led by chief secretary Kelvin Charles and Tobago stakeholders led by Tobago Chamber president Demi John Cruickshank, seemed comfortable following the four-hour, closed-door meeting.

The meeting, which was initiated

by Cruikshank, was geared at finding solutions to the island’s strained tourism product after it suffered a decline in 2017 due to the problems of the air and sea bridges causing Tobago’s economy to worsen

Speaking at the press conference Monday, Cruikshank said he was pleased with the outcome.

“It was a very very fruitful meeting. I think we went into detail in terms of each item step- by- step and I think the

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Quality Song at Soca Monarch

6 pm and the finals on February 9 (Fantastic Friday) at 8 pm.

Thirty artistes were chosen from Sunday’s preliminaries.Reigning Soca Monarch, Aaron “Voice” St Louis, in an interview Monday, said he was going for a hat trick at this year’s competition.St Louis would go up against several other finalists for the title. Saying he was excited about his upcoming performance St Louis added, however, “I didn’t start any preparations just yet. We are not focusing on the competition just yet. We have other things that we need to focus on and when that bridge comes we will cross it. “But we will be doing our best once again.

We will be going for the hat trick.”Over the weekend, approximately 136 artistes registered for the Soca Monarch preliminaries held at the NLCB booth, Queen’s Park Oval.

The draw for the semifinal round

of the competition takes place today at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, at 10 am.

Following is the list of the 2018 Play Whe International Soca Monarch semifinalists in alphabetical order • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

5 STAR AKIL AARON DUNCAN AMBI ASTEN ISAAC, RIKKI JAI, YANKEY BOY BLAXX CASSI CHINGEE DAWG -E- SLAUGHTER DEV EDDIE CHARLES FARMER NAPPY FELUKE HOLLYWOOD HP JADEL

Rowley, Tobago Stakeholders Meeting Fruitful private sector is a lot clearer in terms of what the Government’s plans are for Tobago and I hope that in a very short space of time we can see the economy of Tobago on the path of growth and I hope that in the very near future we will see a resolve of a number of the issues that we as the private sector has highlighted to the Prime Minister,” Cruikshank said.

Responding to questions about the declining tourism sector, Rowley said several proposals were put forward by the Government which have not yet kicked in.

He said Tobago stakeholders also offered suggestions

“Some of the proposals which they see as solutions may not be the possible answer., They tell us that they were hard-hit and we believe, by the unreliability of the connection to Trinidad, we are going to fix that and the sea ferry which is largely for the movement from Trinidad to Tobago. We are now looking at the possibility in the not-too-distant future

having the vessels on the route, the Spirit which has been on dry dock for quite some time is expected to do some sea trials next month and hopefully if the sea trials go well it will be back into service and that will plug the hole there.”

The PM added: “The Express goes on dry dock and we do not expect that dry docking to be as extensive as the Spirit. We just committed to buying a third ferry and we will be owning those three vessels so we will be having three vessels available, dedicated to the Tobago routes.

In a matter of months that should put an end to the passenger ferry issue.”

On the issue of the air bridge, the Prime Minister said that there is room for improvement on all sides, but mainly the utilisation of the service by citizens. He said over 1 million seats will be produced for the Tobago route

“We have been producing over 1 million seats to Tobago and therefore it is wrong to say that Tobago is cut off and

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

not serviced. There are 14000 flights per year, I mean 14000 flights per year that cannot be dismissed and those are subsidised flights and we want to work towards improvement and the utilization , so CAL will continue to meet with the THA,” he also said.

Rowley said between CAL and the THA and the business community “we will look at some improvement in the scheduling and of course a request was made CAL to try and bring a direct service in from North America to Tobago.

The Prime Minister also said the Sandals project was still in the pipeline. He said Tobago’s tourism sector would benefit from a Sandals investment commitment.

He reminded that a MoU exists between the Government and the Sandals brand.

The project is said to be at the survey stage.

- Trinidad Guardian

Diego Grocery Proprietor Shot Dead in Robbery

TRINIDAD -- Franklin Wong, 39, proprietor of Wong’s Supermarket died hours after he was shot during a robbery at his family business in Diego Martin Monday.

The mid-morning drama unfolded shortly after 10 o’clock when two gunmen walked into the supermarket located at corner St Lucien’s Road and Majuba Cross Roads

Police said one of the gunmen attacked one of Wong’s sisters who was in the supermarket when they walked in and as Wong attempted to wrestle her away from the gunman, he (Wong) was shot in the chest.

The other man, police said, grabbed the cash register and ran out, however, he dropped it a short distance away and escaped in a waiting vehicle.

Wong’s sister ran out on the road for help and was assisted in conveying her wounded brother to the St James Medical Complex. However, Wong died while undergoing treatment.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian Monday, one of Wong’s acquain-

tances said they went to school at Trinity College in Moka and described him as a “very cool” individual.

A neighbour, who wished not to be identified, said that she knew the Wong’s very well and recalled that they were “always a target to the bandits in the area,” “but they always remained hardworking and loyal to us. They never once packed up and left. Frankie (referring to Wong, as he was fondly called) was so friendly, always willing to help and if you had short money he always said don’t worry about it.”

Several years ago, Wong’s father, Francis, was shot and wounded during a robbery. He died a few years later leaving the family’s business to his wife, Moi; their two daughters and Wong.

Up to late Monday, investigating officers were said to be reviewing surveillance footage captured during the robbery.

This latest incident followed two other unrelated shooting incidents that occurred over the weekend where two

men were killed and four injured.

Monday, at about 8.30 am along Good Session Drive, Patna Village, two men were seated in a parked vehicle when a white Tiida pulled up alongside them. The occupants in the Tiida, police said, after a brief conversation, opened fire on the men. Andy Bailey, 36, was killed, while the other man, Kerron “Not Nice” Paul was wounded. He is said to be in a serious condition at hospital.

On Sunday, at 7.20 pm a group of men was liming at Quarry Street, Diego Martin, when they were approached by gunmen, who opened fire on them.

Shaquille Nicholls, 19, was killed on the scene, while three others were wounded.

The wounded were identified as Shaquille Farrell, 21, Shannelle Goodridge and Christian Gittens, 21. Farrell, police said is the son of a police sergeant. He was shot in the left thigh.

Police recovered a loaded 9mm pistol on the scene.

A relative connected to one of the killings blamed police officers for

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what is happening to their “little black boys,” The relative, who was at the Forensic Science Centre, wished to remain anonymous.

“The police don’t care what happening to we children that is why they getting shoot and kill every day. If the police do what they have to do it wouldn’t have none of this,” the relative shouted as she walked away in disgust.

However, a senior police officer at the Western Division took offence and said that people have to report their children to the police for being involved in crime and criminal activities, “They know their children dealing with drugs, have guns and killing and robbing people yet they remain quiet and hiding for them but when it hit home and their children get killed they blaming the police…No, it doesn’t work so…people have to be responsible and report the wrong,” the senior officer said.

- Trinidad Guardian

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Bartlett Responds to Global Media Reports on State of Emergency

JAMAICA -- Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has taken to the international media to clarify reports about the state of public emergency in the parish of St James following an increase in violent crimes in some inner-city communities there.

Several international news publications in the United States, Canada and especially the United Kingdom have reported that the parish and its capital city, Montego Bay, are on “lockdown”, leading to confusion in some quarters.

In an article published in awardwinning The Independent newspaper titled ‘Jamaica Safe Despite Upsurge In Violence and State of Emergency, Tourism Minister Insists’, Bartlett is quoted as saying: “These enhanced

security measures are not out of the ordinary in international tourism markets, and therefore would be understood by visitors and welcomed by residents.

“All members of the tourism fraternity have given their full support to the measure and are feeling that these actions are welcome to ensure the safety of Jamaica’s guests and citizens. There is no need to modify movements as restrictions in the stated areas should not adversely impact law-abiding persons”, Bartlett is further quoted as saying.

Bartlett noted previously that a record 4.3 million tourists visited Jamaica in 2017.

This represents a 12.1 per cent increase over arrivals in 2016 and marks the first time that Jamaica has brought 500,000 additional visi-

tors and near US$500 million more in a single calendar year, with total revenues of near US$3 billion.

The Independent also carried tweets from British tourists in Jamaica noting that they were comfortable and are going about their business normally. Lauren Adams tweeted: “I’m in Montego Bay at the moment and you wouldn’t know there was anything going on if it wasn’t for the news.”

Loretta Martinelli tweeted: “In Jamaica travelling around. In Kingston right now and moving toward MBJ [Montego Bay] soon.

Having a great time. Just street-aware like everywhere else.”

- Jamaica Observer

Appleton Anxiously Awaits Rail Service for US$7.2-M Tourist Attraction

JAMAICA -- There was just one discordant note at Thursday’s triumphant formal unveiling of the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience at the Appleton Estate in northern St Elizabeth.

The problem is that the Jamaica Government’s long-promised rail service from Montego Bay to Appleton, which is to transport tourists to what is being described as an “unparalleled” rum experience, remains just a plan.

As projected by planners from the Government, Appleton and its parent company, Italian liquor giant Campari Group, the rail will help boost the number of visitors to Appleton from 50,000 — when the tour attaction was closed more than a year ago to allow massive reconstruction — to 200,000 annually.

On Thursday, J Wray & Nephew Chairman Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence made it abundantly clear that return of the rail service which collapsed decades ago was essential to the success of Campari’s US$7.2-million investment in the Appleton Estate rum experience.

“Though we had anticipated the resuscitation of the railway service, unfortunately it has not materialised,” Lawrence told scores of visitors and Appleton employees.

“Let me underscore the importance of the rail service, particularly the Montego Bay to Appleton leg. The rum experience, which can accommodate 200,000 visitors annually, will not maximise its capacity in the absence of this mode of transportation. I know and appreciate the Government is making its best efforts for this to happen, but its importance cannot be overemphasised,” he added.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who has described Campari’s investment at Appleton as a huge boost for Jamaica’s US$3billion visitor industry, had reassuring words.

The Government was working on a partnership with entrepreneurs to get the project going, the minister said.

“Jimmy, the rail service is going to be a reality,” said a bubbly Bartlett to enthusiastic cheers.

Bartlett said he had met with “a team of entrepreneurs who are putting the dollars to-

gether” and had been told that “$40 million is on the table now to start the first leg of the programme, which will take us to Catadupa (southern St James close to the border with northern St Elizabeth) and the second leg to Appleton thereafter”.

The tourism minister said Prime Minister Andrew Holness was “a great supporter, and he wanted me to say to you that he personally is committed to ensuring that the transportation arrangements to enable what I call a seamless flow of visitors into your destination is in place”. Bartlett said an allied road improvement programme “is on the cards for this fiscal year to come” with the Tourism Enhancement Fund involved in the project.

Currently the poor state of roads linking Montego Bay to the south coast, including St Elizabeth, is a source of considerable public dissatisfaction.

Bartlett told journalists after the function that he expected the rail link from Montego Bay to Appleton to be done in two years.

“I am hoping that we will have that arrangement from Montego Bay to Appleton by 2020,” Bartlett said. He expected the first leg of the project from Montego Bay to Catadupa to be done at the end of this year (2018) to early next year, he said.

He declined to give cost projections or name private sector partners, indicating that Transport Minister Mike Henry was better placed to do so.

As visualised by Bartlett, the touristoriented rail service — with stops at stations in southern St James and northern St Elizabeth — as well as improved roads will revitalise communities which were thriving before the old passenger rail service died in the 1990s.

“This will build a new corridor for development,” Bartlett told journalists. “In the old days the towns of Cataduppa, Ipswich, Merrywood, Mulgrave were all bustling little commercial centres. That possibility looms again,” he said.

During the formal ceremony, Bartlett told his audience that Campari’s investment at Appleton represented “exactly the kind of at-

traction Jamaica needs as it continues to diversify the tourism product to boost visitor arrivals and tourism earnings”.

Named in honour of Joy Spence, Appleton’s master blender who has been at the company since 1981 and is said to be the “first female master blender in the entire spirit world”, the Appleton Rum Experience (formerly the Appleton Estate Rum Tour) is aimed at exposing visitors to Jamaican history, culture and cuisine, while promoting Appleton Rum to the world.

It’s projected that 100,000 visitors will come to Appleton this year, gradually building to 200,000 annually with the coming into being of the rail service and improved roads. The 11,000-acre Appleton Estate is said to have been producing rum since 1749.

Noting that gastronomy tourism was now worth US$150 billion globally and growing fast, Bartlett said he was “especially excited” by a new state-of-the-art restaurant, “because Jamaica is expanding into gastronomy tourism in a big way” as part of an overall diversification of its visitor industry.

The upgrade at Appleton amounts to 26,000 square feet of buildings. It includes a welcome centre, luxurious bars and lounges, expanded tour elements detailing historic rum manufacturing from “cane to cup”, tasting rooms to facilitate visitors in the “experience” of Appleton products, kitchens, restaurant (complete with authentic jerk pit), and retail store.

Campari Group CEO Bob KunzeConcewitz, who described Appleton as “the finest rum in the world”, spoke of his company’s “love affair” with the Appleton Estate. “It took us 13 years and three attempts to buy the brand,” he declared.

He expressed optimism that his company’s “major investment” at the Appleton Estate will help to further the “excellence” of the Jamaica brand and Jamaican “craftsmanship”.

Italian Ambassador to Jamaica Armando Varricchio said the partnership of Campari and Italy would further the strong links between Jamaica and Italy..

- Jamaica Observer

PNP Shadow Cabinet Discusses New Policy Proposals

JAMAICA -- The People’s National Party (PNP) shadow Cabinet — which had been in retreat since Friday — says its focus over the three days is on developing a policy framework for achieving growth in the society, based on equity and the desire of the majority of the Jamaican people to be included in mainstream Jamaican life.

The party says it is committed to deliberate actions to eliminate the blight of inequality that has continued to plague the Jamaican society. According to PNP President Dr Peter Phillips, one of the ways to achieve this is by unlocking the nation’s reserves of land so that the growth capacity of agriculture can be

fully unleashed.

“It is also critical that decent housing is provided and that there is focus on broadening the economy through the massive expansion of small and medium-sized businesses,” Dr Phillips said.

Taking into account the challenges facing the education sector, the hopelessness among the nation’s youth, landlessness, stagnant rural development, and skyrocketing crime and violence, the shadow ministers brought to bear extensive research and best practices to define solutions to the ills that have kept Jamaica from advancing in critical areas.

Central to the discussions were the

findings of the Commissions on Land Ownership, Education and Youth Employment and the New Economy. The commissions, which were launched last year, focused on the main platforms for inclusive growth under a PNP– led Government. They were tasked to develop new ideas and proposals that would inform and drive party policies in these critical areas, in line with the PNP’s consistent commitment to social justice and equality.

Sunday’s final day of the retreat focused on building on the solutions to crime violence, which the PNP has put forward over the past month, the party said in a statement.

- Jamaica Observer

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feature

PAGE 17

Creating Healthy Skin and Hair Naturally With Diva Creations We all want smooth, supple skin and strong, healthy hair, but winter’s cold temperatures and the dryness that indoor heating often brings can make this difficult to accomplish.

Many of us will end up reaching for our favorite drugstore brands, settling for products that not only require frequent re-application but also have many chemicals in them. Take a more natural route to healthy skin and hair with Diva Creations Skin and Hair Care.

Formulated with organic ingredients like black seed oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil, Diva Creations aims to help people get their best skin and hair, naturally. Creator and Natural Mixologist Nicole Reid says when crafting her products, it is important for her to use organic ingredients, to limit the amount of potentially harmful products we come into contact with. “A lot of my friends are passing away…I have family members that are passing away from sickness, and I started asking questions as to why these things are happening. I started looking into things that I ingest, things that I put on my skin and on my hair,” Reid says. “I realized that some of the ingredients that I found to be in these creams and stuff is not good for us, they’re not good for your body. That’s when I created this line, slowly but surely, for the safety of my mother, myself, and my immediate family members.”

While Diva Creations was created

by Reid, she works in partnership with her mother, who relays information about the best ingredients to use in their products.

“Her aunts were older, and we get a lot of information on other practices that they use, and the practices they remember. That’s what I incorporate into my business,” Reid says. Drawing on the knowledge passed to

them from their relatives back home in Jamaica, the mother-daughter team uses natural ingredients to help their clients fight skin concerns, such as acne, pigmentation spots, wrinkles, large pores, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, and cellulite. For those looking into natural hair care, Diva Creations offers products to assist with alopecia, traction alopecia, and psoriasis, including hair growth serum, a moisturizing balm, shampoo bars, and hair washes. Other products available include natural soaps, face masks, charcoal toothpaste, and even a ginger body butter that soothes aching joints and promotes circulation.

Reid takes pride in using natural and organic ingredients in her products, taking the extra step of dealing directly with distributors to ensure the goods are authentic. Some are located in Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, India, Grenada, and Jamaica.

The aloe vera used in the products comes from a Canadian distributor. “I get [the ingredients] directly from the regions where I do my research. I do my due diligence to check it out and make sure it is authentic, and it is organic and as natural as possible,” Reid says.

However, sometimes it is the allnatural ingredients that deter people from trying out products like those offered by Diva Creations. People wonder if something that is free of things like petrochemicals, parabens, added preservatives and other harmful, toxic ingredients can actually be effective.

For those who may be skeptical of the effectiveness of her products, Reid goes the extra step of showing them before and after photos of her clients. “I physically show them, because when I put it online, they think it’s

some fake thing. But when I show them on my phone, on, say, WhatsApp—and the client allows me to show the photo—then they look and see that it’s a real person and see that it’s not me just making up the stuff,” she explains.

For those of us who are currently struggling with the dry skin and hair that winter brings, we’ve heard over and over again that moisture is key in the battle. But Reid has some more specific advice. “Find a nutrient-rich cream,” she says. “We have to remember that we’re coming from different parts of the world. A lot of us are coming from hot climates. So, if we’re coming to a place that is pretty much in darkness, where we’re having just a minimal time of sun, we have to replace that with sun-enriched butters and creams.” She recommends using products that have a combination of ingredients; rather than opting for pure shea butter, for example, reach for a product that has a mixture of shea butter, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and the like. “I have different oils within my creams, and people tend to find that their skin is much more decadent, it’s not as dry, it’s getting moisturized. They wash their hands often and notice ‘okay, my skin isn’t dried out’. They’re using my product that’s putting the sun back into their skin,” Reid says. She also recommends using an oil-based scrub twice a week to slough off any dry skin.

Like many products we use on a day-to-day basis, many of us want to make sure we’re using products that are safe, offer good value for how much they cost and are effective. Reid not only understands this but encourages it. “As I always tell my clients whenever I meet them, do your research.

Don’t just say ‘okay, I’m going to go to the traditional places and just buy it’. Find out what’s in your products. That’s the main thing. Look at the products and see what the main ingredients are, do your research and see for yourself. It’s for your own good,” she says. With the recent increased visibility of the natural skin and hair care industry, Reid suggests that those looking into giving natural products a try to research and talk to vendors like herself, and see which vendor is a good match for them.

Since there are many different vendors of natural skin and hair care products, what sets Diva Creations apart from the crowd? For one, Reid blends herbs into her products and whips the butters she sells, so they are soft and luxurious. Reid also takes pride in being available to her clients for all of their skin and hair care concerns. She says her phone is always on her hip, so she’s often able to help. “I’m always in tune and always connecting with them. I’m not just leaving them, saying ‘okay, you’re a client, just stay away’. I’m very interactive with my clientele,” she says.

If you’d like to take care of your skin and hair the natural way, you can contact Reid at dcskinandhair@yahoo.ca, or head over to dcskinandhair.com for more information on her products, and upcoming pop-up shop events.

Written by Dellia Rismay Toronto Caribbean Reporter

entertainment

PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

DJ’s Being Paid for Play?

Comedian and Radio Personality POWERFULLY States Her Claim Rachel Price is never to be toyed with. She’s a tough one when it comes to the business of entertainment in the Caribbean and while her words can be as stinging as her comedic expressions when she hits the stage, the proclaimed Queen of Caribbean comedy is often fearless when she has the proof to back her words. This morning, on the airwaves of urban frequency, RED 96.7FM, Price excitedly pounced on the topic of the Road March contenders and the race to the finish, suggesting that a competing frequency has been pushing its own agenda in playing Machel Montano’s music more than the music of the other comwill no longer have the peting artistes, and even brilliance of Matthews going as far as to sugto propel the band’s gest that DJs at many ragrowth, Blaze believes dio stations were enjoyhe will be guided by ing payment for airplay.

Devon’s spirit. “I’m in Calling for the tent on giving the suppeople on the ground to porters who’ve been be given the opportunity a part of the journey aba@carib101.com to decide on the Road throughout the past 10 March, Price said while years, everything we Entertainment she had no problem with initially set out to give the music receiving them. The journey continues, and although it may be tough, Bubble widespread rotation, she was bothered by the Bath J’ouvert will be back in 2019, bigger and unfairness of the present situation. She noted that on the weekend when Montano’s song was better than ever.”

Blaze extends his sincerest gratitude released, the radio in her vehicle had been on and appreciation to the loyal patrons of Bubble the competing frequency, where for an extendBath J’ouvert, guaranteeing more fun in the year ed period of time between driving to complete various errands, she had heard the song unceas2019.

- EBuzzTT ingly wheeled and played.

Many are now taking to social media with their views following the weekend explosion of Machel Montano and Superblue’s “Soca Kingdom.” Many are in agreement with Price’s sentiments while others argue that Machel has the recipe for the Road March. It was also suggested this morning that the population had been brainwashed, a term that has been used to describe the Machel madness, for years.

Iwer George, Patrice Roberts, Ricardo Drue and some say, Shurwayne Winchester all have tunes that are deserving of equal airplay for a chance at the coveted Road March – the song that is most played for masqueraders to cross the various judging points, on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. No airplay or little airplay would obviously equate to less than thunderous reception from the masses at fetes. When that is experienced, DJs then cast the songs that receive little reaction to the back of the pack.

FAIR OR NOT? You tell us.

Montano meanwhile, is preparing for his Machel Monday concert event he has aptly coined, “Soca Kingdom”. That takes place on February 5th with tickets being sold for $300, $600 and $1200 for General, VIP and Platinum All Inclusive, respectively. He performs at Army Fete on February 2nd at the Queen’s Park Savannah where as we understand it, every Road March contender will have the chance to show the crowd the strength of their contender prior to the Road March race.”

- EBuzzTT

Bubble Bath J’ouvert, the Band Founded by Devon Matthews and Blaze, Takes the Year Off

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Isaac says he will be working on things to ensure that Bubble Bath J’ouvert, a carnival mainstay, returns to the J’ouvert lineup as a top choice for J’ouvert lovers, in 2019. “I need to reorganize things a little, get my head straight to make sure that the band continues to be a success, even with half of the brain behind it, now gone. Devon had a lot of ideas and he was truly instrumental in everything,” said Blaze.

Despite the daunting reality that he

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travel

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

The world’s Eighth Largest Country - Argentina

Comprising almost the entire southern half of South America, Argentina is the world’s eighth largest country, covering an area of 2.8 million square km. Argentina possesses some of the world’s tallest mountains, expansive deserts, and impressive waterfalls, with the diversity of the land ranging from wild, remote areas in southern Patagonia to the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires in the north.

Its six major regions are as follows: Cuyo & the Andean Northwest This area surrounding the Andes began as a colony of Peru, but today only a few miners and herders occupy this unforgiving region of volcanic peaks and salt lakes. Very

little rain falls in Cuyo, though to the east are found the fertile river valleys and subtropical lowlands of the Gran Chaco.

Mesopotamia & the Northeast Mesopotamia, a broad, flat plain between the Parana and Uraguay Rivers in northern Argentina, is wet, swampy and extremely hot during the summer. The northern province of Misiones, a more mountainous region nearly enclosed by Brazil and Paraguay, is densely forested and contains a section of the majestic Iguazu Falls.

The Chaco This parched area in the west is part of the enormous Gran Chaco, a region that Argentina shares with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Bra-

zil. The Chaco contains both grassland and thorny forest.

The Pampas These fertile plains are Argentina’s breadbasket. They consist of the Humid Pampas along the seaboard and the Dry Pampas in the west and south. The region includes Buenos Aires, as well as the world- class beaches of its surrounding area.

Patagonia and the Lake District South of the Rio Colorado, experiences a desert climate, although temperatures range from mild to subzero and terrain varies from bucolic river valleys to the gigantic, ice-capped southern Andes. Its cool grazing grounds support enormous flocks of sheep,

and numerous fruit and vegetable farms can be found in the valleys. Patagonia also holds vast reserves of oil and coal.

Tierra del Fuego The Land of Fire is actually an archipelago including the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (which Argentina shares with neighbouring Chile) and numerous smaller islands. Northern Isla Grande is similar in terrain to Patagonia’s plains, while the mountainous area in the south is filled with forests and glaciers.

Its climate is usually mild year-round, although storms are frequent.

- Geographia

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PAGE 26

food

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Roasted

EGGPLANT Dip

Eartha Lowe

eartha@carib101.com

Green Healthy Eating To make brilliant food, you simply need to combine the best ingredients. The commonality among the explosion of international ingredients and cooking techniques has brought us recipes – both traditional and contrived – that none of us may have heard of, or conceived.

Starters & Dips There are many fruits, vegetable, bean and even meat dishes that can be served as dips.

Most of these dishes can be served as a casual, healthful snack for family and friends, or can be set out as part of an assortment of starters for a larger party. If hosting a party,

it is essential to have “greeting” foods to nibble on while the wine flow and cocktails are mixed. Starters set the tone, and the varieties you choose to serve can be as impressive as the meal! In fact, starters are sometimes the best part of a whole dinner party.

Dip Enthusiastically!

A popular variety of eggplant, or “aubergine” in North America looks like a pearshaped egg, a characteristic from which its name is derived. The skin is deep purple in color and glossy, while the flesh is cream colored and spongy in consistency. Different varieties do vary slightly in taste and texture, but in general, the eggplant is pleasantly bitter. Eggplant can be grilled, baked, roasted in the oven, or steamed. Roasting eggplant gives it a wonderful, smoky, flavor. In most recipes, eggplant fulfills the role of the complementary ingredient that balances the surrounding flavors of other more pronounced ingredients.

To cook this dip, first, char the eggplants over an open flame, or broil in the oven until they are blackened in some spots, about 5 - 6 minutes. Here’s how to get go-

ing.

You’ll need: • 2 medium-sized eggplants • 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 2 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1/4 cup red onion, minced • 2 tomatoes, diced • 2 garlic cloves, minced (optional) • 1 cup fresh basil, finely chopped • 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped • 2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Directions: Preheat a gas grill, or turn the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Pierce the eggplants in several places with a thin-bladed knife, or skewer.

Grill or roast, turning occasionally until the eggplant collapses and the skin blackens, about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove and cool.

Once the eggplant is cool enough to handle, part the skin, scoop out the flesh and add to a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the

remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust ingredients as desired. Serve with bread, crackers, or as a dip for vegetables.

Cooking Tip: Don’t have a food processor? Alternatively, you can mince the flesh of the eggplant finely with a fork. Enjoy!

Category: vegan, vegetarian Prep and cook time: 1 hour Serves: 6 Difficulty: easy!

Tips to Select Eggplant When purchasing eggplants, choose ones that are firm and heavy for their size. The color of the skin should be vivid, smooth, and shiny. The stem and cap, on either end of the eggplant, should be a bright green in color. To test for ripeness, gently press with the pad of your thumb. You’ll know the eggplant is ripe if it springs back.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

The Right Foundation for Me

Kizzy Courtney

kizzy@carib101.com

Beauty Tips

Choosing the right foundation can be overwhelming and downright scary at times.

The easiest way to pick the right foundation for you is to first know your skin type and second know how to match your shade.

With so many brands and so many different finishes, how do you choose? How do you know which is right for you? Well, having someone match you at the drugstore is out of the question and going into Sephora or MAC can be hit or miss as well. Especially when it comes to the deeper skin tones. There are

other options to wearing foundations however i.e.; a BB cream or Beauty Balm, a tinted moisturizer or maybe even a powder. Those options are not why you are reading this. You are reading this because you want to find the right foundation for you.

Do you know what type of skin you have? Do you find that throughout the day you’re constantly shiny or greasy especially in the middle of your face? Well, you my friend have oily skin or combination oily (this is when you get the oiliest in your ’T Zone’ or the middle of you face and dry or normal everywhere else). If you have this skin type, as I do, you want to look for a mattifying foundation. The best drugstore foundation and my personal favourite is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless foundation. This foundation keeps you matte for up to 8 hrs and it also minimizes your pores. Being a drugstore foundation the shade range is passable but the price makes up for it. If you are looking for something a little more highend I recently tested the Clinique Stay-Matte

beauty

Oil Free foundation and it is amazing. This foundation keeps you matte for a little over 9 hrs, controls shine, lightweight, leaves a nice matte finish and is oil free. Now on the other end if you are constantly moisturizing or have dry patches on your face then you’ve guessed it, you have dry skin. When it comes to dry skin it is best to choose a foundation that promises a dewy finish, that hydrates and is water based. A few drugstore options that received good reviews are the Maybelline Fit Me Hydrate + Smooth foundation and the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow foundation. Both foundations work well on normal to dry skin.

Now that you know your skin type and you’ve decided on a foundation, how do you choose your shade? Well it’s simple, choose a few shades that is closest to your skin tone and swatch each of them on your neck. Why the neck you ask? Well think about it, your face is often a lighter shade than your neck and the rest of your body.

So, choosing a shade that matches your face

PAGE 29

will make it seem as though you’re wearing a mask with a clear line of demarcation being seen. Placing the swatches on your neck will allow you to see the true shade and get the perfect match. After the swatches are placed on your neck the shade that basically disappears into your skin is your shade.

This may be difficult for some, because they are people that are in between shades and by simply mixing a light and a dark shade should give you your perfect match. Natural lighting is the best lighting when choosing a shade. I know it may sound silly but after you’ve placed your swatches walk outside in the natural light and look closely in a mirror.

From there choose the shade that blended nicely into your skin.

I hope by reading this article, you have a clearer understanding on how best to choose a foundation that best suits you and your skin type. So, next time you’re at your drugstore or Sephora, don’t feel scared or get overwhelmed girl, because you’ve got this.

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1. Register your bike(s) at www.peelpolice.ca/bikes 2. During the registration process, select “YES” to receive your free bicycle registry sticker 3. Place the sticker in a clearly visible location on your bicycle Learn more: www.peelpolice.ca/bikes

health

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

A Radish-Like Plant From India Proven to Effectively Relieve Depression Symptoms

A study published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines revealed that ethanolic extracts obtained from Raphanus caudatus L., more commonly known as rat-tail radish or tailpod radish, may hold potential in alleviating depression. A team of Pakistani researchers examined the effects of the plant extracts on male albino mice as part of the study.

The scientists gave the mice varying doses of the ethanolic extracts at 250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight, and 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg. A control group was given normal saline solution, while another group was given the antidepressant drug fluoxetine. The experts also subjected the animal models to a forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) to measure their depression-like behavior. The results showed that all three tested doses and the standard fluoxetine treatment resulted in antidepressant-like activities in both FST and TST paradigms.

“Raphanus sativus is a rich source of flavonoids, alkaloids, anthocynins and isothiocyanate compounds. Hence, it may be safely suggested that antidepressant-like activity of Raphanus caudatus in the current investigation could be due to presence of these bioactive constituents. Nevertheless, this must be evaluated and confirmed by

characterization of active constituents. However, it must be confirmed by mechanism based studies in future. Present investigation clearly indicates that Raphanus caudatus have significant antidepressant capability in rodent models of depression,” the researchers said.

According to the experts, the results demonstrate that extracts obtained from rat-tail radish help relieve depression-like behavior, and that the plant might be used in developing newer antidepressant treatments in the future.

“The findings of present study suggest that ethanolic extract from Raphanus caudatus possess significant antidepressantlike activity in FST and TST behavioral paradigms in mice. Thus, the plant extract could be used to ameliorate depression-like behavior alone, or in combination with antidepressant agents. Chemical characterizations of active antidepressant constituents of plant along with molecular targets are necessary to establish newer antidepressant agent/s from the plant,” the researchers added.

Fast facts about depression The recent findings may hold implications in relieving depression, which affects millions worldwide. A fact sheet published on the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) media

center revealed that the mental health disorder affects more than 300 million people in all age groups around the world. The WHO also cautioned that depression is the leading cause of disability across the globe, and is a big contributor to the overall global burden of disease.

In addition, the fact sheet revealed that depression was more rampant in women than in men. Depression may also increase a patient’s likelihood of committing suicide.

In fact, 800,000 people die of depressionrelated suicides every year. According to the WHO, depression-related suicides were the second leading cause of death in patients aged 15 to 29 years old.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also revealed that more than one in 20 Americans aged 12 years and older experience depression. Likewise, 10 percent of U.S. adults aged 40 to 59 years old suffer from depression. The CDC also noted that the mental health disorder was also more prevalent in women than in men. According to the health agency, the economic burden of depression – such as workplace costs, direct costs and suiciderelated costs – was $210.5 billion in 2010 alone.

- Natural News

Cilantro, Also Known as Coriander, Naturally Protects the Liver and Lowers Lead Concentration

Cilantro, also known as coriander, was found to be a natural remedy for lead poisoning as it naturally chelates lead from the body — providing protection for the liver and reduces lead concentration.

Coriandrum sativum, the scientific name of coriander, is one of the oldest spice crops in the world. Its leaves are commonly used for folk medicine as a carminative (relieves flatulence), spasmolytic (relieves spasms), and galactagogue (increases breast milk production) herb. Moreover, coriander is believed to contain powerful chelating properties. However, there were not enough scientific evidence to prove this, until this study.

A team of researchers from the Juarez University of the State of Durango and Autonomous University of Coahuila in Mexico analyzed the chelating effect of the methanol extract of coriander and its fractions on Wistar rats poisoned with lead. In the study, they intoxicated the rats with 50 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) of lead acetate and then treated them with 50 mg/kg of methanol extract and its fractions — which were administered to four treatment groups.

Moreover, they evaluated hemoglobin, hematocrit, and lead concentrations.

Coriander is a promising agent for chelation, particularly for heavy metals such as lead. Lead poisoning is a result of lead build up in the body. Young children below six years old are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects. This can affect their

mental and physical development. There is no known safe blood lead concentration, but it is known that as lead exposure increases, so do its harmful effects.

The results of the experiment revealed that the group that received methanol extract displayed significant improvement in the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in comparison with the control group. This is essential because intoxication with lead causes anemia, which is seen in a reduction of hemoglobin. Furthermore, results showed that lead concentration in treatment groups were reduced compared to the control group.

“The administration of the methanol extract and its fractions produced a good significant variation in most of the evaluated tests,” the researchers wrote.

In conclusion, extracts of coriander provide protection for the liver and decreases levels of lead concentration in rats poisoned with lead. The findings of the study were published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

Coriander and its other health benefits Coriander is a flowering plant that is a member of the parsley family. It is believed to have originated from South Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. Its stems, leaves, seeds, essential oil, and roots are all used for their medicinal properties. Listed below are the other health benefits of the coriander plant.

It fights oxidative damage – Coriander is rich in strong antioxidants, such as catechin, alkanals, apigenin, and lanalool. These help scavenge free radicals that are harmful for the body.

It prevents cancer – Because of its antioxidant properties, it can potentially help treat cancer. It root extracts were shown to hinder DNA damage, prevent cancer cell migration, and stimulate cancer death cell based on laboratory studies.

It helps manage diabetes – A study found that its leaf and stem extracts decreased blood sugar levels and helped manage blood sugar better.

It reduces cholesterol levels – In animal studies, it was found to reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

It prevents infection – The plant possesses anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties. It is said to break down the cell wall of pathogens, which prevents them from proliferating.

It enhances memory – A study found that it has the potential to improve memory and help manage Alzheimer’s disease.

- Natural News

PAGE 31

yoga

PAGE 32

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Get Your Back Into It - Part I Trisha Curling

trishacurling@carib101.com

Yoga I often get questions from people about what yoga poses they should do to “fix” their back pain. Yoga is not a one size fits all practice, and neither is back pain a one size fits all diagnosis. Yes, there are some general movements/poses that can be suggested for someone, but there are a number of things to consider for each individual. The best place to start is consulting with your health practitioner. This person will provide vital information for Yoga Teachers and Personal

Trainers like myself, who can then utilize this information in conjunction with any other findings during the thorough assessment of different movement patterns that are completed when working together. The poses that are offered by a yoga teacher we must remember, are offered as suggestions for our particular ailment. It doesn’t mean that it is a “quick fix”. They are also things that we can begin to work with to see if they actually help us. Everyone is different. With all of this, it is imperative that we listen to our own bodies and work in ways that are kind and honor the intuition that speaks to us when we are working to ease pain and/or better our movements. Let’s look at some of the possible issues and some of the yoga postures that MIGHT be helpful.

Sometimes when we are experiencing pain, we tend to want to take movement out of the equation. This can actually be extremely counterproductive. When given the green light from your doctor, begin to move in subtle ways that will encourage healing. If

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we are experiencing “Lower Back Pain” one of the contributors may be from compression of the discs in the lumbar spine. Starting in postures that are on your back (supine) will help to take some of the pressure off. Subtle supine twisting postures may help to equalize the pressure that is required in the discs so that they may operate as they should (to absorb shock and create space between each vertebra).

There are many variations, but a nice one to start off with is this variation of: Supine Twist: Start by lying in a comfortable position on your back with the backs of your shoulders flat on the floor or yoga mat, legs extended all the way out. Create more space between the shoulders and your ears by “walking” your shoulder blades toward the direction of your feet. Next, draw both knees in toward your chest and let them fall to the right side. Then, gently place your right hand on the outside of your right thigh

or knee and guide your bent legs softly toward the ground. Let your left arm lay out long beside you as if opening your arms wide to give a big hug. Lastly, take your glance to the direction of the left arm to get a nice neck stretch on the right side. Take a few deep breaths in this position and then repeat on the other side.

Repeating movements like this daily can encourage the nourishment required for the spine. They encourage the release of synovial fluid in the spine. This becomes increasingly more important, especially as we age and/or if we have decreased activity in our lives for one reason or another.

Another contributor to back pain is often weak muscles. In particular, the glutes, back extensors and/or psoas. Over time, as we develop different habits, patterns, and postures, we may no longer make proper connections with different areas of our bodies. Look out for my article in the next issue for some poses that may be helpful in strengthening these muscles.

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life

PAGE 35

Is Your Will Fool Proof? How To Avoid Challenges To Wills Valerie Dye

valerie@carib101.com

Legal Matters Most people recognize the importance of having a will to ensure that their estate is managed smoothly after they die. Unfortunately, having a will does not necessarily prevent discord among loved ones after they die. The Courts are replete with actions brought by disgruntled loved ones who seek to challenge a will. What are some of the things that can

open a will to challenges in court?

One of those grounds is that the testator may not have had the capacity to make a will. Lack of testamentary capacity most often occurs if the testator does not have the presence of mind to understand that he or she is making a will. The testator must also understand and be aware of the amount of property he or she owns, understand the extent of what he is giving under the will and remembers the people who should normally benefit under the will. Once suspicious circumstances are found then the persons seeking to probate the will must prove that the testator had the capacity to make the will.

As highlighted in cases such as Laframboise v. Laframboise, 2011 ONSC a testator may have a mental disorder but still have the capacity to make a will. In that case, the court found that despite the fact that the testator suffered from depression and mood

swings he still had testamentary capacity. A testator may suffer from memory loss and other cognitive challenges or be unable to take care of himself but still, have testamentary capacity. In Re Weidenberger Estate, [2002] A.J. No 1157 the court stated that:

‘The fact that the deceased was mentally ill and suffered from confusion is not determinative as to whether the deceased did or did not have the requisite testamentary capacity. Cognitive impairment or confusion alone is not grounds for declaring a person incapable of making a will.’

Even a testator who suffers from delusions may still be found to have testamentary capacity unless the delusion is of the type that is classified as insanity and affects his judgment in relation to his property and beneficiaries.

It is clear that having mental health issues does not in itself mean that a person lacks tes-

SEAC - Huh?

Kathy McDonald kathy@carib101.com

Education It came as no surprise that numerous parents, when asked about SEAC, were unable to correctly say the acronym and most never heard of the committee. Most got the education part right but it all fell apart after that.

SEAC stands for Special Education Advisory Committee. As the name suggests this committee provides advice to their respective school boards on matters pertaining to special education. This committee also advocates for the needs of students that have specialized educational requirements in order for them to be successful.

In Ontario, our publically funded educational institutions are overseen by school boards. School boards are independent entities governed by trustees. The trustees are guided by the regulatory and policy framework established by the Ministry of Education. The duties of the board are set out in the Education Act. Under the Education Act, part of the duty of a trustee is to establish policies and committees. The board has legal obligations and responsibilities for establishing special educational services and programs in an attempt to make education

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accessible to all students regardless of abilities. School boards in Ontario are required to establish statutory committees. These statutory committees are mandated by the province. SEAC is a mandated committee.

Other mandated committees include the Audit Committee, the PIC (Parent Involvement Committee) and the SAL Committee (Supervised Alternative Learning). At the Peel District School Board (PDSB) we have established the PP&B (Physical Planning and Building Committee) and IPC (Instructional Programs/Curriculum) committees to serve as our committees that tackle the building and maintenance as well as the instruction and programming that our students receive.

The names of some of the committees across the boards may be different but their mandates are the same and all have student success at their center.

The SEAC committee consists of trustees, board staff and volunteers representing various parent associations and advocacy groups. The PDSB has twelve representatives from parents advocate groups.

They are: Association of Bright Children, Peel Chapter; Autism Ontario, Peel Chapter; Brampton Caledon Community Living; Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Branch; Easter Seals Ontario; FAS World Canada, Peel Chapter; Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada; Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region; Down Syndrome Association of Peel; VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children; Tourette Syndrome Association of Ontario and VIEWS for Blind and Visually Impaired Children. The board benefits from the expertise and expe-

rience of these dedicated volunteers. They represent a wide range of special educational interest and often provide insight to many of the special requirements and challenges that children with exceptionalities face.

The SEAC committee often provides recommendations to the board that the trustees will consider when establishing policies and procedures. These recommendations range from matters affecting the delivery of special educational programs, for example, the gifted program to unique accommodations and requirements a student may require to be successful. Such accommodations may include providing students with assistive technology or special devices to help a student focus on a task. The SEAC committee will often provide input into procedures, for example how some special needs students transition from one program to the next or how medically fragile students have their needs met.

SEAC also provides cherished input into the board’s annual budget process.

In matters concerning the board’s special education plan, SEAC’s advice and input is crucial as trustees decipher copious amounts of business proposals and priorities for a finite amount of dollars. The SEAC committee also reviews the financial statements of the board’s special education budget as a committee as well as the committee participates in the board’s annual review of its educational plan.

The various requirements for the SEAC committee established by the Ministry of Education are set out in Regulation 464/97. As such school boards across Ontar-

tamentary capacity.

Wills can also be challenged on the ground that there was undue influence or duress exerted upon the testator that caused him to dispose of his property in a way that he did really want. The issue of undue influence is greater with a testator who is old and depends on someone to take care of him. As stated in Duschl vs Duschl Estate 2008 ONSC the testator must be placed under such coercion that if he could speak he would say “This is not my wish but I must do it’. However, it is not enough to show that the party benefitting under the will had the power to coerce the testator. That person must have actually exercised that power and caused the testator to make a will against his wishes. One way of preventing claims of undue influence is to ensure that beneficiaries are not present when the will is being made.

io have a duty to abide by these guidelines.

If you are the parent of a child with special educational needs, whether or not the child has been identified by a professional as a parent you have the right to access programs and supports that will enable your child to be the best that they can be. I have personally seen benefits of children that are provided the necessary supports.

The PDSB produces a brochure that describes the role and responsibilities of SEAC and prevalent in the brochure is the fact that parents are valuable partners. These are not just words at the PDSB we truly value the relationship with parents, caregivers and the community. SEAC plays a vital role in how information is disseminated to the parent community. SEAC also acts as an invaluable source of information for parents.

They can be contacted at SEAC@peelsb. com. All the SEAC meetings are open to the public and a list of the committee’s meeting schedule can be found on the PDSB website.

I think this information would be readily accessible on most school board’s websites if not contact your local trustee.

An exceptionality is not an excuse or a reason for a child’s full potential not to be attained. As an educational system, we have a duty and responsibility to ensure that all learners reach their full potential. We all benefit as a society both financially and socially. So. journey with me as together we strive to make each student be the best that they can be and realize their full potential.

Walk Good. Belle Marché.

PAGE 36

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Simone Jennifer Smith, Born June 26, 1979

Simone Smith

simone@carib101.com

A Better Tomorrow I have always had very fond memories of my time living in Windsor and Detroit. My 20’s were filled with experimentation, both good and bad. I was exposed to a different type of life, just because I choose to leave my comfort zone and venture off into new territories.

When people think of Detroit, there is an undertone of fear because of all that is heard about the city. Windsor, to most, is just another border town, riddled with strip clubs, prostitution and complaisant locals who are able to live day by day without much care.

While everyone was partying in Toronto, I was making my way over the border, getting myself in all types of trouble; from wild parties to bartending in sexy lingerie, Detroit became a haven to me. It was this forbidden place filled with wonder that aided me during some very difficult times. It also cost me a lot; I made bad decisions because I choose to hang out with the wrong type of

people. The two cities hold a special place in my heart, and for some reason, I have remained drawn to this quaint town, where it takes ten minutes to go anywhere, and where you have the opportunity to sit on the riverside and stare into another country. You can quite literally see events, parties, and celebrations happening on the other side of the Detroit River.

One of my fondest memories about Windsor and Detroit was having access to their radio programs. I fell in love with The Steve Harvey Radio Show in 2006/2007. For those who don’t know, it still comes on at 6:00 am on 93.7 WBLK, a Buffalo station that we are able to tune into. I remember setting my alarm clock on purpose so that I would be up in time to listen to Steve Harvey’s words of encouragement in the morning. When I first started doing this, I was in my late 20’s, and I was just starting to discover my spirituality and the true meaning of my life. Steve would come on each morning and lay life out in a practical manner, allowing me to really take a look at how I was living my life. When I moved back to Toronto in 2009, I was actually sad because I felt like I had lost a piece of my morning routine. It is a routine that I have managed to restart, and I want to write briefly today about the act of setting great routines.

This morning Steve Harvey brought up the fact that the most important piece of information on your tombstone is not the day

you were born or the day you die. The most important piece of information is actually the dash that comes between the two dates.

“Simone Jennifer Smith, Born June 26, 1979 –”

This dash is what I am currently working on, and it is this dash that is filled with many routines that we could do without.

When you think Legacy, you have to think of this dash. That dash is filled with all of the silly mistakes I have made, the hurt that I have caused, the good that I have done, and am going to do (God spare my life). The dash is also filled with habits that do not serve me; demons that continue to rear their ugly heads. It is filled with laughter, holidays, adventures, vacations, trips, educational experiences, friendships, relationships, and the list goes on. Through all of this, I have to remember that my dash has not closed yet, so there is still a chance of changing the things that I do not care for in my life. I want my readers to focus on the routines that you have created in your life. While you are thinking about them, think about how they will add to that dash on your gravestone. What type of Legacy are you leaving behind for your family, for your community? What will people remember you for?

Insert Name, Insert Date of Birth, -------------- Death Date. Work on creating memories to fill that dash!

Stepping Into The Fear WITH JAY BRIJPAUL & AMIT KANHAI LIVE from 1-2pm EST on Facebook, YouTube & Periscope.

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Colleen Lindberg

colleen@carib101.com

Personal Development I just got off a call with one of my coaching clients who is surrounded by people in his life who have a lot of fear. Whether that’s the co-workers in his life, or some of his family, including some business colleagues. For the last week, maybe partially the last few days, he has been surrounded by a lot of people who have fears, who want to tell him about the things that he potentially can’t achieve in his life or shouldn’t go through because he should be looking for more stability. I could feel him from afar and knew he needed time to digest what he was going through, not

knowing exactly what he was going through, but then he reached out tonight to say to me, “I’m not sure how I feel about things.” I called him right away to go, “What’s been going on?”

He told me that all of these people have been surrounding him and telling him about all of these negative things that should be in his life or shouldn’t be in his life. So, I said to him, “What if we use this as fuel? What if we actually stepped into the unknown and stepped into the fear knowing that there is that thriving little whisper inside of our core that keeps reaching out saying you’re destined for other things? You’re destined for bigger things. You’re destined for more in your life.” And if you would just step in, embrace the fear, embrace the negativity, put it into its own box and push through, you might actually get the life that you’re wanting to live or that you are destined to live.

So today, and why I tell you that story, is there are things in your life that you are probably avoiding. People in your

life that are telling you that you can’t and you’ve embraced that knowledge or you’ve embraced their words of advice or wisdom because you respect them or because you do have that fear and you are scared to step into that space. Well, today is a new day. What if you just did? What if you just stepped in, threw it all in and just decided to make that change and to see what would happen?

What is really going to happen if you fail and not succeed at what it is that you’re throwing it all in for? Nothing really, maybe you’re a few steps behind, maybe you’re out a little bit of money. But you can get all that back, but you can’t get back the experience or the learning that you’re going to learn about yourself, about others and about that experience without actually diving in.

So today, I challenge you to step into the fear. Step in full heartedly all in and see what happens. You never know. You might surprise yourself. Until next time.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

First impressions?

Kezia Royer-Burkett kezia@carib101.com

Loves, Likes & Shares “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” One of the most popular sayings on the social understanding of first impressions. First impressions when it comes to business is one thing, but first impressions when it comes to romance and relationships is a whole other ball game. When we first meet someone we like, we want to ensure that the first impression the person has is a good one.

When we are interested in someone, we tend to showcase our best behavior long after the first impression to ensure the person we like sees the best we have to offer, the best of who we are and who we hope to be. But what if your first impression doesn’t necessarily represent who you are and someone writes you off entirely? This is possible and I feel like it sort of happened to me. A guy added me on Facebook and started messaging me.

I had never met him and he appeared visually appealing from his pictures and he seemed to represent himself well on his social media platforms. I don’t usually respond when random guys message me on social media, but I felt like he was different so I decided to return his messages.

Our conversation was light and casual but he intrigued me. One night by accident I sent him a voice note I meant to send to a friend, but that was regarding a conversation I was having with him.

The Facebook guy who I had never met but only had a couple of conversations with over text was offended and never spoke to me again. I felt terrible, the guy hadn’t even gotten to know me or see the best side of me before we could meet.

In the development of my initial impressions I made a bad impression that ended anything before it began. I was a little disappointed in myself; I had never really been in the position of making such

a bad impression on a guy that he just didn’t want to talk to me anymore.

Then recently I had reached out to a guy that I use to go to high school with that seemed like a guy that had his life together. He was good-looking, had a career, seemed responsible and an overall upstanding guy. I initiated our conversation after his many comments and likes on my social media. Our texts conversations felt forced by me, and I thought he just wasn’t interested until one day our conversation got a little sexual. Our discussion stumbled on the topic of oral sex, and this guy began messaging me like he had never messaged me before. After the conversation I thought to myself, this isn’t the guy for me, and the impression the conversation left on me was this guy was only interested in sex, and that was a red flag to keep it moving. The next day this guy initiated dialogue with me, something he rarely did before that.

Finally, I was getting what I wanted from him but because I was so turned off from the sexually driven conversation the night before I didn’t message him back and don’t think I ever will again. I’m left wondering if dating as a single mother in my thirties, can get any worse or does it only go up from here?

I find that dating in my thirties people have a lot less tolerance. One lousy impression could completely call off getting to know the person more. Time is valuable, and no one seems to be willing to waste their precious time if there are warning signs of intolerable characteristics early on. Where is the balance in looking past minor faux pas and flaws and heeding the warning signs of a toxic relationship? That I haven’t figured out yet, for now, I just listen to my intuition and hope I can find a balance between investing my valuable time attempting to know someone and knowing when my time is better served elsewhere.

If you have navigated the waters of being a single mom and dating and are now in a successful relationship, please share your journey and any tips and practical advice you can provide for us ladies. If you want to share stories about bad first impressions in a romantic situation, please feel free to e-mail them to kezia@carib101.com

in the six

PAGE 37

PAGE 38

technology

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Three Tips to Break Into a Tough Job Market

Job hunting can be stressful, especially when you face a competitive market in a big city or limited opportunities in a smaller community. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a millennial looking to take the next step in your career, or a middle manager hoping to climb the corporate ladder, here are some tips that can help set you up for success.

to consider the unique skills and attributes that you bring to the table and how you can showcase them in your resume, cover letter and in-person interviews. Don’t forget to review your social media presence on all platforms to make sure these attributes shine through, and delete any posts or photos that can hurt your chances of landing a job if an employer or recruiter were to see them.

1. Remember all experience is relevant.

If you recently graduated or are applying for a position where you have little direct experience, think outside the box and you’ll likely find you have plenty of ways to show you’re qualified. Think about your transferrable skills. That community improvement project you ran for your neighbourhood on a volunteer basis? It can show leadership and management skills. That industry conference you attended? It proves your commitment to learning and keeping up-to-date with trends.

3. Explore international opportunities.

You can stand out from a pool of applicants if you have a global mindset and the cultural knowledge that comes from working abroad. In fact, research shows that youth with international experience are more likely to be employed later on. If you’re between 18 and 35, check out International Experience Canada (IEC), a governmentrun program that offers youth the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while travelling abroad. Because Canada holds agreements with more than 30 partner countries and territories, work permits under IEC are generally less expensive, more flexible and processed more quickly!

- News Canada

2. Build your personal brand. In a digital world, career success is all about marketing yourself online and off. Take time

Three Ways to Upgrade Your Lifestyle This Year

Did you make yourself a promise that 2018 would bring exciting life changes? Here are three inspiring ideas to keep you motivated to create a happier, healthier and more successful you this year.

1. Learn something new. Developing a new skill is a great first step towards self-improvement. It benefits your self-confidence and can create a feeling of achievement that builds towards bigger accomplishments. Try joining a class or following online tutorials for some DIY skills to help you improve your home, or learn essential work skills for the modern economy like social media marketing or coding.

2. Be adventurous and spend time abroad.

Living in a foreign country for a few months or a year can broaden your outlook, help you enhance your language skills, and introduce you to people from different walks of life.

Consider a working holiday, co-op or internship, or professional development abroad.

You’ll gain valuable international work ex-

perience, work on teams with diverse cultural backgrounds and develop connections that strengthen your place in a global workforce—all of which can launch you into the next level in your career.

If you’re between 18 and 35, check out International Experience Canada to help make this work and travel experience happen. It’s a government program that helps facilitate work permits to more than 30 partner countries and territories for up to two years.

Find more information on work and travel abroad at Canada.ca/IEC. 3. Make the most of winter. The winter months can be hard on our health, as we tend to hibernate indoors, eat more junk food and exercise less. Get out of this rut by focusing on the best the season has to offer, like skating, skiing and snowshoeing outdoors. Boost your health and beat the winter blues by getting enough vitamin D and eating nutrientrich foods.

- News Canada

BOO BIRDS

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

TAURUS

Your social life and moneymaking prospects gain a boost from Venus and the sun in Aquarius. Both also stimulate fresh ideas and interest levels. Friday/Saturday, go with the flow. Creativity, romance, or relaxation is your best bet. Monday/Tuesday, the Aries moon has you on a fresh refuel. Wednesday, a message conveyed, a talk, a first impression, an intention, or action taken hits the mark.

A new approach, attitude, or avenue could be the ticket. Whether a little or a lot, don’t hesitate to try on a new look or to take on something fresh. It should feel like a natural progression or fit. Venus and the Aquarius sun will dish up fresh prospects and better success odds. Put effort into upgrades and the good-for-you stuff.

JANUARY 10TH EDITION ANSWERS

CANCER

Thursday/Friday finishes the workweek on a smooth-running and social track. Hear the call; heed the call. Venus and the sun in Aquarius perk up pleasure, interest, and reward levels. Perhaps there’s something new to share, try, or explore. Time can evaporate this weekend. Monday, hit it fresh and full swing first thing. Wednesday requires more time, patience, or investment.

Have you felt thwarted by another or under added pressure because of circumstances or time on the move? Four planets in Capricorn have likely put a more serious spin on your reality. No matter how it initially plays out, look to Venus and the sun freshly into Aquarius to benefit you. An added degree of separation allows for a more objective perspective.

LEO

VIRGO

Thursday is a good day to connect, scout around, or put yourself out there. This next week is too. Venus and the sun in Aquarius deliver a fresh wind to your people sector. They also boost money prospects and creativity. Now or over the next couple of weeks, an important someone or key matter (social, professional, financial, or romantic) consumes more attention.

Where the mind goes, the heart and the body will follow. Renew your commitment to health and wellness and to bettering your best both on and off the job. Venus and the Aquarius sun can introduce fresh and/or better avenues, opportunity, and creative solutions. Easy does it best through the weekend.

Monday to Wednesday, you should hit an upswing.

July 22 - August 22

IN THE STANDS

June 21 - July 22

August 22 - September 22

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Aim to be an attention getter and claim your 15 minutes. For the next several weeks, Venus and the sun in Aquarius enhance prospects in all areas and help you to shine your best. Over this coming week, the stars keep to a smooth and productive track, but soon something added or unexpected will rev up career, finances, personal life, or love life.

Venus and the Aquarius sun make for an appropriate time to push the refresh button on home base and family matters. Yes—renovate your living space, your lifestyle, your attitude, or something more. Congratulations if you are welcoming a new addition to the family or have a new address in the works! Thursday through Sunday, aim for ease and stay comfortable.

September 22 - October 23

October 23 - November 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

Something fresh or new tossed into the mix can do the trick quite nicely Thursday/Friday. Easy and relaxed does it best for the weekend. Monday/Tuesday, the Aries moon picks up the pace. You should feel a physical-energy boost, too. As of mid–next week, watch for a fresh idea or trend or for someone to rev it up.

A contract renewal can be well timed Thursday/Friday, especially if you can incorporate a change in your favour, such as a better rate or a monetary increase. On the other hand, don’t hesitate to invest/spend more to get what you want. Relax for the weekend. Plan to hit it fresh and full-on as of Monday.

November 22 - December 21

December 21 - January 19

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Thanks to Venus and the sun showing you off in your best possible light, your birthday month gets off to a good running start on Friday. The weekend goes easy on you too.

Monday begins an active but mostly smoothrunning week. Get ready for more action and excitement. Another super full moon (it’s also an eclipse) is here soon!

On the go or kicking back, social, romantic, or on your own, Friday through Sunday, it’s all good. The moon travelling through fluid Pisces helps you to make the most of the moment. A productive week lies ahead. Feel something starting to brew? A potential is soon to bear fruit. Keep on watch.

January 19 - February 18

PRINCESS

April 19 - May 20

GEMINI

May 20 - June 21

Down 1) Cat adjective (from Latin) 3) Cats’ bathroom 4) Famous Internet cat 7) Used to clean themselves 10) Warning sound 11) Fancy ____ 13) Usual prey 15) Unlucky colour?

16) Three-coloured cat

PAGE 39

ARIES

March 20 - April 19

Across 2) Group of cats 5) Baby cat 6) Where cats were worshipped 8) Sound of contentment 9) Short or no tail 12) Like human twins 14) Any cat with distinctive fur pattern 17) Can have five or six toes 18) Favourite herb

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real estate

PAGE 42

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Advice When Buying Pre-Built Condominiums Jay Brijpaul

brijpaul@carib101.com

Real Estate George was excited when he bought his newly built condominium, but he noticed that the showroom model was larger than the one he bought. The salesperson assured George that he would hardly notice the difference. It turned out that the difference was significant.

Buying a pre-built condo is exciting. You will be the first to experience it.

However, it is difficult to look at a floor plan and imagine the actual size. If the builder does not have that specific model on display, look at resale condominiums with similar sizes to have an idea of the space you will live in. Sometimes the floor plan is larger

than the floor area because the plan may include internal and external walls as well.

Expect long delays when buying a pre-built condominium. In some instances, delays can last for years. The builder must sell a certain number of suites before construction begins.

Once the building is completed, you will be charged occupancy fees known as “phantom rent” to cover the builder’s monthly expense plus property taxes and maintenance until the building is formally registered as a condominium.

Condominium living is not for everyone with regards to the confined space, the rules, and the regulations. Many buyers would rather spend more time shopping for groceries than buying a condominium. First, make sure that you are prepared to live in a condominium. The purchase of sale agreement should be reviewed by a real estate lawyer. There is a ten-day cooling off period when purchasing a pre-built condo and after the time expires, you are bound by the contract.

When purchasing a pre-built condominium, height matters. The higher the suite, the better the view but the higher the

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cost. The view is very important because you don’t want to be overlooking the garbage pickup area or the garage entrance. If there is vacant land, find out what’s going up next because another building might block that view.

The best advice is to buy the largest suite you can afford. Small suites such as studios are much more difficult to sell when you are planning to move. It is better to buy premium, live in it and then sell premium.

Avoid buying close to elevators because of the noise factor. It is a good idea to buy the parking space and locker as well because if you do not use it you can easily rent it out.

When buying parking spaces and lockers, be careful where they are in comparison to your suite. You do not want to spend quality time navigating between parking, accessing your storage and going to your suite.

With pre-built, always request a condominium disclosure statement. This will give you an idea of the rules, governing documents, and budgeting for the first year.

Some condominium buildings do not allow pets, and this could create a problem for a purchaser. As a buyer, you would have an

idea as to the estimated condominium fees.

Usually, it is relatively low in the first year and jumps substantially after that. The more amenities in the building, the higher the maintenance fees. Some builders, to reduce construction costs, would lease equipment such as the heating, cooling and hot water systems, and this would trigger an increase in condominium fees.

Pre-built condominiums take time to complete. If the market is good, then the value of your suite will appreciate. In a declining market, price drops can be devastating. In some instances, prices can drop to the extent that wipes out your deposit. If a buyer fails to close, they can be sued as well. An increase in interest rate can trigger a decline in price and at the same time an increase in your mortgage payment.

The bottom line is to do your due diligence before you proceed. First get your bank’s blessing, then research the builder and consult your lawyer. The next step is to continue to save because it will be worth the wait.

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PAGE 44

finance

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Understanding Your Annual Investment Statement Fazaad Bacchus

fazaad@carib101.com

Finance Specialist Everyone who invests money will receive or probably have already received their annual investment statement. It is a complex statement and may sound like Greek to you, however, it is important that you understand what various lines mean. Let’s look at a few things or entries that you should concern yourself with.

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Rate of Return: (ROR) is not to be confused with interest. ROR on an investment is measured by what you started with divided with what you have now and typically it is referred to as a capital gain. ROR is measured in daily changes but for the purpose of your annual statement, you need to look at what the crediting rate of return has been over the last year. As an example, if you started the

year with an investment of $20,000 and at the end of the year you have $23,000 then it is fair to say that you have earned a return of 15%. ROR is extremely important as this is one of the main factors responsible for the growth of your money.

Risk: While ROR determines how fast your money can grow, it must be coupled with understanding the risk levels you are enduring. It is a known fact that risk equals return, meaning the higher the risk the higher the expected return. However, not everyone should be taking high risk. As a general rule, the closer you are to retirement, the less risk you should be taking. Look at the return that you earned and then look at the risk profile of your investments, if the return is too low for the risk level that you have assumed then you may be better off with other investments. Look at your investments and Google them to see the risk level.

Asset Allocation: This is another major item to look for when looking at your statements.

How well diversified are you? Are all of your eggs in one basket? I have seen many statements where the investor has about three or four funds and they are all in the Canadian

market and all in energy funds. When the market does well, they do well and when the market falls they fall, very hard. The better thing to do is to diversify your portfolio where your risk is spread amongst different sectors and different geographical locations.

You should divide your investments between International/Global Equity, North American Equity plus Fixed Income Investments.

How much to allocate to each is also another matter, so look at your statements to see how it is allocated, drop me a line if you help to understand it.

Commissions and Fees: Starting in 2017 the regulators decided that all commissions and fees must be disclosed on your annual statements, these fees are payable whether you are invested at the bank or at an investment company. Should you be paying fees for advice and service if you don’t receive any, I don’t think so! Every investment carries with it a Management Expense Ratio (MER) some are higher than others and it is the price you pay for performance and service. Look at your statements and calculate the fees paid out from your account and if you didn’t get value for money, start looking for a proper advisor.

Critical Illness Insurance...Better Than GoFundMe? Andrew Stewart

andrew@carib101.com

Family Advisor The fact that critical illness (CI) insurance hasn’t caught on in Canada may be a reflection that it’s a flawed, poorly designed and overly expensive product. Here are some of my thoughts about the drawbacks of critical illness insurance.

It’s incomplete. Insurance is good if it protects you against all perils. When you buy home or car insurance, it’s comprehensive.

You want to make sure you’re not just protecting these assets against very specific causes of damage. In the same way, critical illness coverage should be comprehensive.

But it’s not.

Critical illness insurance is limiting. Clients may or may not be covered for benefits, depending on how their illness arose. Pre-existing conditions or a history of the specific condition in the insured’s family may further become a reason for exclusion of coverage.

How the product is sold to consumers is through fear. In part, because of the emotional fear response associated with the mere mention of conditions such as cancer and

heart disease. Other fatal conditions seem to have a lesser impact, although their consequences are no less dramatic or life-threatening.

If you’re shopping around for critical illness insurance, here is some information that may be helpful. Definitions of different illnesses vary from company to company, making matters murky for advisors and clients to understand. Non-standardized definitions make product comparisons difficult and end up causing a battle between who has better definitions, rather than who offers the best services, claims experience and prices.

To make their products more attractive, many insurers offer the return-of-premium feature. Critical illness insurance actually offers two return-of premium features, one in the event of death and another at maturity which is usually after 15-20 years.

They are riders you add to the contract, to have the premium returned (paid out to a beneficiary) in the event of death as a result of something other than critical illness, getting hit by a car, for instance is a cheap rider to add. Return of premium upon maturity is more expensive. This is a living benefit feature, whereas if you select to cancel your policy after it reaches maturity the premiums you paid will be returned to you.

The benefit of critical illness insurance to me is choice! We will never choose to get ill, it’s something that happens to us.

Yes, our lifestyle has a lot to do with what our bodies go through such as smoking and drinking. Critical illness insurance is there to help to pay the costs associated when we

are faced with life-altering illnesses. The ability to choose not to rush back to work cause the bills are piling up. The ability to choose where we get treatment and possibly get access to better medication. The ability to choose not to be a financial burden to our family and friends.

Medical science is constantly evolving, and as a result, people are getting diagnosed with illnesses sooner and surviving longer—the average age of a critical illness insurance claim is about 42 to 45. And that’s the age you need an influx of cash for various other needs.

So, what’s the alternative and how can we prepare ourselves if we don’t have or choose to purchase a critical illness policy.

One way to protect against a critical illness is to set aside a reserve equal to three to six months of income saved or to consider a $50,000 critical illness insurance policy to get you through the period you’d be off work.

Unfortunately, if we do nothing we might have no choice but to create a GoFundMe account. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for events ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations to challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses.

While it’s completely free to create a fundraising campaign, GoFundMe will deduct a 5% fee from each of your donations, and you’ll also be charged a 2.9% + $0.30 fee from WePay for each payment you request.

Before this option may have been viewed as begging but our world is changing and these types of websites have changed how we look at personal situations financially.

PAGE 46

sports

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Hurricanes Boosted

by Samuels for One-Day Campaign ANTIGUA -- West Indies batting star Marlon Samuels, along with the Trinidadian duo of Kevon Cooper and Akeal Hosein, have been again named in a 14-man Leeward Islands Hurricanes squad for the Regional Super50 starting month end.

The trio, who were members of the Hurricanes campaign last year, will be part of a squad led again by Test batsman Kieran Powell, and which includes regulars like West Indies ‘A’ one-day captain Jahmar Hamilton and former Windies wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.

Last season, Samuels played twice for Hurricanes, scoring 36 runs before taking up oth-

er playing commitments internationally, whle Cooper gathered 42 runs and grabbed three wicekts in three outings before bowing out injured.

Hosein, a useful all-rounder, took 12 wickets in eight matches with his left-arm spin and also scrored 76 runs.

Samuels, Powell, Hamilton and vice-captain Rahkeem Cornwall will leave the tournament early for West Indies duty, a release from the Leeward Islands Cricket Association said, and will be replaced by Shane Burton, Kofi James, Akeem Charles and Jaeel Clarke.

Hurricanes were good enough to reach the semi-finals of the last Regional Super50 before

losing to eventual champions Barbados Pride.

This year, they have been installed in Group B alongside Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, United States and English County Kent.

The Regional Super50 will run from January 30 to February 24 in Antigua and Barbados.

SQUAD – Keiran Powell (captain), Rahkeem Cornwall (vicecaptain), Keacy Carty, Montcin Hodge, Terance Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Mervin Matthew, Sheno Berridge, Akeal Hosein, Marlon Samuels, Justin Athanaze, Kevon Cooper, Devon Thomas, Jahmar Hamilton..

- Jamaica Observer

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