Ramadan Gala 061318

VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH 2018

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RAMADAN GALA ALYSSA MAHADEO/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Organized by Shaikh Habeeb Alli, The Interfaith Ramadan Gala was held at The Elite Banquet Halls and Convention Center in Rexdale. Emceed by Sauliha Alli, Habeeb’s daughter, and Firaaz Azeez, the evening events raised funds for children in Guyana.

Among the supporter’s of this fundraiser was FEAT for Children of Incarcerated Parents founders Derek and Jessica Reid as well as former MPP Dr. Shafiq Qadri, who was in the middle of campaigning for the Etobicoke North Liberals. He commended Habeeb and his team for the work they do for Guyana and presented him with a personal message from Ontario Liberal Party Leader Kathleen Wynne. “Our province is proud to be home to flourishing Muslim communities…you share a rich culture and a faith which enshrines the ideals of wisdom, devotion, and charity,” the letter read.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Guyanese-Canadian Lightweight Champion Mohammed Abedeen. Abedeen, who is currently ranked #3 in Canada, recently won his title in December of last year by beating Buzz Grant in the first round. “I had a lot of great influences and [all of them] played a part in changing my life, and it made me proud to be Guyanese and proud to be Muslim. I wonder if the next generation will have that…we can help them feel inspired by being the best Muslims we can be,” he said.

This gala was a continuation of

the Canada Day Iftar that Habeeb started a few years ago. Iftar is the main meal Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast with at sunset. It is considered one of the most significant points in the day during Ramadan.

Just before the sun began to set, Shaikh Riad Ouarzazi came to the mic to encourage guests to donate. Initially he received a generous pledge of $1,000 from one audience member, followed by another pledge of $1,000, and then a pledge of $500 and so on until at least 10 guests had pledged a contribution in that 15-minute time period. This was no surprise to Habeeb who said Ouarzazi regulates million dollar auctions for a living.

Habeeb said that Guyanese families have recently dealt with financial hardships due to the closing of the Guyana Sugar Corporation factory. As an example of this, Habeeb mentioned the tragic losses of former factory workers. The Guyana Times reported that two dismissed workers had committed suicide following the factory’s closing and Habeeb said it was after this that members of the Skeldon community reached out to him. “I was contacted by a volunteer group that formed themselves to help the children go back to school and since January 29th we’ve been fundraising and cooking in someone’s backyard,” he said. Since that time they have provided 250 meals per day to kids going to school and have started a backpack program.

PAGE 2

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Kimberlee Shelley-Ajibolade Always moving forward

Kimberlee Shelley-Ajibolade is many things: an author, a wife, a paralegal, an HR professional, a minister, and an online TV personality. Despite juggling all these hats, she ensures she makes time to give back to her community, especially young women.

Born in Jamaica, Kimberlee was raised by her mother until she was in her early teens.

When she was 14, she moved to Canada with her father. She credits her grounded nature to her parents instilling Christian values in her from an early age. They also taught her the value of education, as well as the importance of giving back.

Kimberlee’s mother did this by leading by example. Watching her mother do things like often donating her time towards her church’s food bank drives or simply being there for a friend or family member in need is a big source of inspiration for Kimberlee. “She’s so passionate about it, she’s just a selfless person. Just doing so much for so many people and not expecting anything back in return,” she says.

Today, Kimberlee can be found in several initiatives in her

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community. In 2017, she was chosen as Brampton’s Queen Ambassador of the Black Canadian Queens Program, which celebrates the abilities, characters, and strength of young black women. To be crowned an ambassador, participants must meet several criteria, such as successfully completing a community and leadership task, as well as a publicity task. Kimberlee is using her platform as a Queen Ambassador to reach out to other women.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Kimberlee hosted a drive called “Celebrate HER”, which aimed to helped single mothers who were living at a shelter, some of which were the victims of abuse. The women received beauty and personal care products, as well as a short motivational speech from Kimberlee.

Kimberlee also helps those in her community by doing pro bono paralegal work. She attended Humber College where she was a student in the paralegal education program. Her love of advocating for those who needed a voice inspired her to become a paralegal, however, the costs of opening her own practice were too much for her to handle as a new graduate. So, she went on to work in an administrative role at a head office of a security guard company, which eventually led to a job in HR/administration.

“Based on my interest and aptitude of the role, it became more HR/admin. So, I began to do more of the screening,” she says. She is now a branch manager of a recruitment firm called Universal Staffing, where, at age 27, she was the youngest branch manager in the company’s history. Though her day job is to help those in her community find good, meaningful careers, in her spare time, Kimberlee offers advice to those looking for guidance with issues like landlord and tenant disputes. “I am passionate about advocacy,” Kimberlee says.

As part of her continued

quest to uplift others, Kimberlee coauthored a book in February of this year called “Designer’s Original—A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Her Self-Worth and Identity in God”. “It’s by no means a devotional, but we do take it from a biblical aspect because we believe that the Bible does such a great job of reassuring us of who we are.

We’re trying to be a better version of ourselves. The only person we’re comparing to is who we were yesterday,” Kimberlee explains.

In the book, which features stories about life experiences from multiple authors, Kimberlee describes overcoming her own challenges with struggling to accept parts of her own life story. “For me, I talk about growing up in the inner city and how I didn’t want people to know that,” she says.

“In my chapter, I talk about how over time, we have to learn to accept what our truth is and find a good way to sell that, so it is a truth we can be proud of.

We can’t go back in time, but we can determine how we move forward,” she says. Now, Kimberlee stands tall when it comes to her past, and helps others who may be in a similar situation.

Her determination to give back and support her community has earned Kimberlee several awards. In addition to being an ambassador for the Black Canadian Queens Program, she was also recognized as a Woman of Inspiration by Soulful Image Magazine, was named “Woman On Fire-Community Activist Award Winner” earlier this year, and, on June 20th, she will receive an award for being one of Brampton’s top 40 under 40 for 2018.

So, what’s coming up on the horizon for Kimberlee? Perhaps a career in politics. “I hope to continue the philanthropy in a bigger and better way. To start my foundation, and hopefully run for office,” she says. Wherever life takes her, it’s clear she will continue to be an advocate in her community for a long time.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 3

Caribbean women empowerLIMITED & inspire TIME each other to live life their way ALYSSA MAHADEO

love for Caribbean culture. She is a multifaceted, and dynamic entrepreneur as well as the founder of non-profit organization Kerra Loves Kids. With projects in Toronto, New York, Miami and many islands in the Caribbean she is always looking for new ways to parlay her business management education into a thriving business, all the while leveraging her innate ability to connect individuals.

The purpose of the event was to create a positive platform where the contributions of Caribbean women in Toronto could be recognized and allow them the opportunity to network and strengthen business connections with other Caribbean women in the GTA.

With so many women taking the entrepreneurial route in their careers, the challenges and obstacles it takes to reach success is a journey many women can relate too, and an experience they hope others can learn from.

The theme of the day was an inspiration, and patrons to the Caribbean Women’s Power Lunch were able to hear from empowering women like Stachen Frederick, Hazel Smith, Ayanna Sealey, Nneka Elliott, Kamshuka, Auntie Jillian, and Stephanie Lowe. All of these women walking various career paths, navigating the workforce trying to figure out what impact they would like to make in society while helping others and making strong connections with other powerful women along the way.

Guests said this event was the

something missing in the world of entrepreneurial women and delighted in spending an inspiring afternoon enjoying an exquisite buffet lunch, with Caribbean style sweet treats while strengthening the bonds of sisterhood.

With many messages of positivity shared throughout the afternoon, women left feeling empowered.

“They left feeling like they could go out into the world and do so much more,” Kerra shared. “These women were ready to take on any challenge, looking to pursue new business ventures and get excited about what the future had in store.”

The room was filled with brilliant minds and couldn’t have been possible without the help of all their amazing sponsors including Bermuda Heroes Weekend, 365 carnival, Team Soca, UberSoca Cruise, Julians Promo, Oxygen Mas, My World Entertainment, Carnival Luxe, Vincy Mas, Kafi Gonsalves Makeup, Integrity Mortgages, Regal Plumbing Group, Lw Consults, The Avenue Restaurant, Pops Punch, Boozy Goodies, Xaymaca, Carnival Make Up Kits, Curls and Confidence, Amanda Narain Art, Kujah, Style Prolix, Nikki D Makeup, Up North Naturals, Chic Signs, Sunny Rae, Tampa Bay Carnival, Carnivalista, Island Style Restaurant, Honey Fig, London Ivy, Red Mango Food, The Real Jerk Restaurant, and Hourglass Workouts.

“When you walked into the room all of the women were there, well dressed and all smiles,” Kerra said. “You could feel a positive energy as soon as you entered the

E L B DOU alyssa@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Smart, beautiful, strong, and powerful are only some of the attributes used to describe the women filled the room on Saturday, May 19th to attend the first ever Caribbean Women’s Power Lunch, an all women’s networking event bringing together Caribbean women from across the GTA to empower, connect and recognize each other for their contributions to the community.

Powered by Kerra Denel of KD Entertainment, the event boasts to be the first of its kind in Toronto inviting the Caribbean women of Toronto to come together and speak to their many experiences.

“When I first thought of the idea months ago, I really wanted to do something for Caribbean women as I have been working for years organizing and promoting so many events around Carnival,” Kerra explains. “Initially I thought I would get maybe 25-30 people interested in an event like this but coming down to the wire I had about 80-85 people who came out.”

Kerra’s passion for the community stems from her Trinidadian roots and her

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As the evening came to a close, the ladies ended on a high note with a guided meditation to really open their minds and retain all of the information they received throughout the day, repeating positive affirmations like “I am powerful, I am beautiful,” to let the words sink in and allow them to carry those positive vibes for the remainder of the day.

“This is the first of a series of events like this,” Kerra shares. “The next one will be hosted in August. The women were so thankful for something like this they wanted to get together once a month.

Moving between Toronto, New York, Miami and the Islands, Kerra hope to host more events like these taking them to an international stage.

“It’s a positive platform for women to come together and support one another, to build, to empower and to learn, people feel welcomed, people come with an open mind, it’s an event to better individuals to empower Caribbean women to be the best that they can be,” Kerra says.

Kerra would like to give a special shout-out to Jinelle Mitchell, On Elle’s Plate, Events by Whim, Deviant Media Zxandria as well as a thank you to photographer Captured by Shani and photographer and videographer Teesha Mercedes.

The Caribbean Women’s Lunch event will return in August, date TBA, until then be sure to connect with them online at www.kerradenel.com.

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QCAAT hosts annual Father’s Day brunch fundraiser LEANNE BENN leanne@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Father’s Day is coming up and many of us would like to appreciate the father and father figures we have in our lives. The Toronto chapter of the Guyana Queens College Alumni Association paid homage to many father figures in the community by hosting their annual Father’s Day brunch Fundraiser on June 10th.

The QCAAT Father’s Day brunch was held at the Tropicana Community Services Centre in Scarborough. The brunch celebration is not just used as a time to appreciate your father but as well as raising funds for Queens College in Guyana. Queen’s College is one of Guyana’s most prestigious secondary schools and in order to maintain their excellent educational standards, the proceeds from various fundraising events to assist students and staff.

The QCAAT has been holding fundraising events since their inception in 1991 and has provided more than CDN $200.000 to provide assistance over the years.

The fundraising event gives

alumni living abroad a chance to contribute to something special towards their high school memories as well as the Guyanese community.

To make such events like this Father’s Day brunch special, there was a special Guyanese menu available, so many could enjoy a taste of home including drinks such a sorrel, mauby and non-alcoholic Guyanese “Fly” The event was able to bring friends, colleagues, alumni, and family together, for a special and enjoyable occasion.

There was also a live band and various performing artists, including Thunderbird, DJ Tee Cee, Mart’n James and Aaron “Stixx” Roberts.

The Father’s Day brunch is just one of many that the QCAAT committee tries to hold throughout the year to bring attention to a worthy cause. The tickets to the event were priced at $35 and as mentioned the funds go towards the school back in Guyana. The Last Lap Lime, usually held in August is another fundraising event that the QCAAT takes part in, it’s a collective gathering of Guyanese alumni from various high schools, held after the Toronto Carnival festivities.

Stay tuned for more events by the Queens College Alumni Association Toronto and more information on the upcoming Last Lap Lime.

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Congress of Black Women of Canada Mississauga and Area Chapter celebrated black excellence in the community with scholarship awards ASHELLEY SMITH ashelley@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

On Sunday, June 10, 2018, Congress of Black Women of Canada Mississauga and Area Chapter awarded nine scholarships in the amount of one thousand dollars each to students in pursuit of their education. There were seven students from the post-secondary schools who received scholarship awards: Hailey McCalla, Emmanuel Akpata, Najat Ahmed, Royanne Williams, Ephraim Akpata, and Saara Ricketts. The Adult Scholarship was awarded to Renisha Cox. This award is to financially assist a black woman who has a compelling desire to return to school to further her education. Renisha is currently registered in the Paralegal program at Sheridan College. Another award was given to an adult, specifically to a new teacher who has recently completed his program. This award is called The Heather Whittaker Teacher Scholarship. Whittaker was a president of the chapter who died in 2003. With this award, the chapter supports and recognizes members of the Black community who have chosen a profession in education. The chapter believes it is important that black children see positive and cultural reflections of themselves represented in their learning institutions.

At 12:45 pm Loris Thomas the fundraising coordinator, introduced MC Itah Sadu who is a distinguished storyteller and children’s author. She is also the co-owner of A Different Booklist, one of the few independent bookstores left in Toronto. She was a vibrant MC who kept the program entertaining and flowing. There were dignitaries present at the scholarship brunch: Mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, and Member of Parliament Omar Alghabra for Mississauga Central and Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Ingrid Berkeley-Brown. Mayor Bonnie Crombie presented a short message at the brunch:

“Your organization has an important place here in our community.

The Congress of Black Women of Canada is helping to provide new opportunities and shaping brighter futures for young men and women, by offering generous scholarships that will go toward education opportunities. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to mentor, support, inspire and build the character and confidence of young women to help ensure their dreams become a reality. Once again, I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners of the 2017-2018 post-secondary scholarships. I wish this organization many more years of continued and

enriching success here in Mississauga.”

MP Omar Alghabra would not leave until he gave his remarks at the event: “Since 1985, the Mississauga Chapter has been working tirelessly to connect and empower members of the black and greater Mississauga community, the organization’s dedication and passion are inspirational and a pillar of exceptional leadership. As the Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre, I want to laud the remarkable work the organization has done and continues to do for the community. I am honored to be a Member of Parliament from a region that has an organization such as Congress of Black Women of Canada that brings incredible enrichment to our community. Congratulations to all of the scholarship winners and to the members of the Congress of Black Women of Canada Mississauga and Area Chapter for another successful year.”

It is important to have the support of educated professionals such as Peel District School Board Director, Peter Joshua and Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board representatives. Also in attendance was Councilor Ron Starr, representatives of Peel Police Service Board and a table of all females’ officers proudly representing Peel Regional Police!

One of the most awaited times was brunch. It was served in a buffet style with a huge delectable salmon in the middle of the table. Some attendees commented that it was one of the coolest and creative presentations of food they had ever seen. The menu was appetizing with a lot of vegetables, salads and beans. It would be an understatement to comment that the food was good, it was scrumptious.

Then there was a musical performance

by Anthony Legore who was quite a singer! The moment everyone was waiting for finally arrived, the scholarship awards presentations led by Valerie Williams, the education coordinator.

Speaking to Toronto Caribbean reporter, Hailey Mccalla one of the scholarship recipients expressed how she felt about receiving the scholarship.

“I feel very blessed to know that I have been granted the opportunity to win this scholarship and this will be going towards my education so it is amazing to know that I have people supporting me all the way.”

Speaking of support, not everyone has a strong support system but McCalla has her grandmother who she praised highly.

“My grandmother is definitely one of my biggest supporters. She has been one of my biggest supporters over the years because growing up in Barbados she experienced a lot of poverty. However, she still pursued her dreams to become a nurse. So I definitely used that as an example of her resilience,” shared McCalla.

It is always good to show your appreciation by giving back to others.

Hailey has a strong desire to do so.

“I definitely plan to volunteer with this community. I think it is very important to give back to the community seeing that they were able to give me one thousand dollars towards my education especially since I like to volunteer at the JCA as well as the WCM.”

Soon everyone sat down to listen to the keynote speaker, Kike Ojo, the founder/CEO of The Kojo Institute.

Ojo is a speaker, facilitator, strategist, and advocates for social justice and systems change. She was an educated speaker who spoke about the black community oppressions by referencing statistical research to prove her points.

Toronto Caribbean spotted the Vice President of Congress of Black Women of Canada Mississauga and Area Chapter Palmonia Gordon who was excited to speak with us about raising funds for the annual scholarship awards.

“The plan is to grow ourselves as an organization because if we grow and have more members then, of course, we have more opportunity that there are people out there that can source funds for us. We also want to grow our presence on social media so people can say oh! who are these people? I see what they are doing. One of the things that is on my heart as a new officer in the organization is to connect with past recipients of the awards...

Can I get your story? Let me hear how receiving this award impacted you so that we can have that to compile and we can use this as a marketing tool as proof of what we do.”

As the scholarship recipients go on to their future endeavors, Gordon would like them to know that the future has no boundary.

“The future is limitless. Whatever limit they can imagine, is a lie they have placed upon themselves because there is no limit to what they can accomplish. Whatever the mind can think, it can achieve” said Gordon.

It was a great afternoon at the 2018 Family Brunch & Scholarship Awards at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Hall. The Congress of Black Women of Canada is a national nonprofit community organization with chapters across Canada. They have four programs that they consistently run effectively. They are post-secondary scholarships, teacher scholarship, adult scholarship and a non-profit housing project called Camille’s Place. Camille’s Place is a stately nine story non-profit housing that has adorned the Mississauga skyline in the Creditview and Eglinton area since 1996. It was officially opened by Mayor Hazel McCallion in the summer of 1998. Next year’s event promises to be greater with more awards, prizes and a splendid brunch.

See you there next year!

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Op-Ed | Could big oil break Guyana’s elite?

GUYANA -- Why is there such a fuss about Exxon among many of Guyana’s elite? What are the roots of this animosity and suspicion? How may Exxon upset Guyana’s class structure?

The elite is made up of the business class, civil society and their spokespersons, chronic letter writers and the columnists who represent the views and interests of the business class. This ‘Chattering Class’ dominates, without exception, the national debate. They choose what issues are important and decide what is right and wrong at the exclusion of the working-class voice.

Their pet topics revolve around their own interests, not those concerned with the common man, save when they can be used to undermine the government, which is invariably characterised as a threat to their interests.

Recent issues they care deeply about are parking meters (because they all drive) and VAT on private- school fees; not topics that your average Guyanese farmer cares for or knows little about. For example, compare the number of letters written about the murder of 18 Guyanese fishermen in Suriname to those penned on the burning topic of a sedition clause before Parliament.

Who gives this elite and its spokespersons access to air these views? Naturally, the corporatesponsored media, which, while masquerading as independent journalistic institutions, are simply servile megaphones transcribing the latest businessman’s complaint or a frivolous attack on the State. The socalled Fourth Estate never actually dares to question or allow discussions about the capitalist class structure, but on occasion highlights the exploitation of workers so as to give the impression of independence. But there is no doubt where their interests lie.

The socio-economic dominance of the business elite was little interrupted by the transition to independence. As was the case in many post-colonial countries, the elite did not want to create more equitable societies to abolish the institutions of the British.

They simply moved into the private clubs and sought to maintain the economic and social structures: The wealth concentrated in the hands of themselves, a marginal middle class and then the toiling masses beneath.

That Queen’s College remains the premier school in Guyana is no accident. Even the period of socialism under Burnham could not break their hold on the monetary and cultural high ground. And this dominance was maintained, and continues to this day primarily by threats of capital flight and a decades-long refusal to pay their fair share of the tax burden; even up to 2013, only one third, or 992 out of 2618 registered and active firms, filed tax returns.

A 2015 report on illicit financial flows, of which under-invoicing and smuggling make up a large part, estimated them to be valued at 511% of total public spending on education, making Guyana 6th in the world rankings.

GRAND LARCENISTS IN PINSTRIPE SUITS Successive governments have therefore been cashstrapped to develop the country, finding themselves indebted to international institutions and left as beggars, even relying on corporate charity, which only served to burnish that class image as forces for good in the society, even as the crony capitalists among them helped themselves to tax breaks and discounted national patrimony.

Then in 2015, Exxon discovered oil. Boom!

The reaction of the elite has been predictable: Trotting

out tired arguments of an impending neo-colonialism; that Guyana would become a sort of modern-day plantocracy with the government as overseer for ‘Big Oil’.

The savaging of the contract and every aspect of Exxon’s activities has been relentless. What the reaction actually reveals is a deep sense of insecurity among the elite, which worries that the good life they have enjoyed at the expense of the workers will be disrupted. And equally important that they will lose status, influence and relevance.

And they have every reason to be worried.

In fact, this rebalancing has been underway since the May 2015 election of the coalition government, which many of the elite only pretended to embrace. Now they gripe about the growing power of the State, cloaking it in alarmist arguments of a creeping military dictatorship. Countless letters and editorials complain about ex-soldiers being installed in government positions as if they were former criminals.

Meanwhile, the investigations into, and prosecutions of, former ministers and officials who spent two decades handing out State assets to themselves, their families and friends is not framed as a legitimate redress, and accounting for blatant criminal self- dealing, but as a witch hunt. How dare former politicians be hauled before the court, and handcuffed, no less?

The increasing efficiency of the GRA, under Commissioner Godfrey Statia, and its legitimate pursuit of tax evaders are seen as “hurting business” rather than ensuring the business class pays its fair share.

Corporations are suddenly finding their frivolous court cases to avoid paying VAT and other taxes resolved in the GRA’s favour. It is literally payback time.

FIRST OIL So now we come to ‘First Oil’, which is only months away, and the revenues it is expected to produce. By 2025, this could amount to a staggering $200B, able to build five Demerara Harbour Bridges, or 1000 secondary schools every year. With those kinds of funds, no longer will the government be in thrall to the business class; no longer will they have to beg for charity or listen to their self-serving agenda cloaked in sanctimonious concern for the nation.

A rejuvenated government will be able to afford to bring in experts to help with development of what will be transformative infrastructure projects, and pay decent wages to public servants, thereby encouraging the best and brightest to pursue careers in the Civil Service. Ideally far improved healthcare, education and security will all be within Guyana’s grasp within a decade. The common man will see the improvements, and this will result in the legitimacy and authority of the State to grow. And that will mean a fundamental rebalancing of the power dynamics within the society.

Exxon, which will be here for decades to come, is in fact the ideal silent partner in the socioeconomic drama that will unfold.

They are an energy company that wants to get oil and gas out of the ground 130 miles out at sea.

Unlike the planters of olden days, they have zero interests in regulating the class system.

But the revenues their activity will unleash will produce an earthquake to the fragile nature of Guyana’s class system. That is why the elite is gnashing its teeth; they see the future and they fear they will no longer be on top.

- Guyana Chronicle

Berbice cyclist passes on GUYANA -- Fifteen-year-old Beyonce Ross, the cyclist who was battling a brain tumor in the centre of her brain, passed away on Monday morning, her relatives confirmed.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle early Monday morning, family members and relatives said that they are still trying to accept the news. Her mother Yonette Clarke has been at her bedside praying for a miracle.

The once budding all-round athlete of Rose Hall Town and a fourth form student of the Lower Corentyne Secondary was diagnosed with a brain tumor three months ago that left her bedridden and unable to perform the simplest of tasks.

“She was a jovial and active child and it’s sad to see her; she has deteriorated rapidly… every day that goes by we are hoping what the next day will be like,” her mother was quoted as saying.

On Thursday last , Ross was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital in a critical state. At the time

doctors related she was brain dead.

She was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Thursday afternoon where she remained on life support. Her drastic decline in health had family members confused and worried since they were told only two days prior that the tumor was not cancerous, after the result from the biopsy was returned.

Ross, a triple gold medalist and all round athlete, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March of this year. Doctors had told relatives given the location of the tumor, surgery had to be performed overseas to have it removed since the operation was deemed a high-risk one.

Prior to her hospitalisation, Ross was said to have been in good spirits and even showed signs of feeling better until things took a sudden turn on Thursday morning.

- Guyana Chronicle

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Education Ministry to explore intervention strategy after teacher complaint JAMAICA -- The Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary Dean-Roy Bernard has disclosed that a “review and check balancing system” will be put in place at the ministry following an error that led to scores of teachers being overpaid for the past six years.

Bernard was responding to a Jamaica Observer story published Monday, which reported on a teacher who was angered by the ministry’s decision to recover the overpaid amount from salaries over a 10-month period. She was notified by way of letter.

Monday, Bernard told the Observer that a discussion must be had with the parties involved and an agreement arrived at before any money can be pulled from salaries.

“There is an overpayment circular issued by the Ministry of Finance that is from 2011 and guides how overpayments are to be dealt with. First of all, there must be a discussion with the person so involved. In essence, there must be an agreement between the parties on the matter as to the cause of the overpayment and also the recovery protocols, including the timeline for recovery,” Bernard explained.

But the issue of overpayment at the education ministry is not new. In 2014, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association objected to a decision by the Government to seek to recover close to $1 billion it reportedly overpaid teachers from 2007 to 2014.

Equally, in a 2015-2016 auditor general report, it said that an audit of the accounting records and financial transactions of the Ministry of Education for the period April 2014 to March 2016 revealed overpayment totalling $292,815.

A 2011 Ministry of Finance circular — which was brought about because of concerns raised by a previous auditor general report about overpayment in Government — outlines that any overpayment of public funds must be recovered in the financial year overpayment was discovered.

It said that the ministry must also notify the payee, in writing, of the amount overpaid, clearly providing sufficient details as to how the overpayment was derived to include appropriate references to voucher number, cheque number, invoice number, contract clause, and any other relevant information.

The circular also said that repayment should be made immediately, in full, upon notification, or monthly if the person is unable to pay in full.

“The full amount shall be recovered from the officer’s salary on a monthly or fortnightly basis not exceeding one-sixth of his or her gross pay per month or fortnight. The repayment shall commence from the earliest monthly or fortnightly pay cycle and shall continue until overpayment is fully recovered.

“Where he or she resigns, retires or

is dismissed, any balance outstanding must be recovered in full from the person’s final salary payment. The balance may be recovered from leave pay, gratuity, pension payment, and other sum owed to the person,” the finance ministry circular said.

But Bernard told the Observer that the rules are not “hard and fast” and are subjected to discussions between the parties involved.

“The recovery must not cause the person so affected to be out of pocket in any unreasonable way. It must be an agreeable position. The circular does indicate one-sixth of the amount, but it is not a hard and fast rule. It comes down to the affordability of the teacher.

“I have sent for samples [of the letters distributed] to review them and I have asked for a meeting from the director who has signed them for us to look at the matter and have [an] appropriate intervention strategy. In essence, we are ensuring that our teachers are at all times feeling comfortable about these methods and we are also putting in a review and check balancing system to ensure that these overpayments are not recurring,” he said, adding that the letters which were sent from the education ministry to notify the teachers were guided by a Ministry of Finance circular.

- Jamaica Observer

Shaw expects new Act to curtail informal building practices JAMAICA -- Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw has expressed confidence that the new Building Act — which is now before Parliament — will curtail informal practices in the building industry, such as the construction of houses along gully banks.

“We cannot continue to have individuals skirt the policies and procedures, build in places which are not suited for building such as gully banks ,then come out and bawl for assistance when they are impacted by bad weather,” Shaw cautioned.

“The use of standards is, of course, of great importance because for too long Jamaica has had a culture of informality and this cannot be allowed to continue. We must get to the point where proper planning and foresight is the hallmark of what we do.”

He was speaking Friday at the opening of the Build Expo and Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre held under the theme: “Build the Future Today”.

The Senate in January passed the new Building Act with bipartisan support after some 30 amendments. However, a new Building Act has been in the making for many years.

Shaw bemoaned that Jamaica has experienced several natural disasters in recent past, the impact of which were compounded by poor infrastructure.

“Clearly we cannot predict nor stop natural disasters, but we can bolster our ability to withstand them through adequate preparation which is what the building code seeks to ensure,” he argued.

The industry, commerce, agriculture

and fisheries minister said his voice in building issues should not raise eyebrows as “my cap has the purview of agencies such as the Trade Board, National Compliance and Regulatory Authority and the Bureau of Standards [Jamaica], which all have a role to play with the construction industry.

“We play a critical role in ensuring that the construction industry is amply supplied also with safe building material such as steel, cement and concrete block,” he noted.

“Through the work of the Bureau of Standards in developing the Jamaica Building Code, my cap will have a central role in ensuring that the future of the construction industry will be built on a foundation of safety and resilience which will strengthen our ability to withstand the ravages of natural disasters.”

- Jamaica Observer

Now health ministry admits one dengue-related death $1,199,900 Only 3 Years old Detached house with Ravine lot on McLaughlin /wanless 4300sf approx house 5 Bedrooms 4 Washrooms Built in kitchen with 3 Bedroom finish Basement

JAMAICA -- The Ministry of Health is now reporting that there has been one presumed dengue-related death so far this year.

The information runs counter to Sunday’s news release by the ministry stating that there were no confirmed reports of dengue-related deaths on the island.

Sunday’s news release was issued in response to the lead story in the Jamaica Observer that day reporting the concerns of a Hanover resident that two deaths in that parish, between December 2017 and April 2018, were caused by dengue fever.

The Hanover resident, Keisha Rhodes, said that autopsy reports indicated that the two individuals close to her had died of dengue fever.

In relation to Rhodes’ concerns the health ministry had sent responses to the Observer saying that between May 2017 and April 2018 there were 227 suspected cases, 13 con-

firmed cases, and only one confirmed death relating to dengue fever.

Last night, the health ministry said the dengue-related death this year is based on a positive Antibody Blood Test (IgM) in respect of one person who died, but noted that confirmation is only made with a positive dengue PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test which, in this instance, was negative.

“Up to June 11, 2018, the Ministry of Health received a total of six notifications of possible dengue-related deaths. In addition to the case mentioned above, two other deaths fit the clinical case definition for dengue-related deaths. These other two deaths fit the clinical case definition but have no positive dengue results (IgM or PCR), and therefore remain suspected cases,” the press release stated.

Additionally, the release said the remaining three of the six notifications do not fit the

case definition for dengue-related deaths based on the information provided on the notifications and are not considered suspected cases at this time. However, the ministry continues to investigate these cases.

“Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus and is endemic in Jamaica. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The Aedes is the same vector that transmits the chikungunya and zika viruses.

Symptoms for dengue typically begin three to 14 days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a skin rash. Symptoms usually last two to seven days. There is no specific treatment for dengue, but access to proper medical care reduces mortality rates,” the release said..

- Jamaica Observer

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Holness invited to attend G20 and Oceans summits

JAMAICA -- Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been invited to attend the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina and a Special Oceans Summit in Oslo, Norway following his successful historic presentation at the outreach session of the just-concluded G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada.

According to Jamaica House, Holness, who returned to the island Monday evening, was specially invited by the Argentine President Mauricio Macri and Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway.

The prime minister held several bilateral meetings during his official working visit in Canada.

Jamaica House said he held talks with: • • • •

Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg; President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta; Madame Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank Kristalina Georgieva;

• •

President of Argentina Mauricio Macri; and Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Jose Angel Gurria.

According to a Jamaica House release, the prime minister explored deepening cooperation on trade, agriculture and air services with President Kenyatta of Kenya.

Said the release: “The prime minister is also seeking to increase technical assistance for the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) with Norway. The Government of Norway has given partner assistance to CMU at its inception.

Both prime ministers Holness and Solberg also explored collaboration on research on fisheries and ocean resources.”

It said Holness also explored ways of strengthening cooperation in agriculture with Argentina and cementing advocacy regarding climate change and Small Island Developing States.

- Jamaica Observer

Man freed on ganja charge gets ‘shock of life’ JAMAICA -- Romario Pinto thought all was well when he was freed of ganja charges Monday, but he got the “shock of his life” when he learnt he was last year sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison and had a warrant out for his arrest.

Monday Pinto was hauled before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court to answer to having more than two ounces of ganja in his possession.

He was ready to plead guilty to possession of ganja and dealing in ganja, but he had the charges withdrawn by Parish Judge Vaughn Smith after the prosecutor told the court that the ganja was less than two ounces.

But Pinto did not understand what the judge meant and asked the court to explain.

The prosecutor said: “It means nobody in here have anything else against you.”

“Thank you and everybody in the court,” Pinto said.

However, his freedom lasted just over a minute as he was subsequently told that a bench warrant was issued for him to serve 18 months in

his absence.

Seemingly shocked, Pinto denied knowing that he was sentenced. Judge Smith asked attorney Rox-Ann Williams to explain what it meant to be sentenced in his absence.

When the matter was recalled, the judge said, “Unfortunately for you, you have to go and serve that time.”

The court was told that on October 25, 2017, Pinto was sentence to 18-months imprisonment for malicious destruction of property.

The court was further told that on Sunday, June 3, 2018, Pinto was picked during a police patrol in August Town, St Andrew. Pinto was subsequently searched and 23 parcels of vegetable matter were found in his possession. He was taken to the August Town Police Station where he was charged.

Further checks revealed that Pinto was wanted and the information entered on his file; however, he was apparently not informed that he was being sought by the police.

- Jamaica Observer

People encouraged to donate blood

JAMAICA -- The National Blood Transfusion Centre is imploring all eligible individuals to support World Blood Donor Day collections on Thursday, June 14.

The theme for this year’s observance is ‘Be There for Someone Else. Give Blood. Share Life’.

It is recognised as a day to honour voluntary blood donors for their generosity and sacrifice, as well as raise awareness surrounding the need for regular donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.

In an interview with JIS News, blood donor organiser at the National Blood Transfusion Centre, Igol Allen, said it is important for prospective donors to remember that blood donation is not just beneficial to persons who will receive the blood.

“There are a number of benefits to be had also by the donor, including improved heart health, enhanced production of new blood cells and reduced cancer risk. Screening conducted at the time of donation also helps individuals to know their vital numbers in relation to blood sugar levels, cholesterol and others,” Allen added.

The collection centre of focus for this

year is the Ocho Rios Baptist Church in St Ann, where donors are able to give blood between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on World Blood Donor Day.

Several other locations across the island include The University Hospital of the West Indies, National Blood Transfusion Centre’s Slipe Pen Road Collection Unit, Port Antonio Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Mandeville Hospital, and Fairview Shopping Centre (temporary set-up) in Montego Bay, among others.

All individuals between 16 and 60 years of age are being asked to come out and support the drive and save a life.

Allen said that outside of collection during this week, he is encouraging individuals to make blood donation a habit.

“We need only two per cent of the population to give blood annually to be able to meet our local demand for the precious commodity,” he said.

People who suffer from anaemia, STIs, HIV/AIDS, as well as individuals who are underweight or under the age of 16, are among those ineligible to donate.

A ceremony to recognise significant partners and donors will be held in June.

- Jamaica Observer

island news

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

More inspectors needed to enforce OSH laws

TRINIDAD -- The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OSHA) has only 16 inspectors, when it should have 48, and needs more inspectors to enforce the OSHA Act proactively rather than being reactive as it is now.

That was the picture of the OSH Authority and agency, confirmed Monday via statements from Authority executive director Carolyn Sancho when she and other Authority officials appeared before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on local authorities.

JSC chairman Ian Roach said the biggest problem facing the Authority and agency was lack of resources: from funding to human capital to do work and even a physical home for OSH.

“It’s a serious impediment,” he said. Sancho said out of 152 posts there are 87 vacancies and the Authority’s effectiveness was about 50 to 60 per cent. If there were more inspectors, the Authority’s agency would be proactive rather than reactive and could better enforce the Act, she said.

OSHA chairman Surendra Dhanraj, acknowledging the Authority’s challenges, gave it a passing grade, but not 100 per cent since he admitted there are deficiencies in enforcing the OSHA Act. Sancho said funding was the problem since the Authority’s contract jobs cost $48 million and OSHA’s $21 million allocation is inadequate. Accommodation for inspectors is also necessary.

OSHA chief inspector (acting) Franz Brisbane said there are 14 inspectors in Trinidad and two in Tobago and with 210 accidents being reported, the Authority has to prioritise. A backlog of 906 cases was recently reduced to 110.

Labour Ministry Permanent Secretary Natalie Willis said the impediments were recognised and the Ministry is trying to increase the number of inspectors—with about three currently—so the Authority could enforce the OSH Act. Amendments to the act are currently being reviewed for draft policy.

OSHA deputy legal director Pettal JohnBeerens said OSHA needs to have increased fines,

an independent commission to probe health and safety matters, reviewing the time period to report accidents, deeper definitions under the Act and more autonomy.

Sancho said the Public Services Association’s 89-91 Abercromby Street Port-of-Spain, headquarters has not been OSHA compliant and is now before the Industrial Court on that.

The Authority also served notice on its governing Labour Ministry to close OSHA’s own Duncan Street office. The Authority is in the process of obtaining Couva land for a new headquarters.

Roach noted several Government divisions lack the necessary health and safety committees— the Prime Minister’s Office (CAST) Tobago unit, the Health Ministry, T&T Defence Force, Cadet Force, service commissions, the Social Development Ministry, National Security (Probation), Public Administration and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management.

- Trinidad Guardian

Deyalsingh says T&T children saf

TRINIDAD -- In the wake of polio resurfacing in Venezuela after 30 years, in an area directly southwest of T&T, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has assured that T&T children are vaccinated against polio.

“The vaccine is a requirement for all T&T children to enter schools, so we have a 97 per cent rate of vaccination against polio—no child can get into a school in T&T without a polio vaccination,” Deyalsingh said Monday.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling childhood disease. It is preventable through immunisation.

Polio is a communicable disease. It spreads through human-to-human contact, usually

entering the body through the mouth due to fecally contaminated water or food (faecal-oral transmission). In areas with poor sanitation, the virus easily spreads from faeces into the water supply, or by touch, into food. Because polio is so contagious, direct contact with a person infected with the virus can cause polio.

Deyalsingh acknowledged international reports about the resurfacing of polio in Venezuela.

In the last 24 hours, overseas media including the Telegraph and Medical Express announced polio has reappeared in Venezuela, 30 years after that country had declared it had eradicated polio.

The case which confirmed the disease

had resurfaced was found in the eastern state of Delta Amacuro, the Telegraph reported. Maps show Delta Amacuro is directly southwest of T&T. The town of Tucupita is west of Delta Amacuro.

Reports credited the country’s economic crash’s crippling effects on its healthcare system as contributing to the polio problem. It was noted that basic vaccine coverage was falling amid Venezuela’s political and economic crisis.

Venezuela is also facing increases in measles, malaria, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and malaria. The Venezuelan Opposition claims the Maduro administration is not approving funds for vaccines.

- Trinidad Guardian

PSB probes police SUV submerged on Cedros beachfront TRINIDAD -- As the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) begins an investigation into how a police SUV became trapped on the shore of a Cedros beach last Saturday, sources say that the incident is bigger than what is being reported.

Corporate communications managers of the Police Service Ellen Lewis confirmed Monday that the PSB has launched an investigation into the vehicle being stuck on the beach.

“There is an investigating by Professional Standards Bureaus into the incident that happened last Saturday at 9.30 in the morning. I can’t tell you the state of the investigation, but someone has to account for their presence there so an investigation was launched and it will reveal the answers,” Lewis said.

The T&T Guardian understands two police constables from the Santa Flora CID and Point Fortin Police Station were questioned by South Western Division seniors over the weekend and Monday.

It was alleged that the officers were conducting surveillance on either drug or contraband smuggling on the shoreline of one of the country’s known drug ports.

However, sources said one of the officers was off duty and someone from the Point Fortin Police Station must have given the police constable instructions to leave the station, especially with a marked police vehicle to venture into another policing district.

Sources also said that after the vehicle

became stuck, there were attempts to use a wrecker and a truck to pull the vehicle out and it was only when those efforts failed, it was reported to senior officers.

Just last month, an acting Corporal attached to the South Western Division was under investigation for allegedly assisting in the escape of four smugglers and removing goods believed to be guns and marijuana from the smugglers’ vehicle after it was abandoned as the police chased the smugglers.

Two years ago, there was an investigation at the Santa Flora Police Station into how drugs that were seized in a raid went missing.

- Trinidad Guardian

Seales: Time to settle CoP post TRINIDAD -- There are 105 police officers acting in the senior ranks and President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Inspector Michael Seales says as a result “performance is severely affected,” and morale in the Police Service is very low.

Speaking Monday, Seales said police officers have been “severely traumatised with all the goings on in relation to the selection of a Commissioner.”

He said the time had come for a decision because once the issue is settled “we can move on,” and be in a position to “measure the person who is selected.”

The appointment of a Commissioner, Seales said, will serve to inspire officers and also to start the process towards regaining public trust.

Currently, he said, there is a question of “the willpower to get things done.” He said there is an almost “nonchalant” attitude by some officers, “they putting in face time rather than the quality of service the public deserves.”

Seales said the reality is that it is not just Stephen Williams who is acting, “you have an acting Commissioner, but it is not just him. There are 105

persons acting in the senior rank.”

As a result, he said, “performance is severely affected. That acting is an impediment to better performance by the individual, we have to be real about it.”

Seales, who himself applied for the job of Commissioner of Police said, “It is time to take affirmative action so that we can restore morale to the Police Service.”

Among those acting in positions in the Police Service are acting Deputy Commissioner Deodat Dulalchan and acting Deputy Commissioner Harold Phillip.

The Police Service Commission had nominated Dulalchan for the post of Commissioner of Police and Phillip for the substantive post of Deputy Commissioner of Police.

But following a debate in the Parliament on the report of a Special Select Committee which reviewed the process used for the selection of the nominees, the Parliament referred the matter back to the PSC, deeming the process used as “fatally flawed.” The PSC was asked by the Parliament to rescind the nominations which it sent to the Presi-

dent.

Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds who chaired the Committee, told a public meeting in Barataria “this is a national failure we need a Commissioner of Police.”

One of the candidates for the position of Commissioner, former National Security Minister Gary Griffith said what the Government did was “in line,” with the pre-action protocol letter which he sent to the Commission last week, “asking the PSC to retract what was submitted to the President because the process was flawed, because they breached legal notices.”

Griffith has claimed that he topped the KPMG merit list based on the assessments done by KPMG. He said in that assessment he scored the highest with over 81 points.

Monday officials of the PSC declined to say whether the Commission had complied with the request from the Parliament to rescind the list sent to the President. But Guardian Media was told the Commission plans to meet “soon” on the issue.

- Trinidad Guardian

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Caiso boss disappointed by call TRINIDAD -- Disappointed. That’s how Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (Caiso) executive director Colin Robinson summed up religious leaders call Monday for Government to amend the Marriage Act and to not amend Equal Opportunity Act to accommodate the LGBTI community.

“The faith leaders who spoke this afternoon have lost their way. They gathered to oppose discrimination protection for a vulnerable minority who were thrown out of their apartments, homes and fired from their jobs in April after the court’s ruling,” Robinson told the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview, adding the proposals would result in the LGBTI community finding other places to worship.

“LGBTI people are people of faith. We pray like everybody else. We will just form our

own congregation and worship there. If faith is not going to be relevant in people’s lives, then they would not turn to those faiths.”

Robinson said he was very disappointed in the Catholic church and Archbishop Jason Gordon for discriminating against their community.

“I am disappointed in a young Archbishop who doesn’t have the mettle of leadership that his predecessor had.”

He, however, tipped his hat to the leaders who did not show up at the meeting.

“The faith leaders have proven that they have lost their way and they are becoming less and less relevant in the lives of the LGBTI people. That is the message they sent.”

While the leaders said they are representing 90 per cent of the Hindus, Muslims,

Catholics and Seventh-Day Adventists, Robinson said the State needs to protect the 10 per cent of the population “regardless who they are.” He said the LGBTI represents a conservative estimate of 35,000 adults, which says something.

Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) chairman Lynette Seebaran-Suite last night agreed that the act needs to be broadened to protect everyone in society.

Speaking on CNC3 on religious leaders’ call that Government not emend the EOC Act to accommodate the LGBTQI community, Seebaran-Suite said the Constitution also protects people’s private lives.

“If you feel that one of your constitutional rights is being infringed you can bring a constitutional motion against the Government. But that is only if the Government is infringing your right.

But if it is a private employer or between one individual and another individual it will be society even though we have the bill of right. There is no remedy to enforce your right not to be discriminated against.”

She admitted, however, there are many areas of activity where one is not protected from discrimination on the basis of one’s sexual orientation.

“That is why the Equal Opportunities Commission has been calling for an amendment to our act to broaden the definition of sex because the definition sex does not include sexual orientation.”

She said she has a strong feeling that T&T does not believe the act is fair, reasonable and constitutional.

- Trinidad Guardian

Bandits rob Hare Krishna temple TRINIDAD -- An undisclosed amount of money donated to the Hare Krishna temple—Sri Sri Radha Gopienath Mandir in Longdenville and to the construction of its Sunday school building for the children of the devotees were stolen during an early morning robbery Monday.

Several devotees, including two women, who are residents at the temple, which stands on a three-acre of land were fortunately not hurt

One of the male devotees, however, who was found sleeping on the temple’s steps, was tied up and taken around by the three thieves—two armed with cutlasses and the other with a gun.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian, resident devotee Devendra Anuja, 65, said he was outside walking in the yard chanting to Lord Krishna until about 2 am before retiring to bed in the upstairs of the temple.

The incident took place at about 2.30 am. It is believed that the men were hiding in an

old abandoned cow shed located at the back of the temple.

“The men came through an unlocked door to the back and they came through the main worship area where they broke the padlock to the donation box and took hundreds of dollars that were given by devotees when they attended our Sunday morning service. Then they made their way to the altar where we have all our deities. They looked around and touched nothing,” Anuja said.

“Then they made their way to a back office where they took the money we had raised for the school building and the renovation of the washroom area.” he added.

Devotee Patrick Henry Drakes, who suffers from chronic back pains, said he was sleeping on the steps as he normally do when he was awakened by the men.

“They asked me what I doing here. I told them that I am homeless and I come here to sleep. They tied my hands and we exchanged

a few words to them. They brought me to the front of the deity of the founder of the temple and put me stand up asking me where they keep the money. I told them it didn’t have any here that they usually do not keep money here,” Drakes said.

Anuja said that while Drakes stood there one of the men attempted to strike the founder’s deity, “They ended up not doing it.”

He added that the men went upstairs to the women’s quarters and had just opened the door when something distracted them and they went back downstairs, “there were two women in there and luckily the thieves didn’t go in.”

Anuja, however, sent a warning to the three men, saying that “they have a price to pay for what they did.”

“They may break the laws of the land but they cannot break the laws of God and we are confident that they will be punished,” Anuja said.

Pundit Satyanand Maharaj, of the

Satya Anand Ashram, said the recent spate of attacks show that criminal elements view religious institutions as “soft targets.”

“It appears that the criminal elements view religious intuitions as soft targets. This, coupled with the fact that the police appear to be impotent to deal with increasing criminality, augments the vulnerability of religious institutions.”

Last Tuesday, thieves broke into the Las Lomas #2 temple since its opening in February for the second time. Last month armed men entered the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Freeport where they robbed the spiritual leader Pundit Gajendra Kumar and his family of cash and jewelry.

In December 2017, Father Clyde Harvey was robbed by armed men at St Martin’s RC Church in Gonzales, Belmont, and several other religious buildings were robbed in separate incidents last year.

- Trinidad Guardian

Religious heads reject same sex marriage: ‘God made Adam and Eve’

TRINIDAD -- The country’s leading religious leaders Monday called on Government not to amend the Equal Opportunities Act to accommodate the LGBTQIA community, while they want an amendment to the Marriage Act to entrench marriage as a union between a male and female when Parliament meets in September.

The call was made at a press conference attended by Archbishop Jason Gordon, Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha secretary general Sat Maharaj, Anjuman Sunnat Ul Jamaat Association president Yacoob Ali, Council of Evangelical Churches president Rev Desmond Austin, public affairs and religious liberty director for the Caribbean Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Dr Clive Dottin and Faith Based Ministries president pastor Winston Mansingh at Archbishop House, Portof-Spain, as they shared one position on the two acts they are asking Government to put into the law books.

The religious bodies, which represent 90 per cent of the Chrstians, Muslims, Hindus and Seventh-day Adventist population is pushing for the Marriage Act to be passed by a special majority. The leaders say they will soon draft a statement on both acts which they will forward to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

At the historic meeting, Gordon said they joined forces because they believed the fabric of society was “at risk” and they see a

clear and present danger in our midst.

“The notion of a fluid gender is something that has no biological foundation and is a series of ideas …and the further along it goes is more genders keep getting thrown up into the equation,” Gordon said.

Gordon said male and female were created for marriage, which hold up society. He said when America sneezes the whole Caribbean catches pneumonia. However, he said as a nation we have to think through these issues and see the challenges it has brought to other countries while understanding what kind of society we want to become.

“That is why we are asking together for the two proposals we have put on the table… that there be no amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act and that Parliament redefines marriage to include the words biological male and biological female.”

In going forward, Gordon said hard decisions would have to be made.

Questioned why the churches would advocate for discrimination to persist, Gordon said marriage between a man and woman cannot be discrimination. He said they are not asking for anyone to be treated less than a human being or without dignity.

“To talk about gender being fluid…and you see how it proliferates from it was LGBT, now it is A, Q, I, plus, plus. Because once you

open it to fluidity there is no longer an objective nature or objective measure any more for what constitutes gender.”

The leaders were asked to give one example of same-sex marriage leading to degradation of society. Gordon said marriage has been the heart of many scriptures, adding civilisation has moved away from its moral foundations into “more murky waters where it no longer understands what truth is.”

Asked if people who have gender fluid children and an open sexual orientation should return to the church and cleanse their ways, Gordon said the teaching at the church would be love, mercy, forgiveness, welcoming and to help them become the best version of themselves and open their lives to Christ. He said this campaign was based on truth.

In April, the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) promised to write the Equal Opportunities Commission to ensure the LGBTI community is protected in wake of its victory in the High Court after Justice Devindra Rampersad declared two clauses of the buggery legislation unconstitutional.

But Gordon said there are laws to protect people who were fired based on their sexual orientation.

“The Industrial Court will not allow somebody to be fired simply by a whim and

fancy.”

Dottin, who spoke via Skype, said they were not using hate, disrespect or revenge against anyone, insisting that families should not be undermined.

Ali said God did not create Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve in the beginning.

Mansingh also questioned why laws should be changed to accept what is not right.

He said research has shown that there is was no gay gene.

Austin said there was also no evidence that someone is born a homosexual.

“That is a construct we must be mindful of. It’s not a question of us versus them.

What we are experiencing is a culture shift,” Austin said, adding people cannot say they want rights.

“Anybody could have a right. What we have moved away from is from absolute. We have gone to season of relative.”

He said the state has become God by regulating right and wrong, which the churches now have to deal with.

“We are not against anyone. We are against an agenda that is intended to reverse the norms of society.”

- Trinidad Guardian

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PAGE 17

Making Job Connections easier with ACCES Employment Finding meaningful employment can feel like an arduous task especially when you’re looking for something worthwhile, and relevant to your qualifications.

According to a report by Statistics Canada did at the beginning on 2018, the employment rate fell to its lowest level in more than 40 years as Canada closed out a calendar year that saw it produce jobs at a pace not seen since 2002. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.7% in December 2017, down from 5.9% the month before, to reach its lowest mark since comparable data became available in 1976.

For newcomers to the GTA, the struggle to find acceptable employment is difficult especially when you are unsure of where to look or what you might be qualified to do. Finding a job that suits your skillset and also pays well aren’t usually advertised on public forums and unless you have the right connections you end up in positions you’d rather not be.

Over 30 years ago in 1986, a nonprofit organization called ACCES Employment was created to provide employment services to job seekers in Toronto, specializing in providing job search services to newcomers to Canada. For years they have been a leader in connecting employers with qualified employees from diverse backgrounds.

More than 20,000 job seekers are served annually at five locations across the Greater Toronto Area. As a not-for-profit corporation, ACCES receives funding from all levels of government, corporate sponsors, various supporters and the United Way Toronto.

According to Ada Wong the VP, Marketing, Communications & Digital Strategies their mission is to “Assist job seekers from diverse backgrounds, who are facing barriers to employment, to integrate into the Canadian job market. We achieve this by providing employment services, linking

employers to skilled people and building strong networks in collaboration with community partners.”

85% of jobs are advertised in the hidden job market! This makes it very difficult for newcomers, who have limited personal and professional networks, to find employment. At ACCES Employment they seek to unveil this hidden job market for newcomers, many of who are highly skilled professionals.

Can you remember the first time you set out into the workforce? What were some of the questions you had, who did you know, or what type of work were you looking for? Making the right connections for those who are new to the city is a nervewracking experience. Many people are unsure of where to look, and many times their prestigious qualifications go to waste when then accept employment in a position not suited to them.

“ACCES has a number of sectorspecific programs that help newcomers to find work in Canada that reflects their skills and experience,” shares Wong. “We also offer programs and services to youth, refugees, women, entrepreneurs, and other job seekers in Canada. ACCES now offers over 30 different programs across the Greater Toronto Area an online.”

Some of the challenges that newcomers face in search of meaningful employment include language barriers, lack of knowledge about their sector in Canada, lack of knowledge about the job search process, and most importantly, they do not have a professional network in place to help connect them to potential job opportunities.

In the world of social media with professional platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram some would say it has never been easier to make the right

connections. However, there is a vast majority of the population who still don’t know how to properly utilize social media to create professional connections and some who don’t use it at all.

“For newcomers to Canada, networking is a highly effective way to start a job search and meet professionals who can introduce you to new opportunities,” Wong explains. “A large percentage of jobs are not advertised, which means that who you know can lead to a number of jobs with employers that are hiring.”

Newcomers to the Canadian workforce are at an even greater disadvantage especially with more refugees and immigrants from countries where the internet is not used as freely as it is in North America.

“Newcomers can visit any of our in-person locations to meet with an employment consultant, no appointment is required,” Wong says. “Many job seekers can also find ACCES online through our webinars and online events, these provide an excellent support as well.”

ACCES Employment offers many helpful programs and services for newcomers to make job connections with Sector-Specific career exploration options, Sector-Specific Bridging Programs (for internationally-trained professionals), mentoring programs (Speed Mentoring®, Mentoring Partnership, Connectors Program), Youth Programs, Programs for Women (START and Empowering Women), Entrepreneurship Connections.

In addition to these services, ACCES Employment offers a Speed Mentoring® program that allows individuals to network with professionals in their field, to receive advice about their job search, and meet employer contacts who can refer you to job opportunities. They host over 75 Speed Mentoring® events each year in various sectors.

“It is essentially a speed dating event, but for mentorship, and is one of the largest networking events of the year in the GTA,” says Pinder Rehal, Marketing & Communications Specialist at ACCES Employment. “Over 400 job seekers and professionals across various sectors will be given a chance to connect with each other. For the newcomer job seekers, this is a chance to learn from senior professionals in their fields, practice their communication skills, and can even lead to job opportunities.”

These events both highlight the barriers newcomers face to find employment and showcases the great supports there are from professionals and the community.

At ACCES Employment they value and respect the uniqueness of each individual, including their clients, employers, community partners and themselves. They strive to provide every person with customer service excellence and an exceptional customer experience.

They are a client-focused organization with services tailored to meet the needs of their clients, community and prospective employers. They are accountable and results-oriented and committed to helping people find the job opportunities or employees that they are searching for.

With the help of ACCES Employment, the job search can be less stressful.

They are capable of providing you with a job search experience you can feel confident in.

If you or someone you know is looking to make better, more beneficial job connections ACCES Employment is here to find the connections that are right for you!

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

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PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Lyrikal’s artist game’s on point. Say it ain’t so… meanwhile, did you see Nadie?

ABA LUKE

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ENT. PUBLICIST

Last weekend was a big one for Soca music. It’s officially touring season for most soca stars. A number of the A List soca artistes have been flying their respective island flags around the Caribbean and parts yonder, since T&T’s

Carnival 2018 season came to an end, but for many others, it’s just about to begin. Fay Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin caused a scene in Guyana, turning patrons’ umbrellas into makeshift waving tools before jetting off to Miami for the Best of the Best event, which featured a massive cast of Jamaican heavyweights including Capleton who’s set to appear in Trinidad on June 9th for the Inferno Concert event.

This past weekend was also the Memorial Day weekend in the US, making Atlanta Carnival a top shelf experience for many US based soca lovers.

Lyrikal was one to watch in the ATL, no doubt. Ever crisp, ever clean and always representing well for the red, white and black, the ‘Loner’ singer who has proven that consistency is a must in this business, donned a face mask emblazoned with his country’s colors, kickstarting what we believe will be a fad in the coming year, for many Caribbean entertainers.

Nadia Batson also flew out to Atlanta, as did Dev and Barbados’ Alison Hinds. Dev’s signature J’ouvert style has been making major waves overseas, the artistes undoubtedly be-

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Tips for “greener” camping The glories of Mother Nature may spring to mind when you think about cam­ ping, but this popular activity is not necessarily eco-friendly, especially when you bring along all the comforts of home. If you keep the following tips in mind for your next camping trip, you can reduce your ecological foot­ print and enjoy na­ture with a clean conscience.

• Limit your water consumption. Don’t run water unnecessarily in cam­ pground bathrooms. Take quick showers. Wash and rinse your dishes at the same time.

• Take care with your garbage. Don’t leave anything lying around, even if it’s biodegradable; a good rule of thumb is to think of the next group of cam­pers to come along, and how they’d like to find the site. Recycle

whenever possible and use the onsite bins, if available. Otherwise, carry out all your garbage.

• Use biodegradable or reusable pro­ ducts. Opt for biodegradable soap and bring reusable dishes.

• Respect wildlife. Watch animals from a distance, and above all, don’t feed them. Don’t pick vegetation or throw anything into lakes or rivers.

Stay on the trails to avoid trampling grasses, flowers and seedlings, and pitch your tent at least 70 metres from lakes and rivers.

• Limit the impact of campfires. Make fires in the fire pits provided for this purpose. Don’t remove branches from trees, or collect dead wood to start your fires. Don’t burn gar­­bage, and burn all wood to ash before lea­ ving.

Last but not least, re­ duce your car use as much as possible. For short trips, try cycling or walking; they’re both good for the environ­ ment and your health. After all, you’re on vacation — you’re not in a hurry.

Seven apps to make the most of your fishing trips Would you like to land better catches?

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2. Fishing Knots. This app includes illus­ trations showing how to make lots of different knots as well as their charac­ teristics and the right knots to use for different types of line. Downloadable from Google Play.

3. Fishing Times Pro. Find out the ideal time to fish in any given area, depen­ ding on the tides, moon phases and time of year. Downloadable from the App Store.

4. My Fishing Advisor. This app analyzes the factors that in­fluence where fish con­ gregate and gi­ ves details on the

spe­­­cies living in your chosen area. It also gives tips on how to attract them.

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Navionics. This excellent app pro­ vides access to bathymetric charts and lets you create or change routes depending on wind, speed and fuel consumption. Downloadable from the App Store and Google Play.

6. Fishing Calendar. This app shows the best times and places to fish. You can also take and share photos of your catch to create your own personal da­­tabase.

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7. Ultimate Angler. Enter your criteria (species, time, etc.) and this app will tell you where to go, which bait to use and the best technique to use. Down­ loadable from the App Store.

How to catch and release You’d like to do some catch-and-release fishing? Follow these tips to give fish the best possible chance of survival.

even result in death. In other words, use equipment appropriate for the species you’re after.

• To limit injuries to fish, use a small or mid­ size hook that is rounded or filed and a landing net with a small, soft or knotless mesh in rubber or cotton. Choose natu­ ral-looking lures, because fish don’t swal­ low them as deeply.

• Only release fish once they have revived and are breathing normally.

• Gently remove the hook using long-nosed pliers. If it is too deeply imbedded, cut the fishing line near the eye of the hook.

• Keep the right equipment at hand so you can release your catch as quickly as possible.

Lastly, avoid fishing when water tempe­ ratures exceed 21°C. Water that is too hot can be fatal for fish, especially when com­ bined with the stress of fighting against the hook and being caught and handled. Fish are also less likely to survive when caught in deep water and brought suddenly to the surface, especially species that can’t adapt quickly to changes in pressure (wal­ leye, perch and bass).

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• Avoid playing with fish on the line for a long time; this is ex­ tremely tiring for them and can

Which sleeping bag is right for you?

Need a new sleeping bag? This essential piece of camping equi­ p­ ment can be a source of comfort, or maybe even discomfort, if you haven’t chosen the right one. In other words, you need to consid­ er some very spe­cific cri­teria when shopping around.

COMFORT ZONE There are three categories of sleep­ ing bags: summer (for tempe­r atures above freezing), three-season (re­commended for temperatures down to -10°C) and winter (down to -40°C). To make the right choice, think about how you’ll be using your sleeping bag. Once you’ve decid­ ed which category best suits your require­ ments, compare the temperature ratings of the diffe­rent models — campers who feel the cold easily should opt for warmer slee­ ping bags.

SHAPE A mummy bag is lightweight and has a built-in hood. It moulds to the shape of the body and re­tains heat well. How­ever, some people find them too restrictive around the legs. More spacious than the mummy bag, a barrel-sha­ped bag (or semi-rectangular) has a roomier feel to it without sacrificing too much insulation.

A rectangular bag, which can be zipped

together with another bag, is heavier and bulkier but inexpensive. It is espe­ cially useful in hot weather.

MATERIALS Down stuffing is insulating and easy to compress into a small bag for hiking. The big disadvantage is that it is difficult to dry and loses its insulating power when wet.

Synthetic materials are perfect for sum­ mer camping; they are less durable but are cheaper, quick-drying and breathable.

Ask the store clerk about how the bags are made. For instance, tooth zippers are more likely to get stuck than coil zippers, and some manufacturers add more insulation at the top and bottom of the bag. One last tip: try lying in the bag before you buy it to be sure that you’re going to be able to get a good night’s sleep.

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each each 43-60 g Assorted

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¢ $ 49 lb lb

$ 99 lb

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49 $ $ 99 lb lb

Fresh Seafood Catches

Fresh Lane Snapper As Is

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lb

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Although we strive for accuracy in both copy & illustration, unintentional error may occur, we reserve the right to correct any error. Specials Available While Quantities Last. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

each Each

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each

Mon.-Fri. 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday Lawrence Ave. E .

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$

Mon.-Fri. ion 9am to 9pm Roa d Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday Sheppard Ave. W . 10am to 8pm Finch Ave. W .

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each

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PAGE 26

food

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Natural juice recipes for a refreshing summer! use this delicious juice as a mixer. Cheers!

EARTHA LOWE eartha@carib101.com

FOOD SPECIALIST

You might be “Feelin hot hot hot” as the temperature rises this summer and will want to comfort yourself with a cool, healthy beverage. Well, making “real food juices” can be a refreshing ritual to beat the heat while nourishing your body. By juicing or blending a variety of fruits and vegetables into enticing combinations, the recipe will make your healthy diet a pleasure. Take the taste of a mojito for example. If you enjoy the flavours of a mojito, sample it alcohol-free by juicing together: 1 large seedless cucumber; 2 ½ cups seedless green grapes; ¼ cup packed fresh mint and 1 lime, peeled. This juice mimics the mint and lime flavours of a traditional mojito and tastes delicious served over crushed ice. For the cocktail enthusiast,

Blueberry lemonade and popsicles Honor yourself and your guests, by making an elixir of beautiful fruits and veggies. Natural, fresh, unique juices and blends, can be served as fabulous party fare. Serve this gorgeous purple cocktail blended with refreshing coconut water, grapes, blueberries, and freshly squeezed lemon juice, over crushed ice. It’s a classic summer cooler! Alternatively, make this refreshing cocktail into a classic frozen treat: popsicles.

You’ll need • 1 ½ cups blueberries (fresh or frozen) • 1 cup fresh green grapes • 2 – 3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed • 1 cup natural coconut water (sugar-free, pulp free) • Crushed ice for serving Directions 1. Pour all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve with crushed ice.

2. To make the popsicles, pour the mix into

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popsicle moulds. Insert a popsicle stick in each one and place in the freezer.

Freeze for at least 3 hours.

Tips for serving: Substitute the coconut water with sparkling water.

Mellow Mango This gorgeous sunset-hued beverage is a pure tropical flavour in a glass!

You’ll need • 1 large ripe mango, peeled and seeded • 1 large orange, peeled and seeded • 1 banana • Sparkling water (optional, as desired) • Crushed ice for serving Directions 1. Combine the mango, orange and banana in a blender and process until smooth.

If you want a thinner drink, add the sparkling water and blend until smooth.

Serve immediately.

Selecting produce for your juices “Climacteric,” is a word used to describe

fruits that can be picked when under-ripe and ripened later. Avocados, bananas, peaches, plums, cantaloupe, mangoes, kiwi, pears, persimmons and tomatoes are examples of climacteric fruits. When your favourites are in season, buy them as close to ripe as possible. Our palates crave the unique balance of sweet and tart that really good fruits provide, and we can play with that when we make our juices. Selecting the freshest, ripest fruits and vegetables is essential for great flavour and also for nutrition.

“Non-climacteric” fruits are not ripe when harvested and will never ripen.

Fruits in this category include citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange), grapes, cherries, and melon (including watermelon).

Vegetables are a bit simpler to select. Look for firm and unblemished. Leafy greens should never be limp or slimy. Root vegetables like beets and carrots can be stored for longer periods. Unlike selecting good fruit, however, the harder the root vegetable, the better. If the skin of a root vegetable looks thick and rough, or they feel lighter than usual, that’s a sign that they’ve been sitting around too long.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Foot infections: the main culprits Skin rashes and painful toenails are two of the many signs that your feet might be sick. What illnesses can affect feet? Read up on the most common foot infections to find out.

heat and darkness to develop; that’s also why it’s most often found between the toes or on the soles. If you think you have athlete’s foot, quickly seek treatment to avoid it spreading to your toenails.

PLANTAR WARTS Plantar warts are growths (usually painless, unless they occur on pressure points) on the skin that can spread to and from other parts of the body. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and can appear several months after exposure to the virus. Although they might disappear without treatment, professional help is usually required to get rid of plantar warts for good.

TOENAIL FUNGUS Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is usually caused by untreated athlete’s foot that has spread to the nail. At first, the infection just makes the feet unsightly, but it can cause discomfort and pain as it progresses.

ATHLETE’S FOOT Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes the skin on feet to become reddish, cracked and itchy. This particular fungus thrives on feet because it needs humidity,

women

PAGE 29

Know who can care for your feet

These three conditions are contagious.

If you think you may be infected, avoid walking barefoot in public places like gyms, pools and showers. Consult your doctor or a podiatrist as soon as possible to prevent complications, especially if you have diabetes.

If you’re having problems with your feet and don’t know where to turn, read on to discover the role played by different foot care specialists.

• Podiatrists. These medical professionals diagnose and treat foot disorders, such as plantar warts, athlete’s foot, plantar fasciitis, bunions and ingrown nails, using a variety of non-surgical and surgical approaches. They can also prescribe orthoses.

If you have plantar warts, athlete’s foot or toenail fungus, please keep your feet covered in public areas!

• Orthopedists. Also known as orthopedic surgeons, these physicians specialize in conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system (which includes bones, joints, ligaments, muscles,

tendons and cartilage). Orthopedists can treat dislocations, herniated disks, bone tumours, congenital disorders and malformations like scoliosis or clubfoot, and the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, among other ailments. They can also remove painful arthritic joints and replace them with artificial implants.

• Orthotists. These practitioners design, manufacture and fit orthopedic appliances (such as braces, splints or insoles) to help patients with various physical challenges.

Finally, pedicurists, or foot hygienists, provide care focused on comfort and cosmetic concerns.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

HYDRATE AND PROTECT for healthy skin this summer Throughout the year, but even more so during the summer, your skin is vulnerable to environmental stressors like strong winds and ultraviolet rays. Consider these two preventive steps to maintain a healthy complexion all summer long: 1. Hydration: the hotter the weather, the more water your skin needs to stay fresh. Make sure to drink lots of fluids, eat fresh fruit and use a light moisturizer suited for your skin type.

Your skin’s sebum production increases in periods of hot weather; so unless you have very dry skin, opt for water-based skincare products rather than heavier oil-based ones.

health

PAGE 31

THINKING OF ADVERTISING YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE?

EXPIRY DATES Does “BEST BEFORE” mean “TOSS AFTER”?

2. Protection: to protect your skin from burns and other dangers associated with overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays (premature aging, skin cancer, etc.), generously apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF before you head outside. Enjoy your summer!

FIVE HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS for your next hiking trip To avoid becoming exhausted mid-hike, eating carb- and protein-rich foods at regular intervals is key. Here are five backpack-friendly snacks to take along next time you hit the trails for a hitch-free day in the great outdoors:

Are you among those who systematically throw away all expired food, even a mere day after the best before date indicated on the package? It may be time to break that habit — after all, foods don’t suddenly turn into health hazards overnight.

1. Fresh fruit and cheese 2. Trail mix 3. Fruit or nut muffins or homemade granola bars 4. Crackers and peanut butter or hummus 5. Greek yogurt with fruit

The “best before” label simply informs consumers that after a certain date, the food in question might not retain its original freshness, flavour, texture or nutritional value for much longer. Of course, this only applies if the food is kept under the right conditions; it goes without saying that a steak left out on the counter for several hours should be thrown in the trash without a second thought.

Remember to stay hydrated, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink up!

Are you familiar with TEXT-NECK SYNDROME? Are you always on your mobile device? Beware of text-neck syndrome! Primarily linked to poor posture — in this case, keeping the head tilted forward for extended periods of time — this chronic condition is often experienced by avid smartphone users. Symptoms may include headaches, neck stiffness, wrist and shoulder pain, and inflammation in the joints of the hands. In the long run, the natural curvature of your neck could shift, potentially triggering early-onset osteoarthritis.

Therefore, it’s important to take regular breaks from your mobile device or tablet and pay special attention to your posture. Health-care professionals recommend that you • avoid keeping your head down for prolonged periods; • remain in an upright position as much as possible; • avoid holding your phone between your shoulder and ear; • ensure that your elbows are well supported; and • place your device on a flat surface whenever possible.

Bending your head forward just one inch more than normal adds 10 pounds of pressure on your spinal cord.

Inclining it by 60 degrees adds 60!

Consequently, those recently “expired” cookies may not be as crispy as they once were, but that doesn’t make them dangerous for your health. Kept in their original sealed packaging, vinegar, mayonnaise and cereal, among many others, can be consumed well past their best before date.

However, expiry dates lose most of their significance once a package has been opened.

All that being said, when it comes to things like fresh meat and dairy, it’s best not to stray too far from the suggested expiry date. Trust your instincts, but keep in mind that a seemingly normal smell, look and even taste can sometimes be misleading.

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PAGE 32

yoga

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Some Yoga action for the shoulder - Part 1 TRISHA CURLING

trishacurling@carib101.com

YOGA SPECIALIST

This is a common area for injury, weakness, and/or instability. There are also some common areas in the shoulder and surrounding muscle tissue that may be tight, weak and/ or irritated which are often contributors to shoulder injury and/or pain and discomfort.

If we look at the anatomy of the shoulder, then we may be able to understand with more insight as to why this area is so vulnerable to injury. There are four joints in the shoulder. The most commonly referred to

joint when discussing the shoulder is the Glenohumeral joint. It’s a synovial joint, meaning it has a joint capsule and secretes synovial fluid. Movement is important in keeping this area lubricated for optimal function. It is also a Ball and Socket Joint. If you imagine a golf ball sitting on a tee then this is what is meant by “Ball and Socket”. With that visual in mind, we can really see it’s vulnerability. We must find ways to maintain stability in this area to reduce the risk of injury.

There are two main components of active stability in the shoulder girdle. These components are: 1. Stabilizing the humeral head (upper arm bone) 2. Stabilizing the scapula (shoulder blade) In order to stabilize the humeral head, we must look at the rotator cuff muscles and in

order to stabilize the scapula, we must work with the rhomboids and serratus anterior.

One way to start building some stability in these areas is to go through a series of progression of movements. This way you are taking a gradual approach rather than jumping quickly into strength moves that could be encouraging the dysfunction.

Here is an early progression to start with: Seated with arms out Take a cross legged position on the floor, take your arms straight out in front of you with your palms facing out (as if pushing against a wall). Now, keeping the arms straight, and maintaining an upright position of the spine, breathe out while pushing the “wall” away even more by rounding only through your upper back and keeping the length in your arms. You may feel a deep stretch and a “separation” of the shoulder blades this is good.

When you inhale, draw your shoulder blades

closer together and feel like you are opening your chest. Continue to do this for maybe 6-8 breath cycles, take a 60-90 second break (depending on how intense it might feel for you) and then repeat maybe three or four times.

Taking this action will not only begin to wake up the muscles that support stability, but these movements will also encourage the gliding motion of the shoulder blade which will also encourage mobility. In order to restore function in this area, we must consider stretching, strengthening, and releasing (releasing tension with myofascial release).

Yoga is an excellent “tool” that can get you on this path, but it is also important to work with either physiotherapists, chiropractors, and/or nutritionists (among other health care professionals in order for you to get to the root of the issue and then take the appropriate action. Look out for my article in the next edition for more progressions and tips on how to take some action for your shoulders!

Keeping it REAL With Alyssa Mahadeo

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

ALL TALK, NO ACTION! 8 Reasons why people don’t take action SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST I am actually writing this article around the time of the provincial election. By the time that you all read this, we will have a new premier, and one of two things will be occurring in your head: You will be pleased with yourself because you took action, and actually went out to vote, or you are pissed because you think that the people in power are going to just take you for another ride. Same old bull!

Well this week, I am going to educate many of you on the reasons why we complain more and act less. As usual, this is more psychological than many of you may believe. I have taken it upon myself to really start focusing on the psychology of my community and teaching them the importance of learning self in this world. Alright now; here we go! Top 8 reasons why people don’t take action!

1. You are unable to form your own opinions So, many of us fall victim to the opinion of others. For many of us, we have to make a lot of decisions in our day to day, and sometimes instead of forming an opinion, especially about something as important as the governance of your community, you fall back on what you have

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2. You friends are unable to form independent opinions You see, this is the danger of having certain friends around you. It is our psychology to hang around individuals who: think like us, act like us, believe what we believe, and live the lifestyle that we live. Now, this is all in well if the people around you are productive, but we never seem to take in when the people around us are inactive and are not encouraging you to do more.

This can be our Achilles heel, and if we are not careful, we will remain inactive in all areas of our life.

3. It is so much easier to follow the norm!

Why think when you don’t have to right? That is correct, for some. There are leaders and then there are followers. Followers get a bad reputation, but really and truly, if the leader is great, they can promote action. So, it might be time to look at your norms. Is your norm to be inactive and not challenge your own thoughts and beliefs? Is this something that you witness daily?

4. You don’t think you are qualified to make certain decisions!

Some people really do not have self-worth. They truly believe that they are not capable of making decisions for their own well being. This is sad because it ends up that others are making the decisions for you, and you spend the rest of your time regretting decisions that are not your own. Have some confidence in your ability to do more.

5. You just can’t be bothered!

Unfortunately, there are those people who just don’t give a damn. They are happy with their complaisant lifestyle and would rather play the victim. Yep! You know who you are out there.

6. “There is NO way this idea is going to work!”

Again, lack of confidence can be an action killer.

Some people just don’t believe in themselves enough to do what needs to be done to make their lives better. Again, they would rather stay on the sidelines and complain, instead of being bold, and venturing into the land of ambition.

7. It is too late!

It is never too late to take action. You have to believe in what you are capable of, and don’t limit yourself to what you have already done in your life.

8. “I just can’t get over what happened last time!” Reliving the negative!

This last one is the most common that I have witnessed. It is so hard to get past the negative in life, and many of us get stuck. Unfortunately, the only way to see if things will change is if you do something different. Staying frozen in time will only help you produce what was found at that time.

Toronto! I see more for you! Take the time to go over this list and really start critiquing yourself; in what ways are you hindering yourself? Time to take ACTION!

It’s all in the small things…. Or is it?

COLLEEN LINDBERG colleen@carib101.com

LIFESTYLE COACH

SEARCH “MYTCNTV”

heard, and do not take the time to research so that you can form your own opinion.

There is a strategy of life I talk about all the time, break things down into small things and it will allow you to get more things done and make progress forward. Makes sense right? Well, I was thinking about it today and I think that sometimes this is a cop out. There are times in our lives where we need to just jump right in and get wet. Kind of like the analogy when you are about to get into a body of water, don’t walk into it, run into it, dive in and embrace the water

in one swoop.

So where in your life do you need to jump right in? There is probably an area in your life that you have set a goal for something in. It might be your health or your job, or even better in a love relationship. You might be single and you have had your toe dipping in the water but you are scared to take the plunge. The plunge in this scenario might be going out to meet more people, getting online, asking the person that you have been crushing on hard out on a date and the list continues.

So, I ask you “Why are you not jumping in?” Some of us are really scared that what if we actually get the things that we want. What if we actually are that great and deserve those things. What if life could be exactly how I want it? It’s a novel idea to think that if we just dove into something we might actually get what we want.

Let me tell you a story about me. I have been in a space over the last year contemplating

a move, to California to be exact and I am finally doing it. I don’t know anyone there, I sold all the furniture in my place, donated a bunch of stuff, stored a few boxes and now later this week, my animals and I are taking a road trip to California.

We are just getting up and leaving. It’s definitely going to be an adventure, but I literally took a huge plunge and am just going to go explore.

Of course, there were some small steps involved but really I haven’t even been to California before. Kind of crazy and if you ask some people in my life, they think so too. However, imagine if we did this in the areas of our life that matter most, that one burst of courage to make a decision and we jump all in. Kind of like skydiving… ok maybe not.

So, this week as I write this I ask you “Where in your life is it about time you take a plunge and dive in?” I think it’s time for you to try it and just see what happens, I can pretty much guarantee you will love the results and if not, I am sure you will have learned something.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

life

PAGE 35

Child support obligations of non-biological parents VALERIE DYE valerie@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

Under the Divorce Act a child of the marriage is defined as ‘a child of two spouses or former spouses who, (1) is under the age of majority and who has not withdrawn from the charge of his parents, or (2) is the age of majority but is unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from the charge of his or her parents.

The determination of who is a ‘child of the marriage’ is important in determining whether or not a child is entitled to receive support. The term ‘child of the marriage’ does not mean that some-

one who is not the biological child of the payor is not entitled to be supported.

Section 2 (2) of the Divorce Act states that a child of the marriage includes a child for whom both spouses have stood in the place of the parents or where one spouse is the biological parent and the other spouse stands in place of the other biological parent.

Obviously, if a spouse is not a biological parent the court needs to determine whether or not that spouse has actually stood in the place of a parent. The Court will look at several factors including the intention of the spouse.

Whether or not a spouse intended to act as a parent will be determined on the basis of that spouse’s actions. For instance, a spouse who treats the child as a part of the family and treats the child in the same way that a biological child is treated may be deemed to be standing in the place of a parent for the purposes of

paying child support. The Court will also base its determination on whether or not the spouse has provided financially for the child, has disciplined the child as his or her own child or has represented to the child or to the community that he or she is the parent.

It is important to note that once a spouse has acted in the place of a parent with regard to a non-biological child and has formed a parent-child relationship this relationship cannot be unilaterally terminated. As such if the marriage ends in divorce the spouse cannot decide that he or she is not liable for support because he or she is not a biological parent.

Presumption of paternity Apart from the considerations related to spouses who stand in place of parents, a male is presumed to be the biological parent of a child in certain situations. If

the child is born during the marriage or during a period of cohabitation with the mother, there is a presumption that the man is the father of the child. Further, if he marries the mother of the child shortly after the birth of the child it is presumed that he is the biological father of the child. Even where the marriage or relationship is terminated before the birth of the child there is still a presumption of paternity if the child is born within 300 days after termination of the marriage or cohabitation whether that termination occurs as a result of divorce, separation or death.

A presumption of paternity can be rebutted by conducting paternity tests to prove that the male in question is not the father of the child. However, even where the presumption is rebutted with a paternity test the male may still have to pay child support if he has treated the child as a child of the marriage.

Tis the season 2018 KATHY McDONALD kathy@carib101.com

SCHOOL TRUSTEE

It’s mind-boggling when you think that we are in the genesis of another graduation season. The provincial elections have come and gone and the province will soon swear in its 26th premier Doug Ford. History was made including the election of MPP for Brampton Central, Sara Singh as the first Indo-Caribbean female to be elected to the parliament.

Lately, I have been attending copious amounts of awards and scholarship ceremonies. I am always thrilled with the energy and excitement that emanates from the recipients. There are three common themes that resonate with all the keynote speakers. Firstly, the notion of a collective effort to ensure the success and continued success of students in their academic journey. Secondly, the debunking of the myth that an education is a great equalizer and lastly don’t ever quit on yourself.

The whole cliche about an African village and child raising are still relevant

as much as we may cringe when we hear the proverb being repeated. The founder and CEO of The Kojo Institute, Kike Ojo, reminded the attendees at the Congress of Black Women Canada, Mississauga and Area chapter that “There are things we can do together that we can’t do alone… and there are things that are far too dangerous to do together, yep sometimes we have to go it alone”.

While I am passionate about the importance of an education and will go to my grave a strong advocate for education, I have to acknowledge that education is not always the great equalizer for African, Black and Caribbean children. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite. Now don’t get me wrong, let me reiterate the importance of learning and graduating. Having that piece of paper which reflects your academic achievements is a big deal. In fact, it is HUGE. However, it is often not enough.

It is often not enough to conquer the systemic and institutionalized barriers and obstacles that our children often face. So, we must not only educate our children, we need to teach them how to navigate such spaces and reaffirm for them how powerful their potential is.

It was a delight to listen to Canadian Olympian Ahenawa Okuffo as she animatedly recounts her own personal journey as a decorated world-class wrestler.

“Never quit on you” when things get tough

don’t give up. The benefits far outweigh the negative ramifications of never reaching your full potential because you quit. I often remind the graduates during my address on behalf of the Peel District School Board that the best the world has to offer is not usually free. There is usually a price that has to be paid. The cost of academic excellence is usually hard work and perseverance. Remember to encourage the youth to see any obstacles or failures they encounter along the way as learning opportunities. Failures or disappointments can be excellent learning opportunities.

Dr. Rochelle Burgess-Reed shared while her 15% in organic chemistry did hit her hard as her first bout with failure, she did not allow it to cripple her. She simply licked her wounds and continued her journey. She may have aspired to be a medical doctor, but it was because of failures like this and other disappointments that she ended up finding her dream vocation as an assistant professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College in London. She did not settle, she discovered her true passion of advocating for mental health from a global perspective.

In my observations, I think we, as a community, don’t speak about the notion of black excellence enough, the concept of Caribbean excellence is far too often downplayed or ignored. In all my daily interactions I see sons and daughters of Afri-

can, Black and Caribbean immigrants; first, second and multi-generational immigrants from the Caribbean experiencing great success. We need to debunk yet another myth, the fact that black and excellence are either mutually exclusive or students that excel are “lucky” or different. I have been told this several times and to this date, it remains one of the most offensive statements (in my humble opinion). Black excellence is not different. It is not lucky. I know many may be tempted to challenge this especially when they are inundated with negative messages from the media. Delving into the media as well as the anti-black systemic structures deeply entrenched in Canada’s institutions and the propagation of the negative stereotype of black people is another topic for another day.

Whether it’s the Celebrampton festival, the Peel Regional Police family fun day and open house, Kitefest or any of the multitudes of festivals and scholarship awards that occurred over the weekend, black excellence is everywhere. Members of the African, Black and Caribbean communities I encourage you all to encourage our youth this summer to be their best selves. Learn, work and play this summer and above all keep on dreaming. So, journey with me as we work as a collective to be the wind beneath the children in our community. Walk Good. Belle Marché!

PAGE 36

life

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Exercise your right to make CHANGE BRITTNEY CHANNER brittney@carib101.com

JUSTICE WARRIOR

On June 7th, 2018, the province of Ontario will be conducting its 42nd general election. The goal of this election is to elect 124 members into the Parliament of Ontario with hopes of one of the parties achieving a majority government. The top political parties being represented within this provincial election are: the Liberal party; with Kathleen Wynne as its leader, Progressive Conservative Party; with Doug Ford as its newly elected leader and the New Democratic Party (NDP) with Andrea Horwath representing as their leader. Each party has particular standpoints pertaining to taxes, education, transit, and health care; and it is these standpoints that essentially persuade the citizens of Ontario to vote for their ideal candidate; who represents similar viewpoints.

Nevertheless, as important as the categories listed above are, it leads me to question, “Where do our Canadian political parties stand on issues pertaining to human rights and justice? Issues such as health inequality, Aboriginal rights, gender and economic inequality and poverty; all of which are subjects that remain a constant reality for millions of Canadians within the province of Ontario and amongst the nation. Topics such as these are rarely seen at the forefront of any political party campaign nor are they regularly debated and analyzed within a political setting. Due to this aspect, along with several others, many people choose not to exercise their right listed in section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which deals with the right to vote. For many people, the reasoning behind their decision not to vote stems from the notion of not being heard, their vote not making a difference, feeling ignored when it comes to issues that concern them or the idea of

feeling used solely to obtain a vote; only to be ignored after an election.

Whatever the reasoning might be, it is understandable why many citizens of Ontario feel this way and agree with this type of thinking; especially those who live in communities who do not get special attention until it is voting season. Nevertheless, it is through utilizing this unique right as a Canadian citizen, where you can truly make and see the change desired within Parliament.

Utilizing your power by voting allows you to choose a candidate or political party that aligns with your belief system and most importantly ensures that your concerns regarding your community and country are heard. When you make the decision to vote, you are making a choice that can have a direct impact or effect on your lives and the lives of your family. Additionally, those who are elected to Parliament are well aware of who votes and what communities have large voter turn out rates. So, if your residential neighborhood voter turnout is low, these elected officials will make fewer appearances in your district to know what your concerns are and the needs of the community overall.

With recent cries of injustice and major attention to vital social issues, it is pertinent that we as Canadian citizens use one of the main forms of power we have and vote for a party who will not only tackle frequently debated and popularized issues such as taxes and healthcare, but to put hidden and ignored issues such as the quality of low income housing, youth homelessness, and poverty on the forefront of all political agendas. At the moment, the Ontario NDP’s and PC’s appear to be running a very close race in the polls which shows a significant departure in support for the Liberal party which has been in power for four consecutive general elections. However, whichever way the results of this election goes, I urge you all as Canadians to make a decision on your behalf and advise the people in power on the issues that matter the most to you.

Remember: If YOU do not vote; OTHERS will make the decisions for you.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Cottage-style homes: cozy and rustic

home & garden

How to use chalkboard paint around the home

PAGE 37

Adding a coat of chalkboard paint is an easy way to refresh a space and give it personality without breaking the bank. Here are three rooms in the home where you can let your creativity run free!

THE KITCHEN Apply chalkboard paint to the walls, the refrigerator or the pantry. Feel free to write out the week’s dinner menu, your grocery list, a delicious recipe or an inspiring quote!

With the arrival of fall and its chillier days, the desire to remain bundled up at home often starts to take over. Do you wish to transform your interior into a comfortable and cozy space?

Get inspired by cottage-style homes to infuse a touch of rustic appeal and warmth into your décor!

THE OFFICE Are you self-employed or in school? Chalkboard paint can help you keep your workspace organized. How? Create a giant calendar, record your appointments or make a list of daily tasks, for example.

VARIED TEXTURES To create a cozy nest, opt for throw pillows made of felt, faux fur or wool. Natural fabrics like linen and cotton are equally suitable. Furthermore, choose hardwood furniture and accessories to create a look that’s 100 per cent authentic. When it comes to your walls and floors, don’t hesitate to mix concrete, wood and stone. Finally, pattern-wise, plaid and jacquard are perfect for achieving that cozy cottage feel.

THE PLAYROOM Chalkboard paint is ideal if you wish to decorate your children’s playroom in a fun and original way. Paint an entire wall or trace big shapes (clouds, animals, castles, etc.), and let your toddlers colour to their heart’s content!

Choosing the right sideboard for your dining area A sideboard, or buffet, is a practical piece of furniture used to store or display cutlery, glasses, utensils, tablecloths, etc. Are you on the hunt for the perfect sideboard? Since this type of cabinet often becomes a dining room’s focal point, you need to make a wise choice that takes into consideration your needs and, of course, your style preferences.

buffet, your options are truly limitless! Visit a specialty retailer or an antique shop in your area to find the perfect sideboard for your needs that complements the design of your dining room.

SIZE First and foremost, your buffet must be the right size for your dining area. Avoid buying anything too big if you have limited room. The opposite is equally true: a small sideboard will look lost in a larger space.

WARM COLOURS For a soft, soothing atmosphere that will make your home more inviting, opt for neutral shades inspired by nature.

Prioritize muted tones like white, beige, light grey, pewter or even black for your walls, accessories and furniture.

Additionally, consider including hints of forest green, burnt orange or dark red to add depth to your décor.

CONFIGURATION Do you intend to store delicate chinaware or decorative objects in your sideboard? In that case, an open model, or one with glass doors, is your best bet.

However, if the items you wish to store are more or less appropriate for display, choose a buffet with solid doors or frosted windows instead.

SOFT LIGHTING Indirect lighting — fixtures that direct light upward to bounce off the walls and ceiling (e.g. sconces) — is the key to achieving a cozy ambiance reminiscent of faraway ski chalets. Make sure you install dimmers to be able to adjust the brightness of the room to your liking. You can also add multiple candles — opt for fragrant varieties that smell like pine, cranberry or pumpkin, for example — and scatter strings of lights around your fireplace or windows to bring a festive touch to your interior.

STYLE Finally, when it comes to the appearance of your

HUNTING TROPHIES What would an authentic cottage home be without game trophies on display?

Decorate your walls with faux animal mounts (deer, moose, bear, bison, etc.) made out of wood, cardboard, metal or plaster for a perfectly rustic look and feel.

Low sideboards are a popular choice because they provide ample storage space without crowding the room.

Renovating your kitchen?

Consider thermoplastic cabinetry

Are you in the midst of renovating your kitchen? If you’re looking for a durable and attractive material for your kitchen cabinets, thermoplastic is an excellent option to consider. Read on to find out more about this unique synthetic material!

Manufactured from medium-density fibreboard (MDF) panels and covered in a heatset film, thermoplastic cabinets stand out by their ultra smooth finish and invisible joints. The numerous advantages associated with thermoplastic make it a popular choice among homeowners looking to create a modern and durable kitchen. For example, thermoplastic cabinets are: • Moisture tolerant • Available in a variety of finishes (textured, glossy, etc.) and an even greater variety of colours • Easy to maintain • Very affordable • Scratchproof

PAGE 38

automotive

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

NISSAN continues to dominate the market Nissan has been one of the most aggressive brands on the market for the past couple of years. In addition to launching new release after new release, the automaker has invested big bucks in a solid marketing strategy, which includes a partnership with the Star Wars movie franchise and involvement in the popular Nissan Mi-

cra Cup in Quebec and Ontario.

Noteworthy developments for 2018 include the launch of a second-generation Leaf boasting a 241-kilometre range as well as a sportier look. In other news, Nissan plans to enter the compact crossover game this summer with the all-new Kicks, which will be

2018 Nissan Leaf

equipped with a 1.6-L 125-horsepower engine. It isn’t, according to Nissan, a replacement for the Juke, which is set to be phased out in the near future, as the Kicks will be slightly larger, have four doors and will only be available with frontwheel drive capabilities.

2018 Nissan Kicks

The Altima sedan, whose current model has been in production since 2012, is also worth keeping an eye on. This mid-size sedan has been in need of a makeover for a while, and last year’s unveiling of the refined Vmotion 2.0 concept has experts believing that change is finally in the cards for 2018. Nissan has also hinted that the Frontier and 370Z may be completely redesigned sometime before 2020; there are even talks of a hybrid or electric 370Z. The remaining Nissan models will return in their current form for 2018.

2017 Nissan Vmotion 2.0

HYUNDAI targets families

This Korean company has come a long way in recent years.

Now one of the main players in the global auto market, Hyundai continues to diversify its offerings and, like so many others, will be adding a compact urban SUV to its roster this year. It will be called Kona, after the Hawaiian city, and aims to compete with models such as the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Nissan Qashqai.

2018 Hyundai Kona

2018 Hyundai Accent

Hyundai has also renewed its popular Accent after six years of continuity. Only the sedan version was brought back, however, in order to leave room for the Kona, which is sure to satisfy those in the market for a family-friendly vehicle. No major changes are planned for the Elantra or the Sonata, nor for the latest Ioniq, which will be available this year in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric versions.

On the SUV front, the Kona is sure to steal the spotlight this year. It will be available with two engine configurations: a standard-issue 2.0-L 147-horsepower 4-cylinder, and an optional turbocharged 1.6-L engine with 175 horse­ power and a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Hyundai has announced that a fully electric Kona offering a 400-kilometre range will be released in Korea this year and potentially in North America next year.

As for the rest of Hyundai’s SUVs, the Tucson should remain virtually unchanged until 2019. The Santa Fe will receive a few upgrades in 2018, and a new generation is slated to launch in 2021 or 2022. Finally, those wondering whether the Santa Cruz pickup concept will ever see the light of day shouldn’t expect anything until at least 2020.

Hyundai Santa Cruz

fun

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 39

WEEK OF JUNE 10TH TO JUNE 16TH, 2018

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: VIRGO, LIBRA AND SCORPIO

You’re going to need to tell it like it is if you ever want to solve that long standing financial conundrum. You’ll plan a long­term project with your partner, and this will solidify your relationship for the foreseeable future.

TAURUS

It’s an ideal time for you to consolidate your debts or apply for a loan. Don’t be afraid to knock on your boss’s door and ask for a promotion. The odds are on your side this week.

PUZZLE NO. 658 HOW TO PLAY :

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 658

GEMINI

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

Challenge and adventure beyond your wildest dreams await you in the shape of a new beginning. You’ll consider going back to school to im­prove your career options.

CANCER

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

Your health may become an obstacle to your progress. You should take the time to find a good doctor or a miracle treatment that will im­prove your quality of life in a surprising manner.

LEO

Your social network will grow this week, and you’ll reap the rewards of this newfound popularity in both your professional and your personal lives. You’ll have an uncanny knack for finding the fun in menial tasks.

PUZZLE NO. 921 47. Residence 49. Talk idly 51. Volcano flow 53. Flock mothers 54. Examine 55. Baker 56. Drip 57. Showed the way 58. Camper’s home 59. Partner

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Vault 5. Woodworkers’ tools 9. Shred 12. Shaft 13. Admired person 14. Distinctive time

15. Stash 16. Boot or pump 17. ____ blue 18. Supporting beam 20. Pick 22. Sorrowful 23. Rowboat accessory 25. Album entry

28. Wielded 30. Saharan 31. Large monkey 34. Guard 36. Certain paints 37. Ballet outfits 39. Understand 41. Arrest 42. Helpful hint 45. Hosiery color

1. Survives 2. Surplus 3. Spoken 4. Church seats 5. Bro’s pal 6. Bond 7. Ram’s coat 8. Nap 9. Rebuild 10. Biblical boat 11. Merry 19. Recital piece 21. Talks idly 24. Nonstandard contraction 26. Can metal 27. Kooky 28. Search party 29. Evidence

31. Marsh 32. Tire input 33. Spilled the beans 35. Band instrument 38. Not level 40. Aviator 42. Absorbent cloth 43. Perfect 44. Annoying 46. Provided

48. Lugosi of film 49. Hair preparation 50. Favorable vote 52. Hill-dwelling

VIRGO

Whether or not you’re a business owner, you’ll take on a difficult pro­ject that will yield a sizeable return on your investment, but only in the longer term. Patience is your greatest ally; abundance comes with time.

LIBRA

Undergoing professional training this summer could prove to be a huge boon to your career, especially if you earn a widely recognized accreditation upon completion. You’ll start planning a trip that will bring you greater self­confidence.

SCORPIO

If tension has been building up in your romantic relationship, now is the time to start seriously looking for a solution. Plan to spend some quality time with your partner, and avoid bringing your work problems home with you.

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 921

SAGITTARIUS

If you’re single, a daring stranger will offer to take you on a trip around the world. If you speak another language, you’ll be sent on a pivotal business trip. Weigh the pros and cons of every option before you make a decision.

CAPRICORN

You’ll have a lot of excruciatingly detailed work to do this week, and it will take you longer than expected to get everything in order. A promotion is in the air. You’ll be proud of yourself.

AQUARIUS

Your natural leadership will be called upon. You’ll feel loved and appre­ciated by those who stick by your side no matter where you go.

You’ll pitch idea after idea to your partner, your colleagues and your friends, and they’ll all be well received.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

PISCES

Your kids will be particularly deman­ding this week, and you’ll need to spend more time than usual helping them with schoolwork. The bank will give you the green light for a real estate purchase or a major home renovation.

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PAGE 42

real estate

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Estate planning and wealth preservation JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

Estate planning is essential and the first place to start is with a will. While the time of death is uncertain, death itself is. As such, the earlier we prepare a will, the better. Most lawyers can prepare a will for under one thousand dollars. In the will, you must decide on someone reliable to be the administrator and carry out your wishes. Choose a neutral person who is not a beneficiary.

You can use a lawyer or your bank as the administrator too. Their fees are between two to four percent of the estate which can be hefty. If you plan on using your children as

the administrator, avoid choosing everyone.

If they disagree, it can create family disharmony. Upon death, the will must pass probate court to ensure that it is valid. The cost is about 1.5% of the estate value.

It is best to dispose of most assets before death. An investment property, for example, once sold or transferred to a family member, will trigger capital gains. With capital gains, fifty percent of the profit is considered as income and will be taxed accordingly. Dispose of the assets gradually, especially when your income is low. If an investment property is gifted to a child, capital gains are calculated based on the true value of the property at the time it was gifted. The principal residence is exempted but if left in a will, it is subject to probate fees. Another idea is to add a family member as a joint tenant.

Joint tenant means that in the event of death, the entire property goes to the other person. Joint assets are not part of the estate and are not subject to probate

fees. However, you must pay capital gains when you transfer half ownership. The savings are considerable because you will only pay capital gains on half the profit. Another option is to create a family trust.

A family trust is created when you give property to another person, the trustee, to keep for the benefit of another person.

When you create a family trust, you give up ownership to the trustee and that will trigger capital gains on your investment assets.

One of the major benefits is that your assets are protected against creditors of your beneficiaries. For example, a business person may want to put his assets in a family trust and in the event, the business goes sour, the assets are protected. Assets transferred to your children can become available to their partners, but in a family trust it is not considered as part of their personal property and is not subject to claims of the children’s partner.

The disadvantage, however, is that you lose control of your assets under the trust agreement. Estate planning can be simple or intri-

cate; it depends.

If estate planning involves the family home and a few other assets, a will is good enough. If it involves multiple investments such as real estate, stocks, and other assets, then it can be complex. Upon death, it is deemed that all your assets are disposed of and if everything is in a will, then, the family must have money put away to cover probate fees and capital gains. Life insurance and RRSP are not part of your estate and there are no probate fees. RRSP can be transferred to a spouse, tax-free. Other than that, it is taxable. A permanent life insurance is a good idea to have because the proceeds can be used to pay probate fees, taxes and other obligations.

Life is a speeding torrent down a steep hill and no one wants to think about death. Death is inevitable and so is taxation.

You work hard for your money and want most of it to be in the hands of your loved ones. Careful estate planning can accomplish that.

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finance

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Roller coaster investments FAZAAD BACCHUS fazaad@carib101.com

FINANCE SPECIALIST

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2018 has seen a word that has been hiding for some time. The word is volatility. It is everyone’s nightmare when volatility steps in. For almost all of last year, there was little volatility and most investors were quite happy any time they looked at their investments. However, the dreaded word has been very much at play for the last five months.

What causes volatility? Over the last five months, there were a few things that have caused significant volatility. The trade war with China, the steel tariffs, the threat of war with North Korea all add to the daily stress that the market goes through. Any negative news where there is speculation on commodities also put added stress, like the price of oil. Every bit of news causes the mar-

ket to react.

The thing to understand is that as long as you are in the market, meaning you have money invested you will be subjected to volatility. There is nothing you can do but expect it. However, when the markets are functioning like a roller coaster what do you do?

Inexperienced investors make the mistake of trying to cut their losses. This means when the market is down, they sell off at a loss. The smart investor, on the other hand, waits for the market to go down and then buys more.

The idea behind that strategy is to buy low and hold.

My personal opinion is that investing is and should be for the long term. At least you should plan to stay three years in the market. I remember in my early years, one good thing that I learned was “buy a good company and hold it”. This is the same principle when investing in mutual funds. You buy some good funds and you hold them. During the period that you own these funds, the market will go up and come down, but in the long run, these funds will even themselves out to bring you a positive return.

Asset allocation is a great determinant of how well your portfolio will perform,

but only so in the long run. Depending on your age, how close you are to retirement or needing your money you may find that you should invest in less risky and better-paying funds or more conservative investments.

When you are younger you may choose to have an all-equity portfolio but as you, near retirement, you should have more of a balanced or less of an equity portfolio. At this stage of your life, it might be better to preserve your money than chase after returns.

To be able to deal with volatility, your portfolio ought to have more bonds than equity. Equity market can be very volatile which causes investors to make mistakes when markets go down. An investor should understand that their funds could be 10% or 15 % less than it was a year ago. Can you handle such a drop in the value of your investments? If not, you have to remain in the conservative portfolio so that volatility does not affect you, causing you sleepless nights.

Talk to your advisor when you get your midyear statements and ask about some balanced funds which have a medium-low risk, definitely, this could help you sleep better at night.

How cohabitating can affect your finances ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

Many couples have a desire to share their lives without going through a formal marriage ceremony. Initially, it may be a matter of unpacking a few boxes, getting a key cut and living together. There may be a plan to formalize the relationship at some point. But often years can go by without ever making it “official”. The longer the arrangement lasts, the higher the stakes become – particularly if children are involved, the relationship ends, or a partner dies. For married couples, there are certain rights and obligations that are clearly defined, but this is not always the case for couples that live together.

Here’s some intriguing information: Although marriage rates have fallen, cohabitation relationships continue to increase, between 2006 and 2011, the number of common-law couples rose 13.9%, more than four times the 3.1% increase for married couples. For the first time in 2011, the number of common-law couple families (1,567,910) surpassed the number of lone-parent families (1,527,840). As a result, common-law couples accounted for 16.7% of all census families, while lone-parent families represented

16.3%.

I call this “intriguing” not because I object, but because even I cohabitated with a girlfriend and didn’t consider the financial ramifications of what could happen only the benefits at the time. Every couple that breaks up has faced the issue of “this is yours, that’s mine” from books and music to pets and furniture. But cohabitation as you get older (and hopefully wealthier) can pose additional challenges. A couple can live together without being married. But even if they have been together for one, three, fifteen or forty years, and even if they have several children together, they are never “automatically” married.

This means that, if they break up, commonlaw couples don’t have some of the protections married couples have.

People in common-law relationships don’t have these protections: • They don’t benefit from the protection of the family residence if ownership of the home or the apartment lease is in the name of one person only.

• They don’t have a right to a division of their property if they separate.

• One partner can’t ask for support payments from the other partner (financial support for one person in the couple who might need it).

• The partners don’t inherit from each other if one dies without a will or if one was not named as an heir in the will.

When it comes to money, the law doesn’t recognize relationships not officially documented on paper. In order for a couple to

have common-law standing in Ontario and Manitoba, they must be living together in a conjugal relationship for three years or more, or one year with a child.

Buying a House?

With mortgage rates near historic lows and home prices at all time highs, unmarried couples may decide not only to move in together but also to buy their own place. This could be a great move, but be aware of potential problems. The house belongs to the person whose name appears on the legally recorded deed. It doesn’t matter what verbal agreements were made or who paid the mortgage. So, make sure both parties are named on the deed.

Also, keep this in mind: If you both apply for the mortgage, you’re both responsible for paying it — even after you break up. If both parties are on the deed as owners, but only one is on the mortgage, the one responsible for the mortgage remains responsible, even if that person has moved out and moved on.

Where there’s a will, there’s less confusion A will is an extremely important document to have to leave property to a common-law partner after you die. If you’re unmarried and die without a will, your estate still goes to your next of kin — but that’s not your partner. If you don’t relish the idea of a parent, a sibling or some distant uncle inheriting everything, get a will.

For a lot of blended families, they want to leave their estate to their kids from the previous relationship. So, life and critical illness insurance in many cases is the solution.

PAGE 46

sports

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Windies bowlers clobber Sri Lanka TRINIDAD -- Hollywood couldn’t have written a better strip, Bollywood couldn’t have acted it out better either.

At 12.50 pm Sunday, acknowledgements ran across the screen thanking Shane Dowrich, Keiran Powell, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase and the fast bowlers, as Windies defeated Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the Sandals Three-match series at the majestic Queen’s Park Oval, Port-ofSpain.

Starting the final day on 176 for three and needing a further 277 to win or fight to earn a draw, the Sri Lankans were

dismantled by a rampant local bowling outfit, as they were routed for 226.

n SCORES: Windies 414/8 dec & 223/7 dec vs Sri Lanka 185 & 226. If Sri Lanka was to get the world record winning target, a lot depended on the overnight batsman Kushal Mendis, who resumed on 94. He quickly got his fifth Test century out of the way but soon after received a brute of a delivery from Shannon Gabriel to leave the Park for 102. He batted all off 268 minutes, facing 210 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.

When he left, skipper Dinesh

Chandimal was the next to fly the flag for the Sri Lankans. He had retired on the fourth afternoon on 15 due to an upset stomach.

He saw the fall of the nightwatchman Lahiru Gamage for three, leg before to Bishoo and 10 minutes before lunch he was out. The right-hander played a horrible shot given the situation of his team and Roston Chase was celebrating his first wicket in the match.

Give him four balls again and he had the plucky little wicketkeeper- batsman Niroshan Dickwella in problems.

Chase allowed him to reach first in line for lunch by sending him back leg before on the stroke of the interval.

Lunch was taken at 222/7 and from that point it was only a matter of time and on the team’s return to the field, the game was quickly wrapped up in spectacular fashion by the Barbadian Chase.

The lanky Christchurch man finished with 4/15 and Bishoo 3/48 to spark celebrations among the Test faithful present at the Oval.

Speaking after the match, skipper Jason Holder said: “We are elated over the win and we are not going to take it easy. We are going to be hard on ourselves moving forward.” The next Test starts on Wednesday at the Beausejour in St Lucia.

Holder continued: “The bowlers were fantastic and the batting was good, especially Shane (Dowrich) who gave us a wonderful century. Bishoo was excellent with the ball and Roston

really came good for us.”

His opposite number Chandimal said that Sri Lanka lost the plot on the opening day with their fielding and he is hoping that his team can learn from the mistakes heading into the second Test.

Scoreboard WINDIES VS SRI LANKA Windies 1st inns 414/8 dec Sri Lanka 1st innings 185 Windies 2nd innings 223/7 Sri Lanka 2nd innings (overnight 176/3) M Perera c Smith b Gabriel......12 K Mendis c Dowrich b Gabriel......102 D Chandimal c Brathwaite b Chase......27 A Mathews c Dowrich b Holder......31 R Silva c & b Bishoo......14 L Gamage lbw Bishoo......3 N Dickwella lbw Chase......19 M Perera not out......3 R Herath c Hope b Bishoo......0 S Lakmal c Dowrich b Chase......1 C Kumara c Dowrich b Chase......0 Extras 3b, 4lb, 7nb......14 Total all out......226 Fall of wkts: 21, 45r, 123, 175, 189, 195, 218, 222, 225, 226, 226. Bowling: K Roach 15-3570, S Gabriel 15-2-52-2, M Cummins 12-4-230, J Holder 14-6-24-1 D Bishoo 19-2-48-3, R Chase 8.2-1-14-4. Result: Windies won by 226 runs. Windies lead three-match series 1-0.

Man of the match: Shane Dowrich.

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