April 8, 2015 PAGE 1 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Introducing the Me™ Visa Prepaid Card… A Better Alternative to Carrying Cash plus members love the card benefits. Visit www.mecard4u.com for details … Different & Dynamic. Bigga, Brighta, Betta! VOL. 9, NO. 07 • April 8, 2015 Website: www.caribbeangraphic.ca • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: [email protected] Bigger Venue Chosen For Granger’s Visit! Calling T All Bandleaders he venue for David Granger’s and Moses Nagamootoo’s scheduled April 19 Toronto meeting has been changed. the APNU-AFC Coalition’s quest to overthrow the ruling PPP/Civic’s reign as Guyana’s governing Party, which it has held for the past twentytwo years, has attracted increasingly widespread multi-racial support among Guyanese, both at home and abroad. The April 19 meeting will allow the Granger and Nagamootoo, as the APNU-AFC’s two dynamic leaders, the op- Come take advantage of our Carnival Craziness Special Advertising Rates to promote your 2013 Mas Bands In expectation of a massive turnout the event’s organizers have changed the meeting’s location to the more spacious Elite Banquet Hall, 1850 Albion Rd. The event was initially scheduled to be held at the Pickering Pentecostal Church. David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo are the recently formed APNU-AFC Coalition’s respective Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates for Guyana’s upcoming May 11 National Elections. Under its Time For Change theme, Enjoy 50% Discounts off our Regular Community Rates on any ads booked from April 12 – July 16, 2013. portunity to share their vision of Guyana’s new and exciting future. The day’s Agenda, which gets underway at 1:30 pm and runs until 6:00 pm, will include a Brunch and Cultural Program. A $50 donation is required for admission. Island Mix Celebrating 10 Years As Pickering’s Hottest Restaurant & Bar All ads are full colour. someone, Island Mix is the place to be. As its motto warmly welcomes “Come Taste The Mix!” Full Page 10 X 14.5 $1000 F $500 rom Thursday April 16 to Sunday 19 Island Mix Pickering (1050 Brock Road), will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary as the city’s hottest spot since 2005. Within the past What makes Island Mix unique is that over the past 10 years its four man Management Team: Kemol Mohamed, Sunil Harricharan, Kemel and Kevin Yusef, has listened to their customers. Not only welcoming suggestions, but also more importantly taking complaints very seriously. Their inclination has been to treat complaints as opportunities - to do a much better job at satisfying their customers. Embracing the philosophy that Change is Good, Island Mix’s Management has been forever strategizing in an ongoing effort to make their Restaurant & Lounge a better place. Menu items, entertainment even the Restaurant’s ambiance and décor have all been continuously adjusted in an ongoing effort to offer customers the best, most enjoyable experience possible. Island Mix’s 10th Anniversary celebration activities will include an April 16 Mix It Up Thursday, April 17 TGIF: Thank God Its Friday, a Saturday April18 star studded Dejays Party and a Sunday April 19 Comedy Mix. For complete details visit http://islandmix. ca/island-mix-pickering. C Bo co To yo ca 1/2 Page 10 X 7.25 ten years Island Mix Restaurant & Lounge has become the place to socialize and relax with family and friends for any occasion. Whether it be for a place to go for lunch, enjoy a family dinner, cater a special occasion or just have a drink with that special $500 $300 Buying, Selling or Leasing? Call Charles now! No matter the reason! No matter the season! Get me and my team working for you! SOLD Charles Dow, Salesperson Right At Home Realty Inc. 416-838-2616 http://charlesdow.ca Not intended to solicit properties already under contract. To Accept This Ou PAGE 2 Toronto Star’s George Haim Pays Tribute To Our Zick H undreds of grieving friends and family attended the Memorial Service that was recently held in celebration of Albert Isaacs’ life. The following is an edited version of George Haim’s penned tribute to this outstanding Guyanese, that was published in the Toronto Star’s April 5 edition. If you fly with Porter Airlines, there’s a greater than 50 per cent chance the man who taught your captain how to fly your airplane was Albert Isaacs, fondly known to his friends and family as simply Zick. “Fire is for cooking and ice is for drinks,” he often told students in his Downsview classroom, making sure they remembered two big dangers of flying. Another danger is a loose engine, something Isaacs experienced firsthand when he took a teenager for a ride in a small plane in the early 1980s. Isaacs landed the plane safely in a field near Markham’s Buttonville Airport, but only after he carefully avoided smashing through a fence. About a dozen years earlier, Isaacs was among six Guyana Airways pilots to receive an award for bravery from the Guyanese prime minister for their role in stopping an uprising in the southwestern part of the country. The pilot who never retired from teaching because he loved his job died of pancreatic cancer on Feb. 21 at age 72. Isaacs stopped working only after receiving his cancer diagnosis last August. Isaacs worked at FlightSafety for over 20 years, often lecturing for eight or nine hours a day in ground school. Isaacs’ students already had their commercial pilots’ licences. He taught these pilots about a specific aircraft in a classroom setting for almost two weeks, after which they trained in a simulator. Pilots from around the world attended his classes. Acham said Isaacs was one of the few people qualified to teach pilots how to fly all four versions of the Dash 8 — the 100, 200, 300, and 400. The 400 is also known as the Q400 and is the aircraft flown by Porter. According to Acham, Isaacs had memorized every single intricate difference between the four models. In addition to teaching, Isaacs also had a love for science and astronomy. He had a powerful telescope with which he taught his son and daughter how to For All Your Financial Solutions Specializing in: • 1st Time Home Buyers • New Immigrants • • Business for Self • Refinancing & Renewals • Asif A. Kasim Mortgage Professional Integrity Professionals powered by: identify objects in the night sky. He once spent a week at a space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, where he learned what it’s like to train as an astronaut. Albert Eustace Isaacs was born in 1942 in what was then known as British Guiana. After graduating from an aviation school in Florida in 1967, he went to work for Guyana Airlines as a co-pilot flying passengers within Guyana and around the Caribbean. In January 1969, less than three years after gaining independence from Great Britain, Guyana was hit by what became known as the Rupununi Uprising. Five police officers and one civilian were killed in an attack by ranchers on the police station in the town of Lethem, an 85-minute flight from the capital, Georgetown. With no air force, the Guyanese government commandeered three Guyana Airways DC-3s — most of the airline’s fleet — to ferry troops and supplies from Georgetown to an airstrip outside Lethem. As co-pilot, Isaacs participated in these missions. Roland DaSilva, Guyana Airways’s chief pilot at the time, said the planes landing in Lethem were attacked by gunfire on their approach, though none were hit. In 1975, upon the birth of their second child, Isaacs and his wife, Judy, decided to move to Canada in search of a better life. Isaacs joined De Havilland Canada shortly thereafter as a test pilot. He started working at FlightSafety in the early 1990s. Isaacs loved spreading his knowledge about aviation, and he loved interacting with youth. In the early 1980s, Barbadian teenager Dirk DaSilva was spending his summer vacation in Toronto and wanted to learn more about small planes. A Toronto relative of DaSilva’s introduced him to Isaacs, who agreed to take him for a ride in a four seat Cessna 172 based at Buttonville Airport. Isaacs showed DaSilva how takeoffs and landings are done. A few minutes after the third takeoff, the plane started shaking violently. When Isaacs reduced engine power, the vibrations calmed. When he increased power, the vibrations increased. Isaacs declared an emergency. Buttonville Airport’s runway was cleared, but Isaacs didn’t think he could turn the plane around. “That’s where we’re landing,” he told DaSilva, pointing straight ahead to a field being plowed by a farmer. On final approach, the plane barely made it over a fence. The landing on the grassy field was very rough and the plane stopped just short of a hedge. Isaacs was calm throughout this incident, said DaSilva, giving the experience an almost routine flavour. Judy Isaacs said the federal transport authorities were impressed by how her husband had safely brought the plane down. It turned out the metal piece holding the engine to the plane had loosened and was close to falling off. Isaacs leaves behind his wife, his two children, and three grandchildren. (George Haim Toronto Star Apr 05 2015) 905-791-7684 The Tastiest Doubles, Rotis, Dalpuries & Parathas www.theintegrityprofessionals.com TEL: 416.561.1258 FAX: 416.249.9490 [email protected] The April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Inc. 13 Kenview Blvd., Brampton, ON 905-791-ROTI (7684) w w w. A l i m a s . t e l April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Saints All Inclusive A Carib Beer, El Dorado Rum Spiked Affair! Attendees to the April 18 Toronto St Stanislaus Alumni Association’s Annual Spring Dance All Inclusive will have their fill of the Caribbean’s two most enjoyable alcoholic beverages, Carib Beer and El Dorado Rum. Both brands recently came on board as the event’s corporate product sponsors. Traditionally sold out, this year’s event will offer attendees unlimited opportunities to sample El Dorado’s popular 5 year old dark rum, as well as the 3 year old White that was recently introduced to Ontario Liquor Store shelves. For those whose preference may be for a brew over hard liquor, there will also be an adequate supply of Carib, the Caribbean’s favorite beer. For the many beautiful ladies likely to be in attendance, the event will also provide ample opportunities to indulge in “Selfies” as entries to Caribbean aribbean Jewel ewel Carib Beer’s recently launched Carib Jewel Competition. The Competition allows ladies to submit their Selfies for consideration to be featured as Page 3 Carib Jewels in forthcoming Caribbean Graphic Issues and be eligible to also win prizes. Winners will be chosen according to which Selfies best reflect Carib’s Spirit as the Caribbean’s Beer. Entries should be submitted by email to [email protected] Jamaica Diaspora Conference Launch Jamaica’s Toronto Consul General, Mr Lloyd Wilks along with the island’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Arnaldo Brown, will host this city’s launching of the 6th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference on Monday, April 6 at 6:30 pm at the Jamaican Canadian centre (995 Arrow Road). The 6th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference 2015 will be staged in Montego Bay from June 13 -18. Under the theme “ Jamaica and the Diaspora; Linking for Growth and Prosperity, the Conference promises to be an exhilarating, focussed, not to be missed event. Convened by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Conference is a global forum which connects Jamaicans and persons of Jamaican descent from all over the world with their fellow country folk back home every two years. The event seeks to strengthen existing linkages and networks and to build alliances for Jamaica’s further development and improved world standing. PAGE 3 Carib Jewel: Ravishing Rita is our first Carib Jewel Contest Winner. She sent us this very lovely photo of herself sipping her favorite beer at one of our community’s most popular Restaurants. Shipping all personal and household items to your destination in 4 weeks or less! PAGE 4 C April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Guyana’s Political Parties Circuses Come To Town, Clowns Abound! andidates from the two main political Parties that will be contesting Guyana’s forthcoming May 11 Elections, the PPP/Civic and the recently formed APNU-AFC Coalition will be in Toronto over the April 10-11 and 18-19 weekends. As is usual with such political circuses their respective presences here won’t be without a fair share of comedy and clowning. First up, on Friday April 10, will be the incumbent People’s Political Party/ Civic now trying its desperate best to hold on to the governmental power it has enjoyed, some would suggest grossly abused, for the past twenty-two years. In its attempt to garner the support of Guyanese-Canadians the PPP/Civic has sent a high ranking delegation comprised of three of its supposedly brightest stars. Heading the delegation will be former President and PPP/Civic Executive Committee Member Bharrat Jagdeo. He will be accompanied by the Home Affairs Minister and Party General Secretary Clement Rohee, as well as Minister of Tourism, Housing and Water Irfan Ali. The first most noticeable aspect of the PPP/Civic’s representatives, certainly as characterized by these three, is their penchant for multiple roles. Such is their perceived brilliance within the Party’s inner circles that no single Ministry responsibilities could ever be adequate for any of them. During his tenure as President, Jagdeo held several portfolios. Likewise now Messrs Rohee and Ali as Government Ministers.The question becomes though how competently have they done so? As former President Mr Jagdeo will likely be the frontline speaker for the Party’s attempt to impress their Guyanese-Canadian audiences with their versions of the latest update on one of the most important and defining elections in Guyana’s history. In doing so he’s likely to face a barrage of questions on his own role in earning Guyana the recently accorded highly unflattering dual description as the Caribbean’s most corrupt country and South America’s poorest. Mr Rohee may find himself similarly challenged to provide a suitable explanation for the anomaly of so many Guyanese, thousands in number and particularly those of Indian descent, having within recent years chosen to leave their homeland in the quest for better lives abroad. This from the country that has supposedly progressed and developed so admirably during the last twenty-two years of the PPP/Civic’s rule! For Mr Ali, the challenge will be to explain the many empty, yet to be fulfilled promises, he and other members of his Ministry have made within the past three to five years for the development of Guyana’s Tourism potential here in Canada. Promised Fam Trips, Re-Discover Guyana and optimum utilization of the part Guyanese-owned Fly Jamaica’s Toronto-Guyana flight route availability are among the many initiatives that have been promised and as yet unfulfilled! The PPP/Civic’s platform therefore seems to be such a comedic farce that Messrs Jagdeo, Rohee and Ali may find themselves at their wits end to create any desired favorable impressions among their Guyanese-Canadian audiences. The fact that the turnout of their marquee April 10 Elite Banquet Hall Fundraising Dinner appearances is likely to be almost exclusively sympathetic Indo-Guyanese, should however help their cause. Based on the highly encouraging photos of hundreds of multi-racial Guyanese attending the rallies they have held to date in Guyana’s countryside villages, the APNU-AFC Coalition’s seems to be holding true to the fulfillment of its objective of a non-racially based election. Recognizing that the traditionally PPP supportive Indo-Guyanese population still holds a numeric advantage over any of Guyana’s five other supposedly still existent ethnicities, the APNU-AFC’s leaders have been working steadfastly to attract Guyanese of all races to their Time For Change election themed banner. As the Party’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates, Messrs David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo will also be in Toronto on August 18-19 weekend. Mr Granger’s previous history as a former key Forbes Burnham led PNC figure and likewise Mr Nagamootoo’s own checkered political past will likely stimulate some interesting queries from attendees to scheduled their April 18 Town Hall meeting. Their answers whatever they may be, seem however likely to be far less farcical than those which may emanate from the aforementioned PPP/Civic Representatives. If there’s any comedic value to be attributed to the APNU-AFC officials Toronto tour, its likely to be in the organization of the visit itself. It would appear that the apparently ever increasing popularity of the APNU-AFC’s GrangerNagamootoo Leadership team has created a bandwagon effect with scores of individuals now clamoring to get on board and somehow be involved. Evidence of this was recently provided by the fact that the listed organizers who appeared in an APNU-AFC ad that appeared in a recent Issue of Indo-Caribbean News was completely different to that which had been on the initial promotional flyer announcing Mr Granger’s forthcoming visit. The ethnic representation on the respective promotional pieces is also extremely interesting. The multi-racial tone of the GrangerNagamootoo led APNU-AFC Coalition appears now to have spread its wings even as far as to our Canadian shores. Our Readers may however find it farcical, if not highly comical, that the apparent current crop of APNU-AFC organizers should have chosen IndoCaribbean News as a suitable medium for advertising the Granger-Nagamootoo visit. That publication’s very name is most descriptive of its ethnic bias and, as its history would undoubtedly reflect, its political orientation also. As Frank Sinatra once sang “ Send In The Clowns, there ought to be Clowns, don’t worry, they’re here!” — Tony McWatt Guest Editorial Corruption Thrives In Secret Places! KAIETEUR NEWs, April 5, 2015 “Government ought to be all outside and no inside…Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places, and avoids public places, and we believe it’s a fair presumption that secrecy means impropriety.” - Woodrow Wilson, former US president, 1913 The openness that Wilson spoke of in the early 1900s is being actively sought after even 10 decades later. The concept of open data has been gaining momentum among local governments in recent years, but cities in India stubbornly cling onto their culture of opacity. Open data refers to the process by which governments disclose information that is relevant to citizens and stakeholders in the public domain. This is crucial as it injects more transparency into governance, thereby making administrators more accountable. Opening up documents, budgets and decisions also helps spread awareness about government processes among citizens, thus giving them a sense of ownership and participation towards their city. India has taken some strides towards openness by enacting the Right to Information Act, 2005 and also by launching the open data portal www.data.gov.in by the National Informatics Centre. But such transparency has largely been restricted to the national and state levels, not percolating to the working of local governments which determine the dayto-day life of ordinary citizens. India’s lack of openness came to the fore recently. The Open Data Index created by the Open Knowledge Foundation in 2013 to evaluate the availability and accessibility of information ranked India a lowly 63rd out of 70 countries. Political leaders who should be leading by example too prefer to hide behind closed doors. Municipal councillors do not disclose related party interests, making it near impossible for citizens to grasp whether political decisions are influenced by conflict of interest. In Guyana, every councilor is a politician elected on a political ticket. Contrast this with London where the pecuniary interests of each councillor are openly available on the website of the Greater London Authority, with a detailed break-up of contracts and corporate ties they may hold or sponsorship they may have received. A lack of information isn’t the only hurdle towards building effective citizengovernment ties. Community participation too is seriously wanting. In India, while 16 large cities have passed the community participation law, no city except Hyderabad has constituted area sabhas to involve citizens in policymaking at the neighbourhood level. Citizens rarely know where or how their city government spends the money it collects by way of taxes. Pune is the only city where citizens are involved in the budgeting process, that too on the initiative of NGOs like Janwani. This is despite laws mandating public disclosure and despite citizen participation being a reform condition under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. This opacity is dismal at a time when cities across the world are investing all energies in open government practices. Participatory budgeting in municipal Publisher/Editor: Contributors: Legal: Graphic Design: budgets was initiated as way back as 1989 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and nearly 1,000 cities including Montreal, Seville, Chicago and NYC have used it since. Chicago was one of the first municipalities to appoint a chief data officer in 2012 and discloses useful data including boundaries of beat police officials, the status of pothole repairs, and cityowned land inventory. “The city will post online and in easyto-use formats the information that Chicagoans need most. For example, complete budget documents will be available in straightforward and searchable formats. The city’s website will allow anyone to track and find information on lobbyists and what they are lobbying for as well as which government officials they have lobbied,” promised mayor Rahm Emanuel in his elaborately laid out Chicago transition plan of 2011. New York took a similar step with the council approving a local law that required agencies to open up all their data by 2018. Whether India will follow the global trail of openness only time will tell. (The Times of India) Tony McWatt Sandra Ann Baptiste, Akua Hinds, Christine Reid, Sir Ronald Sanders, Oumarally and Baboolal Adryan Manasan (www.echodesign.ca | 416.716.2362) Website: www.caribbeangraphic.ca • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: [email protected] April 8, 2015 I CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Bishop’s High School Toronto Alumni Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary t is celebration time again in the Guyanese-Canadian alumni association community. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Toronto Chapter of the Bishops’ High School Alumni Association (BHSAA), a pioneering alumni association in the Greater Toronto Area. BHSAA Toronto shares this milestone year with another organization and an event of which the Association is an integral part – Last Lap Lime. It is the 20th anniversary of the Lime which was created and is hosted annually by five alumni associations - Bishops’ High School, Queen’s College, St. Joseph’s High School, St. Rose’s High School, and St. Stanislaus College. As BHSAA celebrates its 30th anniversary, it is also excited about what has been achieved through the twenty years of collaboration because of the common goal to promote high standards of education and learning environments at the five respective schools. Since Last Lap Lime was launched in August 1996, this major fundraising initiative has become a very special event in the summer social calendar of the Guyanese-Canadian community in Toronto. Over the years, Last Lap Lime has become increasingly popular as the place where family and friends gather on “Caribana Monday,” share eats and have fun. It is a well-known meeting place for fellow alumni and other Guya- nese visiting Toronto for the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival (formerly Caribana) to connect with friends. The BHSAA tent is a welcoming centre for all alumni and guests and the Lime is a great opportunity to promote our mission and activities to a wider audience. Every year, a part of the proceeds allocated to each of the five Alumni Associations is designated to show gratitude to the community that has helped to make the Lime and independent fund-raising endeavours a success. Donations are made to charitable organizations selected by the associations. From its inception, BHSAA Toronto has been very involved in the evolution of the Last Lap Lime, including the planning and operational phases. One of its members is currently the Project Manager for the Lime. Many of our alumni readily volunteer their time to make this event a success, whether as a member of the Board, captain of a food tent, working shifts PAGE 5 at a designated food station, or setting up and managing the BHSAA tent. The success of Last Lap Lime benefits our mission, since proceeds from Last Lap Lime have boosted the level of annual contributions made by the Association to the School. BHSAA Toronto Chapter was founded in July 1985 by three alumni - Patricia Moore, Aileen Morgan and Lynette Spence - with the initial aim of bringing together fellow alumni to assist its alma mater in Georgetown in maintaining its legacy of academic excellence. It is the second oldest of nine BHS International Chapters in key locations around the world. Throughout its history, the Toronto Chapter has been steadfastly committed to keeping the legacy alive for students and graduates. It has strived to engage members in comradeship and in the continuing growth of the organization, in keeping with the School’s mantra “…may each to each prove ever true comrade and true friend.” Members of the Association come from the Greater Toronto Area. All alumni are invited to be members or associates and the chapter serves as a link for alumni who live elsewhere, in and outside of Canada, where no Chapter exists. An open invitation is extended to fellow alumni to join in building on the achievement of 30 years of friendship and active service. PAGE 6 T CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC April 8, 2015 BISHOPS SCHOOL PROJECTS o date, monies raised have allowed BHSAA Toronto to provide over half a million Canadian dollars in financial and non-financial aid to its alma mater. The projects made possible by financial contributions include infrastructural and curriculum support, library resources, annual bursaries for student support, and identified school-based needs. Computer LAB – the establishment of this fullynetworked Lab is the largest project undertaken, with over $300,000 put towards it. BHSAA Toronto provides ongoing maintenance and upgrade, with current software, security systems, and Internet access throughout the School. Over the years, the Lab Project extended to the Library, School Office and Staff Room. There are now approximately 50 computers on site, along with printers, including a donated stateof-the-art printer for the School Office. BHSAA acquired this multifunction printer due to the initiative of a Board director and the generosity of family friend and business owner, Rudolph Singh. Acquisition and provision of books and other multi-media resources provides ongoing upgrade of the School Library. Annual Bursaries allow School Administration to provide support to current BHS students. Lunch and Transportation Programs - in 2013, alumni in the GTA caringly responded when they learned about the nutritional and transportation needs of current BHS students. BHSAA began to allocate funds for the School’s Lunch Program. Special appeals to alumni were successful, and many made generous donations towards meals and special transportation subsidies. Some alumni committed themselves to ongoing contributions to these programs. The Interactive Volunteer Program is an ongoing initiative. The Association continues to encourage alumni “volunteers” to return to the School to share or use their extensive experiences and qualifications to motivate, mentor and inspire current students. Bishop Furniture Bishop Computer Room Bishop Library April 8, 2015 PAGE 7 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Robin Shiwsankar Home Financing Advisor Robin can help open the door to your new home in Canada. Get your home, sooner. The Scotiabank StartRight® Mortgage Program1, designed for newcomers, makes owning your home a reality. As a knowledgeable Home Financing Advisor I can show you how. Call today. 5100 Erin Mills Pkwy. Mississauga, ON 647 886 1214 ® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. 1 The Scotiabank StartRight Mortgage Program, created for Canadian Landed Immigrants and Foreign Workers from 0-5 years in Canada. Applicable to residential mortgages only and subject to Scotiabank lending criteria for residential properties. CMHC/Genworth Financial Canada/Canada Guaranty mortgage default insurance may be required for Loan to Value ratios (LVRs) greater than 50% to a maximum of 95%. Maximum LVRs available may be less than 95%. Bishop Bursary PAGE 8 April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Bishops Community Projects B HSAA is dedicated in its efforts to give back to the Toronto community. The Association presents a number of activities to showcase its cultural heritage and extend friendship ties with its friends, supporters and sponsors. The Circle of Support program has a very special place in the life of BHSAA. A dedicated group of alumni make visits and support other alumni, friends, family and Guyanese seniors in the community, offering care and compassion, and bringing cheer when needed, particularly during illness or bereavement. Annually, the Support group spreads “Christmas Cheer” to seniors and shut-ins by packing and delivering Christmas baskets. For the past two years, they hosted a delightful luncheon for seniors who were mobile, thanks to the generosity of a faithful friend of the Chapter who provided the meal. This luncheon would not be possible without the many volunteers who assist and/or raise their voices in beautiful Christmas song. Since 1997, the Annual Bursary Award Program has benefitted 42 recipients. It was initiated to enable young people from the Guyanese-Canadian community to pursue higher education. An award of $1,000(CAD) is annually available to children and/or grandchildren of BHS alumni, and there’s a separate award of $1,000 for children of Guyanese heritage, sponsored by an alumnus. The special Olive King Bursary is awarded for outstanding academic record and achievements in voluntary community service. BHSAA Toronto is well known for its Literary Evenings. For the past 28 years, this program has been offered as a tribute to members and supporters and is a community favourite. As a culturally-oriented activity, it features an assortment of poems, short stories, skits and excerpts from books predominantly written by authors of Guyanese and Caribbean background/heritage. Charitable Donations are seen as an important way of giving back to the community. Each year, in addition to the donations through Last Lap Lime, BHSAA makes a gift from its funds to a Canadian charity of choice. The Canadian Breast Cancer Society, Caribbean Diabetes Association, Help Conquer Cancer Ride, Herbie Fund, Toronto Children’s Breakfast Club, North York Women’s Shelter -Transitional Services, Gilda’s Club and YWCA December 6 Fund are among the many recipients. BHSAA Toronto has a long-standing relationship with the Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations. The Saturday Morning Mentorship Program which was initiated by AGCO’s Youth Arm has been sustained by two of BHSAA’s founding members. For many years, the Association has provided volunteer teacher-administrators for this Program. 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Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm • Sunday 10am to 4pm • Holidays 9am to 2pm 416.292.4370 • www.laparkan.com Ontario ad.indd 1 • RRSPs • TFSAs • RRIFs • RDSPs 3/20/13 10:55 PM Yorkdale Mall Tower 1 Yorkdale Road Suite 404, Toronto, ON, M6A 3A1 Telephone: (416) 787-1616 Ext. 230 | Toll-Free: 1-800-361-8726 Ext. 230 Cellular: (416) 346-8883 | Fax: (416) 787-8998 E-mail: [email protected] April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Guyanese Ambassador Assaulted by Surinamese Police GEORGETOWN, Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George, was allegedly assaulted by two Surinamese Police Officers who breached international diplomatic agreements concerning the jurisdiction of Police on the territory of embassies as they attempted to arrest the Ambassador’s chauffeur. The Foreign Affairs Ministry in Guyana has since expressed its deepest concerns regarding the assault and the violation of the Vienna Convention. According to reports, a man had parked his vehicle in front of a “no parking” sign by the gate of the Guyana Embassy. When security indicated his error and requested he remove his vehicle, as it was blocking the entrance to the Embassy, the man then behaved in an aggressive and disorderly manner. Instead of complying, he reportedly exited his vehicle and then assaulted the security guard on duty. Higher Rice Prices Promised GEORGETOWN, The Opposition Coalition has promised the largely rice-dependent Essequibo Coast that it would examine ways of ensuring that lowly-paid farmers receive higher prices for their paddy and that they get a fair share from sales to Venezuela. Prime Ministerial candidate Moses Nagamootoo appealed to the rice farmers to vote in favour of a government that would bring an end to “vampires” who were paying meager prices for paddy while the country’s coffers earn billions of dollars from grain sales to Venezuela. “You don’t need a reason for a change in government. You need a new government that would change the laws so that prices are guar- PPP/C Promises Diverse List Of Elections Candidates GEORGETOWN, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says its list of candidates which was to be presented to the nation on Tuesday, April 07, (Nomination Day) to represent the Party at the General and Regional Elections on May 11 will reflect the, “diversity of the country and is made up of persons who are aptly competent to continue to take Guyana forward.” In an April 5 media release the Party stated that, “As President Donald Ramotar had assured the nation in a The Ambassador’s chauffeur then intervened to stop the skirmish, but later became the subject of verbal abuse from the driver of the vehicle. After refusing to remove his vehicle and continuing to verbally attack the authorities, the Guyana Ambassador instructed his staff to call the local Police. Two Police ranks arrived and as per the provisions of the Vienna Convention, the Ambassador invited them onto the premises and explained the situation to them. The officers then proceeded beyond the Embassy’s gate and engaged in a conversation with the driver of the vehicle. The Policemen then reentered the premises and announced that they had to arrest the Ambassador’s chauffeur as he was a suspect in relation to injuries suffered by the driver who behaved disorderly. But, as per the Vienna Convention, the Ambassador informed the ranks that they could not effect an arrest on the premises of an embassy and any issue must be addressed through the Foreign Affairs Ministry. However, the Police Officers disregarded the Ambassador, declaring it was Surinamese territory and that the Ambassador was obstructing their work. They then proceeded to effect the arrest, and in the process, grabbed on the Ambassador’s clothing ripping his shirt. The Foreign Affairs Ministry in Guyana has not taken this incident lightly and has since demanded an explanation from Surinamese officials. The Ministry expects that necessary measures be taken to ensure there is no recurrence of the violations of international laws and that the proper action be taken by the Government of Suriname against those who violated the principles set out by the Vienna Convention. anteed,” he told more than 4,000 persons at Damon Square, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. Nagamootoo supported calls for the establishment of a Development Bank from which millers could borrow to pay farmers. He endorsed calls for farmers to be given a major say in managing the rice industry through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and remove discrimination about the allocation of quotas. The concerns and promises were earlier made by, among others, prominent Essequibo businessman Sam Bacchus and hotelier and rice miller, Robert Badal at a rally held at Damon Square, Anna Regina. It was on the Essequibo Coast that rice farmers had last year blocked roads with burning objects to vent their frustration at the long-delayed payments by millers. Several of the farmers were teargassed, arrested and prosecuted. Addressing the largest diverse and multi-ethnic gathering that the opposition has attracted so far for the May 11, 2015 general elections, Badal empathized with farmers who receive “directed and dictated” prices. Noting that he does not pay farmers GUY$500 per bag of paddy but instead offers GUY$3,400 or GUY$3,200 per bag and that farmers receive full payments, Badal expressed optimism that farmers could be treated better. Naitram, a member of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association, told attendees that farmers should be paid at least GUY$2,800 per bag instead of being handed out GUY$500 by “fat cats” who sell rice and paddy to Venezuela through an agreement with the Guyana government. The AFC Councillor for Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) called for farmers to be adequately represented on GRDB. “We want to see genuine rice farmers from each region representing farmers’ interest. It is time for a change,” said Natram who was among those who had been charged with protestrelated activities. previous interview, the list will be a truly representative one.”According to the PPP, its main objective is not to give glorious promises that cannot be realized, but to give society real tangible goals which are already in the pipeline. “Our framework is predictable with policy implementation flowing from a societal consensus for function and desired outcome. As our Party seeks refiscal development and infrastructural track record which has transformed the lives of all our citizens.” The PPPC also boasted of its, “political force that is clearly identifiable through its commitment to democracy, freedom, diversity, non- violence, gender equality and global sustainable development. Its track record has been one sprouting with real development of which the evidence is overwhelming across the ten Regions.” “The choice that you make on May 11 will determine whether Guyana continues on its developmental path. The challenges over the past three years have re-emphasized that only a majority PPPC government can ensure, through its prudent management, our nation’s potential of becoming a developed country which would create a brighter future for all.” PAGE 9 Return To Post Election Coalition Planned GEORGETOWN, Guyana’s opposition coalition intends to change the constitution to allow for parties to team up after a general election to prevent the one with the plurality from forming the government, a top official of the Alliance For Change (AFC) has said. AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes signaled the coalition’s intention to do so at a rally at Anna Regina where the opposition’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger also appealed to Essequibians to vote overwhelmingly for the coalition of A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) on May 11, 2015. Hughes suggested that the constitutional amendment that in 1964 permitted a post-election coalition between the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the United Force (UF) should be reintroduced. “After five decades, we have a constitution that says if you don’t get a majority, you cannot wait until after the elections to come together and form a coalition because if that had happened and if we had those provisions in the constitution, we would have had President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo since 2011 so we must understand the things we have to change,” he said. Aspects of Guyana’s Constitution cannot be amended unless they are supported by at least 43 of the 65 elected parliamentarians. Although the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) lost its majority by one seat at the November, 2011 election to the combined opposition with 33 seats, the President appointed a cabinet and ran the country as if his party had enjoyed a simple majority. Opposition-piloted and approved laws and motions were for the most part ignored. Meanwhile, Granger begged Essequibians to vote in their numbers for APNU+AFC this time around unlike what they had done in 2011. Hughes said the time has come to erase constitutional provisions that make the president immune from legal action and give him absolute power. In the Cummingsburg Accord that established the pre-election coalition, APNU and AFC have agreed to pursue constitutional reform if elected to office in just over one month from now. PAGE 10 April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Positive Results BRIDGETOWN, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Christopher Sinckler has said that while the first year of the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) was challenging, Government has started to see positive results from the new entity. He told this to a cocktail reception held to launch the 16th Regional Revenue Games. He recalled that two weeks ago during the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure he had indicated the areas which needed strengthening. Those areas are the BRA, the Financial Services Commission and a National Procurement Authority, which is on the cards for later this year. The BRA is an amalgamation of Government’s revenue collection agencies. The Customs and Excise Department will join the BRA later this year. The Minister pointed out that Government’s aim in creating the BRA is to have a more stable, user-friendly, transparent and sustainable tax administration system. The Minister said the importance of such a gathering of professionally aligned persons cannot be understated. He said that the delegations should be cognizant that the occasion affords the opportunity for tax administrators to exchange ideas, speak informally about the developments within their own sphere of operations and to share perspectives on how things can be made better, more efficient and more effective for Caribbean citizens. The Minister pointed out that their work is critical to the economic development in all of our respective countries. “The work of your departments is the bedrock of our economies and the success we have had in the past and of course that which will be guaranteed for the future,” the Minister stated.. Sinckler said the games present for us Caribbean people an opportunity to build friendships and to strengthen our bonds and unity as Caribbean nations and people. “From the inception in St. Lucia in 1998, these games promoted regional integration through sports and recreational activities and this year’s theme “Many Arms One Embrace” symbolizes the continuation of that tradition,” he added. Female Rapper Accuses Rihanna Of Song Theft BRIDGETOWN, Rihanna could have a lawsuit on the way if aspiring female rapper Just Brittany fans have their way. The Bajan pop star just recently released her new single “B**ch Better Have My Money” and it has been the talk of social media since. She has also performed the track on the 2015 iHeartRadio Music awards. The Texas native rapper also has a single titled “Better Have My Money” which she recorded long before Rihanna released hers. In fact Just Britanny release the song on SoundCloud just 9 months ago. Several of her fans on social media are chastising Rihanna saying that the pop superstar stole the song, with some going as far as to suggest a lawsuit. So it isn’t Just Brittany making the accusations, it’s her fans who are pushing the fire. Areyouself-employedwithout heAlthbenefits? whylife’sbrighterwithhealthCoverageChoice • Family coverage for health care expenses not paid by provincial plans. • For medical emergencies and routine costs like prescriptions, dental and vision care. • Premiums may be tax deductible. Today is a good day to learn more, so let’s talk. AbdoolGafoor 416-412-0401 ext2304 416 824 7036 [email protected] www.sunlife.ca/abdool.gafoor © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2011. 2075 Kennedy Rd., Suite 1300 Scarborough ON M1T 3V3 Surinam Airways Wants Back In BRIDGETOWN, Barbados appears to be in line for increased airlift from the region. After terminating its scheduled service to Barbados several years ago, Surinam Airways is making a bid to resume flights here, as well as to other Caribbean destinations. Last week, it wrote the United States Department of Transportation and officially asked it to “renew its scheduled service exemption authority as well as the authority to operate charters”. Surinam Airways last had approval for such an exemption in 1995. The airline currently operates service to Amsterdam, Aruba, Belem, Curacao, Cayenne, Georgetown, Miami, Port of Spain, and Paramaribo, but it wants to expand the service to several other destinations, including Barbados. The airline previously operated a service here, with Reservations Services Limited as its local agent, before it was terminated. “By orders...and notices of action taken dated February 18, 1992; March 19, 1992; March 9, 1993; and March 9, 1995,...Surinam Airways has been granted exemption authority to operate scheduled service between points in Suriname and the co-terminal points New York/Newark and Miami, Plan To Increase UWI Enrolment BRIDGETOWN, Government’s plan is to get student enrolment at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies back up to 9 000-plus as quickly as possible. In fact, said Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler yesterday, priority has to be given to ensuring that persons who put their university education on hold after Government insisted they would have to pay their own tuition fees, back into the classroom before they lose interest. In an interview with local Media , the minister said: “Our goal is that as many people as can be accommodated reasonably and affordably at the university should be allowed to do so and if it means bringing that number back up to 9 000 . . . we would have to work towards that. Christianity Alive And Well BRIDGETOWN, Christianity is still alive and well in Barbados Florida, via one or more of the following intermediate points: Georgetown, Guyana; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; Aruba; Barbados; and Port-auPrince, Haiti,” the airline’s attorney Herbert Rosenthal said in an application document dated March 17, 2015. “Surinam Airways seeks to...renew its exemption authority issued on March 9th, 1995 and...amend its current exemption authority to include service between points in Suriname, on the one hand, and Orlando and/ or Sanford, Florida, on the other via... Georgetown, Guyana; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; Aruba; Barbados; and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At this moment, the service to Orlando will serve Georgetown, Guyana, as the intermediate point. “Surinam Airways desires to commence operations on or about July 1, 2015, during the months of July, August, and September. Initially, the service will be one roundtrip per week. If the service is financially viable, Surinam Airways would continue the service and increase the frequencies, serve Sanford and/or Orlando, and/or service other intermediate points.” and there are still many youth involved, said Monsignor Vincent Blackett. Speaking to local media after the late morning service, Blackett said Barbadians had been turning out in their numbers for the Easter services and activities. “From our perspective, we have had [large numbers] for communion [today] and it was the same last night and at 7 a.m. This is very heartening and the number of young people and young families, that is a good sign,” he said, adding the youth were out in their numbers taking part in the 14 stations re-enactment. During his sermon, Blackett said Jesus was to be found in places some may deem unlikely and Christians seeking Him must not turn their faces away from the poor or downtrodden because in doing so, they turn away from Jesus. “We will find the risen Lord where we least expect him, in the Galilees of this world. It is right here, at St Patrick’s Cathedral. You will find Jesus because you will find all kinds of people coming together to worship, among the [so-called] insignificant people,” he said. April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Antigua Now Owns West Indian Oil ST.JOHN’s, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has hailed as “one of the most significant transactions”, a deal that he signed on April 1 which paved the way for Antigua & Barbuda to acquire the majority shares in West Indies Oil Company (WIOC). Speaking in London, England where the agreement was finalised, Browne said: “It was a most empowering initiative.” “It is an historic day. It is one of the most significant transactions to have taken place within the last four decades in this country, perhaps to be only superseded by the acquisition of the syndicate lands by the late Father of the Nation Sir VC Bird Sr. “This transaction will see well in advance of $150 million in value being placed in the hands of the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Browne said. He added that the transaction should instill a sense of pride in Antiguans and Barbudans, and that, “Private profits will be converted into corporate profits for the benefit of Antiguans and Barbduans.” The agreement is for 75 per cent shares in WIOC, which Browne describes as one of the more profitable private sector institutions in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The deal was inked with the Rappaport family who, for many years, had controlling interest in WIOC. Antigua’s PM Knocks LIAT Rival Plan ST JOHN’S, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he will not support plans to establish a rival airline to the financially troubled LIAT. He said he was aware that Antigua and Barbuda did not have the shareholding majority in LIAT to stop any moves by the Barbados government to establish the new airline. “Well, I imagine we don’t have any legal basis on which to stop them. We just hope [that] at the end of the day, commonsense, reasonableness, equity will prevail. “My understanding is that Barbados is considering forming a new airline and to collapse LIAT and it is unfortunate that they are now seeking to take that position. “I have actually seen a proposal . . . in which Barbados is now seeking to literally collapse LIAT to take several of the planes and to form the new airline,” Prime Minister Browne said on state-owned ABS Television. LIAT shareholder governments are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Browne said the move to establish the new airline is contrary to the spirit of Caribbean integration. “I do not think that this is in the spirit of good relations and I just hope that the other shareholder governments will understand that . . . at the end of the day we all share common space in the OECS and CARICOM, we are our brothers’ keepers and for us to take those extremist positions in order to promote whatever national agendas we may have is totally unacceptable,” he added. Antigua and Barbuda has already voiced its opposition to plans to relocate the base of the airline from Antigua and Barbuda to Barbados. But St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the decision was based on the realities of LIAT. Union Seeking Clarification In Dominica TV Company Sale ROSEAU, Dominica, The Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU) says it is seeking clarification regarding the sale of the television company, Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting (Marpin 2K4 Limited). WAWU secretary general Kertist Augustus confirmed that the union had written to the company amid reports that the discussions with te potential buyer was “well advanced”. Augustus said that the union had a responsibility of securing and protecting the jobs of its members and as a result “we felt it was necessary to let the company know that …what our position is on that. PAGE 11 “Again because of the grape vine news we have been hearing certain things and we do not know right or wrong what is in fact correct. So we sent off a letter to the management…reminding them of a letter we sent to them on January 28 where we agreed in 2014 to certain conditions” including a 10 per cent wage cut across the board. Last December, the Dominica Social Security (DSS) denied media reports that it had sold the cash-strapped Marpin 2K4 Ltd television company to the telecommunications company, LIME. DSS, which is the sole owner of the company, said that it would make a public announcement if and when the company is sold. But a senior official of LIME, which is owned by the British telecommunications giant, Cable and Wireless, had confirmed that talks were at an advanced stage to acquire the television company. 3 Vincentians held In Drug Bust KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, The Dominica police said they had seized at least half a million dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in marijuana and seized an open keel boat during a drug exercise involving the Coast Guard and other law enforcement officials earlier this week. Police spokesman, ASP Claude Weekes said two of the three men who were on the boat, 1.5 miles from Stowe, south of the capital, at the time of the exercise jumped into the sea, with one of them still at large. “We are very interested in him for the matter,’ he said, adding that “the two men whom we have in custody are assisting in the investigations are Vincentians. The drugs seized weighed 536 pounds and Weekes said the marijuana was well packaged and kept in crocos bags. St.Kitts Seeking Economic Citizenship Programme Changes BASSETERRE, St.Kitts, The twin island state of St.Kitts and Nevis is looking to make some changes to its Economic Citizenship Programme, in the face of concerns voiced by countries including Canada and the United States. The twin-island state’s new Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris made this admission March 27, on the fringes of a meeting of the Regional Security System’ (RSS) Council of Ministers at the Hilton Barbados resort. “We at home are working post-haste to revamp the programme to institute some control measures which we think will reduce incidence of risk to our programme and to our partners internationally and we are confident,” he commented. “In December 2014 an independent investigation was done of the programme. We are studying that report from a credible and respectable entity that has itself been involved in due diligence in relation to citizenship, in relation to financial transactions and they are looking at those recommendations and in a week or two Cabinet will make a determination how we will proceed in light of those recommendations and in light of the other information that we have garnered from our interactions with developers in the programme, service providers and, of course, with concerned governments.” PAGE 12 April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC New Downtown Arts Centre KINGSTON, Jamaicans will soon have the opportunity to learn about and experience the culture of Venezuela when the Símon Bolívar Cultural Centre in downtown Kingston opens its doors later this month. The facility, which is a multi-purpose centre for the performing and visual arts, was refurbished by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) at a cost of $4.13 million. It will be managed and operated by the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) following an April 2 official handover by the UDC during a ceremony at the centre’s location at 10-12 North Parade. Speaking at the event, chairman of the UDC, Senator KD Knight said the renovation works are in keeping with the agency’s redevelopment plan for downtown Kingston. He noted that a key reason for its establishment was to “have an edifice in honour of the Símon Bolívar, who is a national hero in Venezuela, and who was exiled here in Jamaica”. Senator Knight expressed the hope that Jamaicans will take advantage of facilities being provided for cultural education, performances, and exhibits. He informed of plans to renovate the centre’s environs “to see what kind of retrofitting can be done to those buildings to make the entire area more pleasant.” Executive Director of the IOJ Anne Marie Bonner said the institute is pleased to be taking over the management of the centre. She noted that the IOJ is looking forward to all the programmes that will be offered, and all the activities leading up the September bicentennial of the writing of the famous letter, for which Símon Bolívar is well known. General Manager of UDC Desmond Malcolm told local media that there will be limited use of the centre when it opens in a week. It is anticipated that the library will be up and running by then. An official opening ceremony will be held by the end of 2015. The two-storey Georgian building, which is the former office of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, entails a library, an interpretation room, three multi- purpose rooms, administrative offices, and a kitchenette. It also features an exhibit space, the Símon Bolívar Exhibit Hall to commemorate the Venezuelan liberator’s stay in Jamaica in 1815, and provides a link to the architectural period that existed at the time of his stay in Kingston. It was during his stay of nine months, when he lived at 33 Princess Street in downtown Kingston, that he penned what is reputed to be his greatest written work, the “Jamaica Letter”, which is believed to contain his views on the independence movement in Venezuela. The cultural centre is the brainchild of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and former Prime Minister PJ Patterson. The project, which began in 2009, was funded by the Government of Venezuela’s Petro Caribe Development Fund and the Government of Jamaica. Arsonist Still Employed Disaster preparedness teams, personnel from the National Solid Waste Management Authority, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and the security forces, fought the blaze which released stifling smoke across the Corporate Area, sections of St Catherine and Clarendon for almost three weeks. Unlike the fire last year, when an individual from Spanish Town, St Catherine lit the facility, the accused man is a resident of Riverton City. His face is usually covered with cloth, so identifying him at first glance is usually a challenge to those who do not know his facial features. The lighting of the dump on March 10 began after a fuss developed over plastic bottles being stored there by certain men. The man said to have lit the fire lost some of his bottles to thieves and he was not happy about it. He, like others who store plastic bottles, intended to sell the items. KINGSTON, The man who residents of Riverton City have accused of starting a fire at the dump located in that community last month is still ‘working’ at the waste facility and continues to go about his business with ease, local media has reported. A local media investigation has unearthed information that the individual, whose christian name rhymes with that of a cartoon character created by Tex Avery in 1943 for the US-based Metro Goldwyn-Meyer studio, still visits the dump daily and continues to ‘hustle’ as normal. To compound matters, those in the know at the controversial waste disposal facility said that the accused man was, ironically, among the paid personnel assisting with fighting the flames and trying to keep the smoke under control. Florida Man Sentenced For Jamaica Lottery Scam Role KINGSTON, A south Florida man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a Jamaica-based lottery scam that preyed on elderly victims. Prosecutors said that the sentence was imposed by a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale on 26-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev George Williams. He pleaded guilty in January to a wire fraud conspiracy charge. Investigators say Williams was part of a fraud scheme in which victims were falsely told they had won a Jamaican lottery. To claim the prize, evidence shows victims were told they had to pay bogus taxes, duties and fees to Williams, who then forwarded them to associates in Jamaica. Prosecutors say Williams was responsible for up to $400,000 in losses to victims. HOME • AUTO • COMMERCIAL 206-885 Progress Ave. Toronto, Ontario T: 416-284-9470 Ext.206 TF: 1-888-249-3950 C: 416-209-8688 F:416-284-2629 E: [email protected] Paul Ernest Archer, C.R.M. R.I.B. (Ontario) Senior Account Manager April 8, 2015 PAGE 13 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PM Praises T&T’s Ethnic Diversity PORT-OF-SPAIN, PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has condemned the “senseless killings” of 150 people at a university in Kenya, and says this country is blessed to have such religious and ethnic diversity in harmony. In her Easter message Persad-Bissessar that all too often one reads about countries where followers of a particular religion — Christianity, Hinduism or Islam — “are targeted and brutally killed just because they profess a faith that is different”. PNM Ahead PORT-OF-SPAIN, If a general election were called immediately the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) would have a slight edge over the ruling People’s Partnership government, the results of a new poll have shown. The poll was commissioned exclusively by the Trinidad Express Newspapers and conducted by data analysis firm Solution by Simulation (SBS) led by pollster Nigel Henry. It indicates that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s favourability rating remains higher than Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s. But more respondents disapproved than approved of Government’s actions when it comes to the Race Still The Decider PORT-OF-SPAIN, The electorate in Trinidad and Tobago continues to be polarized by race as the country gears for a general election no later than September this year, according to an opinion poll published here on April 6. The poll, published in the Trinidad Express newspaper and conducted by Solution by Simulation Limited (SBS), said if a general election were held now, the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) would receive 31 per cent of the votes as against 26 per cent for the coalition People’s Partnership administration. But the pollsters found that the electorate continues to be polarised by race with very few voters of African descent supporting the Indo-dominated coalition People’s Partnership and few voters of East Indian descent supporting the African-based PNM, although large segments of these groups indicate that they are undecided. The poll found that the undecided voters are as high as 33 per cent. The poll conducted between March 23-25 with a margin of error of minus or plus four per cent, noted that the PNM continues to hold a lead among voters of mixed descent although 45 “Men, women, and children maimed and killed just because they worship the one God called by a different name,” she said, noting Thursday’s killing of 147 people in Kenya in an attack by al-Shabab militants at the Garissa University College in Nairobi. Persad-Bissessar also recalled a February beheading of 22 Egyptian Catholics by Islamic State militants in Libya. She noted that in his Good Friday message on Friday, Pope Francis spoke out against the persecution of handling of the economy, whether State funds are in effect being used for political campaigning and the firing of former national security minister Gary Griffith. Four hundred and eighty-five people were interviewed during the period March 23-25 via live telephone calls. The poll was already in progress when the Vernella Alleyne-Toppin/ Dr Keith Rowley issue arose in Parliament on March 25. Respondents within households were at least 18 years old (of voting age) and willing to participate. The margin of error is +/- four percentage points. Following is the analysis of the poll by SBS. per cent of this group is undecided. “The battle for the 2015 election may largely centre around a competition to turn out voters at higher rates, the favourability ratings of the party leaders, and the segment of the population who continue to reject both major parties,” the pollsters found. “This poll continues to confirm that the biggest drivers of political preference are ethnicity and the popularity of the party leaders. Notwithstanding the Partnership’s slight drop in popularity (in favour of undecided) the Prime Minister’s favourability rating remains very high at 50 per cent, and the Leader of Opposition’s favourability is a modest 40 per cent.” Reacting to the outcome of the poll, deputy leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Dr. Roodal Moonilal, said he remained confident that the present government would be returned to power. “I’ve also taken note that what the poll found was that the PNM was unable to move, they are locked within their own column and they cannot move further because the poll suggests that the undecided is still there to be convinced and the PNM has not been able to convince the undecided to support them so their figure has not moved,” he said, noting that the coalition has yet to put its election campaign into “high gear”. Christians and “I too, condemn the unwarranted killings and to remind our people that we are truly blessed in Trinidad and Tobago”. She noted that “we are truly blessed in this country of ours as we all appreciate and celebrate our various religious festivals and events in peace and harmony. Indeed, I can think of nowhere else on earth that has such religious and ethnic diversity such as ours and where religion unites rather than separate peoples”. “We are so fortunate here in our beloved country of Trinidad and Tobago where citizens truly look forward to the celebration of various religious festivals. In this country you can see peoples of different ethnicities and creeds actively participating in and celebrating Divali, Phagwa, Eid-ul-Fitr, Christmas, and Easter…just to name a few,” she noted. Persad-Bissessar said the atmosphere around these festivals and events “is highly charged with excitement and happiness where participants rejoice with friends and family at the wonder not only of these celebrations but I dare say also of the camaraderie that these inspire”. Shesaid that as Prime Minister, she was proud to lead a nation “that ensures that every creed and race find an equal place” and whose supreme law, the Constitution, guarantees all citizens, “freedom of conscience and religious belief and observance”. “This is the very Constitution that I, as Prime Minister, swore a sacred oath to uphold and defend,” she stressed. Persad-Bissessar also spoke about the contribution the Christian community has made to national development, citing such areas as education, medicine, law, business, the arts, and social work as she noted that “they (members of the Christian community) continue to provide yeoman service to their fellow citizens regardless of ethnicity, creed, or gender”. She said for Christians, Easter was a time “where, in Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over evil, truth over falsehood, hope over despair, and life over death”. She said the Easter message of rebirth and forgiveness also gives hope that no matter what has happened in the past “each new day carries with it the promise of a new beginning, a chance to do better, and the opportunity to make a positive difference”. LAWYERS 3045A Hurontario Street ❏ Criminal Law Mississauga, Ontario ❏ Family Law L5A 2G9 ❏ Real Estate ❏ Corporate Commercial T: 905-366-5400 ❏ Personal Injury incl Slip and Fall F: 905-366-5404 ❏ Employment E: [email protected] ❏ Civil Litigation www.oblaw.ca ❏ Wills and Estates PAGE 14 April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC HOME AFFAIRS Real Estate Commissions And Legal Fees, What’s Going On Part II W hile real estate commissions have increased, the fees being charged by some lawyers to conduct real estate transactions have, interestingly enough, decreased. Each year a new crop of lawyers are called and admitted to practice – for some of these new calls private practice is attractive, and real estate law seems to be in demand. The problem is that there are other established practitioners in firms already in the market, so in order to compete – these newer lawyers offer reduced rates or bargain basement prices to conduct real estate transactions. Not only is this approach foolish on the part of the lawyer who offers such discounts; it is also very risky for the consumer. This is because to become a lawyer one would have had to invest six-eight years of post-secondary education, so why should these individuals sell themselves short and under value their services. Secondly, it is a well-known fact that real estate law is one of the areas of law that attracts the highest incidents of errors and omission claims. In my opinion, lawyers ought to be increasing the legal fees charged for real estate transactions, not decreasing them. In our office, it is often the case that once a deal is closed and the client moves into their new home; should anything go wrong, their first instinct is to call the lawyer – not the real estate agent. We have had clients calling for issues, such as: - Appliances not working; - Roaches and bugs in the property; - Cracks in the garage; - Garbage left behind; - Dirty Carpets; - Toilets not working etc. In all of the above instances, the purchasers never thought to call the real estate agent; their go-to-person is the lawyer who closed the deal, but let’s be realistic, the lawyer would have never visited the property. As I stated, I have a lot of friends who are real estate agents and brokers; I mean no disrespect but hey, you all are just changing too much! To those lawyers who are changing basement prices for real estate transactions – stop selling yourself so cheap! To the members of the public, who are buying and selling real estate – shop around for a good agent, and negotiate the commissions to be paid. When choosing a lawyer to close the deal, remember you are buying a house – not running shoes. You spend thousands of dollars to someone to help you find the home; so remember, do not balk at paying a lawyer a few hundred dollars to ensure that the transaction is completed properly. As in all things, you get what you pay for and the cheapest price does not always translate into the best service. The foregoing is intended for information purposes only and you should consult a lawyer if you need legal representation or a legal opinion. Selwyn R. Baboolal is a partner at OB Law Chambers practicing in the area of litigation for the past 21 years. The Advantages Of Buying Pre-Constructed Condos In Toronto Beths Suepaul B uying a home is one of life’s biggest decisions. It ranks right up there with selecting a career path, and choosing a spouse. However, rising prices for single-family homes in large cities, combined with Canada’s reputation as a safe haven from global financial storms, have driven condo development in Toronto, attracting young professionals, aging boomers, and investors. Downtown Toronto is the most popular location, accounting for nearly 50% of all new condominium sales in the GTA. As an informed consumer, you are fortunate to have several choices depending on your budget, and personal preferences. One option you have as a first time home buyer, retiree, or investor is purchasing a pre-constructed condo. Buying in the pre-construction phase is still a great opportunity. New condominium sales remain relatively strong, despite recent economic challenges. Why is buying a pre-constructed condo a viable investment? One of the best benefits realized by investing money in pre-constructed condos in Toronto is that often the initial price for such condos is lower than for ones already completed. Hence, you have the opportunity to take advantage of market appreciation. With a few financial institutions, it is still possible to lock-in today’s low mortgage rates until final closing. As the building is brand new, this gives you the ability to select your finishes, and customize certain items, such as appliances, cabinetry, flooring etc. As the deposit to the builder is staggered over a period, you have time to save money for the payments and final closing. Generally, the deposit to the builder adds up to about 20% of the purchase price by the time of occupancy, depending on the builder’s deposit structure. Such an investment can enhance your long-term financial outlook. Increasing concern for our environment entices builders to develop ‘Greener’ buildings, using the latest construction materials. For the most part, this ensures that systems are more energy efficient, resulting in lower maintenance fees. If you are considering purchasing a pre-constructed condo, it is a good idea to consult with your Real Estate Broker and your financial planner to determine the best possible option for your investment. Whether you will live in your new condo as a first- time home buyer, keep it for retirement, or rent it out, you will come out a winner… The information contained in this article does not constitute legal or financial advice. The author makes no claims about its accuracy, completeness, or up-to-date character, and that applies to any site linked to this article as well. Beths Suepaul (www.bethssuepaul.com) is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc. with over 10 years experience. She is committed to making Your Buying, Selling and Investing in Real Estate pain free, and successful. Having a hard time finding and buying that hidden gem? Call now if it's out there together we can find it! Charles Dow 416-838-2616 Sales Representative Right At Home Realty Inc. [email protected] www.CharlesDow.ca Buying strategies and recommendations Not intended to solicit Purchasers under Purchaser/Agency agreement or properties currently listed for sale. April 8, 2015 PAGE 15 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Belly Bustas: Take 4! Ticket To heaven A man died and went to The Judgment, they told him , “Before you meet with God, I should tell you — we’ve looked over your life, and to be honest you really didn’t do anything particularly good or bad. We’re not really sure what to do with you. Can you tell us anything you did that can help us make a decision?” The newly arrived soul thought for a moment and replied, “Yeah, once I was driving along and came upon a person who was being harassed by a group of thugs. So I pulled over, got out a bat, and went up to the leader of the thugs. He was a big, muscular guy with a ring pierced through his lip. Well, I tore the ring out of his lip, and told him he and his gang had better stop bothering this guy or they would have to deal with me!” “Wow that’s impressive, “When did this happen?” “About three minutes ago,” came the reply. Unfortunate Reality A man wasn’t feeling well so he went to the doctor. After examining him the doctor took his wife aside, and said, “your husband has a very sensitive heart. I am afraid he’s not going to make it, unless you treat him like a king, which means you are at his every beck and call, 24 hours a day and that he doesn’t have to do anything himself. On the way home the husband asked with a note of concern “what did he say?” “Well”, the lady responded, “he said it looks like you probably won’t make it.” Chronic Hypochondria Brian, one of the worlds greatest hypochondriacs, bumped into his Dr. one day at the supermarket. “Doc!” Brian exclaimed, “I’ve been meaning to tell you, remember those voices I kept on hearing in my head? I haven’t heard them in over a week!” “Wow! What wonderful news Brian! I’m so happy for you!” his Dr. exclaimed. “Wonderful?” asked a dismal looking Brian. “There’s nothing wonderful about it. I’m afraid my hearing is starting to go now! Male Marriage Criteria “Mom, Dad, sit down. I have something very important to tell you,” said Samantha, upon her return home from college after graduation. “I met a guy who lives near the college that I really like and we decided we are going to get married!” “Oh Samantha! I am so happy for you!” Gushed her Mom giving her a big hug, “I hope you two will be really happy togeth- er! I can’t wait to meet him!” “Tell us more about him” said her Dad, “does he have any money?” “Oh Dad! Is that all you men ever think about? That was the first question he asked me about you too!” Groom’s Happiest Day Ever Harry was finally a groom and was very excited about his upcoming marriage. He was on his way out of the office when his boss came over to him with an outstretched hand, “congratulations Harry, I just wanted to tell you I’ve been married for twenty two years, and I am sure that you will always remember this day with the fondest of memories, as the happiest day of your life.” “But sir”, said Harry, “a little bit confused, I’m not getting married until tomorrow!” “Yeah, I know”, said his boss. PAGE 16 April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC HEALTH MATTERS Ouch!! That hurts. Do I have A Cavity? Dr. Richard Lai Dental Surgeon W hen pain is felt on a tooth it doesn’t always mean that you have a cavity and that the only remedy is to get a filling done. What you are experiencing could be tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can be on one tooth or on multiple teeth in the same area. Just the thought of the sharp pain that shoots straight into your teeth when you eat or drink something hot, cold, sweet or sour makes you cringe. Sometimes just breathing with your mouth open on a cold winter day causes that sudden pain. This sensitivity is a result of worn down tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots known as dentin. The dentin is the softer layer that makes up the inside structure that surrounds the nerve of the tooth. The reason for the sensitivity is the dentin is actually composed of tiny pores or tubes that lead directly to the nerve. So when you eat something that is hot, cold, sweet or sour these tubes allow items to stimulate the nerve causing a painful reaction. Exposure of the dentin can occur due to a number of factors. Some of the more common reasons are: • Brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. • Brushing with very abrasive toothpaste (i.e. some whitening toothpastes). • Inflamed and sore gums (i.e. gum disease/gingivitis) will pull back and expose the roots of your teeth which is called gum recession. • Grinding or clenching your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose the dentin. This action may actually case most or all of your teeth to feel sensitive. Music’s Positive Impact On Kids’ Learning and Social Behavior! Dr George Traitses Multiple Offers, Sold Over Asking! • Tooth decay near the gum line. • Acidic food and drinks (i.e. carbonated cola’s, citrus fruits, tomatoes and pickles) cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure. • A fractured or chipped tooth might expose the dentin. Don’t worry, there is good news…The good news is there are many ways to control sensitive teeth. You can try some of the following: • Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush gently and carefully around the gum line so you don’t remove gum tissue. • Avoid eating highly acidic foods and drinks. • Use fluoridated toothpastes and mouth rinses daily. Ask your dentist about products that are available for home use. • Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. You may need to try several brands before you find the one that works best for you. • If you suspect that you are grinding your teeth ask your dentist about getting a night guard. If you are still in discomfort, please speak with your dentist about using a composite resin material to cover the exposed root surface or a fluoride varnish or dentin sealer to apply on the exposed root surface. C hildren love music; just do a keyword search of children and dancing on YouTube and you’ll find a lot of smiling faces. But beyond enjoyment, music also positively impacts learning and social behavior in children, according to the International Journal of Music Education. The recent study indicates that language development, literacy, numeracy, creativity, fine motor coordination, concentration, self-confidence, emotional sensitivity, social skills, teamwork, selfdiscipline, and relaxation are all tied to playing and listening to music. Music Training = Brain Training According to a study performed at the Boston Children’s Hospital, early musical training enhances the areas of the brain responsible for executive functioning, which enables information processing and retention, regulates behavior, and is responsible for problem solving and planning, as well as other cognitive processes. The study took musically trained children, ages nine to 12, who received at least two years of private lessons, and compared them with children in the same age range that had no musical training, concluding that children with musical training had enhanced activity levels in the prefrontal cortex. Long-term results include heightened IQs, stronger SAT scores and an overall better academic performance. Music Therapy and Behavior Another study, which took place at Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, focused solely on children and adolescents with emotional, developmental and/or behavioral problems. Two hundred fifty-one children were divided into two groups; 128 received traditional care, while the other 123 received music therapy in addition to traditional care. The study concluded that music therapy reduces depression and even improves self-esteem, in comparison to those who only received traditional care. The participants also had improved communicative and interactive skills. Music programs often seem to be among the first to go when schools make funding cuts, but perhaps these collective study findings will give music – and the children who benefit from it – a fighting chance. April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Death and taxes Plan ahead to minimize taxes on death the time the asset is gifted is greater than its ACB. As a result, this strategy works best if the assets you’re giving away are likely to grow in value in the • RESPs future. • ETFs N • RRSPs • INSURANCE • MUTUAL FUNDS • TFSAs • STOCKsChoose beneficiaries • GICs • RRIFs carefully • BONDs • RDSPs obody likes to think To maximize tax deferral, you could about their death, but leave assets that have appreciated in Investments, Retirements, Isa M. Rahamat who wants to pay more value to your spouse first, if you can. If Financial Advisor Life Insurance tax thanAdvisor they have to? With a you’re going to leave assets to others, it’s It’s now time to to relax and getleaving away from it little planning, you canAutumn help— for many abest consider tax-friendly asall. So while you might take a vacation, your money never should. minimize the taxes your estate sets, such as cash, Guaranteed Interest We’re committed to helping you find innovative ways to make might pay at death. Contracts money market funds investments work harder for(GICs), you. Estate and Tax Planning Yorkdale Mall Tower or assets that have not greatly appreciYorkdale Suite 404, Toronto,ated ON, M6A 3A1 Leave assets 1to your Road spouse in value. Telephone: (416) 787-1616 Ext. 230 | Toll-Free: 1-800-361-8726 Ext. 230 Assets left to a spouse or spousal Cellular: (416) 346-8883trust | Fax: (416) 787-8998 are deemed E-mail: to be disposed of at the Make the most of exemptions [email protected] deceased’s adjusted cost base (ACB The two most common exemptions are: – see sidebar), thereby deferring tax 1. The principal residence exemption, until that spouse (or trust) sells the which can be used to offset the capital assets, or until the surviving spouse’s gains on one property you own. This death. could be your home, but it could also be a cottage or other second property that Give assets away you ordinarily inhabit (rental properties If you actually dispose of assets before do not qualify). your death, your estate will avoid the 2. The enhanced capital gains exemppotential tax bill on death. tion, which can be used to offset up If you have already decided who will to $750,000 of capital gains on your receive certain assets, and will not shares in certain private companies, a have to use those assets to fund your qualifying farm or fishing property. day-to-day living expenses, you might consider giving those assets away dur- Give to charity ing your lifetime. You can choose to give to charity on Giving assets away is generally your death (usually via your will). Your considered a disposition for tax purestate will be able to claim a donation poses, and therefore could give rise tax credit for the fair market value of to a tax bill if the fair market value at the gift on your final tax return. Mortgages - Did You know? Part 3 PAGE 17 MONEY MATTERS File multiple tax returns In the year of death, four tax returns can potentially be filed. A claim can be made for some personal tax credits, such as the basic personal amount, on each of the returns filed, effectively multiplying the number of credits claimed. In addition, your estate benefits from the lower graduated tax rates more than once in the year of death. Buy life insurance Once you’ve done all you can to minimize your tax liability on death, you may want to consider life insurance to assist in funding your estate’s eventual tax liability. This helps to ensure that your heirs will be left with as much of the estate proceeds as possible, and that your assets will not have to be liquidated in order to pay your estate’s tax bill. Ideal candidates for these strategies The people who will benefit most from these strategies are individuals with assets that will attract taxes on death who want to: • Understand the income tax implications on death related to those assets • Minimize or reduce their estate’s income tax bill on death and leave more assets to their heirs Take action If this applies to you, then: • Identify assets that may present tax planning opportunities • Consider one or more of these strate- gies to reduce taxes on death • Review your estate plan with a tax or legal advisor Finally, get advice from a tax professional if you have any questions about how to minimize the taxes your estate might pay at death. Isa Rahamat is a Financial Advisor with Manulife Securities Inc. His email is isa.rahamat@manulifesecurities. ca - This content is provided courtesy of Solutions from Manulife. © 2011 Manulife. The persons and situations depicted are fictional and their resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This media is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial, tax, legal, accounting or other advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. Many of the issues discussed will vary by province. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals to ensure that any action taken with respect to this information is appropriate to their specific situation. E & O E. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the contract holder and may increase or decrease in value. 2011 DR. RICHARD LAI AND ASSOCIATES Family and Cosmetic Dentistry The third installment of the “Did You Know” series… to repay the amount borrowed. • The maximum that can be refinanced with a Schedule A Lender is up to 80% of the property value. The one exception is where there is a marital breakdown and a property can be refinanced up to 95% with an insurer. For example, if a home is worth $500,000, the maximum amount that the borrower can refinance their home is up to $400,000. (Where there is a marital break down, up to $475,000). • Many lenders allow clients to prepay their mortgage sometimes up to 20% of the original mortgage amount and increase their payments up to 20% without incurring a penalty. So on a mortgage balance of $350,000, a borrower may prepay up to $70,000 during a calendar year. In addition, the client may increase their mortgage payment (for example $1,500 up to $1,800). When purchasing a home, always be sure to get your finances in order in advance. Speak to your mortgage advisor and they’ll be sure to provide you with the right steps to making your home purchase a smooth process. • There is a Home Buyers Program that allows a first time homebuyer to use up to $25,000 of their RRSP’s as a down payment without having to pay tax on the amount withdrawn. The buyer has 15 years Asif A. Kasim is a mortgage agent with DLC’s The Integrity Professionals Inc. (Powered by Bedrock Financial Inc Lic. 12275) – asif. [email protected] or 416.561.1258 or www.theintegrityprofessionals.com Asif Kasim Did you know? NEW PATIENTS ARE WELCOME! ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR SMILE? CALL AND ASK US ABOUT OUR SMILE ENHANCING TECHNIQUES AND HOW WE CAN GIVE YOU THAT CONFIDENT SMILE YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED. 1333 NEILSON ROAD, SUITE 250, SCARBOROUGH, ON M1B 4Y9 416-431-4114 PAGE 18 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC Festival Dumplings Now A Favored Caribbean Treat! Chef Phillip Hendricks A once maligned and oft ridiculed item, this simple treat has found its way into the ‘darling bosom’ of many a West Indian and more so, into a vast array of ethnic and indigenous cultures. The lowly (neigh) stately ‘Fry Bake’ has evolved into many variations, textures & shapes. Comprising mainly of two basic ingredients (water and flour) this inexpensive ‘Dumpling’ has cre- ated a ‘Festival’ of a stir in culinary circles everywhere. Pan fried, deep fried, baked or steamed, the outcome has identified itself with numerous titles. Added ingredients over decades such as cod fish, green onions, ‘bully beef’, pumpkin, corn meal etc. have caused the end result to command attention on menus from east to west and all points in between. FESTIVAL DUMPLINGS Ingredients: - 2 cups of Flour - 1 teaspoon of Sea Salt HAROON GAFUR CPA, CA, CMA Licenced Public Accountant Providing solutions for personal and corporate income tax problems. Tax planning and tax minimisation strategies By Appointment Only tel: 416-667-8484 email: [email protected] April 8, 2015 conut Milk, kneading until dough holds together. 3. Knead dough until smooth and divide into 6 or more equal pieces; shape in long dumplings. 4. Heat cooking oil on High in deep frying pan and place the Festival If you prefer a lighter Fes- Dumplings in the pan one tival dumpling: use 3 Tbsp at a time. 5. Reduce heat to Meof cornmeal instead and adjust the amount of water dium and turn Festival needed to bind the dough dumplings every few minutes until they are brown on all sides and are cooked through; they will expand Method as they cook. 1. Mix dry ingredients Best accompanied with together 2. A bit at a time, add Co- jerk chicken or jerk pork. - ½ cup of Cornmeal - 2 tablespoons of Sugar - ¾ cup of Coconut Milk or - Water - ¼ teaspoon of Nutmeg or - Cinnamon - 1 tablespoon of Baking Powder April 8, 2015 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC New Rule For PCL Draft Kalli Back Home To Coach Youths H eeding the resounding calls from our cricketing public, the administrators of the game of cricket in Guyana, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), has responded in excellent fashion by attracting one of the most accomplished Guyana and West Indies batsmen Alvin Kallicharran to come and work with our youths in Guyana. All Guyanese would recall the excellent performances of the country’s Under-15 and Under-19 teams last year in the Regional West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) tournaments and the GCB has pulled off another major coup in being able to secure the expert services of none other than our own Alvin Kallicharran. The GCB is very serious of its cricket development programme in spite of all the challenges being faced by this Board and the relentless ridicule vented by a few misguided persons. GCB has now expanded its cricket development programme with this bold move. This is the first time that the administration would be bringing an ‘overseas coach’ to Guyana’s shores to be part of our youth cricket development programme. He would share his expertise with our youths during the period, April 5th to May 4th 2015. Kalli is going to work mainly with the Under-15s and the under-17s and will travel around the country to conduct special clinics at various locations with the main objective being to motivate and galvanise the youths back towards the game of cricket. The GCB has strategically planned Kallicharran’s visit to coincide with the conclusion of the under-15 and under-17 inter-county tournaments and a few short months away from the WICB Regional tournaments in the summer. The GCB in a release further noted that they remain steadfastly committed to rolling out its strategic plan for the complete overhaul of our cricket as we continue to build on our successes from last year and prepare our teams to be more successful this year and beyond. Another very innovative experiment started last year by the GCB, which has al- ready been reaping rich dividends, is having the Under-19 team play in the Senior Intercounty tournaments as the 4th team. The experiment is being replicated at the other age-group levels with the under-15 team playing as the 4th team in the Inter-county under-17 tournament and the under-7 team play as the 4th team in the Inter-county Under-19 tournament. According to the GCB, this innovation provides the lower age group to compete at a higher level thus forcing them to elevate the standard of their game and can only benefit them and improve their confidence whilst preparing them for higher level competitiveness. “Kallicharran has always been recognised as one of the most talented and complete batsmen of his time and has conquered many top notch bowlers around the world, both spinners and faster bowlers, during his illustrious cricketing career which spanned from 1966 to 1992” the GCB. Kallicharran was the first youth team captain for Guyana that participated in the Regional tournament in 1966, and he made his debut for the West Indies team in 1972 against New Zealand where he registered his maiden century in his very first Test match. He scored his second Test century before that series ended and chalked up six centuries in his first 22 tests. He plied his trade in the English County circuit for several years playing for Warwickshire until 1992 which surely enhanced his game over the years. Kallicharran turned out for the Australian State of Queensland for a while and Transvaal in South Africa. His Test career was cut short in 1981 at the ripe age of 32 when he surely had several more years of quality cricket left in him. He played 6 Tests with 4,399 runs at an average close to 45 and 12 centuries. Kallicharran possibly had the record for the most 90s during his Test playing career. He also finished his first-class career with a phenomenal 32,000 runs and 87 centuries just missing the 100 centuries mark by one; stranded on 99! Kallicharran was the Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1983. A new rule mandating franchises to select at least two players outside of their territories will come into effect when the draft for the second edition of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) takes place later this year.President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron says decision on the new rule was reached during a recent meeting of the WICB. The WICB has expressed disappointment with last October’s draft for the inaugural PCL with only one team selecting a player outside its territory. “As a board we were disappointed. So this is what we have done. Coming out of that meeting we have agreed that you must select at least two players from outside of your territory, going forward,” Cameron said on the regional television sports programme Big Bang. “And remember the PCL is new, our view …let’s get it on the road and let’s tweak it as we go along Initially, only two players – former Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and Barbados All-rounder Raymon Reifer-were selected by franchises outside of their territories during PAGE 19 the first PCL draft. However, Ramnaresh subsequently withdrew from the Trinidad and Tobago squad citing personal reasons while Reifer was a star performer for the Guyana Jaguars who ran away with the title. “So the first rule is that come later this year when we have the draft you must select at least two players from outside of your region and that’s a minimum. So in the case of leeward etc. could be much more than that as we strengthen that franchise to make sure that they can compete next year,” said Cameron in his first television interview since being reelected for another two year term. “So we are mindful. Should we just jump down the road and make it free agency? I am sure that will come at some point. But it’s going to take some talking to”. Meantime the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), which will have an option to select at least three players, has welcomed the new rule for the PCL draft. “The West Indies Cricket Board is going to be insisting that two players must be (selected) from outside of the territories as part of the draft selections,” said LICA President Auckland Hector. “In the case of the Leeward Islands who are at the bottom of this year’s tournament, we would be allowed a minimum of three players outside of our territory, and we are going to have the first option of the draft”. Narine Cleared! S unil Narine will play the IPL this season for Kolkata Knight Riders after the BCCI’s subcommittee dealing with suspect actions gave him a clean chit. Narine had taken a retest at Sri Ramachandra University, an ICC-accredited centre, on Thursday where he was put through various tests by the panel comprising former India captain S Venkataraghavan, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and ex-international umpire AV Jayaprakash. “The committee concluded that Mr. Sunil Narine, who had remodelled his bowling action, was within the ICC approved limits for all types of deliveries that were assessed and has hence recommended to the BCCI, that his name may be removed from the warning list of bowlers with suspect action,” a BCCI press release said. This means Narine will be available for selection for the defending champions who play the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on April 8, and in all BCCIorganised tournaments henceforth. Narine was first called for a suspect action last October during the Champions League T20. Subsequently he was asked by the BCCI to get it tested at any of the ICC-accredited centres with a rider saying that he would need to travel to Chennai centre if the panel deemed fit. Objecting to this condition, Knight Riders management sought the intervention of BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and lodged a protest. It was Dalmiya who made the first call to Knight Riders to inform that Narine was cleared. “The work has been done. Sunil Narine has been cleared,” Dalmiya told ESPNcricinfo. Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders’ chief executive, said the franchise was relieved that Narine, their premier match-winner, was available to play again. “It is a matter of genuine relief. We are very thankful to the BCCI president, secretary and other board officials for bringing the matter reach the appropriate conclusion PAGE 20 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC April 8, 2015
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