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Different & Dynamic. Bigga, Brighta, Betta! Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017 • Website: www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca
Tel: 647-669-9320 • Fax: 416-292-2943 • Email: graphiclyn@gmail.com
Guyana Day 2017 Set For Ottawa! All roads will lead to the City of Ottawa on Sunday, May 21, 2017 to join in the GuyaneseCanadian Community's hosting of 'Guyana Day 2017,'in celebration of Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation and Guyana's 51't Anniversary of lndependence. Under the theme 'Enhancing the awareness of Guyana in Canada's Sesquicentennial Year,' Guyana Day 2017 will be held under the patronage of H. E. Clarissa Riehl, High Commissioner of the Republic of Guyana to Canada. This collaborative event between the Guyana High Commission, the Guyana Consulate Toronto and Guyanese Diaspora communities from Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal is being held at the Horticulture Building in the City of Ottawa's Lansdowne Urban Park, commencing at
10:00 am and concluding at 6:00 pm and will be opened to the public free of charge. The event will feature an exciting programme of activities which include informative displays by Guyana Tourism and Go-lnvest, exhibitions of Guyanese art and crafts and Guyanese-Canadian manufactured food products, a Food Court, children's interactive activities as well as cultural shows featuring outstanding local and Guyana based entertainers. Guyana Day 2017 will replace the Annual Guyana Festival for this year only. Thousands of Guyanese-Canadians are expected to head to Ottawa to participate in the 'Guyana Day 2017' celebrations which will coincide with the Tulip Festival at Lansdowne Park and the Victoria Day holiday weekend.
Photo Credit: Bobby Ramlagan
Trotman Woos Toronto’s Guyanese-Canadians
Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman with Caribbean Graphic’s Lyn Balram Photo Credit: Bobby Ramlagan
Guyana's Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman was in Toronto over the Mach 4-5 weekend to attend a Mining Conference. During his brief visit, Trotman took the time to address a March 4 audience of Guyanese-Canadians at a Stakeholder Engagement Session titled “Guyana Rising From Potential to Prosperity”, which was held at Toronto's Westmount Event Centre. The session was held primarily to update members of the diaspora on the progress of the rich oil find and the potential it has for the future of Guyanese at home and abroad. With expectations soaring in the event of the expected revenues from oil, Trotman in his excellent presentation and very well received address, said the Government has identified several infrastructural projects, including the construction of the road from Linden to Lethem, building a deep water port at Crab Island, Berbice and at least two hydro power plants. “We are thinking and hoping we can bridge all three rivers (Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice) with high span permanent concrete bridges and we are looking at savings for future generations,” Trotman told the audience, which included Guyana's High Commissioner to Canada, Clarissa Riehl, Go-Invest Chief Executive Officer, Owen Verwey and Deputy Consular General, Candida Daniels. Trotman said the idea is to “ensure every region of Guyana and every
citizen have a direct benefit and it shouldn't be in the hands of a particular Government or the minister of natural resources to determine who gets what…” Trotman reminded members of the diaspora present that Guyana needed their help, support and expertise, while expressing appreciation for the assistance that has been forthcoming over the years. He said Government has created legislation for the management of its resources, since it is a lot of money with less than a million people. “The last thing we want to do is squander the opportunity when it comes by and overspending on things we have business in and ensuring we have money for generations to come.” Quizzed on contingency plans, in the event of fallen oil prices, minister Trotman said Government intends to use the revenues from oil “to give us the platform into other areas so that we are not reliant on oil only”. He said the road from Linden to Lethem, for example will provide volumes of trade. “The Brazilians are anxious to get that road open because northern Brazil is landlocked, so they need access to a seaport urgently, so with the revenue from the oil that guarantees forever trade and earnings from oil. The idea is to get us out of the over reliance on oil.” Trotman said.
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Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
Making Waves: Arvin Ross Toronto Criminal Defense Attorney Arvin Ross, Barrister & Solicitor is the founder of AR Law Firm. He defends individuals who are charged with Criminal Offences with an expertise in Criminal Driving Offences such as Impaired Driving, Excess Blood Alcohol, Refusing to Provide Breath Samples to name a few. Arvin has been advocating before the courts for more than a decade, first as a paralegal, then as a lawyer. He has conducted countless successful defenses and trials in courts across Ontario including the Superior Court and Ontario Court of Appeal. Growing up in our Caribbean community, Arvin knows that it is filled with good and hardworking people. He also understands that a momentary lapse in judgment or bad decision can result in being charged with a criminal offence, potentially leading to a criminal record. When it comes to Drinking and Driving offences for instance, the laws in Canada are very strict and Courts take a zero-tolerance approach to prosecuting these very complex offences. A conviction could have serious consequences such as the loss of employment, travel restrictions, jail time and even deportation. Arvin works tirelessly to ensure that each possible defense is advanced vigorously and thoroughly. Understanding that each case is unique, Arvin believes that each client deserves
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excellent results and quality representation. He therefore dedicates himself and his resources to provide both of these by investing the time necessary into case preparation. He also puts an emphasis on client relationships and client service by going over case specifics with his clients explaining the process and strategy he will undertake to achieve the best result possible for them. AR Law Firm also provides legal services in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Estates and Power of Attorneys. Arvin believes that there is a need for this service in our community. More than half of adult Canadians do not have a Last Will and Testament, and 61% of Canadians say they never talked about estate planning with their late parents. It is extremely important for all adults to have some sort of plan for their estate. Arvin has developed simple strategies to make this process easier for those of us who have been procrastinating. In addition to financial benefits, a well thought out estate plan will provide you with peace of mind and ease the burden on your loved ones after you pass. There is no 'one size fits all' solution as each person's situation is unique. Arvin takes the time to understand your circumstances in order to address your specific needs. Arvin earned his LLB Honours degree at City University (London, UK) in 2011 after working as a Licensed Paralegal specializing in Provincial Offences Act and Highway Traffic Act matters in the GTA for several years. Prior to that, he has earned a Bachelor's of Commerce in Information Technology Management with Honours at Ryerson University in 2006. He is currently a member of The Criminal Lawyers Association, Law Associations of Durham, York and Peel Regions and the Ontario Bar Association. AR Law Firm is dedicated to every case, keeping each client's best interest at heart and crafting the most suitable strategy for the best possible result. Whether it's a complex criminal trial, or an estate plan to protect your family, AR Law Firm approaches each case with care and uncompromising quality representation. At AR Law, every case matters. If you are looking for counsel with that personal touch, have them represent you. Arvin Ross can be reached personally at 416-560-9366.
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 3
Last month the University of the West Indies announced leaders of Canadian and Caribbean heritage to be honored at the eighth annual Toronto Benefit Gala, on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, hosted by CBC News Anchor Dwight Drummond. Among the honourees is longtime supporter of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival -- the GraceKennedy Company. The Chancellor's Award will be p r e s e n t e d t o G r a c e K e n n e d y. Established in 1922 by Dr. John Grace and Mr. Fred William Kennedy, in Kingston, Jamaica, it is one of the Caribbean's largest group of companies that began as a general mercantile, shipping and insurance business. It operates in the food and financial services industries, with operations in Jamaica, other Caribbean countries, and Belize, the U.S., UK, Canada and Africa. GraceKennedy has also contributed to Jamaica's development through the years through its two Foundations, generously providing financial assistance to a host of worthy causes. They are the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation (Grace & Staff) and the GraceKennedy Foundation. The Chancellor's award is given to
organizations, which have contributed significantly to the Caribbean, or outstanding organizations owned by persons of Caribbean heritage. The SOLD OUT UWI Toronto Benefit Gala brings together Canada's business and academic communities to celebrate the greatness and tireless work of the honourees, making it a much-anticipated event on the Toronto social calendar. Under the theme "Light, Learning and Liberty", The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala provides funds for scholarships. Lead Sponsor, for the eighth time is the carnival's former sponsor - Scotiabank
Photo Credit: Models in Motion by JT
Toronto Benefit Gala Honors Grace Kennedy
Caribbean Jewel
Guyanese born model Ashley Sawh is the Publisher and Managing Director of One1 e-Magazine, a lifestyle magazine. She is actively involved in the fight against bullying, especially among children. Whenever time permits, she choreographers and organizes fashion shows. Ashley enjoys the simple things in life including spending time with her loved ones!
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Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
Commentary:
Encouraging Signs For Guyana's Economic Future Guyana's Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman was in Toronto recently to attend a Mining Conference. During his brief and hectic visit, Trotman took some time to update members of the Guyanese Canadian Community on the most recent developments in his Ministry, particularly in regard to the recent oil discoveries. Both Trotman's updates and his demonstrated personality gave those present a much-welcomed sense of encouragement about Guyana's political and economic future. According to the Official invitation Trotman's March 4 meeting with members of the Guyanese-Canadian Community was actually billed as a “Stakeholder Engagement Session with the Guyanese Diaspora in Canada…...the objective of the Engagement is for Minister Trotman to enlighten and update on developments in the Forestry, Mining and emerging Oil and Gas Sectors; as well as clarify Government's plans, policies and programmes.” It was a pity that the arrangements for Session were sufficiently last minute as to have negated a full attendance for the Session, as those who were absent missed out on a presentation that was, in fact, absolutely superb. Trotman's PowerPoint presentation on his Ministry's activities towards the further development of Guyana's vast natural resources, was as impressive as his excellently crafted, easily understood, responses to the numerous questions which followed from those present. His demonstrated knowledge of the information, which was at times understandably highly technical was outstanding, as was his ability to convey it in a manner that allowed for a fairly easy grasp by everyone present. At the end of the Session, after all the speeches had
been made, Trotman spent some time intermingling with the audience. His interactions with everyone who approached him was at all times seemingly graced with genuine interest in what he was being told. The consummate politician in action for sure but again, with an engagement in interactions that were characterized by compassion. I've known Raphael Trotman from the time he was a pre-teen, running around in his short pants in the yard of his family's massive 2nd Avenue Subrynville home in Guyana's capital city Georgetown. His sister Annande and my girlfriend at the time, Kin Bryan, were very close Bishop's High schoolmates. In the many years since, I have kept myself abreast of Trotman's impressive progression through the ranks of Guyana's political elite. Having done so, I have always had the sense that he was indeed destined for political prominence in Guyana. Having seen him in action during the March 4 Session, I am now even more convinced of that. So much so that I now believe that he could, should, well be Guyana's next Presidential Leader. Trotman seems to be in overly adequate possession of all the required capabilities to ascend to the highest office in Guyana's politics. Watching him interact with his March 4 Session audience reminded me of having witnessed similar interactions by former charismatic, “people's person” Caribbean leaders. Jamaica's Michael Manley and PJ Patterson, Barbados' Errol Barrow and David Thompson, even Guyana's Forbes Burnham in his pre-dictatorial days are among those that readily come to mind. He definitely has a most engaging personality. Trotman is in fact a member of a small group of
relatively young Guyanese Government Cabinet members who have identified themselves as possessing all the necessary qualities to take the country forward to a much brighter political and economic future. The county's Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure David Patterson, has impressed everyone with his roll up the sleeves, get the job done approach to his tasks. Cathy Hughes who has been given the responsibility for Guyana's telecommunications development and Dominic Gaskin, double portfolio Minister of Business and Tourism, are the other members of the “young brigade” who's performance of their respective Ministerial duties has been notably impressive. Gaskin's Ministry of Business has been further strengthened by the appointment of the dynamic Owen Verwey as GO-Invest's CEO. For those not in the know, GO-Invest is the Government Agency responsible for stimulating and managing investments that can contribute to Guyana's further economic development. Verwey has brought to Go-Invest a sense of utmost professionalism that is unfortunately sadly lacking in other Government Ministries. With individuals like Trotman, Patterson, Hughes, Gaskin, Verwey and others of their ilk in charge of Guyana's developmental proceedings, the county would appear to be on the right path. If as Trotman has indicated the anticipated future revenues from the oil finds can in fact be used to further much needed development in other areas, then Guyana could indeed be destined to finally realize its most obvious and immense economic potential. Encouraging signs for sure!
My Name Is Mala We sat in a circle on the carpet in our senior kindergarten class, some of us excited to play together, some of us day dreaming, some of us attempting to do something else. We were a stereotypical group of 5 year olds. The teacher, Ms. Tsoni, was holding a bag with something in it. The objective of the game was to reach inside this mysterious bag and guess what we were touching. The person who could guess correctly would win a little prize. When the bag got to my lap, I reached inside and enthusiastically said, “Is it r o t i ? ” To m y s u r p r i s e a n d embarrassment, everyone turned their attention to me with a look of confusion on their face. My teacher bent down and asked, “What is roti?” I froze and dropped my head. She insisted, “No, really, what is roti Mala?” I twiddled my thumbs and looked around at all of the eyes peering at me at once. Quietly and with a shaky voice I answered, “It's a type of bread. Haven't you had roti before?” “No,” she said, “Where is it
from?” “Guyana,” I answered. She proceeded, “Well, it's not roti in the bag.” I passed the bag onto the person next to me and felt self-conscious for the rest of the day. This was the first time I felt “different.” Looking back at that experience now, I can't imagine an adult not knowing what roti is in Toronto. Maybe it was the time, or maybe my teacher was the person who was different. We stood in a circle on the basketball court behind our middle school doors. Just last year, in grade 5, we would have been playing basketball together. But this year we were in grade 6 and grade 6 was different. Boys and girls no longer did everything alongside each other. We stood across from one another separated by space and our thoughts. Two of the boys were new to the school, they were brothers. In the midst of conversation, one of them asked me, “Where are you from?” “My family is from Guyana,” I answered. The same look of confusion that I had seen on the face of my class mates when I was 5 years old crept onto their faces. “You can't be from Guyana. You're not black. Where are you actually from?” I was embarrassed again, only this time it
hurt more for some reason. “My family is from Guyana. There are lots of people who look like me there.” I responded. He pushed. “Why won't you admit, you're from India?” Everyone was staring at me accusingly, waiting for my response. “My ancestors are from India but my family is not.” I no longer felt like part of the circle. The disbelief on their faces was obvious. I was embarrassed but not because I was hiding where I came from. I felt embarrassed because I didn't know where I belonged. It didn't feel “cool” to be brown – not in middle school. Was I from Canada? Where I was born. From Guyana? Where my parents were born. Or from India? Where my ancestors were born. I look back at that time – a time without smartphones – as a stage of natural growth and confusion. Not being able to google things on the spot and have each person verify accuracy for themselves, left us in an interesting position. We were left having to explain ourselves and think deeply about the meaning behind culture and identity. Growing up in the most multicultural city in the world, while a beautiful and stimulating experience, also created
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moments of misunderstanding. At times I felt accepted and at times I felt like the odd person out. I was usually the only Guyanese person in a group and didn't see many people like me in popular media. Today, I am a grown up and passionate about all things internal and eternal. In many ways I am still learning about where I came from and fascinated by the bigger picture, how we are all connected. Now I love sharing about the unique history of the Caribbean, the delicious food and beautiful culture. I am proud to be born in a place like Toronto and come from an equally diverse place like Guyana. I think it is rare to have so much variety in ones' history and present experience. A culture of inclusion – we are all connected in DNA and may be connected in purpose. Through exploring these connections we will experience belonging, not because we fit in but maybe because we stand out and stand up for something greater. Love Mala “Its Cool To BE Happy”
Tony McWatt Selwyn Baboolal, Chef Phillip Hendricks, Dr. George Traitses, Vanie Coonjah, Jumaal Khan, Rudy Lochan, Sanjay Patel Oumarally and Baboolal Haroon Gafur Julie Rambali, infiniteLinx.ca
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Arthur Summoned BRIDGETOWN, More than two decades ago, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) campaigned under the slogan “We Goin' with Owen” which led them to a 1994 election victory. Now, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government has picked up the refrain and is putting it into practice. Armed with the enviable record of spearheading robust growth in Barbados during his unbroken 14-year rule as Prime Minister, respected economist and veteran politician Owen Arthur is headed back to the wheel of the Barbados economy to steer the island away from treacherous waters. Arthur has confirmed that he has been approached by Finance Minister Chris Sinckler to serve as Chief Economic Advisor, 24 hours after the minister told the country that a new National Economic Council would be installed to devise urgently needed strategies to stem the slide of the economy. As the country awaited a formal announcement from Minister Sinckler on Arthur's role, Arthur immediately put to rest expected questions and criticisms about his new role under a DLP administration. “I could not possibly be giving advice to other people and say 'no' to a good and honest overture to me to give advice to the Government of Barbados,” he said. Arthur, who resigned from the BLP in 2014 and sits in Parliament as an Independent MP, signaled he was ready to get down to business, warning that time was running out to fix the crisis at hand. Barbados has been grappling to contain its spiraling fiscal deficit which stands at eight per cent of GDP and falling foreign reserves which hit an all-time low of 10.3 weeks of import cover, which is below the
benchmark 12 weeks. Arthur issued his first piece of advice, urging authorities to urgently finalize the Council so it can propose corrective measures in the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure set to be presented on March 13. “That is why perhaps it was so important for Chris to get consultation before he fixed the Estimates, rather than seek to get consultation after he has fixed the Estimates. But whatever else happens now, there is no basis for serendipity or 'happy days are here again in Barbados'.” The former Prime Minister stressed that there was no getting away from the fact that difficult days were ahead, even as he queried whether Government would push ahead on the BDS$600 million (US$300 million) adjustment to correct the monthly BDS$50 million (US$25 million) shortfall in salaries as proposed by former Central Bank Governor Dr Delisle Worrell. “No matter what is done, I think the country has to be prepared for the fact that very difficult adjustment has to be made and it will affect the way of life of many people in Barbados – the standard of living of many people in Barbados,” Arthur cautioned
Dominica Deputy Police Commissioner Apologizes To Island's High Court ROSEAU, Dominica, One day after a High Court judge publicly criticized the Dominica police for not having a presence in the court, the acting Deputy Police Commissioner, Davidson Valarie, has apologized. High Court Judge, Victoria Charles-Clarke had on March 2 summoned Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon to the court to state why police officers were absent from the sitting on Thursday morning. “I find it disrespectful that not one officer is present and no superior officer is present to
apologize “said Charles-Clarke, who added that court was not properly constituted and sent a strong message that she could cite the Police Chief and others of contempt. In his apology, Valarie said “we regret what happened due to some miscommunication between the police and the court. “It's not a regular thing and we regret what happened and deeply apologize to Her Ladyship and the court.” The judge in accepting the apology noted “we need to have better collaboration between the court and the police”.
Antigua's Chief Immigration Officer Calls For Standardized Caricom Skills Certificate ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, The Chief Immigration Officer, Annette Mark, has called for the implementation of a standardized Caricom skills certificate, complete with special security features, after her department discovered a Jamaican man with a fake certificate. The official said although the country is only aware of the one case here, there are reports of several others across the region. “I would love to see some sort of security feature, maybe even a card given to persons who are skilled, because that is the only way we can guarantee it. When you look at the skills certificate throughout the region, they are all different and it really is just a document that can be easily replicated; there are no security features,” Mark said. She said the issue has been discussed at home, but her recommendation has to be made when Caricom immigration heads meet. Mark said that in the absence of a standard, secure card, the countries have to continue to carry out their own checks
and balances. Most recently a Jamaican man who claimed to be a security expert, presented a fake Caricom skills certificate in Antigua & Barbuda. He has since been jailed. This was the first reported case in the twin island state but Mark said authorities expected it. “We expect to see more of this happening, because we have been warned that there are a number of people throughout the region operating with fake skills certificates,” she explained.
Vincentian Boat Held In Record-Breaking Drug Bust At Sea KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, Authorities are trying to get to the bottom of how a Vincentian-owned and registered fishing boat was held in what has been described as the largest maritime seizure in 18 years. In an operation on February 16, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) successfully stopped a transshipment of 185 bales of cocaine, weighing 4.2 tonnes, on board the Lady Michelle about 70 nautical miles off Paramaribo, Suriname in international waters. The cocaine had a street value of over US$71.75 million. DEA Special Agent Jeremy Latchman said the crew, which included four Guyanese, had initially claimed they had been searching for a missing vessel and that the Lady Michelle was registered in Guyana. However, a check by the US law enforcers revealed that the boat was registered in St Vincent. They subsequently secured permission from Vincentian authorities to
board the vessel in keeping with a bilateral agreement in the fight against drug trafficking. Authorities have since identified the crew members as Guyanese Mohamed Nazim Hoseain, 64; Richard La Cruz, 49; Neville Jeffrey, 68; and 30-year old Mark Anthony Williams. They were scheduled to attend a detention hearing in the United States Virgin Islands on March 1. The vessel has been returned to the owner in St Vincent, and the Financial Intelligence Union has opened investigations into the matter.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Greenheart Digest New Flight Attendants For Fly Jamaica
GEORGETOWN, Twenty young Guyanese will soon take to the sky as flight attendants for one of the Caribbean's top carriers, Fly Jamaica. After successfully graduating on March 3 from Fly Jamaica's sevenweek flight attendant course, the enthusiastic bunch signalled their intent to work hard and take their job seriously. The graduates' intentions to work hard were cited by the facilitators of the course and officials of the Carrier, who
were able to see their potential. Many have benefited from Fly Jamaica's flight attendant programme and were given the chance to show their potential and realize their dream of becoming flight attendants. The new recruits make up the fourth set of graduates from this course said Fly Jamaica's Director, Roxanne Reece. But the one thing that stood out about this batch is the fact that everyone who began the course ended as successful graduates.
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
13 Kenview Blvd, Brampton, ON 905-791-ROTI (7684) | www.alimas.ca
Border Dispute On School's Curriculum G E O R G E TO W N , T h e G u y a n a government says the country's border dispute with Venezuela will form part of the curriculum of public schools here. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said the decision was made at the Ministerial Conference which was held late last month. “It was agreed that the information relevant to this issue will be disseminated so that the nation can be sensitized about the controversy, especially with regards to Guyana's position,” Harmon said. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and a team from his ministry had made a presentation on the 50- year standing controversy at the ministerial conference. Last month, the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, announced the appointment of a Norwegian diplomat as his Personal Representative in the Good Offices Process on the border controversy. The UN has utilised the Good Officer
Process since 1990 to resolve the matter. The UN Secretary General has decided to give the process one more year with strengthened mediation. If the matter is not resolved by the end of the year, the UN Secretary General will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement. President David Granger has welcomed the appointment and has pledged Guyana's support to abide by the Process. The President added he will continue to advocate for a juridical settlement. Guyana and Venezuela have referred to the UN to resolve the controversy through the signing of the Geneva Agreement of 17 February, 1966. This decision was reached after Venezuela contended that the Arbitral Award of 1899, about the frontier between Venezuela and what is now Guyana, is null and void. Venezuela's claim to two-thirds of Guyana has escalated over the years, with various shows of aggression and harassment.
First Diaspora Engagement Conference To Convene In Georgetown GEORGETOWN, The University of Guyana (UG) will host its inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference from July 23 to 28 2017, in Georgetown, Guyana, under the theme: Dreaming Diaspora Engagement, Doing Diaspora Engagement. Hosted by the University of Guyana with support from a team of leaders in the diaspora and other stakeholders, the Conference will be organized around two overarching pillars: human, social and entrepreneurship development and diaspora philanthropy and diplomacy. It will provide the platform for developing a diaspora engagement strategy that would inform the work of the first Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Center. The launch of the Center is expected to be a major highlight of the six-day Conference. According to UG's Tenth ViceChancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, “the Conference will contribute to the development of diaspora policy and a framework to effectively attract direct diaspora investment and engage the diaspora in nation building.” The conference has three components namely; an academic symposium, a business forum, and community engagement. The symposium will receive academic presentations on key issues such as international and regional migration policies, cultural identities and the Diasporas, financial transfers and remittances, social remittances,
tourism, diaspora trade and investments, among other areas. The community engagement dimension will focus on building relationships with key stakeholders such as diaspora community leaders, governments, and hometown associations. In this context, delegates have an opportunity to participate in a Give Back Market Place where there would be various opportunities to volunteer time and resources to community development projects. The Business Forum will consider the processes for facilitating investment, trade and enterprise development. Members of the government and the private sector will present opportunities and policy initiatives to potential investors. Many countries have recognized the potential of their Diasporas and have used structured mechanisms such as diaspora conferences to harness the potential of their Diasporas and engage them effectively. Members of the huge Caribbean diaspora in New York, Canada, U.K. are expected to attend and provide input, match skills and create trans-national networks to build a robust diaspora engagement and productive partnerships. There are more than 2 million first and second generation Caribbean descent persons living overseas who have acquired expertise and experience which can be used to foster sustained economic development in the Caribbean.
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Jamaica Police Using WhatsApp to Tackle Sexual Exploitation of Children KINGSTON, The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is using messaging service WhatsApp to tackle the sexual exploitation of children via social media. Head of the Corporate Communications Unit of the JCF, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay said a WhatsApp group was created to encourage citizens to send all sexual videos and images of children directly to the police, in order to prevent undesirable sharing. “Once the content is sent to the police, we will use our electronic devices to track the source and the persons who share the information and make our arrests. We have the technology that will allow us to identify the origin of the message,” she explained. Superintendent Lindsay urged citizens to add the JCF WhatsApp number – 564-6840 – to their contact list to assist the process. “Help us protect our children and their future; make the report to the police,” she urged. She said reports could also be made to the Child Development Agency (CDA), Office of the Children's Registry and the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA). Superintendent Lindsay explained that the move to introduce the WhatsApp number was to prevent the public from committing breaches of the Child Pornography (Prevention) Act of 2009, which prohibits the production, distribution, importation, exportation or possession of child pornography and the use of children for pornography.
Attorney Barred
KINGSTON, A noted attorney and senior member of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has been disbarred after being found guilty of professional misconduct. Harold Brady was recently found guilty of misappropriating funds belonging to the state-run Factories Corporation of Jamaica, which he represented in a legal matter. Most recently the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council met and decided he would be struck from the list of licensed legal practitioners in Jamaica. Brady also has to pay more than J$110 million (US$854,376) in restitution. The disciplinary committee is expected to publish a full report on Brady's disbarment next week. Brady is among several attorneys now under investigation by the disciplinary committee, according to Radio Jamaica. The council is said to be investigating more than 500 complaints filed against attorneys by their clients.
The senior police officer pointed out that each time the content is shared there is a breach, and each share is a separate offence and a separate charge. “So, if you send it to 20 persons, you will be charged for at least 20 offences/breaches or even more. Therefore, if you receive any video depicting children in a sexual light, do not send it to everyone in your contact list out of shock or concern, send it to the JCF WhatsApp number,” the Superintendent said. She added that persons would also be in breach if they have material of youngsters being sexually exploited and fail to report it to the relevant authorities; if they store the information on any device, or if they know of adults forcing children to perform sexual acts for leisure or financial gain. Child pornography refers to visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (a person less than 16 years old), “so whether it's a photograph or a video, once it depicts the genital parts of the child, it can also be considered as child sexual abuse,” she explained.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
MP Khan Joins Critics Of Chalkdust's Learn From Arithmetic Calypso PORT-OF-SPAIN, Member of Parliament for Barataria/san Juan, Dr Fuad Khan has joined in criticism of the winning calypso, "Learn from Arithmetic" sung by Dr Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool. Chalkdust has already explained that his song was based on a conversation with Sat Maharaj and was meant to show his position on child marriages. However, Dr Khan says it's his view that the song was aimed at ridiculing the Hindu religion and its leadership. Dr Khan issued this statement on the topic. "When Dr. Hollis Liverpool took to the Dimanche Gras stage on Carnival Sunday, it was with the intention to deliver a political message to the Hindu community and the population at large. It has since been the view of many that it was the single refrain of "75 can't go into 14" which was directly responsible for his ninth victory at the competition. Since then, and amid a backlash from Hindu religious leaders and worshipers, and most notably Mr. Sat Maharaj who was mentioned in the lyrics of the calypso, Dr. Liverpool has sought to clarify the song by explaining that the song was meant to be a warning to young girls who court relationships with older men. What was not reiterated by Chalkdust however, was his further warning of the use of lubricants such as margarine on copybooks, and other such perversity, while citing persons such as Pythagoras, Copernicus, Archimedes and Sir Isaac Newton, all of whom have conveniently had the details of their private lives lost to history, due to the various depravities of their times. As such, his song which was clear propaganda aimed at ridiculing the Hindu religion and its leadership, was ultimately rewarded with a cash prize of US$100,000, which is equivalent to TT$700,000. Further to this, is the coinciding of the instant popularity of the song together
with the imminent conclusion of the debate on Child Marriage in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. It is no secret that this issue was highly prioritized by the current PNM administration, who have even controversially bent the rules of the House so that the vote now requires a simple majority in order to ascend. This is especially punitive since the original amendment to decrease the age may have required that the George Chambers led administration secured a special majority vote. The calypso art-form was built on the premise of satire and public awareness, but songs such as "Learn from Arithmetic" uses the opportunity to deliver a more deliberately inveracious message than was originally intended. As the nation has since been made aware, there is no recorded union between any persons aged at 14 and 75. But as someone who turns 76 years old this year, Chalkdust should realize that a debate of this significance should be elevated beyond a single soundbite or melody, unless there is in fact a hidden meaning in the song that has escaped the understanding of its supporters. Because in writing, and rewriting the lyrics to this calypso, the legendary Chalkdust has revealed himself to be quite familiar, not only with the subject matter, but also its intricate workings such as the type of greasing necessary for both sexual intercourse and winning a calypso monarch."
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
2 Million Mobile Users In T&T PORT-OF-SPAIN, As of September 2016, there were in excess of two million mobile subscribers in a population of 1.4 million people in T&T. The figure was given by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as he delivered the feature address at the March 6 opening ceremony of the Regional Standardisation Forum for Bridging the Standardisation Gap at the Parliament Building, Port-of-Spain. The Forum was attended by Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) chairman Gilbert Peterson, SC, TATT's CEO Dr John Prince and participants from Latin America and Caribbean. The forum will see delegates sharing ideas and discussing matters on information and communication technologies (ITCs) until March 10. But while mobile subscribers had been increasing, Prince said TATT had not been addressing complaints that are reported to them. Among the complaints would be internet, cellphone and cable users. Having attended the 28th international meeting at the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Guyana last month, Rowley said his fellow leaders had approved a draft road map for the region's single information and communication technology space which would allow harmonized policies,
legislation, regulations and technical standards. He said they expects this space would create affordable networks to Caribbean consumers and businesses, which would be critical in accelerating the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy and enhance economic development in the region. From a T&T's perspective, Rowley said, his Government sees the ITC sector as a critical part towards a national development programme that will help improve the quality of life for every T&T citizen. He said ITC has to be seen not only as using computers and to manipulate software, but a mechanism to provide solutions to complex problems. In outlining statistics obtained from TATT's September 2016 market report, Rowley said there were 282,000 fixed lined internet subscriptions which represented a penetration rate of 66 per cent of all households. Rowley said mobile subscriptions had “exceed two million with a penetration of 135 per cent of the population.” Gross revenue derived from mobile services, Rowley said was $623 million in 2016, while paid TV subscriptions was 204,000 which has a penetration of under 50 per cent.
Two Plants To Close PORT-OF-SPAIN, Former Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine has described as “bad news for the energy sector,” the decision by Methanol Holdings Trinidad Limited (MHTL) to shut down two of its five methanol plants at the Plipdeco estate and offer VSEP to the affected workers. The decision was announced during a March 3 meeting between workers and the operator, Industrial Plant Services Ltd. The shutdown comes as the Point Lisas-based company is faced with the problem of a gas shortage. MHTL is the second company located at Plipdeco which reported a shortage in gas. The first company faced with the problem was Caribbean Ispat, which also ended operations here one year ago. Commenting on the news, Ramnarine said it was unfortunate the National Gas Company Ltd could not come to an agreement with MHTL. In emailed response, he said: “My understanding is that MHTL put forward a number of commercial proposals which
were not accepted by the NGC. It's very disappointing that this has happened, since methanol prices are very good at this time. It's also likely that the gas supply situation will improve at the end of 2017 and into 2018.” Weighing in on initiatives such as the Dragon Field in Venezuela, he said, “The Venezuela/Dragon deal is fraught with political risk. I saw one gentleman say we will get gas from Venezuela in 2019. I'm happy if that happens but it seems overly optimistic.” While MHTL has not announced how much staff will be affected, Ramnarine said it was unfortunate workers would lose jobs as a result of the shut down. Overall, Ramnarine questioned why the Poten and Partners Gas Master plan has not been implemented and called for its implementation. Critical of the decisionmaking process within the energy sector, Ramnarine said the pace has clearly slowed.
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
NUGGETS
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 9
Understandable, Factual Financial Knowledge; Success Strategies For Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Five Insurance Policies Everyone Should Have Protecting your most important assets is an
Homeowners Insurance
shouldn't skip. If you are involved in an
important step in creating a solid personal Replacing your home is an expensive accident, and someone is injured or their financial plan. The right insurance policies proposition. Having the right homeowners property is damaged, you could be subject to a will go a long way toward helping you insurance can make the process less difficult. lawsuit that could possibly cost you safeguard your earning power and your When shopping for a policy, look for one that everything you own. Accidents happen possessions. In this article, we'll show you five covers replacement of the structure and the quickly and the results are often tragic. policies that you shouldn't do without.
Long-Term Disability Insurance
contents, in addition to the cost of living Having no automobile insurance or purchasing only the minimum required somewhere else while your home is repaired.
The prospect of long-term disability is so Keep in mind that the cost of rebuilding coverage saves you only a tiny amount of frightening that some people simply choose to doesn't need to include the cost of the land, money, and puts everything else that you own ignore it. While we all hope that "nothing will since you already own it. Depending on the at risk. happen to me," relying on hope to protect your age of your home, and the amenities that it *Bonus Tip For Business Owners: In addition future earning power is simply not a good contains, the cost to replace it could be more or to the policies listed above, business owners idea. Instead, choose a disability policy that less than the price you paid for it. To get an need business insurance. Liability coverage in provides enough coverage to enable you to accurate estimate, find out how much local a litigation-happy society could be the continue your current lifestyle, even if you can builders charge per square foot and multiply difference between a long, prosperous that number by the amount of space you will endeavor and a trip to bankruptcy court. no longer continue working.
Life Insurance Life insurance protects the people that are financially dependent on you. If your parents, spouse, children or other loved ones would face financial hardship if you died, life
need to replace. Don't forget to factor in the Insurance policies come in a wide variety of cost of upgrades and special features. Also, be shapes and sizes and boast many different sure the policy covers the cost of any liability features, benefits and prices. Shop carefully, for injuries that might occur on your property. read the policies and talk to the agent to be
Automobile Insurance
certain that you understand the coverage and
the cost. Make sure the policies that you insurance should be high on your list of Some level of automobile insurance is purchase are adequate for your needs, and required insurance policies. Think about how required by law in most places. Even if you are don't sign on the dotted line until you are much you earn each year (and the number of not required to have it, and you are driving an happy with the purchase. years you plan to remain employed), and old clunker that has been paid off for years, Source: Investopedia purchase a policy that will replace that income automobile insurance is something you in the event of your untimely demise. Factor in the cost of burial too, as the unexpected cost is a burden for many families.
Health Insurance The soaring cost of medical care is reason enough to make health insurance a necessity. Even a simple visit to the family doctor can result in a hefty bill. More serious injuries, that result in a hospital stay, can generate a bill that tops the price of a one-week stay at a luxury resort. Injuries that require surgery can quickly rack up five-figure costs. Although the cost of health insurance is a financial burden for just about everyone, the potential cost of not having coverage is much higher.
Page 10 • www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
NUGGETS
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
Understandable, Factual Financial Knowledge; Success Strategies For Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Eight Essential Four Letter Words For Financial Health Tony
Why is it
MCWATT
that a few
same scarves and belts
four-letter
over and over? Tempted to
words have
go out and buy a bunch of
g i v e n
new ones? Host a swap
thousands of perfectly good four-letter words
party instead. Start simple.
such a bad rap? It doesn't seem fair does it? I
Invite a few friends to each
took it upon myself to give them a break. Make a
bring five accessories
habit of putting these eight words into use, and
they're willing to give up
your finances will be stronger than ever. They
for a while and exchange.
won't offend anybody. You can even say them in
It can be temporary or
front of your parents. How great is that?
permanent - you decide.
Why eight? Well, a recent article indicated that
Everyone will feel like
we can be pretty hardheaded when it comes to
they got something new to
making changes. The author suggested
freshen up their wardrobes
sometimes we need to get hit over the head with
but nobody spent a dime. This doesn't
a (figurative) two-by-four to get a message.
have to be just clothing either. Sporting
Multiply two by four and you get eight.
goods, furnishings, kitchen items, tools
Essential Four-Letter Words
and electronic gadgets are great
1.
candidates for swap sessions.
Plan: It's time to outgrow impulse spending. If you've got some exciting
2.
3.
4.
Swap: Tired of wearing the
what you've got. If all your electronic
before spending will make those goals
accounts still use the same password
happen sooner. Whether it's clothes,
you've had since seventh grade, it's time
groceries or basic household matter,
to change. No matter how fond you are
make a list before you head out to spend.
of CheetosRgr8t you need to come up
You'll get everything you need and
with something new and tougher to
you'll be less likely to end up with three
crack. Don't use just use one password
jumbo jars of peanut butter in the
either. Set up different passwords for
cupboard.
different accounts. 5.
Save: You knew it was going to be in
You come home and the last thing you
here, right? If you are already saving,
feel like doing is cooking a meal from
bump up your saving percentage by 1%.
scratch. I get that. Take baby steps and
Go ahead, you'll be glad you did. Little
make it fun. When you've got a little
increases add up to big results.
downtime, check out a few online
6.
7.
TFSA: Okay it's an acronym not an
cookbooks and find a new recipe to try.
actual word but it qualifies nevertheless.
There are millions of recipes that don't
If you haven't already done so Start now.
take long, don't need many ingredients
Open a Tax Free Savings Account
and make great leftovers. Aim for eating
(TFSA) and set up automatic transfers
one less meal out and cooking one more
from your checking or savings account
meal each week.
into it. You will be so glad you did. I
Debt: Yes, this can be a good four-letter word. If you've got debt of any sort, the good news is you are building a credit history. Make sure it's a good one by paying your bills on time. At some point
Safe: Do what you need to do to keep
goals, and I hope you do, planning
Cook: Sure you're busy, you're tired.
promise.
or another, you need to have a credit history in order to qualify for (more) debt. I know, that sounds a little strange but if you want to buy a house someday, you get a better rate if you've got a higher credit score. The score is based on how well you've done in the past with paying off debt so show those financial institutions you've got it together. 8.
Give: Almost all the healthiest, wealthiest folks all give time, money or both to help make the world a better place. If you haven't done this before try it, you'll like it. Start giving just a little bit and you'll be hooked. And if you're already a giver pat yourself on the back and keep on keeping' on.
Take these eight four-letter words and make them a part of your life. You will be in a stronger financial place than you are right now.
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 11
NUGGETS So You Want To Flip A House…. Understandable, Factual Financial Knowledge; Success Strategies For Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
HGTV makes it look so easy – buy a fixerupper, throw a little money at it and voila – you've just made $50,000. Of course the Minee reality of flipping houses for profit isn't quite as simple as 'reality TV' would like to NEHRU make us believe. There's a lot you need to know: Know your numbers! When it comes to deciding which property to buy, you need to do a lot more than determine fair market value. How much will your renovations cost be? What will your closing and selling costs be? What are your carrying costs? What are the tax implications? Don't get emotionally attached – you're an investor, not an end-user. Don't pay $100K over asking unless the house was underpriced by that much in the first place. Know what you will sell for! This is one of the most important factors in choosing what property to buy (and one of the reasons you want to work with an experienced REALTOR). Buyers don't care what you paid for a house or how much money you put into it or how much profit you want to make. Find out what prices the street can carry and don't over-renovate for the street. If you buy a house for $600K , put $100K of renovations into it, on a street where the most expensive ever sold is $700K, prepare to lose money. Location, Location, Location! To really see a profit, you need to buy in a HOT neighbourhood that has a low supply of renovated homes and a high demand from Buyers. Easy access to transportation, parking and shops/restaurants/services will all be factored into how much a Buyer will be prepared to pay. Timing is everything! While you're renovating, you need to remember your carrying costs: mortgage, insurance, taxes and utilities. If it takes you 12 months instead of 6 months to complete the project, your costs have just gone way up (and you'll be paying those costs out of your profit margin.) Stay on top of your trades! If you aren't a contractor yourself, make sure you align yourself with someone you know, like and trust. Their ability to manage costs and a timeline will impact your profitability, and if your contractor does shoddy work, you'll feel that in your pocketbook. Focus your renovation dollars in the right places! For example, kitchens, bathrooms, floors. You'll likely have unsexy money to spend too, and don't forget that the Buyer who buys the renovated house doesn't want to worry about the furnace, the electrical or the roof either. Always remember your target Buyer! If you're looking to sell your renovated house for $800K, remember that Buyers at this price point will have definite expectations of features and finishes. Too often we see cheap flips that don't sell because of poor quality materials and workmanship. Permits, Permits, Permits! No, you can't just tear down walls and change out the knob and tube electrical because you want to. Most buyers will want to see that your renovation was done on the up-and-up, and that means permits (and permit headaches). Buyers will pay more for a home that was renovated with permits. There are no guarantees! Yes, some people make a lot of money flipping houses in Toronto, but not everyone makes a profit. Treat this as a job! Don't fool yourself: flipping a house for profit takes a lot of time. You'll be picking finishes, managing workers and timelines and need to check in on the progress frequently. Stick to the plan/budget! This isn't the time to get creative and make it up as you go along. Make sure you work with a REALTOR who has experience guiding people through the flipping process. As always, we'd be happy to chat! Do you have what it takes? Whether due to houses, condos, or simply paperwork, if in the end you're receiving a profit, then technically you're flipping the property. Some people believe they can flip a house without even breaking a sweat. Don't be fooled. It won't work out just because you may have a good stable job, trust in getting a good mortgage, put a small amount of money down, renovate on the weekends, and then sell. House flipping is a full planning process that you shouldn't take lightly. The art of renovating homes is a tough dedicated job. It involves being realistic and making a budget, knowing how and what to renovate, what price to charge, whom to hire, and how long it will take. Also, you must know your margins and timelines— otherwise, profits may suffer. But what if there was an option to flip your home without all the hassles and risks? LEARN ABOUT NEW FAST FORWARD WEALTH PROGRAM ~ GUARANTEED HOME SELLING SYSTEM DESIGNED TO GET OWNERS MINIMUM 25% OVER CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF YOUR HOME!!! As the owner of a property with development potential, which is usually old and in need of renovation or rebuild, choosing to sell it to a builder or developer you earn a fraction of the potential profit locked in your property. Understandably, most people don't have the time, money, expertise, or desire to do the work required to unlock all the profit built up in their property. It's way too risky, trades don't show up, do poor work, or simply rip you off, trying to get the money to do the job, knowing what to build, dealing with the upheaval and stress a
project like this will have on your life and relationships. So instead of receiving the full benefits and wealth built up in your property, a builder or developer buys it, gets financing, builds on it, and sells the property making handsome profits; Profits that could be yours. WHAT IF... While you do what you love to do in life, you have a trusted experienced development team to partner with that would reduce your risk and do all the work to unlock all the profits in your property? What if your partner managed, financed, designed, built, and directed the sale of your property for maximum profits as if it were their own? THE OPPORTUNITY: FIXNFLIP works with you to finance and develop your property's full potential, then manages the sale for maximum profit. The additional profit is split 80/20 between you and FIXNFLIP (80% going into your pocket) Upon the sale you enjoy your share of the additional wealth generated from the development of your property
~3 STEP PROCESS~ STEP ONE: Your property is appraised to determine market value as of today. This is approximately how much you would make if you sold the property on the market today. Less sales commission, this is your base valuation. When your property sells, you get paid this base valuation plus your share of the additional profits generated from the development and sale of your property. STEP TWO: FIXNFLIP arranges financing, designs/builds, and manages the sale of your developed property for maximum profit. FIXNFLIP arranges financing for the project through a mortgage on your property. We design for maximum profits and maximum architectural beauty. Our team is led by respectful builders with decades long experience. We oversee and direct all aspects of the marketing and sales process to achieve maximum profit. STEP THREE: You get paid the base valuation plus your share of the profits generated from the sale of the developed property. When your property sells, mortgages and commissions get paid. Then you get paid the base valuation, the amount you would have earned if you would have sold the undeveloped property, plus your 80% share of the profits generated from FIXNFLIP's development of your property. Here is an example for a property with an appraised value of $1mil and an existing mortgage of $500k. Step 1: The home gets independently appraised. Let say the valuation comes in at $1mil, FIXNFLIP does not value closing costs only what the home owner will walk away with in their pocket after the sale. So we deduct closing costs to get the FIXNFLIP valuation. $1,000,000 x (.05 commission + h.s.t.)= $56,500.00 commission $56,500 commission + legals approx. $2000 = $58,500 closing costs $1,000,000 sale price - $58,500 closing costs = $941,500 FIXNFLIP property valuation $941,500 - mortgages owing $500,000 = $441,500 Clients walk away profit based on a $1mil sale if she sells the house as is. Step 2: With a $200,000 FIXNFLIP renovation, you sell the home 3 months later for $1,500,000 $1,500,000 renovated sale price x (.05 commission + h.s.t.) = $84,750 commission $84,750 commission + legals approx. $2000 = $86,750 closing costs $86,750 closing costs + $200,000 mortgage for renovation = $286,750 total project cost $1,500,000 renovated sale price - $286,750 total project cost = $1,213,250 $1,213,250 - $941,500 FIXNFLIP property valuation = $271,750 total profit generated from renovation 271,750 profit x .80 (Clients profit split, 80% of the total profit from renovation) = $217,400 Clients profit from the renovation. Step 3: The Client gets paid; in this example the client would have made a profit of $441,500 if they would have sold the house on the market without FIXNFLIP. In 3 months working with FIXNFLIP the client makes $658,900 in profit, the FIXNFLIP program earned her an additional $217,400 within a 3 month period. TAKE THE GUESSWORK AND BURDEN OUT OF RENOVATION FOR RESALE! MAXIMIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF YOUR PROPERTY WITH FIXNFLIP'S FAST FORWARD WEALTH PROGRAM! GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAM AND LET'S START A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT RESULTS YOU CAN ACHIEVE TODAY! For more information on how to benefit from this program, please contact Minee Nehru, Realtor with RE/Max West Realty Inc. at 416.282.2444
Page 12 • www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca
NUGGETS
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
Understandable, Factual Financial Knowledge; Success Strategies For Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
How To Make Money In Real Estate? Whether you're curious about the investment potential of real estate or simply sick of infomercials promising millions of dollars in returns from a new and obscure way of investing in real estate, it is worth learning how wealth is created through real estate. We're not looking at strategies for how to profit from real estate. Instead, this article will focus on the basic ways that money is made through real estate. And, fortunately for us, these haven't changed in centuries, no matter what kind of gloss the gurus of the moment try to put on it.
Appreciation The most common source of real estate profit is the appreciation — the increase in the value — of the property in question. This is achieved in different ways for different types of real estate. And, most importantly, it is only realized through selling or refinancing.
Commercial Property Income Commercial properties can produce income from the aforementioned sources with basic rent again being the most common - but can also add one more in the form of option income. Many commercial tenants will pay fees for contractual options like the right of first refusal on the office next door. These are essentially options that tenants pay a premium to hold, whether they exercise them or not. Options income is sometimes used for raw land and even residential property, but they are far from common. Real estate investment trusts (REIT) and Mortgage Investment Corporations (MIC) are generally considered to be great ways of getting income from real
Raw Land The most obvious source of appreciation for undeveloped land is, of course, developing it. As cities expand, land outside the limits becomes more and more valuable because of the potential for it to be purchased by developers. Then developers build houses that raise that value even further. Appreciation in land can also come from discoveries of valuable minerals or materials, provided that the buyer holds the rights. An extreme example of this would be striking oil, but appreciation can also come from gravel deposits, trees and so on.
Residential Property When looking at residential properties, location is often the biggest factor in appreciation. As the neighborhood around a home evolves, adding transit routes, schools, shopping centers, playgrounds and so on, the value climbs. Of course, this trend can also work in reverse, with home values falling as a neighborhood decays. Home improvements can also spur appreciation, and this is something a property owner can directly control. Putting in a new bathroom, upgrading to a heated garage and remodeling to an open concept kitchen are just some of the ways a property owner may try to increase the value of a home. Many of these techniques have been refined to high-return fixes by property flippers who specialize in adding value to a home in a short time.
Commercial Property Commercial property gains value for the same reasons as the previous two types: location, development, and improvements. The best commercial properties are in demand, and that drives the price up on them.
The Role of Inflation in Appreciation Of course, there is one major factor we skipped in our summary - the economic impact of inflation. A 10% inflation of the dollar means that your dollar can only buy about 90% of the same good the following year, and that includes property. If a piece of land was worth $100,000 in 1970, and it sat dormant, undeveloped and unloved, it would still be worth many times more today. Because of runaway inflation throughout the '70s and a steady pace since, it would likely take over $560,000 to purchase that land today - assuming $100,000 was fair market value at the time and all other factors remained constant. So, inflation alone can cause appreciation in real estate, but it is a bit of a Pyrrhic victory. Even though you may get five times the money due to inflation, many other goods cost five times as much to buy now.
Income Generally referred to as rent, income - or regular payments - from real estate can come in many forms.
Raw Land Income Depending on your rights to the land, companies may pay you royalties for any discoveries or regular payments for any structures they add. These include pump jacks, pipelines, gravel pits, access roads, cell towers and so on. Raw land can also be rented for production, usually agricultural production.
Residential Property Income Although it is possible that you may earn income from the installation of a cell tower or other structure, the vast majority of residential property income comes in the form of basic rent. Your tenants pay a fixed amount per month — and this will go up with inflation and demand - and you take out your costs from it and claim the remaining portion as rental income. While it is true that you will get an insurance payout if your tenants burn down the place, the payout only covers the cost of replacing what is lost and is not income in a real sense.
estate. This is true, but only in the sense that real estate is the underlying security. With a REIT, the owner of multiple commercial properties sells shares to investors - usually to fund the purchase of more properties - and then passes on the rental income in the form of distribution. The REIT is the landlord for the tenants (who pay rent), but the owners of the REIT get the income once the expenses of running the buildings and the REIT are taken out. MICs are even a further step removed, as they invest in private mortgages rather than the underlying properties. MICs are different from MBSs in that they hold entire mortgages and pass on the interest from payments to investors, rather than securitizing the interest streams independent of the original mortgage. Still, they are not so much real estate investments as they are debt investments. Similar to securities with real estate underlying the investment, most of the alternative "blow your mind with super fantastic return" methods are merely a layer on top of these two basic streams of income. For example, there are informal residential real estate options where you pay a fee to have the right to buy a house at a given time, say after a month, for an agreed upon price. Then, you find investors who will pay more than your option price for the property. In this case, the premium you get is essentially a finder's fee for matching a person looking for an investment with a person looking to sell - no different than a real estate agent. Although this is income, it doesn't come from buying (i.e. holding the deed to) a piece of real estate. Similarly, no money down or OPM deals are simply the financing aspect of the deal - it doesn't change how the buyer is planning to make money in the long run. The bottom line is that iff someone is trying to sell you on a new way to make money in real estate other than buying low and selling high or collecting rent, they're probably trying to sell you on the process of real estate investing, rather than a new mechanism for making profits. Whether the process is worth it or not is up to you, but know that it doesn't change how the money will be made (or lost) in the end
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Express Entry System – Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Category is one of the Independent Categories under which a client may apply for Permanent Residency for themselves and their immediate family, based on having one year of “High Skilled” Work Experience in Canada. To qualify under the Canadian Experience Category, the main applicants need to have at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada (1560 hours/minimum of 30 hours per week) or an equal amount in part-time work ( 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1560 hours), in a high skilled job – NOC O, A or B of the National Occupational Classification 2011 List. You must show that you performed the duties outlined as per your corresponding NOC #, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed. You should have gained your work experience with proper immigration authorization, meet the requirements for the English Language Test (IELTS or CELPIP General) and plan to live outside Quebec. Work experience gained from Co-op work term or self-employment does not count for this Category. There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class, however it is advisable that you get your Education
assessed, if you have tertiary level education, as this will help to increase your score. The Language Requirements are CLB 7 for NOC O or A Jobs and CLB 5 for NOC B jobs. Once you meet the requirements, you will then need to submit your Express Entry Profile. So far, the lowest score that has been selected from the pool is 434. I would recommend that if the main applicant has a spouse, then the spouse should complete the English Test and Education assessment if necessary (find out your options before proceeding as there are costs involved with the assessments etc.). Your spouse's information may help to increase your score. Your profile will remain in the pool for a year and if you are not given an ITA (Invitation to apply), then you would need to create another profile to re-enter the pool. If you are given an ITA you will have 90 days in which to submit all supporting documents and pay the applicable fees. Once you meet all the requirements IRCC will advise as to finalizing the landing process and documents. It is important to find out your options before proceeding with an application under the Economic Categories as the rules and process have changed over the years. Nadine Mahabeer is a weekly guest on “Immigration Mondays” on Nationwide 90FM in Jamaica – Monday mornings at 10am – streaming live on the Internet.
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 13
Who Can I Tell? Sanjay PATEL By: Sanjay R. Patel - Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public In the game of life it is common for all of us, at some point, to require direction and perhaps representation. The need for legal advice and representation often depends on the issues at stake. Common issues where legal counsel is engaged are: real estate and property transactions, family law issues of divorce/division of property/child custody disputes, immigration and refugee applications, work and student visa applications and criminal charges of all degrees of seriousness. A lawyer client relationship is fiduciary. Meaning that it is a professional relationship of trust whereby the lawyer confidentially acts on behalf of the client. In Ontario, a lawyer's duty of confidentiality can be described as follows: “A lawyer at all times shall hold in strict confidence all information concerning the business and affairs of the client acquired in the course of
the professional relationship and shall not divulge any such information unless: authorized by the client, required by law, required to provide information to the Law Society of Upper Canada or otherwise permitted by the Rules” (Rules of Professional Conduct 3.31) When you do seek legal advice from a licensed legal practitioner, regardless of the seriousness of the issue, it is comforting for clients to understand that all lawyers in Ontario owe a duty of confidentiality to retained client and prospective clients alike. This duty of confidentiality is critical to open communication between a client and their chosen lawyer – any information divulged by a client to his or her lawyer can only be used for their benefit; this allows the lawyer to effectively serve the client throughout the course of the professional relationship. Sanjay R. Patel is an associate at OB Law Chambers and a Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public practicing in the areas of Family Law, Immigration Law and Criminal Law. The foregoing is intended for information purposes only and you should consult a lawyer if you need legal representation or a formal legal opinion.
Norman Sue Bakery Ltd.
Thanks for your loyal and much appreciated continuing support.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
CARIBBEAN KITCHEN
Seafood Lasagna Directions 1.
2.
In preparation for Easter and in keeping with the “no red meat consumption during Lent” here's a rich satisfying Seafood Lasagna recipe that's loaded with scallops, shrimp and crab in a creamy sauce. Bound to become a “crown jewel” in your repertoire of recipes!
3. 4.
Ingredients 1 green onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup butter, divided 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice 1 pound bay scallops 1 pound uncooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 package (8 ounces) imitation crabmeat, chopped
1/4 teaspoon white pepper, divided 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1-1/2 cups 2% milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided 9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
5.
In a large skillet, saute onion in oil and 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in broth and clam juice; bring to a boil. Add scallops, shrimp, crab and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops are firm and opaque, stirring gently. Drain, reserving cooking liquid; set seafood mixture aside. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter; stir in flour until smooth. Combine milk and reserved cooking liquid; gradually add to the saucepan. Add salt and remaining pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Stir 3/4 cup white sauce into the seafood mixture. Preheat oven to 350°. Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with three noodles; spread with half of the seafood mixture and 1-1/4 cups sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese. Bake, uncovered, at for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.
Yield: 12 servings.
Volume 11 • Number 05 • March 8, 2017
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Bravo Gets IPL Clearance Embattled West Indies batsman Darren Bravo will be free to take part in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) having received clearance from Cricket West Indies (CWI). The 28-year-old is currently suspended from international and regional cricket after an argument with CWI boss Dave Cameron last year. After being selected for the Kolkata Knight Riders two weeks ago it was feared that the player would not be able to take part in the tournament as the body would refuse to sign a Non Objection Certificate (NOC) due to his current suspension. Newly appointed CWI CEO Johnny Graves has, however, been quick to dismiss the suggestion. “We're not going to be withholding NOCs,” Graves told Espncricinfo. “There's no future in that.” The website also quoted the CEO as saying that the NOC for Bravo was signed “within
CPLT20 Still Alive! MCWATT ON CRICKET
five minutes of receiving it.” The player was pulled from the tour of Zimbabwe last year after calling CWI president Dave Cameron an idiot via social media platform Twitter and subsequently refusing to issue an apology. Bravo had taken offence to Cameron's assertions that he was deservedly given a C grade retainer contract for a lack of performance. The player has not featured for the West Indies since and also missed out on the recent Regional Super50 tournament.
Misbah To Skipper Pakistan On Windies Tour Misbah-ul-Haq has made himself available for the forthcoming three-match Test series against West Indies, starting on April 22 in Kingston. Pakistan's Test captain had asked for time from the board to decide about his future after his side had slipped to Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said to AFP: "Misbah has told me that he is available for the Test series in the West Indies and that will be conveyed to the selection committee that he will be the captain." Misbah is Pakistan's most successful Test captain, having led his country to 24 wins in 53 Tests. The 42-year-old also helped Pakistan claim the No. 1 Test ranking for the first time after the Asian country overcame England by 10 wickets in the fourth Test at The Oval last year. Sarfraz Ahmed, who was appointed as
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 15
Pakistan's One-Day International (ODI) captain last month, will be the vice captain for the series. Pakistan are also set to play a fourmatch Twenty20 International and a threematch ODI series. The PCB is expected to name Pakistan's limited-overs squads this week, while the Test squad is set to be announced later on in the month.
Despite having been very much out of the limelight during the past few months, it would now seem that the Roy Singh inspired dream for the formation of a T20 Canadian Premier League is still very much alive. As much would be evident from Singh's recent exciting announcement that he has secured none other than the fastest man on earth, to serve as the League's Brand Ambassador. Singh has circulated a Media Release announcing the Canadian Premier League T20 having netted the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt, to join its ranks. According to the Release “Jamaica's Bolt, the fastest man on planet earth will be the face of the fastest format of cricket. Bolt has been appointed brand ambassador for the Canadian Premier League T20 (CPL) T20, North America's first franchise tournament!” It has long since become well-known that Bolt, the Olympic and World Sprint Champion, often plays and enjoys cricket. Somewhat less known may be the fact that he is also on “good friends” terms with most of the Caribbean Region's leading cricketers, including the dynamic Chris Gayle. Bolt recently recalled that in his childhood he had no interest in running. He used to love playing football and cricket and revealed that his hero was Pakistan's bowling great Waqar Younis. The sprinter said: “I was so in love with cricket I didn't want to do anything else. Track was just something I was doing
because I was good at it, and because I was winning it was, 'You should do this.' So, alright…” CPLT20 is hoping that the association with Bolt will bring international media and fan attention. As Chairman & CEO of the Canadian Premier League T20, Roy Singh has repeatedly advocated his views on the benefits Canadian cricket can derive from having its own T20 League. “Cricket in Canada has a growth that will be initiated by the new annual T20 Canadian Premier League, Youth Development and a plan to build the most state of the art Indoor Cricket Stadium in North America. This will take the game to a higher level, promote youth participation and encourage the talent in Canada to strive to be internationally recognized and accepted.” Singh has reportedly also made an initial $350,000 deposit towards the necessary land acquisition for further development of his state of the art cricket stadium construction plans. Exciting news indeed, further developments on which will now be followed with renewed, very keen, interest.
May all the choicest blessings of the world be showered upon you and fill your life with delight! A Joyful Phagwah to all our Customers and Friends!