Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29 2017 • www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca
Tel:647-669-9320 • Fax:416-292=2943 • Email: graphiclyn@gmail.com
Newmarket Hosts July 7-8, Cultural Bridge Festival All roads will lead to Newmarket during the July 7-9 weekend for the City’s hosting of the 2017 Cultural Bridge Festival. Formerly known as the Caribbean & South Asian Showcase, the Festival will feature a variety of social experiences for everyone, children through to grandparents, which are aimed at bringing them out of their homes and into the community to sing, dance and eat together. This year’s Cultural Bridge Festival is being staged in celebration of Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation. The 2017 Cultural Bridge Festival kicks off on Friday, July 7 outdoors at the Newmarket Riverwalk Commons, from 7-9 pm. The evening’s entertainment will feature Sounds of India dances with Paromita Kar, and music with Divya Vivekanandan (Chennai Radio), and award winning Vandana Vishwas. The July 8th (1-10pm) and July 9th (1-6pm) programs, which will be held indoors at the City of Newmarket’s Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive), will feature World Cultures. As a celebration which informs on various cultural and artistic contributions to Canada through an exciting, inviting intercultural exchange, World Cultures will feature a marketplace, music, dance and food that reflects the rich artistry and cultural expressions from various global cultures. Cuban dance music by Son Aché band closes Saturday, and Zouk (French Caribbean Creole) dance will provide the Festival with a fitting finale the Festival on Sunday, July 9.
Vena Mookram Crowned Miss World Guyana 2017! 18 year old, Bishops’ High School student, Vena Mookram, Ambassador of Region 4, Demerara Mahaica has been crowned the winner of Miss World Guyana 2017. The finale was held at the Guyana Marriot Hotel on Sunday 25th June, 2017 where representatives from Guyana’s 10 administrative regions competed for the title. The show was hosted by television personality Joel Ghansham. Vena will now represent Guyana at Miss World 2017 later this year in China. Vena, took the Miss World - Guyana’s title, with the vivacious Manisha Mai lee Wong taking the first runner-up title. Second runner-up was the electrifying Ariell Ghanie. When the special awards were handed out half way into the
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
Personality Profiles: The. Honourable Vibert Lamkin
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The Honourable Vibert Lampkin was born in the Village of Kitty, now part of Georgetown, Guyana, the first of the two children of David and Rosalie Lampkin. He received his elementary education at Christchurch School in Georgetown, and at St. Winifred’s Roman Catholic School in Newtown, Kitty. Thereafter he attended St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown. He taught Latin and Elementary Mathematics for three years at St. Stanislaus College before embarking on a legal career. He holds the Degree of Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and a Master of Laws Degree from York University. He qualified as a Solicitor under the English Legal System and was enrolled as a Solicitor in Guyana and in England. He practised as a Solicitor in Guyana from 1959 to 1967 in partnership with his uncle Sir John Carter, Q.C.
In 2008 The Law Society of Upper Canada conferred upon Justice Lampkin the Degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa and in 2009 York University also conferred upon him the Degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa. Justice Lampkin was a founding member of the Guyana Chapter of the Frontiersmen of America and a founding member and President of the Jaycees of Guyana. He was a member of the Toronto Jaycees and is a Senator of the Jaycees of Canada. He was a founding member and President of Guyana Theatre Players of Canada. He was a founding member of Delos Davis Law Guild, the fore-runner of Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. He has been a Director of OXFAM Canada; and of Canadian Executive Service Organization. He is Director Emeritus of New Leaf, Living & Learning Together Inc. He has been a member of the Toronto Police Complaints Board and of the Ontario Law Reform Commission. He is President of St. Stanislaus College Alumni Association Toronto and Vice President of St. Stanislaus College Alumni (Guyana)
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In 1967 Justice Lampkin migrated to Canada with his wife Lorna. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ontario and called to the Bar of Ontario in 1969. He practiced with the firm of Rosenfeld Schwartz and Brown in Toronto and was admitted into partnership in 1976. In 1982 he was appointed a Justice of The Ontario Court of Justice from which he retired in 2008 on the attainment of his 75th birthday. Different & Dynamic. Bigga, Brighta, Betta!
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
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City Of Brampton Rotary Honor For Dhaman Kissoon! Well known Guyanese-Canadian Barrister, Solicitor and Philantrophist Dhaman Kissoon will be honoured by the Brampton Rotary Club at its July 13, 2017 Presidential Changeover Gala. Mr Kisson will be recognized for his “Service Above Self” at the July 13 Gala which will be held at the Mississagua Grand Banquet Hall, commencing at 7:00 pm. This Award is just the most recent on a seemingly ever growing list for Dhaman Kssoon, who’s outstanding community service and personal generosity have made him an extremely well admired and highly respected member of the GuyaneseCanadian Community. Last October, Kissoon was among a prestigious group of Guyanese-Canadians who were honoured at a Gala held in celebration of Guyana’s May 26, 2016 5oth Anniversary of Independence.
Fuh Fun Revving Up For Summer 2017
Toronto’s most dynamic Caribbean live band, the ever popular Fuh Fun, has begun revving up for its busy slate of Summer 2017 appearances. To kick off what’s now shaping up to be a full slate of events, the band will be celebrating Canada’s 150th Independence Anniversary with a July 1 appearance at Pickering’s Island Mix Restaurant & Bar (1050 Brock Rd). Fuh Fun will be live as of 9:00 at this free admission celebration. The band has also announced plans for its first time ever participation in Soca 2 Go’s Toronto Carnival 2017 Boat Cruise appearance on Friday, August 4 on board the Yankee Lady III. Boarding time is 8:00 pm sharp for the four hour boat cruise which sails from the 249 Queen’s Quay docks at 9:00 pm to return at 1:00 am. Admission is $50/per person Early Bird and $60 on the boat. Fuh Full will also of course be participating in annual appearances at its own August 6 Caribana Sunday Jam, at Markham’s Rembrandt Banquet Hall and at the Last Lap Lime the following day.
Miss Guyana World: 18 year old beauty Vena Mookram will be representing Guyana at the 2017 Miss World Pageant to be held in China later this year. Hopefully she will bring Guyana much glory at the Pageant.
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Fixing West Indies Cricket! Guyana Chronicle: June 26, 2017
It’s now been almost 22 years since the West Indies were dethroned as the champions of world cricket. An entire generation has grown up knowing and thinking of the West Indies as world beaters in a sport that holds pride of place in the cultural psyche of our society. This is in stark contrast to the previous generation, which was socialised in a Caribbean which dominated the sport for almost two decades — the longest any team has dominated a team sport. Here was the Caribbean, the smallest region in terms of land-space and the poorest in terms of economic indicators, beating the world and controlling the content of a game which was originally intended to subjugate its peoples. The West Indies cricket team of that time showed the world that when the playing field is even, our people could compete and win, despite our structural socio-economic challenges. But this very society that produced cricketers who were able to combine physical skills with nationalist consciousness has for the last two decades failed to reproduce that brilliance. Our team has fallen from grace so badly, that we now languish at the bottom of the heap in the longer formats of the game and “blow hot and cold” in the shortest version. This past year we began with a rare triple-triumph—our male Under-19 team won the World One-Day championship; our male senior team won the World T20 Championship; and our female team matched their male counterparts by winning their own world title. The Caribbean society was on a high – justifiably so. But in a matter of weeks, it all came tumbling down. The T20 captain was fired for using his victory speech to draw attention to the dire state of West Indies cricket. He has since been banished from the team. The coach was also summarily fired. Many fans agreed with the skipper’s stance, but the rulers of the game in the region thought that he had embarrassed the region. In the end, it is they who have the final say, while the rest of the society helplessly look on. The lesson here is that despite our climb to the top of the cricketing world, that success was not translated into a change in the
Mid Year Changes For Caribbean Graphic!
July 1 will mark the beginning of this year’s second half and as such is as good a time as any to implement changes that will hopefully provide new impetus, direction and ultimately better results. So for Caribbean Graphic, commencing with our first July Issue which will be out on the 12th, we will be abandoning our previous twice a month schedule in favor of a monthly production. The reduction from two to only one Issue each month, will hopefully allow us to provide our Readers with much improved content that has been assembled with far less haste. It will also offer our committed, longstanding Advertisers, the comfort of having to make only one payment for space that will be proportionately larger than that which they had received in the past. Graphic’s design and content direction will also change with its new production schedule. As is evident from the introductory changes that have already been made in this Issue, the content will be far less transient news oriented and far more inclined towards articles that are sustainable. Those of a type which can be read at leisure over any period of time. In short, we will be seeking henceforth to share much more that’s knowledge based and less of what is simply informational. Our distribution methods will also change. As most other publications have long since discovered, appreciated and adopted, digital distribution of online copies of publications is far more efficient, widespread and significantly less costly. As a Reader, with a mere tap of your computer screen’s send command, you can share copies of an article you have read with interest with any number of individuals that exist within your personal contact database. Whether
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
authoritarian structures and relations which govern our cricket and other institutions. Here in Guyana, we have a board which is unrepresentative of the country, nor is it accountable to anybody outside of itself. We have the tragedy of a small clique of governors which have been entrenched in power because there have not been any proper elections since 2009. Neither the West Indies Cricket Board nor successive Guyanese governments have mustered the courage to settle the impasse. In the meantime, Guyana’s cricket, as is the case with West Indies cricket as whole, continues to decline. Not even charges of financial improprieties during the 2007 World Cup have caused any shift in the statusquo. The crisis in the governance of cricket in the region has been a major factor in the decline in the fortunes of our team. Relations between the board and the players on the one hand and between the board and the support staff on the other hand, have deteriorated to the point where the public is frequently treated to public quarrels among the various sides. Clearly, the present leadership has failed the region and should be removed. But as we have seen in the past, a mere change of personnel has done nothing to stop the rot. But the crisis has also been exacerbated by the attitude of the top players who often place money before service to the region. In an era of boundless individualism, our cricketers have not been shy of openly showing preference for playing in the financially lucrative private leagues, rather than for the West Indies. Often, the unreasonable demand for more money coupled with the desire to play for the region only when they are off-duty from the private tournaments have been the major reasons for the clash with the board. So, we have to agree with Professor Hilary Beckles, that responsibility for our cricket problems lies with both players and administrators. The inability of both sides to acknowledge that truth is a major stumbling block. We are never going to improve if our senior players do not participate in the local and regional competitions—such participation is critical to lifting the standard of our domestic cricket. Similarly, if we do not make our boards more accountable to the people of the region by democratising their structures and practices, there will always be tension, which in turn impedes progress. these be in the tens, hundreds, thousands or in the case of some social media “junkies,” tens of thousands. Printed copies of any publication afford you no such luxury. They also require of you the associated investment of the time and travel required to go to the specific location where copies are available to secure one for yourself. With relatively limited circulation Community newspapers such as ours, more often than not, that becomes a lottery. Two hundred copies of Caribbean Graphic dropped off at any of the ultra popular Charlie’s Grocery stores, either east in Scarborough at Morningside and Sheppard or west in Mississauga at Hurontario and Dundas, will vanish in mere hours. Disappearing so quickly as to cause severe disappointment among all those who were not there early enough as to secure a copy. Within our community and among our readership, there are of course, still some printed copy diehards who remain steadfast in their avoidance of computers and other digital devices, such as smart phones. Solely for these individuals we will continue to print a limited number of copies of each Issue. We will also be exploring the implementation of specific alternative ways of guaranteeing their receipt of printed copies. Such plans will be developed over the ensuing months. In the interim, our primary, immediate, focus will be on the provision of content that is so enjoyably interesting and educational that those in receipt of online copies will want to immediately share with as many others within their contact base. If it proves itself to be stimulating enough and worth of being shared our, the effects of geometric progression will allow our Issues content to be spread far and wide,. Again, far more quickly and efficiently than printed copies could ever achieve. With some targeted topic areas, particularly in our ongoing promotion of Caribbean tourism and of opportunities for involvement and investment within the Region, our hope will actually be for our content reach to go way
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29 2017
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
GUYSUCO’S Community Outreach GEORGETOWN, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) will commence a Community Outreach programme for residents in ‘sugar -dependent communities. Community meetings will be held at the Community Centres in the villages where Estates are located, GuySuCo said in a release. The first meeting will be held at the Wales Community Centre on 29 June, 2017, and the second at the Uitvlugt Community Centre on 5 July, 2017 at 4:00 pm. The focus for discussion of these meetings will be the ‘Uitvlugt Estate Improvement Programme (UEIP)’ and other matters related to GuySuCo. On 6 July, 2017, another community meeting will be held at the Enmore Community Centre for residents in Enmore and neighbouring communities. The focus for this and subsequent meetings at Blairmont, Rose Hall, Albion and Skeldon Community Centres will be on ‘The Role of Communities in Improving Attendance on Estates for the Second Crop 2017’ as well as other GuySuCo related matters. The aim of this outreach programme is to mobilise cane harvesters, planters and cane transport operators, their families and communities around the importance of improving attendance at all estates in order to sustain the industry. According to GuySuCo the objectives are to: Create a greater awareness on the need for employees to turn out to ensure that the canes are harvested within the crop; mobilize the residents around Estates to encourage employees to improve attendance; mobilize community leaders and other stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, government, private and civil society sectors around the
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importance of improving attendance on all Estates; create a greater awareness of the importance of the sugar industry and GuySuCo to the development of Guyana and the linkages between increased attendance and greater commitment to sustaining the industry and to build greater partnerships and engage more strategically with communities and other partners around estates.
Technical, Vocational Skills Crucial For Oil Industry Jobs! GEORGETOWN, The oil-and-gas sector can develop high standard technical and vocational skills which can be transferred to other sectors, according to energy expert Anthony Paul, a Trinidad national who serves on Guyana’s Local Content Committee. According to a GINA report, Paul pointed out that there exists a myth over the types of jobs available in the oil-and-gas sector. While engineers and geologists are necessary skills in the industry, for Guyana, the job opportunities lie in technical and vocational skills. Guyana is preparing for oil production sometime in 2020, after significant oil find in 2015. Paul pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago “did well” at developing those skills with apprenticeship programmes in its oil-and-gas industry. He noted that this is a decision for the Government to make. More importantly, these skills are transferrable. In Trinidad’s case, Paul noted, the twin-island state’s oil-and-gas sector employ only about four percent of the workforce, but more than 20 per cent of T&T’s workforce is trained in some technical or vocational skill.Additionally, these skills, when transferred, can also raise the standards of the sectors in which they are used. Paul, however, cautioned that developing technical and vocational skills must not be done at the neglect of high-end skills. The Government has to be strategic in how it develops skills for the industry, Paul cautioned. Paul used Ghana as an example of how this did not work out. Over the last two years, Paul worked as an advisor to the Ghanaian Government, developing and putting regulatory systems in place for that country’s Ministry of Petroleum. “Guyana has to be careful about what training you spend your money on,” he said. The Government is cognisant of this, and has been making provision for developing both technical and high-end skills. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRE), through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has committed to spending $100 million over the next three years to boost UG’s training capacity for the oil-and-gas industry. Additionally, the MNRE has with the Mexican Petroleum Institute a partnership arrangement that includes scholarships particularly in areas of technical and vocational skills. There are also plans for a Petroleum Scientific Institute to be established locally by 2020. Anthony Paul is currently a consultant to the Ministry of Natural Resources on the development of a Local Content Policy for Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector.
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Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
Antigua Carnival Being Promoted In Trinidad ST JOHN’S, Antigua, The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA), in conjunction with the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, partnered last week in Trinidad and Tobago to launch the 60th anniversary of Antigua’s Carnival, which takes place from July 28 – August 7, 2017. Trinidad and Tobago, one of the larger Caribbean territories with a population of approximately 1.3 million people, plays host to one of the most popular international carnivals, and is world renowned for its carnival culture. Regional marketing consultant for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Charmaine Spencer, said “The aim of the Antigua Road Show was to sensitize the Trinidad public to Antigua and Barbuda as a neighbouring paradise, but also as
a Carnival and party destination, to attract the Trinidadian and Tobagonian avid party-goers, and seasoned mas players.” Following on from previous efforts of the ABTA in the Trinidad market, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation conducted media appearances on leading Trinidad radio stations, as well as local TV, inviting all to visit Antigua and Barbuda for the upcoming cricket, as well as, the 60th Carnival Anniversary, and just for vacation any time of the year. The Road Show culminated with a media cocktail launch hosted at Estate 101 in Maraval on Thursday, June 15. The cocktail launch was well attended by representatives of Caribbean Airlines who gave away a prize trip to Antigua and Barbuda.
Cockspur Brand Sold
The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of Antigua mas costumes, where guests were dazzled by the splendour of Antigua’s Carnival with a preview of carnival costumes by Antigua Mas Band, Beautiful People. A sponsored trip to Antigua’s 60th Carnival was also given away compliments of LIAT – the Caribbean Airline. This package included roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodation and tickets to all the Carnival shows. The Antigua and Barbuda delegation received a warm reception from the Trinidad public with persons wanting to get as much information as possible on all the activities taking place for the big 60th Anniversary Celebrations. The Antigua delegation also treated guests to the launch of the ABTA’s ‘Summer of 60’ Promotion, which gives travel agents and visitors alike, the opportunity to get discounted offers and specials on the Antigua and Barbuda tourism website.
CASTRIES, St.Lucia GEL Supermarkets (St Lucia) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL), has concluded an agreement to sell its majority interest in International Brand Developers N.V., owner of the Cockspur rum brand. GEL has had a long association with the Cockspur brand, dating back to the days when it sponsored the Cockspur Gold Cup Race in the early 1980s. This race and the promotion of it for 15 consecutive years, helped to propel the Cockspur rum brand to the position of market leader. Following this success, the Cockspur brand had been met with aggressive campaigns from other brands and changing market forces, and so, options were explored to grow the brand. GEL then investigated various options for the future of the brand as it determined that the spirits industry no longer fitted in with its business strategy. In terms of changes as a result of the sale, the headquarters for Cockspur will be at the WR Group’s corporate base in Woodland, St George, Barbados. Highly motivated individuals will be recruited to work with a network of distributors globally to aggressively market the brand, while local distribution for the brand will remain with Hanschell Inniss Limited, a subsidiary of GEL. The brand will continue to be produced in Barbados.
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Jamaica, Trinidad Named As Must See Destinations!
Sandals Launches St Lucia LaSource
The Caribbean has figured favourably on a recent list of 20 world-wandering experts’ favourite destinations and why they think they should not be missed. Jamaica and Trinidad featured in the collection, which was compiled for CNN by Danae Mercer and drew on the recommendations of hospitality professionals, tour operators, travel photographers, pilots, sailing aficionados, travel writers and more. Here’s what they had to say about the two Caribbean picks:
Sandals has officially launched its new resort project in St. Lucia. The company held a mid-June launch event for the new Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia, which will be the fourth Sandals Resorts International property on the island. The more than 330-suite resort gets its name from Sandals’ LaSource Grenada property, representing an expansion for the LaSource sub-brand, one of the company’s most innovative resorts. It will include over-the-water bungalows, along with Sandals’ Skypool, Rondoval and swim-up suites. Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will be located along Pigeon Island Beach, adjacent to Sandals Grande Saint Lucian. The resort, which will break ground later this year, will introduce new culinary concepts including the
Jamaica “Jamaica is such an amazing destination. There’s stunning scenery, fabulous food and an unbelievable musical history,” says Matt Vlemmiks, head of product and commercial at Elegant Resorts. Days can be spent hiking in the mountains with a Rastafarian guide who will take travellers to secret waterfalls or off to explore stunning coffee plantations, he adds.
Vlemmiks recommends staying at Strawberry Hill, where guests can see the city’s twinkling lights beyond the mountains while hearing faint reggae beats. Or head over to Goldeneye to channel James Bond. Ian Fleming used to live where the property is situated and wrote many of the Bond novels there.
Trinidad Katelyn Smith, founder of The Remote Nomad, suggests heading to Blanchisseuse Beach in Trinidad surrounded by rolling hills and lush palms. “It’s quite the drive and public transit is not an option, so travellers should make sure to rent a car or have a local driver,” she says. “The beach itself is a great spot for surfing. Across the road I’d recommend grabbing some ‘bake and shark,’ a popular local dish, along with the local brew, Carib.” Depending on the time of year, travellers might even get a glimpse of the baby sea turtles hatching, she says.
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American-inspired “Tavern,” Greek restaurant “Eros” and a noodle shop, among 10 total restaurants. Guests will have access to the three other Sandals resorts on the island. Crucially, Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will be the first Sandals property to have continuous winding river pools surrounding every room block, all with unobstructed access to the main pool. The resort will also have a rooftop infinity-edge sky pool, along with two additional pools including a 9,000-square-foot, curved-glassfronted infinity pool with a swimup bar and an adjacent fire pit lounge area. Other additions include an entertainment facility with a fourlane bowling alley, game room, living room and bar. It’s the latest in a wave of activity for the company in St. Lucia, where it recently debuted new overwater bungalows and purchased the island’s only 18-hole golf course, the Saint Lucia Golf Club.
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Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
Applying For Permanent Residency Under The “Caring For People With High Medical Needs Program” The program “Caring for People with High Medical Needs,” allows persons working in Canada, under the following job titles To apply for Permanent Residency, provided they meet all the requirements. You should have at least 24 months of full-time work experience within the four years (48 months), before you apply. Full-time work experience means at leas 30 hours per week and you should have performed most of the main duties in the NOC#s Below.
The job titles are: 1) 2) 3) 4)
Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (3012) Licensed practical nurses (3233) Nurses aides, orderlies and patient service associates Home support workers and related occupations (4412) Only Home Support workers are eligible are under NOC # 4412. Housekeepers are not eligible.
Employment Requirements: For NOC # 3012 – Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses, you must show proof that you are licensed to practise in Canada that you are registered with the appropriate regulatory body. You must also prove that you meet the employment requirements for the job – as set out in the NOC Information
Language Requirements: You will need to take the Language Test from an approved agency and meet the language requirements.
For NOC # #3012, you must meet minimum CLB 7 in either English or French for all four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
For NOC# 3233, 3413 or 4412, the minimum passmark is CLB 5 in either English or French for all four modules Your test results should not be les than two years old, when you apply. Education Requirements: You must have completed at least a one year Post-Secondary Education Certificate programme in Canada or if the Programme was completed overseas, you will need to have your education assessed by an Approved Organization in Canada. Ensure that your applications forms are completed correctly and that you have the necessary supporting documents along with the immigration fees before submitting same. Nadine Mahabeer is a weekly guest on “Immigration Mondays” on Nationwide 90FM in Jamaica – Monday mornings at 10am – streaming live on the Internet.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
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Which is better: Personal Term Life Or Mortgage Insurance? You’ve just made the biggest purchase of your life: A new home for you and your family. Bank/Mortgage insurance
Personal life insurance
The Beneficiary is the lender.
With life insurance, you can select the beneficiary.
Insurance amount decreases with your mortgage payments; but premiums stay the same.
With life insurance, your coverage and premiums remain the same for the term chosen. You can renew the term if you still needed the coverage or later convert the term for permanent insurance, no medical needed. (So choosing the right company is also important) (Medicals are sometime more important than cost.)
Insurance is Not transferable to new lender. You Life insurance is good for the term insured for, whether it is10, 20 or 30 years and you can take it with have to apply all over again at your increased you when you sell or change your mortgage, as many times as you want. age cost Payout can be used for whatever the family decide on atthat point in time based on their needs. (They can pay off the mortgage or invest the lump sum and use the interest to pay the mortgage Payout can be used only to pay off the mortgage. payment, depends on the interest rate and the amount of the lump sum received. At the end of the mortgage, they can have the home and the lump sum invested.) Cannot change policy if situation changes.
Policy can be modified as needed.
Cannot add Waiver of Premium
Can add a Waiver of Premium. (If you get sick or have a disability that last for more than 6 months, your payment can be waived after the 6 months, and the previous 6 months paid is reimbursed.
Most important, The medical underwriting is done at claim, which can become an issue
Critical Illness can be added
The medical underwriting is done upfront, once you qualify, your policy will not change, unless you change it for both CI and mortgage insurance Can get your own Critical Illness with medicals done up front and more illness covered, depends on your own personal situation and needs.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
Selling Your House? Avoid These Mistakes – Part I. Here’s some very useful advice for all those who may be thinking of selling their home which, especially if you’ve never done it before, can be surprisingly time-consuming and emotionally challenging. Strangers will come into your home and poke around in your closets and cabinets. They will criticize a place that has probably become more than just four walls and a roof to you, and then, to top it all off, they will offer you less money than you think your home is worth. With no experience and a complex, emotional transaction on your hands, it’s easy for first-time home sellers to make lots of mistakes, but with a little know-how, many of these pitfalls can be avoided altogether. Read on to find out how you can get the highest possible price for your home within a reasonable time frame—without losing your mind.
Mistake No.1: Getting Emotionally Involved Once you decide to sell your home, it can be helpful to start thinking of yourself as a businessperson and a home seller, rather than as the home’s owner. By looking at the transaction from a purely financial perspective, you’ll distance yourself from the emotional aspects of selling the property that you’ve undoubtedly created many memories in. Also, try to remember how you felt when you were shopping for that home. Most buyers will also be in an emotional state. If you can remember that you are selling not just a piece of property but also an image, a dream and a lifestyle, you’ll be more likely to put in the extra effort of staging and perhaps some minor remodeling to get top dollar for your home. These changes in appearance will not only help the sales price, but they’ll also help you create that emotional distance because the home will look less familiar.
Mistake No.2: Not Hiring an Agent Although real estate agents command a hefty commission (usually 5-6% of the sale price of your home), trying to sell your home on your own, especially if you haven’t done it before, is probably ill advised. A good agent will help you set a fair and competitive selling price for your home that will increase your odds of a quick sale.
An agent can also help take some of the high emotion out of the process by
interacting directly with potential buyers, so you don’t have to and eliminating tire kickers who only want to look at your property but have no intention of putting in an offer. An agent will also have more experience negotiating home sales than you do, potentially helping you get more money than you could on your own. Further, if any problems crop up during the process—and they commonly do - an experienced professional will be there to handle them for you. Finally, agents are familiar with all the paperwork and pitfalls involved in real estate transactions and can help make sure the process goes smoothly.
Mistake No.3: Assuming You Must Hire an On the other hand, some people do manage to sell their homes themselves. You’ll need to do your own research on recently sold properties in your area and properties currently on the market to determine an attractive selling price, keeping in mind that most home prices have an agent’s commission factored in and you may have to discount your price as a result. You’ll be responsible for your own marketing, so you’ll want to make sure to get your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in your geographic area to reach the widest possible number of buyers. Also, you’ll be the one showing the house and negotiating the sale with the buyer’s agent, which can be time-consuming, stressful and emotional for some people. If you’re forgoing an agent, consider hiring a real estate attorney to help you with the finer points of the transaction and escrow. Even with attorney’s fees, though, selling a home yourself can save you thousands. Keep in mind, however, that the buyer’s agent will expect to be compensated, so you won’t be able to save the entire commission, as you’ll need to pay 1-3% of the home’s sale price to the buyer’s agent. Source: Investopedia Amy Fontinelle
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Credit Limits and Their Effects! Here’s some information on Credit Limits that should be of value. Credit limit refers to the maximum amount of credit a financial institution extends to a client through a line of credit as well as the maximum amount a credit card company allows a borrower to spend on a single card. Lenders usually set credit limits based on information in the application of the person seeking credit.
BREAKING DOWN ‘Credit Limit’ To determine credit limits, banks, alternative lenders and credit card companies look at several pieces of information related to the borrower. They examine the borrower’s credit rating, personal income, loan repayment history and other factors. If the line of credit is backed by collateral, the lender takes into account the value of the collateral. For example, if someone takes out a home equity line of credit, the credit limit varies based on the equity in the borrower’s home.
How Do Credit Limits Work? Whether a borrower has a line of credit or a credit card, the credit limit works the same. Essentially, the borrower may spend up to the credit limit, but if he exceeds that amount, he typically faces fines or penalties in addition to his regular payment. If he has spent less than the limit, he can continue to use the card or line of credit until he reaches the limit. For example, if a borrower has a credit card with an $1,000 limit, and he spends $600, he has an additional $400 that he can spend. If he makes a $40 payment and incurs a finance charge of $6, his balance falls to $566, and he now has $434 in available credit.
Can Lenders Change Credit Limits? In most cases, lenders reserve the right to change credit limits. If a borrower pays his bills on time every month and does not max out the credit card or line of credit, the borrower is likely to increase the line of credit. In contrast, if the borrower fails to make repayments or if the lenders sees other signs of risk, the lender may opt to reduce the credit limit.
How Do Credit Limits Affect Credit Scores? On credit reports, each file in relation to a credit card or line of credit shows the credit limit of the account, the high balance and the current balance. Unfortunately, having a high credit limit and multiple lines of credit may hurt a person’s overall credit rating. In these cases, new potential lenders can see that the applicant has access to a large amount of open credit. This fact sends a red flag to the lender simply because the borrower may opt to max out his lines of credit and credit cards, overextend his debts and become unable to repay them. Because high credit limits have this potential effect on credit scores, some borrowers occasionally request creditors to lower their credit limits.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
Spring Snack On Some Pepper Shrimp! Pepper Shrimp is definitely a favorite when it comes to snacking. So here, just in time for your Spring entertainment snacking is a pepper Shrimp recipe that’s not only super easy to make, it’s also super-quick to put together. It can be enjoyed on it’s own as a snack, as a side to fried rice or stir fried noodles or on sandwiches. You can be the BOSS when it comes to how HOT you make it. Try serving this delightful dish with Indian Naan Bread or any kind of Salad.
Ingredients
1 lb medium shrimp 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/3 teaspoon salt 1 heaping tablespoon corn starch 2 scotch bonnet peppers 3 cloves garlic 3 scallions 2 cups veg oil (for frying) 2 tablespoon veg oil
Directions Peel, devein and wash the shrimp. Drain dry and coat with the black pepper, salt and corn starch. This will cook very fast, so prepare the other ingredients in advance. Finely chop the garlic, scallions and scotch bonnet peppers. Be mindful that if you include the seeds from the peppers it will increase the heat level and kindly do yourself a favor and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling such hot peppers. Heat the oil for ‘frying’ on medium/high. Since the shrimp is coated with the cornstarch they may tend to stick together. Fry for a minute or so and set aside. DON’T over cook! In a new pan heat the 2 tablespoons of veg oil on a very LOW heat and then go in with the other ingredients. We want to gently allow the flavors of the garlic, scallions and scotch bonnet to come together. Cook on low for 3-5 mins, then add the cooked shrimp and toss well to coat. Since it’s important that we don’t over-cook the shrimp, as they heat through you can take the pot off the stove. Serve warm for the best flavors.. if reheating, do so in the oven and not a microwave. You’ll be a superstar when you serve this up with some cold beers.
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Making A Case For “Middle-Aged” Health Optimization So, you are a 45-50 year-old individual. In your wisdom, you are thinking, “Yea, I”m middle-aged”. Here is a sobering thought: Who ever told you that you’d live to be 90-100 years of age? The current metrics as gathered by Stats Canada certainly does not support this assumption. Truth be told, all things remaining the same, you are less likely to live past 79. All that this opening statement serves to illustrate is a realistic, mortality check and to place your elevated feet solidly back on the ground. . In consideration of the food we consume in the typical Canadian diet, the sedentary lifestyle we choose to conduct, the socio-economic environment within which we live and the steady decline of the medical provisioning system in this country, here are some thoughtful reflections. A recent paper published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention reports that the incidents of occurrences of “old aged” disease among this segment of our population is alarming high. Heart disease, cancer, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome (Note: Metabolic Syndrome – a clustering of conditions of five (5) risk factors including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar , trunkal fat and abnormally high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides that occurs together or in any random combination, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes), inflammation and chronic pain-related conditions associated with aging and over-use are significantly above earlier predictions. You don’t have to take my word for it. Just pay your local neighborhood “Walk-In” clinic an impromptu visit. Consider those coming through the door. Make some subtle observations. They look pretty much like you and
I. 40-somethings. 50-somethings. 60-somethings and older. They breath heavily, are mobility-challenged, overweight and ashen-pallored. If not already diagnosed they are on the cusp of being so, in most or at least one of the conditions as indicated above, They are in search of an opiate for pain, sleeplessness or depression, , or some other form of pharmacology preparation for any malady of ailments as indicated. All is not lost however. We need to make a positive, purposeful and deliberate change to liberate ourselves from sickness, the possibility of the onset of sickness and ill health that prevents a full and robust return to an active lifestyle. That active lifestyle is not without some dedicated effort. A regular and frequent combination of exercise, healthy nutrition and effective rest and recovery is essential. That said, statements like these make the process sound all too easy. Its not. But appreciate that the road to a fitter, healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle is not without its bumpy sections. Rest in the thought that type 2 Diabetes is reversible. Inflammation, the main culprit for joint and body pains is reversible. Obesity is reversible. High Cholesterol and triglycerides are reversible thus, heart disease is controllable. High blood Pressure is controllable, All of this comes with a single caveat – change. Change can oftentimes, especially initially, present a challenging situation which can at times come with difficult sections but the subsequent sense of accomplishment is always worth the effort. In upcoming issues, we will be providing informative guidance and counsel on just how you can get there. Stay tuned. Aubrey Bryce is the owner of Enduro Training Systems. For the past 20 years he has been serving Toronto’s lifestyle-fitness, multisport and cycling communities. He is also Director of the Health and Wellness Clinic in association with The Regent Family Medical Clinic in Toronto. He own and operates LeCycletique and indoor Cycling Clinic in Forest Hill, Toronto.
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Jamaica’s National Stadium To Be Refurbished KINGSTON, The calls have been long and many for the refurbishing of the National Stadium in Kingston, and a major upgrade of the almost 55-year-old facility now seems set to finally come to pass. However, despite the advancement of the planning phase, a US$45.04-million budget now stands in the way of what is expected to be a minimum five-year project – once all the funds have been acquired. This aspect is likely to be covered by the Government in partnership with the private sector, as was explained by Major Desmon Brown, general manager of Independence Park, the operators of the National Stadium. Once the funds are in place, Brown pointed out that the project will be executed over four phases, to continue the accommodation of various
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events to be staged inside the popular venue at a particular time of the year. No more than 10,000 seats of the near 30,000-capacity stadium are expected to be affected during each phase of the renovation.
Volume 11 • Number 11 • June 29, 2017 .
This Season Definitely Bolt’s Last!
A lot of duels—like Pierre’s duel with a suspected lover of his wife in War and Peace— ended with a loser who was merely injured. Today, of course, we carry much deadlier weapons. So while it might soon be legal to challenge one to a duel in Canada—it’s unclear when the legislation might pass, though it’s making its way through Canada’s House of Commons—maybe keep it at that. Guns aren’t what they used to be. Source: BY ERIK SHILLING ATLAS OBSCURA JUNE 09, 20 OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt insists this “emotional” season will indeed be his last, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career which galvanised track and field at a time of doping and corruption scandals. Bolt has won eight Olympic and 11 world gold medals in his career, but importantly was the outgoing, larger-than-life personality on whom athletics administrators could rely for a positive slant, an athlete recognised globally. Asked whether he might carry on after this season, Bolt said: “No, I don’t think so! “It’s just been a great career, I’ve really enjoyed the ups and downs, all the experience I’ve gathered, all I’ve been through, the happiness and the sadness. “It’s been a wonderful career and I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do and it’s coming to an end and I’m fine with it.” Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s IAAF World Challenge meet in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava, Bolt admitted that the season was an emotional one. It started with a home swansong in Kingston before taking Ostrava, the Diamond League meet in Monaco in July and the World Athletics Championships in London. “It’s an emotional season. I’m looking forward to going out there and putting on a show for the fans for the last time because they look
forward to it,” said Bolt. “Right now personally, I’m just focused on getting through the season. I just like entertaining the crowd. I definitely want to try to enjoy every minute of it — it won’t be the same set in the stadium. “The fact that I know it’s that last time it will be emotional, just seeing it and feeling, being around people and athletes, sitting in the meal room around everybody, joking and laughing about old times, it’ll be emotional.” Bolt, 30, confirmed that he would not be competing in the 200m in London, but left the door open to a further finale being added to his programme. “For sure I won’t be running the 200m” at the worlds, he said. “People keep asking, but no.” “The fact that I know it’s that last time it will be emotional, just seeing it and feeling, being around people and athletes, sitting in the meal room around everybody, joking and laughing about old times, it’ll be emotional.” Bolt, 30, confirmed that he would not be competing in the 200m in London, but left the door open to a further finale being added to his programme. “For sure I won’t be running the 200m” at the worlds, he said. “People keep asking, but no.”
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ICC Expels USA Cricket, Is Saini’s Cricket Canada Next? The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s global governing body recently expelled the USA’s Cricket Association (USACA). After 52 years as the ICC’s member governing body in the USA, the USACA was expelled following a unanimous vote at the ICC’s board meeting during its June 22 AGM in London. The expulsion ends a turbulent tenure that included three suspensions handed down by the ICC since 2005. While USACA was able to get its affairs in order to have the first two suspensions lifted, there was no way back from its most recent reprimand in 2015. Having learnt of the USACA’s expulsion, Canada’s cricketing fans must now be wondering whether this country’s governing body, the Ranji Saini led Cricket Canada, will be next on the ICC’s housecleaning list. While Cricket Canada’s woes may pale in direct comparison to those of its counterparts across the border, there is sufficient evident to suggest that under Saini’s leadership it may be just as dysfunctional.
For starters Saini’s own re-election to the Cricket Canada Presidency has been plagued with sufficient controversy to render its validity highly questionable. Procedural objections to his election at the Cricket Canada Board’s initial AGM last March, resulted in new elections being held in early May. Having, seemingly not learnt from the lessons of the previous fiasco, the May Election was again blemished by similar procedural inadequacies that prevented some Presidential candidates, including CPLT20 President Roy Singh, from having their names appear on the ballot. Singh is now reportedly in the process of pursuing a challenge to the legitimacy of the Election results, similar to that which had been issued after the March AGM. Saini’s hold on the Presidency could therefore be under threat yet again. As if that was not enough, the Saini led Cricket Canada is also now embroiled in an ongoing legal battle with the Ontario Cricket Association in regard to the latter’s’ right to be recognized as the Province’s rightful representative in the governance
of Canadian Cricket. As the country’s largest Province and the acknowledged bred basket of active players, Ontario’s importance to the sport’s current welfare, as well as its continued growth and development, is indisputable. It therefore speaks volumes of the apparent inadequacies of Saini’s leadership that Cricket Canada instead of having the same sort of harmonious relationship with the OCA that previous Presidents, notably Capt. Jim Siew and Dr Geoff Edwards, had enjoyed, should instead find itself embroiled in such a combative mess that can only be described as dysfunctional. In his defence Saini’s supporters will perhaps hastily point to the Canadian Men’s Senior team’s recent successes in its attempts to qualify for the ICC’s 2019 World Cup, which will involve the sport’s top ten teams. His detractors will however suggest that the Team’s successes have very little to do with his actual leadership and are far more the result of the dedicated performances of the players and coaches themselves. Saini’s ever growing number of detractors will also hasten to point
out that, under his leadership over the past two years, very little has actually been achieved towards the further advancement. In contrast to the existence of any evidence of developmental progress, there have actually been a slew of missed opportunities and unfulfilled objectives. Foremost among these has been Saini’s reportedly stubborn resistance to the Caribbean Premier League’s interest in exploring the possibilities of staging matches in Canada, similar to those that have been successfully hosted in the US. Saini’s Cricket Canada has also been steadfast in its refusal to entertain the overtures made by CPLT20 President Roy Singh, for the establishment of a Canadian T20 League. Singh’s admirably ambitious plans for the construction of a state of the art for Canadian cricket have also been incredibly completely ignored by the Saini led Cricket Canada. For all these reasons and more, now that it has embarked on its house cleaning endeavors south of the border, the ICC should perhaps also turn the same attention to Canada!
Windies Squad For Remaining India One Dayers Announced The Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies today named the Windies 13-man squad for third, fourth and fifth matches of the ODI Series against India. The selection panel named two newcomers. They are Kyle Hope, a 28–year-old top-order batsman and brother of Shai Hope; and Sunil Ambris, a 24-year-old wicket-keeper/ batsman. The third and fourth matches will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Friday, June 30 and Sunday, June 2. First ball is 9 am (8 am Jamaica Time). The fifth match will be played at Sabina Park on Thursday, July 6. First ball is 9am (10am Eastern Caribbean Time). FULL SQUAD (with shirt numbers) 98. Jason Holder (captain) 99. Sunil Ambris 70. Devendra Bishoo 10. Roston Chase 41. Miguel Cummins 1. Kyle Hope
Quotes from Courtney Browne, CWI Chairman Of Selectors, on the two new players: Sunil Ambris and Kyle Hope are two very promising young batsmen who have been selected on the basis of strong performances in our competitions. Kyle opened on our last “A” Team One-Day tour to Sri Lanka and had some very good performances.
4. Shai Hope 18. Alzarri Joseph 17. Evin Lewis 93. Jason Mohammed 5. Ashley Nurse 23. Kieran Powell 52. Rovman Powe
In addition, he also had a good showing opening the batting for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force franchise in this year’s PCL competition.