Different & Dynamic. Bigga, Brighta, Betta! Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018 • Website: www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca
Tel: 647-669-9320 • Fax: 416-292-2943 • Email: graphiclyn@gmail.com
Universe Boss Chris Gayle Toronto Bound! Caribbean T20 Icons Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy and Sunil Narine along with their fellow international stars Lasith Malinga, Steve Smith, Chris Lynn and David Miller lead the field of cricket talent that will headline Global T20 Canada (www.GT20.ca), a new professional league in the Twenty20 format that was unveiled at its May 24 Official Launch. Known worldwide as the 'Universe Boss.” Gayle is one of the T20 format's most exciting players. Along with the players, Cricket Canada and Mercuri Canada, revealed the mark, teams and venue for the league, the first to be fully staged in North America and set to run from June 28 to July 15. Global T20 Canada will consist of six teams, five representing Canadian cities – Edmonton Royals, Montreal Tigers, Toronto Nationals, Vancouver Knights and Winnipeg Hawks – with a sixth, Cricket West Indies representative team, consisting entirely of players from the Caribbean, as part of an official partnership with Cricket West Indies. Teams will be stocked with players through a draft that will take place on June 1st. Four roster spots will be set aside for Canadians reflecting
organizers' plan to leverage the league to develop future Canadian talent that will lead the men's national team to success in international competitions, in both the Twenty20 and Test formats. The league will comprise 22 matches culminating in playoffs and the championship match on July 15. All contests will take place at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, a cricket-specific facility just north of Toronto that will be expanded to a capacity of 7,000 seats. As the newest international league in the format, Global T20 Canada joins a growing list of competitions in India, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean. Driven by the success of Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash, the Twenty20 format has exploded in popularity with its pageantry, colour, pop culture elements, and shorter match duration. Mercuri Canada, which signed a 25-year deal with Cricket Canada to manage and operate the league, plans to grow and develop the league to one day rival its global counterparts. League broadcast partners, the broadcast schedule and ticket information will be announced in the coming days.
Mia Mottley Sworn In As Barbados' First Ever Female Prime Minister! Mere hours after her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) secured a crushing victory over the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in the country's general election, party leader Mia Mottley has been sworn in as the island's first female Prime Minister. Following a victory, which was historic, both for her party and the country, Mottley took the oath of office before Governor General Dame Sandra Mason at Government House shortly after noon on Friday May 25. The result represents the first time in Barbados' electoral history that a single party has secured all of the 30 seats up for grabs in the House of Assembly, unseating the DLP headed by Freundel Stuart one of the country's longest-serving governments. While delivering her victory speech at the BLP's headquarters, Mottley said the win was a victory for the Barbadian people, who have endured a difficult time due to the country's economic predicament. Mottley also told the jubilant crowd that it wasn't a time for gloating and called on all citizens to join forces and help rebuild the country. “There should be no time for gloating. We are all one people. We are Barbadians. We will need many hands to help make light work. We will rebuild Barbados together,” Mottley said. “We have to get to the task immediately.” “I am deeply conscious that with the absence of an official opposition in the House of Assembly we will have to evolve institutional arrangements to be able to allow Barbadians to have a greater say in the governance of this country. All ideas must contend before the government takes a decision,” she added. “There is no way that there will be a mistrust of the absolute mandate that you have given us the people of the BLP. We will be your servants at all times.”
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
St Lucia Host Greenhouse Tomato Production Workshop CASTRIES, St Lucia — The Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia, in cooperation with the ministry of agriculture, recently hosted a greenhouse tomato production workshop. More than 54 local farmers and extension officers attended the event. At the event, Tim Shiao, Taiwan expert, taught local farmers the expertise in greenhouse farming, including skillful pruning, disease and pest control. He explained that greenhouse management needs more techniques than outdoor crops, especially as the higher humidity, temperature and lush green foliage create conditions that enable certain diseases and insects to thrive. Farmers have to focus more on house ventilation management and pest control. Mario Cheng, head of Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia, encouraged local farmers to start a greenhouse tomato business and emphasized that tomatoes are easy to grow and more profitable than other greenhouse crops. He also noted that greenhouse planting can extend the production period and increase
farmer's net income. The greenhouse tomato production workshop is part of the ongoing fruit and vegetable demonstration and extension project jointly undertaken by Taiwan and Saint Lucia. To date, the project had implemented 600 field technical advisory services, provided 20,000 seedlings, and trained over 2,000 farmers, steadily fulfilling its goal of improving local farmers' competitiveness and revenue. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Ri Ri's PM Choice BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Two days ahead of elections in her homeland, Barbadian superstar Rihanna had given some insight into who she's rooting for. She expressed her support for political leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley, in reply to a post by her friend Leandra Goodridge on Instagram. On May 22 Mottley took over Bajantube for the day, ahead of the May 24 general elections, and Goodridge reposted a video of her, with the caption: “Watching my next prime minister all day on @bajantube stories!!!” About an hour and a half later, Rihanna commented: “Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss she
deserves it!!!!!” Her post had created a buzz, a n d M o t t l e y, whose BLP was seeking to unseat the incumbent Democratic Labour Party, made a short video which she posted on Instagram, thanking the superstar for the endorsement of sorts, before doubling back to thank Goodridge for the love she had shown as well.
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
30 Member Cabinet For Barbados Newly installed Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced a 30-member Cabinet, including two ambassadoriallevel advisors. These are former Deputy Prime Minister Dame Billie Miller, who is to be appointed Ambassador at Large and Plenipotentiary, and economist Dr Clyde Mascoll, who is to be appointed as Chief Economic Counsellor in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment headed by Mottley. In making the announcement, the Prime Minister said Dame Billie and Mascoll would attend Cabinet as necessary, given the task that is required to get Barbados out of its “perilous” economic state. In addition to the key finance and economic affairs portfolios, the Prime Minister will also have responsibility for national security. Her roles will be part of an enlarged Cabinet team, which also includes a new Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy to be headed by development specialist Kirk Humphrey; and a Ministry of the Creative Economy under the direction of entertainer John King, who will also take charge of the culture and sports portfolios. There is also a People's Empowerment and Elders Affairs Ministry, headed by Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde, as part of the new-look Cabinet, which has ten more members than the previous Freundel Stuart-led administration. The full team was sworn in on Sunday May 27.. The Prime Minister also announced a total of 12 new senators, with Barbados Labour Party (BLP) elder Sir Richard Cheltenham heading the list. He is to be appointed President of the Senate while another BLP stalwart and former Cabinet Minister Rudolph Cappy Greenidge is due to be appointed his deputy. Prime Minister Mottley also revealed some key appointments to be made to the Parliament once it is convened. These include successful St Michael Central candidate Arthur Holder to the position of Speaker of the House; Member of Parliament for St George North Gline Clarke as his deputy and Member of Parliament for St Philip North, Dr Sonia Browne as Chairman of Committees. Rounding off the appointments by the new Prime Minister, who took the oath of office before Governor General Dame Sandra Mason on following her party's overwhelming victory at the polls in which it claimed all 30 seats at stake, are those of ex-diplomat Jessica Odle-Baril as Mottley's Personal Aide and Pat Parris, the former executive assistant to the Leader of the Opposition, as Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister. Mottley is also to finalize by May 28 the appointment of a Director of
Communications and Social Media to fill the traditional role of Press Secretary in the Government. She also served notice that some “czars” would soon be appointed in mission critical areas. The Following is the full Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Mottley: Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment – Mia Mottley Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs – Dale Marshall Minister of Education, Technological & Vocational Training and Leader of Government Business – Santia Bradshaw Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development – George Payne Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Leader of Government Business in the Senate – Senator Dr Jerome Walcott Minister of International Business and Industry – Ronald Toppin Minister of Environment and National Beautification – Trevor Prescod Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs – Cynthia Forde Minister of Tourism and International Transport – Kerrie Symmonds Minister of Transport Works and Maintenance – Dr William Duguid Minister of Health and Wellness – Jeffrey Bostic Minister of Home Affairs – Edmund Hinkson Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce – Dwight Sutherland Minister of Energy and Water Resources – Wilfred Abrahams Minister in the Ministry of Finance – Ryan Straughn Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment – Marsha Caddle Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade – Sandra Husbands Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations – Colin Jordan Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development – Charles Griffith Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment – Adrian Forde Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy – Kirk Humphrey Minister of Agriculture and Food Security – Indar Weir Minister in the Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance – Peter Phillips Minister of the Creative Economy, Culture and Sports – John King Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology – Senator Kay McConney Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs- Senator Lucille Moe Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Technological & Vocational Training – Senator Dr Rommel Springer
Grenada Hosts Agriculture Boot Camp ST GEORGE'S, Grenada — Thirty young people from Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique participated in a threeday boot camp, designed to position them to be pioneers in climate-smart agriculture. The youth participants, who were between the ages of 18 and 35 years old, are the newest cohort in the Caribbean Development Bank's Vybzing Youth Outreach Programme, which is being held under the theme, “Climate Action Today = Food for Tomorrow.” The workshop ran from May 23 and until May 25 in St George's, Grenada. A team from the University of the West Indies' Centre for Food Security and
Entrepreneurship facilitated the boot camp. Since 2002, more than 800 young people from across the Bank's borrowing member countries have participated in the Vybzing Youth Outreach Programme. Themes addressed in the fora include information communication technologies for development, citizen security, creative entrepreneurship, regional economic development, and road safety. The programme, part of the agenda for the annual meeting of the bank's board of governors, aims to inspire participants to take action to build a better Caribbean.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
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Lauryn Hill. Patti Labelle To Headline 2018 St Kitts Music Festival All route should lead to St Kitts this coming June month end for the island's hosting of its 2018 St Kitts Music Festival. Lauryn Hill and Patti Labelle will be the featured mainstream performers at this year's Festival which the scenic Caribbean isle will host from June 27 to July 1. Spice, Destra, Kes will be among the featured Caribbean based performers on the Festival's June 28-30 Music Concert nights. Spice, Destra and Kes will all appear on Thursday, June 28, while Lauryn Hill and Patti Labelle will be featured on the Saturday, June 30 entertainment package. The Friday June 29 performance will include those by Sizzla Kilonji, August Alsina, Dejour and Byron Messia. The full list of performers is available on the Festival's website: https://stkittsmusicfestival.net Since its 1996 inauguration many of the most talented and celebrated artistes, of all genres, have graced the St Kitts Music Festival's stage. In so doing they have delivered world class performances that gratify the cravings of thousands of fans who make the journey from the United States, Canada, Europe and closer to home in the Caribbean. After two decades, the event is now the top music festival in the entire Caribbean, blending Soul, Soca, Jazz, R&B, Calypso, Meringue, Zouk, Cadence, Dancehall, Reggae, Gospel and Blues, into a potpourri of musical delights. At the St. Kitts Music Festival, there is music for everyone. The St Kitts Music Festival offers a whole lot more than just music. It is a party of unimaginable island experience. It provides an annual opportunity for bringing
Kittitians together with visitors to explore the rainforest, discover the pristine marine underworld of the stunning beaches that mark the landscape, engage in the finest Caribbean cuisine, all night parties and to soak up the pleasures of life in a tropical paradise. The St Kitts Music Festival has earned the reputation for being the most diversified music show in the Caribbean. Since the birth of the festival, the crème de la crème have made their mark by delivering exhilarating performances. The Festival's impressive roster during the past two decades has included such world famous entertainers as Lionel Richie, Fantasia, Kenny Rogers, Dionne Warrick, Michael Bolton, Hugh Masekala, Brian McKnight, Shaggy, Chaka Khan, Kool & The Gang, O'Jays, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, Percy Sledge, The Manhattans and Freddie Jackson, as well as some iconic Caribbean performers: Mighty Arrow, Sparrow, Destra, Buju Banton, Machel Montano & Xtatik, Rupee, Stalin, David Rudder, Barrington Levy, Lady Saw, and Sean Paul.
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Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
Memories Of Ruddermania! TONY MCWATT
Known fondly as “ King David,” Soca's reigning monarch, David Rudder celebrated his 65th birthday on May 6th.That was in fact just four days after his fellow Trinidadian and Caribbean royalty icon: “The Prince of Port-Of-Spain”, Brian Charles Lara had marked his 49th. Those two celebrations, occurring as closely as they did, caused me to think back with joy to another occasion when the two icons, Rudder and Lara, were performing at their respective bests on the same day at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG). The year was 1994; the occasion the West IndiesEngland 5th Test Match; the circumstances: Lara en route to breaking Gary Sobers' thirty-six year record of 365 as Test cricket's highest individual score; David Rudder present in the front row of the ARG's Double Decker Stand What happened on day two of that Test was so superbly magical that it will always be counted amongst my most treasured memories. At the stroke of lunch, when Lara had already notched the second of the three hundreds he would eventually score in the innings and was brilliantly well on his way to the third, a huge thunderstorm passed over
and the rain started to fall as if there was no tomorrow. The resumption of play was delayed for more than an hour, but in that time frame, as a means of easing the frustrations of the buoyant Double Decker Stand fans, David Rudder instructed Chickie, the resident deejay, to play only the tracks of his greatest hits. He, Rudder, then started singing above the tracks in an impromptu live performance that will undoubtedly rank as one of the most enjoyable all those who were in the Double Decker Stand that day would ever have experienced at any time in their respective pasts or futures. Having been one of those so fortunate to have been present to savor the experience, I can attest to the immovable impression it created on myself and others. Among those present with me, as part of our own Double Decker Lower Stand Back Row Posse, were the annual Pilgrims to West Indies Test matches hosted at the ARG. These included the Jamaican gang led by former West Indies CEO Chris Dehring and his main sidekick Gregory Maine, then LIAT pilots Christopher Cameron and Jan Griffith, my Antiguan host and good friend Foster Derrick and other members of his family and a bunch of other regulars whose names have long since been forgotten. Rudder's impromptu performance was so captivating and electrifying
that everyone in the entire stand was on their feet dancing and singing along to his renditions of Bahia Girl, The Hammer, Madness and the undisputable favorite, given Lara's batting exploits, “Dust In Dey Face!” When the rain eventually stopped and play was resumed there was almost, briefly, a feeling of sadness that the magical musical interlude had come to an end. The presence of that sadness didn't last for long however, as on the field Lara was quickly back to his majestic best. Stroking one boundary after another as he marched towards 300 plus by the day's close of play. If ever there was a performance by David Rudder that captured his essence, as one of the greatest artistes the Caribbean has ever produced, that was it! The ability to seize the opportunity to freely share his unique talents to a captive and appreciative audience. There was another memorable occasion, again in Antigua, when I was fortunate enough to witness first hand his grassroots, no airs or graces, Caribbean personality. He'd been hired as the feature performer for yet another outdoor Antigua Test Match season event. The stage upon which he was performing was only partially covered, but sufficiently so as to allow full shelter for himself and the band. There was however, absolutely no such shelter for
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the front of stage attendees who were jam packed on the “dancefloor,” as Rudder began his performance. Needless to say the rain began to fall and in typical Caribbean fashion all man Jack were sent scattering to find whatever cover they could. Faced with an almost instantaneously vanished audience, Rudder strode out from under the stage shelter, stood in the pouring rain and continued to perform, as he enquired of his audience. “Alyuh frighten lil rain?” Within moments, all those who had previously sought shelter were back out in the rain, adhering fully to Rudder's gloriously set example. Then followed arguably one of the best rain concerts likely ever performed in the Caribbean. That's the man that is David Rudder and the personality that has made him become beloved by hundreds of thousands of his subjects throughout the Caribbean and beyond. To witness David Rudder performing at his best is to fully experience the ultimate in audience captivation. King David will be celebrating his 65th Birthday at a special Rudder 6.5 concert on June 9 at the Sony Performing Center. For all lovers of the very best in Caribbean music, it's an occasion that shouldn't be missed!
Tony McWatt Selwyn Baboolal, Chef Phillip Hendricks, Dr. George Traitses, Mala Rambharose, Rudy Lochan, Sanjay Patel, Cherry Khan Oumarally and Baboolal Haroon Gafur Julie Rambali, infiniteLinx.ca
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
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Guyanese-Canadian Tourism Council Visit Guyana Tourism Awareness Supplement
US Reaffirms Guyana's Sovereignty In an unequivocal rejection of Venezuela's ongoing territorial claim on Guyana's Essequibo region, the United States on Friday, in a message to mark the 52nd independence anniversary of Guyana, reaffirmed the US recognition of Guyana's sovereignty over the Essequibo, which was settled by arbitration in 1899. In his message to Guyana, recently confirmed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (so recent that there is no official department picture), said, “We wish the people of Guyana, from the Corentyne to the Pakaraimas, from the Takutu to the Amakura, and across the entire 'Land of Many Waters', a happy Independence Day celebration with peace and prosperity throughout the year to come.” The message was clear and blunt because “Takutu, Pakaraimas and Amakura” are all in the Essequibo. It is an explicit message to Caracas that the US recognizes Guyana's sovereignty over the Essequibo. The message continued, “Today, we celebrate our strong connections. We look forward to advancing prosperity by helping Guyana develop its emerging oil sector in partnership with US business. We underscore our commitment to partnership via the Caribbean 2020 strategy.” And it comes as no surprise that Pompeo issued such a firm statement because the US giant, ExxonMobil, has been awarded a lucrative oil deal after it discovered mega oil fields off Guyana's Atlantic coast. At the same time, Guyana has openly admitted that the oil deal with ExxonMobil will ward off future Venezuela violation of Guyana's sovereignty and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's planned adventurism. According to industry sources, US protection of Guyana's sovereignty was a condition of ExxonMobil's billion-dollar investment in the offshore oil
exploration and development. Nevertheless, there is likely to be little appetite in the US for an armed confrontation with Venezuela, notwithstanding the ongoing bellicose rhetoric from President Donald Trump, and the political risks of an undeclared proxy jungle war in the region are also likely to be unpalatable. Guyana may find therefore that it could be relying on empty promises of US assistance. Meanwhile, Guyana is fully aware that the US has been an ally of past dictatorships in Caracas. History has shown that the next government that comes to office in Venezuela, ally or not of the US, will raise the Essequibo issue against Guyana and especially for domestic consumption. However, based on its turbulent history of US interference in its internal affairs and anti- colonialism, the current government in Guyana knows well that Washington can't always be trusted. Maduro in and out of office will not change Venezuela's behaviour and Guyanese diplomats have been saying this frequently.
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Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
St Joseph's Alumni Blue & White Affair Spring Dance The St Joseph's High (Toronto) Alumni will be hosting its Annual Spring Dance on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the West Rouge Community Centre, 270 Rouge Hill Drive, Scarborough. Dubbed as the “Blue & White Affair,” the dance will feature live
music by Fuh Fun and deejay sounds by TeeCee. Tickets for the Cash Bar evening, which gets under way at 7:00 pm and will run until 1:00 am, are $25/per person. At the Association's April 29 Annual General Meeting, the following persons were elected to serve as executives for the 2018/2019 Financial year: Gillian Williams – President; Nadine Bahadur – Vice President; Valerie Dye – Secretary; Chandra Lake – Assistant Secretary/Communications Director; Penny Jaundoo – Tresurer; Carol Abdool – Assistant Treasurer; Joy Khan, Regina Cheong, Anne Bhagwan and Orissa Washington – Directors. The St Joseph's Alumni will be hosting its Triennial International Reunion 2018 from July 8 – 14, in Georgetown, Guyana, This year's Reunion will be the third to be held in Guyana.
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Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 7
David Rudder's 6.5 Milestone Celebration Saturday June 9 is the date and Toronto's Sony Centre for the Performing Arts will be the venue for David Rudder's 6.5, milestone celebration of his 65th birthday. Rudder, who turned 65 on May 6th, has chosen to share this birthday with his audience. He performed at a May 6th Concert in Trinidad and was also presented with a symbolic “Key To The City” by the Mayor of Port-Of-Spain, the twin island's capital. Call him a griot, a storyteller, a sweet calypsonian. singer songwriter David Michael Rudder has created music that is a unique blend of calypso, pop, jazz, and blues that transcends the boundaries of culture, ethnicity, genre, language and geography. Heavily influenced by the Shango rhythms of his childhood, Rudder's lyrics have captured the essence of what it means to be Trinidadian, Tobagonian, Caribbean, human. His music has gone beyond its roots in the carnival circuit of Trinidad, to major music festivals around the world, movie and television soundtracks, performing arts centres and university lecture halls. His call to “Rally Round the West Indies” became a unifying anthem for not only the West Indies cricket team, but the region as a whole. Over the course of his career David Rudder has released over twenty albums and performed in major venues across the Caribbean, North and South America,
Europe, Africa, Japan and India. In 1996, he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and in 2015, Rudder was honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the University of the West Indies (UWI) for his body of work and contribution to Caribbean culture. RUDDER 6.5 is more than a birthday party. It is a celebration of a career that spans five decades, and a milestone in the life of an artist who has shared the art form of calypso with the world…a man who is, quite simply, a living legend.
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Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
2018 Culture Bridge Festival Returns Outdoor To Riverwalk The 2018 Culture Bridge festival
of India
…… features The
will be returning to its traditional
Living Room Kutcheri, Aditya
venue at the City of Newmarket
Matkar - 2018 Panorama Junior
Riverwalk Commons. The highly
Indian Idol, Bhangra Crew
popular annual Festival offers it
Ontario …
patrons the opportunity to
July 15th (1-8pm): An artistic
experience their neighbour's
exposition of dances and music
culture right in their own
from severalWorld Cultures
community – no passport needed.
including First Nation, Asian,
Culture Bridge Festival (CBF), a
Caribbean, Mediterranean, Latin
Celebration of Cultural Diversity,
American, an African drumming
plans a variety of social
circle, and 2016 Grammy
experiences for everyone,
nominee (Reggae) - Jason Lindo.
children through to grandparents,
CBF is honoured to host
that will bring them out of their
“ Te r r i t o r i a l Ta l e s ” a n
homes and into the community to
illuminating short play to
sing, dance and eat together in
recapture the spirit - written and
Newmarket (and East
created by three diverse young
Gwillimbury).
writers under the mentorship of
“The celebration of culturally
Canadian Stage. And more …
diverse music and artforms
Please note: A pre-festival
provides a platform for greater
Community Fun Fair takes place
understanding among neighbours and communities. It helps
on June 20 (5 - 7:30pm) at Phoebe Gilman Public School,
to accentuate similarities among people, about the common
145 Harvest Hills Blvd., East Gwillimbury - an exciting
things that make people feel happy,” says Ranji Singh, CEO
presentation of music and dances (and food) – the public is
– Culture Bridge Initiatives.
invited.
Be entertained by the various World artistic and cultural
About Culture Bridge Initiatives, Connecting Communities
contributions, to the vibrant Canadian mosaic. Revel in the
Connecting People: CBI is a registered Canadian charity
exciting, inviting intercultural exchange of songs, dances,
working towards its vision of Caring Neighbourhoods
magicians, food vendors, food trucks (come hungry), a
Enriched Through Celebrations of Cultural Diversity in
marketplace, workshops and a Kidzone, along with a huge
Communities. Culture Bridge Festival is produced by CBI.
splash pad for the little ones.
Culture Bridge Initiatives received a $440,000 Grow grant
Admission is FREE. A non-perishable food donation will be
from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2015, to help
appreciated in support of our annual FOOD DRIVE
with the costs involved with hosting community
supporting the Newmarket Food Pantry.
celebrations. OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario
The following is the calendar of events:
and one of Canada's largest granting foundations. With a
LOCATION: Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan
budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some
Drive, Newmarket
1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant
July 14 (4-8pm): Sounds of India: A delightful and colourful
Ontario communities. www.otf.ca
presentation of dances and music reflecting various regions
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
www.CaribbeanGraphic.ca • Page 9
Your Favourite Caribbean Brews Are Now Available At More Beer Stores!
In response to growing consumer demand, Carib Brewery has made a significant investment in listings for its popular Caribbean brands In Beer Stores across Ontario. Carib Lager (bottles & cans), Stag Lager and Mackeson Stout are therefore now available in more cities and in more Beer stores than ever before, so Beer and Stout lovers could find these brews closer to home. Carib bottles and Mackeson are also available in selected LCBO stores. FIND CARIB BOTTLES & MACKESON AT YOUR LOCAL LCBO, AT:
FIND CARIB BOTTLES & CANS, STAG AND MACKESON AT YOUR LOCAL BEER STORE, AT:
www.lcbosearch.com
www.thebeerstore.ca
Note: Carib cans would be on sale from May 28, 2018 Stay connected on Instagram: @therealcarib @stagcanada @mackesontriplexcanada
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
Crave 2018 Beckons Now in it's 6th straight year, Canada Day long weekend Sunday July 1st 2018, CRAVE The Event, Toronto's Premiere Food & Drinks Inclusive returns. This official summer kickoff event will be guaranteed bigger vibes, plenty delicious food and more drinks! The Crave 2018 Venue will be the same as last year, the luxuriously attractive Scott Parc Event Centre, 2839 Rutherford Road, Vaughan (free on-site parking). As always Crave serves only top shelf alcohol brands and flavourful gourmet menus. Early bird tickets are
available at cravetheevent.com. Ticket prices will go up! Organize your crews so as to not miss out on these vibez. For 2018 Crave will be celebrating #northovereverything with a suggested dress code of red and white. The Shuttle Bus Pool will also again be on offer. Crave takes the safety of its patrons very seriously. As such buses available to everyone at various pick up spots around the GTA, so Cravers can park, ride & drink responsibility for only $15 per person return. To reserve your spot, simply email us at info@cravetheevent.com. DATE AND TIME Sun, 1 July 2018 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT LOCATION Ascott Parc Event Centre 2839 Rutherford Road Vaughan, ON L4K 2N7 TICKETS $120/PERSON All Inclusive REFUND POLICY No Refunds
Do you want to help your family members migrate to Canada, but don’t know where to start?
Nadine is a weekly guest on “Immigration Mondays” on Nationwide 90FM in Jamaica Monday mornings at 10am - streaming live on the Internet.
Facebook: Nadine Mahabeer www.cdnintl.com
Please note that we go by appointments only.
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
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Spice Man Alan Sheppard Toronto Bound! Spice and Co. lead Singer, Alan Sheppard will be in Toronto for four solo appearances during the June 28 – July 4th Period. Sheppard will be appearing at Tropical Nights' Patio on June 28 and also at the Holiday Inn Downtown on June 29, at the Queen Victoria Pub in June 30th and finally on July 4 at the Ajax Resto Lounge. A seasoned international artiste, Alan Sheppard has performed in New York, Toronto, Miami, Colombia and throughout the Caribbean. With his own unique sound he performs hits of the 70's, 80's as well of those of today, in a high energy show. Alan is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter who has worked d such record labels as Warner Brothers, Sony and Walt Disney. In addition to his outstanding solo career he is also famously known as the lead singer of Spice and Company, one of the most dynamic bands the Caribbean has ever produced. Spice and Company was founded in 1976 by four young teenagers born in Barbados, three of whom Alan Sheppard, Dean Straker and Roger Foster went on to compose, arrange and produce a catalogue of hit songs in the Caribbean between 1982 and 1995. Spice & Company toured Canada extensively from 1986 to 1994 gaining massive popularity on the college and university circuit resulting in them being awarded the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities Award for top recording act in 1988. Shortly after, the group was awarded the Caribbean Band of the Year in 1989 at the Sunshine Awards in Miami. After numerous hits including the Disney classic "In De Congaline", Spice & Company disbanded in 1995 at the zenith of their career for personal differences. In 2010 after a fifteen-year hiatus, they came together to produce one of the most talked about shows ever seen in Barbados at the Globe DriveIn to a crowd of 8,000 Barbadians spanning three generations of all colours and classes. As the relationship between the members rekindled, the band has performed during the last 5 years on rare and selective occasions, also making International appearances albeit for short tours only.
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
GUYALICIOUS
Some Cou Cou & Flying Fish In Honour Of In Honour Of PM Mia! Mia Mottley's historic Elections victory to become Barbados' first ever Barbados' first ever female Prime Minister, we though we should feature the island's national dish as this Issue's “Cariblicious” recipe. No better way to celebrate Bajan history than with some good Cou Cou and Flying Fish! Ingredients Cou-Cou: Ÿ 2 cups water Ÿ 10 small okra, finely sliced Ÿ 1/4 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped Ÿ 1 teaspoon salt Ÿ 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce Ÿ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Ÿ 1/2 pound fine cornmeal Flying Fish: Ÿ 8 Flying Fish (about 1 1/2 pounds), scaled, boned, and butterflied Ÿ 3 tablespoons Bajan seasoning (also called green seasoning) Ÿ Lime juice, as needed Ÿ Salt, as needed Ÿ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Ÿ 2 large onions, sliced Ÿ 3 cloves garlic, sliced Ÿ 1 stalk celery, diced Ÿ 1 bay leaf Ÿ 2 tablespoons catsup Ÿ 1/2 teaspoon curry powder Ÿ 1/2 teaspoon mustard Ÿ 1 teaspoon sugar Ÿ 1 cup water or fish stock Ÿ 1/4 green bell pepper, sliced Ÿ 1/4 yellow bell pepper, sliced Ÿ 1/4 red bell pepper, sliced Ÿ 2 large tomatoes, chopped Ÿ 2 tablespoons mixed chopped herbs, like dill,
chives, parsley, and thyme Ÿ 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce Directions Make the Cou-Cou: Combine the water, okra, red pepper, salt, and hot sauce in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until very thick. Transfer half of the okra mixture to a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to the okra mixture in the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low. While stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon, sprinkle in the cornmeal a little at a time, and cook until thick. Add the remaining okra mixture and 2 tablespoons butter and stir until smooth. Cover to keep warm. Make the Flying Fish: Rub the flesh side of the fish with the Bajan seasoning and lime juice, and season with the salt, to taste. Roll each fish up tightly and secure with a toothpick. Heat the butter in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and bay leaf and cook, stirring, until soft. Add the catsup, curry, mustard, and sugar and stir. Add the water, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer. Arrange the rolled fish in the skillet and cover with the bell peppers, tomato, herbs, and hot sauce. Cover and simmer until the fish is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, to taste. Divide the cou-cou among the plates, make a well in each, and spoon the fish and sauce over the top.
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Programme (MPNP) - Skilled Worker Overseas Category
Canadian Immigration allows the Provinces to nominate immigrants who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute economically to that Province or Territory. Each Province/Territory has their own set of Criterions and the Candidate may be selected from the Express Entry Pool, depending on the options the Candidate has selected in their Profile. We will take a look at the Manitoba Programme – Skilled Worker Overseas Category. Anyone applying under this Stream must show that they have an established connection to Manitoba (Manitoba Support) – either through the support of family members or friends, previous education or Work Experience in the Province or through an Invitation to Apply received from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative. Manitoba Support – A Manitoba Supporter is a family member of friend, who is a resident of the Province for at least a year and is willing and able to endorse the applicant's plan to settle and find employment in their community. Manitoba Experience – this means that you have lived in the Province as a Temporary Foreign Worker or as an International
Student. You must also show that you have received sufficient points f o r l a n g u a g e , employability, education, age and adaptability – based on the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Programme SelfAssessment Workshop. E x p l o r a t o r y Vi s i t s Eligibility criteria to participate in visits include: Ÿ Applicants should be between ages 21 – 45 Ÿ Can show that you do not have a stronger connection to another Province ŸCan demonstrate employability and adaptability required Ÿ Have completed at least a one-year post-secondary education or training diploma/degree or certificate programme Ÿ Have at least two years full-time work experience, within the last five years Ÿ Have at least a CLB 5 in each Category on your English Test Results It is important to review the criterions for the various programmes before submitting your profile. Most programmes require English Test Results and Assessment of your education, if your Tertiary Level Education was not completed in Canada. 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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Buy or rent?
It's the question many are asking in today's real estate market. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT CANADA'S HOUSING MARKET in the news – record home sales and steadily rising prices. In fact, house prices in Canada's biggest cities more than doubled from June 2005 to April 2017. As year-over-year growth rates reached over 14 per cent in July 20171, some Canadians were rethinking home ownership and embracing the lower cost and flexibility of renting.2 Making the decision When it comes to deciding whether to rent or buy, the housing market isn't the only factor to consider. Your age, cash flow, location, job, family situation and lifestyle can all affect your decision. For example, couples who have young children (or are planning to) might want to put down roots in a family-friendly neighbourhood. Frequent travellers might prefer renting a small apartment in a big city. There is no right or wrong decision. What's right for you depends on your personal preferences and financial situation. The pride of home ownership For many Canadians, there's something fundamentally more satisfying about paying for your own home instead of paying a landlord. If you are thinking of buying, you might want to consider the following points: More up-front costs When you purchase, not only are you required to come up with a sizable down payment, you must also pay legal fees and land transfer taxes. And owning a condominium or strata home means a monthly maintenance fee on top of mortgage and property tax payments. A nest egg Mortgage payments can almost be considered a form of forced savings. When you purchase a home, you are essentially building a nest egg. With each mortgage payment and passing year, you are building equity – if your home increases in value.3 Tax saving opportunities Homeowners are eligible for tax deductions or credits. The home buyer's amount allows new homeowners (who have not owned a home within four years) to claim a non-refundable tax credit of up to $750. Those who rent out part of their home or run a homebased business can deduct some expenses, including mortgage costs, utilities, property tax and insurance. If your principal residence is a new build – and costs less than $450,000 – you may be able to claim the GST/HST
new housing rebate. Plus, under the Home Buyers' Plan, first-time home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 tax-free from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to help buy or build a home.4 More control Homeowners have more control over their property and don't have to deal with the vagaries of landlords, such as neglecting repairs or unexpectedly selling their rental unit. But that control comes with greater responsibilities – homeowners must manage (and pay for) maintenance, from the shingles on the roof to the furnace in the basement. Even condo owners who pay a monthly maintenance fee may still have to pay for repairs beyond more common maintenance items like landscaping and roofing. Renting may not be for everyone, but if you have a particular lifestyle or want to save money, it might be worth considering. Fewer costs Renters pay only first and last month's rent and possibly a security deposit, which can free up cash for travel, a car or retirement savings. Compare that to purchasing a house, which generally costs more than a rental unit,5 and includes those expensive up-front costs. Maintaining a rental unit (from the building itself to appliance repairs) is usually the responsibility of the owner. But beware: renters are also at the mercy of their landlords, who may not have a sense of urgency. More mobility Renting can free you up to possibilities – to travel, to move more easily for a job or to make a life change. Usually it is easier and quicker to move out of a rental unit than to sell a home. Less risk Renters don't have the forced savings of mortgage payments, nor will they have that equity nest egg at the end of their rental. But careful investing could see renters further ahead, particularly if there's a real estate correction.6 Seek advice A house is the single largest purchase most Canadians will ever make and should never be an impulse buy. It makes sense to consult an advisor at the beginning of your house hunt, before making a decision. Whether you want to rent or buy, an advisor will help you calculate costs based on your situation and help you fully understand your options. Isa Rahamat is a Financial Advisor with Manulife Securities Inc. - This content is provided courtesy of Solutions from Manulife. © 2017 Manulife. The persons and situations depicted are fictional and their resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This media is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial, tax, legal, accounting or other advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. Many of the issues discussed will vary by province. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals to ensure that any action taken with respect to this information is appropriate to their specific situation. E & O E. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the contractholder and may increase or decrease in value. Manulife, the Block Design, the Four Cubes Design, and Strong Reliable Trustworthy Forward-thinking are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license. 2017
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CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC
Condo Complications: The Issues Behind Ownership Rudy LOCHAN
The following Investopedia should be of value to those contemplating Condominium ownership. Lots of factors to be considered. If you have never bought a condominium, you may be surprised at all of the different issues to consider. Buying a condo is not the same as buying a house. Not only could you have adjoining walls with your neighbors, as well as other physical elements that are different from a freestanding home, the entire process that you need to go through to make your decision and obtain a loan may also differ. Who Should Own a Condo? One of the first things you need to ask yourself is: Are you the condo type? What exactly does that mean? Being a city-dweller, for one. Many condos are located in the urban setting. In real estate, the phrase "location, location, location" means a lot. Condos are springing up in many urban downtowns, and some are even building items of convenience right into the development, including grocery stores, bank branches and o t h e r b u s i n e s s e s . Wi t h t h a t convenience may come more noise and congestion. If you are thinking about a certain location, check it out at different times of the day and night to see how loud or brightly lit it is. If noise or light is an issue for you, this may not be the right choice. One of the things that come with condo ownership is the Homeowners Association (HOA). It sets out a declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that lists things that you, as the condo owner, must comply with in order to live there. Should you not comply with these conditions, you could be fined, forced to comply or even sued. Condos may be a suitable choice for a certain type of person, like a first-time homeowner who cannot afford a more expensive single family home. Condos also offer the advantage of low maintenance. This can be an attractive feature to older folks who are looking for less of a home to physically manage. Condos can also be an attractive choice for the person who wants to be centrally located in a big city. Loan Issues Purchasing a condo may be more difficult than purchasing a house. Lenders are very careful when giving out loans for this type of residence. They usually require that a certain percentage of the units have people living in them, or are, as they call it, "owner occupied." Another restriction may be how many condos are allowed to be owned by one investor. Usually, lenders do not want one person to own
more than 10% of the units in a building. Many times, lenders will also have regulations relating to the building's occupancy rate. Some lenders require at least 90% of the units to be sold in order to offer financing. Lenders may also have tougher loanto-value ratios and restrictions for those buying condos. A loan to value (LTV) is how much the condo is worth versus how much is owed on it. For example, if you put 20% down on a home, your LTV would be 80%.. Other Costs There may be other costs involved with owning a condo. Even though the HOA offers insurance, you may need to carry additional homeowners' coverage as well. Carefully read all documentation, to be sure that the insurance offered by the HOA doesn't shift risk to you to maintain lower premiums. Avoiding Condos with Problems One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself when buying a condo is to research the HOA and sit in on a HOA meeting. As well, talk to the neighbors to see if they are happy with how the condo is managed. Review the bylaws to determine what is covered by the HOA. You can also ask to obtain the minutes from recent board/member meetings, and find out how much the HOA dues have increased in the past few years. Another area to research is the board's litigation history, both for taxes and other general issues. You may find that there are lawsuits involved that you may not want to become part of, should you purchase. Some condo associations have been forced into bankruptcy for unpaid HOA dues. Should they fall behind on receiving dues, lenders may also stop offering financing on the units, which could affect resale values. Review financial records for delinquencies and reserve funds. A good association should have at least 25% of gross income in reserve for emergencies and repairs. If they run out of money, you may get hit with an assessment. Also, be sure to check out recent property tax assessments. If your condo sale price is low, but the tax assessment is high, you may be in store for a higher tax bill than you have anticipated. Be sure that taxes are in line with true values of the property. The Bottom Line Condominiums can be a good investment for the right buyer in the right location when times are tough, though they can be harder to buy and sell than a detached house. Before purchasing a condo, be sure to do your due diligence and check out the HOA, CC&Rs and any tax and insurance situations. Also, be sure to get a real estate agent and a loan officer that has a lot of condo sales experience, as the issues surrounding such a purchase are not as simple as those with a traditional single-family home Source: Investopedia
Volume 12 • Number 05 • May 24, 2018
Pain Or Pleasure? Robin SINGH
When you first meet with a new prospect, how do you position your product or service? How do you characterize its various features, functions, and advantages? Which elements do you emphasize as having the strongest potential appeal to the prospect? It's difficult to determine which aspect of your product or service will hold the most meaning for the prospect until you understand the prospect's motivation for the potential purchase. Once you've discovered that, you'll be able to position your product or service as a best-fit from the prospect's perspective. So, what motivates people to buy? There's been a lot written on the topic. The prevalent theory is that people buy to either gain pleasure…or avoid pain. Broadly speaking, that's absolutely correct. In fact, psychologists suggest that those are the two reasons that drive people to take any action. This raises an interesting question. Which should you as a salesperson emphasize – the possibility of gaining pleasure, or the possibility of avoiding pain? TWO SIDES OF THE COIN Consider this: Jorge, the VP of Production at a manufacturing company, has been wrestling with a production line problem for some time, and he has been unable to solve it. The problem is hindering production and negatively impacting profits. The pressure from Jill, his CFO, is causing Jorge considerable worry which results in many sleepless nights. That's pain, right? Jorge engages Dylan, a process engineering consultant, to help him s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m . Wi t h t h e consultant's analysis, input, and recommendations, he is able to solve the problem and bring production and profits back to desired levels. The pain is gone. No more pressure from the CFO, and no more sleepless nights. Jorge now feels relieved, and he experiences an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. “Relief,” “sense of accomplishment,” and “satisfaction”—wouldn't those feelings be characterized as pleasure? So, was Jorge's motivation to hire that consultant driven by the desire to eliminate pain or to gain pleasure? The answer is… “Yes.” It could be either. Think of pain and pleasure as opposite sides of the same coin. One side represents the situation from a negative (or pain) perspective and the other side represents the situation from a positive (or pleasure) perspective. And here is the most important thing to remember: the
prospect – not you! -- gets to choose which side faces up. EFFECTIVE QUESTIONING MAKES THE DIFFERENCE How do you determine which side the prospect has chosen? By asking appropriate questions…and listening carefully to the language of the prospect's answer, you'll be able to get an idea of what the priorities are. Once you do, you'll know whether to position your product or service as something that will help the prospect move away from an undesirable situation (pain) … or help the prospect move toward a desirable situation (pleasure). Questions to help you make that determination might include · “I'm curious. What precipitated your interest in (___your product or service___)? · “What specifically are you hoping I can do for you? · “What would the most ideal outcome be?” Notice the difference between these two answers to the “What precipitated your interest…?” question: · Response A: “I'm getting a lot of heat from our CFO to fix the assembly line bottlenecks which have not only thrown our production numbers off, but also driven up our maintenance costs…both of which, he continually reminds me, are eating into our bottom line.” And... · Response B: “My goal for the next 60 days…and my commitment to our CFO…is to get our production numbers up by 10%—back to where they were in the first quarter of the year—and at the same time, smooth out the fluctuations in production throughput, and reduce maintenance costs.” Both answers describe the assembly line production situation…but from different sides of the coin. One frames the situation from the perspective of t h e p r o b l e m t o be solved; the other frames it from the perspective of the goals to be achieved. There's a subtle difference between the two positions. However, by recognizing which side of the coin is facing up and then framing the presentation of your product or service from that perspective (thereby matching the prospect's motivation), you can gain the kind of advantage that often makes the difference between making the sale…and not making the sale. In Jorge's situation, Dylan, the consultant, heard Response A … and chose to emphasize the dynamic of moving away from the undesirable situation of Jill putting pressure on Jorge. It worked … and led to a winwin solution!