Culturepulse magazine issue 22

February 2014

Issue 22

Katoucha Niane, campaigner against female circumcision Are we ready to tackle poverty?

8 Guys to avoid in your 30’s

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Shades of CarnivalSaturnalia

Culturepulse extends apologies to our

Happy Kwanzaa –

readers for being absent during the months of December and January. This unfortunately, was due to a number of factors which meant the magazine could not be produced. Our apologies to those who contributed articles relevant to those months in particular and it is unfortunate that those had to be shelved.

S. Stephen page 2 Are we ready to tackle poverty – D.Kalloo page 5 Katoucha Niane – D.Kalloo page 6 8 Guys to avoid in your 30’s –

We would like to extend our gratitude also to those who have shown their commitment to the magazine and was patient during the absence of the publication.

A.Holder page 8 Print is Alive – D.Kalloo page 11

Hopefully, such setbacks are behind us now and we can move full steam ahead and continue to keep you in touch with news and features of those in the Diaspora.

Shades of Carnival – Saturnalia page 13

A special thanks to Mas Assassin, Nichola Macdonald, Soshina Stephen, Akilah Holder, Ansel Wong and Erica WilliamsConnell for their contributions and the success of Culturepulse magazine

Security, are we at Risk? – D.Kalloo page 18

David Kalloo Culturepulse

Cover photo courtesy Google images

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Happy Kwanzaa

I found some joy in knowing then that while the UK would be celebrating Christmas in 2013,holiday parties, shopping, gift giving, getting together with family and loved ones and expanding their celebrations into the New Year of 2014 with more partying, drinking fireworks and countdowns, there would also be many families of African heritage, concerned about the materialism and consumerism associated with Christmas who would celebrate Kwanzaa as a means to remind themselves and their children of other important values.

By Soshina Stephen, Birmingham UK. 10/01/2014

In my quest to find some items to celebrate Kwanzaa this year, I stepped into a little book shop and cultural centre which I frequently visit in Perry Barr Birmingham; I found a “corner” of heritage. As I stepped through the doors of Yemanja, It felt good knowing that I did not have to celebrate Kwanzaa alone again this year. There I found information, books, pamphlets and images about kwanza, most of which I already knew and seen from my previous Kwanzaa celebrations over the past three years… I was more pleased though to have found someone with whom I could share in my celebrations. Suddenly, the realization came that I was not alone in observing and celebrating Kwanzaa, that there were others in Birmingham, so the questions began to surface.

So what is Kwanzaa and what is it all about?

Kwanzaa, which means ‘the first fruits of the harvest,’ was founded in 1966 by Dr.Maulana ‘Ron’ Karenga, then chairman of the African American Studies department at California State University at Long Beach. It is a spiritual and cultural holiday whose seven principles known as the Nguzosaba are celebrated over seven days from December 26th through to January 1st.

The purpose is to foster collectivity, responsibility and a love of family and the ancestors of unity (Umoja), selfdetermination (Kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (Ujima), cooperative economics (Ujamma), purpose (Nia), creativity (Kuumba) and faith (Imani) represent and reaffirm traditional African values.

I had always imagined that London would be the place where Kwanzaa would be in some substantial numbers celebrated and had not perceived it would be noticed anywhere else in the UK…after all I had lived here in different cities in the UK for more than 7 years and had never heard of it being celebrated or seen any advertisement or announcement either.

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Now, I have heard Kwanzaa being referred to as a “black Christmas”, or even an alternative for Christmas, both with which I strongly disagree and, I am pretty sure that is not what the creators of the celebration intended either. Although Kwanzaa is very close to Christmas, it is neither, a substitute equivalent nor alternative for Christmas. It is celebrated around the same time as it coincides with the reaping of crops and harvest celebrations in Africa, which is coincidental really.

Christmas, Eid, Diwali), it is however becoming an increasingly observed celebration and ceremony in the UK among people of African heritage. Increasing numbers of black people in Britain are choosing to make Boxing Day not just the end of a time of celebration but the beginning of a new one.

Many African communities and organisations celebrated Kwanza notably in London at the African Caribbean Cultural Centre. In Birmingham, “Yemanja” offered films and workshops and many activities and performances towards the end of the week-long celebration of Kwanzaa.

Independent initiatives also occurred in places like Nottingham where African arts were exhibited at the creative event ‘Kwanzaa-drop’ putting forward drumming, poetry, drama and songs.

From 1966 to 2013 - Is Kwanzaa still relevant today?

Kwanzaa was immediately celebrated in the years after it was established, most notably in the US where Black communities were settled in 1967 and 1968. In the 1980s and 1990s it had reached Canada, Europe and West Indian countries as well as the African continent in spite of its American origins.

Various celebrations in Brazil now echo with Kwanzaa celebrations. In short, Kwanzaa is about bringing large amounts of people together to celebrate African culture and subsequent life principles.

Therefore, it is even more relevant today than ever before. We are all connected; communities can grow globally through all kinds of networks and Kwanzaa is meant to become one of the strongest symbols of the African Diaspora and it will be relayed in other communities as Kwanzaa principles are universal.

After my realisation, I found that there are no exact figures as to the volume of celebrants to Kwanzaa in the UK and I have attempted to find surveys, figures and facts, but none are available at present compared to other famously recognised religious or otherwise celebrations (for instance

Photos courtesy Soshina Stephen

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Are we really ready to tackle poverty?

For most of us, 2013 is a forgotten year as we steer full speed ahead with 2014. A year, that promises to be better than the one bearing the unlucky number.

poverty history.’ Since the late 1970s at least 29 of 30 countries where data is available, taxes have fallen for the rich. In India the amount of billionaires has increased tenfold as is expanding slums. Whole the rich is helped by regressing tax structure, billions are living below the poverty line. In Africa, global corporations are continually exploiting people and countries to avoid taxes. The biggest culprits being China and India as the two countries vie for supremacy as the new global economic power.

Across the globe, the cries of recession seems to be a distant memory and phrases such as ‘quantity easing’ and Euro crisis seems to have taken leave, at least that is what mainstream media are feeding us with its hypodermic syringe and we are only too ready to digest what is constantly fed to us, despite our intelligence.

Basically, nothing much has altered the rich get richer and the less fortunate continue to struggle with low wages and sub-standard goods in this harsh environment called survival.

Let us not kid ourselves into thinking that poverty can be eradicated. Entire industries are built on the backs of poverty, many of which we unconsciously enjoy in our daily lives or, simply choose to ignore. However, governments, large corporations and businesses locally and internally can do their part in alleviating the squalor in which some humans are forced to exist.

A few years ago Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013, stood a frail man but with temerity in Trafalgar Square, London and urged the world “let’s make poverty history.” Today, we are no closer to making poverty history.

Seriously, do you really believe in your hearts that this imbalance would ever be rectified?

“Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by actions of human beings.” – Nelson Mandela

At the recent World Economic Forum in Switzerland a leading charity report found that 85 of the richest people in the world own as much wealth as half the world’s population highlighting the level of wealth

D.Kalloo

discrepancy and the farce that was masqueraded in Trafalgar Square to ‘make 5

Katoucha Niane Despite being sent to Mali by her father for her safety, she suffered sexual abuse and became pregnant at the age of 17. After a brief marriage to the father of her daughter Amy, Katoucha fled to Paris in the 80s.

In Paris she was inspired by a non-white face on the cover of Essence Magazine and vowed she would become ‘famous and, a big star’ an idea that was frown upon by her parents.

Jules-François Crahay of Lanvin employed her as a fitting model while Thierry Mugler promoted her to the catwalk. She regularly worked Paco Rabanne and soon replaced Mounia of Martinique as Yves Saint Laurent’s ‘ebony princess’ and often referred to as his muse.

In keeping with the spirit of paying homage to those people in the Diaspora who, in some small way, has given their services to helping those in their community or championing a cause. This month we pay homage to the Guinea born Paris fashion model, Katoucha Niane.

With a successful modelling career under her belt, working for fashion names such as Chole, Givenchy, Chanel, Franco Ferré, Dior and Christian Lacroix to name a few.

Despite her battle with drugs, alcohol and mental illness which saw her being declared unfit to care for her 3 children, Amy, Alexandre and Aiden. She quit modelling in 1994.

Katoucha was born in Conakry, the capital of former French colony of Guinea. She came from a privileged background, her father being in a senior position at university.

At the age of nine her world came crashing down when her French-educated mother had whisked her away under a false pretext that she was going to the cinema. Instead, she was taken and subjected to the horrifying ordeal of genital mutilation, unknowing to her father. Such rituals are normally carried out in filthy conditions and without the use of anaesthetics in accordance with its practice.

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Sleeping Satellite

Katoucha Niane…cont’d

During the height of the furore of the 1998 football World Cup in France Katoucha founded the campaign Katoucha Pour la Lutte Contre l’Excision. She worked diligently with KPLCE and became a campaigner against female circumcision.

Her campaign was dedicated to persuading women to give up the practice of female circumcision, also referred to as genital mutilation. Katoucha wrote in her book, Dans ma chair (In my flesh) where recounts her personal experience of circumcision, “…I will never get the incomparable pain out of my head.” She travelled to Senegal, and other countries with the aim of reeducating women who practiced the horrifying procedure of its dangers to young girls. During her travels to Senegal she had plans of establishing a home for orphans in that country.

The European Space Agency had to send an alarm call to a space craft, in January to wake it from hibernation. The Space craft named Rosetta is the European Space Agency’s comet chaser. I was put into hibernation in 2011 to conserve energy for a mission with a comet called 67P. Rosetta will deploy a Lander on the comet while it’s in a cold region of its orbit to examine the surface. The comet was first observed in 1969 and is a regular visitor to our inner solar system.

Katoucha Niane died on February 29th 2008. She lived on a houseboat on the river Seine and is thought to have fallen in on her way back from a night out. She is survived by her children, Amy Alexandre and Aiden.

Images taken by the Hubble telescope show the comet to be an irregular shape and measuring about 3km x 5km.

Katoucha Niane 1960-2008

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8 Guys to Avoid in Your 30’s

By Akilah Holder Cosmopolitan.com’s Anna Breslaw has ticked me off with her The Twentysomething (Not a Girl, Not Yet a) Woman's Guide To Life article series. Enough about the twentysomehings already! So I’m going to continue the momentum that I started some time ago with my first article 12 lifesaving tips for 30-somethings and so, continue my own guide for the crew: The Thirtysomething (Not old, but no longer 20) Woman’s Guide to Life article series. This is just the second in the series.

and her prospects dimming. Does that make any sense?

3-The younger guy who still lives at home.

In my first article, I hinted at the fact that there was nothing really wrong in dating a younger guy – and there isn’t, once he’s wise beyond his years, and more established than the typical younger guy. If he still lives at home, however, and isn’t really holding his own, you might want to rethink the relationship. Bad idea.

4-The one-night stand. You’re in your 30’s. C’mon! What can this individual add to your life?

1- Broke guys. At our age, we’re looking to settle down – some of us anyway – so you do not want to date someone who will not be able to care for you. Like my mother always says, “you want someone to ‘uplift’ you, not someone who will pull you down.” So should a broke guy approach you to ask you out, make the sign of the cross and back away! Especially the ones who are deluded and audacious enough to believe that love will pay your bills. Lie!

5-The “I think something is wrong with him psychologically and I fear he may wake up one morning ‘take me out, the children out and then himself out,’ but then maybe he won’t) kinda guy. You hold on, do you hear me? Hold on! Don’t let desperation get the better of you. If the guy looks like he is going to bring you a whole heap of grief and problems, he probably will bring you a whole heap of grief and problems. Wait until the right one comes along, do not compromise!

2-Married guys. Well, these are guys you should avoid period! But especially in your 30’s. Do not let these men, with their empty promises of leaving their wives (they never really do) ruin these years for you. I know of a friend of a friend who was so anxious to marry that she found herself in a relationship with a married man who promised her the world – she was about 31, 32 when they had met. The relationship endured for about 5 years, and at the age of 37, she was still unmarried with the 40’s fast approaching,

6-“The guy you have to convince to like you.” O.k., so this one’s Breslaw’s; but it’s useful for us 30-somethings too. At 20 you might hold on to a guy like that because you’re still insecure as you find yourself; at 30, you’re more likely to hold on to a guy like that because you’re insecure about getting old (not that you are, of course). Let it go, it’s not worth it. You’re fine the way

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8 Guys to Avoid in Your 30’s cont’d

Winner of the 2012-2013 Eric Williams ‘School Bags’ Essay Competition

you are and if he can’t see that, good riddance! Let it go.

7-“The dude with poor grammar.” This one’s also Breslaw’s, but, again, useful for us 30-somethings. You are a fairlyestablished or well-established and successful thirtysomething ‘doin’ your thing.’ Align yourself with similar male.

When you’re hanging out with your business associates or other cultured friends, you want someone who will be able to interact with them. So like Breslaw writes, “You don’t itch yourself, you scratch yourself.”

8-The “always have a new business venture, ‘oh gosh baby, invest in it fuh meh nuh, help out yuh man nuh, ah rel tryin’” kinda guy. “Rel” try and get out of my breathing space, please! Send this kind of man packin’, would you?! That kind of individual right there is a leech and would probably use your fear of getting older to cause you to keep taking care of him. I had met someone like that, and was wise enough not to let him get too close.

Safiya Moore of Bishop’s High School, Tobago – winner of the 2012-2013 Eric Williams ‘School Bags’ Essay Competition receiving her award from Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary, Hon. Orville London.

The winner will receive Airfare and a3nights double accommodation in Guyana, Airfare and 1 night double accommodation at the Trinidad Hilton. Courtesy calls on the President of Trinidad and Tobago, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a tour of Parliament. Tour of The Eric William Memorial Research Library, Archives & Museum and University of the West Indies St Augustine campus. A city tour of Port of Spain, US $1000 in educational voucher and a framed certificate.

At age 30, you’ve come a really long way and have worked too hard for some nitwit to ruin it. Keep such characters and more at bay!

Other winners in the competition include Shontol Harris, Clarendon College, Jamaica (2nd) Josh Ragbir, Naparima College, Trinidad (3rd) and Melissa Lynch, St Rose’s High School, Guyana (3rd).

The award ceremony took place on January 14, 2014 at the Tobago House of Assembly.

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Scientist confirms that the sun is good for

you!

Scientist at the University of Edinburgh

study that concluded people who sunbathed lived longer and the health benefits of the sun exposure outweighed the risk of skin cancer. Dr Weller says too “there’s no evidence showing that sunlight protection reduces death from any cause. My concern is that it might be doing the opposite.

announced recently that the myth of covering up from the sun may not be a healthy option after all. It has revealed that when the skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, a compound is released in the blood vessels that help, to lower blood pressure.

Study participants in the university’s research who skin was exposed to ultraviolet (UVA) light from tanning lamps for two 20 minute sessions. After being exposed to UV light their blood pressure dropped noticeably for one hour following the exposure. The research also found that that sunlight alters the levels of nitric oxide in the skin and blood, helping to reduce blood pressure. It found too, that vitamin D levels remained the same.

If the Danish study is anything to go by where, it was revealed that Danes with skin cancer lived 10 years longer than those without skin cancer, then we should all look forward to soaking up some sunshine with the anticipation of summer.

Dr Richard Weller, senior lecturer in Dermatology at Edinburgh University dispelled the notion vitamin D is the only factor of sunlight. He said “we need to be reconsidering our advice on sun exposure.”

Skin experts also share the sentiments of Dr Weller saying that, excessive sun exposure is critical preventing skin cancer however, not being exposed to it at all can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In the UK at least 16million people are affected by high blood pressure. According to government figures it is the leading factor of approximately 62,000 deaths from heart attack and strokes per year. The phenomenon that the sun is good for you was also highlighted in 2000 by Swedish 10

Print is still, very much alive!

With a great number of us hardly ever visiting a High Street book store, opting to download books, journals, movies and read newspapers and magazines online; it is satisfying to know that ‘print is not dead’.

Despite the rapid onslaught of digital technology and a surge in online publishing, traditional print magazines are seemingly keeping with the pace.

David Hepworth, former editorial director of EMAP magazines cited that “maybe, one of the reasons that publications such as Business Traveler and Private Eye are doing well is because they are the type of magazines that you find at travel points.

They are the type of magazines that everybody reads occasionally, often on journeys.”

While middle market publications appear to be struggling according to a recent ABC in 2013, publications such as business magazines and TV listings titles are thriving nonetheless.

A recent revamp of Reader’s Digest printed magazine have also seen significant increase in its subscription during 2012 -13 with readers in the 30 to 40 age group.

With more and more publishers embracing the electronic platform, consumers are also latching on and keeping abreast with technological advancement to access the ever evolving sphere of publishing.

Sceptics expected the death of the printed words many years ago and, although we have seen a decline in the number of print material, the medium is showing signs that it is not ready to placed under a tombstone.

Print has, without a doubt taking a battering.

However, with the advent of digital technology and print-on-demand more and more people are turning to self-publishing which benefits both mediums and reaches both groups of consumers. Those moving with the times of technology and those who still prefer to have the luxury of feeling paper between their fingers as they peruse through a page turner.

The digital age is certainly embraced by young and old alike, and it is highly impossible in this day and age to not employ the use of some form of digital technology in your everyday activity. Watching movies, reading books, magazines, games, paying bills, banking and gambling are just a small sector of our world that has been transformed to a digital platform.

I cannot, in the foreseeable future envisage the death of print. The printed word still has its place alongside the fast-paced electronic rival. It may take another century before, if so, to be confined to the archives of history.

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Shades of Carnival - Saturnalia The London Notting Hill Carnival presented a gala event Shades of Carnival – Saturnalia on Friday 13th December 2013.

The event took place at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London with special guest; H.E. Mr. Garvin Nicholas, The Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Charles William of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Secretary of Community Development and Culture, Councillor Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus from The Tobago House of Assembly along with the Cultural Director for Tobago Miss Glenda Rose Layne and the Vice-Chair for the Trinbago’s Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) Mr. Ainsley King.

Triniboi Joocie receiving her award from Kembe Phillips

Community Award...contribution to the carnival community: Sister Monica Tywang (via the Church), Muraldo D.C (Dance Company), One Voice Collective, Capoeira Canal.

The Association of British Calypsonians (ABC) Calypso/ Soca awardees: Sheldon Skeete Calypso Monarch 2013, Nikisha Reyes – Pile Groovy Soca Monarch 2013, UK Power Soca and Groovy Soca Monarch 2013, Triniboi joocie Posthumous Award: Fela Anikulapo - Kuti founder of Afro-beat music

Clary Salandy receiving her award from Dr Tsoiafatt-Angus

A number of carnivalist were honoured for their achievements and contributions in all the art forms that come together to form the engine of carnival. Those recipients are as follows:

A Nigerian representative receiving the award for Fela Kuti from H.E. Garvin Nicholas

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Monday Bands Award: United Colours of Mas, Mahogany, Paraiso School of Samba, People’s World, Beeraahaar Sweet, Sunshine International Arts, Goldstar Vision, Flamboyan Carnival Arts, Yaa Asantewaa Carnival Group.

British Association of Steel Bands (BAS) Awards: CAPCA/ BAS Junior Panorama – Ebony

Nikisha Reyes-Pile accepting her award from Ainsley King

UK National Panorama – Real Steel, J’ouvert Bomb Competition – Real Steel, Best Conventional Steel Band on the Road – Ebony, Best Traditional Steel Band on the Road - Nostalgia Steel Band

Caribbean Music Association (CMA)-Soca on the Move award (for Carnival Sunday and Monday):

London Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers: Outstanding contribution to the development of London Notting Hill Carnival:

LAGNIAPPE PA, DOKTA MYX British Association of Static Sound Systems (BASS) Lifetime Achievement Award:

Russell Henderson OBE- Steel band (first steel band players at the LNHC), Sterling Betancourt MBE – Steel band (first steel band players at the LNHC), Elma Betancourt – Masquerader (First Queen of the Bands ....in Peter Minshall’s Mas Band on the Street of Notting Hill)

LAGNIAPPE PA ,DOKTA MYX British Association of Static Sound Systems (BASS) Lifetime Achievement Award: Daddy Vego Carnival Arts and Masquerade Foundation (CAMF) Sunday Bands Award: Masquerade 2000/ MK2 –, Mahogany, Beeraahaar Sweet, Calabash Carnival Club Kinetika, Bloco Heritage Social Arts and Dance Group, Flamboyan Carnival Arts, Trinbago Carnival Club.

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Pepe Francis presenting Alexander ‘D’Great with his award

Lifetime Achievement Calypso Award presentations.... contributing to Calypso’s International recognition Orthniel Bacchus aka Tobago Crusoe, D’Alberto aka Winston Albert, Alexander Sandy Loewenthal aka Alexander D’ Great Lifetime achievement Soca Award ...contribution to Soca’s international recognition: Austin Lyons aka Super Blue The packed audience was entertained by Ainsley King who gave a rendition of Super Blue’s ‘Soca Baptist’ that had the Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea taping their feet the beat of the soca. Other performers on the night included, D’Alberto, Sheldon Skeete, Triniboi Joocie, Alexander ‘D’ Great, Muraldo D.C and Tobago Crusoe.

Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus and Debra DeGazon

In congratulating the awardees Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus said she was pleased to be “entering into the corridors of collaboration” as the LNHC forms close links with Tobago.

Mayor and Mayoress of RBK&C with H.E. Garvin Nicholas

Nikisha Reyes-Pile and Sheldon Skeete pose with their award

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Caribbean Opportunities SUBJECT: COMPETE CARIBBEAN OPPORTUNITIES

Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, London is pleased to transmit the following opportunities for your consideration:

Those who wish to participate and do not fit the above criteria may seek to collaborate with either residents or registered business entities.

1. CARIBBEAN CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRE: CALL FOR PROPOSALS UNDER THE PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANT SCHEME

Only one application will be considered from each applicant.

The Proof of Concept (POC) Grant of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC) is provided by InfoDev, a global partnership Program of the World Bank and managed by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), Trinidad & Tobago, and the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Jamaica.

Eligible Projects: Project Applications MUST fall within the focal sectors (thematic areas) supported by the CCIC: * Resource use efficiency * Water management

The proposed technologies or business models to be funded under POC must demonstrate potential positive impact to environment and community through mitigation or adaptation to identified climate challenges. The POC grants aim to facilitate product development, prototyping, testing and/or piloting of a product or service to enable the entrepreneur to prove that the idea/business model is viable in a technical and commercial sense.

* Sustainable agri-business * Solar energy * Energy efficiency Funding Amounts Available: The POC grant activities may vary greatly across entrepreneurs. This will have bearing on what is allowable under each circumstance. The critical rule however will be that any costs incurred must be reasonable and integral to delivering the POC. They may include:

In general the POC grants will normally be up to USD 25,000 but may be increased to USD 50,000 for proposals that demonstrate exceptional potential impact.

Grants are available to residents, business entities registered in the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados,

* External fees and labour costs

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* Prototype development including design, testing, and field trials.

executed by the Compete Caribbean Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) located in Barbados.

* Market testing Objectives: * Raw materials and consumables necessary to achieve proof of concept.

* Determine the extent to which the project has fulfilled, or is expected to fulfill the specific objective of “Strengthening the institutional framework and necessary capacities of BELTRAIDE to support investment attraction.”

* Equipment/software necessary to achieve proof of concept. * Costs in relation to applications for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Caribbean

* Assess the extent to which the project met the performance targets and results as established in the Project’s Results Framework, and whether the capacity of BELTRAIDE has been built as a result of the project.

* Travel, international and local, if the applicant can justify and demonstrate that these costs are directly linked to the objectives of the project.

* Assess the extent to which BELTRAIDE in its new structure may be financially sustainable and the results of the project will be sustained after the project ends.

Deadline for submission of Proposals is March 30th, 2014.

Additional documents: http://caribbeancic.org/proof-concept

* Identify any lessons learned that could be applied to strengthening of Investment Promotion Agencies in the Caribbean.

For further information regarding the opportunity listed above, please send enquiries to: bsu@cariri.com

Eligibility:

2. CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY IN BELIZE

* Undergraduate degree(s) in Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy, Statistics, International Development or other relevant field. A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field is desirable.

The Government of Belize entered into a Technical Cooperation (TC) Agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank under the Compete Caribbean Programme to refocus Belize’s Trade and Investment Development Services (BELTRAIDE) investment attraction efforts towards key sectors that will drive economic growth in the country.

* At least 5 years of experience in evaluating technical assistance or projects (preferably in Private Sector Development) financed by international financing institutions or bilateral agencies.

The value of this TC is US$325,000 and it is to be executed within 24 months and disbursed within 30 months. The project is 17

* In-depth knowledge of private sector development and preferably investment attraction * A good understanding of the Caribbean region. Previous evaluation assignments in the Caribbean would be desirable. * Professional experience or training in M&E processes of international development agencies, such as the logical framework, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and other performance monitoring tools.

Deadline for submission of applications is February 14th, 2014. Additional documents: http://www.competecaribbean.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/IDBDOCS38387068-v1-Compete_Caribbean-RGX1044-BL-CC2005-Terms_of_ReferenceFinal_Evaluation1.pdf For further information regarding the opportunity listed above, please contact The Compete Caribbean Programme, Tel: 246-627-8521, Fax: 246-629-8869 or e-mail competecaribbean@iadb.org Please feel free to circulate this information to persons in your network who you believe may be interested in these opportunities.

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Security…are we at risk?

Security in any form or measure affects us all. We all want to know that whatever we do or wherever we go our security isn’t compromised. Assurances for this can be from the humble security guard in your local supermarket, national police or the invisibility of ant terrorist and counterinsurgency agencies. We are at risk at one point or the other from a security alert.

The City of London Police works alongside the National Crime Agency with their Cyber Crime Unit and the newly appointed, Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit to combat E-Crime. The technological adaptation to combat new-age crime is evidence on how security and policing are changing, globally.

Adrian Leppard, Commissioner of City of London Police said, “We are wising up to the fact that rapid advances in technology are creating, both substantial and increased threat” to security and the methods of policing in modern times.

Post analysis of the Kenyan terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya is a perfect example of how sudden you can become a victim in the breakdown of security. The incident in Nairobi had almost every anti terrorist agency across the globe scrambling their networks, not only in an attempt to ascertain and provide counter intelligence to its African counterparts. But also to examine closer to home, what subsequent threats might be imminent in the wake of the Kenyan tragedy. According to security experts “the Westgate attack was almost certain to happen given the Kenyan’s involvement in Somalia and the war against Al-Shebaab.” Scenes of such attacks with the loss of innocent lives have become familiar around the world in the hotbed of terrorism.

Both domestic and international security remains prevalent in tackling terrorism at all levels. The ever-evolving requirements of security is no longer attributed to the ‘watchman’ mentality but that of having a convergence of technology, business acumen and collaboration to successfully counter terrorism and criminal intent. Dr Alison Wakefield senior lecturer at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth emphasizes this point when she says “organizations will need to harness a more diverse range of skill sets…security practitioners’ face increasing

Cyber-crime and the threat of terrorist activity are areas that security and policing are constantly paying substantial attention to. Law enforcement agencies across the globe be it developed or underdeveloped is investing in Cyber Crime units to tackle the ever-increasing figures in cyber-criminal activity.

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competition from younger and potentially better educated candidates who come from ‘sister’ discipline such as information security or business continuity.”

This aside, the security and welfare of every citizen is the concern of the law enforcement agency of its respective country. When this level of commitment breaks down security in essence falls apart and criminal intent thrives. An example of this is currently evident in Trinidad and Tobago where the citizens of that country have lost faith in the law agency, the result evident in the current homicide figures.

Global economic pressures are also having a knock on effect on security and policing.

Governments, corporations and professional security agencies are forced to review expenditure in light of economic circumstances across the board, in many instances lending to compromise in some areas of security.

The Metropolitan Police in an effort to claw back the confidence of the people have thrown its support behind ‘Project Griffin’ a project aimed at enlisting the help and support of individuals or groups from across all communities. Assistant Commissioner Dick is an advocate for ‘Project Griffin’ and its liaison with all parts of the community, including businesses.

This demonstrates clearly that, security and policing isn’t just down to law enforcement agencies alone. We all play a modest part and form part of a teamwork of people that are collectively responsible in preventing any risk to security.

In the UK the Metropolitan Police have been force to review its expenditure resulting in the closure of a number of key police stations across the city and urban environs.

The move has caused concern for many who believes that such a measure can have detrimental consequences to visible policing.

The most senior female police officer in the Metropolitan Police, Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick said, “Law enforcement is increasingly reliant on people in the community.” In recent times the Metropolitan Police have lost a great deal of support from the community at large in the wake of its strategies and in the wake of the shooting to death of Mark Duggan that sparked a domino effect of rioting in London.

David Kalloo

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