Closer Than You Think 042413

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VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 6 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH 2013

CARIBBEAN NEWS, EVENTS, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE & MORE

CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

JAMAICAN PROPERTY Make your dream of owning Jamaican property a reality EMILY SINGH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

TORONTO -- Have you ever dreamt of owning your own home on the beautiful island of Jamaica? Properties in Jamaica are one of the most sought after in the Caribbean because of its pristine beaches and warm hospitality. Now you can acquire you own property with the help of the Jamaica National Building Society. The Jamaica National Building Society or JNBS has maintained its core values of integrity, respect and superior ethical standards over the years. It has also proven to be dedicated to making their customers dreams of owning Ja-

maican property come true. The opportunities and benefits are endless, as a JNBS customer you receive free pre approvals and rapid processing on home loans.

The first step to owning your own Jamaican property is obtaining a loan through the JNBS. Firstly, you will be assigned to your very own personal Mobile Mortgage Officer who will assist you throughout this process. Next, your Mobile Mortgage Officer will sit you down for a pre-interview where you will become familiar with the various

mortgage financing options, and decide which one best suits you. The pre approval process is simple and convenient in determining exactly how much money you can borrow; just provide your income and monthly contributions.

The last and final step is to review your checklist of required documents provided following your pre approval and begin filling out the loan application form.

Once you have been approved you will then begin the legal process and be that much closer to the home of your dreams!

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Jamaican property ownership a reality Emily Singh TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- The Preferred Lender Programme is a beneficial route to take for customers who finance their homes with developers. Some of the benefits include: No processing fees, a graduated mortgage payment plan up to 5 years and access to in-house attorneys to prepare mortgage

documents at a reduced rate: 0.5% discount on valuation fees. Also included is exclusive membership to the Jamaica National Show Your Card and Save program in partnership with over 250 merchants across the island.

Simply present your card and receive discounts on home furnishing and appliances for your new dream home.

Now is the perfect time to make an investment in purchasing your very own piece of beautiful Jamaica with the help of Jamaica National. Join them on Thursday April 25th from 6:30 pm until 10 at the Courtyard Brampton Marriott for a free Jamaican Real Estate and Mortgage Seminar.

Let the Jamaica National Building Society help make your dream of owning Jamaican property a reality.

Q-Trex International - New larger location with the same quality of service and princing Cindy Ramkumar TC Reporter

Sharyn, born in Trinidad and raised in Brampton, ON - Sharyn has been involved in modelling for the past 4 years, modeling for some of the top Caribana Mas Bands as well as other charitable and competitive modelling events.

This beautiful, athletic young lady enjoys the outdoors and is studying to become an elementary school teacher.

MISSISSAUGA -- Q-Trex is definitely a company intent on shipping to the Caribbean, India and Africa with more competitive prices, packages, and state of the art technology and warehouses. Q-Trex has recently moved to a larger and newer warehouse. President of Q-Trex International, Hardat Lachmansingh, confirmed the move, elaborated and emphasised that their services and specials remain the same. “Customers need not worry. Having a larger warehouse doesn’t necessarily mean

price increases and the quality of service remains unchanged” according to Hardat.

Hardat has a specific vision for his company, allowing them to grow tremendously over the past years. The company has adopted the initiative of assisting charities by providing free shipping of its cargo to the Caribbean. As long as there is extra space on its ships, Q-Trex will ship free of charge, any cargo that charities need to send to the Caribbean.

Q-Trex has opened a state of the art warehouse in Guyana, with custom guards and cashiers, which makes for easy and corruption free shipping to Guyana. Q-Trex also offers 21 sailing days to Guyana and provides free drop-off of empty barrels to consumers in the GTA. Q-Trex also ships to other Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados to name a few.

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After PP emergency talks in Phillipine Warner walks TRINIDAD (TG) -- In the face of mounting public pressure, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced Sunday night that she had accepted National Security Minister Jack Warner’s offer of resignation and has appointed Minister Emmanuel George as his replacement.

Her announcement came after a near five-hour emergency Cabinet meeting at her Phillipine residence, which was attended by Warner.

At 7.30 pm, Persad-Bissessar emerged from the meeting, which began at 2 pm, and issued a brief statement to the media on hand.

“I just wish to say that I have accepted the resignation of Jack Warner as Minister of National Security,” she told reporters, who had camped out outside her home all day after learning of the emergency talks she planned for her party.

“I have advised his Excellency Mr (Anthony) Carmona to appoint Senator Emmanuel George as Minister of National Se-

curity and to add to the portfolio of Minister (Dr Suruj) Rambachan, in addition to his portfolio, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure,” she said.

This announcement came two days after a damning Concacaf report, prepared

by Barbadian Sir David Simmons, revealed alleged incidences of fraud and misappropriation of funds under Warner’s tenure as Concacaf president.

Sunday, Persad-Bissessar told reporters she was now only waiting to sign the document rescinding Warner’s appointment and approving George’s appointment.

Asked if accepting Warner’s resignation was difficult, Persad-Bissessar said: “All decisions are difficult.”

Warner, the MP for Chaguanas West, is also the United National Congress chairman.

Persad-Bissessar said, however, that his post at the UNC is “not a post that I can take away from Mr Warner.”

In explaining her choice for Na-

tional Security Minister, the PM said George was a “competent minister” who has “experience” and “long years of service in the Public Service.”

“He understands the working of government from being a public servant as a permanent secretary and as a minister,” she said.

Sunday, Warner arrived at the emergency meeting at 3 pm carrying a white folder.

At 3.15 pm, Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar, COP chairman Carolyn-Seepersad Bachan and COP minister Dr Lincoln Douglas left the conference room and chatted briefly before they left in separate vehicles.

They did not stop to acknowledge journalists waiting outside the Prime Minister’s gates.

Warner was seen walking in and out of the conference room at different intervals, as Persad-Bissessar and members of the Cabinet held discussions. He was also seen

sitting outside with his head propped in his hand and wore a long face for most of the time he was there. Several of his Cabinet and party colleagues were also seen offering him support at intervals.

At 4.25 pm, Warner went into the room and emerged an hour later with somber look.

After he entered his Prado, two of his security officers mounted the running board of the heavily-tinted van and bodily blocked photographers and cameramen from getting photos of Warner inside his vehicle.

The former minister, usually one to field media questions, also did not acknowledge the media as he vehicle cruised past on its way out.

The T&T Guardian understands Warner subsequently headed into Port-ofSpain where he immediately cleared his desk at the ministry.

Efforts to contact Warner Sunday night were unsuccessful as calls to his cellphone went unanswered.

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Grace Kennedy wants to expand to three Caribbean countries GUYANA (DW) -- The Grace Kennedy Financial Group plans to expand its banking and insurance operations to the rest of the Caribbean but much depend on regulatory approval by the Bank of Guyana, a top official said Saturday night.

“It’s difficult to give a time-frame because of the regulatory issues but if we get approval, I would say within the first twelve months of having gotten approval, we’ll be ready to go,” Group Chief Executive Officer, Don G. Wehby told reporters.

He said “very” preliminary discussions are being held with the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Lawrence Williams about the requirements for opening a branch of First Global Bank. First Global hopes to offer small business loans in United States dollars at competitive rates.

Grace Kennedy’s Divisional Director for Financial Services, Courtney Campbell is spearheading due diligence in Guy-

ana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados where the company has offered banking and insurance services.

Already a big player, along with Western Union, in the money transfer service, Grace Kennedy hopes to offer mobile money services; a facility Wehby said would require a custodian bank in keeping with international best practice.

Wehbly said he was not daunted by the slide of the world price of gold to US$1,405 per ounce but rather he was upbeat about Guyana’s economic performance. “To be honest, when you look at the Guyanese economy is probably the star of the show.”

Guyana’s economy grew by 4.8 percent in 2012 and was projected to be 5.3 percent this year.

He banks his forecast partly on the building of a highway from Lethem to Linden.

Grace Kennedy also intends to ex-

plore ways of tapping into Guyana’s rich agriculture potential but said the key was reducing the cost of electicity.

The Chief Executive Officer of Grace Kennedy’s Financial Group, Mr Campbell added that while First Global Bank was eager to begin operations here, the bank could explore other options.

“There may be other opportunities to offer banking services to Guyanese business and the government of Guyana and the Bank of Guyana have a framework to facilitate that,” he added.

Portland Holdings and the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica are eyeing the establishment of services here on their own or in partnership with a local financial institution.

Grace Kennedy is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Guyana.

Warner did best thing, says PNM TRINIDAD (TG) -- “He’s done the best thing he could have done in T&T’s interest.”

That was PNM deputy leader Marlene McDonald’s response Sunday to news the Prime Minister had accepted Jack Warner’s resignation.

MSJ leader David Abdulah said: “Given the evidence, there was little option but to resign. But although he’s no longer in Cabinet, he’s not the only one who’s manifested bad governance and therefore the issues continue.”

Last night, Warner immediately went to the National Security Ministry in Port-of-Spain, packed up his things and removed them, aides said.

Former journalist Francis Joseph, who was Warner’s ministerial adviser, remains with the ministry, it was confirmed.

It is uncertain, however, if Joseph

will remain with incoming National Security Minister Emmanuel George.

Meanwhile, Warner’s UNC Chaguanas West constituency has attacked the Congress of the People (COP) for its calls on Saturday for Warner to resign.

The unit, standing in support of Warner, called for the immediate dismissal of COP leader Prakash Ramadhar from PP. The UNC Chaguanas West’s statement added: “For a minority leader as Ramadhar, who could barely muster 3,000 votes nationally for COP leadership, to call on Jack Warner, who attracted more than 12000 votes, to resign, has to be the biggest political joke of the year.”

The unit claimed Warner had helped Ramadhar’s own constituents, who “cannot see him.”

The statement added: “If anyone

must go, it’s Ramadhar. He brings no value in comparison to our MP and offers no relief to the people he was elected to serve. We, the constituents of Chaguanas West, will not remain silent. We will never stand still while COP attempts to destroy our MP.” The unit said Ramadhar’s press release was “rude and disrespectful and is a clear indication that not only has the leadership of the COP declared war against our MP, but also against the 19,000 constituents who voted for him.”

Failure to withdraw the COP’s statement in the press release, the unit stated: “Chaguanas West will never be a zone of comfort or peace for COP and their divisive leadership.”

After news of Warner’s resignation broke, Chaguanas West members were reported to be crying and distressed last night.

Delayed Guyana-Venezuela rice deal puts farmers in cash woes GUYANA (DW) -- Thousands of cashstrapped farmers are in limbo because Guyana and Venezuela are yet to sign a new agreement for sale of paddy and rice at lucrative prices, officials said Sunday.

Junior Agriculture Minister, Ali Baksh and General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj said they hoped that President Donald Ramotar and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett were able to finalise arrangements for the signing of a new rice trade agreement with the Spanishspeaking nation.

“We hope that probably time would have been available for them to have an idea of what took place,” Baksh told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) shortly after meeting with a group of rice farmers at Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast.

He was hopeful that in another two weeks a Guyanese delegation would travel to Caracas to sign the new annual agreement Ramotar and Rodrigues-Birkett, who were in Venezuela last week for the inauguration of newly-elected President, Nicolas Maduro, were expected to hold talks with

their counterparts about when they would be ready to ink the deal.

Venezuela pays US$640 per ton for rice and a little over US$500 per ton for paddy. Guyana hopes to sell at least 200,000 tons of rice and paddy to Venezuela this year.

Signing of a successor agreement to the one that expired last December was delayed by President Hugo Chavez’s illness and subsequent death as well as fresh elections and his swearing in last week.

“The entire country has been affected by Venezuela because we have not bee exporting to Venezuela and the cashflow is very slow,” said the RPA’s General Secretary.

Seeraj said slow cash-flow from Venezuela has also compounded problems mainly for rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast who have been battling paddy bug infestation. He explained that the dry weather has seen the pest migrating to rice lands where they have been sucking the young paddy.

Farmers complained that they are in deep financial troubles because many of them have been paid as low as GUY$1,200

per bag of paddy. In some cases they owe the banks huge sums of cash.

But the RPA General Secretary, who is also a government parliamentarian, said that his organisation hoped to tap into GUY$500 million in the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget this year to bring temporary relief to highly indebted and low-earning farmers until sales to Venezuela resume.

General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh said forms would be circulated to affected farmers and their accounts matched with receipts from the millers before government doles out assistance.

Commercial banks, officials said, might be lobbied to give the defaulting rice farmers additional time to repay their debts.

Farmers believed that a pesticide was weak and ineffective in exterminating the pest, but Singh cautioned that those supplies might have been a poor quality version that has been illegally imported. One farmer was adamant that the the recommended and legally imported pesticide was used but several days after bugs that he had captured and kept in a bottle had been alive.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

More success for Guinea Hen Weed JAMAICA (JO) -- You’ve no doubt heard about the Guinea Hen Weed and its potential for curing certain types of cancer, including those of the prostate, brain, breast, skin, lung and bladder.

But that’s only half the story. The weed, which grows wild in Jamaica, is also proving to be effective against degenerative diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, according to the scientist driving the research, Dr Lawrence Williams, a consultant at the Scientific Research Council (SRC).

Williams isolated a compound from the plant, called dibenzyl trisulphide (DTS), which he said is more potent than the other forms in which the weed exists on the market.

He currently has a group of about 40 people using the compound — as well as a liqueur made from soaking the leaves of the plant in wine — in local trials, and said that the formulation was proving to be “very effective”.

“I isolated a pure compound — the DTS — which is far more powerful than the capsules made from the guinea hen weed.

When DTS is absorbed through the intestine walls and binds to the albumin, the anti-cancer properties go up 2,500-fold,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Albumin is a protein in the blood which transports hormones and fatty acids, regulates acidity levels, among other things.

“It’s very effective against prostate and breast cancer,” Dr Williams said.

Outside of that, however, Dr Williams said that DTS had implications for diseases associated with ageing.

“The key breakthrough is that DTS can reprogramme the thymus. We think it is going to change the face of medicine,” he told the Sunday Observer in a recent interview. “It could be a broad spectrum cure for disease,” he added.

The thymus is an organ in the chest which produces T-lymphocytes — a group of white blood cells which are critical in the adaptive immune system.

Perhaps the best news is that the DTS formulation zeros in on cancer cells and does not attack healthy cells, unlike other forms of treatment, like chemotherapy. “Research showed further that the compounds in anamu (the South American name for Guinea Hen Weed) were able to differentiate between normal cells and cancer cells, killing only the cancerous cells. In addition, other substances in the herb stimulate the body’s natural defences,” according to excerpts from a scientific paper on the wall in Dr Williams’ lab.

“DTS is not toxic to normal cells, but any cell in the body that is pathological it

will destroy, so it is selective mode of action that the DTS has when it is isolated from the Guinea Hen Weed,” he stated.

“It doesn’t seem to be toxic, which means there are no side effects,” the scientist continued.

Williams, who is credited with developing the Bovine Serum Albumin assay — which replaces the use of animals in laboratory testing, and which was instrumental in developing the DTS — is now seeking to raise US$20 million for clinical trials and is partnering with an American scientist to that end.

“Within four to six months after the clinical trials are over, we will have the compound readily available on the market,” Williams said. “In six months DTS will destroy melanoma, lymphoma and will restore bone marrow function,” he added.

German professor of chemistry at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart Dr Wolfgang Kraus, who supervised Williams during his post doctoral research in Germany between 2001 and 2003, said that both developments are very promising, but was cautious in declaring them breakthroughs.

“The work Dr Lawrence started more than 10 years ago as the first Jamaican fellow of the Av Humboldt Foundation (two sequential fellowships, very rare case) and has continued very successfully up to now is promising to meet the target as application in medicine.

But there will be still a long way to go because extensive and expensive large-scale tests have to be carried out,” he said.

“The results of these tests will tell us whether the BSA assay and DTS are really groundbreaking. I am optimistic (that they will be). But this will not be tomorrow,” he stressed.

Asked whether he thought the work had the potential for a Nobel Prize, Dr Kraus said “the academic community may decide some day about international recognition”.

For his part, Dr Williams has already won a few international recognitions and awards for his contribution to the field of science. Among them are a nomination for a Nobel Prize (2001), the United Cultural Convention’s International Peace Prize (2003), Jamaica’s Silver Musgrave Medal (2011), and a nomination for the American Biographical Institute’s Man of the Year designation (2010).

The Musgrave medal citation said that the award, granted by the Institute of Jamaica, was for “innovative research on the isolation of chemical compounds that have pesticidal actions and medicinal properties”.

Dr Williams, meanwhile, disclosed that his discovery of the DTS was by-the-way.

“We were looking at pesticide values and logically ran into it,” he said.

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Opposition displays dictatorial, anti-democratic tendencies by assaulting freedom of the press-AG GUYANA (GC) -- On Friday during the sitting of the National Assembly for the continuation of deliberations of the estimates of the 2013 national budget, the combined Opposition flexed its muscles by reducing the budgets for the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) to $1 each.

Again, the Opposition is saying to the Guyanese people they are not entitled to information in respect of what is being done for them and they are not entitled to view important programming.

“More significantly however, by cutting the budgetary allocations to these news agencies the Opposition is once again displaying its inherent dictatorial and antidemocratic tendencies by assaulting freedom of the press and the constitutional right and freedom of the Guyanese[people] to receive information,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall said.

He noted that the PNC did the same thing during their dictatorial reign.

“They murdered and jailed journalists, they banned importation of news script, they monopolised the press, they tolerated no dissenting views – today with their limited power in the Opposition they continue their attack on the press,” he added.

Nandlall stressed that while they

remain critical of the government for liberalising the air waves in relation to radio licences – paradoxically and illogically they continue to demand air time on NCN and press coverage from GINA, but they cut the budgets of these agencies to $1 - in other words they have completely shut down entities yet they want coverage from them.

He assumed that as consideration of the estimates continues that the cutting and slashing will continue. Nevertheless, the PPP/C administration will continue to work to improve the people’s living standards everywhere and will also continue to provide support in any way possible through initiatives such as subsidies for water and electricity rates for pensioners, school uniform assistance and feeding programmes.

“The PPP/C administration will never abandon our people while the APNU and AFC have betrayed our people. We will stand with our people,” the Minister emphasised.

With regard to the shock of the cuts to the said agencies in 2012, the minister explained that fortunately the impact was not felt simply because the government was able to approach the court and got a ruling and the Finance Minister was able to go to the Consolidated Fund, via certain constitutional provisions, to restore the sums which were cut.

However, the difference this year is that there was a ruling from the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly governing this matter, and that is the distinguishing factor between last year and this year.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh stated that everyday GINA tells the people what the president and ministers are doing, what the policies are, the latest on development projects and it is not a recent creation – in that it was not created by the present administration. Minister Singh explained that there used to be a British Guyana Information Service (more than 50 years ago) followed by the Government Information Service after independence, the Guyana Public Communications Agency, GIS and then GINA. “If you look around the world, if you look around the Caribbean there are a multitude of examples, the overwhelming majority of countries in similar circumstances such as ours,” he said.

He also noted the public-interest role NCN plays in that Guyanese are able to view local production and cultural items freely as compared to any other TV station.

In a separate interview immediately after the cuts to both NCN and GINA, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill stressed that one of the problems that GINA has had over the last year is getting staff because people feel so threatened.

“There are vacancies that exist so it is not just the mere cutting of GINA, but it’s what you did last year and what you are doing again this year…its like you’re telling any public communication professional, any young person who is pursuing a job in that particular skill, don’t work for GINA because at any time with this one-seat majority we could slash you down…you can’t plan a family, you can’t take a mortgage, you can’t pay for your car, you can’t plan your future because GINA is left to us – the dictatorship of one,” he said.

The minister ascribed such action to blackmail since the Opposition is giving the impression that if the organisation does not behave the way it wants it to that it will not allow the agency to work and operate.

Constitutional ramifications Continuing on the Speaker’s ruling, Nandlall explained that the ruling has put the constitutional structure of Guyana in some form of disarray. “Because I believe that even lay people would by now recognise that the constitution of our country is supreme and the parliament, the executive and every other agency of state are subject to that supremacy…in that constitutional formula the Court is ascribed the responsibility to exclusively interpret that constitution and when that court does that - that is and must be regarded as the final pronouncement on that matter,” he noted.

Minister Nandlall explained that when the court’s jurisdiction in that regard is invoked and the court makes such a pronouncement, it is not open to any other agency in the land, to in an institutionalised way offer a ruling or an interpretation that

is different from that which emanated from the court or else we will have the position that the executive, tomorrow, will determine that a pronouncement which comes from the court is not binding and should be regarded and the executive can place an interpretation on the constitution that it finds favourable.

“In the same vein that the Speaker interpreted the constitution to say that the National Assembly has the power to cut the budget, and in so doing he collided with an expressed pronouncement from the court, the executive can, today or tomorrow, decide that they will interpret that very provision to mean that the National Assembly does not have the power to cut…so we have these three vital organs of state each having an opinion of their own as to what the constitution says,” he noted.

In this regard, it is for the avoidance of these types of eventualities that the constitution reposes only in the court that responsibility. “The speaker essentially conferred upon himself a jurisdictional freedom to depart from a ruling of the court, and that is a power which he simply does not have…his ruling therefore has presented this nation with a constitutional enigma,” the Minister said.

Further, the constitutional anomaly which the Speaker’s ruling has created has far and deep-reaching implications way outside of the budgetary process. “This state of affairs have to be swiftly dealt with so recourse will have to be taken in the court to rectify what I consider to be and what is with the greatest of respect a constitutional errata,” Minister Nandlall emphasised.

Minister Singh stated that the Opposition’s elevation of his comments on this matter discloses their hypocrisy, their opportunism and the comedy that they represent.

Minister Singh indicated that the Opposition have latched on to one thing that he said last year and suddenly want to treat it as gospel. “That discloses to the nation that they are opportunistic, politically opportunistic and they are hypocritical… you cannot ignore 100 things the finance minister said, but one thing that he says that suits your purposes; you latch on and treat it as gospel…suddenly the finance minister is an authority on constitutional matters,” he said.

Dr Singh added that unlike the Attorney General, he is not the authority on constitutional matters but speak on the basis of his lay interpretation of the standing orders that were available to him at that point in time and in particular at a time when the matter was untested by the court.

“The matter was subsequently tested by the court, and I, like all of my colleagues in government bowed to the superior wisdom and the constitutional authority of the courts so irrespective of what our individual interpretations may have been, once the constitutional authority which is the court has pronounced on this matter I bow to the interpretations of this court, to the rulings of the court and so does the government,” he said.

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Louisianaʼs sinkhole still growing Large amounts of gas found beneath homes near massive sinkhole LOUISIANA -- A large sinkhole that has been expanding in size since it first developed last summer is continuing to cause problems in Louisiana’s southern swamplands. New reports indicate that toxic gas is now building up in large pockets underneath at least two homes near the Bayou Corne sinkhole in Louisiana’s Assumption Parish, which has prompted officials to expand their monitoring efforts throughout the area.

On April 3, WLOX 13 News in southern Mississippi reported that local contractors identified the presence of gas underneath the slabs of two homes located on Sauce Piquante Lane in Bella Rose near Bayou Corne. Their discovery was later confirmed by Texas Brine Company, LLC, the largest independent brine producer in the U.S. and the company responsible for pumping butane, radioactive waste, and other toxins into underground caverns linked to triggering the sinkhole.

“I want to leave, and Texas Brine needs to buy my family out,” said Jennifer Gregoire, a local resident who has had to in-

stall air monitors in her house to detect the presence of toxic gas fumes. Like many of her neighbors, Gregoire has also had to have holes drilled in her floors in order to search for possible gases underneath her foundation. “I’m sitting on the couch, clinching the dog ... [thinking] we’re about to just go up in flames,” she added.

As we reported recently, the Bayou Corne sinkhole, which is receiving minimal media attention on the national scale, appeared roughly nine months ago near the Napoleonville salt domes. The sinkhole has been steadily increasing in size ever since, and just a few weeks ago ate up another three acres of land, expanding its massive size to over 13 acres as of April 5.

Expert panel established to deal with unprecedented sinkhole crisis Following a much-too-late visit to the sinkhole by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal recently, Texas Brine announced that it

would begin buying out residents living near the sinkhole, according to NOLA.com. Since that time, at least 87 homeowners living near Bayou Corne have submitted the required forms necessary to begin the buyout process.

A more recent update on the sinkhole issued by NOLA.com explains that a 13-member commission of industry experts and scientists from around the world has been assembled to discuss mitigation approaches. At least 350 local residents have already been forcibly evacuated from the area, and the sinkhole is showing no apparent signs of slowing its ongoing feast of the earth’s surface.

“We don’t have years to study this,” said Gary Hecox, a hydrologist and geographical information systems analyst from a Texas-based energy infrastructure company, and one of the committee members, at a recent meeting to discuss the issue. “We have to get on with the program. In the history of mankind there’s never been anything like this.” NaturalNews

Buju alive and okay Reggae star debunks rumours of his death JAMAICA (JO) -- Rumours that reggae superstar Buju Banton was stabbed and killed in prison have proven untrue.

Since Friday, reports emerged on social media that Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, had been stabbed to death during a fight in the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa, Florida.

Last week as well, rumours emerged that he had committed suicide in prison.

But in a message sent to his fans worldwide through Lorna Strachan, the mother of five of his children, Banton laid fears of his mortal demise to rest.

“I don’t like rumours about me being killed or committing suicide. Tell them I like the rumours that I am free or out on bail,” Strachan told the Jamaica Observer that Banton said.

“I spoke to him four times today (Sunday) and the children spoke to him too. It is a lie; nothing is wrong with Mark. He is okay,” Strachan said.

On Friday, Banton’s attorney Chukwe Lumumba expressed surprise at the stabbing rumour.

“I have not heard about anything like that,” Lumumba said.

Banton is currently serving a 10year sentence after being found guilty of drug-related charges.

He was arrested at his Tamarac, Florida home hours after Drug Enforcement Agents arrested James Mack and Ian Thomas attempting to purchase drugs in a government-controlled warehouse in Tampa in December 2009.

An illegal gun was found in a car Mack was driving.

The evidence of US government informant Alexander Johnson proved instrumental in Banton being sentenced after two trials. After a failed appeal attempt, the reggae star was slapped with an additional five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a criminal act by an Atlanta-based Appellate Court.

However, he was handed a lifeline when reports emerged that a juror in the second trial, Teri Wright, had allegedly breached Judge James Moody’s order that no juror should study any aspect of the law pertaining to Banton’s case during the trial.

Wright allegedly told a Florida reporter that she had studied the Pinkerton Law, which was used to find Banton guilty

on the firearm charge although he was not present during the botched deal involving James and Mack.

Banton’s lawyer has since filed a motion for Wright to produce her computer hard drive for perusal by a computer forensic expert.

The expert initially revealed that no evidence that Wright had studied any aspect of the case during the trial was present on the hard drive that Wright submitted, but added that contrary to Wright’s declaration that she had used a laptop computer to study the law three weeks after the trial, the hard drive belonged to a desktop computer which was bought in 1995.

It was also revealed that Wright had served on seven juries, even though she had told the court that she had only served on one jury in a civil matter.

As a result, Lumumba has filed a motion for a retrial, meaning his client would be tried three times for one offence.

Banton’s fate still hangs in the balance until Wright appears in the US Sam Gibbons Court before Judge Moody in June.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Government installing platform for islandwide CCTV coverage Eyes on the criminals

JAMAICA (JO) -- The Government is silently moving to install surveillance cameras in public spaces islandwide in an effort to enhance the State’s crime-fighting capabilities.

According to a Jamaica Observer source with intimate knowledge of the project, the police have piggy-backed on an initiative by the National Works Agency (NWA) to lay fibre-optic cables underground that will facilitate a widening and upgrade of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) network already in place in strategic locations in Kingston and major towns across the island.

Two private sector companies with the requisite equipment to lay the cables have joined with the NWA after studies revealed that taxpayers would be saddled with a heavy monthly bill if the cameras were to be installed with wireless technology.

“This will eliminate the monthly bill as the State will have to pay nothing.

The Government is eager to set up the CCTVs all over but they do no want to show their hand. It has been, and will prove to be, an effective crime-fighting tool,” said the Sunday Observer source who opted not to be named.

According to the source, the system currently in use by the NWA has only 48 hours of recording capability.

“After 48 hours, the device erases the footage by itself and starts recording again. It is now in the hands of the NWA because it was originally set up for the NWA to conduct traffic management and traffic flow inspection. However, by the time the police come fully on board it will have unlimited coverage and the cops will be able to request and view any footage, regardless of the timeline,” the source said.

The plan, the Sunday Observer has learnt, is for all the data captured by CCTV to be stored in a central location.

That compares favourably to the

present system in which footage recorded is handed over to local police stations.

The value of investing in surveillance cameras as a crime-fighting tool was again highlighted last week when United States law enforcement agents managed to hone in on two suspects in the horrendous bombing incident at the Boston Marathon.

The suspects, Tamerland Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar, 19 were identified mainly through the release of footage captured by CCTV at the marathon finish line moments before the incident in which three people were killed and more than 140 others injured.

The brothers used pressure cooker bombs loaded with ball bearings, cut steel, nails, and screws.

On Friday, the American authorities killed Tamerland in a shoot-out after he and his brother tried to rob a convenience store near the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology and killed a police officer in the process.

Late Friday, Dzhokhar was captured after he was found in a boat in a yard suffering from gunshot wounds he sustained during the shoot-out.

Video evidence was also handy in assisting British police to nab the perpetrators of the July 2005 bombings in London, England.

On Friday, National Security Minister Peter Bunting, himself a recent victim of burglary while lyming with two female visitors in San San, Portland, said he was in full support of the local initiative.

“CCTV is a very useful tool in law enforcement. Besides the obvious value of the actual footage in solving cases, the systems also serve as deterrents for criminal activities,” he said.

“Within the context of the recent Boston bombing, it is interesting to note that

much of the CCTV images (and still photographs) came from private and business cameras and not principally from public infrastructure. Even in Jamaica where the police and the NWA have a limited CCTV coverage, many cases have been solved with assistance of the CCTV footage from local businesses,” Bunting said and encouraged more businesses and private individuals who can afford it, to invest in the system.

Superintendent of Police Delroy Hewitt agreed.

“I 100 per cent support the investment in surveillance cameras. It can do a lot in our fight against crime,” said Hewitt, who has lived a life fighting crime in some of the island’s most troubled police divisions, among them St Andrew South and Kingston West.

He was supported by head of the St Catherine North Police Division, Senior Superintendent Anthony Castelle.

“I support it fully. It has been an effective crime-fighting tool all over,” Castelle said.

Jamaica already has legislation that allows video evidence to be used in court as long as the individual who recorded the video is willing to give evidence and be crossexamined by attorneys as to the recording’s authenticity.

Video evidence was used in the corruption trial of former Senior Superintendent of Police Harry ‘Bungles’ Daley, who was recently acquitted, on appeal, of all charges against him.

Last month, police sergeant Lloyd Kelly was acquitted of a murder charge after being recorded on video shooting murder suspect Ian ‘Ching Sing’ Lloyd in Buckfield, St Ann in 2009. The video evidence could not be admitted in court as the person who recorded it did not come forward to give evidence.

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Roraima State confers highest honour on Former President Jagdeo GUYANA (GC) -Accolades continue to be bestowed on Guyana’s Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has worked toward strengthening alliances with other countries, and forging relations in new frontiers. Importantly, his climate change position that developing countries could lead the way to the solutions that the world needs has garnered international attention and respect.

On Friday, Mr Jagdeo was conferred with the highest honour of the State of Roraima, Brazil, the Order of Merit ‘Forte Sao Joaquim’.

In the citation, the State Governor, Mr Jose Anchieta Junior, said the award was given for personal achievements, and for the strengthening of relations between Brazil and Guyana.

While as President, Mr Jagdeo advocated for stronger south-south cooperation and for strengthening alliances. Guyana signed a Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil that made way for Guyanese goods entering the Brazilian market such as fruits, and agricultural, construction, mining and customer products.

Guyana’s ongoing friendly and cooperative relations with Brazil were further enhanced with the official inauguration of the Takutu River Bridge on September 14, 2009. At that ceremony, both countries took the opportunity to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing the Guyana/Brazil Cooperation Programme and signed eight agreements, Memoranda of Understanding and Executive Programme, which addressed areas such as promotion of trade and investment, a special border regime for Lethem and Bon Fim and the abolition of visas for business purposes.

Other awards Apart from this recent honour, Mr Jagdeo is the recipient of several honorary doctorates conferred for his leadership on low carbon development.

On February 6, 2010, the degree of Honorary Doctorate was conferred on President Jagdeo by the Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University in Moscow, following which he was awarded two others from D. Y. Patil University and TERI University in India. In 2012, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), conferred the former president a doctorate for his contribution to sustainability and environmental issues.

Mr Jagdeo received the United Nations’ highest award for environmental leadership, in the category of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management in recognition of his work as a “passionate forestry and ecosystem infrastructure proponent”.

In November 2012, he was elected as President of the Global Green Growth Institute, a recently formed international organisation. He is the Roving Ambassador for the Three Basins, providing hope for ambitious action on the world’s most vital tropical rainforests, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Patron and High Level Envoy for Sustainable Development in Forest Countries.

He was presented the Pushkin Medal by the Government of Russia, and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the Government of India.

He also received awards from Rotary International and the Salvation Army. (GINA)

Q-Trex International - Expanding by location and service area Continued From Page 2 -- countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados to name a few.

The move took place March 18th. This new location allows for more outdoor parking, better packing of cargo, and indoor packing for customers who need it. More security cameras and a safer environment will ensure peace of mind for their customers and their cargo.

The new warehouse also accommodates

larger and heavier equipment.

Q-Trex is growing not only by its move, but has also expanded from shipping to the Caribbean and Guyana to shipping to specific ports in India and Africa.

Q-Trex can be contacted for all you ocean, air and ground cargo @ 905 290 1946 or 1 866 881 5433, and via its website http://www.qtrexinternational. com

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 11

Gayle carries Challengers top of standings BANGALORE (TG) -- Chris Gayle anchored a successful Royal Challengers Bangalore run chase to carry them to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals and top of the Indian Premier League yesterday.

The West Indies left-hander hit an unbeaten 49 as the hosts, chasing a modest 118 for victory, eased home with 13 balls to spare at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

With the triumph—their fifth of the season—Royal Challengers remained unbeaten at home and now have ten points.

Opting to bowl first, they bundled out Royals cheaply off 19.4 overs, with seamers RP Singh (3-13) and Vinay Kumar (3-18) taking three wickets apiece, and West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul picking up two for 19.

Retired India batting star Rahul Dravid top scored with 35.

Gayle then took control of the Royal Challengers innings, facing 44 balls and striking four fours and a six, and anchoring two key partnerships.

He put on 53 for the first wicket with

Tillkaratne Dilshan (25) and when three wickets fell for 11 runs in the space of 14 balls, combined with Saurabh Tiwary (25 not out) to add 59 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand.

In Kolkata, Dwayne Bravo got the better of fellow Trinidadian and West Indies teammate Sunil Narine after Chennai Super Kings beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets at Eden Gardens.

Neither Bravo nor Narine made any significant contribution. (CMC)

Scores Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 for 3 (Gayle 49 ) vs Rajasthan Royals 117 (Dravid 35, RP Singh 3-13, Vinay Kumar 3-18). Bangalore won by 7 wickets.

Chennai Super Kings 124 for 6 (Hussey 40, Jadeja 36 ) vs Kolkata Knight Riders 119 for 9 (Jadeja 3-20, Ashwin 2-21). Chennai won by four wickets.

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Caribbean Pot: French Caribbean Creole sauce for fish and grilled meats

1/4 scotch bonnet pepper 2 scallion 1 teaspoon Worcestershire 1 bay leaf 3 sprigs thyme tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons chopped parsley.

2 ta ttablespoon abl b esspo p on on oli ivvee ooil iill olive

One of the most controversial recipes I’ve ever shared to date!

Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking This Creole sauce is turning out to be one of the most controversial recipes I’ve shared to date. After posting the recipe video on the Cooking Channel, there’s been a lot of comments about it not being authentic.

Here’s the thing about cooking and recipes, it’s usually how you’ve learned to make the

dish or how you like it. So when you see me add an ingredient like tomato paste to the sauce, rest assured that’s the way I like it. I use the traditional way (in most cases) of doing a dish as the base and try to add my own little touch. That said, there are some recipes where I will not alter the traditional format of preparing it as I don’t want to disrespect centuries of tradition.

Ingredients 1 medium Onion 3/4 cup celery 3/4 cup green pepper 3 cloves garlic 1 large tomato 1.5 cups chicken stock

Star St tartt off offf by by ch ho pin hopp ing/ g/di dici cing tthe he sca he alllio ion ons Start chopping/dicing scallions, green pepper, onion, tomato, garlic (finely), celery, parsley and scotch bonnet pepper.

Then heat the olive oil on a medium heat and add the diced celery, onion and green pepper. Turn the heat down to low and let that gently cook for about 8-10 minutes.

Everything will be soft and tender now and you’ll have a wonderful base for this delicious creole sauce. Turn up the heat to med/high and add all the other ingredients, except the chopped parsley.

Stir well, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down so you have a gentle simmer going. Cook for about 25 minutes, with the lid ajar on the sauce pan.

N No ow remove remo re move the move the he llid i aand id nndd llet ett iitt co ookk oon n Now cook medium heat to thicken up a bit. Remember to fish out the bay leaf and if you did as I did.. remove the thyme stems and discard.

It should only take a few minutes to thicken up. Finish off with the chopped parsley.

This creole sauce is excellent on fish (fried, baked, poached, grilled) and other grilled meats. You can certainly make this in advance and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge for at least a week. Just heat and serve when you’re ready to add a classic French Caribbean flavor to your dishes.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 15

Energy centers of the body Geeta Maraj Yoga Apart from the physical body, yoga philosophy teaches that there is a subtler body of energy which flows along the spinal column. The specific locations of this energy are called chakra centers. Chakra in Sanskrit means ‘circle’ and serves to describe these pockets of energy.

There are seven main chakra points that are of importance along the spine.

The presence of chakras centers are similar to the energy centers recognized by other traditions, such as, the Asian art of acupuncture. Many additional cultures refer to degrees of energy in the body as can be noted in the Jewish belief system and Catholicism. These pockets of energy are focused on when enhancing ones spiritual advancement. In Hinduism and Buddhism, it is believed that each chakra, when stimulated through meditation and focusing, brings about benefits to a specific part of the body and emotions.

The root chakra or the Muladhara chakra is the first of the charkas and lies at the base of the spine, the genital area. The Muladhara Center is described as having four petals,

corresponding to the psychological states of greatest joy, natural pleasure, delight in controlling passions, and blissfulness in concentration.

It corresponds to the element, earth, and is also associated with excretion and the sense of smell.

All qualities of the Muladhara chakra are associated with the bliss of realizing the Divine in the physical body. As such, the Muladhara chakra is the center for material life, as well as, the center that roots the subtle divine consciousness within material life. Consequently, it is also the basis for human existence in the physical world.

When the energy of the Muladhara is blocked in humans, a sense of rootlessness in both the spiritual and physical aspects of life is experienced.

The second chakra is the Svadishthana chakra which lies in the spleen area. It is also referred to as the “sex chakra” as it corresponds to the element water and is traditionally associated with sexual impulses. The Svadishthana chakra is described as a lotus of six petals, representing the states of affection, pitilessness, and feelings of all destructiveness, delusion, disdain, and suspicion. This chakra controls positive thoughts. When this chakra is clean, then the person thinks only positive thoughts, and no impure thoughts or feelings such as egoism and maliciousness are experienced. The purity of this chakra predicts the degree of positivity in one’s life. The awakening of this chakra produces the acceptance that all actions are beneficially predicted by a Supreme Force, and therefore should not be questioned.

The third chakra of the spine is the

Manipura chakra. This chakra is described as existing in the region of the solar plexus (navel area), corresponds to the element fire, and is represented by a 10 petals lotus. The petals representing spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness, and sadness. When this chakra is stimulated and purified, one is at peace with others, and emotional stress and tension vanishes. The existence of this chakra can be felt as the knot which exists in the stomach area during tension, fear or emotions, such as when writing an exam or falling in love.

The heart chakra is the fourth chakra and is referred to as the Anahata chakra. This chakra exists in the region of the heart center, corresponds to the element air, and is represented by a twelve petals lotus. The twelve petals of the Anahata chakra represents lustfulness, fraudulence, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetency, discrimination, and an attitude of defiance. It is the most important of all charkas because it contains the existence of ones’ ability to feel divine, pure love through everyone and everything. Pure love is said to be that love which is devoid of egoism, of selfish intent or expectations. As such, this chakra is said to control our emotions and consequently our spiritual elevation. Based on the purity of this chakra, our self esteem is predicted.

The fifth chakra, called the Vishudda chakra, lies in the throat area. This chakra is associated with the element ether and is related with balance. It is represented by a sixteen

petals lotus, representing a series of beneficial chants, musical tones, and nectar. With purification of the throat chakra, one feels an inner, completely unshakable peace in spite of any circumstance. It creates a sense of strength and solidarity in one’s own ability to rest peacefully within one’s self. It is believed that the energy from this chakra fluctuates based on the type of interaction we are experiencing during a conversation. It reflects positive beneficial interaction, negative interaction and even mutual interaction, where neither party is influenced beneficially or distressed by the other’s energy flow.

The Ajna chakra is the sixth chakra and is also referred to as the Third Eye or Brow Chakra. The Ajna chakra lies between the brows on the forehead. This chakra is associated with the element of consciousness and is depicted by a two petals lotus associated with mind and body interactions. Ajna means “command” and relates to the sense of the Guru’s command in efforts of spiritual guidance.

The seventh chakra is called the Sahasrara chakra. This chakra is also referred to as the Crown Chakra. It is located at the pivot axis point of the skull , where the three platings of the skull intersect (the frontal lobe, the left and right hemispheres). This chakra is depicted by a thousand petals lotus representing that which is everything - Universal. The Sahasrara chakra is associated with the element The Divine, or thought. It is the basis of refined thought, knowledge, information and understanding. It’s essence is blissfulness.

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5 easy weight loss strategies

Monique Bartlett Fitness Weight loss is one of those subjects that everyone is always talking about. It seems you can’t go anywhere without seeing or hearing some type of weight loss message. If you’re trying to lose weight, here are a few tips to get you started.

Strategy #1 – Stop Talking About It, Just Do It! All that talk about how much you want to lose weight isn’t going to make the weight come off. If you want to lose weight, you’ve got to take action right now. Start moving your body! It will only take a short time in order to begin seeing some results.

Strategy #2 – Slow and Steady is

the Way to Go! Slow and steady weight loss is better and safer than a crash diet or gimmick that will leave you riding the dieting roller coaster. If you want weight loss results that last, your goal should be to lose an average of about two pounds each week. You need to be able to eat fewer calories than you burn. So combining diet with exercise, will help you achieve your goal in a reasonable amount of time. You need to remember that the weight doesn’t come on overnight, so it won’t go away overnight either.

Strategy #3 – Try the Buddy System Finding someone to go on the weight loss journey with you or to a least be a support for you will help tremendously. Trying to do it all alone will leave you frustrated and confused.

Being able to bounce ideas around or get some reinforcement for the new choices you are making will keep you motivated and help on to stay on the right track.

Strategy #4 – Make Your Weight Loss a Lifestyle Change. Unfortunately, the issue of weight is something that most people will struggle with throughout their lives. In-

creased amounts and easy access to processed foods along with a sedentary lifestyle are two of the biggest contributors to this constant struggle. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you’ve got to change the way you think about food. It should be thought of as a source of fuel, not a passion or a crutch. Successful weight loss really is about making lifestyle changes, including making the right food choices, and then sticking with those choices throughout life.

Strategy #5 – Don’t Rely On the Scale. When you’re trying to lose weight, don’t become focused on the numbers on the dreaded scale. When the numbers go down, happiness goes up but when the numbers stay the same or go up, it is easy to give up and give in. Even though the scale may not say what you want it to you will be improving your health, gaining lean muscle and your clothes will begin fitting more comfortably. When you realize that you are actually making a difference in your life, you will want to keep moving in the right direction and celebrate your accomplishments.

A Reason to Smile

Dr. Matthew Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Dental

In a high stress society, common to city living, laughter is indeed the best medicine. But for many the crushing pressures of life inhibit this emotional response. We need a reason to smile. That need is amplified when we focus on our imperfections. We know that the facial anatomy plays an important role in making a favourable first impression on a job interview, or a highly anticipated date.

A well aligned set of teeth instils confidence.

Crooked teeth, missing teeth, discoloured

teeth or deformity of the jaw may be a major cause of a lack of confidence and selfesteem particularly in teenagers and young adults.

Much emphasis is placed on the aesthetics of teeth and how they can brighten up a dull, sad face like the sun peeping out on a cloudy day.

To create a pleasing smile in the view of both the dental patient and the onlooker, there are several factors to consider before any treatment of a cosmetic nature is considered. The dentist must first find out whose idea it is that there is a need to improve the facial appearance by making alternations to the dentition. Much can be done by the dentist to give the client that bright, amazing smile.

Some of the ways to create the smile of your dreams include: Orthodontic treatment (wearing braces) for youth and adults, porcelain crowns, veneers, bonding,

implants, gum contouring and tooth whitening.

Orthodontic treatments can drastically improve extremely crowded teeth and deformed jaws, bringing them to a normal state. Porcelain veneers and crowns could be the ideal choice for improving appearance.

The colour and shape can be controlled by the dentist. Implants are the treatment of choice for replacing a single missing tooth.

Bridges can also replace missing teeth creating a beautiful smile. Gum reshaping is helpful in situations where the teeth appear too small compared to the amount of gum tissue displayed when you smile. The removal of excess gum will reveal the natural length of the teeth.

All of these procedures bring great joy to the patient. They feel better about themselves and face the world with enhanced self-esteem and confidence.

Invite this family of vegetables over for dinner

Dr. Lydia ND

Health Tips Similarly to humans, the plant kingdom is divided up into different families. I would like to introduce you to the brassicacea family. This group includes, but is not limited to, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts, watercress, arugula and collard greens. Each member of this popular family of greens packs a health punch.

There are few families of vegetables that can boast such high levels of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, folic acid and fibre. Many people do not consider vegetables to be a significant source of protein, but in

this case, they can be! Four cups of broccoli, around 100 calories, can give you close to 20g of protein. To compare, 100 calories of steak gives you only 13g of protein. Those same four cups of greens, would also give you your day’s serving of fibre.

While researchers are still studying the effects of cooking vegetables, we do know that brassicacea vegetables have more active enzyme activity raw than when they are cooked. It is this enzyme activity that releases one of my favorite phytonutrients, indole-3 carbinol. This compound and its relatives, all called glucosinolates, have serious cancer fighting capabilities. Indole-3 carbinol also helps our body detoxify excess estrogen floating in our blood stream, thereby reducing the risk of female hormone sensitive cancers, like breast cancer and helping women regulate their menstruation.

Of course, we want our brussel sprouts cooked. How can we do this and maintain most of the healthful ingredients?

Steaming. Steaming uses a relatively low

heat, 100°C, to cook. Boiling and roasting involve much higher heat. However, nothing destroys more nutrients faster than microwaving. Steam your vegetables to a point where they are tasty for you, and not a minute longer. Every minute of cooking time decreases the phytonutrients left in the vegetable.

This diverse family of edible plants also includes two common spices that contain many of the nutrients previously mentioned. Mustard seeds and horseradish are two members of the brassicacea family loaded with antioxidants. The best thing about spices is that they tend to concentrate the good nutrients, so a little bit goes a long way.

Make the brassicacea family of vegetables a part of your regular eating pattern. Reap the health benefits of fibre, protein, vitamins, antioxidants and special compounds that turn off cancer cells and detoxify our livers. When was the last time you had such a helpful guest over for dinner?

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 17

Nine foods that lower blood pressure High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is considered a high risk factor for heart attacks and strokes as well as kidney failure.

Many have high BP, but most don’t know as it doesn’t usually have its own symptoms.

Blood pressure readings are in two sets of numbers. The top number, systolic pressure, indicates pressure on the artery walls when the heart beats. The lower number, diastolic pressure, shows the pressure on artery walls between heart beats.

A normal reading is 120/80. Above those numbers up to 140/90 is considered pre-hypertension while above 140/90 is hypertension. But people with normal health in the pre-hypertension zone are not considered at risk for strokes, heart, or kidney failure.

Those who are overweight or diabetic are more at risk with higher than normal BP. Over half of the high BP population is diabetic. Men are more likely to have high BP, and those who smoke and drink alcohol excessively are more likely to have high BP. Pharmaceutical medications with decongestants, NSAIDs (non-steroid antinflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, steroids, birth control pills, and antidepressants

are likely to raise blood pressure. Mainstream medicine considers salt/sodium consumption as a main factor of high BP. But processed and fast foods account for over 80 percent of the sodium intake using toxic processed salt, mixed with other health damaging additives such as HFCS and trans-fatty acid oils, which are more responsible for causing high blood pressure than pure, unprocessed sea salt.

Foods that can help reduce high blood pressure (1) Cayenne is in chili peppers. Using those with food is good for reducing blood pressure, even though it may not feel that way.

Herbal masters Dr. Christopher and Dr. Schulz recommend taking a teaspoon of at least 40,000 heat units of cayenne pepper powder mixed in water two times daily to support complete heart health and more.

(2) Hibiscus or Jamaica (hu-myca) tea on ice is well known as a refreshing

beverage in the Caribbean islands, South America, and Mexico. It has been clinically proven to lower high BP. You can dowse the flame out of your mouth from cayenne with a Jamaica iced tea and double the benefits.

Dried hibiscus flower petals are used to make the tea. Some health food stores may have them. Stores specializing in Hispanic foods most likely will. Or you can order them online.

To prepare: Simply cover the bottom of a large pan thickly with the petals, then pour hot (not boiling) water over them.

Cover and let it steep for a half hour. Strain while pouring into a glass container then refrigerate and use when desired.

(3) A Louisville medical center study found that snacking on raisins three times daily could reduce BP among those in a prehypertension group. Amazingly, they even used processed food snacks containing raisins. [2] (4) The American Heart Association has discovered through research that eating three kiwis a day reduces BP. (5) The American Chemical Society claims purple root vegetables, such as

purple potatoes, have chemical properties that reduce BP. (6) A Florida State University study found that watermelon lowers BP. In addition to watermelon’s potassium contribution, they found a specific amino acid that contributes to lowering BP. [2] (7) Speaking of potassium, don’t forget to eat bananas. The Harvard Medical School reported a UK study that determined foods containing potassium nitrate were even better than supplements using potassium chloride for lowering BP. (8) Hawthorne berries have both herbalists and mainstream medicos agreeing on its blood pressure lowering ability. Its tea has been a Chinese household heart tonic for centuries. If you can’t find a Chinese food specialty store, go online or use Hawthorne extract supplements.

(9) We can’t forget chocolate, can we? It should be organic and dark or bittersweet without milk and with very little sugar.

Yes, it has been researched; there are compounds in cacao that dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. NaturalNews

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Home staging, mortgage options and RRSPʼs Stephen Mohammed Finance Real Estate - There are a number of factors to consider when selling a home. Home staging is a very effective way to make your home more attractive and appealing to prospective buyers and their agents. Some sales representatives offer this as a complimentary service, when you sign a listing agreement.

You can also find a home staging expert on the web through many search engines, such as Bing and Google, or even get a referral from your sales representative if they do not offer the service.

Home staging impacts how quickly your home will sell and what price it will sell for. De-cluttering your home makes your home appear more spacious and attractive.

Remove all unnecessary items or belongs, furniture, children’s toys and personal wall and desk photos to allow the prospective buyer the opportunity to envision themselves and their belongings in the home.

Mortgages - When purchasing your new home, renewing or refinancing your current mortgage, deciding whether a fixed or variable rate is right for you can be stressful at times. Especially when the prime rate, fixed rates and variable rates are so close. Prime rate is at 3%, 5 year fixed is between 2.89% -

3.09% and 5 year closed variable is between prime-.30% - prime+.10% depending on the available lenders. It comes down to your ability to make the payments, should there be an increase in the rate. Your income and debt ratio are key indicators on whether you have room to make the adjustment. Other than that, it really is a personal preference on how comfortable you feel about the current economic situation and the choice that you make. You should certainly seek the advice of a mortgage professional.

Finance - April 30th, 2013 is tax deadline for filing your personal income tax for 2012.

The RRSP deadline for contribution to deduct to qualify for a tax break for 2012 was March 1st, 2013. The allowable RRSP deduction is 18% of your prior year’s earned income to a maximum of $22,970 for 2012 minus any pension adjustment you receive as a member of a company pension plan.

Any unused contributions can be carried forward to the following year.

For 2013 RRSP deduction is 18% of your prior year’s earned income to a maximum of $23,820. You are permitted to over contribute a cumulative lifetime total of $2,000 to your RRSP without incurring a penalty tax. An over contribution is not deductible from income in the current year, but the advantage is that you can put the additional cash into your RRSP where it can compound on a tax-deferred basis for as long as it remains in the plan. Over contributions may be deducted in a subsequent year when your actual RRSP contribution is less than the maximum allowed. A penalty tax of 1% per month applies to the amount of any over contribution in excess of $2,000.

10 Home-maintenance tips for spring After a long, dark winter, spring’s bright sun and warm winds are, well, a breath of fresh air. The only downside? All that sunshine spotlights your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks and the dead plants in last year’s flower beds. Here are some target areas that may need maintenance around your home.

• Check for loose or leaky gutters.

Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

• Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

• Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

• From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired

by a qualified roofer.

• Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

• Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk.

When weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.

• Remove firewood stored near the home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at least 2 feet from the structure.

• Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you’re at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.

• Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system.

Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels.

Change interior filters on a regular basis.

• Check your gas- and batterypowered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yard work easier.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Ministry of Transportation offers no answers regarding 407ETR Tammy Flores 407ETR Matters April 2nd, 2013, the Ministry of Transportation decided it would not entertain my questions anymore and said, “The points raised in your e-mail have been answered in previous correspondence. As this information has already been provided, I encourage you to review this correspondence.”

My response: I have to express my frustration. The Ministry of Transportation has not satisfactorily answered any of the points raised. What the Ministry of Transportation continues to do is support the 407ETR’s abuse of the Plate Denial process.

Fact #1 - Ontario’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles is an independent, quasijudicial provincial official (which means you have powers resembling those of a court of law or judge and is able to remedy a situation or impose legal penalties on a person or organization). However, you refuse to exercise your powers in a reasonable and fair manner. You continue to interpret the 407 act in a way that allows the

407ETR to abuse the plate denial process and collect money from people that is not lawfully owed. You have zero proof from 407ETR that charges they claim are lawful and expect the public to wrangle information from this private company. When the public tells you that 407ETR refuses to release any documentation, you do not act in their behalf and demand what is fair and reasonable. In fact, you mislead the public by claiming to be investigating the case. When the public asks you for the documentation on that investigation, you have none and say you don’t document the investigation because it’s normal business. This is not acceptable. The scales are tipped in favor of only the 407ETR. You have done nothing to protect the public from their predatory practices.

What is worse, you tried to pass the buck to the Ministry of Consumer Services.

The accountability to fix this issue lies within the Ministry of Transportation.

The Ministry of Transportation’s response has been that it can’t control 407ETR’s business practices. This is not a satisfactory answer.

Fact #2 - You recognize that 407ETR must follow Consumer Protection laws, but do nothing to enforce it.

You go beyond that by turning a blind eye to their shady business practices and predatory billing practices. You have allowed 407ETR to institute a 3 tiered bureaucracy that benefits only the company and does not treat the public fairly. The Ministry

of Transportation has not enforced clauses in the agreement/act whereby the public should have had access to independent arbitrators when disputes arise. The more I ask for clarification on how we are supposed to access these independent arbitrators and why we were never given that option, the Ministry’s response has been we are looking into that. This is not a satisfactory answer.

Fact #3 - I have Kevin Sack on record saying that they follow the prescribed times under the act in section 16 and 22, however, the Ministry of Transportation’s interpretation of these sections in the act is that it refers to collection and not what is fair and reasonable when it comes to how 407ETR purposely suppresses invoices for years, on amounts, that may not even exist, and then slams random members of the public with bills for thousands of dollars. This isn’t fair, reasonable or legal.

The Ministry of Transportation must use its quasi-judicial powers and act on behalf of the public that is being scammed by this company. Stop turning a blind eye. I will not rest until the Ministry of Transportation does the right thing for the people in this Province that are victims of 407ETR’s predatory billing practices.

I expect action. I expect the Ministry of Transportation to exercise clauses in the agreement/act that benefits the public and stop helping this company rip people off.

Helping immigrants integrate and succeed OTTAWA (CIC) -- New immigrants can now access two new videos at cic.gc.ca to help them navigate their way before and during their first weeks in Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“By providing newcomers with practical advice and information before and as soon as they arrive, we can help them integrate more quickly into the Canadian economy and their new local community,” said Minister Kenney. “These videos complement the new Welcome to Canada guide and provide newcomers with a practical checklist of things to do as they prepare to come to Canada and as they settle.”

The Before Arriving in Canada video recommends that newcomers bring all their personal identification documents with them and have all their official docu-

ments translated into English or French before coming to Canada, among many other recommendations. The Your First Two Weeks in Canada videoexplains to newcomers the importance of obtaining a Social Insurance Number, contacting a local settlement organization and finding employment.

The 10-minute videos are part of a series of tools designed by the Government of Canada to help immigrants get the best possible start in their new country. These tools include the new Welcome to Canada guide and the Web-based tool Living in Canada, which were unveiled recently.

The Welcome to Canada guide contains hundreds of mailing addresses, telephone numbers and web links. This reference guide is intended to help newcomers settle in Canada. The Living in Canada tool is an online application that

provides users with a personalized settlement plan and identifies the closest service providers.

Once newcomers are settled in Canada, the publication Discover Canada, serves as an official study guide to prepare for the Canadian citizenship test. Discover Canada provides details on the history of Canada.

“The Government is committed to ensuring newcomers to Canada integrate and succeed in the Canadian economy and society as soon as possible,” said Minister Kenney. “To help newcomers integrate, the Government has tripled settlement funding since 2005-2006. The Government remains committed to ensuring the distribution of settlement funding is fair and that immigrants receive the same level of service regardless of where they choose to settle.”

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 19

20 Wednesday, April 24, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Your Horoscope - April 24th 2013 Aries Horoscope (March 21-April 20): Mars and the sun are cooking up something potent. Perhaps you have already witnessed it catching fire. By Saturday, both will have moved out of Aries and into Taurus. You may be on to something new, but you’re likely to know what you have to work with right off the bat. On Monday, there are important money matters to settle.

Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23Oct. 22): Stay motivated.

While you’re at it, let them get a good look at your feisty side.

You are now hitting the crest of a breakthrough cycle. Upgrade your public profile or try a new wardrobe look. Where there’s a fresh spark, there’s something of value worth exploring. By next week, it’s a done deal.

Taurus Horoscope (April 21May 21): Mercury, Uranus, the sun, and Mars are hot-wired through the weekend. Expect thoughts, things, and people to jump out at you. When it’s hot, why not?

Still, don’t let your jealousy, imagination, or reactive emotions run wild. Monday brings you to a critical conclusion, realization, finalization, goodbye, or termination point. A karmic or actual contract ends, a new life begins.

Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23Nov. 21): You are likely to make headway as the workweek finishes. Whether you do your own thing, attend a workshop or trade show, or plan something social, the weekend can be productive too. From Saturday onward, the stars put added attention on your finances and on working things out with others. In the coming momentous week ahead, you’ll pass a point of no return.

Gemini Horoscope (May 23June 20): Restful sleep could elude you over the next couple of days. In fact, there may be no letup through the end of the month. Mercury/Uranus keep the buzz and the edginess going strong. Saturday through Monday, switch off the social spin and catch up with yourself. Tuesday/Wednesday, your ideas, communication skills, and people connections are at a peak.

Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): The sun and Mars keep you motoring right along through the weekend. Mercury/Uranus keeps your ideas, interests, and impulsiveness at a peak too.

Sunday onward, it’s time to get down to business and do what must be done. Plus, minus, or both, next week’s lunar eclipse can completely alter your reality base. The change is likely to have been in the works for quite some time.

Cancer Horoscope (June 21July 20): It could be the end of the week, but Thursday/Friday is a good time to aim for a fresh start. Something unexpected could get things moving for you. The switch from Aries to Taurus can bring more lucrative financial opportunities. It can also improve your social life and professional relationships. Monday through Wednesday, aim for the finish line.

Leo Horoscope (July 21-Aug. 22): Thursday and Friday are great for travel, sports, putting yourself out there, first tries, and spur-of-the-moment impulses. The Leo moon keeps you on top of your game. Saturday through Tuesday, tackle what you know you can finish in short order.

You can get more than the usual cleaned up, firmed up, or finished off. Deal with bills, bank matters, legal paperwork, et cetera.

Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23Sept. 22): Don’t hesitate to put yourself and your needs first; others are certain to be doing the same. Aries month has stoked your fire, and it can only do you good.

By Saturday, both the sun and Mars advance into Taurus. You should feel this switch as increased confidence and opportunity. Monday’s finish line, phase one of three, is well timed.

Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): Don’t shortchange yourself. Take the lead, call your own shots. Even though you can be making good progress, that pressure cooker feeling is likely to remain through month’s end. Next Thursday’s eclipse pieces it together for you through several steppingstone phases. It’s a pivotal decision-making, threshold-crossing time.

Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18): The next couple of buzzed-up days can keep you especially busy with people, work, errands, et cetera.

Once Mars and the sun make the trek into Taurus, the pace can slow and the overstimulation can decline, but in their place sits a building pressure ceiling or looming deadline. On Monday, finish the job and complete financial arrangements. Tuesday/Wednesday are opportune.

Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20): Keep it moving and stay ambitious. Thursday and Friday can be especially productive. You have plenty going for you. Saturday through Wednesday, stay detail-oriented and on top of priorities. Next Thursday’s eclipse prompts major power-play time. Watch for news or an announcement.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 21

The Important Functions Of Tires And Why Is It Important To Maintain The Tires Of Your Car? Tire maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of car safety as car owners often focus on various exterior aspects and functionality of the car such as waxing and grooming, car engine & radiator system etc. The importance of properly maintaining your car tires cannot be overemphasized as tires are the only contacts between your car and the ground surface.

Any damage done to the tires could result in unstable handling and potentially dangerous especially when the vehicle is going at high speed.

There are 4 major functions of tires and they are as follows: * To support the weight of your vehicle - a average car weighs between 1.4 to 1.8 tons which is equivalent to the weight of about 30 people. The air and the build up pressure in your tire play the important role of supporting the weight of the car plus the driver and passengers on board. * To absorb road shocks - the tires, together with the car’s suspension system act as shock absorbents to reduce the effect of bumpy roads felt by the driver and the passengers in the car. * To transmit traction and braking forces - being the only contact between your car and the road, the rough surface of your tires provide traction when your car is moving off and also, provide the necessary brak-

ing when your car is coming to a stop. * To change and maintain the direction of travel - the tires turn according to the turning of the steering wheels, thus changing the direction of travel.

It is important to maintain your tires well for a few main reasons 1. Tire are the only contact between your car and the road. The proper pressure level will ensure that it provide the right level of shock absorbent, required traction and braking, provide proper directional steering and lastly, support the weight of the car and the passengers within the car.

2. Whether you like it or not, your tire loses pressure either on a continual basis due to passage of time or whenever your tires hit a hard object such as a curb or went pass a high hump.

3. Tires can experience uneven wear and tear among the tires due to weight variation, over or under inflated tire will also result in uneven wear and tear on each individual tire.

After knowing why the tires are important to your car’s safe handling and your safety, here’s some tips on help you in knowing how to properly maintain your tires: * Know your tire pressure rating -

this information is usually provided and can be found in the car’s user manual or in the glove box or at the car’s door jamb. * Keep to the required tire pressure, by checking your tire pressure on a weekly or monthly interval and when the tire is cold which basically refer to one that has not been driven on for at least three hours. The reason behind is that tires that are ‘hot’ after some traveling will demonstrate higher pressure thus produce inaccurate result. * Tire rotation - the main reason for tire rotation is to ensure even wear and tear among the four tires. Tires of the car can wear at different rate due to the uneven weight distribution of the car or passengers in the car (over a period of time).

It is the responsibility of you, the vehicle owner, to know that the vehicle tires need to be rotated and highlight to your mechanics when you want your tires to be rotated. The direction of rotation is usually provided by your car manufacturer, if otherwise, your car mechanic will usually know how to go about rotating the tires for the given the brand and type of tires that you are using.

Make sure that proper wheel alignment is maintained after each rotation. * Visual inspection of tread wear - from time to time, you should check how well worn are you tires as worn tires can be

dangerous as it only provide diminishing friction with the road and thus affect the optimal brake distance. Some tires come with marks to let you know when your tire needs to be changed, so look out for these marks and take action accordingly when it is time to change your tires. Another alternative to know the tread depth is to use a penny with a Lincoln head. Place the Lincoln’s head upside down and insert into the tread. When the top of Lincoln’s head is seen (which means the tread is shallow), it is time to replace the tires. * Before going for a long trip, make sure that you check and maintain your tire pressure to give you maximum control. * Lastly, even if you prefer to do most of the checks by yourself, it is always good to have a reliable professional mechanic to check your car and your car tires as part of your regular maintenance schedule.

In conclusion, tires that are properly maintained will guard against avoidable crashes or breakdowns, reduce frictional losses and therefore increase tire life, enhance fuel efficiency, and lastly, give optimal vehicle handling, and help to keep your car in better condition and therefore increase the value of your car.

Take care of your car, and it will serve you well. Enjoy safe journeys.

22 Wednesday, April 24, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Networking event yields results!

You just never know what may come out of an event - or who you’ll meet!

Jim Pagiamtzis Business Development I received an invitation on March 5th from Vito Marchese founder of Whiteboard Studios, (www.thenetworker.ca). This event attracts 300 attendees for a full day tradeshow and networking event.

This particular evening he held a networking event where he was expecting about 30 entrepreneurs.

The event was held in the Yonge and Sheppard area at the Milestone Restaurant, I had never been and was looking forward to the experience. As I got to the entrance I was greeted by Vito Marchese and was given my name tag to enter the networking area. The grand prize was a set of Raptors tickets.

As I began to mix and mingle with the crowd

I met fellow entrepreneur Maureen Shortt.

We had met at a leadership seminar and other events in the past year. I was surprised to see her due to the busy tax season that was upon us. Maureen has built her successful business mainly through referrals.

I continued my networking and met David Gargaro a Consulting Editor. We spoke about the importance of having a great editor. I had my own challenges recently with a poorly edited newsletter few months ago!

Next I met Laurie Taylor from Ferret Card, a mobile loyalty program that sounded very intriguing.

The last person I met was Karen Grant, speaker and author of an upcoming book “The Million Dollar Image-How to Step into a More Powerful Persona”, As we are in the same field we had a great conversation about the book industry and as it turned out I know her publisher Gerry Robert from Black Card Marketing. I had been in a mastermind group with his partner Jean Guy Francoeur in 2011.

The evening came to an end and prizes were drawn. Unfortunately I didn’t

win the raptor tickets!

A few days later I got a call from Sudip Mukarajee, organizer for the Canada Job Expo. I have been recommending speakers for the seminar portion of the show for the past 3 years. There was a spot open for a speaker at the event. I called Karen Grant and spoke to her briefly regarding the opportunity to speak at the seminar. On Monday March 11th I checked the website and saw that she was in the speakers’ lineup! I was excited to be able to make it happen.

Wednesday March 13th The day had arrived and I was looking forward to speaking and serving as the event emcee for the day. Fatima Omar Kham (Power of LinkedIn), Aline Ayoub, HR Consultant and Bonnie Chan (G.R.O.W system) would also be speaking. It was a busy day.

Attendance was great and the seminar room was busy!

The day was going well and I had time to sit down and listen to some of the speakers. Karen Grant spoke on how important your image is in your daily life. Near the

end she shared a picture of the cover of her upcoming book said “ I am currently looking to interview professionals with experience in mentorship, coaching and other topics for the back of my book” That got my attention!

Karen had another commitment and was unable to stay. I thanked her for coming and expressed my interest in learning more about the opportunity to participate in her book.

On March 26th we met for coffee.

I learned more about her book and her journey to success. She asked for permission to record our conversation and I obliged. I shared my journey with her, how I met my mentors and the impact they had made on my life. I had emailed her a copy of my book How to Attract a Mentor on Business, Life and Success and a video clip of an interview that I had done a few years ago. She was intrigued and impressed with the success I had achieved. We had a great conversation and I look forward to reading her book which is coming out in July 2013.

The moral of the story: You just don’t who you’re going to meet at an event and what will happen next!

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Life’s brighter under the sun © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2013.

Free Jamaican Real Estate & Mortgage Seminar Date: Time: Place:

Thursday April 25th 2013 at 6:30 pm – 10pm Courtyard Brampton Marriott in Brampton - 90 Biscayne Crescent, ON L6W 4S1 (Steeles & 410 Hwy)

Find out: - How can I benefit from owning real estate in Jamaica?

- How to acquire real estate in Jamaica?

- How to qualify for a mortgage in Jamaica?

- Everything you need to know about buying real estate in Jamaica?

- What types of properties are available for Purchase?

- Find out about joint Financing options (JNBS, NHT, etc.)

Call direct to the Toronto office to register 416-784-9657 or RSVP via email: jnbstoronto@jnbs.com Brought to you by Jamaica National Building Society Toronto Rep Office