VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 10 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH 2017
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CARIBBEAN DREAMING
LEANNE BENN/TORONTO CARIBBEAN What’s your favorite genre of movie? Action, romance, thriller or even sci-fi? How often do you end up seeking out Hollywood titles or even Bollywood titles? So imagine having access to Caribbean titles. The Caribbean Tales International Film Festival is coming to Toronto. So now it is time to embrace your Caribbean roots and support Caribbean raised actors, directors, producers, writers and much more as they embark on this enlightening journey of showcasing Caribbean culture through film. Caribbean Tales was founded in 2001, by successful filmmaker and former producer at BBC, Frances-Anne Solomon. Solomon’s aim and continued mandate is to provide content in the Canadian market embracing intercultural understanding and encouraging the creation and distribution of artistic materials related to the Caribbean
and Canadian heritage. Under this umbrella, the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival is celebrating twelve years and this year’s festival continues to promote diversity in the city of Toronto with the support of many sponsors including their lead sponsor FLOW Cable and Wireless. To mark the 12th annual festival, Caribbean Tales hosted a special media launch and film screening on July 6th at The Royal Cinema, downtown Toronto to celebrate their ongoing success. The event was held in partnership with The Consulate General of Barbados in Toronto, also featuring the Canadian premiere of A Caribbean Dream, directed by Barbadian Shakirah Bourne and produced by Melissa Simmonds and Lynette Eastmond. A Caribbean Dream is a beautiful and intricate take of Shakespeare’s classic, A Midsum-
mer Night’s Dream. Set on the shores of the beautiful island of Barbados, this is a classic Caribbean take of a magical fairy tale set in modern times. The film encapsulates the beautiful island culture and lifestyle, from scenic nature views to the lively party culture of the island, with fairies adorned with colorful and vibrant crop over costumes. As the Consul General of Barbados, Mr. Haynesley Benn rightfully said, one is certainly motivated to book a trip to the beautiful island after viewing this film. The film features young lovers, magical fairies, and lively island fishermen all intersecting in the tropical paradise while featuring many comedic moments filled with love as well as the prominent theme of mixed race relationships. Continued On Page 7
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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Makini Smith - Conquering Adversity through Faith
Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean News
Life doesn’t always go the way you plan, and yet somehow we discover the strength within us that helps us to conquer our adversity and find our confidence again. Born in Toronto, Makini Smith was raised by a single mother after her parents separated when she was just a year old. They lived in government housing, and her mother worked multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Seeing how hard her mother had to work, she dedicated her own efforts to be very well behaved, not causing her mother unnecessary grief, and ensuring that she was doing well in school. She was an honor roll student, and most days she kept to herself, quiet and introverted. At the age of seventeen Makini’s life took an unexpected turn when she discovered that she was pregnant. Being pregnant at seventeen taught her to develop a very thick skin. People were cruel, and both adults and teenagers did not have nice things to say to her. She was seventeen, but her youthful appearance earned her a lot of scorn and criticism from her peers. However, Makini was resilient, and she was insistent on doing better for herself and her unborn child. She made it a priority to stay in school, transferring to Rosalie Hall, a school for expectant mothers to complete her high school credits. She moved out of her mother’s home and went to live with her child’s father and his parents. Her mother was less than impressed that she was pregnant at seventeen, but became more supportive after learning that the child’s father stepped up and took responsibility of taking care of them.
“My priorities were definitely different from my peers,” Makini shares. “For example, I missed graduation because I was in No Frills with my baby and her father buying groceries when I got a call from the school telling me they just called my name on stage. My main priorities became my daughter and our future.” After the birth of her daughter, Makini completed the remainder of her high school credits and took a year off to work. There were a lot of challenges working fulltime and having to take public transportation and make it back in time to pick up her daughter from daycare. Sacrifices were made, but it was something she understood that needed to be done. Her personal relationships were another challenge in her life. She remained with her high school sweetheart for eight and a half years, before they had another child together. Shortly after the birth of her second child, they split up, and a few months later she met the man that she ended up marrying. Their relationship lasted another eight and a half years, and they a child together, before she filed for divorce. Her husband had problems of his own, and he was both verbally and emotionally abusive. Their different belief systems and morals inevitably separated them. She would overcompensate by spoiling her children but also showed them other examples of male figures in their lives that loved them. In 2009 Makini made the decision to become a full-time entrepreneur at the same exact time filing for a divorce. She chose to pursue real estate because of the flexibility it allowed her to work and raise
her children. Then in 2012, she lost her best friend and her sister at the age of thirty-nine. “We were extremely close, she was my best friend and like another mother to my children. When she passed away it made me take a look at what legacy did I want to leave behind, how did I want to be remembered?” After her sister passed away many people reached out to tell her how much her sister had meant to them and how much she went out of her way to help them and inspired them. She opened her mind through support groups dealing with her divorce as well as her loss, and people were inspired by her story so much that they recommended that she write a book. “I had no idea that book was going to help women internationally, even if it had helped one person I would have been grateful but to see the impact that it’s making with women all over the world it’s mind blowing to me.” Makini Smith is an entrepreneur, single mother of three, international author of ‘A Walk In My Stilettos’ an international speaker and mentor. She has graced platforms in Canada, the United States, and Africa with her transparent storytelling of real life testimonies. “I want all women and the next generation to know that they can turn their mess into their message,” Makini says. “A lot of women feel that they are alone in their situation and what they are going through, and if they just are authentic and transparent they would realize how much power they have in their own stories.”
Please call Joshua David at ext. 201
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
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2017 Annual SoccerFest
Jelani Grant
jelani@carib101.com
TC Reporter Bringing Jamaican diaspora, across the western hemisphere, together in a love of soccer, the Lynx Canada Foundation and the Alliance of Jamaica Alumni Association (AJAA) will host their Annual SoccerFest. Eight teams, made of alumni representing educational institutions from all over Jamaica, were selected to play in a tournament for their Alliance Cup. Teams will face off at Fletchers Field in Markham for the 2017 championship on July 16th. The teams include Cornwall College, Calabar High School, Meadowbrook High School, Rusea’s High School, Edwin Allen High School, Mannings High School, Kingston College, Charlie Smith High School, Hol-
mwood High School, Lennon High School, St Elizabeth Tech High School, St Jago High School, Wolmer’s High School, Jamaica College, Ferncourt, Excelsior. The tournament will begin at 9 A.M. with Cornwall College facing Charlie Smith High School. It was announced on the SoccerFest Twitter account that the City Soul Band & Charlee and Ammoye are scheduled to perform throughout the contest. Accommodations have been made for guests to take shuttle buses from the Don Mills subway station to Fletcher’s Field and back. The shuttle buses will run every two hours from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. A Jamaican breakfast will be provided for everyone at 8 A.M., before the first game, which is scheduled to kick off at 9 A.M. There will also be lunch and dinner on sale during the day. Each year, SoccerFest invites alumni teams representing educational institutions from all over Jamaica to compete for the coveted Alliance Cup. For this year’s competition, there will also be a chance for players to compete for the Earl Jarrett MVP Award as well as a cash prize. The award will go to the most valuable and distinguished player of the day.
SoccerFest has been successfully executed for over thirty-three years. Throughout the decades, these prominent Jamaican high schools have continued to display a passion for one of Jamaica’s favorite sports through friendly competition, traditional Jamaican meals, and good musical entertainment. Over the years, the festival has grown to a patronage of over 6,000 and more than 8,000 guests are expected to attend this year. AJAA is a charitable umbrella organization comprised of forty Toronto-based alumni associations affiliated with educational institutions in Jamaica. They were organized in 1988 and, since then, have been involved in administering the educational activities of alumni associations in Toronto. Along with holding SoccerFest every year, the AJAA provides e-mentorship for at-risk young boys and girls with the help of Cuso International. The project has been successful in identifying approximately 100 at-risk young persons, mostly male, from inner-city communities and the Greater Portmore Area in Kingston, Jamaica who could benefit from distance mentoring and improve performance indicators such as grades, teacher, and peer feedback, and as-
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sessments. They also have a post-secondary bursary program for Ontario secondary school graduates of Jamaican descent. Many of the schools competing in the tournament have built reputations for being formidable opponents year after year. For instance, Cornwall College’s male institution won eleven Olivier Shields. Jamaica College’s success in soccer has been demonstrated by their men’s team who has won eighteen Olivier Shields as recently as 2016 and also boasts footballer alumni Major League Soccer player Deshorn Brown. This special event aims at bringing many members of the Jamaican-Canadian Community together and allowing soccer fans from all over Canada and the United States to come out to support their culture and traditions in a fun and family-friendly environment. Admission to the soccer celebration is $5 with free on-site parking. For more information, the SoccerFest website has a schedule of games, a map of the event’s location, as well as their social medias.
Challenging the Criminal Justice System protocol that was referred to by one simply ‘there is a protocol in place adults – many of whom were unprosecutor as ‘gospel’, has been rethat allows for this to happen’. Well, aware of their rights and sometimes scinded. The practice changed immeunable to obtain good legal represen- if a person is presumed ‘innocent diately – now, if a bail application is until proven guilty’ it is unfair to tation. made this week a hearing is schedhold them for this length of time uled by the Friday of the following without the opportunity to receive My decision to become a Criminal Defence Attorney was to do my part bail. The regular bail process gives week. the prosecutor 3 days to have a bail to carefully monitor and challenge hearing for these kinds of offences. At Mattis Law we are always to presystemic bias in the justice system pared to go the distance for our cliChallenging this status quo - we while providing competent and afents. We’ve gained the reputation of brought a rarely used application fordable representation to clients not being afraid to challenge the law called Habeus Corpus – this applicawhen they need it. By Maurice Mattis, Senior Counsel and the legal status quo. Getting the tion allows for a speedier bail hearMattis Law Professional Corporabest outcome for our clients is our ing. In the application, we cited the Here’s an one example of how Mattis tion - www.mattislaw.ca Law has challenged systemic bias on example of the policeman who shot goal. and killed Sammy Yatim in Toronto While serving as Deputy Superinten- behalf of a client: and received his bail hearing within Do you have a case you would like to dent of JCF (Jamaican Constabulary discuss? Call me (647-348-6588) or 48 hours under this same protocol. A few years ago, while at Superior Force) for 22 years and then working email (maurice@mattislaw.ca) – your There are no special provisions for Court intending to set bail hearing as a Liaison Officer with the Toronto first consultation is free. police officers in the law. for a client charged ‘as an accessory Police for two years – later as Assisafter the fact’ for murder, we were tant Crown Attorney working at the The results? The presiding Judge or- Legal Disclaimer: Past results are not necesNorth York Crown Attorney’s Office, given a date 6 weeks in the future. sarily indicative of future results. dered a bail hearing within 3 days. When we inquired why the date was I have experience the impact of the He also informed the court that the so far in the future, we were told criminal justice system on youths and
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
Caribbean Student Duo Launch Clothing Brand Chelsea Owusu
chelsea@carib101.com
TC Reporter Two students from Humber College’s fashion management degree program have announced the release of their intimate clothing collection. The brand is titled Undivided; an underwear line for both men and women. Undivided aims to represent all body types and races with realistic ads, and specializes in intimates and loungewear for youth who believe in self-love and body positivity. The debut collection features a men’s boxer brief, a women’s bralette and bikini style panties, and a unisex campaign tshirt. All of the items in the collection are made in Toronto, as the owners want to improve the Canadian economy and provide quality control, by having the items manufactured close to home. The Undivided brand was started by Shanice Romelus and Seerlee Archer, who met in their program at Humber College. The two of them have been working on the Undivided brand for over two years. “They received a grant allowing them to move forward with the launch, by entering and winning the college’s New Venture Seed Fund contest, which required them to develop a thorough business plan for Undivided,” says Linda Schuckova, PR Agent for Undivided. Undivided claims to provide garments that flatter one’s body, by providing exceptional quality without sacrificing style. “The brand is based on men and women shopping for intimates alongside each other as opposed to shopping in separate stores/sections and fitting
under different style and body image criteria,” says Schuckova. In most clothing stores, men’s and women’s clothing and intimates are divided by gender. “Shanice and Seerlee believe men and women should compliment each other in life and style,” says Schuckova. Undivided keeps their body positive philosophy at the forefront of their company, by providing both men and women with exceptional design, un-retouched photos, and the unique fit of their garments. Undivided recently held a launch party and pop-up shop on July 8th in Toronto. “The pop-up shop took the form of an apartment with three rooms; a living room, a bedroom, and a kitchen. The idea behind the space design is that intimates are worn at home. In your home, you are free to wear whatever you want and can lounge comfortably in your intimates,” says Schuckova. The student’s goal was to create an environment that was intimate and comfortable. The pop-up shop event celebrating the launch of the Undivided brand, also featured appetizers, a range of cocktails, and a live DJ. While both Shanice Romelus and Seerlee Archer are giving men and women the opportunity to promote self-love through intimates a n d loungewear, the duo is also completing their bachelor of commerce degree in fashion management. Undivided has also made its mark on social media to make it easy for those interested to follow the brand’s journey, and also get in contact with the Undivided team. “The Undivided Instagram account, @ iamundivided, is the best way to get immediate access to what’s happening at Undivided with direct links for purchase linking to the site,” says Schuckova. “People are encouraged to like, comment, and share the page but most of all, any questions are welcomed in the comment section or even by direct message.” You can also visit www.undivided.ca for more information.
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
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A Caribbean Dream Premieres at CTFF Leanne Benn
leanne@carib101.com
TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- Barbados is definitely one of the countries being prominently featured in this year’s festival and as Mr. Benn remarked, this film festival is a great way to learn about the Caribbean, the people, the heritage and the stories that make this region a memorable and unique place. The theme of the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2017 is called Caribbean Legacy and is focused on the heritage and struggles of Caribbean legacy and storytelling. The films presented
in this year’s festival also embrace the reality of the current world we live in, including racism, violence and hostile politics. On the other hand, the theme also explores the historical values of certain Caribbean countries as well as unique and authentic stories that originate from the islands including themes of love, humor, and joy. This year’s festival would most definitely not be possible without the help and continued support of the Caribbean diaspora and committee members as the film is one of the main ways in which Caribbean legacy can be expressed.
The screening of A Caribbean Dream also featured the trailer of Science Fiction based Brown Girl Begins by Sharon Lewis out of Jamaica and the USA and based on the novel of the same name by Nalo Hopkinson. Lewis is also a part of the Caribbean Tales Incubator Program, which brings together new and senior Caribbean Filmmakers.
This year the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival runs from September 6th to September 21st in Toronto. There will be fourteen feature films and thirty short films. Some highlights include Machel Montano: Journey of a Soca King by Bart Phillips, Trinidad and Tobago, Pimento and Hot Pepper, The Mento Story by Rick Elgood, Jamaica, Le Gang des Antillais, West Indies Gang by Jean-Claude Barny, Guadeloupe/ France and many other intriguing titles focused on various themes including Focus on Women, LGBTQ and Environmental Focus. For more information about festival information, the incubator program, short film challenges and community screenings visit caribbeantalesfestival.com, email festival.caribbeantales@gmail.com or call the festival office at 416-534-8308. So, this September remember to embrace Caribbean culture and arts at the 12th annual Caribbean Tales International Film Festival.
It is Time for the Caribbean Community to Take Mental Health Seriously Kabrena Robinson
kabrena@carib101.com
TC Reporter In Jamaica, the news that recently captured the nation’s attention was the death of Haile Clacken. A man diagnosed with a mental illness shot to death by a security guard after allegedly climbing onto a guardsman truck. The death of Clacken was followed by outrage and protests from his family and community members, igniting a nationwide discussion on attitudes to mental illness in Jamaica. The guard has recently been charged with murder, a mere victory anticipated by his family and community. From this, the family hopes to launch a campaign to increase mental health awareness across the country. Clacken, 36, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness marked by alternating periods of elation and depression. As a graduate with honors from York University, a former journalist, and eminent educator and mentor, Clacken was a well-respected figure in his community. While the incident has garnered much-needed dialogue and attention to mental health awareness, it has also highlighted another problematic issue which is the privilege of possessing social stature in Jamaica. While Clacken’s status did not spare him from such a tragedy, it did bring his death and the circumstances around it one major thing, attention, something that the average unintelligible, raggedy homeless person with a mental illness would not be fortunate enough to
obtain. Deaths of people with mental illness in the Caribbean are sometimes unreported and unrecognized. This raises further discussions around the negative attitudes and stigmas existing in the Caribbean culture surrounding people with mental illness. Also, the dispassionate and inadequate efforts being made to facilitate and assist them, especially those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Mental illness can range from depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, intellectual disabilities to developmental disorders including autism. The most recent study carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 60% of mental health patients in the Caribbean are less likely to have received mental health treatment or counseling. Individuals living with mental illness are reluctant to seek diagnosis and treatment because of discriminatory attitudes such as being ridiculed, isolated or labeled as “mad” and violent. Mental health facilities and services are more developed in some countries namely Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago with greater accessibility to mental health institutions, free access to essential psychotropic medicines and other resources. However, mental illness in the Caribbean continues to be rampant, overlooked and stigmatized. According to the study, the problem persists as centralized mental institutions being the only method for mental rehabilitation is not enough. Sixty to seventy percent of patients in psychiatric institutions labeled as “madhouses” in the Caribbean are often there for years without progress in overcrowded and sometimes deplorable spaces. This does little to help minor and severe cases of mental illness. The study recommends that the focus should be shifted towards establishing community-based psychiatric services so that patients with less severe illnesses will
be more motivated to seek help without having to deal with the stigma attached to “madhouses”, this will also eliminate overcrowding in centralized facilities. This is one solution. The bigger issue still lies with the stigma and discriminatory attitudes the Caribbean community shares as it relates to dealing with mental illness. More effort needs to be made to raise awareness on mental health issues in the Caribbean to minimize fear of being stigmatized if one seeks mental health services, and it starts with us as a community. “Awareness needs to make the society understand that mental illness is often not the result of a defect in the individual, but rather the interplay of the individual amongst many environmental concerns,” states Alexandra Bodden, a lecturer at the University College of the Cayman Islands and an expert in Clinical Psychology. “This viewpoint needs to be taught to those in the medical and mental health profession, and then advocated to the population at large.” While the development of mental health awareness, prevention, and assisting programs are great for progress, the community needs to be receptive to them. People living in the Caribbean and even the diaspora here in Canada can assist with this issue. Stigmas attached to mental illness is also an existing issue across the Caribbean diaspora in Canada. The solution begins with breaking the communication barriers instilled by this stigma. People with mental illness should know that it is ok to acknowledge their condition and seek help and the community should aim to become more mindful and informed on the topic. It should no longer be suppressed, ignored or written off as a taboo; it requires unmitigated attention now.
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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Shop, Network and Connect at Beauty Mark 2017 Alyssa Mahadeo
alyssa@carib101.com
TC Reporter The bond between women has been a hot topic of discussion over the years. Many have been left with bad impressions of catty behavior, jealousy, and competitive natures that seem to destroy relationships and distort the rights and privileges that women of past generations fought so hard for. For the 3rd year in a row, Beauty Mark hosted by Jackie Clarke founder of The Well Connected returned to the UpTown Loft in Toronto for a Summer exclusive shopping experience. Beauty Mark is an influential event for women, entrepreneurs, millennials, and beauty lovers alike. Beauty Mark was created to inspire women through beauty and support local women-owned businesses. The Well Connected is passionate about an event of this caliber because it is a platform that supports and encourages women in business and inspires a community to come together, network and support one another. Their intention is to create a space for information, inspiration, understanding, and acceptance that will allow our community of millennials and entrepreneurs to share in the power of beauty and for local businesses to showcase their work. The Uptown Loft was buzzing with anticipation and excitement as women from across the GTA came out to support and network with their sisters meeting new people and making connections with companies and brands that they could potentially work with in future endeavors. Host of Beauty Mark, Jackie Clarke shared some of her personal experiences, in making the decision to host this event, struggling as a woman of color to get her foot in the door in the realm of Public Relations in Toronto. “After entering the world of beauty PR, I found that there were a lot of brands and products I couldn’t connect with. I also found that still being new to the industry not having very much practical experience people didn’t want to work with me, didn’t want to hire me and it took a huge blow on my self-esteem.” Jackie shared. “I wondered why people wouldn’t give me a chance to showcase my skills and that’s how Beauty Mark got started,” Jackie said. “I looked at all of these young entrepreneurs, all these young women and young men trying to start something, and because consumers don’t want to hear from you if you’re not a distinguished brand name they weren’t being supported
and so Beauty Mark stems from that connecting with men and women and showcasing what they have to offer.” Guests who attended Beauty Mark 2017 were invited to come out and enjoy complimentary hair and beauty services from independent consultants and entrepreneurs offering their own brand of services. Attendees were able to shop exclusively from vendors at a special price, enjoy tasty luscious eats from Burger Pawty while vibing to the sensational sounds from DJ Steph Honey. In addition to all of the exclusive opportunities throughout the room, guests were invited to listen to some interesting and engaging panel discussions that included Fab For Fashion, Gale, Nancy, Leslie and Judy, four women of all shapes and sizes sharing their own personal fashion journey, learning to love the skin they’re in and also offering helpful advice on where to find clothes to fit different body sizes and not get discouraged if you can’t find something in your size. They started their brand to promote body positivity and body diversity. The clothing industry has been working to become more inclusive to the different shapes and size of women and though it has been a struggle for most, it’s all about learning where to find what you need. The afternoon ended on a high note with a panel discussion speaking of Self-Love and the challenges we face learning to love ourselves, engaging in positive affirmations and coming to the understanding that we are perfect just the way we are. The panel was comprised of four women from all walks of life including beauty maven Ashley Victoria of StoneFox Beauty, Alessia Giustini Reiki Master, Self-Love Coach and Spiritual Healer, Sasha from Flaws of Couture and Mom and Blogger Shani Cares. Each woman shared their own unique experience, struggles and challenges when it came to loving themselves and what it means to continue to practice self-love every day. They shared how they felt when life was unbearable, living up to high expectations and accepting failure as part of the journey. “It’s about believing in yourself, because if I don’t believe in myself then nobody else would believe in me,” said Alessia Giustini. It was a wholesome and fulfilling event, there were tears and laughter even tears of laughter as the women in attendance connected in ways they didn’t know was possible. Attendees left with a swag bag of goodies filled with items provided by Beauty Mark’s many sponsors Skyn Iceland, Swegg, Castlefield Designs, Perth Soap, Narley Media, NYX Cosmetics, Curls & Confidence, The Taste, Softlips, Chakrubs, Sugargirliee, Vasanti, Barre Works, Erno Lazlo, and much more. Follow them on Instagram & Twitter @WellConnectedTo to stay updated and hear the latest about Beauty Mark 2018!
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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Yowronto Festival Showcases Local and International Talent Kristina Ramcharran kristina@carib101.com
TC Reporter The Yowronto music festival in Toronto was a fusion of Caribbean and Canadian cultures. Held during the Canada Day long weekend, the two-day festival lineup consisted of international and local artists alike, who performed music from genres that varied from pop to reggae to soca. Each day of the festival lasted a full twelve hours running from 11 am to 11 pm. The event which spanned the Canada Day long weekend attracted thousands in attendance for the culture filled festival. Notable headliners of the festival’s day one show were Bajan soca superstar Alison Hinds, known for hits like “Roll it Gyal”, Reggae vocalist Romaine Virgo and rapper Cham, formerly known as Baby Cham. Many in attendance sported red and white in celebration of Canada’s 150 years of independence. Besides the Canada flags, the Caribbean crowd waved their own flags and bandanas to represent the islands and countries they hailed from.
Day one of the festival had a reggae and soca theme, where many of the artists performed party music in a lively fashion. The second day of the festival was labeled as a gospel theme, with gospel-reggae performers providing soulful performances on a cool Sunday. Both days of the festival showcased an array or local talent The festival featured a variety of different vendors present with food vendors serving up fresh jerk chicken, corn soup, and more Caribbean cuisine. Also present were clothing vendors, and sponsor vendors like Red Stripe and Hennessey, which provided a tent where festival goers could purchase alcoholic beverages. Day two of the festival featured performances from gospel and reggae powerhouses Lieutenant Stitchie and Tessanne Chin. Lieutenant Stitchie is known for his gospel-reggae hybrid sound, while Chin is highly known for winning the first season of the American reality TV show The Voice. The two-day festival’s first year was a success, drawing over two thousand people over the course of the weekend. The event was a family friendly affair with an age-diverse crowd, as well as culturally diverse, attracting people from various islands and countries in the Caribbean and around the world. Each day, the festival began with a showcase of local
talent and legends, with performances from artists like Ammoye Evans and Michie Mee known as Canada’s queen of hip-hop. Michie Mee was surely in the Canada Day spirit and she broke out a large Canada flag, as well as a Jamaican flag halfway during her performance. Michie Mee also gave back to the community by handing out CDs of her latest music to the crowd. Midway during the festival’s day one show, the organizers of the event were invited on stage to speak about their mission with the festival and to thank all of the festival goers for attending and promising to bring the festival back next year. Day one’s event continued as it featured performances from Captain Love and dancehall’s favorite funny man Professor Nuts. He had the crowd laughing hysterically as he told hilarious stories through songs and freestyles. Up next, all the women in the crowd went crazy for the one and only Romaine Virgo, as he crooned some of his own original songs as well as covering ballads such as Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me”. As the festival grew later into the night, the crowd grew as well. Bajan queen of soca Alison Hinds brought on the hype and energy as she had everyone moving and grooving to her hit songs like “Faluma” and “Togetherness”. The final performance of day one was from none oth-
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Queen’s College Literary Event
Leanne Benn
leanne@carib101.com
TC Reporter As Caribbean people, one of our favorite past times may be coming together with family and friends and sharing stories, light laughter and socializing to catch up on the latest ‘gaffe ’. The Queens College Alumni Association Toronto ( QCAAT) is all too familiar with planning social gatherings that bring together former students and friends of Guyana’s most prestigious school, Queen’s College. July 9th, was no exception, as former students, colleagues and prominently Guyanese gathered at the Warden Hilltop Community Centre to celebrate and recognize the book launch of two main Guyanese authors as well as readings from Canadian Guyanese writers and former members of the Alumni Association. This entertaining and wonderfully planned
er than Cham, also known as Baby Cham. He also brought high energy to the crowd as he performed his hits “Ghetto Story” and “Whine”. Day two started off with chilly weather but that didn’t deter the crowd from coming out and staying until the end to see headliners Lieutenant Stitchie and Tessanne Chin. Stitchie performed hits like “Natty Dread” and gospel inspired songs like “Bible Story”. Tessanne Chin’s powerhouse voice was enough to shut down the festival with a big bang as she performed original songs, pop covers, and reggae classics. Her rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” as seen on reality TV show The Voice had everyone in the festival spirit as they turned the flashlights on their smartphones on to create a sea of lights. The organizers also advertised an upcoming festival happening at the same Woodbine Fantasy Fairgrounds in August, featuring performances from dancehall powerhouses Alkaline, Mavado and Jahmiel. On day two of the festival, the vice president of the mall was present at the event, as it was the first event of its kind to be hosted at the mall’s outdoor parking lot turned venue. The community of Rexdale and other surrounding communities showed great support for the festival’s first year, as the attendees exclaimed that they would attend if the festival was brought back for another year.
event was part of the QCAAT 25th Anniversary celebrations and under the literary program of the association. With opening remarks from President of the association, Gerald Alleyne and Vice President Kemahl Khan, the event was underway to honor and present the book launch for Dorothy Irwin, Years of High Hopes: A Portrait of British Guiana 1952-1956 and Dr. Frank Birbalsingh, West Indian History, and Literature. Years of High Hopes is an interesting and fascinating take on Dorothy Irwin’s own personal relationship with Guyana. Her parents, moved from America to Guyana in 1952, in search of new work opportunities, where her father, Mr. Howard Irwin taught Biology, in the 50’s. Dorothy was born in Guyana near the end of her parent’s time in this strange and fascinating place and she left her birth country at only five months old. It was only years later that Dorothy found approximately 200 letters written by her mother to her grandparents back in the USA. Upon research, Dorothy found letters that her father had written as well. It became only fair that these personal accounts of a young American couple in a foreign land such as Guyana should be shared with the Guyanese people, it was the perspective, as Dorothy remarked, of outsiders on the inside. As these letters were the only means of overseas communication
that her parents had, Dorothy praised their skilled writing, which made for entertaining detail especially the political and social environment of British Guiana moving towards Independence. From Dorothy’s remarks, the letters present an unfolding of Guyana’s colonial past towards an unknown future. The next book featured by the launch was presented by Dr. Frank Birbalsingh, who is a Queens College Alumnus as well as an Emeritus Professor of English at York University in Toronto as well as the author of other books related to the Caribbean and Guyanese culture. Dr. Birbalsingh’s book on West Indian History and Literature is a collection of reviews based on 88 different books written by authors all over the Caribbean. All the books included have various viewpoints and tones and they include historical notes, poetry, drama, politics, and fiction all related to the history of Caribbean nationality, as Guyanese culture is well shared with other Caribbean islands, despite being a country in South America. Dr. Birbalsingh even read an excerpt of one chapter based on a memoir by Lorna Goodison entitled From Harvey River, which explores themes of race, the dehumanization of slavery and feminine voice among other accounts. Janet Naidu, a Guyanese- Canadian
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author, and human rights activist also recited two poems written from her Rainwater collection which focused on the reflections of Indian indentureship in Guyana, including reflections of her own grandparents. Her elegant poetry included phrases such as “waves of bondage” to describe the journey back to India once freed from plantation life in Guyana. William Farley, a QC alumnus also included a reading from his late brother and former member of the QCAAT, Saville Farley and his book entitled; Where The Peoples Have Gathered. Syed Rayman read from the late Barney Singh’s work entitled Tales of the Guyanese Vanacular which provided humorous high points in the selected readings section and a closing by Kemahl Khan reading from The Golden Age of Georgetown Characters 1930-1960 by Bernard Heydorn explored themes of humor but also undertones of mental health. The QCAAT still has many events in store to encourage future gatherings including the Last Lap Lime, a popular event amongst the alumni of various Guyanese High Schools. For more information and updates visit www.qcalumnitoronto.com.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
island news
Children’s Life Fund Faces Legal Battle
TRINIDAD -- Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge Saturday filed an application for judicial review of the “policy, interpretation and decisions” of the CLFA, based on its rejection of the application of funding for four-year-old Luke and five-year-old Chandoo earlier this year. Each child’s surgery cost $1.2 million. Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar and senator Gerald Ramdeen, with instructing attorney Sean Sobers, are the legal team leading the action. According to the application filed, the decision to refuse funding to Luke and Chandoo is contrary to the provisions of the Children’s Life Fund Act. The Children’s Life Fund is a charitable fund established by the government under Persad-Bissessar in November 2010 by Act of Parliament - Act No. 12 of 2010. The CLFA was the body bestowed with the responsibility to operate, manage and administer the Children’s Life Fund. According to the CLFA’s website, the authority “ensures that all eligible applicants to the fund are carefully considered by
a team of highly qualified specialist doctors and medical social workers to ensure that the ‘Best Care Plan’ is determined and carefully executed. The CLFA’s first priority is the wellbeing of the child and his/her family.” In April, the families of Luke and Chandoo sought to access that funding. Chandoo, who was born on June 30, 2012, was diagnosed with a blood disorder known as Beta Thalassemia Major when he was eight months old. Luke, who was born on April 11, 2013, was diagnosed with the same disorder when she was nine months. The only cure for the disorder is hematopoietic cell transfusion, which is not available in Trinidad and Tobago. Both children’s parents identified the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy, as a centre for a haploidentical bone marrow transplant surgery at approximately TT$1.2 million, which does not include the related expenses associated with the surgery and after care. On April 4, Luke’s parents made an application to the fund for help, while Chandoo’s parents did the same on April 6. Both
applications were rejected. According to the CLF, a clinical assessment determined that the children’s medical condition was “not life threatening” as required by Section 19 (e) of the Act, the judicial review document stated. In addition to this, the parents had already paid the hospital for the surgeries in early May and the fund “does not allow for reimbursement”. Sturge’s application is arguing that the CLF’s decision, “if left unchallenged will directly affect the ability of many persons to access funding from the Children’s Life Fund and this may affect the ability of the board to properly and lawfully discharge its statutory power.” On April 24, a pre-action protocol letter was sent to CLFA chairman Dr Aritza Fernandes. Affidavits by Sturge, Dr Ramesh Mathura and Chandoo’s mother Alicia Chandoo were also filed at the San Fernando High Court. - Trinidad Guardian
Kamla at Eid Celebrations: Changes to Opposition Line-Up in Senate Coming
TRINIDAD -- Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that there may be some changes to the Opposition line up in the Senate. She said so while delivering the feature address at Eid celebrations hosted by Ummah T&T, a local Muslim Lobby Group. It was held at the Felicity Diplomatic Centre, Rasheed Avenue, Felicity, Chaguanas. Persad-Bissessar later told the media she planned to make some changes wherever she legally can. The former prime minister said she cannot get rid of elected MPs, councillors and aldermen or to make changes to the national executive of the UNC. She said, “I intend to make some changes come September and during the course of this period we would be working very hard to put structures into place. I have already instructed every MP to hold a budget
consultation seminar in their constituencies, we are also preparing our briefs and I intend to meet stakeholders, again for budget consultations. Specific changes you shall see come September.” Persad-Bissessar dodged questions when asked if there would be a return to the senate of persons who had been in the Senate during the PP regime as Kevin Ramnarine or Devant Maharaj. She said the party is on election footing following Saturday’s death of PNM councillor Pernell Bruno, who held the Barataria seat on the San Juan/ Laventille Regional Corporation. Persad-Bissessar offered condolence to Bruno’s family. She said this would trigger a by-election “We would go on election footing for that by-election.” She also told the gathering that she was upset by the Government’s decision to make students who had scored less that 30 per
cent in the SEA exams to resit the exams in 2018. She said the policy since the Basdeo Panday UNC regime (1995-2001) that was carried thorough by the Patrick Manning administration was to ensure that all children enter secondary school. Persad-Bissessar said this move now by the Ministry of Education was a retrograde step in the education system and could inflict some level of mental anguish on the students who had to resit. Persad-Bissessar also criticised the Government for cancelling the programme to give laptops to Form One students. She said the people who are behind the closure of the programme are the ones who can afford laptops for their children while leaving those who cannot at a disadvantage. - Trinidad Guardian
Soldier Held in Nikki Crosby’s Robbery
TRINIDAD -- A soldier is among two people arrested in connection with armed robbery in which comedienne Nikki Crosby and other customers were relieved of valuables at Artie’s Meats, Four Roads, Diego Martin, on Saturday. The two suspects were placed on several identification parades Saturday and were expected to be charged with the offence last night. Once charged the men will be taken
before a Port-of-Spain magistrate later today. According to a police report, at about 2.30 pm masked men entered the establishment and robbed customers. They then ordered everyone onto the floor and proceeded to relieve the customers and workers of their personal valuables, including items of jewelry, cellular phones, and cash. The men also stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register before escap-
ing.
The men were later held by police after a shootout. Officers also recovered a firearm. Investigations are continuing. Crosby said she felt “traumatised and violated” by the incident, but she was grateful to be alive. - Trinidad Guardian
Devant Maharaj is New Union Leader
TRINIDAD -- Giving “sanctuary” and representation to contract and public officers who feel they’ve been victimised by the Government. “Our target market are those who feel they’ve suffered social injustice from this Government. We’re committed to ensuring this doesn’t take root. There’s a growing list of potential cases,” Maharaj, former PP Food Production Minister, added. The Social Development Ministry has stated it’s “neither terminated nor retrenched contract employees. The ministry stated the contracts of the 103 will expire on July 31. From August 1, 2017, the Social Welfare Division will administer the programme via 14 regional offices. The said affected employees were formally notified of the impending expiration of contracts, and reminded of
the need to ensure Performance Appraisal Reports are completed. “Finalisation and sign off of the report by the permanent secretary is a requirement for finalisation and payment of the contract gratuity.” Maharaj said if those workers are so inclined, STU would represent them. He said the union was conceptualised last year after some Food Production Ministry workers couldn’t get representation on issues. “We saw other issues in state enterprises including Caroni Green Ltd or with people being sidelined simply because they worked well under the PP administration. I was approached by several people to form something to assist in representing and defending against perceived unlawful/political dismissals.”
In some cases Maharaj claimed the Government was paying two people to do the same duty with one on suspension with full pay and another person doing their job. He said this was affecting some officials in Namdevco, the Sugar Cane Feed Centre, National Lotteries Control Board and farming sector. He said STU registered earlier this year, operates from attorney Jagdeo Singh’s Fortis chambers. Maharaj, a management expert, said STU’s legal advisers are attorney Kyle Takalalsingh and former industrial court judge Dinesh Rambally. Pro-bono work will be done according to the case. - Trinidad Guardian
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island news
GUYANA -- Sunday night’s fire which gutted the Georgetown Prison was not “normal” and Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said the evacuation of the inmates was a bigger priority than to save the building which was eventually gutted. When the Fire Service received word of the fire via the operations room of the Brickdam Police Station, the firemen observed all requisite protocols and during the swift activation, two fire units were dispatched to the scene, Gentle told a media briefing Sunday night at the National Communications Network (NCN) studios. “When they got there, there were four different fires at four different parts of the prisons,” Gentle related, adding that the Fire Service received word of the fire around 16:45hrs. The prison was reduced to rubble after a prison break which started when inmates lit simultaneous fires in the buildings and one officer was held hostage reportedly by mass killer, Royden Williams. This was according to Director of Prisons, Gladwyn Samuels, who
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Camp St Fire Wasn’t Normal
also spoke to the media late Sunday night. Gentle recounted that when the firemen arrived at the scene, it was decided that alternatives had to be sought. He said that the firefighting role was aimed at safeguarding the exit points of the prison. He said that given the time of the day, being 17:00hrs, one would have expected rapid combustion as the prison was ablaze. The wooden sections of the prison at the corner of Durban and John Streets, as well as another wooden area close to the corner of John and Bent Streets, were set ablaze initially. Those areas, known as the strong-cell division and the condemned division, were immediately attended to as evacuation of the prisoners commenced. Gentle said that given the large number of persons who had to be accounted for, 1018 prisoners, the immediate priority was to ensure the fire remained confined to the prison compound and, secondly, to ensure everyone exited the building safely. He said that there were several simultaneous factors which were
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being played out as the prison burned. Gentle noted that as the firemen battled the blaze with help from other members of the Joint Services, they were being constantly attacked by prisoners with large bricks. “There are a lot of issues that occurred“, he noted, adding that first responders would have made appropriate moves based on the situation on the ground. Gentle described the scene as “unprecedented”, a major incident where in less than an hour more than six buildings in the centre of Georgetown were razed. Officials noted the complexity of the situation on Sunday night. It was noted that groups of prisoners who were brought out from inside the prison and placed inside the Prison Officers’ Club set fire to that facility. Last March, 17 prisoners in the Capital Section of the Georgetown Prison died as a result of an unrest that started several days earlier .The Capital Section of the prison usually accommodates persons who are on remand for murder
and gun-related crimes. Following the fiery incident, a fire-truck was placed on stand-by outside the prison for any eventualities. Later a decision was made to remove the fire –truck from the environs of the prison. Samuels told the media on Sunday evening that after any event, assessments are conducted and while the fire tenders being at the scene served a security purpose, it was also viewed as a form of provocation to prisoners. “And, our assessment at the time revealed that the prison was calm enough to revert to the SOP whereby if there is an incident we would utilise whatever firefighting capabilities we have on the ground and also to call in the fire service,” Samuels said. Eight persons from the prison were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) to receive medical attention on Sunday night. Seven of those persons are Prison Officers. One of the officers, Odinga Wickham, who sustained a gunshot wound, subsequently died while seeking medical attention. - Guyana Chronicle
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WPA Wants Holistic StudyWPA Wants Holistic Study
GUYANA -- The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is calling for holistic studies to be done on issues affecting all youths in Guyana through the National Youth Council so that solutions can be found. Party Executive Member, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley told a recent press conference, “WPA is of the firm belief that the issues affecting the youth of Guyana should be tackled in a comprehensive manner.” This “comprehensive manner” of which she speaks should essentially involve the convening of the National Youth Council with representatives from every region. The party also wants the National Youth Policy, which was passed by the National Assembly last October, to form the basis upon which the youths are engaged. “We recommend that the National Youth Council should conduct a nation-wide study to determine which aspects of the Youth
Policy should be prioritised by the government,” Sarabo-Halley said, and called for consultations with youths across Guyana through the youth council. As Sarabo-Halley lamented, the population is not just Georgetown, and programmes that are implemented must seek to benefit all youths across the country. Therefore, the constitution of the council would enable a grass-root level engagement with the youth, identify particular issues in the communities of the regions and then relay to the government the needs of the youth. Suggestions will also be made to the government on how to best handle the issues in each part of society. Within the national budget each year, much emphasis directed to the development of youths with the largest allocations going to the education sector, part of which targets youths majorly. In the 2017 budget, $43.1B or 17.2%
was allocated to the education sector, while in 2016, $40.3B or 17.5% was allocated. With this much funding being put into youth development, the WPA member explained that systems can be instituted to have the evidencebased recommendations advanced by the council inform the annual budgetary allocation for youth. “It is our view that this demographic [the youths] is critical to the development of the country and holds the key to its re-election,” Sarabo-Halley noted. The national youth policy advocates for the multi-faceted development of youths, where their skills are improved in every way possible thus the suggestion made to have this youth policy as the base seems befitting. Criticisms leveled at the policy by opposition members before it was passed in the national assembly however, highlight that it does not reflect a consensus in its design since sections of youth
in society were not consulted. This factor is not in-keeping with the WPA’s calls for consensus. The WPA’s statement comes at the heels of the party’s cognizance of the fragmented focus on youth development in Guyana, where many of the current youth-centered programmes are not benefitting a majority of the youths in society, especially those in areas outside of Georgetown. Sarabo-Halley referenced the impetus on sports, work done in technology through the Hackathon and STEM programmes and the positive changes effected through the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana, but advanced that focus on these areas have only benefitted a small section of society. She also reminded that the coalition government promised in its manifesto a National Youth conference and called for a convening of this at soonest. - Guyana Chronicle
Labour Dept Launches Probe Industrial Deaths, Injuries
GUYANA -- The Department of Labour has launched investigations into at least three separate incidents that left persons dead or injured while performing duties at their place of work. Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that his department is also keeping a keen eye on what is currently taking place with the Camp Street prison riot and fire which has so far left one prison guard dead. Scott told the newspaper that while the Camp Street prison matter is still an active one, the ministry will at the earliest opportunity commence engagements with the relevant agencies to render support and investigative requirements where necessary. The minister said his staff is expected to team up with various agencies such as police, prison officials, among others to afford itself a complete assessment of the situation.
Odinga Wickham, a prison warder attached to the Camp Street Prison died Sunday night after he was shot in his chest presumably by prisoners, who had set fire to several buildings in the compound, before attacking prison personnel with improvised weapons and attempting to escape. Scott expressed condolences to the relatives of the dead rank before reassuring that as soon as possible, an investigation will be launched into the prison warder’s death and the injuries sustained by other prison guards who were said to have been chopped and stabbed by inmates, thus requiring medical attention. In the meantime, investigations are ongoing into the death of Gerald Henry, who was shot to the chest and later died following a botched robbery at a supermarket in Dennis Street, Sophia a week ago. The death of another security guard Sammy Powell is also under investiga-
tion. He was found about four days ago with his throat slit in front of the business property that he was supposed to be protecting on Robb Street. Currently, the labour department is collaborating with Republic Bank and other agencies, following the failed robbery attempt that occurred at that facility last Tuesday. One bank robber was killed and others injured when security personnel attached to the bank opened fire on the intruders. Scott told the newspaper that the ministry’s investigations are being conducted in keeping with its mandate of 100 percent investigative capacity. He said that the aim is to ascertain the atmosphere of the workers’ at the time of their deaths; whether in the course of executing their duties or otherwise. He said the investigations also involve whether occupational and safety and operating procedures were applied or exit, particularly where the pri-
vate agencies providing security services are concerned. The Republic Bank robbery may have left some workers traumatised. The ministry in its investigations is also ensuring that these persons receive the necessary assistance and is thus working with the bank and other stakeholders to address the situation. Labour staffers are currently conducting site visits and engagements with relevant parties to produce the necessary reports. Scott said that under the ministry’s occupational, safety and health mandate, “workers are the number one priority.” He pointed out that, “Once someone is killed or injured on the job; military or civilian, we have an interest in what goes on at the workplace.” - Guyana Chronicle
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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Charles ‘Shocked’ by Behaviour of Opposition Senators in Crime Bill debate
JAMAICA -- Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security Senator Pearnel Charles Jr says he was “shocked” by the Opposition’s approach in the debate on the Zones of Special Operations Bill in the Senate on Friday. “I was shocked that at least three Opposition senators were so strongly opposed to the bill that they didn’t even want it passed,” Charles, the son of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Pearnel Charles, told the Jamaica Observer after the Bill was passed following a debate lasting more than 11 hours. Charles Jr said that the response from Opposition senators — Lambert Brown, Sophia Binns and Wensworth Skeffery — left him wondering whether there was a split within the ranks of the Opposition People’s
National Party (PNP) on the matter. “Those three senators were determined to contradict their own party and leader of the Opposition (Dr Peter Phillips), and their spokesman on national security (Peter Bunting). I was shocked that they so openly contradicted the position of their party leader and openly demonstrated that they rejected his views on the Bill,” he said. He added that he was particularly shocked at Senator Brown’s statement in his contribution that the Opposition senators would not support the Bill, which was not in line with the position taken by Senator Mark Golding, the leader of Opposition business. “Unless their behaviour was sanctioned by the party, it must have been a sham. I was surprised to hear Senator Brown say
that the Opposition would not support the Bill,” he stated. Dr Phillips had suggested certain amendments to the Bill in the House of Representatives, which Prime Minister Andrew Holness, agreed to address in order to facilitate bipartisan support there. The Bill was eventually passed in the Senate Friday night with 13 amendments. But, Senator Charles said that the amendments were either from the Government or had been put forward by Senator Golding and Senator KD Knight who offered some amendments which the government was willing to facilitate. - Jamaica Observer
Jamaica Now Party to Convention That Allows Registration of Parental Child Abductions
JAMAICA -- Jamaica is now better placed to register cases of parental child abductions each year, as the country is now party to the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. “I have heard from the authorities that they know about cases, [but] as far as I know there are no statistics. The Child Development Agency (CDA) will start registering the cases from now on, so by the end of the year you’ll have the first data of cases tried under the convention,” said Ignacio Goicoechea, representative for the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Permanent Bureau of Hague Conference on Private International Law. He was speaking last week in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. According to Goicoechea, there are cases in existence but it will take a while for people to realise that they have a place to go now in order to resolve their cases in a swift and efficient manner. “In a population like Jamaica, it can be estimated that you’ll have a couple of tens every year (including both incoming and outgoing), but most probably less than 100. The tendency in the world is that these cases will be increasing slowly. However, the mere awareness that the convention is in place should also have a deterrent effect for
many cases,” he added. Regionally, Goicoechea said the parental child abductions are quite common but as it relates to numbers, they are not massive. “The Latin American and Caribbean region is characterised because many of the nationals here move to other jurisdictions to work or study. It is quite common that the region would have cases, mostly ongoing cases, to get these children back from other jurisdictions. These are not massive cases in terms of number, but are very delicate and difficult cases to address. “They are delicate because the left behind parent is often in a deep crisis seeking for his or her child, and demands immediate attention. That’s what the convention provides — an urgent mechanism to get children back to allow the jurisdiction of the habitual residence of this child to address the case, and to decide in the best interest of the child whether he or she should stay with the mother or father or [be] brought up in Jamaica or the other country. It is very important to distinguish the custody case from the child abduction case, which is the situation which the convention addresses,” Goicoechea explained. The convention, he said, is expected to ease the often long, expensive, and limited
success process in Jamaica and elsewhere of seeking the return of these children. “Jamaica in joining this convention on International Child Abduction, provides a powerful tool for those individuals that are dealing with child abduction situations and would have an easy way of getting their children back to Jamaica if they are taken out of the country — in breach of custody rights of the other parent,” he said. Goicoechea added that individuals can go directly to the central authority — which in Jamaica’s case is the CDA — which would manage the case, provide the individual with a form to fill in, and send the application to the foreign central authority where the Jamaican resident has been taken, in order to have the case duly addressed. He also pointed out that the Convention works both ways as it helps foreign residents whose children have been taken to Jamaica to file before the Jamaican court, through the CDA, after which a decision on the return of this child to residence in the foreign country would be determined. The Hague Convention aims to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international borders by providing a procedure to bring about their prompt return. - Jamaica Observer
2021 Too Long for Digital Switchover, Says Dehring
JAMAICA -- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ready TV Chris Dehring says Jamaica cannot wait another four years for full digital switchover, or the country runs the risk of growing digital divide and ultimately being left behind. “Jamaica has already started its digital switchover and will not wait until 2021. The digital divide grows bigger every day and thousands are being left behind to our collective detriment,” Dehring said in response to a recent announcement by the Government that the National Digital Switchover (NDS) steering committee, which is managing the country’s successful transition from analogue to digital, is continuing consultations with a view to complete digital switchover by 2021. The Government has also called on Jamaicans to prepare for switchover by moving away from analogue television sets. Jamaica, said Dehring, is certain to make that transition long before 2021. “The digital world informs, educates and
entertains, and the nation can no longer allow the vast majority of Jamaicans to be left behind,” he stated, adding that his own company has already written to the Government offering to facilitate the digital switchover on its digital broadcast network which was recently launched. “Jamaicans are already demonstrating that they are not prepared to wait on the Government’s timetable. Thousands are already buying their digital boxes and switching over to digital. The impact is already being seen in inner-city and rural communities like Tivoli, Arnett Gardens, Fletchers Land (Kingston) and McCooks Pen (St Catherine),” said Dehring. At the same time, he argued that any concern about analog or digital television sets that are now in the island or those that may be purchased in future “is misplaced” as, contrary to popular belief, any television set can receive a digital broadcast with an inexpensive converter to receive that digital signal.
“When the switchover took place in the USA in 2009, existing analog TV sets were not all suddenly replaced. Instead, coupons were distributed for people to affordably get converters for their TV sets. This is a far more resource-efficient way for Jamaica to achieve the digital switchover versus trying to replace a million TV sets,” Dehring said. Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid said recently that legislative changes are to be made to give the Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica the authority to facilitate the disposition of analogue sets; the issuing of directives to allow for anti-dumping considerations, as well as to give the responsible minister power to introduce dates for the start of digital switchover and analogue switch-off; specify the related standards; and make transitional arrangements as is necessary. - Jamaica Observer
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PAGE 17
Pure Pampering With U.P. Beauty It’s no secret that many of us look and feel like the best versions of ourselves after we’ve invested a little time (and, occasionally, a lot of money!) on pampering ourselves. Who doesn’t love that fresh-from-the-spa feeling? But juggling obligations like a career, a social life, a family, and more, can make it hard to make it to the spa as often as one would like…not to mention, for many of us, this would also mean breaking the bank. Plus, it can be hard to discern exactly how healthy the ingredients being used in your local spa actually are. Well, worry no more: U.P. Beauty is here to wash your worries away! U.P. Beauty (U.P. stands for Unforgivingly Pur) prides itself on providing handcrafted, natural products for people on the go. A browse through the U.P. Beauty online store showcases everything you need to pamper yourself from head to toe—literally. From butter you can use on your skin and in your hair, all the way down to a pumice scrub that will revitalize your feet and anywhere else that could use a little exfoliation, U.P. Beauty has it all, and it is all natural. Created by sisters Cola and Rochelle Bennett, the business got its start after Cola’s eight-year-old son, Kayshaun, passed away in 2014 from congestive heart failure. Kayshaun was diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy just a year after he was born. Requiring something uplifting to keep herself occupied after Kayshaun’s passing, Cola started crafting body washes and body
butters. “I just needed something positive to focus on,” she reflects. That initial venture grew into the full range of products U.P. Beauty offers today. Rochelle’s interest was sparked by her sister’s creations, but her medical background also contributed to her becoming involved. She is a registered nurse by trade and has always been passionate about health and wellness. “I have a passion for creating stuff that’s more healing and positive, and getting people to really pay attention to what they’re actually putting into their bodies,” she explains. At U.P. Beauty, you’ll find a range of products. There’s a variety of soaps, including bay rum, charcoal, and coconut mango, body wash, body oil, body scrub, hair and body butter that includes a blend of natural oils and is available in three different scents, a product only available for the summer called “Sweet Talk Glow” that will add shimmer to your skin once applied, a face kit that includes everything you need to keep your skin looking radiant, and a natural deodorant. While some people may find the idea of using a natural deodorant somewhat daunting, the sisters say that making the switch is definitely worth it. When they started making their natural deodorant, both of them transitioned away from using drugstore antiperspirants and began using their own products. They say that there is a transition period of about two weeks when your body gets used to the change, but once that is over with, you’re
good to go. “The first thing you have to do is mentally prepare yourself for the transition,” says Rochelle. “If you’re not mentally prepared, you might just think, ‘you know what, I give up, I’m just going to slap some conventional deodorant back on and block everything’. But once you get in your brain that ‘I really want to do this, I want to stick with it and be consistent,’ you’ll do it,”. The sisters go on to explain that during that initial transition period, you will find that you sweat more, as this is the body’s natural way of detoxifying. Once that two-week period is over, you will find that you sweat a lot less, as your body has now adjusted to the natural deodorant. Not only is using U.P. Beauty’s natural deodorant a good way to reduce the harsh chemicals we often expose ourselves to during our hygienic practices, but it is also a way to get more in synch with yourself, according to Cola. “There’s also a level of selflove, in a way people aren’t used to touching their armpits, really applying it and taking that care. So, the cream that we have, even though we will be coming out with a stick, really is an act of self-love as you put it on daily,” she explains. Although U.P. Beauty currently sees more women than men buying their products, the sisters would love to see that change, as their products are great for everyone. “I would love to see more men buying our stuff, I think it’s really important,” says Cola. “Like our face kit we just launched. It is a really
good kit. It has a cleanser, a toner, a scrub, and a moisturizer. More men need to be able to not be so afraid to take care of their face! A lot of then say ‘oh, all we need is water. That’s girly stuff,’ and yet they have razor bumps on their faces. You could fix that! We need to break down the barriers.” Cola and Rochelle have also made strides to make sure their business gives back to others in need. After Kayshaun’s diagnosis of congestive heart failure, Make A Wish Canada, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions, sent Kayshaun and his immediate family on a wonderful trip to Disney World. Wanting to help give other children and families the same opportunity they had, Cola and Rochelle donate a portion of their sales revenue to Make A Wish Canada. “Out of love for Kay Kay [Kayshaun] and his life, we really wanted to honor him and the things that he enjoyed and that he gave us. For Make A Wish, because they gave so much to us, we want to be able to create that for other families as well,” says Cola. Treating yourself with a variety of hair and skin products, while supporting a worthy cause…now that’s uplifting. Written by Dellia Rismay Toronto Caribbean Reporter
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entertainment
PAGE 20
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Destra’s Court Ordered $16K Payout to Fan, Causes a Stir Aba Luke
aba@carib101.com
Entertainment There’s been no official response to this time, on the matter of a $16,000 courtordered payout owed to a Belizean fan of Destra Garcia, following a 2015 incident that is said to have left him with a ruptured bladder after a spontaneous appearance on stage with the “It’s Carnival” singer. This morning, news emerged that Garcia had lost the case against, Fer-
nando Olivia. Last Wednesday, Justice Courtney Able ruled that Garcia should pay Olivia just over $16,577. The injury was caused when Garcia dropped atop Olivia in what some have categorised as a wrestling-type move. The incident took place during the Carnival Overload concert in Belize. After performing the stage theatric for excited fans, the pair got up with Olivia maintaining his composure. In an immediate comment on stage however, Garcia said, “wait… is so quick water does come out your ************ (penis).” Reports indicate that Garcia was not in Belize to offer a defence. Ebuzztt.com attempted to obtain comment on the matter and the way forward, from Garcia, this morning, however efforts to contact her proved futile. - EBuzzTT
Vybz Kartel’s Input Still Gold. Trinidad’s Xone In The Money With New Collaborative Release Aba Luke
aba@carib101.com
Entertainment Maloney, Trinidad resident Xone is relatively unknown on the Caribbean entertainment circuit. His elder brother Preedy stunned the Soca fraternity when he broke out a few years ago but even when he did, there wasn’t much indication that there was more to come from Preedy’s camp. This past season however, a songwriter with skill invaded the Soca market, delivering his sexually expressive Soca hit “Work” for none other than superstar newbie, Nailah Blackman and Soca heartthrob Kees Dieffenthaller. It wouldn’t be the last we’d hear from him. A few weeks ago, we started receiving word that something big was about to be unveiled, a project involving the murder accused dancehall sing-jay and a Trini artist. Little
did we know that the project would be the release of a track that’s been referred to as a summer banger by some of the industry’s best radio personalities. Earlier this week, during an interview on urban frequency RED 96.7 FM, Xone said he also co-wrote the recently released “Say Yeah”, a song cowritten and sung by his brother, Preedy. That track has been increasing in popularity, daily. Xone told the story of producer Anson Soverall’s introduction to his vocals and Soverall’s eagerness to have him join the music team of which his brother Preedy and Nailah Blackman are apart. “Anson is a man who knows a lot for people so when you do things for people, people show you love. He linked up with Sparkiebaby in Jamaica who linked him with Jamaican dancehall artist, Spice to do the remix with Bunji,” he recalled, essentially explaining that that initial interaction was what led to the birth of the Vybz Kartel collaboration. Xone said humility is second nature to him and even revealed a desire to be silent millionaires in the future. He tipped his hat to the new breed of Trinidad and Tobago artistes- particularly Nailah Blackman and Turner.. - EBuzzTT
You’ll Never Guess What this Caribbean Artiste Cringes At Aba Luke
aba@carib101.com
Entertainment Everyone’s got a pet peeve. Some people can’t stand it when people chew loudly, or drag their feet when they walk. For one Caribbean entertainer who’s slowly but surely making his mark in the business, an opportunity to speak out against his peeve came earlier his week, during an interview on urban frequency, RED 96.7FM in Trinidad. Asten Issac- the man who gave fete lovers, “Rum Friend” in 2017, released a new single called, “Come Fuh Meh” but be-
fore sharing the song on the urban frequency, he was applauded by the morning show hosts Richard Trumpet and Tim Tim, for his articulation- his ability to speak as well as he does when being interviewed. Coyly, Issac said the art of public speaking is something that must be learnt and admitted that it’s a peeve of his, to hear public figures in sport and otherwise, speaking badly, particularly during interviews. Assten Issac has always been about progress. In 2013, he shared his desire and that of his two brothers, to leave a legacy. At that time, his name was hardly associated with music. His focus to be great at what he had his hand in, was strong nonetheless. His new single, as he explained it this week, speaks of an inner strength and faith in God. It was produced by Badjohn Republic and collaboratively written by Isaac and Kyle Phillips. - EBuzzTT
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entertainment
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Tour Life; The European Tour DT The Artist dt@carib101.com
Entertainment Fresh from Tour in Europe I thought I would share some of my adventures with you, and a few tips on touring. This Europe Tour was organized by Live Vision, and featured Headliner Moka Only, formerly of Swollen Members. My co-opening acts included Charlie Blvck from Vancouver, Ro G, and Frost both from Montreal, and DCD from Toronto. Our Journey started in London, England, where we took in the sights before heading to Paris. Paris was our first show at La Bellevoise, where we met headliner Evidence, the great thing about this night was that it featured a reunion of Dilated Peoples, bringing together Evidence, Rakaa, and DJ Babu, an amazing experience to witness. The next morning, we were off to Luxemburg, a small country, but one of the financial capitals of the world. While in Luxemburg we had the pleasure to meet Spinz also formerly of Swollen Members, and currently a member of Battle Axe Warriors. After performing in Luxemburg we got a few hours sleep, which is regular for tour life, and then we were off to Liepzig Germany for a Hip Hop Festival. When we arrived in Liepzig at the venue, all the walls had graffiti paintings as though each building were a canvas, it looked like a hip-hop village. The Festival went until about 4 am in the morning with a crowd that loved hip-hop. After barely any rest we were off to Poland at 9 am. We drove more than ten hours to get to the venue, and upon our arrival, we discovered that they had canceled the show, without telling anyone, which was very frustrating after that long drive. After the disappointment in Poland, we were off to Amsterdam.
When we arrived there was no DJ, and barely any sound equipment. Luckily, I always have my laptop, and some audio cables as well as a microphone. My mantra is “If you’re ready, then you never have to get ready.” Because I was prepared the show was able to go on. After rocking the show in Amsterdam, you guessed it, we were off to Lyon, France. Now this one was very interesting as the show was on a boat, and this night was also the first time that I got to be the Hype Man for Moka Only. Moka truly enjoys being on stage and made it fun and interesting every time we were on stage together, even putting my name into some of the lyrics. Again, with barely any rest the next morning we were off to Cannes, France for Midem, a Music Festival and Conference held every year. During the conference, up and coming artists have the opportunity to perform and meet some of the key players in the music industry. Cannes is a beautiful place in the south of France, that reminded me of my second home St. Maarten. “Northern Hospitality” featured all Canadian acts and was organized and hosted by D.O. Gibson. This time we had a little bit of free time, so we drove to Italy and went to the beach in Vamiglia. I had the opportunity to get an exclusive interview with Moka Only, on the beach, which will appear on the “On The Road with DT” youtube channel. After Italy, we made our way to Weisbaden, Germany. We took the stage around 1 am and this crowd really loved hip hop. Europe was an amazing and unique experience and I learned a lot. So here are a few tips if you plan to tour Europe. 1. Make sure to plan rest stops. 2. Prepare for different currencies of money 3. Learn a couple phrases in each language, not everybody speaks English. 4. Prepare for tolls 5. The autobahn does have a speed limit. It’s 130, only parts of it don’t. 6. Bring a GPS with you.
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Grace Coconut Water 500 ml
99
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Fruité Flavoured Drink
each 2 L
99
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Grace Soup Mix
2/
each Assorted 43-60g
Spring Lamb Lamb Shoulder
240 ml
Knorr Chicken Bouillon 24x20 g
79
¢
each
2
99
3
each
1
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Allen’s Low Acid Apple Juice 1.89 L
Jamaican Pride Jerk Seasoning 280 g
1
each
99 each
59
4
$ 99 3/
Spicy Hill Farm Ram Goat Soup 54 g
99
Marshall’s Mackerel in Hot Tomato Sauce 425 g
¢
Sweet or Salted 150 g
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Golden Banana Plantain Chips
99
Eaton’s Jerk Tomato Sauce
each 397 g
170 g
each
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil 25 Sq Ft
1
GIV Beauty Soap
each Assorted Scents 80 g
Xtra Laundry Detergent
Assorted Scents 4.43 L
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Mon.-Thu. 9:30am 9pm Fri. & Sat. 9 am-9 pm Sunday 9am to 6 pm
Beef Soup Shank
Goat Tripe
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Chicken Drumsticks
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99
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$ 79 lb
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Cawtra Rd.
Steeles Ave. E .
Danforth Food Market 3051 Pharmacy Ave North Finch 416-490-9219
Fresh
$ 99 lb
¢ lb
Fresh or Previously Frozen
Large Chicken Feet
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$ 49 lb Fresh
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PAGE 26
food
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Jerk Mac & Cheese Sandwich
Philip DeWar
philip@carib101.com
Caribbean Fused Cuisine Feedback is very important to us. Whether it’s a review about our restaurant, sugges-tions for future menu options, or the recipes provided in this newspaper! As such, it was recently brought up that our recipes might be a bit too far on the fusion side as opposed to the Caribbean roots side. We do consider ourselves a fusion restaurant, but it is important to us to stay true to our roots as well, which is why we offer dishes like oxtail, curry goat, ackee & sailfish and more at the restaurant. On the flip side, there are a lot of community events we like to get involved with and bring our unique Caribbean flavors, but with the intention to blend with the events. For example, on June 25th we partook in the
first annual Orangeville Mac & Cheese Festival. Naturally, we had to combine the theme of the event with our unique twist, and in doing so we took home people’s choice for favorite mac & cheese! In offering as many recipes as we do, sometimes they will be traditional island cooking, and sometimes they will be something like our twist on macaroni & cheese, stuffing it into a sandwich! You’ll Need: (Makes 6 Sandwiches) For Pasta: • 2 cups macaroni • 1 L water • 1 TBSP salt • Large bowl filled with ice • olive oil For Sauce: • 1 onion, finely diced • bunch scallions, finely diced • 1 bunch thyme, finely • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 pound butter • 1 cup flour • 500ml water • 1L 10% cream • 3 cups shredded cheese (of your choice)
For Sandwich: • 12 sliced thick texas toast • 1/4 pound butter • 3 cups shredded jerk chicken (optional) You’ll first want to start with the pasta. Get the water on the stove, add the salt and bring it to a boil. You can use any pasta you like, but it works best with elbow macaro-ni, penne or fusilli. Stir every so often until it’s el dente (as per packaged instructions). Remove from the heat and put it directly into an ice bath (which is a bowl of ice water). This will prevent the pasta from overcooking, and also give you time to work on the sauce. Once it’s cooled to room temperature, toss the pasta with some olive oil to pre-vent sticking. On to the sauce! Sautee your onions, scallions, thyme, and garlic until they’re very soft. It’s important to cook these ingredients right down so your sauce stays smooth. Add your butter and stir everything until it melts. You’re now going to slowly start adding the flour to build a roux. If you add it all at once, it will become thick and clumpy. Add slow-ly while stirring until you’ve created a nice thick base. Begin adding your cream and water,
also slowly. It’s going to be crucial for the sauce to be nice and thick so it will stay on the bread, so you don’t want to drown everything out by adding too quickly. Once your liquids have all been added, you begin folding in the cheese. At this point, we hand you the reins to add any spices you might like! If you want spicy, add some hot sauce! You can also add some jerk chicken at this stage as well. Fold in the pasta until the sauce is fully incorporated. And now, for the award winning part. Get your pan on medium-high heat and melt some butter. On 1 piece of the texas toast, add some extra shredded cheese, then your macaroni, and a little bit more cheese. Cover with the other half and spread the top with butter. Flatten so everything will hold together and add it to the pan. Fry until you get a nice golden brown crust, flip and do the same. It’s a decadent meal - but according to Orangeville, it’s the best Mac & Cheese you’ll have! Plus, the jerk chicken at least adds a traditional touch.
food
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
PAGE 27
Blended and Splendid! Soursop Fruit Shake Eartha Lowe
eartha@carib101.com
Green Healthy Eating Fruits are the original dessert; it’s in our DNA to crave their natural sweetness. Long before we were tempted with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, people refreshed themselves with juicy, fresh fruits. The sweet taste of fruit entices us. This is because our palates crave the unique balance of sweet and tart that really good fruits provide. When we consume them, their healthfulness rewards us unlike “fruitflavoured” drinks like sodas. The difference between a drink made with freshly pressed juices and one made with a sugary mix is like night and day.
Soursop (common Spanish name: guanábana) is popularly grown for individual consumption as a garden fruit. The taste of the soursop fruit is compared to that of a combination of strawberry and pineapple with other sweet, citrus notes, contrasting with an underlying creamy texture reminiscent of coconut and banana. Soursop is a large green-skinned fruit with a spiky, rough textured coat, an edible cottony white pulp interior, some fiber, and a core of indigestible, black seeds. The soft pulp and fiber of soursop are widely used to make fruit juice drinks, nectars, candies, sorbets, ice cream desserts, smoothies, and shakes.
Fruit Shakes The good news is that it isn’t difficult to make this cool, refreshing tropical drink. Sitting on your kitchen counter is a tool that can turn any soft fruit into a great drink in moments: the blender. Here are some general suggestions for making this delightful fruit shake that was traditionally served to me as a treat with Sunday meals in Jamaica: •
Use soft but firm, ripe fruit. Slightly
•
•
•
• •
overripe fruit is usually fine; rotten fruit is not. Remove the core and seeds. The seeds are normally left in the preparation, and removed with your hand while consuming unless a blender is used for processing. As you would when blending most fruit shakes, you’ll need some added liquid as well. One of the most important ingredients in many beverages is water. Sparkling water adds a nice touch. Soursop shake can also be sweetened with condensed milk, vanilla and nutmeg to make a thick, rich drink. For a lighter shake, skip the condensed milk and sweeten with honey to taste. Use a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to balance the sweetness and complexity. Always taste after blending; it’s never too late to adjust the flavors. Use a hand blender to make your shake even creamier.
You’ll need: • 1 x 1lb ripe soursop • 5 – 6 cups water
• •
1 - 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, freshly squeezed Honey, sweeten to taste
Directions 1. Peel the soursop by hand and place in a large mixing bowl. Remove the core and the seeds. 2. Place the prepared soursop into a blender. Add 3 cups of water and puree. Add an additional 2 cups of water and puree for 1 minute longer. 3. In a large mixing bowl, use a strainer or a sieve to remove fruit fibers. This will allow for a smooth, pulp-free shake. 4. Add the lemon/lime juice and honey. Adjust ingredients as needed to achieve desired taste. 5. Serve chilled, with or without crushed ice. Add a dash of nutmeg to each glass before serving. Preparation time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 -6 cups
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
beauty
PAGE 29
Black Owned Makeup Brands or ‘B.O.M.B’ Kizzy Courtney
kizzy@carib101.com
Beauty Tips
2.
Are you tired of combing the makeup aisles only to be left disappointed with the lack of inclusion? For many women of color, shopping for makeup is a more challenging experience than their fair-skinned counterparts. Well, I’m happy to say they’re many makeup brands that cater to women of color, that were created by women of color. If you have yet to learn about some of these amazing women and their companies I’d like to share my top five favorites. 1.
Juvia’s Place – Juvia’s Place was created by Nigerian-born wife and mother of two Chichi Eburu. The company was launched a little over two years ago and is known for creating eyeshadows that
3.
are very pigmented, colorful and blends easily. The company took its inspiration from Egyptian culture, their first two eyeshadow palettes called ‘The Nubian’ and ‘The Nubian II’ were inspired by Queen Nefertiti, an icon known for her strength, beauty and spirituality. The company is slowly expanding and now includes brushes and blushes in their collections. Beauty Bakerie – Beauty Bakerie is the love child of owner Cashmere Nichole. She is an African-American woman who overcame breast cancer and loss to ‘create a brand that contradicted the popular ‘bad girl’ persona the mainstream was pedaling – to show girls that there’s nothing wrong with upholding a sweet and friendly nature’. The brand is popular for its cruelty free/vegan ‘Lip Whip’ which is their long-lasting liquid lipsticks, and each product has a play-on-name like something you will find at a bakery such as their ‘EyesCream’ eyeshadows, their ‘GELato’ eyeliners, and their ‘BROWnies’ eyebrow gels, as well as their cute colorful packaging. Go ahead and check out their ‘Bake Sale’ and see for yourself. Colored Raine – Founded by Loraine
4.
5.
Roberts Dowdy in 2013. After twelve years in the finance industry, Loraine had a desire for true beauty and dreamt of a cosmetics line that encourages self-expression and creativity. This is a company that boasts bold eyeshadows, lipsticks, closes and nail polishes. They recently came out with their highly in demand ‘Queen of Hearts’ eyeshadow palette. Sacha Cosmetics – Sacha Cosmetics is manufactured in Trinidad and Tobago, where curators work “tirelessly to successfully develop products that are flashfriendly on diverse skin tones.” They became mainstream popular when beauty bloggers started using their ‘Buttercup’ setting powder as an alternative to the ever popular ‘Banana Powder’ from Ben Nye. Buttercup was better suited for deeper skin tones and best of all was flash friendly. The company provides foundations, blushes and some very beautiful lipsticks in an array of colors to choose from. The Lip Bar - Founded in 2012 by Detroit native Melissa Butler, Lip Bar was designed as “a company that would introduce women of all shades to experi-
ence a lip color that was not only bold in its shade, but also healthy in its intake.” This company is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Their lipsticks, which not only have an array of colors to choose from, but each tube is filled with shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E. Talk about moisturizing! Their Liquid Matte which claims to last 8-12 hours, goes on like a gloss, then dries down fully matte, and with Its secret ingredient (Sweet Almond Oil) it promises not to dry your lips out.
The amazing thing about these companies is you don’t need to be a person of color to buy or use their products. They can be used on anyone. So why not pick up a liquid lipstick from The Lip Bar or order something from the Beauty Bakerie. It’s time we support a broader, more beautiful, inclusive, beauty industry. They’re so many more companies out there that were created by women of color for women of color, and if you’re interested in learning more about these companies check out some B.O.M.B challenge videos on youtube. Remember to support black businesses, better yet support black women owned businesses.
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
health
What You Should Know About Parkinson’s Disease Allison Brown
allison@carib101.com
Health Care The last few articles have been about autoimmune diseases. I will endeavor to write about neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease. Movement is normally controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear according to the Parkinson Canada website. A diagnosis of Parkinson’s can take time. A family doctor might notice it first. A referral to a neurologist (a specialist who deals with Parkinson’s) will be provided. There are no x-rays or tests to confirm Parkinson’s. A thorough check of one’s medical history will be conducted by the neurologist, physical examination and other tests will be performed to rule out other conditions which may resemble Parkinson’s. It is important to be patient and to work in collaboration with your healthcare team to obtain a diagnosis. The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, slowness and stiffness, impaired balance, and rigidity of the muscles. Other symptoms are fatigue, soft speech, problems with handwriting, stooped posture, constipation, and sleep disturbances. Currently, there is no cure. One can live with Parkinson’s for years.
The symptoms are treated with medication. Some people with Parkinson’s may benefit from surgery. The following therapies can also help manage the symptoms, physical therapy helps mobility, flexibility, and balance, occupational therapy helps with daily activities, speech therapy helps with voice control, and exercise helps muscles and joints and improves overall health and wellbeing. Like the auto-immune diseases, Parkinson’s disease is uniquely experienced by each person who is diagnosed. The symptoms and progression of the disease will vary from person to person. Living with Parkinson’s requires an individualized approach which includes all aspects of a person’s life (a holistic approach). It is important for you to be an active participant in managing the disease. With disease progression, nonmotor symptoms may also appear, such as depression, difficulty swallowing, sexual problems or cognitive changes. It is important to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about Parkinson’s, ideally a neurologist. By working with a healthcare team, a treatment plan can be created that will meet the person’s individual needs. While medications can alleviate the symptoms, they do not slow the progression of Parkinson’s. As the symptoms change, medications will need to be adjusted. It takes longer or more effort to perform daily activities such as getting dressed. Tremor on one side of the body may now appear on both sides. Significant changes in walking, from slowness to a shuffle may be experienced. Symptoms may be worse one day and not the next. More frequent intake of medications may be required. Higher doses or a combination of medications may be necessary to
control symptoms. It is important to be aware of changes and to inform family and healthcare practitioners when symptoms are experienced. Ask care partner(s) or family if they have noticed changes, such as difficulty hearing when one speaks. Involve healthcare professionals, such as speech pathologists or home care workers to help manage the daily challenges of Parkinson’s. Depending upon your age of onset, how you manage the symptoms, and your general health, you can live an active life with Parkinson’s. In most cases, one’s life is not shortened. However, as one ages and as the disease progresses, there will be increased risks. For example, impaired balance can lead to falls; swallowing problems, if not managed, can lead to pneumonia. Parkinson’s is known as a chronic (long-term) condition that will require ongoing monitoring and management to maintain one’s quality of life. Parkinson’s symptoms and those of another condition can be challenging. For example, memory or concentration changes can be a side effect of medications, a nonmotor symptom of Parkinson’s or a separate condition. Ensure collaboration with healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about Parkinson’s, especially with the need to follow your medication routine. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle (e.g., good nutrition, exercise, staying active and socially engaged). I hope you are more enlightened about Parkinson’s disease and I look forward to sharing another neurological disease with you next time. This article is dedicated to Florence and Sylbert Greaves, thank you for your wonderful feedback.
Top Four Benefits and Uses of Shea Butter for Summer Skin Care Khadijah Laticia
khadijah@carib101.com
Holistic Health Summer is finally here. Although most of us enjoy the longer, sunnier days and the delicious aroma of jerk chicken grilling on the BBQ, we are not fond of the oily skins, sunburns, and high UV lights. I have an ancient Cleopatra beauty secret to share with you to nip all those summer issues in a bud. It is the one and only “super food” for the skin - Shea butter! Originally extracted from the African Shea tree, the modern western world has now rediscovered Shea butter and has used it to make the most popular skin treatments. It is the most effective substance in the world for maintaining healthy skin and protecting it from the harmful environmental pollutants. Shea butter is best known as a versatile moisturizer that will not clog your pores, it allows your skin to breathe freely during the intense heat of summer. Here are four ways you can reap the benefits of using Shea Butter in your summer skin care routine: Mild UV Protection (SPF-6) Raw, unrefined Shea butter is naturally rich
in vitamins A, E, and F. It offers low-level UV protection (it is SPF-6), so using it in your daily skin care regimen can help to prevent the onset of aging due to overexposure to UV rays. Regular use of Shea butter helps prevent your skin from peeling. If you suffer from sunburns, apply the Shea butter liberally on your skin to soothe and quickly heal your damaged skin.
Natural, Effective Face and Body Moisturizer for All Skin Types Shea butter provides the skin with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and the nutrients needed for collagen production. Whether you suffer from acne, eczema, normal, dry, or oily skin, Shea butter does not discriminate it has healing benefits for everybody. Shea butter reduces blemishes, gently soothes and richly moisturizes your skin, and keeps it looking soft and youthful throughout the summer. Reduces Inflammation Triterpenes in the Shea butter may expedite relieving inflammation when massaged into aching joints and inflamed areas. What a relief for people suffering from arthritis and rheumatic pain. Apply Shea butter both before and after exercise or a strenuous activity to prevent and/or quickly relieve yourself from muscle soreness. Treats Insect Bites When you go to summer festivals and carnivals, apply Shea butter over exposed parts of
your body to ward off blood-sucking insects that like to bite the life out of you. It may not be as effective as chemical insect repellents, but it is definitely a safer solution. Avoid severe itching and scratching since it will spread the poison to the surrounding tissues. Thankfully, the anti-inflammatory property of Shea butter reduces itching and soreness associated with treating mosquito bites and bee stings. Where to Buy Organic, Grade A Shea Butter When buying Shea butter be weary of purchasing it from beauty supply and commercial stores since it is often poor quality Grade D, refined Shea butter that is rancid and masked with artificial fragrances, bleached, and mixed with other unnatural substances. It is important to choose a fresh Premium Grade A, unrefined, raw, unbleached Shea butter. Nothing will be as effective as what is naturally produced from the heart of Africa. This 100% Pure, Raw, Unrefined, Premium Grade A Shea Butter from Organic Beauté Collections is consistently regarded as the best available to buy which is why I personally use it on a daily basis. It is priced very fairly, full of antioxidants, and loaded with tons of vitamins and fatty acids. Plus, it is imported from Ghana. Don’t miss out on this God-sent product, get some Shea butter in your life. Trust me you will never use commercial lotions again. Before you head out in the sun, don’t forget to BUTTER UP!
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yoga
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Why Private Yoga? Trisha Curling
trishacurling@carib101.com
Yoga Finding the right yoga class and/or teacher has the potential to be a bit challenging. There are so many different types of yoga and not all of their formats will resonate with us. We all come to and stay with yoga for many different reasons. Some of us are looking for a spiritual path, some of us are purely interested in the physical and/or fitness benefits. We might also be looking to fulfill both of those aspects in our lives. Whatever the
reason, there if definitely a teacher out there for you. If you are fortunate like I was, then you will find a great one like I did right away, which leads me to more great teachers that I continue to learn from. Sometimes that learning doesn’t always take place in a class setting. Seeking out a great teacher for private lessons can be the key to understanding your individual practice even more. Don’t get me wrong. There is something to be said about being in a room full of individuals in a group class who are there breathing, moving, and flowing through a class along side of you. It is a beautiful experience that can’t really be described on paper. This too is valuable to your growth on your yoga journey. However, seeking out private yoga lessons may be exactly what you need in order to share a class experience like that to the fullest. There are many reasons why one might want to seek out a private yoga class, if you fall into the category of a “beginner” or are suffering from an injury/injuries, it might
be a very wise choice to invest in this avenue. When you are just starting out, it may be harder to feel safe in a class situation (especially if it is a very large class and you are unable to get a spot where you can clearly see the teacher. It also may not be accessible for the teacher to adjust every single person that might be feeling challenged with proper alignment. This is not the fault of the teacher, it is simply down to the conditions of the class. Paying attention to things like breathing, alignment and injury are very important. It is easy to get swept up in the yoga teacher’s cues and potentially place your body in a vulnerable position that may not be safe for you, even though it is safe for others in the class. Taking private lessons gives both you and your teacher the opportunity to examine you as an individual. It gives your teacher an opportunity to look closely at your posture, maybe do some movement tests in order to get a better understanding of your strengths and/or limitations. They can then guide you
as to which postures/poses to begin with and what specific postures you should work on in order to create more balance in your body by strengthening certain areas and/or stretching or releasing tighter areas. Some of my clients come to me with injuries or pain they have been suffering with for quite some time. They feel safer in an individual setting, rather than a group because we can again look at the areas that need work. After giving themselves some time with coming to sessions and doing follow-up work that I provide for them, they then feel more confident in a group class because they are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to execute the poses safely and confidently. Private yoga sessions are a fantastic complement and not a replacement for group classes. They just might be the key to unlocking your yogic potential.
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
Spousal Support and Taxation Valerie Dye
valerie@carib101.com
Legal Matters Spousal support payments can be made in several ways. They can be made retroactive to a date before the application was brought before the court, they may be made in a lump sum or may be made periodically. An order or agreement for payment of spousal support may be either for indefinite support or for support over a brief period. Payment of spousal support may also be binding upon the payor’s estate so that if the payor dies this does not end the recipient spouse’s entitlement to receive support.
Taxation of support payments The Canada Revenue Agency has issued interpretation bulletins regarding the taxation of support payments. The most recent update to the bulletin is chapter S1-F3-C3. The Canada Revenue Agency has determined that support payments may be taxable and tax-deductible in certain cases. It should be noted that whereas child support payments ordered after 1997 are neither taxable nor tax deductible, spousal support payments are both taxable and tax-deductible. In addition, whether or not spousal support is taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the payor depends in the manner in which the support is made and also on whether it fits the requirements stated by the Canada Revenue Agency. To qualify as a support payment for the purpose of taxation the payment must be made as an allowance on a periodic basis; it must be made either for the support of the spouse or for the spouse and children; the amount must be payable under a court order
or written agreement. While these requirements seem straightforward, they have implications for whether or not there can be tax consequences from the payment. More particularly, since the requirement for tax purposes is that the payment should be periodic, a lump sum payment may not be tax deductible by the payor or taxable to the recipient. Furthermore, even periodic payments must be carefully applied in order to be tax deductible. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, weekly or monthly payments easily qualify as periodic payments. However, if payments ae made over longer periods such as every six months or every year, those payments may be considered as payments of installments of a lump sum payment and may not qualify for tax deduction. In terms of determining whether or not a payment qualifies as an allowance, it is not necessary for the amount of the payment to be specified. The amount may be stated as a percentage of the payor’s earnings or as a percentage of bonuses which the payor re-
Fish Nor Fowl: Summer 2017
Kathy McDonald kathy@carib101.com
Education It is hard to believe that the 2016/17 school year has come to an end. Across the province, many school boards are winding down for this academic year. In light of the recent tragedy involving a student from C.W. Jefferies I would first like to express my condolences to the family then encourage everyone to go to your local YMCA, city’s recreational center or private swim schools and learn to swim or at a bare minimum learn about water safety. This is a very important skill to have. Make this a summer where your children continue learning. Learning can be fun and it can also be disguised in many ways. In Brampton, there is a myriad of free activities. They range from relaxing and taking in the delightful sounds of gospel choirs or concert bands with a series of outdoor concerts in the park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to biking. On Tuesdays, the concerts feature religious music while on Thursdays they have an eclectic line-up of
artists. There are also outdoor movies at recreational centers weather permitting during the months of July and August. The Brampton Cycling Advisory Committee (BCAC) is offering cycling adventures. Come and discover your city as a family. In Brampton, the City runs a program called Priceless Playgrounds. At local parks, the city runs free structured play activities. Again the programs run from July and August and will continue as long as your children show up and mother nature cooperates. This particular program is for kids aged seven to thirteen. All the necessary sports equipment is provided. The details of the nuances, activities, as well as the location of the various programs and neighborhood parks, can be found on the city’s website. There are various splash pads across the city that are opened daily and they are also free. Canada 150 celebrations are continuing across the GTA. Many of these events are free. Search the web and you will be surprised what local museums have to offer. In Brampton, we have a gem in PAMA, The Peel Art Gallery, Museum, and Archives. Admission is free for July and August. On Saturday, July 15th there is a Family Fun Day. There is also a Peel 150 Stories Exhibit where residents of Peel and PAMA are “excited to honor Peel and Canadian history and want to encourage our community to explore and learn through FREE general admission”. Around the GTA are many street festivals and carnivals. What better way to
teach kids of Caribbean ancestry about their heritage? Have you ever considered participating in Kiddies Carnival? If yes, just google information on joining a band. If no, why not take in the sights. The festival takes place on July 22nd at Nelson Park in Toronto. Many of our children don’t know if they are fish or fowl. Several studies will tell you how important it is that people have a great understanding and appreciation for their culture. Such knowledge serves to enhance and embolden people, especially students. In my work as a Trustee, I have often sought as a remedy to “difficult children” connecting them with a mentor who is committed to teaching the individual about their history and roots. In the near future, such cultural activities will be embedded in the curriculum of the Peel District School Board (PDSB). Believe me, when I tell you in most case behavior issues are significantly reduced or halted altogether. In one instance a Jamaican foster family embarked on a journey with their Indigenous foster child. After learning together about aboriginal history, truth and reconciliation, researching and designing a regalia and participating in pow wows and other activities the teen in less than one year changed from being a “bully” to being a leader. I say it’s a win-win for all, the staff, teachers, students and the community. Harbour Front, as well as several other venues, have summer outdoor concert series that are great for the family to attend on weekends and the cost involved can
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ceives regularly. However, if these bonuses are not received at regular intervals then the payments from such will not qualify as support for taxation purposes. To benefit from tax consequences the payor also needs to ensure that the support payment is being made pursuant to a court order or agreement. Payments made before the date of a court order or agreement will only be tax deductible if made during the year the order or agreement was made or during the preceding year. Any payments made before the year preceding the date of the order or agreement will not be tax deductible or taxable. Although the issues mentioned here relate more to taxation than to family law they are important considerations for parties who will be paying or receiving support payments. For instance, it is very common for support payments to be made in a lump sum and parties need to be aware that in such cases there will be no tax benefits to the payor.
be kept to a minimum; gas and/or a bus ticket. The PDSB has coding sessions as well as camp SAIL or the Free For All Foundation Camps, and other activities that are free or at a minimal cost. The United Achievers Club has a six-week camp which is at a minimal cost of $360 for the summer. Included in this are trips to African Lion Safari, museums, Wet and Wild, Pioneer Village. Jumpstart or in Brampton, Active Assist will provide financial support for fees and equipment if you qualify. Visit an educational store or even your local dollar store and purchase some workbooks that your children can do a few pages each day to keep their noggins oiled so when they return to school they would have minimal loss of knowledge. Wherever you may live, take the time to research about activities or camps that may benefit your child. The classic case of knowledge attrition does not have to occur. I would encourage parents to get into a routine. Especially establishing a wake-up routine as well as a bedtime ritual. I would strongly discourage binge gaming and excessive social media access. There is a myriad of activities both free, subsidized and otherwise. Such activities build self-esteem, self-confidence and will enhance your child’s development both spiritually, mentally and physically. So journey with me and make summer 2017 a true adventure for your children. Be Safe. Walk Good. Belle Marche.
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community
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
The Proudest Moment of a Teacher’s Life! Simone Smith
simone@carib101.com
A Better Tomorrow TORONTO! As Founder of Hear 2 Help, a Community Development Organization established in 2012, I have made daily efforts in not only improving my life but the life of others. It is interesting; I have found that the more that I do for others, the stronger I become as a person. My new-found strength comes in many ways: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and intellectually. The intellectual strength comes from working daily with students. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to develop authentic relationships with the families I work with; it is one bonus of working at Hear 2 Help. I am impacted daily with their stories, their struggles, and their achievements. It is hard sometimes because it takes an innerstanding of who I am, and an understanding of who I am working with. I have had many proud moments in the last five years, but I believe my proudest
moment occurred last week. I met Asmaa Omar and her mother Maleka Ibrahim through one of my other families. The Somalian community is tight knit, and my team and I have been welcomed despite our cultural differences. When I met Asmaa, she was starting grade 10. Maleka had opted to keep Asmaa out of public school because she was not satisfied with the education that her daughter was receiving. She had opted for private schools and homeschooling, and so far had been satisfied with her results. She had requested a meeting with me because she had heard my name circulating within the community. I instantly loved Maleka; she is a passionate woman, who wants the best for not only her children but all African children. Asmaa was attending a private school when I met her, and from the first day, I knew that she was different. She was very aware of being an African student in Canada, and she knew that life was always going to be a little different for her. Not only is she African, she is Muslim as well. In some of our first few conversations, I was astonished at her awareness of the unfairness that her people face. With Maleka being an educational activist, I soon learned that I was about to become a student as well. I humbly accepted my position, and from that day on, my life changed. Every Saturday morning, at 11:00 am, I would arrive at Maleka’s home, and Asmaa and I would sit together and work diligently through her many assignments. I loved
going there because Maleka would always have breakfast ready for me; I know; I love my belly, but I began to understand how respected teachers are in the African community. They are treated with a level of reverence that is hard to explain; all know is that my Saturday mornings were filled with happiness. After two years of working with Asmaa, I saw her develop as a student, and as a human. She began to make conscious decisions about her life and her friends; she began to prioritize her life and take accountability for her failures and her defeats. Asmaa was home schooled and in private schooling until grade 11, and then she began to attend Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School. She found the transition difficult but pushed through. When she had to complete her volunteer hours, she came to me first and asked to complete them at Hear 2 Help. Asmaa and I worked well together, and she was able to actively utilize her creative ability. In January 2017, she informed me that she wanted to go to University to study psychology; she needed to maintain an 80% average in order to attain a scholarship which would be helpful to pay for her first year. On Wednesday, June 28, 2017, Asmaa Omar graduated with 80% in all her subjects and received an Ontario Scholar Award. When I say that I am the proudest teacher ever, I hope you can understand why. She will do great things, and I am humbled that I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
How to Keep Motivated in the Summer Colleen Lindberg
colleen@carib101.com
Personal Development So, it’s summertime now, barbecues are happening, events with friends and social events are well under way. Are you, like most people feeling less motivated to get things done, like work? Or are your goals still in place for summer that you’ve been wanting to achieve but sometimes you aren’t feeling that motivated to get things done to make sure you are still on track. Well here are few tips for you to stay motivated this summer:
Tip 1: Be Social We are at a bunch of social events throughout the summer get out there and meet people. Talk to everybody you know. Get out there and have conversations and make new friends. Attend those events, don’t shy off from attending them because they’re more social. Go and be social.
Tip 2: Get Outside When we are in the sun and breathing fresh air we can get motivated just from that experience. If you have a workout goal why not join a boot camp that’s in the park or go to Tai Chi in the park. Go for walks. I’m taking my dog for three walks a day in this kind of weather and we’re walking together. Tip 3: Work Outside Is there a way for you to do some of your work from outside? Is there a way for you to ask your boss if you can bring your computer out to the picnic table that’s in the yard for an hour a day and soak up the sun rays so you feel like you’re actually outside and more motivated to be at work? It might be about just getting outside for your lunch break to be able to honor that time for you. Get creative on soaking up
some rays this summer, even when you have other obligations. Tip 4: Relax Take your weekends to garden, relax, lay out your lawn chair, go to the beach, rent a cottage. Whatever way summer can give you relaxation take it. The more relaxed we allow ourselves to be, the more connected to the goals, our work we will be when we get back from that relaxing time. Tip 5: Go Explore Go to events, festivals, concerts in the park. Be available this summer for new things, to explore new events and to meet new people. You never know who you might meet. These tips will keep you in momentum with your goals but in a new way. It will remind you that summer is a time to soak up the rays, especially with Canadian winters, it’s that time to get out. It’s time to make your summer happen, to seek adventure and most of all connect with yourself. Most of us set big goals every year, just to see if we can hit them. Don’t lose momentum this summer... Keep on track!
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
Is Your Trailer Ready for the Long Haul?
Pulling a trailer is often harder than you think. Just like your first time behind the wheel, you need to become familiar with and practice a few things before being ready for a long drive. Start by checking the vehicle owner’s manual to make sure you have the torque and towing capacity for the trailer it’ll be pulling. Your maximum safe towing capacity will depend on whether or not the trailer has brakes. Over-exertion could mean serious damage, costly repairs and reduced longevity for your vehicle. “If you’ve never pulled a trailer before, go to an open parking lot and practice backing up and making turns,” recommends Andrew Sohier, insurance expert at Aviva Insurance. “A large number of insurance claims come from first-time trailer users. Talk to an insurance broker to make sure you have the right coverage in place before heading out.” Sohier offers the following tips for drivers who are new to pulling a trailer: When hitching: • Use towing mirrors or stick-on concave spotter mirrors. Adjust them to help see around the trailer.
•
• •
Balance weight on the towball — too much will strain the vehicle’s suspension and tow hitch and reduce the driver’s steering grip; too little could mean an unstable tow. Correct tire pressure; too little pressure means hotter tires that could produce trailer sway or a blow-out. Create a hitching and unhitching routine so it’s easy to remember every checkpoint.
When driving: • Use a spotter when reversing; hand signals work best. Remember to steer in the opposite direction you want the trailer to go. Increase your stopping distance, and keep in mind it will also take longer to pass and make lane changes. • Leave room when turning. On any bend in the road, a trailer will “cut in” and take a shorter path around a corner than the towing vehicle. Make wider, later turns, especially on roundabouts and when turning right. • Know the height of your trailer and watch for maximum clearance signs. - News Canada
automotive
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3 Ways Recycled Tires Can Transform Your Community
Across Ontario, neighbourhoods are benefiting from a recycling program that collects old tires and reuses them to renew public spaces. This is a big change from less than a decade ago, when millions of tires were piling up in landfills and stockpiles. Run by Ontario Tire Stewardship, the Used Tires Program just recycled its 100 millionth tire. To put that into perspective, lined up sideby-side those tires would cross Canada 11 times. “With over 7,000 used tire collectors, Ontario residents and industry partners have been disposing of tires responsibly and breathing new life into them as they become useful in new ways,” says Andrew Horsman, executive director of Ontario Tire Stewardship. “We now have a 100 per cent diversion rate, meaning 100 per cent of scrap tires collected in Ontario are recycled into sustainable products.” Here are three unusual ways these tires are resurfacing in communities across the province: Playgrounds. Playground surfacing made
from recycled rubber reduces injuries from falls and creates a modern look without the debris of sand, stones or woodchips. One initiative in particular, the Community Renewal Fund has been providing communities with grants of up to $50,000 for community spaces like playgrounds that could use updating. Skating rinks. Canadian skaters need a soft landing when they hop off the ice, and recycled rubber from tires provides the perfect padding helping to protect skaters and their skates. For example, there is over 8,600 square feet of recycled rubber flooring made entirely from old tires installed at the Harbourfront Centre rink in Toronto. Outdoor garden products. From patio tiles to garden edging, there are endless possibilities for incorporating recycled rubber products in your yard and outdoor spaces to make them green in every sense of the word. This season, DIY landscapers can test out their creativity with a new product called EZ Rubber that allows you to design your own walkway or simply patch up a driveway crack. - News Canada
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business
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
How To Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Full-Time Job
Today’s world revolves around the so-called “gig economy,” where individuals make a little extra cash from a small business outside their day jobs. From renting out a room in your home to travellers to using your love of crafting to make unique handmade gifts, bonus moneymakers are a great way add to your income. Some people love part-time projects so much that they would ideally pursue them full-time if they could. If you’re dreaming of bringing your side hustle front and centre, here are three tips to help. Learn time management skills. Balancing a full-time job and being a budding entrepreneur isn’t easy. The demand for your time never stops growing as there is always more you could be doing. Multi-tasking is often necessary, as is being good at prioritizing what needs to be done. Most successful entrepreneurs get up early or stay up late to power through their work, so try getting a couple of extra hours of uninterrupted time every day.
Simplify with innovative tools. There are many tools and services that can help you organize your life and business so you can focus on doing work that matters. One of the most challenging parts of running your side hustle shouldn’t be getting paid. Mobile payments company, Square, offers a free card reader and app to make it easy for you to take credit card payments anywhere and get paid as soon as the next business day. Build and maintain a network. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely — many people won’t understand what you’re doing or be able to relate to your problems. Improve both your happiness and valuable connections by finding ways to stay connected. Join meet-up groups to surround yourself with people who understand your journey. Establish a mentor relationship to help guide you, and, most importantly, don’t forget about your friends and family. Encouragement from those around you is essential to your success. - News Canada
Communities Thrive When You Support Local Businesses
Minimum wage increases have everyone worrying about how small businesses are going to survive. However you can make a difference with your everyday decisions about where to spend your money. From the coffee shop in the morning, to the landscaper for your garden or the restaurants and the retail stores you go to, you can choose to support a local spot. To make your community a vibrant one, consider spending your dollars locally. Here are three reasons why it pays to support small businesses where you live. 1.
Uniqueness. When you’re asked to name your favourite restaurant or café in your neighbourhood, it’s often a unique local business. A one-of-a-kind store is able to capture the flavour of your community and cater to its distinctive tastes and needs — something impossible for a big box retailer to do.
2.
3.
Better service. When you connect with a business owner directly, you can feel the difference. They are more invested in your happiness and work to personalize your experience. It doesn’t take long to think of an example of a business that knows you by name and remembers what you like. Plus, most small businesses will special order items for you to keep you coming back. Stimulate the local economy. When you support local businesses, you keep dollars within your community and an abundance of job opportunities are created. It can also attract a range of other local businesses and residents to the area. Mobile payment company, Square, helps people participate in their local economy by making it easy and affordable for small businesses to accept a range of payments. - News Canada
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean
TAURUS
You’ve been building toward it, working through it, and/or reaching the limit for a while now. Whether it is an inner consciousness or an event, Saturday’s full moon brings you to a completion, end of the road, or final stage. Reward/fruition or consequence is in the mix. Make it official, lock it in. You can and will build it better from here.
A trip or a vacation is well timed. Also, the weekend could mark a momentous occasion or milestone. Beyond this, a reality is solidifying; intertwined with the past, the future is shaping up for you in some undeniable way. You can return to a place you’ve been or lived, repeat the conversation, or retry the idea and get something substantial out of it.
April 19 - May 20
GEMINI
CANCER
One way or another, Friday gets the ball rolling. Saturday’s well-timed full moon can see you make a dramatic turnaround with someone or something. Lock it up, make it official, or finish it off this weekend. Bank on the past, the history, or your expertise. Choose quality over quantity. Extra effort or expense may be necessary; results will prove themselves.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place? Running out of time, patience, or resources? Is someone standing in your way? Is it you? The weekend can bring reward or a hard go. Tough love may be called for. If the latter, do what you can or must and deal with the emotional quotient later. The week ahead gets you going on something fresh.
LEO
VIRGO
Feeling drained or done? A full stop or finish-up can be ideal this weekend, but that may not be what the full moon has planned for you. Whether you want to or have to, expect to get pulled into it. On another note, a modification, redesign, or revisit could make it significantly better. More time, streamlining, or patience may be required too.
Take charge this weekend; do it your way. Still, added determination, effort, and selfcontrol are the order of the day. You may have to step up to the plate when another can’t or won’t. Saturday/Sunday could put something or someone special in front of you. It could be an event or a goal worth reaching for. Time is precious; spend it wisely.
May 20 - June 21
July 22 - August 22
Down 1) Book holders 2) Book filled with facts 4) Twilight author Stephenie 6) Helpful employee 8) Opposite of hardcover 9) Keep items longer 13) Internet access machine
PAGE 39
ARIES
March 20 - April 19
Across 3) The ____ Games 5) Decimal system 7) Bedtime ____ 8) Harry ____ 10) Dictionary section 11) Penalty if you’re late 12) Main activity 13) Proof of membership 14) Made-up stories 15) On CD, vinyl or tape 16) To check out a book
fun
June 21 - July 22
August 22 - September 22
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Take control of the weekend, try not to let it take control over you. Although you may feel it necessary to put limits in place or to reinforce boundaries and rules, they’re only good up to a point. Be ready to revamp or reorganize as the moment dictates. Someone may need more direction from you. Family and home matters take priority, too.
Is it time to renegotiate a term, renew a contract, or revisit the conversation? Get at it now but stay open to revisions. Saturday/ Sunday could necessitate a change of plans or opinion. Minimize output; if you don’t have to, don’t. On the other hand, just as soon as you think you are finished, there may be something more to consider or include.
September 22 - October 23
October 23 - November 22
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
The Capricorn full-moon weekend can go either way. If you have been building something of good value, then you are in for reward. If it isn’t delivering the goods, it can be time to call it quits. Don’t do it because you should; do it because it’s right, it’s doable, and you want to.
The full moon in Capricorn can take you through a momentous weekend, especially if you are born on or near January 6. It can be time for you to take back control, step up to the plate, or take on more responsibility. Personally, professionally, or relationshipwise, it is an auspicious time to launch something new.
November 22 - December 21
December 21 - January 19
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Take a load off; hide out this full-moon weekend as best you can. You deserve a break! Quality time to yourself can be put to good use, even if all you do is stay pretty much motionless. Having said that, Sunday could pull you into something unforeseen. Monday/Tuesday, the getting is good.
To the plus, Saturday’s full moon can see you reach a significant milestone or goalpost. Never say never. You could have your mind made up, but the situation may not be as cemented or as done as you think. With Pluto in the mix, you, they, or it could make a surprising turn around. Things are most definitely shaping up!
January 19 - February 18
February 18 - March 19
FOR SALE FOR SALE
FORWANTED SALE HELP
FOR SALE WANTED
CHAGUANAS: Two lots (14,222 sq ft) with residential structure, available for sale, 7 mins away from the heart of Chaguanas( Perseverance Village). Lot size 66”ft x 200”ft. Asking price: $340K CDNContact: 647-205-7411Email: busaurules@gmail. com
SHOP HELP: Rubber manufacturer in Guelph looking for labour help, willing to train. Must be motivated and willing to work. 416-727-4671 Serious inquiries only
SEEKING A JOB: Retired Teaching Assistant from TDSB looking for any kind of appropriate employment during the summer (tutoring ) Worked in Special Education. Contact Jay 647-406-4034
TRINIDAD – BARATARIA: Freehold 2 storey 5500sq.ft. 4 bdrm concrete house with all approvals. Can be separated into 3 suites. Enclosed workshop and garage. Asking 800K CDN. Call 416-671-9862
SERVICES
FRIDGE AND STOVE: New fridge and stove still in box never opened Friegidaire brand for sale. Asking $1200.00 for both or best offer. Please call 905 339 0686
FOR RENT STORE/OFFICE: Store/Office Space For Rent located in Dupont/Dundas West available immediately call 416-925-4417
DRIVER: Driver needed for Cargo Van Call 416-938-3753 JUKEBOX REPAIR: I service vintage jukeboxes, pinball, slot machines, quarter horse, cherry, poker boxes and etc...I have over 50 years experience 416-357-1303
FOR SALE WORSHIP
FOR SALE PERSONALS
SENIOR: Professional Senior Single Black Lady looking for a lasting relationship with the right person, someone who enjoys travelling aged 68-78 years. Serious inquires only Box 34626 1533 Jane Street, Toronto, ON M9N 3W7 SINGLE MALE: SWM 57yr old looking for a younger nice attractive black woman for a relationship. I’m a fun intelligent good looking guy. Lets have fun this summer call Feed 647 657 0217
FOR SALE WORSHIP
WEST INDIAN CONGREGATION Emmanuel. Mission Church of the Nazarene. Service at 1.30 p.m.1875 Sheppard Ave. West, Toronto, ON, M3L 1Y6 For info call Rev. Jerold Boodhoo 416-303-7163
SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Reverend Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Ministering For info call: 416 748 0211 MISSISSAUGA: Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church invites you to join us at 1620 Dundas St West, each Sunday at 10am for praise, worship and in-depth Bible teaching with Pastor Sean, 416-219-9137
Anesha Forbes S a l e s Re p r e s e n t a t i v e
Connect Realty, Brokerage Independently Owned And Operated
Direct: 647-462-0268 Office: 416-751-6533 Fax: 416-751-2247 E-mail: info@HomesByAnesha.com Web: www.HomesByAnesha.com 1415 Kennedy Rd. E Unit 22,Toronto, ON. M1P2L6
PAGE 42
real estate
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Selling & Buying In A Changing Market Maurice Anderson
maurice@carib101.com
Real Estate - For Millennials Only 36% of freehold properties that sold in the city of Toronto last week changed hands at prices above the asking price. That compares with 84% in early April and 66% last year at this time. The condo segment has fared better than freehold recently, with 39% trading above asking last week. After watching the Greater Toronto Area market cool this spring and, after visiting a growing assortment of houses that are better and cheaper than those available a month ago many individuals no longer feel the same
pressure to make a choice. Data compiled by the Toronto Real Estate Board shows the number of homes sold in the GTA fell 50% in the first two weeks of June compared to the same period last year. The slowdown comes on the heels of a 20% drop in sales in May compared to May last year. The drop began in earnest after the Ontario government introduced new regulations in April to cool the housing market in the Toronto region, including a new 15% foreign buyer’s tax. Buyers have more choices, more time and even a little more negotiating power but they should not expect a steal. We are moving towards a more balanced market. A lot of buyers misunderstand some of the data. They’re assuming there’s some sort of crash, some sort of huge buying opportunity. There is an opportunity to buy with much less competition but there certainly isn’t an opportunity to buy at a major discount. It could also be the frustration of sellers who listed their home this spring expect-
ing to attract cut-throat bids from desperate, over-extended buyers instead they’re seeing fewer showings and fewer offers with a longer selling time. Toronto area home prices decreased approximately 7% compared to April but remained about 15% higher year over year averaging $863,910. Even as the market has soared, there were some monthto-month price declines, said Jason Mercer, director of market analysis for the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), which released its month-end May statistics on Monday. The TREB poll also found there were less first-time homebuyers looking to buy in May than there was last fall when they conducted a similar survey. The real estate board reported that 40% of likely buyers indicated they would be first-time buyers as opposed to 53% in the fall findings. “It makes sense that some first-time buyers have decided to, at least temporarily, put their decision to purchase a home on hold,” Mercer said. “First-time buyers are more flexible and can take a wait and see approach. They could
also re-enter the market quickly once they make the decision to purchase.” The real estate board’s president, Larry Cerqua, noted that, despite the dip in sales and increase in listings over the past two months, there are still many people thinking about buying a home this year. “This could reflect the fact that new policies, like those contained in the Ontario Fair Housing Plan, can have an initial psychological impact before long-term impacts become clear,” Cerqua said. If it is feasible, get your home inspected prior to listing your home for sale. It’s better to be proactive in this market if the repair is not very expensive to fix. It is best for you to know what the inspector is going to find and be able to fix. The more you know about your own home the more power you have as a seller and negotiating price. There was a time when people decided we need a bigger house so we’re going to sell this spring and move up to a bigger house. For the last few years a lot of people weren’t able to do that and now they can.
PAGE 44
finance
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
New Foreign Resident Anti-Tax Evasion Rules Fazaad Bacchus
fazaad@carib101.com
Finance Specialist As financial products become more and more complex so does regulation and compliance. Now Canadians are faced with the new antitax evasion laws. On July 1st 2014 an agreement was made between Canada and the United States regarding Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA) where it states that Canadian Financial Institutions need to declare any accounts to CRA where the account holder is a US citizen or is a resident of US for tax purposes. Since that time all accounts which included dividends, capital gains or income must be reported. On July 1st, 2017, the agreement was further expanded to now include Common Reporting Standards where over a hundred countries participate in the joint venture. This means that the member countries will share information on your accounts through
the CRA and this could have some impact on your taxable position, simply put you may have to report this earning on your other than Canada tax return. How can you tell if you have tax residency in another country? The following are only guidelines so you need to check with a tax accountant to verify. If you have resided or have resident status in another country you may be a tax resident of that country. Check among other things, if you have a driver’s license, a spouse who lives there, personal property there, any dependents living there; are you still collecting income from that country? These are questions which can trigger you to determine if you are a person who should be doing a declaration of tax residence. In future when you go to the bank to open an account you may be asked whether you are a resident of another country for tax purposes. Typically, financial products that are registered such as TFSA, RRSP, RESP, RRIF etc are excluded from this regulation. Life insurance policies carrying no cash value (term life) are also excluded. However, all non-registered products, referred to as open accounts and all life insurance policies accumulating cash values are subject to this regulation. Effective July 1st , 2017, clients purchasing or opening a Financial Account
with a Canadian financial institution will be required to provide a “Declaration of Tax Residence” which indicates their tax residency, date of birth and tax identification number (TIN) for all countries in which they are resident for tax purposes. How serious a matter is this? Well, there is a reciprocal agreement between Canada and over 100 countries in relation to sharing of information for tax purposes, so by the same token, whatever your information is available in either country, will be shared. The information included but is not limited to the following: The account holder’s: name, address, date of birth (for individuals), TIN(s) (if the country issues TINs), country (or countries) of tax residence, account number, account balance or value at the end of the year, amount of interest, dividends, gross proceeds and other amounts paid or credited to the account holder (remember this is for non-registered accounts). Is there a consequence of not complying? Well let’s see, if you are asked by your financial institution to provide a Declaration of Tax Residence and you fail to comply, your account will be reported to CRA who will in turn fine you with a penalty. So, it’s advisable to comply as this measure is to help with tax evasion.
Not Just for Life After Death: Using Life Insurance As A Retirement Income Plan Andrew Stewart
andrew@carib101.com
Family Advisor As a parent of a five-year-old girl, I understand there is nothing we won’t sacrifice for our children’s future including sleep, health, financial future, and yes, even retirement. When she was born the last thing I was thinking about was protecting her financial future. I was too focused on acquiring all the trappings of what I thought would give her a good life. I knew she needed a good education, a nice home to live in, good manners and a solid upbringing to ensure she had a productive and happy life. The last thing I was thinking about was what should happen if I was not there to give it to her. Life Doesn’t Always Follow a Plan Unfortunately, we hear too many stories of others like us, who dreamt of a bright future for their children. They automatically assumed they’d be around to provide and share it. But life just didn’t work out for them as planned, and now we, their friends, colleagues, and family witness first-hand the financial upheaval a family goes through when one of the parents is no longer around to help financially.
When I had my daughter, my life insurance advisor (a good friend of mine) came to see me. We had the proverbial and clichéd conversation of what happens if I’m not around anymore. What’s my plan to protect my daughter’s financial future? I replied like some other parents: “Money is tight, give me the minimum, and give me the cheapest.” I remember the way he questioned my response, asking: “Are you sure that’s what you want?” I told him “I need to protect her for the next twenty years, and then they’re on their own”. I figured by then we’d be financially secure enough — we wouldn’t need it anymore (because I’m invincible, nothing is going to happen to me).
What You Think Is the Cheapest Probably Isn’t My advisor asked me what I knew about life insurance. From the mountain of commercials, I’d watched both on TV and online, I replied, “I pay, I die, they get.” To my surprise, he explained that from his experience of delivering claim cheques to families when they needed it the most, he saw life insurance as the greatest gift of love we can set up for our family. After all, we won’t be around to benefit from it, so the only reason to do it is that you love your family and want to protect them. He went on to explain that there are actually three types of life insurance contracts in Canada: Term Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, and Whole Life Insurance. Or as I like to refer to them, rent, rent own and
own.
Term Life Insurance Term Life Insurance is like rent, and the cheapest form of life Insurance. With a term plan, you’re renting a block of life insurance for 10, 15, 20 and sometimes 30 years. At the end of 10,15, 20 or 30 years, they quintuple your price and if you don’t have a heart attack and renew at 85 they cancel the lease on you. Universal Life Insurance Also known as “Term to 100,” is rent to own. If you’re still alive at age 100, the life insurance company will send you a letter thanking you for the decades of premium payments and tell you it’s all paid off, please stop paying. But you have the added benefit of being able to save money for the future in the contract. Whole Life Insurance Participating Whole Life Insurance is the most valuable life insurance contract in Canada. With a participating whole life insurance contract, you’re buying a block of life insurance and similar to your home mortgage, after 20 years it’s completely paid for life. No more payments ever required. Participating whole life insurance is the most valuable contract in Canada because from the moment you open the plan, you participate (share) in the profits of the life insurance company and those profits are paid to you as a tax-free annual dividend. To be continued... Learn how Participating Whole Life insurance can be a Retirement Income Plan.
PROTECT YOUR BIKE FROM THEFT Join the Peel Regional Police Bicycle Registry program to help prevent the theft of your bicycle and increase the chances of having it returned to you in the event that it is stolen. How does the program work? 1. Register your bike(s) at www.peelpolice.ca/bikes 2. During the registration process, select “YES” to receive your free bicycle registry sticker 3. Place the sticker in a clearly visible location on your bicycle Learn more: www.peelpolice.ca/bikes
PAGE 46
sports
Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Darren Bravo Cracks 87 in Losing Cause
TRINIDAD -- West Indies batsman Darren Bravo produced a strong knock of 87 for Bamboo All Stars but his effort was not good enough to stop his side from being on the losing end. Mystery XI defeated his team by six wickets in the latest clash of the Powerade Central Super League at Pierre Road in Charlieville on Sunday night. Bravo who might have preferred to represent the West Indies against India in a T20 clash earlier in the day at Sabina Park in Jamaica, showed up at Pierre Road in determined mood. He lost his brother Dwayne for just three at the top of the order but rescued his team with a typically classy performance. His effort took his team to 159 for six of its 20 overs. Lending good support was Kerwin Gonzales who struck three sixes in his 26. Bravo faced 53 balls striking six fours and six sixes. He was later presented with the purple cap as leading batsman in the tournament after the innings having counted 226 runs to date. The pick of the bowlers for Mystery XI was Red Force player Tion Webster. He grabbed two for 21 but then returned with the bat to take his team to the win. The right hander clobbered 84 from 39 balls with seven sixes and eight fours. He was severe on medium pacer Dwayne Bravo, who
was off colour going for 37 runs from just three overs and a ball and taking one wicket in the process. Earlier, Same Side defeated Central Empire by 47 runs. Same Side on the back of 42 from Yannic Carriah and 36 from Lincoln Roberts made 146 for eight in 20 overs. Central Empire in response crashed to 99 all out as Roshan Parag 3/15, Andre Browne 2/21, John Russ Jaggessar two for 14 and Tariq Abdul two for eight, were good with the ball. SUPERLEAGUE SCORES At Pierre Road: Bamboo All Stars 159/6 (20) (Darren Bravo 87, Kerwin Gonzales 26, Tion Webster 2/21) vs Mystery XI 161/4 (14.1) (Tion Webster 84, Kapil Harry 18, Nicholas Pooran 18, Amrit Dass 2/46) - Mystery XI won by 6 wkts. At Pierre Road: Same Side 146/8 (18) (Yannic Carriah 42, Lincoln Roberts 36, Tariq Abdul 18, Justin Joseph 2/35, DeJourn Charles 2/38) vs Central Empire 99 all out (16.5) (Justin Joseph 33, Ewart Nicholson 24, Roshan Parag 3/15, Andre Browne 2/21, John Russ Jaggessar 2/14, Tariq Abdul 2/8) - Same Side won by 47 runs. - Trinidad Guardian
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