Diamond Ball 030718

DIAMOND BALL

KABRENA ROBINSON/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The 3rd annual Black Diamond Ball was an exquisite soirée held at Toronto’s luxurious Fairmount Royal filled with entertainers, business leader and community members all fashionably decked in their best evening attire joining in the celebration of black excellence.

The formal sold-out affair held on Saturday, February 24th, was part of TD Bank’s annual Black History Month series of cultural events showcasing the past and present accomplishments of black Canadians. The evening featured live entertainment from local and inter-

national talents such as award-winning Canadian singer Liberty Silver, who was the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and headline performer and international Grammy award-winning artist Mya.

Al Ramsay, representative from TD Bank expressed that TD is once again proud to be a part of making “the biggest Black History Month celebration in Canada” possible.

“I am proud on a personal note to work for an organization that truly embodies diversity and inclusion,” he mentioned in his address at the recent

Black Diamond Ball.

In partnership with TD, the yearly event was organized by ArtXperiential, a not-for-profit organization geared towards supporting emerging and established artists, encouraging dialogue and experimentation through workshops, events and exhibition opportunities. Vice President of Operations at ArtXperiential and head organizer of the Black Diamond Ball Shawn Cuffie says the goal for the ball each year is to make it “bigger and better”.

Continued On Page 5

Che Marville

Learning to Breathe

How many times in a day, do we stop and become aware of our mindfulness and the air that flows through our body? Learning to pay attention to our breathing and the art of mindfulness is what certified meditation teacher Che Marville hopes people can understand. Marville is more than a meditation teacher, she is an entrepreneur building her personal brand as well as the Vice President for organizational development for the past two years at Origin Active Lifestyles, a national and global retirement organization. Marville is focused on the health and well being of thousands of employees all over Canada.

Being active in the health and fitness industry is just one part of Marville’s life, most known as a former NDP Oakville politician, Marville ran for Provincial and Federal office twice in 2015, but this never changed her values and the platforms she brought with her everywhere. Whether it’s politics or the workplace, her love of mindfulness and helping people learn will never be lost.

Always known for having unique jobs, Marville was able to add a unique lens to the marketplace with her use of generalized skills. As a result, you can never really be without a job she expressed.

“For me, I don’t really believe in that concept of competing with others, I just believe in the idea of understanding your skill set as a human being. To become excellent at whatever you do or whatever you are great at, then apply that to the marketplace.”

While always having an understanding nature, Marville grew up around hard-working figures in her life, including her mom who was a nurse. At the age of 11, she began to practice yoga and study various books on the fitness technique. It was an activity she can do with her mother to help her mom relieve stress. While many people did not know about the health and wellness aspects of yoga back then, Marville continued to study the art and through the help of one of her teachers, she also got involved in meditation.

Similar to the expansion of the mind that is possible through meditation, Marville began to apply this to her life skills. The goal is to always be learning, expanding, following your intuition, and challenging yourself and your set of skills in a way that you can

add creativity to the marketplace. With the unpredictability of the job market, it’s important to thrive upon your knowledge of general skills.

Marville found herself on different career paths as a young adult. After gaining an undergraduate degree in political science from York University, Marville showcased her love for activism, with a focus on women’s issues, poverty and her most passionate topic of health and wellness. No matter the situation, Marville would aim for the employees around her to be healthy and safe. As she expressed, if society paid greater attention to mindfulness, there would be a better chance of combating issues such as depression and the general stress of life which impacts your ability to be a healthy person.

During her time in politics, Marville realized the diversity she added to the arena and she realized the limitations people could put on their lives if they don’t believe they can achieve something. Just her participation in politics made a difference and within that lies a great value. After returning to the private sector from politics and working with Origin, Marville started to pay attention to sharing her wellness tips with those around her and getting into teaching her meditation classes again. After all, at this time she has been practicing meditation for 30 years and has been a teacher for over 20. Coming from a Christian family, meditation was not that different than prayer for Maville, she unlocked a new way of managing and processing stress.

Her meditation practice is under her self-titled brand of Che Marville and is in the process of expanding online. Some of Marville’s tips that she gives her employees, include:

Self-Worth: To do anything of significance in this world you have to first value yourself. Self–worth and self-esteem, according to Marville are the two main areas that cause people not to follow their dreams.

Breathing: The physiological action of focusing on your breath and bringing awareness to your body and mind will change the way your body responds to stress. In essence, learn to breathe.

Mindset: If employees change their thoughts to a more positive direction, this can make a drastic change in their life, it applies to the law of attraction and the concept of having positive thoughts to attract good things to your life.

Take Action: Don’t get stuck in your own thoughts or get too absorbed in social media. Due to her background in politics, Marville expressed her role of being an observer first before taking action and expressing her point of view. Understanding someone, to see something in a different light is a major part of selfdevelopment.

While Marville aims to be compassionate and of service to those around her due to her nature of being an activist, she also is a realist when it comes to paying attention to the economy around her. The system cannot be taken for granted.

Due to the changing economy, Marville recommends that employees be educated on what they are doing, to be self-aware and to strive for the ability to keep on learning.

Written by Leanne Benn Toronto Caribbean News

“One day my sister-in-law invited me over to the house to help her prepare a dish, so I said ok. When I went to her house she was preparing salmon with a creamy dill sauce. We did it in the oven then we made the creamy dill sauce and at the end, it was really good. I liked the dish. On another day, my wife requested the same salmon with the creamy dill sauce. But I chose to do it a different way - as in pan searing and still use the same sauce but just fancier. So, I said, you know what, I’m gonna bring this dish to this competition today and hopefully I can win” said Nicholas Stennett at the 21st Annual Celebrity Chef.

It was great Saturday night at Century Gardens Recreation Centre when the United Achievers Club hosted Celebrity Chef - Men Who Cook competition. Emcee Charles Matthews Jr. made the atmosphere of the event more exciting with his alluring presence. He engaged the audience by involving some of the guests, having them speak about what dish they were having. Charles began the night by introducing each chef as they marched in coordinately with young ladies in bridal attire. They were situated in alphabetical order to their designated stands.

It was at 7:15 pm when Charles began to call out the tables numerically. Soon, the queue got longer with guests holding their plates in their hands. I spotted Superintendent Ingrid Berkeley-Brown who says she was looking for flavor and spiciness when sampling the dishes. She also commented that “this event is a great opportunity for people to network, to eat food and to raise money for the scholarship, so it’s always a fun and enjoyable event.”

Chilli Pot, if he should be executed tomorrow what would he want for his last meal?

“Bwoy!” as he thinks pensively. Spencer added, “I specialize in seafood so for me I would want seatail crab, lobsters, shrimps, a bottle of rose and some sorrel.”

When looking at all these different kind of dishes, it came to mind to ask one of the chefs Horace Spence, who cooked ZopZap

It was time to vote for the People’s Choice award where all guests got to choose which dish was their favourite. Denise Dawes from DS Inspired Fun Photos has been attending this event for three years. Denise’s favourite dish was Nicholas Stennett’s pan-seared salmon with creamy dill sauce so she voted for him. Despite Stennet’s sumptuous meal as it finished within minutes, he did not win the People’s Choice award. Nevertheless, he came second place in the Entree category. Stennett is a winner in his own rights as he showcased his magical skills during the entertainment section. One of Stennett’s incredible magical perfor mance was pouring milk through a paper fun nel which was not transparent; no form of liquid came through the paper funnel, neither was it wet. How was that possible? His performance really had the audience in great disbelief.

After the magical experience, it was time to announce the winner of each food category. Most importantly was the People’s Choice Award which was given to Courtney Guy with his Cajun Seafood Salmon with Sweet Potatoes and Jerk Corn Salad. The Chef of the Year winner was Jeremiah Eastman. He prepared a creative dessert called Sunday’s Best Crepes. United Achievers’ Club of Brampton is a non-profit organization established in 1980. All proceeds go to scholarships for students entering first-year Canadian colleges/ universities in September 2018 and a donation of 1/3 of the proceeds to the William Osler Health System, Paediatric Department to aid in the care of patients living with Sickle Cell Disease. For a novice who wants to be in the culinary field Shaun Lang, Executive Chef at Dana Hospitality gave this advice: “Have a passion for what you’re doing, enjoy what you’re doing have fun with it. You need to have a passion for it and figure out exactly where you want to go in the industry and do the best you can with it.”

3rd Annual Black Diamond Ball celebrates black excellence

KABRENA ROBINSON

kabrena@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 -- “The goal is not only to have a ball that’s great in the black community,” he said in an interview. “We want to have the best event in general in Toronto. So, it goes beyond the theme of Black History Month. As black people, I want to be able to say ‘yes we are black and we can do it just as good or as better than anyone else’. So, the motivation is to listen to people, see what’s going on out there and making sure that we are on top of the bar.”

Guests were thoroughly entertained by a range of performances and surprise awards. The evening commenced with the traditional cocktail hour and then proceeded to the main course of the evening which was the entertainment. Hosting the event was Andrea Bain, author, and co-host of CBC The Goods.

The entertainment segment of the evening kick-started with a lively opening dance number from the TD dancers followed by a display of eyecatching and unique Afrocentric designs. Canadian singer-songwriter Kim Davis later took the stage with a spirited performance that set the mood for a highly eventful evening. Audience members also witnessed memorable performances from the talented Liberty Silver, Dub Poet Nadine Williams, Canadian rapper Choclair, R&B and soul singer Témi and comedian Jay Martin. 17-year-old musical prodigy William Leathers wowed the audience showcasing his skills on the trumpet. Leathers was also presented with an Influencer Award for his accomplishments in music. St Lucian born Canadian designer Kyle Gervacy whose high fashion designs were showcased at the event also

received an Influencer Award for his work in the fashion industry.

Organizer Shawn Cuffie said that the decision to award these individuals all excelling in their distinctive fields is a part of the function’s aim to help promote and acknowledge individuals who have made their mark or are currently excelling within and beyond the community.

“It’s important that we recognize as many of these people as possible to show that we have excellent and talented individuals in the community and we want to expose them as much as possible to people who may want to hire them and help them gain notoriety and build on that and their expertise as well,” he said.

For many, the major highlight of the evening was the powerful and captivating performance by international singing sensation Mya, gracing the stage with hit after hit accompanied by vivacious and smooth dance numbers. Attendees were also able to unwind and indulge in a little after party enjoyment to end the night.

Cuffie said that he has been receiving a tremendous amount of positive feedback from attendees and community members following the success of the event; With tons of well-wishes and congratulatory messages on social media and many people even attempting to get their tickets for next year’s occasion lined up. With the positive reception that the event has been getting, Cuffie shared that he is currently thinking about planning a summer event as well as a “pre-ball” occasion in November. He also aspires to take the event international by hosting a Black Diamond Ball in the U.S.

“My job is to serve my community and make them very proud of what we can do together. I hire over a hundred black people to help me throughout the year putting these events together and I just want to thank everybody who made it a success and to let them know that it will only get better.”

Brown Girl Begins First Canadian-Caribbean Afrofuturist film

JELANI GRANT

jelani@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The traditional children’s song Brown Girl in the Ring became internationally known after being performed by Boney M. Nalo Hopkinson’s Brown Girl in the Ring won both the Locus Award for Best Debut Novel and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1999. Now Sharon Lewis is bringing the West Indies kids game to the cinema.

Canadian director Sharon Lewis debuted the first Canadian-Caribbean Afrofuturist film, Brown Girl Begins, at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Based on a prequel of Hopkinson’s novel, Lewis imagines a post-apocalyptic Toronto in 2049 when a 19-year-old Ti-Jeanne priestess must resurrect Caribbean spirits and survive the possession ritual that killed her mother in order to save her people. Toronto has been taken over by the wealthy, who have built a wall around the city and expelled the poor to an island off the coast, known as The Burn.

Brown Girl Begins stands out as a film with a “girl in power standing in the middle of the ring showing the world what

to do,” Lewis said.

The film is an excellent example for those looking for a clear introduction to Afrofuturism, with its use of various Caribbean and African costumes, rituals and traditions. “A time like now where these types of films are important, people will be able to relate to women of color, not just as actors but also as directors and creators,” Kabongo told Toronto Caribbean. David Rudder, who played Burn Dweller, said he was honored to be a part of a film like this, and it was more than worth filming in Toronto’s cold. “Anything to help the community develop…hopefully in years we will grow stronger and I’m glad to be a part of that,” he said.

The night of the premiere Hopkinson was signing copies of her novel, as a significant portion of the crowd were fans of the book, based on the roaring applause each time she touched the stage. She said she was so impressed with what Lewis created based on her novel, calling it Lewis’ baby. She said Lewis had proposed recreating the novel before and now, after watching her work develop over the years, she was convinced Lewis could transform the story into something great. “My agent was still saying these projects never work, and every new thing Sharon would do was coming more and more into being, I’m just so proud,” Hopkinson said.

Emmanuel Kabongo, who played Tony, highlighted a line in the film that he

said spoke to him. “Open your eyes so you can see is not just physical, it’s opening your mind to the blindness that has been going around in the world, taking it all in and acting upon it,” said Emmanuel. He said that once we ‘open our eyes’, we can self-improve spiritually and physically.

Afrofuturism has been trending since Black Panther was first announced in October 2014. In this year particularly, Brown Girl Begins, A Wrinkle In Time, and Black Panther are a few notable films that depict such a theme. Lewis defined Afrofu turism on CBC’s Q, “black people in the future in positions of power,” said.

This film particularly demonstrated black women in a position of power, leading their people to salvation. This is a trait that has, unfortunately, only recently become a possibility.

“When you’re running around with strong, powerful black women, you feel safe…I learned a lot about myself, in terms of doing a film of this caliber,” said Kabongo.

Hopkinson said, “It’s beautiful. The actors, the costume, the people she brought on, just amazing,” It seems black film is nowhere near its peak in regards to illustrating our various cultures, but in order to continue keeping this momentum Rudder said, “We have to try to make our own path.”

Brown Girl Begins is currently playing at the Cineplex on Yonge-Dundas.

Dancehall: A raunchy dance craze from Jamaica OR BRUK OUT! A journey to a Dancehall Queen title

GLORIA NAMUGENYI

gloria@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The Caribbean Tales Inc. held a screening for “Bruk Out;” a documentary about the dancehall craze that hails from Jamaica.

The movie screening held on Feb.16th at the Royal Theatre in Toronto was one of the many features picked in honor of this year’s Black History Month.

The movie “Bruk Out” goes on a journey that showcases many females from all over the world that have been inspired by dancehall, some of whom have gone on to teach it in their respective cities.

The movie captures the journey of a different woman preparing and leading up to the 2014 Dancehall Queen contest in Jamaica. Ladies from all over the world including those from Japan, Italy, Jamaican; the United States and more, all vying for a chance to be crowned the dancehall queen.

“Bruk Out” is a movie that empowers women to live their truth, love themselves and feel free to be whomever they want to be regardless of their shape, size or race.

“Bruk Out” highlights the struggles, the funny moments and the emotional times that these women face every day.

From women choosing to embrace their bodies to a single mother who is trying to provide a better life for her child, to those

who live and breathe the dancehall life in Jamaica, all hoping to win the coveted title of a Dancehall Queen.

This movie shows that through the struggles, these women can always turn to dancehall for a good time. Many travel to Jamaica each year hoping to learn more about dancehall while also enjoying life with the locals.

A warning for those who are hoping to see “Bruk Out” with their children, the movie has a very liberal tone. For those that might not be open to the dancehall music language, you might want to opt for a censored or PG version if available.

The movie was introduced by Toronto’s own Bee Quammie who had previously sat down with one of the filmmakers of this film.

According to Quammie who also contributed to the movie’s kick-starter fund, those involved in bringing the movie to life wanted to showcase the power of these women.

“She wanted to dive into dancehall culture and what that meant for women specifically and how they wanted to find their own sense of power and reclaim part of themselves through having that freedom of Dancehall,” said Quammie

Quammie also interviewed “Famous Red,” one of the dancehall queens featured in the film. Famous Red is of Jamaican descent and lives in Queens, New York.

“It got to show her as a plus size woman being in love with her body and moving her body and being sexy and sensual and just being able to embrace that about herself and seeing others embrace that about her as well,” said Quammie

The movie was showcased to a sold-out crowd with many left outside in line hoping to purchase tickets.

The audience cheered, laughed, uploaded and at times became emotional as the movie went on, but one thing for sure; many in the audience were pleased with the movie afterward.

The event started with a showcase of Toronto filmmaker Louis Taylor and his daughter Altair Pflug-Taylor who are putting together a Vlog web series on their YouTube channel “Spawn and Geezer.”

According to the duo, the series will follow the journey of “a geriatric straight black male and his gay, non-binary and biracial child.”

According to the pair, they’re looking to show another side of a black family than what we’re used to seeing on our TV screens.

“I get really sick of mainstream notions family, we’re at a point in human existence where it’s (bleeping) insane…I’m really tired of the depiction from black artists depicting black family when it’s just a reprise of 50’s families,” said Taylor.

Caribbean Tales is a registered Canadian charity that creates, markets and distributes educational programs and products intended to promote racial equality in Canada.

Caribbean Tales also works with the new talent of African or Caribbean decent looking to showcase their talent in the media industry.

To learn more about the Caribbean Tales and movies or events, visit: http:// www.caribbeantales.org

Violence 360 campaign highlights violence in the black community

JELANI GRANT

jelani@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Jessica Innovate Inclusion launched the Violence 360 campaign, funded by the Province of Ontario under the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan. For the last weekend of February, the campaign was presented in Toronto, but they have also hosted major campaign events in Windsor, Hamilton, and Ottawa. The Toronto event was held on the second floor of the Air Jordan store across from Dundas Square.

The campaign is taking a preventative approach to reducing instances of violence using multimedia. Violence 360 aims to raise awareness and access to resources and programming that addresses the root causes of black youth violence. The campaign developed five videos illustrating vio-

lent experiences through storytelling. Each video gives an enlightening perspective of violence that affects black youth every day. In attendance for the launch, MPP Michael Coteau said, “The beautiful thing is that we’ve all got these great stories and sometimes those stories are hard to get out…for the narrative to be told by people who care and want to bring an authentic touch to our story, to me that is an important thing.”

A young boy named Fiyah and his mother Nyela Derrell talk about their experience of loss through the prison system. Segun Akinsanya shares his life-changing story serving time in prison. Joëlle Kabisoso shares her story of being drugged and sexually assaulted during a party. Chad Aiken speaks on his assault at the hands of police and the countless other times he’s been stopped. Mehari Hagos’ experience with violence in Windsor and Ethiopia sheds light on two distinctly different forms of gun violence. During the launch, Mehari had a chance to speak about the various programs he’s organized. He said this began after he noticed so many kids he grew up with in Windsor were going to jail for selling drugs.

“I go into the court offices, I see my brothers and sisters going to jail…they want to be better, whatever it might be we’re going to show them the way.”

All of these individuals turned their violent experiences into positives described in the video and, thankfully, Yamoah said everyone in the video became involved naturally. “We did research and looked at similar cases in Ontario in terms of black youth and violence, but the [people] we ended up with were very organic and I think it speaks through the videos when you watch them… this is literally the subjects’ stories,” Yamoah told Toronto Caribbean.

According to the campaign, some root causes of youth violence include negative perceptions of self and low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, and a sense of exclusion from the broader community. Objectives towards fighting the effects of violence include demonstrating positive images of black people, empowering strong cultural identities, and providing support to the community through an anti-Black racism lens. Some steps to accomplishing their mission are engaging community resources and programming by making their audience more

aware of accessible tools such as Women’s Health in Women’s Hands.

The Ontario Black Youth Action Plan first took action in June 2016 when MPP Coteau and Premier Kathleen Wynne traveled to cities across Ontario to communicate with residents directly. During their time in Toronto, they held a community meeting at Daniel Spectrum, listening to issues of concerned community members and Black Lives Matter activists. “I believe we can be better, as a government and society… that’s why we set up the anti-blackness directive, ” Wynne said.

Years have passed, and the Ontario government is meeting a number of their commitments with programs that challenge systemic anti-blackness. In fact, during the Violence 360 launch Coteau announced that March 13th all of the anti-black action plan programs will be brought together at Maple Leaf Gardens. The four-year, $47 million plan will support 10,800 black children, youth and their families annually, in schooling, postsecondary education, and employment, as well as those in conflict with the law.

The Legends of Reggae who satisfies one’s soul

ASHELLY SMITH

ashelly@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“There’s a land that I have heard about so far across the sea. To have you on my Dreamland would be like heaven to me.”

Dreamland by Marcia Griffiths was one of the distinguished songs performed at Tribute to Reggae Legends on February 20th at Rose Theatre Hall. ‘Tribute to Reggae Legends’ is a JAMBANA Black History Reggae jam to commemorate legends Bob Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller and Burning Spear. In honour of these Reggae icons, Grammy nominee Andrew Tosh, Exco Levi & High Priest, Fujahtive, Nana McLean, Hardcore Band, Alexi Couto, Errol Blackwood and Joshua Lucas shared the stage with energetic performances.

The reggae night commenced with Alexi Couto’s euphonious performance as she sang a few of Bob Marley’s songs such as ‘Don’t Worry About A Thing’ . While she sang,

she played her piano and had the audience enjoying her mellow voice. It was nostalgic to see her perform while Bob Marley’s pictures flow throughout her performance background, especially when she sang ‘No Woman No Cry’. Her slow and harmonic composition brought a feeling of melancholy.

Reggae band Fujahtive was next in line to deliver a powerful and symphonic performance. Their tribute was made to the King of Reggae Robert Nesta Marley but with a more rhythmic ambience.

Nana Mclean was shortly introduced by emcee Master T. In between performances, the emcee’s presence was humorous which made him appealing to see. Nana gave a true rendition of the Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths. Nana Mclean is a Canadian Reggae icon and a Juno Award winner. She came out in an elegant red outfit with her two backup singers, Christopher Samuels and Melisa Robinson. She performed Marcia Griffiths’ hit songs such as ‘Dreamland’ and ‘I Shall Sing’. She swept the audience off their feet as soon as she began to sing ‘Electric Boogie(The Electric Slide)’. It was electric indeed! A few people from the audience went on stage to do the electric slide dance - ‘woggie woggie woggie!

When I asked Nana what Black History Month meant to her she said: “it is a blessing to celebrate our heritage.”

“We can go out there and express ourselves with freedom and without fear. We can speak freely about anything even if it makes other people uncomfortable, we’re still free.”

Mclean will release her album this year which she said would be amazing.

During the intermission, Exco Levi and I spoke about his whopping five Juno Awards.

When asked how he continued to be a constant winner he commented, “Is the people who chose Exco as the winner. I just do good music regardless if I win”

“Where does your stage name Exco comes from?”

“When I used to go to school, they call me Excobar because I used to play a lot of soccer. When I became a Rastafarian, mi get rid of the ‘bar’ so I just use Exco and add Levi which is a spiritual name, so it become Esco Levi, yeah man” he explained with laughter. Excobar and High Priest are inductees in the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame. This was a great accomplishment for him he recalled and gives thanks for that achievement.

Soon it was time for Andrew Tosh to perform, the son of the legendary Peter Tosh and nephew of Bunny Wailer. Andrew started doing music professionally at the age of 13 when he recorded his first single in 1985. He lost his father at 20 and still reminisces

about one of his favourite memories. “Going to the river and catching fish.”

‘Make Place for the Youth’ was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album but did not win.

“I felt good about it even though I did not win, it felt like victory itself. In 2012, I got another Grammy nomination for ‘Legacy’.”

Tosh has been working consistently since the new year has started.

“Eye to Eye is new single that is ready to release with Etana. Now, I’m working with Kymani Marley on our new single called When the World Get Together.”

Everyone has something unique about themselves. For Tosh, he rides a unicycle just like his dad.

“I have been riding the unicycle since I was 13. I saw my dad riding it and I was fascinated so I began to ride it too. I even used it as a part of my stage performances.”

Andrew Tosh’s studio works and discography are extensive as he continues to build his family’s legacy.

Tribute to Reggae Legends was powered by Kuumba Cultural Association of Toronto and produced by Jones & Jones Productions Ltd. It was a great night and one that each fan of reggae should attend.

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BASHY Magazine ready to ‘Tek It To Dem’

BASHY, the quarterly magazine by and for Jamaica is now in full effect and here to bring us the Jamaican content we deserve!

BASHY was founded by Torontobased Jamaican writer Sharine Taylor after she identified “the need for Jamaican creatives, content creators, and writers to reclaim the narratives often written for them or have a say in the discourse surrounding themselves and their cultural production”. Taylor expressed her elation towards seeing her very own creative idea come to fruition at the recent magazine launch.

“It feels cathartic. Everything is out, it feels real and I’m so grateful to be working alongside an amazing team and that people are gravitating towards it so much already,” she said in an interview.

The launch party for the magazine was held on Thursday, February 22nd at A Different Booklist Cultural Centre in Toron-

The evening event packed with many well-wishers was an opportunity for the creators to present a snippet of what was to be expected from an outlet like BASHY. Attendees were also delighted with a private screening of ‘Starving Artist’ a short film directed by Jamaica-based director Chad ‘300K’ Palmer, now available for public viewing on the BASHY website following

its official launch on February 25th. The film brings to viewers a raw and candid depiction of the interconnectivity between art and life of a Jamaican creative.

BASHY’s first cover story was written by Taylor featuring Jamaican reggae artist Protoje. In an interview with Taylor, Protoje speaks on his journey to becoming an international reggae sensation and his positive aspirations for the genre’s future.

Other pieces now available on BASHY showcase various elements of Jamaican culture from music to arts and social commentaries. BASHY provides pure and riveting Jamaican content that “embodies the outspoken and unruly spirit of Jamaica’s ancestors, with aspirations to speak to the millennial Jamaican diaspora included, who is bold and is unafraid to stand in their truth”.

“The theme for the first issue is ‘The Beginning’,” said Taylor. “We wanted to use the space to introduce or reintroduce aspects of our global or local culture and experiences to our audience.”

Taylor added that among the many pieces are photography, illustrations, essays and creative works that all conceptualize the focal theme.

“We explore safety and security, language, food and are really trying to give our readers an understanding of how Jamaican identities are fostered and maintained between and beyond borders.”

A piece contributed by BASHY music editor Shanice Wilson presents a curated playlist with the sounds of underground artists within the diaspora and Jamaican Dancehall, a creation that echoes the theme of beginnings by showcasing Jamaica’s newest and hottest trendsetters in music.

Wilson expressed that the experience of being not only a contributor but an

editor for BASHY is an experience that she is grateful to be a part of.

“I am a first generation Jamaican Canadian and I’m very passionate about my culture and I’m always talking about how to help the culture, how to help Jamaica and how to put us at the forefront,” she said in an interview. “Many spaces you navigate through it’s either you’re Canadian or you’re Jamaican, so having BASHY and being apart of it shows that we can also be Canadian and stay true to our Jamaican roots.”

She also added that as the music editor for the magazine one of her many hopes for future content is to see more work and contributions from artists of the Jamaican diaspora in Toronto highlighted.

“Its nice to see people from the diaspora actually contributing to both their cultures making more Toronto sounding hip-hop also with the Jamaican influenced rapping, so I’m really excited and I hope to see more of that, more of the spotlight on Jamaican Canadian children using both sides of the diaspora to come together and make music,” said Wilson.

Editor in Chief Sharine Taylor added that a major goal for the magazine is to see it become an active competitor among other outlets, even some of her favorites.

“I have a very clear vision now that it’s out and I’m excited to work alongside my team to bring it to life and add new verticals,” she said. “I really want a brick-andmortar for BASHY in both Toronto and Jamaica. That is ultimately what I’m working towards.”

Those wishing to support Bashy in their movement towards producing authentic and insightful Jamaican content may do so by pledging via Patreon at www.patreon. com/bashymagazine.

Black Trauma analyzes the past and paves a brighter future

History Month as the perfect opportunity to analyze the mental effects created from outcomes in the black community.

The event consisting of various panelists and lots of room for discussion was the ideal platform to speak on the mental outcomes based on the traumatizing realities many individuals in the black community deal with in their daily lives.

“They shared their story, [and] personal experience with trauma, from workplace bullying, racism, and abuse,” said Walsh, adding that their stories made it easier for the audience to connect with the panelists.

This Black History Month, a non-profit organization named Essence Of Mind took the time to dig deeper into how the black community got to where it is today. On February 18th, Essence of Mind held it’s very first ‘Black Trauma’ panel discussion where many issues at the forefront of the black and diverse communities were discussed.

Simone Walsh is the founder of Essence of Mind, a non-profit organization that dedicates its time towards developing research and providing support regarding mental illness. She created the organization which sparked the platform for events like Black Trauma due to her own experiences with mental health.

With a panel consisting of social workers, psychologists and individuals with mental illness experiences, the significance of Black Trauma was to aid in providing answers and relief to a community seeking hope.

Walsh said the theme selection of Black Trauma is very important in reflecting the current struggles of the black community, and how they can overcome them. “We decided on Black Trauma, because of what’s been happening in the media, where we’re coming from as a group, and as a collective of people, just to help people to heal and move forward.”

The panel then added another dimension where a panel of three medical experts spoke on those traumas that were shared by those speaking on their experiences. And the discussion left no one out, as Walsh added, “we had a wide variety that covered from young adults to the elderly.”

Although the Black Trauma event is in its first year, Walsh assures that it will be returning next year, and she hopes for it to become an annual event in celebration of Black History Month.

Essence of Mind does have other events coming up, including one in the spring. “For the month of May, which is mental awareness month we are doing an event called ‘Escape the Darkness and Into the Light.’” The upcoming event aims at providing the tools to deal with mental illness to anyone that has been affected and also features keynote speakers and entertainment.

“I basically founded the charity from my experience of going to a mental illness and coming through it,” said Walsh on how Essence of Mind came to life. She realized it was hard to receive the help she needed and that it wasn’t as accessible as she expected. “I was on waiting lists for a really long time to get the help that I needed.”

This time around she decided to take a new perspective on mental illness within the black community. She took Black

“The theme was to focus on where we’re coming from and the relevance to our lives, from our past, what we’ve encountered as black individuals, police brutality, discrimination, and it’s left the community somewhat paralyzed, a lot of them feel helpless and we wanted to speak to them,” added Walsh.

Some of the panelists at the event were able to make the situations feel relatable from different aspects, including three panelists that were simply speaking on their personal experiences with mental illness.

On the mission of Essence of Mind and all of their events, Walsh summed it up as, “We support families and individuals by leading them, connecting them with partners, [and] getting them the help that they need sooner with battling a mental illness.”

For more information on Essence of Mind, their upcoming events and ways to donate, you can visit www.myessenceofmind.org.

Canada’s first Black Youth Robotics Team enters FIRST Robotics Competition

alyssa@carib101.com

Since the implementation of the internet, many avenues for technological advancement have been opened, allowing for ideas that were once a figment of our imagination to become reality.

The next generation of inventors are students and young people who are growing up in a time where new and innovative technology is the social norm. While doctors and lawyers are still professions that will require attention, equally important to the advancement of society are the scientists, and engineers of the next generation.

In working to inspire the next generation to tackle this order of business, The African Canadian Christian Network (ACCN) has partnered with FIRST Robotics Canada (FRC) and Microsoft to launch Canada’s first black youth community robotics team. The team will enter the 2018 FIRST Robotics international competition this spring.

ACCN is a registered charity comprised of a network of black churches and allies with a social justice agenda, working together with communities, governments, industry, and institutions to improve life outcomes for black youth and their families.

“We’ve been working largely with kids in education to ensure they have the education they need to get where they want to be, to be the best they can be,” Cherryl Lewis Executive Director of ACCN explains.

“Black kids are not normally at the STEM table, they aren’t exposed to STEM careers or courses, so we felt it was important for us to get them there and one way to do that was through the robotics program,” Lewis says.

ACCN created TECHTRONIX to nurture black youth success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers, and is an outgrowth of its highly successful placement of over 100 talented black youth in top independent schools over the past ten years. They have amassed more than $18 million in scholarships and financial aid to further their education all of the students have been performing well.

NASA announced the FIRST 2018 Build Challenge on January 6th, giving teams around the world six intensive weeks to build their robot. The ACCN TECHTRONIX team is made up of 25 youth in Grades 9 to 12 from within the community across the GTA such as the Peel, Durham, Toronto, and Halton Regions.

“The kids involved were excited about the prospect of being able to build a robot, something that moves,” Lewis shares. “The program curriculum includes learning Javascript, working with algorithms, using solid modeling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering computer programs as well as cutting metal and working with machinery to help build their robot.”

The students have gained many skills working on the robot build including how to brainstorm designs and working concepts to ensure their robot will score the highest on competition day.

Under strict rules, limited resources

and time limits, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program ROBOTS to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. They will be taking part in two competitions one at York University and another at Ryerson University where their skills will be put to the test in “real-world” engineering.

“In addition to the technical skills they’ve learned, these children are also utilizing and practicing social skills like communication, cooperation, and collaboration,” Lewis shares. “They are creating presentations adding on to what they already know, and we have seen an amazing transformation in the lives of some of the young people we have been working with”

Ryerson University has generously donated a place for TECHTRONIX to build and house their robot. They have also rallied together a dynamic team of Ryerson professors, engineering and design students who are donating their time and talent to teach and mentor the youth through the building process.

In 2018, FIRST Robotics Competition will reach 90,000 high-school students representing more than 3,600 teams. Teams come from nearly every state in the United States, as well as many other countries. FIRST Robotics Competition teams will participate in 63 Regional Competitions, 85 District Competitions, and 10 District Championships. In addition, approximately 800 teams will qualify to go to one of the two FIRST Championships at the end of April 2018.

With up to 20 hours of build time over some weeks, the TECHTRONIX program has seen many positive changes in attitudes towards STEM-related programs. Parents and teachers have noted how exposure to this process has garnered interest and sparked a passion for these students to potentially pursue careers in the fields of Science and Engineering.

“The kids have really embraced this opportunity, unable to take part in something like this at their schools,” Lewis says. “It has opened their minds to different possibilities, exploring their options and allowing them to see just how fun something like this can be.”

Through TECHTRONIX students are able to dabble in a hands-on experience in the field where they can discover just how exciting a potential career in the STEM field can be.

“Many people are unaware of this initiative, and this is our attempt to entice students from our community to get involved,” explains ACCN Board Chair, Alvin Nicholson. “Students who have been a part of this program have been given the option to change their minds from becoming lawyers to deciding to make a career in engineering instead.”

The public is invited to support this historic initiative by making a donation. They have launched a sponsorship drive through GoFundMe and Canada Helps campaigns to cover expenses such as additional parts still required for the build; competitions; uniforms; transportation and refreshments for the hard-working boys and girls involved. They invite the community to foster this incredible journey of growth and discovery. Your generosity will enable these hard-working boys and girls to compete with pride while benefiting from a life-changing experience.

The FIRST® Robotics initiative supports a broader population of youth to take their place at the STEM table. Together we can make a difference in the lives of these young people!

Rape victims forced to relive ordeals

TRINIDAD -- Survivors of rape and sexual abuse have accused police officers and medical examiners of being dismissive and rough when interacting with them—causing them to relive their trauma, perceiving them to be lying and sometimes leading to them not pursuing their complaints.

This was the word from Rape Crisis Society management member and social worker, Marian Taylor, at the launch of the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean Region at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, Monday.

“Survivors need closure, which should be done in a timely manner to help them recover from traumatic experiences and develop trust in the justice system,” Taylor said.

TRINIDAD -- The problems faced by the justice system in its management of sexual offences and the treatment of complainants are multi-faceted and therefore require a multi-sectoral solution.

Chairman of the Sexual Offences Advisory Committee Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee said Monday that this was the main reason behind the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project.

Funded by the Canadian government, the JURIST Project seeks to improve court administration and the administration of justice in the Caribbean region by strengthening the ability of the courts and the judiciary to resolve cases efficiently and fairly.

Rajnauth-Lee told the magistrates and judges who attended Monday’s launch

Taylor provided differing perspectives of survivors who interacted with police officers and medical professionals during the course of filing a complaint to support her claim.

She reported that female survivors had voiced concerns that male police officers were “insensitive to their plight during interviews.”

Other feedback suggested survivors often prefer to be interviewed by female officers and even felt, “like criminals because of the treatment meted out to them.”

In the case of survivors who had suffered vicious attacks, Taylor said, “Not only do they experience flashbacks of the ordeal, but also the doctors were not sensi-

tive to their trauma. They lacked gentleness and compassion while gathering evidence.”

Taylor claimed survivors who were minors at the time of the attacks, which had resulted in pregnancy, often complained of “victimisation” at the time of delivery by attendant nurses.

She said survivors were also critical of the justice system, as they believe too much time is allowed to elapse before the matters go to court. They also feel they are humiliated and their characters ripped to shreds in front their family and friends by defence attorneys during the court trial process. She said at the conclusion of a trial, survivors expressed feelings of worthlessness and re-victimisation.

We must minimise their trauma

that the document contained the input of over 200 people and entailed over 15 months of intensive work.

Claiming it was “robust, comprehensive and most applicable to current realities of the adjudication of sexual offence cases in the Caribbean,” Rajnauth-Lee added, “In its effective application, it provides for the best evidence to be obtained in sexual offence cases while minimising any attendant trauma on complainants and witnesses as a result of their participation in the adjudication process.”

Also endorsing the document was Canadian High Commissioner Carla Hogan-Rufelds, who said a 2017 UNDP/UN Women’s Study found that even though the Caricom region had made progress in promoting gender equality, sexual violence perpetrated against women, girls and boys

remains a significant problem.

She said according to an earlier 2007 World Bank Report, the Caribbean had three of the top 10 countries with the highest incidence of rapes. The report also revealed that in nine Caribbean countries, 48 per cent of adolescent girls’ first sexual encounter was either “forced” or “somewhat forced.”

Hogan-Rufelds said these and other reports demonstrated that the region experiences high levels of sexual violence, the majority of which is under-reported and ineffectively dealt with by the justice system.

She applauded the law in T&T which now places strict limits on the ability of defence attorneys to use the sexual history of the complainant to attack the survivors’ credibility.

8 Cedros families get new homes

“Because of this experience, most survivors have sworn never to pursue justice if they were the subject of rape again,” Taylor said.

Examining how the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean could improve the lives of survivors, Taylor said it was tailored for the police and court systems in T&T, which could result in swift justice and also protect survivors from re-victimisation. She said one of the features of the guidelines was that it prevented defence attorneys from delving into the previous sexual history of a survivor in the court.

- Trinidad Guardian

With the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases intended to remedy a number of ills, the Canadian High Commissioner said it was to be used as a guide for justice sector stakeholders involved in the reporting, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of sexual offences.

About the project

It is a multi-year project funded under a $19 million Canadian dollar arrangement with Global Affairs Canada.

It is being executed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on behalf of the Conference of Heads of Judiciary of Caricom.

The CCJ and other regional partners are also contributing approximately $4 million Canadian dollars to the Project.

-

Trinidad Guardian

TRINIDAD -- A week after coastal erosion claimed two houses at Bamboo Village, Cedros, eight families received their license agreements to occupy new homes from the Housing Development Corporation Monday.

The agreements, once signed, will allow residents to occupy eight houses at HDC’s Lake View Point Fortin.

The families will stay there for six months, during which time the Ministry of Housing will provide options for permanent resettlement.

In an interview Monday, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell said he expected that the residents will settle into their

homes this week.

He said the HDC will provide transportation to the families so they could move their personal belongings from the dangerous site.

“This morning the families were asked to come to HDC’s offices in San Fernando and managing director Brent Lyons oversaw the process. The residents came with the necessary documents and everything was explained to them. They were given the license agreements and the last update was they were signing the documents,” Mitchell said. He added that the residents will be taken to view the houses today.

Asked how soon they will be able to move into the houses, Mitchell said, “ For sure they will move this week, either Wednesday or Thursday. The HDC will assist in transportation of their items and personal belongings. The accommodation will be for a six month period during which time we will find a permanent solution. Hew added while eight families were directly affected, several other families who live on the periphery will also be accommodated for permanent resettlement.

Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh Monday expressed relief that residents were getting accommodation.

“It is great they are moving to

new homes. One hurdle has been crossed at this point so now we have to look towards starting negotiations for permanent resettlement,” Teelucksingh said. Resident Charmion Gunness whose entire house fell into a 1,000 feet hole triggered by the coastal erosion, said she was thankful that they were getting assistance.

Two houses collapsed into the ocean on February 27, leaving ten people homeless. Since then six other families were forced to evacuate as the lands continued to erode. Geologist Xavier Moonan has recommended that artificial reefs be constructed to prevent further erosion.

- Trinidad Guardian

Fixin T&T wants probe of PATT’s Bridgemans’ contracts

TRINIDAD -- Some of last year’s ferry issues are still lingering.

Fixin T&T is now seeking a probe of the Port Authority of T&T’s contracting of Bridgemans’ Services Ltd vessels last year.

This after the body’s head, Kirk Waithe, recently received information that the PATT didn’t get - or contact - any references concerning Bridgemans’ Services Ltd.

Waithe confirmed this after receiving the information.

The PATT’s contracting of BSL’s Ocean Flower 2 and Cabo Star vessels for the Tobago service caused controversy last

year, following queries on PATT’s procedure in the matter. The contract for the Ocean Flower 2 was eventually scrapped but the Cabo Star was retained and its contract is set to end in July. Under its current contract, notice has to be given by monthend.

Fixin’ T&T had sought information on the PATT’s processes with BSL in mid 2017 via the Freedom of Information Act. Waithe pressed for answers via judicial review, which came before the court on January 18. He received certain information via a February 18, 2018, letter from Port Authority attorneys to an attorney for Fixin T&T.

In correspondence between MG Daly and Partners (MGD&P) and Fixin T&T’s attorney, the PATT as client, noted two matters outstanding in the issue were the third party inspection report on the Ocean Flower commissioned by owner BSL; and also the list of references provided to and contacted by PATT regarding BSL.

MGD&P said BSL’s permission was sought to disclose the third party report, but authorisation wasn’t received.

MGD&P’s letter added, “As such, no references were provided in the course of the tender process, nor were any references contacted by the Authority in relation

to the Bridgemans’ Services Group.” However, in apparent response, Fixin T&T on February 28 filed another FOI request seeking information on the PATT’s tender rules, “inclusive of those to be applied in emergency circumstances.” Monday, Waithe said, “The admission that the Port didn’t seek references or contact any references means they were giving a multi-million dollar contract to a company they didn’t know anything about - putting T&T lives in danger if they’d used those vessels. We intend seeking a police probe with forensic audit of the arrangement.”

- Trinidad Guardian

Caribbean a world champion in obesity, says FAO exec

JAMAICA -- Assistant director for the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Latin America and Caribbean region Dr Julio Berdegué is pondering the anomaly of the high proportion of obesity among people of the Caribbean, which is also a hotbed for churning out the world’s greatest athletes.

“The Caribbean, unfortunately, is a world champion in terms of obesity. It is a paradox that these regions produce the best athletes and, at the same time, have such a high proportion of obesity,” Dr Berdegué argued.

“It (obesity) is a very, very serious concern,” he continued.

On the other hand, he argued that hunger in Haiti remains a major concern for the FAO.

“The rest of the (Caribbean) coun-

tries, in different degrees, the situation is far less severe in terms of hunger, but Haiti remains the highest proportion of hungry people in the western hemisphere and Haiti is our top priority in this hemisphere when it comes to achieving the zero-hunger target,” he pointed out.

Dr Berdegué was responding to questions at a press briefing at his organisation’s 35th Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, which kicked off Monday. It is a four-day conference.

Hunger and malnutrition; rural poverty and rural development; and the environment and agriculture, particularly climate change, are among the key topics to be discussed over the four days.

Admitting that “the problem of hunger and malnutrition will not be resolved in this meeting”, Dr Berdegué is however hopeful that the ministers in attendance from across the region “will give a very clear mandate to focus or work on certain critical issues”.

“We need a political mandate in order to really focus our energy in getting resources which have large-scale impact. That means much more intelligent targeting, focusing of our work on those very specific critical issues,” the FAO executive said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will officially open the conference on Wednesday morning.

- Jamaica Observer

Jamaica flight among first to feature new British Airways cabins Carrier rolls out impressive upgrades in World Traveller and World Traveller

JAMAICA -- British Airways Monday unveiled its brand new World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy) seats, and the flight from London Gatwick to Kingston Monday is among the first to feature the new, revamped cabins.

According to the carrier, the new World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins, which have been fitted with elegant new seats with 50 per cent larger entertainment screens, will roll out across its fleet of 10 longhaul aircraft based at Gatwick.

“The World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s three-class 777s will be doubled from 24 to 52 seats, while the Club World cabin will be reduced from 40 to 32 seats.” At the same time, the World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s four-class 777s will see an additional 12 seats.

“The six three-class Boeing 777 aircraft will be completed by winter 2018, with the four four-class variations finishing by summer 2019.”

The new seats, the airline explained, have been developed by its in-house design teams, in collaboration with a leading seat supplier.

“Great attention to detail has also been paid to how the customer uses their seat, with the World Traveller Plus design featuring a new leg and footrest, as well as an improved, fully adjustable six-way headrest to suit customers of all heights. The new seat also has a cocktail table at the front and in-arm tray tables. In response to customer demand, the size of the World Traveller Plus cabin will double,” British Airways said.

“The World Traveller cabins have

also been fitted with the newest, most enhanced seating, which feature a six-way headrest with adjustable ears for added comfort and movable middle arm rests, which is particularly useful for customers travelling with children,” the airline added.

“The new in-flight Panasonic entertainment system — which has the capacity to offer four times as many films, TV and audio — has been updated with larger HD screens and gesture control to navigate the interface, like using a tablet,” British airways said.

The airline also said that the screen size in World Traveller Plus has been doubled from six to 12 inches, while in World Traveller it has been increased from six to 10 inches. “New USB sockets are available at every single seat, allowing all customers to charge a range of electronic devices during their flight, and World Traveller Plus seats also have an additional power outlet socket for UK, US and EU plugs.”

Every cabin has been fitted with bespoke lighting which can be set to reflect the time of day, helping to lull travellers to sleep at night and wake them in the morning so that they arrive at their destinations feeling fresher because the effect of jet lag is lessened.

“We are one of the very few global airlines that offers a choice of four cabins for customers to travel in, and World Traveller Plus appeals to a broad mix of both leisure and business travellers,” the release quotes Sean Doyle, British Airways’ director of network and alliances.

“In response to demand, we’re increasing the size of the cabin so we can offer more of these popular seats to our customers,

Plus

while keeping the cabin intimate and retaining the expert, attentive service that our travellers love,” he added.

British Airways said that these improvements are the latest in its continued investment for customers, and pointed out that in January it announced a multimillion-pound investment in World Traveller catering with the introduction of more, better-quality food and greater snacking options throughout long-haul flights.

“A total of £600 million will be spent on Club World, with an emphasis on improved catering, the introduction of bedding from The White Company and a new seat in the future. Furthermore, all customers can look forward to the latest generation Wi-Fi across British Airways’ long-haul and short-haul fleets over the next two years,” the airline said.

The carrier said that over the last five years its operation at Gatwick has seen 40 per cent more customers travelling, with passenger numbers increasing from 4.4 million to 6.2 million.

The release stated that civil aviation authority figures show that British Airways is the most punctual of the three large short-haul carriers flying from London. At the 15-minute level and at Gatwick the airline outperformed easyJet’s punctuality by 13 percentage points and Ryanair’s by nine percentage points in 2017.

At Gatwick, British Airways has also increased the number of routes it serves by more than 50 per cent. In 2012 the carrier flew to 48 different destinations, whereas now it serves 74.

- Jamaica Observer

Security measures suppressing gang activities in St James, says cop

JAMAICA -- The St James Police Division is expressing satisfaction at how the enhanced security measures in the parish have been progressing, particularly the impact in suppressing gang activities.

Authorised officer for detainees Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ainsley McCarthy told JIS News in an interview last Thursday that during the period ending February 28, a total of 916 people were taken into custody.

He said 65 of the detainees were charged for “various offences” and that 24 of the 916 still remain in detention. He said among those detained were 37 juveniles between the ages of 15 and 17, who were processed and later released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“Of the 24 persons that we have in custody, we have an interest in a number of them who are in some way or another related to gangs,” DSP McCarthy said.

“We have applied for 10 detention orders from the minister (of national security) to have some of these persons remanded in cus-

tody for an extended period of time. We also intend to apply for detention orders for a further seven who are in custody,” he explained.

DSP McCarthy said since some of the detainees were taken into custody during the enhanced security measures, there has been a noticeable decrease in gang activities, and the “parish has been returning to some sort of normalcy”.

He noted that at the beginning of the operations “there were some opening guidelines for shops, bars, clubs, gas stations, and other businesses, but those hours were reviewed and extended” and the constabulary is “pleased with the results that we are seeing so far”.

DSP McCarthy said the issue of overcrowding and other glitches that were experienced in the initial stages of the operations have been resolved, resulting in less persons showing up at the facility “in search of loved ones” who were detained.

“At the beginning, there were some teething problems, as you would have at the

initial stage of any development. That has been ironed out,” he said.

Turning to other matters, the officer said the JCF is imploring members of the public who experience delays in traffic flow at vehicle checkpoints at the various parish borders “to be patient and just work with the security forces as they try to resolve the issues that had put St James on the map in a negative way”.

He also urged residents of St James and other neighbouring parishes to “work with the security forces” and ensure they report any new persons they see coming into their districts, as many “wanted men are trying to make their way into other districts as a means to elude the police”.

“The security forces will be in your space for a period of time. See it as being a part of making you safe, making your community safe, making your parish safe, and, by extension, making Jamaica safe,” he said.

- Jamaica Observer

Putting down your deepest most inner thoughts on paper and sharing them with the world is an adventure that takes strength, confidence, and courage. It takes endless hours agonizing over every word, so our voices come across loud and clear, weaving together an unforgettable and empowering story.

From an early age, Ky-Lee Hanson was aware there was power in her words. She aspired to be an author, however, she felt that odds were stacked against her. Creative writing didn’t come easy to her, and there weren’t any classes or training that she could use to hone her craft.

Through her exploration of the art of writing, Ky-Lee discovered she could appreciate the writing process, a place where she was able to exercise her ideas, and potentially create something meaningful.

“I’m self-taught, I wasn’t in a position where I could afford university or pursue a Masters in English or Journalism,” Ky-Lee explains. “I studied courses and programs in business, but there was no training on writing non-fiction or finding your truth and inspiring people through that.”

While she enjoyed writing, she struggled with the idea of not being good enough, or even qualified enough to be considered a writer. She was unsure of where she fit in and for a long time, she doubted her abilities as a writer.

Ky-Lee put the idea of being a writer on the back burner, dedicating her time to other important tasks. She spent time fostering her love of the written word, reading books, learning from the stories shared by others, attending conferences and working on herself to dispel some of the negative beliefs that were holding her back.

“I thought anything you can put your mind to you can achieve,” Ky-Lee says.

Let your creativity flourish with the Golden Brick Road Publishing House

Only a few years ago, she found herself coaching people in business and entrepreneurial endeavors, something that she found came very natural to her. She had an aptitude for building and elaborating on business opportunities, and she enjoyed the creative aspect, working towards answering the ultimate question, ‘what if?’

People who were looking for someone with her abilities reached out to her for help with their businesses. Ky-Lee found herself coaching, mentoring and providing advice for many individuals. “I became a support person for a lot of people and the feedback they gave was that they liked how I conveyed my message,” she explains.

“I would help them to get their ideas down on paper, work on creating a mission statement, and naturally people started to tell me that maybe you should write a book,” Ky-Lee says.

As something she always aspired to do, writing a book was definitely on her bucket-list. As fate would have it, Ky-Lee was asked to co-author a book. “It was an amazing experience, and after all was said and done, someone asked me what was next?”

One thing lead to another and KyLee found herself working with some publishers, however, in this new venture, she felt there was something missing from the process. She craved a more intimate connection with her work, she wasn’t getting the feedback, or the opportunity to share her work the way that she desired. “Through my own experience I saw a need, there was an inequality for women in the publishing field,” Ky-Lee says.

That’s when she and some of her publishing partners decided to start their own publishing house. “It was never part of the plan, but sometimes you just end up right

where you’re supposed to be,” she shares.

Golden Brick Road Publishing House is a traditional/hybrid independent, female owned and operated publishing house focused on women’s leadership and empowerment. Since being established only a year ago they have helped many people predominantly women, as well as men to develop their voices, capitalize on their strengths, experience and diverse knowledge they have gained throughout their lives.

Their focus is on works of sociology, leadership, women’s empowerment, inequality, diversity, cultural equality and diversity and really shaking up the status quo to make people feel empowered to be themselves and find their unique strengths.

“I started writing as an author only a few years ago, and I noticed that there were services that were missing, how I could empower other people by living through it, being an author, being someone that really had to work hard for their opportunities,” Ky-Lee shares. “With my own company, I wanted to focus on building a community, leveraging off each other, in a place that is supportive of one another, where people can develop their story, get lots of feedback and connect the co-authors with other authors and other services, building friendships and supporting each other.”

Ky-Lee says that leadership plays an important role in the writing process, encouraging authors to really take a hard look at their work, and take the time for introspection to dig deeper instead of putting out the cliche and obvious statements many are used to.

“I want our authors to be raw, test the waters, discuss taboo subjects and really make people feel like even though things haven’t gone according to plan in their lives, they are part of the process leading to some-

thing bigger and greater.”

GBR Publishing has grown quickly over the course of a year, with an amazing team and catalog of books that have been published with so much more coming out this year. Each of the projects that they take on are unique. They begin with a discover call to find out about the author, to hear where they are in the writing process and if they fit within their imprint.

“We stick within what we know, with editing, and helping an author to develop their book. We are a niche and we make sure they’re a fit for us, and that we are a fit for them too.” Ky-Lee says.

GBR Publishing helps people who have an idea and a passion, whether they are just beginning a book or already have a manuscript ready. “We prefer to work with people who are in beginning stages to help develop the book,” Ky-Lee explains. “I want people to gain confidence and understanding for themselves because that is one of the most beneficial things you can get from writing.”

GBR Publishing was developed to help women in business be heard by sharing and distributing their written word. They teach people how to make a voice for themselves, and then represent their books to help that message reach the world.

“I’ve always felt that really empowering women it would be nice to see more of them in CEO roles in politics just so that we have that happy balance influencing future generations from men and women. Ultimately, we are here to build people up, as a community focused publishing house.”

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean Reporter

While social media was abuzz this weekend with all the talk about Fay Ann Lyons Alvarez’s toes , other caribbean celebrities weren’t bothered or caught up in the mayhem at all. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago’s Destra Garcia was all about raking in that dough, having flown over to St. Maarten, for the Heineken Regatta.

T&T’s Destra Garcia with Jamaica’s Shaggy at the event’s press conference. Destra’a been back on her grind, coining her slate of events the #qobworldtour2018- pretty much the same as she’d done in 2017. Destra’s certainly always in demand, and last year, she

proved that even with a broken ankle, she never stumbles. This past weekend, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, in it’s 38th edition saw the most races in its history according to organizers and the Queen of Bacchanal was there to celebrate with all who’d been a part of the fun.

Destra rocked the stage at the event’s after concert, killing it in a fabulous sheer, near nude ruffled dress. Her footwear game, though less fashionable by heel- strutting standards, has

been perfection, we think, as she’s been able to dazzle her outfits with matching sneakers that are almost always pimped out to perfection.

Garcia’s St. Maarten stop followed her weekend in Antigua one weekend prior, and as we understand it, she’s off to Atlanta next. There’s no killing her vibe, that’s for sure. Tour on queen… Tour on!

- EBuzzTT

Do you love exotic beaches? Good news! Postcard-worthy landscapes exist in every corner of the globe. Here are just a few of the most jaw-dropping destinations out there:

• Africa: You’ll find some of Africa’s most splendid beaches at Nosy Iranja in Madagascar; Cape Vidal and Boulders Beach in South Africa; Anse Source d’Argent in Seychelles; Trou-aux-Biches in Mauritius; and Legzira in Morocco.

• America: Tulum and Playa del Amor in Mexico; Tropic of Cancer Beach in the Bahamas; Lençois Maranhenses National Park, Lopes Mendes Beach and Ipanema Beach in Brazil; Harrismith in Barbados; and Big Water Cay and Pelican Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands are absolutely stunning!

• Asia: Maya Beach and Railay Beach in Thailand; Radhanagar Beach and Calangute in India; and Sadang Beach and Cagban Beach in the Philippines are some of Asia’s most treasured shores! The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia are also known for their magnificent white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters.

• Europe: Zlatni Rat and Lubenice Beach in Croatia; Navagio Beach and Sarakiniko in Greece; and Caprera Island in Italy will take your breath a

SIX DREAM DESTINATIONS for some fun under the sun

Are you longing to travel somewhere hot with plenty of sunshine? Do you daydream about finding the perfect tropical paradise? Here are a few heavenly vacation spots to consider:

1. Hawaii. With gorgeous beaches, a national park featuring several volcanoes, breathtaking panoramic views, fascinating historic sites (like Pearl Harbor), and a vibrant cultural scene, Hawaii has something to please every type of traveller.

2. The Cayman Islands. Whether you wish to scuba dive in crystal clear waters, explore tropical forests, observe

way! France, with its spectacular pebble beaches like the Calanque d’EnVau, is another European hotspot for beach connoisseurs.

• Australia and the Pacific Islands: Matira Beach on the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora; Kauai and Maui in Hawaii; Champagne Beach in Vanuatu; Karekare in New Zealand; Mouli in New Caledonia; Whitehaven Beach and McKenzie Lake in Australia — the South Pacific’s countless beaches never cease to amaze!

Ready to pick the perfect sandy spot for your next vacation?

turtles, parrots and other exotic wildlife, or simply soak up the sun, this Caribbean paradise will not disappoint!

3. Jamaica. Visit the Bob Marley Museum, relax on white sandy beaches (perhaps a rum and coke in hand?), swim with dolphins against a beautiful backdrop, and paddle down the Rio Grande. Which will you do first?

4. Saint Lucia. Sailing, diving, hiking, golfing — there’s no shortage of activities on this beautiful island! What’s more, between botanical gardens and endless beaches, Saint Lucia has a unique way of charming travellers.

5. Florida. Between the Everglades, Orlando, Miami and Cape Canaveral, Florida has a lot to offer, from beautiful landscapes to exciting activities for the whole family.

6. Mexico. Whether you’re interested in a relaxing holiday or a cultural experience, Mexico — with its breathtaking beaches, ancient Mayan villages and colourful colonial towns — is always a sure bet.

So, which sun-drenched destination will you be visiting next?

Ten tips for a BUDGET-FRIENDLY VACATION

Who said you needed to tighten your belt to be able to see the world? Turn your dream vacation into a reality (without breaking the bank!) thanks to these helpful tips:

1. Consult a travel professional. In addition to saving you valuable time, travel agents can often offer worthwhile discounts that aren’t available to the general public.

2. Make it a group trip. Groups generally benefit from preferential rates that reduce costs for everybody involved.

3. Avoid peak season. Assuming the weather permits it, the off-season is the best time to find great travel deals!

4. Choose your destination wisely. Opt for countries with a reasonable exchange rate and cost of living.

5. Opt for package deals. Prioritize all-inclusive resorts for your vaca- tion under the tropical sun.

Seniors are often eligible for special discounts on car rentals, hotels, excursions, cruises, etc. Take advantage of the many options available to you!

6. Book your flight in advance. Booking your flight in advance is a good way to save on the cost of travel (not taking all-inclusive vacations and last-minute deals into account).

7. Prioritize public transportation. Use the bus or the subway to get around town rather than a taxi. Renting a car between several people can also prove cost-efficient. Make sure to fuel up outside of big city centres, where gas is usually more expensive.

8. Skip pricy restaurants. Dine in food courts, choose a hotel room with a kitchenette or make your own lunches while travelling instead of eating out at expensive restaurants.

9. Save on accommodations. Swap houses with another family, rent a property between several people, stay in a hostel or camp outdoors to save on accommodations.

10. Take advantage of free activities. Festivals, beaches, parks — there are many ways to enjoy a new city without spending a dime.

Travelling with your significant other can be a source of both pleasure and tension! Because emotions tend to run high in new environments, you may discover a side of your partner that you didn’t know existed, especially if you don’t live together. In order to ensure the smoothest trip possible, follow these pieces of advice!

1. DEFINE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

What type of trip are you hoping for? Relaxing, or filled with adventure? Do you intend to stay in a luxury hotel or to rough it outdoors? Wake up at the crack of dawn or sleep in? Rush to not miss a beat or live in the moment? Plan your trip together to avoid unpleasant surprises while abroad, and always be

ready to compromise!

2. DECIDE ON A BUDGET

Determine a realistic budget and decide who will be paying for what (lodging, food, etc.) before you leave! It’s also important to figure out your priorities: do you both want to devote a good portion of your budget to a single big activity, or do you prefer using that money to see and do as much as you can?

3. COMMUNICATE

Hitting a few bumps in the road? Talk about it! Communication is vital, especially since you’ll constantly be in each other’s company and won’t have the means to relieve tension as you normally would at home. Learn how to put things into perspective. You missed your bus? The airport lost your luggage? There are worse things in life. Relax, breathe and make the most of the situation. You also might want to avoid putting half the blame on your significant other when things go awry.

Finally, don’t hesitate to meet other people and do certain activities separately. After all, back home, you’re not together 24 hours a day. You can reunite and share the details of your day over a romantic dinner come sundown!

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CRUNCHY

BARBECUE

CAULIFLOWER WINGS

all vegetarians are the same, a vegetarian lifestyle, however, does introduce you to a wide range of foods that are healthy, nutrient-rich, sustainable and cruelty-free. Vegetarians fall into several categories depending on what they choose to eat:

• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat both dairy products and eggs.

• Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products but avoid eggs.

Vegetarian food is rich in variety. Upon reading the Vegetarian Society’s guide to “Going Veggie: What to Eat,” I’m reminded that an enjoyable part of making the transition to a vegetarian diet - or mostly vegetarian diet - is learning how to make simple switches to my favorite dishes to make them veggie friendly, without giving up the flavor. But before we get to talking about how to make some of these simple switches like infusing the great taste of wings in a cauliflower, let’s first answer this question: what do vegetarians eat?

A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, mushrooms and yeast with, or without dairy products, honey or eggs. While it’s important to note that not

• Vegans do not eat dairy products, eggs or any products which are derived from animals.

If you are under the impression that vegetarians eat fish, this is not the case. A ‘pescatarian’ is someone who follows a mainly vegetarian diet but chooses to eat fish. A pescatarian diet does not include meat or poultry.

The Protein Switch

Cooking with pulses or “legumes, “are a satisfying way to add protein to any recipe. These tiny nutritious powerhouses include crops like chickpeas, lentils, dry peas (split green, split yellow, whole green, whole yellow) and beans (black, blackeye peas, kid-

ney, great northern, navy, pinto, fava, small red, mung, lima, cranberry, pink). Nuts, tofu or meat substitutes like soya mince, also make a great addition to a wide range of dishes.

Crunchy Barbecue Cauliflower Wings

Learn how to cook these tasty little bites made with crunchy pecans in a seasoned batter.

You’ll Need:

• Non-stick cooking spray, for spraying the baking sheet

• 1 cup whole-wheat flour

• 1 tablespoon pecans, finely chopped

• ½ teaspoon coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into 2to 3-inch florets (reserve the stems for another use)

• ½ cup barbecue sauce

Cooking Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly spray a non-stick baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, pecan, garlic powder, thyme leaves, paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the coconut oil and 1 cup water until completely incorporated and you have a thin batter. Add the cauliflower florets and toss to coat completely with the batter.

Remove the florets from the bowl using a tong or a fork - allow excess batter to drip off. Place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake until the batter begins to set, about 10 minutes. Use tongs or a spatula to flip the florets and bake the other side until the batter looks completely dry, about 10 minutes longer.

When the cauliflower is done, use a pastry brush to completely coat the florets with the barbecue sauce. Bake again until the florets are crispy, and the sauce is completely absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.

Category: vegetarian

Prep and cook time: 45 minutes

Serves 4

Difficulty: easy!

Foods that can help you sleep

Good sleep is crucial to a balanced life. But falling asleep — and staying asleep — can sometimes be easier said than done. Luckily, several foods can help you out. To understand which ones and how, it’s useful to know a few things about how our body works.

The brain’s pineal gland produces melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. To synthesize melatonin, our bodies need the neurotransmitter serotonin, which itself depends on the presence of tryptophan, an amino acid. Certain foods have a naturally high content of these sleep-boosting compounds.

TRYPTOPHAN

Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans), nuts (walnuts, cashews), fruits (dates, bananas, mangos) and seeds (squash, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) are all rich in tryptophan. Pair them with foods containing lots of calcium, such as spinach or cheese, to maximize the amount of tryptophan that makes it to the brain.

MELATONIN

Cherries and walnuts are natural sources of melatonin, so try to eat some regularly. Foods rich in vitamin B6, such as fish, can also help stimulate production of this sleep hormone.

SEROTONIN

Eating foods rich in complex carbs helps raise serotonin levels in the body. Include bread (brown or whole grain), pasta, rice (wild, basmati, jasmine) and starchy vegetables (sweet potatoes, parsnips) in your daily diet.

FAMILY LIFE

Four timesaving tips for busy mornings

For many families, weekday mornings are a constant race against the clock. Between packing lunches and backpacks, making breakfast and brushing teeth, parents barely have time to drink their coffee. If you always start the day feeling rushed, follow these four tips to cut down on stress.

1. LUNCHES

Get lunches ready the night before by doubling your dinner servings, for example. If you have enough room, pack lunchboxes and leave them in the fridge. When the next morning rolls around, they’ll be ready to grab and go.

2. BREAKFAST

Take advantage of weekends to prepare muffins, granola bars or fruit parfaits in advance to serve on weekday mornings. Wash fruit ahead of time, hard-boil some eggs and keep croissants or bagels on hand. Set the table the night before, and program your coffee maker if you can.

3. CLOTHES

Before bedtime, ask the kids to choose what they plan on wearing the next day. This will help them become more autonomous and leave you with one less thing to do in the morning.

4. PERSONAL CARE

If some family members wash in the morning, perhaps it’s time to rethink your routine. Take your bath or shower in the evenings, and encourage your kids to do the same.

Having a child is inevitably disruptive to a romantic relationship. Suddenly, a tiny, vulnerable being requires all your attention, leaving Mommy and Daddy with very little time to share moments of intimacy. Here are a few tips on maintaining a healthy sex life after the birth of your baby.

ACTIVITIES

As parents, you may be first and foremost family heads, but you’re also a couple. Doing things without the kids is important to preserve your unique romantic bond. Going out for dinner, signing up for dance lessons, sharing a vacation… there’s no shortage of ways to spend quality time together.

COMMUNICATION

Despite daily tasks, children and work concerns, partners must find the time to talk about their ambitions, dreams, worries and needs. This will allow you to take stock of your relationship and stay in sync with one another.

KINDNESS

With time, passion often gives way to kindness. This doesn’t mean that your relationship is in trouble, however — quite the contrary! The presence of children shouldn’t stop parents from kissing, exchanging knowing looks and demonstrating their affection. This contributes to the balance of the relationship and helps maintain a healthy sex life.

Reduce your mental workload for a better-balanced life

Your mental workload is the burden that comes with maintaining your household. Taking care of housework, making appointments, paying the bills, coordinating shopping trips — even today, these tasks overwhelmingly fall onto the plate of the woman of the household, who must carry their weight on her shoulders. To find balance, try to minimize your mental workload.

The key is to let go. Without even noticing, you might be imposing a fast-paced lifestyle on yourself that leaves no room for spontaneity. So accept the fact that your house can’t always be perfectly neat, that your meals won’t always be Michelin star worthy and that sometimes, kids leave their clothes lying around. And that’s okay.

Let your partner take care of some of the household tasks, but don’t expect him to do everything exactly how you’d do it — just enjoy the helping hand. Finally, try to establish a routine to prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed, but don’t fret too much if you stray from your plans.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Know what counts as distracted driving – and the penalties you could face for it – before you get behind the wheel. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a highway or stopped at a red light – distracted driving could cost you. Encourage your family and friends to focus on the road.

Healthy habits for a happy immune system

If you’re dreading the return of seasonal cold and flu viruses, be proactive. Healthy habits will help keep your immune system in tiptop shape and primed to stave off unpleasant infections.

A healthy person’s immune system doesn’t need any outside help to stay in good condition, as it’s naturally designed to defend your body and heal itself. However, some behaviours may affect your body’s capacity to fend off attackers (viruses, parasites, cancerous cells, foreign bodies, etc.).

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

A balanced diet is essential in preventing nutritional deficiencies, which weaken the immune system. As well, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, avoiding stressful situations, learning to manage anxiety, and not smoking

are all habits that contribute to your immune system’s good health.

IMMUNIZATION

Getting vaccinated is the best way to defend yourself against certain types of illness. Other than that, there’s no magic formula for a healthy immune system: you just need to take good care of yourself.

IMMUNE SYSTEM 101

Your immune system is one of your body’s most vital allies: without it, the tiniest scratch would leave you vulnerable to life­threatening infections. It comprises various organs, including bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen and the lymph nodes. In addition, your skin and mucous membranes are the first line of defense against foreign attackers.

A balanced diet prevents deficienciesnutritional that weaken the immune system.

Live longer thanks to these tips

Thanks to significantly reduced infant mortality rates, improved sanitary conditions, better nutrition and advances in medical science, human life expectancy has come a long way over the last few centuries. Statistics Canada estimates that by 2031, the average life expectancy of a Canadian man will be 81.9 years and that of a Canadian woman, 86.

If you hope to become the next Jeanne Calment (a French woman who passed away at 122 years and 164 days old, setting the all­time record for human longevity) make sure you adopt these five healthy habits.

1. Eat well. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to promote longevity.

2. Get moving. Regular physical activity reduces your risk of obesity, a disease known to significantly shorten lifespans.

3. Take care of your brain. Learning the lyrics to a new song, reading books and newspapers, and doing crossword puzzles are just a few ways you can stimulate your brain and help improve communications between your neurons.

4. Nurture your relationships. Research has shown that people with rich social lives tend to live longer. Having a strong group of friends may even improve your body’s immune response.

5. Laugh. Laughter is good for your mood, and being in a good mood helps you live longer. Learn to appreciate the little things and keep a positive outlook on life.

Instagram yoga... I’m weighing in!

Ok, I get it! There are many within the yoga community that are up in arms about the “Commercial Side Show” that they feel yoga has become. There is an opinion that yoga has lost its meaning and tradition. I can understand, especially when unlikely themes paired with yoga are popping up on our timelines. Where’s the connection or purpose of these types of yoga? We are also bombarded with offers of pricey yoga retreats in far away places. We receive constant visuals of both women and men with “perfect bodies”

performing these, what may seem like impossible movements and positions with their bodies. What we need to remember, is that there is a positive and a negative side to everything. It’s also important to understand that society evolves and other influences begin to have an impact on things like culture and traditional values.

If we follow the “Instagram Famous Yogis” we will most likely see poses and/or flows that may seem ridiculously impossible to recreate ourselves. This can be extremely discouraging. There is another perspective, however, that we can adopt. One of the first things yoga teaches us is the ability to focus on our own practice. We all come to and practice yoga for different reasons, so comparing ourselves to someone else does not serve us at all. We can also look to these yoga practitioners online for inspiration. There is a wealth of knowledge about yoga, its’ philosophies, and its’ physical practice circulating on social media. This is the way of the present world and if this platform is

going to reach a larger community of people and may potentially help someone for the reason they are drawn to yoga, then I say this is a positive and powerful tool.

When I first began to post on my Instagram page @anioyoga I was, first of all, horrified at the thought of making it public, but I had to in order to follow the rules of a yoga challenge I was going to participate in for the first time. I quickly learned that recording my progress and sharing it was extremely helpful in developing my personal practice. I also looked to my teacher @ lamjessfit for inspiration. Hers and other accounts like @jayatom, @yoga_at_a_glance, and @koyawebb among other accounts provided me with tips and insight to consider while I progressed in my understanding of what yoga was to me. I came to yoga for many reasons. I was desperate for peace of mind, I had many injuries that needed healing and yoga is a powerful tool to begin that process. I also wanted to feel strong in my body. These were my reasons and they con-

tinue to be fulfilled every day.

Social media was really the catalyst for my yoga and fitness journey again. Had I not seen my teacher and what she was doing, I may have stayed in the rut I was in. Seeing Facebook and Instagram posts in my feed were constant reminders that I could do something to change the way I was feeling. It provided motivation rather than discouragement. I thought that with all of the injuries I had sustained, that there was no hope of healing for me. I learned and watched the transformations that these “Instagram Yogis” had made in their lives, which made me see the possibility of myself. I love the quote “What we focus on, expands. So, focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.” Esther Jno-Charles. Social media is not the only platform to gain understanding about yoga, but it is certainly a powerful one that should not be overlooked.

How to move on from disappointment; the Dr. Omar Johnson story

“Revolution is a process, not an event!” (Sankofa)

that things were not good! Something had happened, and without him saying too much,

So, all of us have come to this earth with some key abilities in life. Some of us are great singers, golfers or mathematicians. All of us have these talents inside of us. Sometimes they scare us and we decide to hide from them and other times we start to refine them, learn new things about them and move through them in the space. We can see by looking around us consistently all the time there are people all over the place that are refining those talents. Those musicians, singers, actors, actresses, athletes, you know all of these entrepreneurs starting up businesses, you know the carpenters and the artists of the world.

I knew that in some way, it had to do with Dr. Omar. There has been a lot said about this man, and I am proud of G.A.C.N. for looking past that and extending an invitation for him to come and speak to his many fans in Toronto. They did this despite the claims that he is a charlatan, has strong patriarch,ple’s money without showing them where iting a school, but to this day, there has been

prised when I received a press release stating that Dr. Omar was in fact not coming and that he had taken people’s money and just kept it. YES! You heard right, a man who is considered a leader to many, did somethingstand the organizers dismay at finding this out. They were able to find someone to fill his space: they called the Irritated Genie, who gracefully said yes, and gave a riveting lecture on Pan Afrikan or Die; 21st Century Global Afrikan Unity. His lecture focused on

• Solutions

There’s so much talent all over that it is actually very intense if you think about it. So, I ask you today, “What are some of your key talents? What are some things that you naturally are great at? You know you can just pick up something and start to roll with or learn really fast and you didn’t really think about having to learn that?”

One of my highest forms of genius is music and sound coordination. I hear music, if I would have taken singing lessons I might be able to sing music really well. I can play instruments, I’ve played five different instruments in my life, and I pick up instruments really fast because I hear the music. That’s why I started teaching aerobics back in the day. That is a talent that was something that I didn’t have to really learn, it was already inside of me that I was able to, once I understood, refine that. I could practice, pick up different things, hone in on that talent.

So, I ask you today, “What is it for you?” Maybe you have a dance ability, and maybe all you need to do is start getting back into dancing or letting your body move to be

Before the Irritated Genie came on to speak, Bro. Kofi, one of the organizers, came on stage and sincerely apologized for having to disappoint everyone. He attempted to play a video that was put together by Omar, but for some reason, it would not play. It is probably a good thing because just from what I was seeing from his expression on the screen, Dr. Omar was in an emotional state (as usual), and I am almost positive that the negative message would have changed the course of the evening. In his address to the audience, Bro. Kofi made a strong and impactful statement, “It is not about any one person, it is about us collectively.” I cosign this statement and at this time would like to make one myself, “We need to start utilizing the great talent we have here in Toronto, and resist the urge to bring in outside talent.” I go one step further to say that we have to stop putting people on pedestals: first of all, they did not ask to be there, and secondly, they are human and fallible.

As easy as it would be for me to pull some serious cards on Dr. Omar, I actually pray that he gets the help he needs. As a psychologist, you have to take on a lot, and maybe, just maybe, Dr. Omar has taken on too much. He needs help, and this is apparent in all of his actions. I know many of you want to judge him, but do realize, this is the war that we are in; many of us continue to battle with ourselves and will not get the help needed. Let Dr. Omar be a lesson for all of us.

able to get connected to yourself. You know there’s key things inside of you and maybe you’re at a place where you have no idea what that is.

Some questions to ask yourself in order to try and kind of align this or figure this out is, “Was there ever a time in my life where I was really happy, and what was I doing? Was I really excited about something, and what did that look like? Was I ever inside of any curricular activities as a kid that I really got connected to?” It might even be asking your parents, “Mom, what do you think I was good at when I was five years old? Throughout school do you remember me being really connected to something?” That might be the start of you guys finding out where those talents lie and then creating a plan to refine them. As I have mentioned before taking time for yourself is a key thing in balance, so consider doing that for yourself.

So, this week, I ask you to refine your talent, figure out what it is you’re great at and keep shining your bright light on the world.

Administering the estate of a deceased: Paying off creditors

VALERIE DYE

valerie@carib101.com LEGAL SPECIALIST

When someone is appointed as Estate Trustee of a deceased ‘s estate that person undertakes a huge amount of responsibilities, both to the beneficiaries and to creditors of the estate. It must be noted that the Estate Trustee acts as a fiduciary. This means that he holds the assets of the estate in trust for the beneficiaries and for the creditors. In this regard, the actions of the Estate Trustee should be in the interest and for the benefit of the beneficiaries and the creditors and not for himself.

Estate Trustees need to be aware

KATHY McDONALD

kathy@carib101.com SCHOOL TRUSTEE

As I begin to write this article it’s twenty degrees outside and I have just finished picking up my four-year-old, child number four, from school. I was wearing a cotton long sleeved shirt. Does mother nature realize that it’s February? I am so inspired by the unexpected thrill of going for a walk in winter while wearing no coat that I am motivated to read some Anansi stories to my daughter when we reach home.

We ended up reading for over an hour until child number three rings the doorbell. Child number four is so excited about sharing the stories that I had dramatized for her that now child number three grabs a drink of water and gets a book. She is reading books from the Silver Birch reading list. This list consists of a selection of books which may be categorized as fiction or nonfiction. This program is offered in various schools where a teacher has volunteered to coordinate the program that

of the likelihood of being held liable if the estate is not properly administered. One of the instances where liability may arise is where the Estate Trustee fails to pay creditors. The deceased’s debts should be paid before any distribution is made to beneficiaries. If the Estate Trustee distributes assets to beneficiaries before creditors are paid, he may become personally liable for those debts if all the assets are depleted. The Estate Trustee may then be faced with the task of trying to recover assets from the beneficiaries in order to pay debts. This may not be possible and the Estate Trustee may be forced to pay those creditors from his own pocket. To avoid this, it is highly recommended that the Estate Trustee should advertise for creditors before making any distribution from the estate.

Generally, the Estate Trustee should first pay funeral expenses and all expenses associated with administering the estate. Other debts should then be paid before making distribution to the beneficia-

ries.

If the estate is insolvent and there are not enough assets to pay creditors, the Estate Trustee must determine the priority in which creditors should be paid. Naturally, a secured creditor ranks higher than an unsecured creditor. This means that secured debts such as liens and mortgages should be paid before debts arising as a result of contracts, judgment or other means which are ranked equally. This is outlined in section 50 of the Trustee Act which states that:

…in the case of a deficiency of assets, debts due to the Crown and to the personal representative of the deceased person, and debts to others, including therein debts by judgment or order, and other debts of record, debts by specialty, simple contract debts and such claims for damages as are payable in like order of administration as simple contract debts shall be paid proportionately and without any preference…

The principle of equal treatment of

Rediscover books

is run in conjunction with the Ontario Library Association. This program is geared towards children in grades three to six. There are a certain amount of books that a student must read and evaluate if they want to participate in the ultimate field trip and have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book to receive the coveted Silver Birch Award.

Child number two who was home sick with a bad cough joins in reading, For My Country, Black Canadians on the Field of Honour. It was marvelous, we were all reading for pleasure and enjoying every minute of it. As we enter March break I challenge everyone to rediscover reading. Encourage your children to read just for the joy of reading. To make this task easier let your child pick a book that excites them. In fact, why not venture out to your neighborhood library and select a few good books. Did you know that the library has many different programs that are offered throughout March break. These programs include a vast range of reading programs geared to all, from newborns, to adolescents, and to teenagers.

For the very young reader, I would suggest board books as they are more sturdy and tend to be more interactive. They may have plans to open, shut, push or pull as well they may have texture, buttons to

unsecured debtors was highlighted in various Canadian cases such as Shoppers Trust Co. (Liquidator of) v. Shoppers Trust Co. (2005) CanLII 7878 (ON CA), where it is stated that all unsecured debtors should be treated ‘rateably and equally’. This means that each creditor will be paid the same percentage of the debt that is owed to them. Finally, it should be noted that although the Estate Trustee is generally allowed one year after the death of the deceased to distribute legacies to beneficiaries, this oneyear rule does not apply to creditors. Debts owed to creditors should be paid as soon as possible after the death of the deceased in order to avoid the likelihood of being sued.

The likelihood of being sued as an Estate Trustee is very real and in that regard, various insurance companies provide liability insurance which offers protection for Estate Trustees in the event that they are sued.

push and creative activities to engage a child. There are books for all reading levels and books for all hobbies, personalities as well as all genres. The Robert Munsch collection of books are usually well appreciated by the primary reader. For the junior reader, there are copious amounts of new and not so new series, for example, Dog Man, SugarPlum Fairies series, The Magic School Bus, and Treehouse. There are culturally relevant books for a diverse people like those of the African, Black and Caribbean communities. My suggestion for middle school students is a wide range of graphic novels. I would also strongly recommend: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lessons, A Father’s Life by Jael Richardson. For the high school student I would recommend: A Fugitive in Walden Woods by Norman Lock; Policing Black Lives, State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Robyn Maynard and They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery.

If you have a reluctant reader, book selection is very important. Find a book that will captivate their imagination as well as stimulate their senses. You would be surprised how literacy can be improved by reading comics, graphic novels,

and other nontraditional reading materials. Make it a family event as various studies have supported the theory that children who see their parents reading often are more likely to be avid readers themselves.

Marley Dias created a list of one thousand books that she felt “improved the identity of black girls and increased the racial consciousness of those unfamiliar with black girls”. This list, 1000 Black Girl Books propelled Ms. Dias to a young celebrity virtually overnight. Last year Forbes magazine listed Marley as one of Forbes top 30 under 30. This is quite an accomplishment for a girl who is not yet in high school. Please note that there is also a list for boys.

In the busyness of the modern family, it’s important to create opportunities of calm, quiet repose. We need to encourage our children to reduce their screen time and increase thoughtful, critical and engaging alternatives. There is still magic, in my opinion, to hold and feel a book. It is easier on my eyes to read a book as opposed to reading off a screen. The glare causes my eyes to ache. I know I may be aging myself but…. we all, if we are fortunate to get older eventually and we should work proactively to preserve our eyes. So, journey with me and rediscover the joys of reading a book. Walk Good! Belle Marché.

Let’s talk online dating

Online dating is all the craze nowadays but I just can’t seem to wrap my head around meeting someone online. Plenty of people have successful relationship stories from meeting their significant other online, but I just don’t see myself having that same success. I have tried free sites like OkCupid, Plenty of Fish and even Christian Mingle and it was pretty much the same experience on all of the platforms. Many of my friends have said I need to pay for my accounts for online dating and register an account with companies like Match. com or E-Harmony to help weed out the “low life” or people that aren’t serious about dating. Apparently, if you are willing to drop almost two hundred dollars on a dating website membership, that indicates you are serious about dating and being in a serious relationship. But I can’t fathom paying for dating, paying a service provider to help me meet potential partners, with the possibilities of still having to weed through the losers and the guys who just aren’t my type and don’t understand the polite clues that I’m not interested. It’s not like these dating sites are going to connect me with Michael B. Jordan or the sexy Rasta Yogi I follow on Instagram or even my old tv crush Matt Babel.

Another new trend in dating aside from apps like Tinder or online dating is hiring a dating consultant; these dating “experts” will get to know you and link you with eligible bachelors in their network for a small fee. Kind of like a friend is hooking you up, but it’s a paid service like the Will Smith movie “Hitch.” I find dating websites and dating consultants to be so perception focused and not really about finding an authentic connection. Looks matter! But I don’t want to be choosing a man

solely based on his appearances before I get to know him and decide if I want to date him and I DEFINITELY don’t want to be objectified by my looks through a dating platform; hence why my stays on them have been very short. I do want to find love and a serious relationship but I also want it to happen authentically. I always imagine the story I would tell about how I met my husband at our wedding or anniversary parties to be one of depth and old-school romance. Like we saw each other, struck up a conversation, we had each other laughing all night and engaged in the most intriguing, inspiring conversation. We talked until sunrise, and as the sun rose, we both secretly knew that this was a dawn of a new beautiful relationship and partnership. Girly? Yes! Unrealistic? Maybe! But it’s one of my fantasies of how I meet the man I spend the rest of this life with.

Growing up, I always thought I would get married by the age of 23/24 when I graduated University. Then buy a house with my husband, then at age 27/28 start our family and be done having kids by 35 the latest. I am now 32, turning 33, a single mother to a fouryear-old son. My life is A LOT different than I had planned it in my naive childhood fantasies, but I am grateful for my life experiences and not getting married at age 23 or even 27. As much as I thought my life would have been better if my fantasies came true, I know if they did I wouldn’t be the woman I am today writing this article or even writing at all right now.

I am supposed to be meeting with a dating consultant in the near future and will also interview a relationship couples counselor to get a better grasp on my dating life and you know I will share all the nuggets of knowledge they give to me with my readers. If you have any online dating stories you would like to share; please e-mail me at Kezia@carib101.com. I would love to hear about mishaps and success stories of online dating and be sure to name the dating platform you used, and I will share it through the column. Love and Light.

INTERIOR DECORATING Fall in love with navy blue

Chic, sophisticated navy blue is a shade of choice when it comes to adding character to your interior. And this trendy hue isn’t just for nautical-themed decors anymore.

HOW TO USE IT

Navy blue carpets, linens, furniture and accent pieces can all add depth and charm to your decor. Take the trend a step further by painting entire walls in this inspiring shade.

WHERE TO PUT IT

Navy blue is a versatile colour that can look great throughout the home. It’s especially suited for modern kitchens, elegant bedrooms, cozy living rooms and serene bathrooms.

WHICH COLOURS TO PAIR IT WITH

In addition to white, grey and pale pink, which create a delicate, feminine look, warm hues such as golden yellow and burnt orange are perfect complements to navy blue decor.

Tips for choosing an entryway rug

A good entryway rug is a must-have for many reasons. It protects your floor from the dirt that gets tracked into your home on peoples’ shoes and keeps the mess from spreading to the rest of your house. It also prevents slips and falls when the floor is wet, which is often the case on rainy or snowy days. If you’re in the market for a new entrance mat, follow these tips.

1. Rugs made with synthetic fibres are the most durable, which makes them ideal for your main entrance and other high-traffic areas.

2. Avoid thick-pile rugs, as they tend to dry more slowly and are harder to keep clean than ones with thinner piles.

3. Pick a rug with rubber backing to protect your floor against water damage.

4. Footprints tend to stand out against solid colours, so choose a rug with a pattern.

5. Make sure that the rug you choose isn’t so thick that it gets in the way of opening and closing the door.

Check your garage door’s seals

Even a well-insulated garage door can be a source of major heat loss. When’s the last time you had a look at your garage door’s seals? To avoid inflating your wintertime heating bills, make sure the seals around the outside and at the bottom of your garage door are in good condition (not broken, torn or otherwise damaged). Seals that have become too rigid should also be replaced.

If, after taking a closer look, you suspect that your garage door’s seals should indeed be replaced, ask an expert about your options before buying new ones.

Need more space? Check the attic!

From a home office to a playroom to a guest bedroom and beyond, finishing your attic offers endless possibilities when it comes to adding space to your home without encroaching on your yard. Such an ambitious project requires a hefty dose of preparation, though. Here are some important points to consider before you dive in.

• Structure. Certain types of attic, such as chevron-beam structures, are easier to convert into living spaces than others. You’ll also need to consider the total available space as well as the slope of the roof. All in all, it’s best to have an expert assess how doable your project actually is before starting any work.

• State of the roof. Before starting any finishing work, make sure to properly inspect the roof for any traces of mould, parasites or water infiltration.

• Insulation and ventilation. You’ll likely need to add insulation and ventilation for your attic to stay comfortable in all seasons. Insulation can be done from the inside, or, if you want the beams to show, from the outside. The latter option is more expensive.

• Flooring. In most cases, the floor will need to be reinforced to support the increased strain caused by foot traffic and new furniture.

• Stairs. Building a safe staircase to the attic is an important investment that you shouldn’t take lightly.

• Lighting. For the room to benefit from sufficient natural light, you may need to install skylights or other types of windows. Otherwise, choose your light fixtures according to how you plan on using the space.

• Rules and regulations. Make sure you’re aware of your local bylaws and other rules when it comes to adding a new space to your home. Also ensure that the project will be completed up to building and fire safety codes.

Finally, when it comes to decorating, use things like mirrors and light-coloured walls to create the illusion of a larger space. Carpets and room dividers are two ways to separate different sections of a large room. Smart storage solutions are also helpful in maximizing the space available in your attic.

For everything else, be creative, and try to highlight the architectural character of your attic. Use your imagination!

DODGE updates its top sellers

Since the Dart and Viper were removed from the lineup last year with no plans to replace them, the Charger and Challenger have been alone to defend Dodge’s bottom line in the car segment. There were rumours of a new chassis for both models being borrowed from Fiat, but Dodge decided instead to give them another life cycle while promising that the next generation will be built on the same base as the Maserati Ghibli, but not before 2021.

The extremely popular Grand Caravan, which was supposed to be retired with the arrival of the Pacifica, continues to be in such high demand that Dodge has no other choice but to keep it in the lineup. The automaker will refresh its lucrative minivan this year to get it up to date with new airbag regulations and plans to keep selling it for at least two more years.

Dodge’s other major moneymaker, the Journey, will be given a new purpose over the course of the year. As Chrysler will be getting its own mid-size SUV with three rows of seating in 2019, the Journey will only be offered with rear-wheel drive capabilities from now on. The new generation will be based on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and have seating

CHRYSLER plays it safe

With the Chrysler 200 having been prematurely sent into retirement in 2017, the Chrysler 300 is now the automaker’s sole representative in the sedan segment. Chrysler plans to improve the 300 by equipping it with a standard-issue turbocharged 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine. It will also reduce its weight, improve the per-

formance of the V6 version and add a Hellcat edition to the roster by the end of 2018.

There are talks of replacing the 200 by the Fiat Tipo, which is currently available in Europe and could potentially be restyled and sold on this side of the Atlantic; however, no official word on the subject has been heard as of yet. To keep up with the SUV trend, Chrysler also plans to put a mid-sized utility vehicle — which will be manufactured in its Belvidere, Illinois, plant — on the roads by 2019. Built on the same base as the Jeep Cherokee, this vehicle will feature three rows of seating based on the configuration of the popular Dodge Journey.

for five passengers. With this change, production of the Journey will be relocated from Mexico to Italy so the vehicle can be built in the same assembly plant as the Stelvio.

Finally, those who dream of the return of the Barracuda will have to wait for the Charger’s, Challenger’s and 300’s new chassis to be released, which won’t be before 2021.

No changes are planned for the Pacifica before 2020. However, one thing on the horizon is the potential resurrection of the Aspen name by 2021 in the form of a full-size SUV built on the Pacifica’s platform and able to seat seven or eight passengers. Chrysler

also wishes to launch a fully electric vehicle in the foreseeable future given the success of the Portal concept last year, but nothing has been confirmed so far.

Dodge Viper

Dodge Dart

Dodge Journey

2018 Chrysler 300S

Chrysler Portal concept

ARIES

This week will be an excellent time for you to apply for a loan or even renegotiate your mortgage. You’ll find a solution to your financial problems that won’t force you to tighten your belt excessively.

TAURUS

At work, you’ll find yourself with a record number of clients to deal with, and you’ll be signing contracts like crazy all week. If you’re single, you might just meet your match during an evening out with friends.

GEMINI

At home as well as at work, take the time to think about your plans for the future. If you have to sign a contract this week, be sure to negotiate the terms in a way that serves you well, and double-check the fine print, just in case.

CANCER

Moving day is something you should plan for well in advance. This week is the right time to start figuring out the renovation work your future residence needs. Becoming a homeowner will bring you great pride.

LEO

Your health is becoming more important to you. You’ll start a new diet that will change your life. You will be very proud of your own perseverance.

VIRGO

You’ll be surrounded by critics all week, leaving you no other choice but to build yourself a solid supply of arguments to defend yourself against the naysayers. What you have to say will be heard by many.

LIBRA

You’ll receive a sum of money that you had nearly forgotten about, such as an insurance payout. On the dating scene you’ll be extremely popular, especially with the opposite sex.

SCORPIO

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision, especially when it comes to money. Stay on your guard; someone might try to convince you to make a big purchase hastily.

SAGITTARIUS

This week will be full of questions for you. At work, you’re starting to feel like you’ve peaked. Someone might try to sabotage your plans. If you look hard enough, you’ll find answers before the week’s end.

CAPRICORN

You’ll be busy cleaning things up at home and at work. You’ll need your surroundings to be impeccable before you can truly find peace. A loved one will be of precious help.

AQUARIUS

If you’re still searching for your dream career, this week should bring you the illumination you need to take on a new challenge. A wind of change will bring abundance to your life.

PISCES

You’re becoming more and more interested in taking a class. It might be one with a spiritual aspect. You may find yourself spontaneously organizing a trip or a pilgrimage.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

SALE FOR SALE

BARATARIA - TRINIDAD: Freehold

2 storey 5500sq.ft. 4 bdrm concrete house with all approvals. Can be separated into 3 suites. Enclosed workshop and garage. Asking 625K CDN. Call 416-671-9862

BUTCHER WANTED: Now hiring butcher. Contact Caribbean Island Food Market. Tel: 416-746-1592

COMPANION: Black male 55 years, tall, slim, intelligent and humorous loves dancing, singing, cooking and movies. Seeks attractive female any race 35 to 45 years drama-less for soulmate companion/ wife. Serious replies only to mrlxg101@ gmail.com

Hear 2 Help Wants YOU!

Candidates should have 1-2 years of community experience in mentoring or tutoring. This part-time position runs through the school year, with an option of summer hours. Work hours are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | 416-551-2469

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

CLEANER: Experience cleaner looking for homes or offices to clean in the Toronto and surrounding areas. 647-701-4930

SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth

COMMUNITY EVENT: Open to general public: CCPU’s Caribbean-themed March Break Family Fun - 12 – 3 PM March 18, 2018 Social event for all ages; explore Caribbean culture, including music, storytelling, arts & crafts, demos, vendors and more! www.ccpunited.ca

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

Key things to consider when buying a Resale Home

A home purchase is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It involves hundreds of thousands of dollars and one decision can be financially fatal.

Start by choosing the right realtor to represent you. Having a real estate license is not the same as having the knowledge or the experience to help you. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Interview two or three realtors before deciding and look at their track records. An experienced realtor, like an experienced sailor, can navigate you across the shark-infested waters of real estate and take you safely ashore. Many buyers

believe that if they choose the realtor who represents the seller, they can negotiate a better deal. This is far from the truth. Would you consider going to a lawyer whose client is suing you, to represent you?

Your realtor will ask you to sign a buyer contract. The contract is valid for a period of time and states how the realtor will be compensated. A buyer contract is for two to three months and usually, the realtor is paid by the seller’s brokerage. Always read the contract before signing and ask the realtor for a copy.

Your realtor will arrange for you to be prequalified to buy. With the help of a mortgage broker, you will know how much the bank will lend. Let’s assume that you qualify for a mortgage of $500,000. Ask the broker to work backward, with the assumption that you bought a home for five hundred thousand dollars and estimate your monthly payments including mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities. It the payments are high, ask the realtor to rework the figure based on a lower mortgage amount.

In addition to your down payment, you will need to account for closing costs. Approximate costs include home inspection fees, $400, appraisal fees, $350, land transfer tax, about 1% of the purchase price and for buyers who are buying in the 416-area code and are not first-time buyers, 2%. In addition to that, consider lawyer’s fees and the cost of title insurance and disbursements. If your down payment is less than 20%, then you will have to pay CMHC insurance fees which can be substantial, but the lender will include that amount in your mortgage. However, the HST on the CMHC fees is out of pocket expenses. Put away about 1.5% of the purchase price for closing fees.

Your realtor will arrange to view homes with you. Choose homes based on the location, then the size and the amenities. Always buy what is easy to sell. If you are considering a home with maintenance fees, then calculate how much mortgage money the fees can pay. You might be able to step up to a freehold and your monthly expense will be the same. Homes with registered base-

ment apartments are good choices because the projected income from the basement will help you qualify for more mortgage. In addition, the extra income will come in handy and when you are ready to sell, buyers will pay you more because of the advantages. Before purchase, consider whether the home has major defects. Ask your realtor if the seller has a Seller Property Information Statement. This is a disclosure statement that the sellers may have provided to the realtor. You can also request a history report that will provide information if the home ever had an insurance claim for fire, flood, sewage backup or was used as a grow- op from homevarified.com.

The French Novelist, Marcel Proust, said that “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeking them with different eyes.” Toronto is a mega city and there will be a demand for homes. What seems expensive today will look like a bargain soon. Home values in mature neighborhoods, on large lots, will climb.

RRSP deadline has passed; did you invest at your local Bank?

As the headline says, the RRSP deadline has passed. You had until the 1st of March if you wanted to make a contribution towards reducing your taxes payable in relation to the 2017 income year. Any contributions you make from now on will go towards your 2018 tax year. I hope that you were able to make your contributions. If not, that money has gone to the tax man.

If you made a contribution, what did you contribute to? A simple savings account, GIC, bonds, ETF’s, mutual funds, stocks? Did you pick the right one? Simply by asking this question, it becomes apparent that there are so many choices, consumers may make the wrong choices unless they have the help of someone who knows and

understands the market.

More often and especially at the end of February, the typical customers walks into a bank to buy their RRSP and often find themselves dealing with an advisor who sells them a balanced fund. With this type of fund, you will not earn a lot of money, perhaps an average of 4% to 5 % per annum over a five year period. Over the long run, they are more likely to give you a lower return than properly put together portfolios.

However carefully put together portfolios require time and expertise of a qualified financial advisor. You will hardly find that someone, who will spend hours putting together a portfolio for you when they have readymade portfolios where they “put you in and forget your methodology”. It’s like a walk-in clinic, you go in, the doctor looks at the computer screen more than he does you, and in seven minutes you are out of there. He doesn’t think of you after you’re gone. Don’t you wish for the olden days when a doctor appeared or showed you he cared?

This is how it should be with your investing also, your financial advisor is not there just to process your sale, he should

be your advisor, after all, that’s what he is called. Here are some questions that your advisor should have asked: Are you simply saving in an RRSP or are you saving for your retirement? What are your retirement goals? How much money will need for retirement from your savings? What age do you plan to retire? What is your life expectancy? What’s the lifespan of your parents? How much social security benefits are you expecting to receive? If you got a critical illness, would you need to withdraw from your RRSP?

This is what you should expect from an advisor, not just taking the money and investing it without a plan. Depending on your goals and risk tolerance an advisor should customize a portfolio where you can make the most returns at the lowest possible risk. Too often I come across clients who have very high-risk portfolios only to see that they are making a lower return than they should. So if you are in the position where you did invest in a balanced fund at one of your bank branches, it might be beneficial to consult with an advisor, and there are many who don’t charge sales commissions, to see if they can do better for you.

Perhaps we hope they hold an echo of wisdom or a biting witticism, or at least a hint about who’s getting what in the will. A few examples of famous last words from some historical figures.

• Bob Marley, musician: “Money can’t buy life.”

• Leonard Nimoy, actor: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP.” Technically, this was Leonard Nimoy’s last tweet, so they may not be his actual last words.

• Leonardo da Vinci, inventor and painter: “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”

Why are our last words so important? We go through our whole lives saying what we think, how we feel, what we believe in, even reciting other people’s last words. Do we learn anything from them? Another form of last words is what people say about us after

our spirits have left this earth, better known as a Eulogy. If you were to die today what would your obituary say? What words would be shared at your funeral? Though a somber thought, thinking about this eventual fact of life makes me and perhaps you too ponder our legacy. Have you noticed that when people die, their eulogies celebrate life very differently from the way we define success in our everyday existence? Defining success beyond money and power to include well-being, wisdom and our willingness to give is not hard to live, but it’s very easy not to as well. It’s easy to use work as a definition of ourselves. It’s easy to let technology wrap us in a make-believe, stressed-out existence.

The eulogy is the foundational document of our legacy, of how people remember us, of how we live on in the minds and hearts of others. What will be your legacy? Why not consider and design your legacy by identifying the key relationships in your life and describe how you want to be remembered by each person. Spending time writing this out clarifies priorities, helps in discerning and enables you to say yes to the things that matter most and no to the things that take you away from your true calling more easily.

We must also think about and address our financial final words. What happens to our money, property, and debt when we die? While there isn’t one answer for everyone’s situation, there are some common rules of thumb when it comes to a person’s

finances after they die. Wills are a very important document if you wish to have some control over what happens to your assets (money, investments, property, etc.) when you die. This is especially true if you have children, grandchildren, or even siblings who might disagree over certain aspects of your estate (which is what your assets are called upon your death).

Debt; Unfortunately, regardless of whether or not you create a will, your estate will most likely be used to pay off any debts you still owe before it can be distributed to your loved ones. How your estate is used to pay off these debts depends largely on the type of debt you owe. Adjusting to life after we are gone for our family is not easy. To help you deal with that situation, there are some important financial areas that you will need to think about and take control of.

• Taking over the household bills and budget

• Deal with any cards, loans or mortgage debts

• Taking over the insurance

• Planning your finances for the future

If you have joint life insurance or your own insurance, you should contact the provider to update your policy. You may need to change the beneficiaries of the policy, or even change the amount of coverage it gives. If you don’t have life insurance, this is a good time to start looking into getting one.

Divorce Notice

Take Notice on the 28th November 2017 a Petition for Divorce was filed against Sieunarine Ramnarine of 2970 Jane Street,Apt 1006 Toronto Ontario M3N 2V5 ,Canada by Kamla Ramnarine nee Ramsaroop the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

Take Notice if you desire to Defend this Divorce then you must file an Acknowledgment of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend at the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 42 ( forty-two ) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

Take Notice that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 3rd Day of May, 2018 at 9:30am before Honorable Madam justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

In Default of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

Windies looking to stamp authority

ZIMBABWE -- West Indies begin their quest for a spot at next year World Cup when they face minnows United Arab Emirates in their opening match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers today, hoping to turn the page on their ordinary form.

The Caribbean side struggled on the slow pitches here in their two warm-up matches, sensationally losing to Afghanistan before rebounding to narrowly beat UAE and escape embarrassment.

Labelled as favourites but aware now more than ever that the qualifying campaign could be fraught with peril, Windies captain Jason Holder on Monday underscored the importance of a strong start to the competition.

“Ideally we need to start well – it’s been

a common trend in these tournaments where you really need to start well,” the all-rounder asserted.

“There’s obviously been a bit of weather around in terms of rain and we don’t want to find ourselves scrambling in the end.

“So I’ve really emphasised the importance of starting well. We’ve got UAE and Papua New Guinea up front and I think it’s important we beat both those teams heading into the last two encounters with Ireland and Netherlands.”

West Indies’ fickle batting remains their ever-present plight. Against Afghanistan, they failed to chase down a modest revised target of 140 and were dismissed for 110 – after being well-placed on 80 for two at one stage.

The shocker came against UAE when they were rolled over for 115 and needed a strong bowling effort in order to pull off victory in the end.

They boast in their ranks the veteran pair of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels who among them have played a combined 467 One-Day Internationals, and also have the likes of match-winners like the youthful pair of Evin Lewis and Shai Hope.

Holder said he was hoping for a better strip at the Old Hararians Ground as the Windies looked to mount an improved batting effort.

“It should be a really good contest. We played against them before a few days

ago so we had a good look at the opposition and what they bring,” he explained.

“Hopefully tomorrow the conditions are a lot better than they were in the warm-up game. From all reports, the last game played here … seemed to be a really good wicket with the ball coming on and you can get pretty good scores on it, so hopefully our batsmen can capitalise on the conditions tomorrow, basically stamp their authority and get us to a really good total

The match bowls off at 9:30 am (3:30 am Eastern Caribbean time).

SQUADS

WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Jason Mohammed (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cotterell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams.

UAE – Rohan Mustafa (captain), Adnan Mufti, Ahmed Raza, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Mohammad Boota, Mohammad Naveed, Muhammad Usman, Qadeer Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan.

- Trinidad Guardian

UNWRAP MORE GIGS.

Bramalea & Sandlewood 10635 Bramalea Rd 905-458-9464

World 499 Main St S 905-453-9463

Rexall Plaza 10015 Hurontario St 905-840-9464

Chinguacousy 10671 Chinguacousy Rd 905-840-3388

MISSISSAUGA Burnhamthorpe Road 1100 Burnhamthorpe Rd 905-615-8788

Sheridan Centre 2225 Erin Mills Parkway 905-822-9463

Westwood Mall 7205 Goreway Dr 905-671-9463

BURLINGTON Appleby Village 5111 New St 905-635-0584

Walkers Line 3505 Upper Middle Rd 289-427-5260

OAKVILLE Oakville Smart Centre 261 Oak Walk Dr 289-291-3261

KITCHENER Stanley Park Mall 1005 Ottawa St N 519-954-2923 Laurentian

SCARBOROUGH Woodside Square 1571 Sandhurst Circle 647-260-1392 Bridlewood Mall 2900 Warden Ave 416-490-9463 Parkway Mall 85 Ellesmere Rd 416-444-9463

NORTH YORK Centerpoint Mall 6464 Yonge St 416-222-9463

THORNHILL Shops on Yonge 7181 Yonge St 905-597-9463 ST CATHARINES St Catharines Smart Centre 420 Vansickle Rd 289-479-5496