PNM Leads THA Race 011613

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PNM Leads THA Race

TRINIDAD (TG) -- A poll ahead of next Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election is predicting a landslide victory for the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM).

The poll, by Nigel Henry and Tarik Parris of the firm Solution by Simulation, was carried out by telephone from January 7-9.

It showed the Orville London-led PNM team winning 11 of the 12 seats being contested.

And Ashworth Jack, leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), has an uphill struggle to retain his seat, figures suggested.

The pollsters reported, however, that while the PNM was in the lead, “more than

one in three Tobagonians are still waiting to be convinced.” Apart from the incumbent PNM, the TOP and the Hochoy Charles-led The Platform for Truth (TPT) are also fielding full slates of candidates in the January 21 election.

The poll showed that 46 per cent of interviewees favoured the PNM, while 18 per cent favoured the TOP. But 36 per cent of electors surveyed failed to indicate a preference. The pollsters said some of the registered voters interviewed chose The Platform of Truth, “but the total support did not register above statistically significant level.”

The report said, “Unless TOP can

tap into the hearts of the large block of voters in the middle, the PNM is set to repeat its landslide of 2005.” The PNM scored an 11-to-one victory at the polls eight years ago.

Henry said 30 per cent of those interviewed said the most important issue in the election is internal self-governance for the island, while 22 per cent said it was completed or stalled projects and 19 per cent said the biggest issue is corruption. The pollsters said 29 per cent of interviewees also listed “a myriad of other issues such as general economic development, road repair and land and law reform as also being important.”

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Dancehall pushing crime

Cee Jay, from Trinidad & Tobago, enjoys laughing out loud, swimming, basking in the warmth of sun, listening to music (Soca, R&B, Hip Hop), dancing.

Cee Jay’s biggest accomplishment so far is being a mother and hopes to inspire the act of kindness and unity in people, and change the way we treat each other.

Photo By DB Photography You could be our next editions “TC Girl”! To enter, send your photo and a brief description to info@torontocaribbean.com

JAMAICA (JO) -- Crime is on the decrease in the island’s deadliest police divisions, but popular culture continues to hamper government’s efforts.

Security Minister Peter Bunting reiterated the statement on Thursday, citing at least one dancehall tune as evidence of the social ‘dysfunctionality’ behind criminality in Jamaica. He made specific mention of its role in the deadly lottery scam in St James.

“I think that a national hero that we haven’t named officially is ‘Anansi’.

Because Jamaicans seem to love... an antiauthoritarian element in our culture,” said Bunting, before quoting the lyrics of the song Reparation by incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim. The song was banned from airwaves last year, partly after coming under heavy criticisms for its lyrical content.

“As long as dem naah buy nuh gun, dem naah support nuh war, big up the man dem star from near and far. Dem call it scam but we call it reparation,” quoted the minister, who was the main speaker at a Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains meeting in St Andrew Thursday.

“Big up every scammer weh mek US dollar, Western Union people fi give we more honour. Every ghetto yute fi a live like Tony Montana, live presidential like Barack Obama,” he added, continuing his point.

“It’s an amazing piece of propaganda for scammers. [But] bear in mind that St James has one of the highest proportions as it relates to homicides, and approximately 50 per cent of those murders are related to scamming,” he said.

“Yet up to last year people are not connecting the dots, they still refer to it [scamming] as a victimless crime,” he continued.

Police have attributed more than 400 deaths to the lottery scam violence in St James since 2006, including that of at least one elderly American citizen, who committed suicide after losing millions to Jamaican scammers.

It has transformed St James, one of Jamaica’s tourist hotspots, into one of Jamaica’s deadliest divisions, police in the parish have said. Among the other notorious divi-

sions are St Catherine North, Clarendon, St Andrew South, and St Andrew North.

Despite the challenges, however, Bunting said his ministry will not give up in its fight. Last year, he noted, his ministry created two advertisements aimed at tackling the nation’s crime problem from a ‘culture change’ perspective.

“St Catherine North, this is one of the divisions which has been heavily influenced by gangs; One Order and Klansman gangs. We had a reduction of 34 per cent of murders in St Catherine North in 2012; that is 60 less persons murdered,” he said, noting that the reductions are similar for the parish of St James.

In the meantime, Bunting said that sexual assaults of minors declined from 108 in January 20I2 to a staggering 18 reported incidents in December. Last year’s tally of 1,087 was the lowest in nine years, he said.

“What we see is that the contribution of the historical crime hotspot is actually reducing, improving the safety of our town centres,” said the minister, noting, however, that displaced gangsters often take up shelter in other parishes, namely Westmoreland, Hanover, Manchester, and St Ann. Efforts are afoot to deal with this migration, said Bunting.

TV licence not part of deal with Region 10 GUYANA (DW) -- The government maintains that the Region 10 administration will have to go through the regular process for a television licence like any other applicant with President Donald Ramotar being the latest to weigh in on the issue.

During negotiations following a one-month protest by Lindeners after three protesters were killed allegedly by the police, the region and central government agreed that television equipment donated to the mining town some time ago would be given to the Regional Democratic Council.

That has since been done but the regional officials are demanding that the government also fast track the frequency assignment in keeping with the August 21, 2012 agreement signed by the two parties. The administration’s recollection and the document made public appear to be at odds with the region’s demand.

“We had agreed to give them what they asked for, those equipment, and then they had to apply for frequency, that’s what

I remember of the discussions that we had.

So I don’t know if they have applied for it or anything like that. We have an independent board.

The equipment they asked for was given and they have to apply like everyone else for frequency and so forth which is set up by an independent board and the opposition also have a representative there,” Ramotar told reporters at a media briefing Friday.

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Every Donation helps TCCF with its Valentines Dinner Gala

Cindy Ramkumar Reporter TORONTO -- The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF) begins its 2013 initiatives by hosting a “Roses, Chocolates & Diamonds” Valentines Dinner on February 9th at Empire Banquet Hall.

The TCC and its affiliated hospitals namely the Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto and other Global hospitals has helped 54 children in need of life threatening surgeries.

This year, the first TCCF Angel is Dana. She is a petite 6 month old baby girl, in dire need of surgery to repair a defective heart valve (Atrial Ventricular Septal Defect). Thankfully with the assistance of all

the donations received, her procedure has been scheduled for February 2013.

In attendance on February 9th Valentines Gala is President of Sick Kids Foundation, Ted Garrard. Ted’s role would be to enlighten and inform guests about Sick Kids, its new and ongoing projects. TCCF attendees are encouraged to become involved in the important initiative, dig deep into their pockets and help provide medical care for more of those Angels from the English Speaking Caribbean including Guyana.

El Dorado Jewellers, The Golden Apple Confectionery Inc, and Quality Inn Suites, Airport location are all sponsors of great prizes for the night. Comedian Marc

Trinidad will entertain attendees on Love, Relationships and Marriage and MC Warren Salmon cover the event for the night.

So those wishing to enjoy chocolates, roses and a night surrounded by diamonds, dress up in your very best wear, both ladies and men, come out enjoy the night, and lets help raise money for a good cause by donating as much as we can to one of the best charitable Children Foundation.

For further info on the event, and ways to donate, contact Sayeeda TCCF Community Liaison at 416-493-3959 or donate on the website www.tccfangels.com

Range of resources and activities expanded for Mash 2013

GUYANA (DW) -- The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport has increased by 10 % over 2012, the amount of resources available to various regions for Mashramani celebrations, according to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Alfred King.

Accompanied by members of this year’s Mash organising committee, King briefed the media about on-going preparations, the Govevrnment Information Agency

(GINA) reported.

The ministry is aiming to have more persons involved in the float parade and to this end; King said he was pleased that corporate entities such as Banks DIH, Digicel and Ansa Mcal (sponsors of the Soca competition) were already on board. With 30 bands expected to participate in the traditional float parade, there is a challenge to have designers come up with costume packages which they can offer to companies at a reasonable rate.

King noted that a company can pay a designer as much as $14M to equip a costumed band of revellers and provide food and refreshments, however, “Together, we are looking at innovative ways in which we can reduce this cost but still have a high quality product to offer companies wishing to participate,” he added.

The ministry is working to produce a documentary on Mash 2013, which will showcase all the events as far as possible and this will be available for a small fee, King

said.

The Children’s Mash Convenor Desiree Wyles-Ogle outlining her programme said that there will be competitions for poetry, choirs, dancing and the traditional Children’s Costume Parade, sponsored by GT&T. From January 24 – February 6, regional costume competitions will take place with the finals from February 13 – 15 at the National Cultural Center. On February 16, the Children’s Costume parade will take place from Independence Ground to the National Park.

Ogle said that a new addition this year will be a Hip Hop dance competition aimed at boys in two categories, ages 11-13 and 14-17 years. There will be essay competitions for juniors under 18 (450 words) and 18 plus senior (600 words). These essays will be based on the theme, “The role of youths in nation building” and entries will be closed on February 15.

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Despite facing poverty mother wants children to succeed TRINIDAD (TG) -- Linda Ramnanansingh, 35, is determined that her children will finish school and get good jobs to help the family escape from the grinding poverty they now endure. Every day is a struggle to survive for Linda, her husband Lalchan Manolal, 41, and their children, Andy, 19; Ashton, 17; Annisa, 16, and Alana, 15, who share a tiny dilapidated shack at Macaulay Road, Claxton Bay. Lalchan, a Cepep labourer and the main breadwinner, struggles to supplement his meagre wages by doing odd jobs in his community. Eldest son, Andy, injured his back in an accident and is only able to work two days a week doing odd jobs.

The couple’s other children attend a secondary school in the area.

Their shack can only be accessed by crossing a narrow bridge made from rotten boards salvaged from a nearby wooden house that was demolished. The family lost several items when the shack was flooded out two years ago. There is

no electricity, no internal plumbing and the family gets water from a tap provided

by Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) off its main supply line which is located at the back of their home.

Linda said she desperately wants her children to get their CXC passes so they can move up in life but even that seems difficult to achieve. The children try to do most of their studies by sunset and after that must use a kerosene lamp or a flambeau. Linda is worried that the lack of lights may put her children at a disadvantage when exams come around.

The family was issued a food card but that stopped working in July.

Linda reported the malfunctioning card to the Ministry of the People and Social Development and officials promised to look into the matter but there has been no word from them since.

Yesterday, the family’s Sunday meal consisted of dhal and rice prepared in the single, tiny room that serves as kitchen, bedroom and living room. It

leaks whenever it rains. The family’s clothes are stored in cardboard boxes in a corner of the room that does not leak. The children’s schoolbags hang on the wall on nails.

Anju Mathura, 38, a concerned neighbour who contacted the T&T Guardian about the family’s plight, said while the community tries to assist the family, there isn’t much they can do. “There are a lot of poor people but they do not have the resources or know how to get information. We in the community contacted the Guardian since newspaper people are knowledgeable. Sometimes we find that elected officials scarce and difficult to get help from,” he said.

When contacted, Surujdeo Mangaroo, chairman of the National Commission for Self Help, said he was saddened when he heard of the plight of the family.

Mangaroo plans to visit the family this week and said once they qualify, grants will be given to help them improve their living conditions.

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That demon rum - Leader of umbrella church group angered by ‘glamorisation’ of alcohol JAMAICA (JO) -- The new chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) Reverend Rennard White has chided the marketers of alcoholic beverages for what he describes as the “glamorisation of alcohol” which, he feels, if left unchecked, could turn more youngsters into alcoholics.

The pastor said that while he understands the need for these companies to secure their bottom line, the accessibility of alcohol, to youth especially, will come at a high price which society will have to pay eventually.

“A worrying trend that I see, and I really would like for us to address, is the seeming all-out assault on society by those who are the purveyors of alcohol; the continuous invitation that is being put in the faces of our young people to come drink,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The JUGC is estimated to speak for about 99 per cent of the local Christian population by virtue of its representation of the island’s seven umbrella church groups.

White officially took over as head of the organisation from convenor Reverend Glen Anglin earlier this month, following Anglin’s retirement. White is also the president of the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals (JAE) and pastor of Tower Hill Missionary Church in Kingston.

He said that the high consumption of alcohol by youth is a matter of serious concern for pastors and youth leaders.

Rev White’s concern is reminiscent of the prohibition era in the United States when church leaders lashed out

against what they termed ‘demon’ or ‘devil rum’.

“All this drinking and free party, and ‘drink all you can’, to show young people are having a great time drinking somebody’s alcohol; it is going to have its effect down the road. But guess what, sometimes when you say these things, people think ‘you are just church people, so be quiet’,” White said.

The reverend said that although these companies might not intentionally set out to make drunkards of youth who are accessing their products, their marketing strategy makes it hard for these individuals to drink responsibly.

“They have made the young population the centre of all the ads and show what a great time they are having. Everybody is with a glass or a bottle in their hand and the idea is ultimately to market their drinks,” argued White.

“I don’t know how concerned they are about what is going to happen when people keep on ingesting this over a period of time, and then we don’t know what percentage of them are going to become alcoholics,” he said.

While persons under 18 are, under the law, prohibited from buying alcohol, White said this has not stopped teenagers from accessing alcoholic beverages. In fact, he believes overindulgence of alcohol is not right at any age.

“Whether you are 18 or 30, cocaine is going to be cocaine. We are talking about the deleterious effects of the thing,

the possibilities of it becoming addictive,” he said.

In making his case, White pointed to the “glamorisation” of other harmful products in the past, including cigarettes, noting the difficulty health officials are experiencing trying to get people not to smoke, many of whom picked up the addictive habit because of early marketing campaigns projecting smoking as a glamorous thing.

He said simply telling young people to “drink responsibly won’t necessarily stop people from drinking alcohol, just as the warning on cigarette boxes today is not stopping people (from smoking)”.

“It’s really a tough situation because people are going to say, look how many people make their living out of this, but it’s a serious thing when you have to marginalise and kill some for others to live,” reasoned the pastor.

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) was forced to launch a public education campaign last summer against teen drinking, after the agency found that teens as young as 13 years old were becoming severely intoxicated at parties despite the legal age limit for the purchase and consumption of alcohol.

NCDA field officer for Kingston and St Andrew Daniel Brown, in a Sunday Observer story last year June, pointed out that the agency was concerned about the number of young people who were falling down drunk at parties. “You were stepping over youngsters who were drunk, passed

out on the streetside,” he said, after attending one popular summer all-inclusive party.

Brown pointed out that Ecstasy and other drugs were also being sold at some of these parties and once inside, teens were allowed to purchase alcohol and cigarettes without anyone asking their age.

Of the 144 small, medium and large billboards along the main corridors across Jamaica surveyed by the NCDA for messages and images in 2008, brands of beer (46 per cent) were most highly advertised, followed by rum (21 per cent) and wine (four per cent).

The agency noted on its website that the actors were young adults and the language used “connoted real living, adult entertainment and stamina”. The boards were also found in close proximity to homes, playfields and schools.

Reverend White said the Missionary Church in Jamaica has started an education campaign to sensitise young people about the negative effects of alcohol. The JAE, he said, has also dubbed 2013 the year of the youth and in that context will be focusing on the effects of the alcohol culture on Jamaican youngsters.

“People might say it’s a free society, so you can’t stop people from marketing their products, but by the same token, I say we need to raise the red flag. We need to touch base with families and point out the possibilities of what alcohol can do to people who are studying and what it can do to drivers on the road,” he said.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Trinidad PNM in the lead Continued From Page 1 -- “TOP’s biggest challenge is its deficit on the issue of internal self-government, the biggest decider in this election.” The report continued: “One of the most surprising findings of the poll is that Mr Ashworth Jack is among the candidates with the biggest gap to close, trailing the PNM’s Sheldon Cunningham by a 43 per cent margin.”

The pollsters said the number of respondents who said they made their choice on the basis of internal self-government for Tobago was higher in Jack’s electoral district than in any other, with a margin of 44 per

cent. “This suggests that voters find Mr Jack too closely associated with the central Government to be a suitable leader of the island’s Assembly,” the survey said.

The pollsters said they were not commissioned to do the survey by any campaign or political organisation. Calls were made to 478 likely voters in registered households and the interviews were done via landlines. The margin of error for the overall sample was plus or minus 4.4 per cent. The T&T Guardian was unable to reach London, Jack or Charles for comment on the poll results Sunday.

Not part of the deal Continued From Page 2 -- The August 21 agreement which was made public states: “That the dish and transmitter that were given to the Linden Community will be given to Region 10 Regional Democratic Council.

The dish and transmitter should be transferred to the Region within 14 days of the signing of this Agreement. ii. That it was agreed that Region 10 will apply for a broadcasting license and the Government will facilitate the granting of that license in keeping with the law.”

At a public meeting in Linden Saturday evening Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon said the return of the transmitter

could not be separated from the frequency.

“The transmitter comes with the frequency. They have to give us our channel. You cannot give a transmitter without the frequency and the transmitter that they should be returning to us is the transmitter with the Channel 13 frequency,” he said.

Days before the signing of the August 21 agreement it was announced that Opposition Leader David Granger had nominated Sherwood Lowe to sit on the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority. Granger had stated afterward that Lowe’s appointment was done to remove any stumbling block to Region 10 receiving a TV licence.

More for Mashramani 2013 Continued From Page 3 -- A children’s Art competition is also slated from February 12 – March 1. This was inaugurated in 2012 and saw a high quality of work being put on display by entrants, according to organiser Collette Jones Chin. This year’s competition is based on the Mashramani Theme “Reflecting Creativity, Embracing Diversity”. Chin said that for ages 4-12 years, drawing and paintings are eligible whilst for ages 13-17 years graphics and body art in addition to the aforementioned, will be accepted. Schools will be asked to submit their three best works with a deadline of February 4 for the competition. The final exhibition will be from February 14-18 at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown.

The convenor of the Steel pan competition, Andrew Tyndall in his overview said that the will be five different categories for the Republic bank sponsored event.

Preliminaries will take place at the National Cultural Center for school bands on February 15 and finals on February 17 at the Cliff

Anderson Sports Hall, starting at 16:00hrs.

Steel pan concerts are planned throughout various regions and events will be held in Parika, Linden and at various locations in Georgetown.

Concerts featuring local and international artistes will be held at Bartica, Lusignan and Linden. There will also be a Bright-up Guyana competition, Republic lecture series, special concerts for the elderly, Mash workshops, Masquerade competitions and Folk concerts to name a few.

The Calypso competition had an initial 30 entrants; these have been shortlisted to 20 according to organiser Patricia Chase-Green. The semi finals will be held in Linden on February 9 and the finals held at Thirst Park, Banks DIH on February 15.

Chase- Green said that entries are still being taken for the Health Soca competition and the Road March Song competition will be judged on February 23, Mash Day. An international artiste will also be part of the parade on that day, according to Green.

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Guyana a tourism hot spot - many successes recorded in 2012

GUYANA (GC) -- Government has designated tourism as a priority sector, influenced by the National Development Strategy’s conclusion that tourism as a sector can contribute to the sustainable development of Guyana; earn foreign exchange and provide job opportunities while conserving the natural environment. And so, with an allocation of $200M, the Ministry of Tourism continued the expansion and development of the tourism sector in 2012. The ministry and its arm the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have been responsible for initiatives towards the growth and development of this industry.

The GTA is responsible for designing and marketing tourism strategies on behalf of the government, in addition to regulating standards for all industry participants. In this regard, a look back at tourism activities for this the year just gone by show that Guyana continues to make in-roads into new tourism territories, locally, regionally and internationally.

The thrust of 2012 was, undisputedly, reigniting a desire for the natural beauty of Guyana-stirring up an interest in “Re-discovering home” Still Soaring.

While 2012 had its share of challenges, the Tourism Ministry kept the bigger picture in focus, that of increasing tourist arrivals and improving domestic tourism.

Guyana, more often than not, is referred to as the country with vast hinterlands and natural beauty; the famous Kaieteur Falls its number one visitors’ attraction.

It was in 2012 that Guyana hosted the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, which showcased the local tourism product to 250 delegates and over 30 international journalists. The delegations were treated to a number of documentaries made by international television networks such as Discovery Channel and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The Rupununi Region again justified the resources poured into its development as it took the regional spotlight by winning the 2012 Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and Travelmole (CTO/Travelmole) award for improving the quality of life of the district’s nhabitants. Additionally, Guyana won awards covering all aspects of sustainability, from overall excellence, to accommodation, community, heritage and biodiversity.

Domestic Tourism The government made significant strides in continuing to provide support to Amerindi-

an villages to preserve their cultural relics, symbolic of life during pre-colonial days.

The intention of the government was to expand tourism to other Amerindian communities across Guyana; transforming them into irresistible tourism destinations, increasing investment in training and education, and developing small businesses. In Orealla, the Tourism Ministry in association with Cortours began putting together a committee to manage and expand the Orealla Regatta.

New Amsterdam Town Day, Region 6 was held on October 26 under the theme “Collaboration and Unity for the restoration of New Amsterdam.” Meanwhile in Region 9, a number of private sector businesses and the ministry pulled together the 11th Rupununi Expo. The annual event was successfully held under the theme “Uniting Our Resources for a Secured Future”.

In March, 25 vehicles began their nine-day, 529-mile Annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari. The convoy explored 14 Amerindian communities during the trip, partaking of the taste of the distinct, rich

flavour of the indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Between January and November, the GTA recorded an overall increase of 17.2% in visitor arrivals. The ministry uses the best technology to record arrivals to Guyana. The GTA Director, Indranauth Haralsingh said that the Management information system for tourism-the MIST software-was implemented to adequately record and analyse data.

In every great story there are some great people; The Ministry of Tourism expressed its gratitude to persons who made immeasurable contributions to the tourism sector. Several industries were also recognised for placing Guyana in the international spotlight. Awards were presented to the top 11 persons in the sector for their excellence in tourism development; awards fell under several categories – Tourism Pioneers – Correia Group of Companies – Tourism; Community-based Tourism- Conservation International, Destination Guyana Promotion- Blue Paw Promotion, Pillar of Tourism Industry Award- Mr. Lennox John, Best Marketing Campaign- Wilderness Explorers, Tourism Recognition- Mr. Richard Ousman – Wonderland Tours, Tour Guide of the Year- Mr. Paul Waldron, Tourism Entrepreneur- Mr. Colin Edwards, Best Tourism Ambassador- Mr. John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul ‘Slingshot’, Most Out-standing Community Tourism Project- Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society, and Tourism Recognition for Best Supporting Hotel- Princess Hotel.

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Guyana - 2012 hotspot

Continued From Page 6 -- Meanwhile, 17 lucky persons were given the opportunity to bask in the unmatched beauty of their country as they journeyed to the Majestic Kaieteur falls and navigated the waters of the mighty Essequibo. In addition, during the year as well, the ministry continued to support cultural and other significant local observances among which are Amerindian Heritage Month, Arrival Month, Emancipation Month, Diwali, Christmas, and Eid-ulAdha.

Private/ Public Partnerships Much work was also undertaken to improve the aesthetics of the city environs, and the Tourism Ministry and the GTA focused significantly, during the year, on the implementation of urban renewal plans.

In December, the Parliament Square was commissioned on Brickdam, a project that stemmed from several proposals put forward during the first annual Building Expo and is part of the Brickdam Renewal Plan.

The square is an initiative to counter-balance the loss of green space within Georgetown, complement surrounding historical structures and add vitality to a unique recreational

tourism place of value.

Local service providers continued to be offered opportunities to promote what they offer. Apart from the annual GuyExpo, the ministry made arrangements for businesses to advertise at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Furthermore a special group consisting of representatives from both sectors was tasked with the responsibility of consulting with all tourism service providers towards establishing regulations for the sector. In 2013, the ministry will continue and has sketched plans to regularise service providers.

Government has remained committed to acknowledging the people who have shared its vision, and, have committed to work along with the government to ensure that Guyana’s little secret is talked about at every end of the globe. To this end, the ministry expressed appreciation to persons who have made immeasurable contributions to the tourism sector. Several industries were also recognised for placing Guyana in the international spot light. Among the awardees were: Conservation International, Blue Paw Artists, Lennox John owner of Splashmins Resort, Aranaputa Processors’ Friendly Society, and Princess Hotel.

According to Tourism Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali, the stable economic environment has fostered a dynamic and growing tourism industry in Guyana. In this regard, 2012 also provided an opportunity through the ministry and the GTA to tighten partnerships between the public and the private sectors. The annual exposition, GuyExpo, saw participation from approximately 400 exhibitors from the

Caribbean, North America and Asia. Representatives from 18 countries were in Guyana at that time.

Investments from the private sector grew, while infrastructure to support the sector has expanded with the establishment of more road links, bridges, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and in the pipeline an athletic track, renewable energy, solar panels in rural communities, and a new airport among other things.

Looking to 2013 The Tourism Ministry has had several meetings with members of the private sector towards ensuring that the 2013 budget allocation is adequate to move the sector forward.

Consultations offered service providers the opportunity to raise concerns, make suggestions and offer solutions to challenges facing the local tourism sector.

The ministry plans to expand its current training programmes and regularise services towards improving the quality of service provided in every Administrative Region.

New Investments Within the first quarter of 2013, the ministry hopes to initiate discussions with WestJet, Air Canada, and Jet Blue air carriers to stimulate and motivate interests in investing in the Guyana.

Meanwhile, several new invest-

ments were approved during the later portion of 2012 which will definitely embellish existing services to meet certain international expectations. In 2013, all being equal, one can expect to start seeing noteworthy additions to the booming tourism sector. Minister Ali announced that collectively 14 new local investment interests totalling more than $25B will be implemented and one of the spin-offs would be employment created for more than 800 persons.

While in 2013 investments in the sector will soar, the minister mentioned that it is hoped that the private sector would also invest in keeping the city clean. He said that through the urban development plan he hopes that the private sector will adopt sections of the city.

Improving Services Considerable emphasis will be placed on regularising the service providers in this sector. The ministry will continue what it had started in 2012 as it is determined to ensure that the quality of service is improved across the board. There are 199 operators, guides, and properties registered so far, 87 hotels, 64 tour guides, 30 tour operators and 18 lodges and resorts.

The ministry and the GTA will also continue to focus on training as they plan to approach the Carnegie School of Home Economics to conceptualise special training for persons working in this growing sector.

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Cricket fans praised for T20 success TRINIDAD (TG) -- The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) is basking in the glow of successfully staging the first phase of the 2013 Caribbean T20 Championships over the past week at the Queen’s Park Oval in Portof-Spain.

President of the T&TCB Azim Bassarath said on Saturday that he was pleased with the way everyone charged with the responsibility of staging the event had pulled together to ensure an entertaining and memorable experience.

He said the success of the tournament showed that there is much to be gained from the partnership between Government, the T&TCB, and corporate T&T to create a model for the sustained growth and development of cricket.

In this regard the T&TCB has forged important relationships in the recent past with the National Gas Company (NGC), Flavourite Foods, Caribbean Airlines (C “First of all I want to express my sincerest thanks to the loyal cricket fans who despite the uncertain weather we have had over the past week came out dutifully not only to cheer on the home team but to support the other regional sides,” said Bassarath.

The T&TCB chief said that preliminary figures show that after five days of the six-day T&T leg, approximately 54,000 fans had come through the turnstiles at the Oval making it one of the most successful for a regional competition.

Bassarath said this number was expected to grow when the last round of matches was staged on Saturday night when hosts and defending champions T&T played Guyana in the second match of a double-header.

Tickets for the final night of competition were sold out two days in advance prompting Patrick Rampersad of the International and Regional Matches Committee to advise cricket fans in a media release that they should not proceed to match venue on Saturday if they did not possess a ticket.

On Saturday Bassarath also expressed the T&TCB’s appreciation to their partners including several government agencies among whom are the ministries of sport; arts and multiculturalism; the Tourism Development Company; the Public Transport Service Corporation, management of the Queen’s Park Oval, and the media for their support in ensuring the tournament was a resounding success.

“I want to especially extend my appreciation for the assistance given to us by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts without which we would not have been able to achieve the level of success that we did,” he said.

He also roundly complimented the International and Regional Matches Committee led by Patrick Rampersad and Ann Brown-John for their dedication and commitment in ensuring success through their meticulous planning.

Bassarath said not to be forgotten in the national exercise were the scores of volunteers and stewards who manned the gates and provided crucial ancillary services which most times have been overlooked.

The local cricket boss also gave kudos to the Oval groundsmen who probably had the most taxing job of all trying to maintain that the playing venue was ready to host the daily doubleheaders despite the inclement weather throughout the week.

“The T&TCB is also mindful of and pleased with the media coverage of the tournament especially by ESPN whose broadcast on television was carried all over the world providing a positive image of the country that is price-

less,” he said.

Bassarath said also that the West indies Cricket Board (WICB) headed by Julian Hunte must also be complimented for making the right choice in selecting T&T to stage the regional T20.

“I am sure they were aware of our capabilities to handle a tournament of this nature and we are all pleased that the confidence placed in us by the WICB has produced rich dividends,” said Bassarath.

Bassarath said he looked forward to T&T continuing their stranglehold on the regional T20 honours by winning their third consecutive championship when the teams move on to St Lucia for the final stage of the tournament this coming week.

10 Wednesday, January 16, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Bravo powers Red Force to top CT20

TRINIDAD (TG) -- With 20,000 spectators crammed into the Queen’s Park Oval, T&T did not disappoint and put Guyana in their place with an emphatic 80-run victory in their fourth match of the Regional T20 cricket tournament on Saturday night.

As one spectator put it at the end of the game: “This T&T team too good for this tournament, they are the big boys playing with children.”

Another one chimed in: “Police should arrest (Keiron) Pollard and (Darren) Bravo for that licking they put on them Guyanese.”

A partnership of 64 runs from 27 balls between Pollard and Bravo brought the

house down at the Queen’s Park Oval and it was party time from that point.

Bravo blasted an unbeaten 82 and Pollard an unbeaten 44 that took their team to 191 for four in their 20 overs—the highest score of the tournament this season.

After this onslaught, Guyana were left numb and limped to 111 for six in reply.

Man-of-the-Match Bravo belittled Guyana’s bowlers en route to a sublime unbeaten 82 from 51 balls while Pollard turned up at the end to play a blinder, slamming an unbeaten 44 from a mere 17 balls.

Sent in by Guyana, T&T started shakily when they lost both openers cheaply with only 26 on the board in the fifth over.

Lendl Simmons (3) was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Derwin Christian, diving low to his left in the third over and William Perkins (8) was bowled by off-spinner Royston Crandon, backing away to hit through the off-side.

Darren Bravo and his brother Dwayne then combined in a 48-run, third wicket stand off 33 balls to revive the innings and lay the groundwork for the late assault, which duly came.

Bravo counted eight fours and four sixes and Pollard lit up the evening with five sixes and a four.

Guyana had a lame start to their run chase as the left-handed Trevon Griffith (1) skied to Perkins at cover at seven, in the third over.

Chanderpaul and Derwin Christian (9) added 36 off 31 balls for the second wicket but the partnership proved sluggish

as T&T’s bowlers kept a lid on scoring.

Christian’s miserable 13-ball stay ended when he nudged a return catch to medium pacer Reyad Emrit (2-18) and the pressure also got to Ramnaresh Sarwan (2) who missed a wild swat at Emrit and was bowled at 53 for three in the tenth over.

Chanderpaul, who faced 50 balls and struck eight fours, found an ally in Deonarine (14) in a 34-run fourth wicket partnership but the stand was another pedantic one, consuming 32 balls.

K Pollard not out 44 Extras (lb4, w10, nb1) 15 TOTAL (4 wkts, 20 overs) 191 Did not bat: K Cooper, R Emrit, S Narine, S Badree, S Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Simmons, 2.4 overs), 2-26 (Perkins, 5), 3-74 (DJ Bravo, 10.3), 4-127 (Ramdin, 15.3) Bowling: Barnwell 4-0-29-2 (w4, nb1), Jacobs 4-0-40-0, Crandon 2-0-19-1, Permaul2-0-25-0 (w1), Deonarine 4-0-41-1 (w3), Bishoo 4-0-33-0 (w2)

This time, it was Chanderpaul who collapsed under the burden of the quickly expanding required run rate and he squirted off-spinner Sunil Narine to Kevon Cooper at point in the 15th over, after frustratingly missing reverse sweeps off the two previous deliveries. His departure signalled the end for Guyana.

The emphatic nature of T&T victory was a strong statement ahead of the second phase of the tournament in St Lucia starting Tuesday. After four matches, they are clear leaders on 13 points, with Jamaica second on nine points, and Windward Islands, Guyana and Barbados all on eight.

GUYANA inns T Griffith c Perkins b Gabriel 1 S Chanderpaul c Cooper b Narine 53 +D Christian c & b Emrit 9 R Sarwan b Emrit 2 N Deonarine run out 14 C Barnwell c wkp Ramdin b Cooper 1 R Crandon not out 10 J Foo not out 10 Extras (lb6, w5) 11 TOTAL (6 wkts, 20 overs) 111 Did not bat: S Jacobs, V Permaul, D Bishoo.

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Griffith, 2.1 overs), 2-43 (Christian, 7.2), 3-53 (Sarwan, 9.3), 4-87 (Chanderpaul, 14.5), 5-88 (Barnwell, 15.1), 6-88 (Deonarine, 15.3) Bowling: Gabriel 3-0-17-1 (w3), Narine 4-012-1, Emrit 4-0-18-2 (w1), Badree 2-0-18-0, DJ Bravo 4-0-28-0 (w1), Cooper 3-1-12-1

SCOREBOARD T&T inns L Simmons c wkp Christian b Barnwell 3 W Perkins b Crandon 8 DM Bravo not out 82 DJ Bravo c Jacobs b Deonarine 19 D Ramdin c Deonarine b Barnwell 20

Result: T&T won by 80 runs Points: T&T 4, Guyana 0.

Man-of-the-Match: Darren Bravo

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Caribbean Pot: Shrimp, avocado and mango salad

Chris De La Rosa Contributor In the Caribbean we’re notorious for having heavy meals, not as if I’m complaining but there are times when a salad is the order of the day. Using ingredients which are important in the culinary landscape of the islands, you’ll find this salad very simple to put together and amazed by it’s unique flavors.

As a kid growing up on the islands we had several avocado (aka pear or zabouca) tress surrounding our house, so I grew up having a strong appreciation for this wonderful fruit.

This will explain why you’ll see it used in so many different recipes I share.

Ingredients 3/4 lb shrimp (cooked) 1 avocado 1 mango 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 medium red onion 1 cup grape tomatoes (optional) 1 grapefruit Dressing 3 tablespoon orange juice

1 chilli pepper chopped fine 1 teaspoon honey 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger Notes. I used pre-packaged shrimp which were already cleaned and cooked (steamed).

Check the frozen section of your grocery store. With the mango you need one which is not fully ripe (half ripe as we say in the Caribbean) as you need it to hold it’s shape and not fall apart when mixed with the other ingredients. Don’t cut or peel the avocado until you’re almost done assembling the salad and ready to gently toss with the dressing or it will go discolored.

of the grapefruit (so it sits stable on your cutting board). Then using a sharp knife, with a sort of sawing motion, cut and discard the skin. Go deep enough to expose the flesh of the grapefruit. You will now have a ball shape with exposed juicy grapefruit. Cut the segments and gently handle them.

Wash and chop the cilantro, then slice the onion very thin and get ready to assemble everything. As I mentioned above I used frozen pre-cooked shrimp so I allowed them to thaw, then rinsed and pat dry with paper towels.

Peel, wash and dice the mango. Remember there will be a hard seed in the center of the mango.

Let’s now make the dressing we’ll be using.

Chop the chilli pepper (remove the seeds if you’re concerned about the raw heat) and add everything to a bowl and give it a good whisk.

Peel and cut the grapefruit into segments. Do so but cutting off the top (stem) and bottom

Put all the ingredients (not the dressing or avocado) in a large bowl and season with

the salt and black pepper. If you don’t have grape tomatoes, you can use a regular tomato, but do remove the seeds.

Add the dressing, give it a mix, then add the diced avocado. Try to be gentle from this point on as we don’t want to make the ripe avocado into a mush. Gently fold so everything gets coated in the wonderful dressing.

You’ll love the creaminess of the avocado, the wonderful fruitiness of the mango, the exciting flavors of the dressing and the shrimp will set this off! What I especially like is the ‘pop’ you get when you burst into one of the plump grape tomatoes. If you want you can chill this before adding the dressing as it will not keep after you add the dressing. There’s enough here for 5 people as a starter or 3 people as a main course for lunch.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 13

Coping with depression through yoga

Geeta Maraj Contributor We are all too familiar with moods which cause us to feel disillusioned, frustrated and lonely. After a celebratory time, like the holiday season, when friends and family have gone back to their regular routine, depression can very easily set in. Finding ways to keep your mind calm and focused, bringing acceptance and humility to your experiences, are superb ways of controlling emotional fluctuations.

While there are a variety of ways to help ease the mind of feelings loneliness and disillusionment, a natural path is through the holistic approach of yoga. To understand this system, we must first understand how this ancient practice defines all aspects of life in phases.

These phases are referred to as ‘gunas’ in yoga and consist of three variations.

The first is the purest, and is called the sattvic guna. The second is known as the rajasic or middle phase and is responsible for motion and energy, and the third is known as tamasic or the negative, lethargic or hostile guna.

Depending on which of these three phases each of your five senses are exposed to at any

time, your physiological and emotional status can be ascertained. This means that based on what type of food you eat, the sounds you hear, what images you look at, the personality of people whom you are exposed to, and even the scents you inhale all have an impact on the mind and body.

Just as in science the states of matter can change based on external variations of temperature, so too, our body/mind (a state of matter) can change based on what it is exposed to (external variations).

At each moment of our life, based on our general attitude and reaction to issues; our emotions and how we control them; our level of personal attachments and interest; the quality and type of food we eat; we predict which of these gunas are dominant at that time.

Therefore, by controlling what we see, hear, taste, touch and smell, keeping them as close to the purest state as possible, we can expect our emotions to become calm and more relaxed. This takes time and perseverance, but by keeping your home well lit as opposed to always dwelling in the dark, is a change of moving from a tamasic phase to a sattvic one; listening to educational discussions that are filled with enlightenment and interest instead of discussions portraying anger and hostility, is an example of exposure to sattvic hearing; eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as opposed to processed, stale or overcooked foods, is an example of changing what you eat to reflect a purer, sattvic diet; keeping your environment neat and tidy instead of a cluttered surrounding, is an exam-

ple of changing to a sattvic mood; smelling fresh air by going for long walks, as opposed to locking yourself away in a stale, putrid surrounding, is an example of substituting a tamasic atmosphere with a sattvic one.

Finding time for oneself is also a way of controlling emotional stressors. This is the time where meditation is very important in controlling depression and decreasing external stimulants, which cause the mind to lose its natural state of calm. In a previous article, ways of preparing for successful meditation was discussed. However, key to meditation is learning a word or phrase which reflects goodness and love – called a chant and repeatedly say it silently. This form of chanting helps to keep the mind from wandering to emotional issues which could trig-

ger depression. If you are spiritual minded, finding a prayer that is suited to your spirituality and repeating it continuously in silence as you carry on your days activity, is also a form of meditation and focusing, which helps the emotions.

It is advisable to keep a journal of yourself and assess at the end of each day, the stimulants your five senses were exposed to, and evaluated your emotions as a result.

Through this form of self assessment, you can begin to see how your body, mind and emotions react to what you allow yourself to be exposed to. Most importantly, depression and anxiety can be controlled based on your ability to want to change for the betterment of your personal self, and that change begins first of all with you taking the initiative.

14 Wednesday, January 16, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The weight loss trap

Monique Bartlett Contributor Losing weight seems easy enough, eat less, move more. The problem is, there are so many ways that you can get off track. Things that you think would increase weight loss can actually backfire and sabotage your efforts. Misconceptions, such as the idea that healthy foods are too pricey, can also prevent you from shedding weight. If you know which dieting traps are most likely to trip you up, you can avoid them.

Check out some of the most common dieting

traps people fall into.

1. Eating Next To Nothing If you think that cutting calories will help speed up your weight loss efforts, think again. In fact, if you go too low, you’ll probably find just the opposite. Your slim-down efforts will come to a screeching halt. If you don’t eat enough, your metabolism slows down in an effort to conserve calories. You also risk not getting enough nutrients. Imagine shedding pounds without having to starve yourself!

2. Expecting To Lose Weight In No Time Diets that promise quick weight loss just don’t work. If you do lose any weight, you’ll likely gain it right back when you start eating normally. That’s because any weight you do lose is likely water weight, not fat! Obviously, you want to be targeting body fat when you’re trying to lose, because it’s fat that primarily determines your size. Too much body fat can negatively affect your health, plus losing

water is a bad thing. Your body needs water to keep your metabolism working properly and to burn calories. A more realistic goal is to drop a pound or two a week by eating a healthy, balanced, moderate calorie diet.

3. Healthy Food Is Too Expensive Many people are under the impression that it’s a lot more expensive to eat a healthy diet, but this is a myth. Fresh fruits and vegetables may not be cheap, but they are less expensive than some of the high-fat, high-calorie processed foods that are available. If you consider the fact that obesity contributes to things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke and many other illnesses, you really can’t afford not to eat healthy. The price of healthy food compared to the cost of a hospital stay or medications that you would have to take for the rest of your life, really creates no comparison.

Do yourself a favour. Avoid the weight loss traps and stay healthy!

The effects of Diabetes on oral health Dr. Matthew S Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Contributor There is an increased prevalence of gum disease in diabetics. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, but it can also contribute to severe gum diseases especially among those with poor oral hygiene.

People with diabetes are more susceptible to se-

rious gum disease and people with serious gum disease have the potential for elevated blood glucose levels leading to diabetes.

The oral manifestations of diabetes may be gingivitis (early gum disease), periodontitis (advanced gum disease) which could cause rapid bone loss resulting in the loss of teeth.

Sores may develop and fungus infections such as thrush. Other symptoms can be dry mouth and cavities on the roots of teeth.

Dental Care: Dental care is particularly important for people with diabetes because of the high risk of oral health problems.

Since gingivitis and periodontitis are infections of bacterial origin, uncontrolled diabetics may experience a higher frequency and severity of gum disease. There may be local-

ized to generalized pain in the mouth. It may be throbbing or constant pain which may cause the individual to seek emergency dental treatment.

Diabetic patients should let the dentist know what medications they are taking especially insulin before any treatment is undertaken. It is also important for the dentist to know if there have been any diabetic episodes in the past due to low blood sugar resulting in fainting.

Prevention: Control blood glucose levels either by diet or by taking prescription medication as prescribed by your doctor. Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing thoroughly. Avoid smoking. Remove dentures at night and clean them daily.

Regular dental checkups and cleaning are very important to avoid serious oral problems.

Foods to help you build a healthy heart

Trish Browning Contributor Odds are you’re already pretty smart about avoiding the foods that are not very heart healthy like: fatty meats, butter, gravy, fried foods, cakes, pies and fast food in general.

But even if you know which foods to avoid, that doesn’t necessarily mean you know which foods are the best for your heart. Here is a list of some of the best heart-healthy foods. Instead of simply avoiding heart disease with your food choices, you can start to actively prevent it by making these foods a staple in your diet.

Salmon: Many people on a hearthealthy diet miss the meats that they used to consume regularly. However, salmon can be a great substitute when you’re craving a little protein. With plenty of omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants, this fish can help reduce your blood pressure and prevent blood clotting. Opt for wild salmon over farm-raised varieties whenever possible in order to maximize the health benefits of this heart-healthy food.

Olive Oil: An easy tip that can make a big impact for people with heart health concerns is to replace butter, margarine, salad dressings

and other sauces with olive oil whenever possible. Using this oil when cooking or dressing your food can pack in just as much flavor without the bad fats. Olive oil has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease in several studies.

Oatmeal: Oatmeal is one of the best whole grains you can choose for your diet.

While all whole grains are a good choice, oatmeal offers the added benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, potassium, fiber and folate. Eating oatmeal regularly can cut down your LDL cholesterol levels and help clear up your arteries.

When shopping for oatmeal, make sure you buy the coarse or steel-cut varieties instead of instant oatmeal.

Flaxseed: Like oatmeal, flaxseed is one of the best whole grains for keeping your heart in great shape. With plenty of omega 3 fatty acids and fiber, it’s no wonder that flaxseed is essential for preventing heart problems. When flaxseed is ground up, it can be mixed in with a wide variety of foods and go almost unnoticed while still providing the same health benefits.

Nuts: Walnuts, peanuts and almonds are all great choices for a snack if you want to build a healthy heart. These are for adding healthy fats to your diet, plus they are packed with great nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, fiber and folate.

Beans: Add some kidney or black beans to your diet for a great protein boost that doesn’t have the unwanted fats of some other protein sources. These beans are excellent sources of the B-complex vitamins along with

folate, magnesium, niacin, calcium, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids.

Spinach: Loaded with B-complex vitamins, lutein, magnesium, potassium, calcium, folate and fiber, spinach is a treasure trove if you want a vegetable with great health benefits.

Always opt for this softer, darker leafy green rather than the lighter lettuces like iceberg. Eating spinach regularly can help reduce your risk for heart disease.

Berries: Shop for fresh berries to add to your diet the next time you visit the grocery store. These super-fruits are perfect for adding beta-carotenes, lutein, anthocyanin, ellagic acid and other heart-healthy nutrients to your diet. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, you name it - all of these fruits are great anti-inflammatories, which helps to reduce your risk for heart disease.

Avocados: Avocados are listed among a group of “good” fats that are great for a hearthealthy diet. One of the key advantages that this food provides is improved absorption of betacarotene and lycopene, both of which are very important for keeping your ticker in top form.

Additionally, the monounsaturated fats in avocados may lower LDL cholesterol levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels.

If you have concerns about your risk for heart disease or other heart problems, consult a physician. Additionally, you should ensure that any diet changes you make are safe and healthy.

Consult your doctor if you have any questions concerning heart-healthy food choices.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 15

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Immigration Issues: How to find an authorized representatives Equity Law Contributor The one year anniversary of the Super Visa Immigration representation is very controversial. Some people are petrified by the negative publicity about Canada immigration fraud. Temporary Foreign Workers with “job offers� arrived in Canada sometimes jobless and thousands of “Canadian Citizens� are on the verge of having their status revoked.

Notably, within the last year, many of Canada’s immigration policies were changed, some programs revamped while others are on “temporary pause�. The fact is: Canada’s immigration system is strategically developed to attract “crem de la crem�.

In the near future, Canada will experience a wave of younger, intellectually advanced generation and many now seek to find an Authorized Representative to successfully obtain temporary and permanent residence status in Canada.

Whether it’s a quizzical search of the internet or a referral, there are four categories of paid Authorized Representatives to represent applicants at the Port of Entry, Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre, Visa Offices/Consulates, before the Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Immigration Holding Centers, Federal Court, etcetera.

You may choose from lawyers and paralegals in good standing with provincial or territorial law societies, Notaries in good standing with the Chambre des notaires du QuĂŠbec and Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants in good standing with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) http://www.iccrccrcic.ca/public/membershiplistFull.cfm.

(Learn more about why use a Regulated Consultant in Canadian Immigration by visiting: http://www.iccrc-crcic.ca/public/ charteredPractitioners.cfm). Currently paralegals may only represent Claimants before IRB. Unlike Ghost Consultants who

filled the forms, guarantees visa and top notch services for a “small� fee Authorized Representatives are regulated, carries errors and omissions insurance, undergo criminal background checks, and without meeting professional development standards, are unable to renew their licence all of which comes at a cost; hence, a fee is charged for advice or representation and is generally industry standard.

While the Use of a Representative rests solely with the individual applicant, prospective immigrants who exercise their Right to Counsel increases their chance to meet the ever changing immigration rules, immigrate to Canada the right way without the fear of losing your Canadian status.

Don’t be robbed of the “Canadian Dream�. No one can guarantee a visa of any sort. Forms must be filled according to the Immigration Regulations and the final Decision to issue a temporary or permanent resident visa rest with a visa or immigration of-

ficer who, will either: a) issues the visa; or b) refuses the visa based on specific section of the Act. Your success is partially “guaranteed� by finding an Authorized Representative to who will represent you to enter, extend your status or remain legally in Canada.

Your ability to uphold the duty of truthfulness and comply with terms and conditions imposed by the Immigration Officer will almost certainly guarantee your status.

As with your permanent resident or citizen status in Canada, a good Authorized Representative is invaluable.

Warning: Under Canada’s Immigration laws, it is illegal for an Unauthorized Representative to charge a fee for advice on immigration matters. The penalty for Ghost Consultants who provides immigration representation or advice for a fee is $100,000 and/or two years in jail.

5 simple tips to keep your small-business finances in order The headaches that accounting causes for most small business owners, is one of those back-office tasks that never cross your mind when you decide to run your own business, and yet it sucks up your day and makes running a successful business that much harder.

But there’s hope, and it starts with getting organized. Here are 5 tips I’ve learned by helping business owners trying to tackle their accounting: Keep it separate. That new backpack for your kids isn’t a business expense, but your business credit card was handy so you used it. Sure, you can pay back your business for a personal expenditure, or the other way around, but if you’re going to do it right you actually have to record an accounting transaction. Things get complicated fast, and you don’t need that headache. By keeping separate bank and credit card accounts for business and personal, you’ll save yourself hours of work and make it easy to keep track of deductible expenses in one place.

Some applications can automatically handle the behind-the-scenes accounting for crossover expenses, but even so, we recommend handling business and personal finances as independently as possible.

Call in a pro. Since the days of the abacus, accountants have been trusted and respected allies to small business owners everywhere. Their intimate knowledge of the profession as well as tax laws in their jurisdiction will save you money almost every time. I know how tempting it can be to save a buck and do it yourself, but it’s almost never more cost-efficient in the end.

An accountant will almost always find more deductions and keep you penalty-free. On that note, the cleaner your records, the fewer billable hours you’ll have to pay, so make sure you’re organized year-round. But when things get technical or taxes are due, save yourself the money, time and headaches and call in a trusted professional.

Pencil it in. Actually, use a pen. A permanent marker even. Set aside about 15 minutes every week — that’s the equivalent of just one Facebook visit every seven days — to organize your finances, and don’t let other things take priority during this time.

You’ll have more insights into your business, be able to make more informed financial decisions and have everything organized when tax time approaches. Something always feels more pressing than your finances. But when you find the time every week, you’ll feel your stress levels — now and at year-end — fall fast.

Consider your people. When you’re looking for insights into your businesses spending, don’t forget to properly track what is likely one of your biggest expenses: labor. Whether you’re paying a full staff or you’re the only one on the payroll, make sure you’re tracking the costs of wages, benefits, overtime and any other costs associated with labor. By tracking your spending on labor, perks and benefits, you may find you have more money to incentivize your employees — or that you’re outspending your budget. Either way, doing the math now can help you make better decisions later.

Finally, don’t forget to get paid.

This one seems pretty obvious, but you would be shocked at how many small business owners don’t properly track invoices and customer payments. If you’re not keeping proper records that you can make sense of at a glance, it could be months before you realize you have outstanding invoices.

You could be collecting payments late, or missing some altogether. Make sure you’re properly tracking all payments due and recording when each invoice is paid, how long customers generally take to pay, and which customers you’ve had difficulties collecting payments from in the past.

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Your Horoscope - January 16th 2013 Aries Horoscope (March 21-April 20): A lengthy wait is over. You’ve earned it, you deserve it, and things will come to fruition soon. A new professional development and acknowledgment cycle begins with Friday’s new moon. Your personal life or parenting efforts can deliver more tangible results and rewards over the coming weeks. Saturday through Monday can prompt a personal or relationship breakthrough.

Taurus Horoscope (April 21May 21): Friday’s new moon in Capricorn brings a time-isripe cycle into being. Over the weekend, watch for a significant revelation, discovery, or personal insight to get the ball rolling faster. Saturday/Sunday, a conversation, a cutoff point, or an ultimatum could spark unexpected yet necessary impetus. Monday/Tuesday should prove smooth sailing. Wednesday kicks your motivation and passion up a notch.

Gemini Horoscope (May 23June 20): The weekend is for letting yourself off the hook, but beyond that the squeeze is on. It’s time to get a better handle on your finances. The new moon in responsible Capricorn puts you in the right head space to get down to business. Aim for a short-term goal and know it will set the stage for long-term benefit.

Cancer Horoscope (June 21July 20): If you really want to move yourself forward, it’s time to stop wishing and take an official stab at it. Turn intention into an actual event. That first step can prove to be easier than you think. Once you launch it, it will quickly snowball. Psych yourself up through the weekend and aim to use Monday/ Tuesday’s smooth sail to your fullest advantage.

Leo Horoscope (July 21-Aug. 22): It’s time to get to work.

Start with a small step and see the good it does you. Once you set mind to matter, relief and results aren’t too far behind. Stay organized: a written schedule, list, or business plan can increase your effectiveness. Spend on the necessary upgrades. Friday through next Thursday, the stars favour contract signings, commitments, refinancing, and important purchases.

Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23Sept. 22):You are gradually getting to where you need to be.

Venus, Mercury, and Friday’s new moon in Capricorn will help you gain better control over yourself.

Saturday/Sunday could lead you to a personal or relationship breakthrough. Next week could be a time of empowered fresh starts.

Give it your best shot, commit your all, and don’t look back.

Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23Oct. 22): What are your shortterm and long-term priorities?

Friday’s new-moon prompt will help you to get clearer regarding “need”, “want”, and “should”. Saturn in Scorpio helps you to get committed and stay the course for the long haul. Over the weekend, Venus/Uranus can provide a sudden insight, a revelation, or an opportunity. Stay creative; good strides can be made next week.

Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23Nov. 21): What can you do to look more polished and professional? Now’s the time to put in some serious effort. Refine your résumé, plans, or presentations. Ditch time wasters, streamline output, and focus on your best bets. A productive week lies ahead, regarding negotiations, difficult talks, paperwork, finances, legal matters, studies, and self-improvement mandates.

Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20): The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. A fuller investment is required from you now. Friday’s new-moon fuel helps you get real and get at it. It isn’t all a grind, though. Saturday/Sunday, the stars are suited up for pleasure, creativity, and play. Monday/Tuesday, you can coast. Wednesday onward stokes the fire.

Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): Do you have your eye on the right carrot?

How do you know you can do it? Let your instincts override your trepidation. Friday’s new moon prompts you to take an official step forward. All new launches are well timed. Saturday/Sunday, the stars deliver breakthrough, find-it, or takeoff time. Monday/Tuesday, things flow well for you.

Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18): Friday’s new moon can help peg what you couldn’t grab before. The stars will help you gain clarity on how to proceed. Saturday/Sunday, synchronicity, instincts, and social and intimate connectivity are at peak. Monday/Tuesday, keep the schedule loose and stay creative. Aim for full tilt from Wednesday onward.

Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20): As of Friday’s new moon, your future plans and/or new life course will shape up even more. The more time goes by, the more confidence and security you’ll feel. Do your own thing or enjoy a social weekend. Monday/Tuesday, the Pisces moon makes things come together like a charm. You’ll find yourself on a roll.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The battle to reign in 407ETR is gaining momentum

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 17 The place to trade goods and services and best of all, it’s FREE to place your ad! To place your ad, send your info to info@torontocaribbean.com

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Tammy Flores Contributor The battle for the Province to reign in 407ETR is gaining momentum. Besides the petition that has been circulating for people to sign, a peaceful demonstration is being planned. For more information or to take part, please make sure to follow @407abuseofpower on twitter or search up “Stop the 407ETR’s Abuse of Power” on Facebook.

Before the courts still remains a Class Action lawsuit on behalf of people who claimed Bankruptcy, but remain in Plate Denial. It is maintained that 407ETR misused the Plate Denial process to collect monies that were subject to a Stay of Proceedings under the BIA. Also noteworthy is both the Superintendent of Bankruptcy and Class Action lawyers, Scarfone Hawkins, were granted leave to intervene

in an appeal between Moore vs. 407ETR, as friends of the court. Class Action lawyers are looking forward to filing their argument of fact and law in this appeal.

On April 27, 2012, Class Action lawyers filed a statement of claim for declaratory relief, an injunction and damages for abuse of process, breach of contract, restitution and unjust enrichment against 407ETR. It is hopeful that between the efforts of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, Class Action lawyers and the public’s determination, 407ETR will finally have their questionable business practices reigned in once and for all.

A database is being compiled of people that incurred tolls, subsequently filed an assignment of bankruptcy and were subject to Plate Denial for those tolls and additional charges. If you think you qualify, please contact Scarfone, Hawkins LLP to be added to the database. It is estimated that at least 6,000 people in the Province of Ontario has been affected by this breach.

The process to effect change takes time, but it also starts with you. Looking forward to what 2013 has in store for 407ETR issues.

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18 Wednesday, January 16, 2013

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Want to avoid the flu epidemic? Here’s how to stay healthy with elderberry A versatile herb, black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been known throughout the ages as a potent immune booster -- tackling colds and influenza, heart disease and even cancer. Used for centuries as a folk remedy in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa, modern science has begun to take notice of the exceptional healing properties of this berry. Jammed packed with organic pigments, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, elderberry is an excellent addition to any herbal medicine chest.

Time-honored healing fruit: Traditionally, the incredible therapeutic benefits of elderberry have been enjoyed in preserves, wine and medicinal extracts. Only ripe, cooked berries and the flowers are used for preparations since stems, leaves and unripe berries contain poisonous levels of cyanic glucosides. Elderberries are rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and vitamin B6 as well as the flavonoid quercetin.

Elderberries have a long history of use. Evidence of its cultivation has been indicated in ancient Italian and Swiss village sites. Hippocrates held elderberry as a prominent healing plant while Native Americans used it for sciatica, coughs and rheumatism along with ailments and injuries of the skin.

Known as “nature’s medicine chest,” elderberry is a popular hedge plant in England. A hardy shrub, it can be grown in a variety of environments and is pest resistant.

Fighting colds and influenza naturally: Famous for its capacity to prevent and treat upper respiratory infections and fever, elderberry is a top notch medicinal herb.

Israeli researcher Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center has made it a life mission to study the healing properties of elderberry. She found 20 percent of individuals suffering from the flu had significant relief within 24 hours when elderberry extract was consumed -- sore throat, coughing, fever and muscle aches were reduced. Seventy-three percent felt better after the second day. Within three days, 90 percent were completely cured.

Compare this with the usual week or so it takes the average person to recover from the flu without intervention.

Additionally, a British in vitro study found that black elderberry extract was over 99 percent effective in combating avian bird flu (H5N1). And in Panama, elderberry juice was successfully used to treat the 1995 flu epidemic.

Elderberry also enhances the immune system. Scientists at the Bundesforschungsanstalt Research Center for Food in Karlsruhe, Germany found that high levels of anthocyanins in elderberry improve immune function by boosting cytokine production. These proteins act as messengers within the immune system, helping to regulate immune response. For those contending with HIV or a suppressed immune system, this is promising news.

Alleviating cardiovascular disease and cancer: Not only effective for infectious disease, elderberry supports cardiovascular health and mitigates cancer as well.

The University of Graz in Austria discovered that elderberry extract diminished the oxida-

tion of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Since oxidation of LDL cholesterol contributes to arteriosclerosis, elderberry is powerful medicine against heart disease.

Tumor growth is constrained by elderberry too. It is an exceptional antiangiogenic (hinders the formation of unwanted blood vessels) and antioxidant. Research has shown that elderberry, when combined with other anthocyanin-rich berries, curbs cellu-

lar mutations and tumor growth. In clinical studies, the berry extract decreased tumor growth by more than 50 percent.

During this season of compromised immunity and illness, beat the odds by using elderberry to remain healthy and fit. Whether suffering from a simple cold to a more complex flu bug, or serious diseases like cancer and AIDS, elderberry is an excellent ally to have on your side.

It’s time for a change!

Join us for a Continuation of

Host: Rev. Deborah Colquhoun

Saturday Januaryy 19 at 7pm 196 Toryorkk Dr. Dr Weston Rd & Finch For More Info. Call 416-526-0763

Keynote Speaker: Prophetess Audrey Shepherd

Speaker: Prophetess Marjorie Wilson Hosted by Evangelism God’s Way Ministry

LOOK OUT FOR MEMBERS MEETING DETAILS ON NEXT EDITION

CANADA: 1-800-565-2632